KAMISEYA ROSTER 
Part Thirteen
Updated 29 September 2008 By Webmaster Barry
Welcome Aboard Shipmates and Marines!
If you wish your information posted to this roster, send it directly to the Webmaster and he will add you as soon as possible. Joining the website does not automatically add you to the roster.
Name: Leone René (Uhlir) DuFresne
Rate/Rank at Kami: DP3
Dates at Kami: Oct 76-Nov 78
Information: I was at Kami Seya Oct 76 - Nov 78. I worked in the Tunnel with CTF-72 under Commodore McKay. Worked with Naval Intelligence Department, Crypto, and COMPATWINGONE. We were waiting for the War Games Computer to arrive. They sent me TAD for 2 winters up to Misawa, Japan. Finally when I got back the second time my computer was already there and set up. So I helped arranage the Library for it for a couple months then left. I'd love to find some of my friends from there.I was involved with the motorcycle club. We had a tight group that went to concerts and camped around Mt. Fuji on weekends.
Name: Vern Dodge
Ranks at Kami: CTRSN/CTR2
Information: Was in CTR1 Bob Gaffman's section, and yes started out as a ripper/traffic sorter, probably just like everybody else did. Went to Misawa in May 1965 and opened NSGD Misawa under Lt. Finley, CTRC Bill Martin and others. Retired in Oct 1981 as a CTRC and currently living in Taipei Taiwan, but returning stateside in June 2008. My wife of 45 years and I have 3 kids and 6 grandchildren. Would like to hear from other old timers that were there at same time.
Name: Michael Ercole
Rank at Kami: CTRCM Ret.
Dates at kam i: April 61 to August 62
Information: Division: 215 Linguists. I was a "R" branch Russian Linguist. I pulled duty in both the 215 and 211 divisions I remember 4 section in the 215 and 3 section in the 211 divisions. The old eve, day, mid was a killer. The only good thing about 211 was the "basket leave". The liberty bars were in Chinatown and the Zebra Club was the greatest for buying booze, changing money and a good old American meal. The biggest pain was script. Pulled one sub tour on the Growler which was cited in the book "Blindman's Bluff" I was the first man to leave my division in 18 mos. Ruined a perfectly good re-enlistment rate. Stayed in the reserve for 27 years and retired in 1990. Had a lot of fun.
Name: Gerald A. Ellison
Rate/Rank at Kami: CTO1
Dates at Kami: July 1975-July 1978, Nov 1982-July 1984
E-mail Address: GAM_Ellison@live.com
Name: Ray Ford
Rate/Rank at Kami: CT3
Dates at Kami: January 1960 to March 1962
Email address: Ray63ford@cableone.net
Contact address: Ray Ford, 818 Del Mar Drive, Twin Falls,Idaho 83301-7007
Information: I served in Kamiseya from 1960 to 1962 as a CT3 linguist. Some 46 years ago it is hard to remember names, but here are a few I would like to hear from or hear about. Jim Yeargain, CT2, Jerry Dempsey, CT1, Chief Presley (yes, a relative of the man), Dick Haakensen CT2, Lt. Frank Dye (a real neat officer), Lt. John Beshoar, Gary Hamm CT2. I am sure more names will come later but these are the main ones. To anybody from my time period who may have known Richard (Moose) Kirkpatrick, he became Superinrendant of Schools in Copperas Cove, Texas. He passed away in 1999. I was very proud to be a member of the elite group of people serving at Kamiseya. We did our job well and we also had a lot of fun, especially in Chinatown and the Isezake-Cho in Yokohama. I am now ten years retired from the U. S. Postal Service. This is a great site and brings back so many good memories. Thanks so much. Anybody out there that recognizes my years and any names, I would love to hear from you.
Name: Harold Strauss
Rate/Rank at Kami CTA2
Dates at Kami: Feb 68 - Jan 70
Enlisted in the Navy Reserve my freshman year of college to be commissioned upon graduation. Three and a half years later was a college senior and a CTA2 in the reserves. Called up to active duty along with approximately 200 other CT's after the capture of the USS Pueblo. Worked in the Tunnel for the Fleet Support Division for a great guy; CT1 Ed Humes. CTR3 Jerry Burns was also a great friend and we spent a lot of time bar hopping in Tokyo. Ed and I worked for LCDR Curtis and LCDR Bowling who were responsible for the division. I was on duty the day the ECM 121 was shot down by the North Koreans . We new all the guys as they were from our fleet support division. It was a very scary time in history. Lived off the base in Tsurema, drove a 58 Toyopete. Kamiseya was the best. Had a fantastic time doing what I felt was important work for the country and working with a fantastic bunch of smart sailors and marines. Returned home after 24 months, graduated college and took a job in Hong Kong as I now wanted to live in the Far East. It's been 40 years since I got called up and it seems like yesterday. The memories are that vivid. Married for 38 years, 2 grown children and still working as a consultant for companies in the US doing business in Hong Kong/China. If any of the guys are around send me an email. Thanks for your great web site.
Name: Harold "Cliff" Sanders & wife, Maurene Sanders
Rate/Rank at Kami: CTO2-CTO1
Dates at Kami: Sep78-Sep81
E-mail Address:
csanders46@hotmail.com and
maurene_sanders@hotmail.comInformation: Love Clean Ocean water, flying, bowling, playing with our grandkids (11 so far)
KamiSeya - a tour to remember and for some, the best tour of all. Maurene (Moe) and I came to Kami with two daughters (Katina & Abby) in fall of '78. Bob & Helene Stockton were our sponsors plus we both lived in Navy housing in Yokohama that first year. Moved up to NAF Atsugi housing for the last two years. I worked in the tunnel standing watches on the watch floor, Streamliner and mostly Tech Control. Made CTO1 that first year and was section ACWO and then CWO just before leaving. Maurene was active with the Navy Wives club and also taught conversational English out on the economy (she made more money at that than my E6 pay). Best friends with Lynn (VQ-1)(CTOCM retired) & Candi Mckim (CTO2 reserve) along with Bob (CTO3) & Helene Stockton, Kurk & JoAnne Lathrop and so many others from that time. Lynn & I coached Little League Baseball at Atsugi and you could find us playing raquetball in the wee morning hours after work. I took flying lessons with the Navy Flying Club at Atsugi. Didn't finish as the instructors were mostly pilots off the Midway and they deployed the month I transferred. Made a few Dirsup trips, I/O & Persian Gulf on the USS JOUETT for the Iranian hostage crisis, the USS WORDEN for a short five day trip and all the way back to San Diego to ride the USS HARRY W HILLl from there up through the Kuril Islands and down the SOJ to see if the Russian could track us. I remember the A/C units freezing up in the QuicVAN when we got up north and the constant overflights once they found out we were there. Maurene also worked in the game room at Kami as a cashier. Lot's of ball games and pool parties. Section road trips to Mt Fuji and up north to go skiing (it's a wonder we survived). Lots of remembered names on the rosters. Some bring smiles, some bring tears and all fondly remembered and missed. Just what was it about KamiSeya and Japan that none of us will ever lose but miss for the rest of our lives?....The recent pictures of Kami make me sad for times gone by. Miss you all. Drop us an email and say "Hey".
