Mineman Around the World-Naha, Okinawa-1951-53-Bill Darlington-The Base & Crew

[BD-10] Mine shop crew at Naha, Okinawa in late 1952, early 1953. Left to right front row. Jim Hill, electrician. Yatsey, AOC; Henry Warner, MNSN; Jerry Jones, MNSN; back row, left to right, Bill Darlington, MN3; Lewis Bruce, MNSN; Harold Saxon, MN3; Ross Wadman, MN3; Roger Janke, MNSN ( Retired as LCDR).

[BD-03] The first mine shop at Naha Air Base, Naha, Okinawa. It was a converted head, in a Quonset hut. The drain holes in the floor were still there and not covered. When a mine was moved on its dolly, one wheel was sure to become stuck in a drain hole and the entire crew was needed to lift it out. Kneeling in front left to right. Wiggins, AOC; Bob Brown, MNSN, Chuck Raley, MNSN. Back row, Jim Hill, electrician; Snively AOC; Herb Johnson, MN3; Ross Wadman, MNSN; John Keen, MN3; Harold Saxon, MNSN; Jones, AOC.

[BD-01] Our first quarters at Naha, Okinawa. The windows were permanently nailed shut and it was like living in a cave.

[BD-06] The new Mine Shop compound at Naha, Okinawa in 1952. The near Quonset Hut was the mine shop; the other two buildings were occupied by a special weapons unit. The present international airport terminal at Naha stands on the ground where the mine shop once was.

[BD-07] Mine loading practice at Naha, Okinawa in 1951-53. L to R: Bill Darlington, MNSN; Harold Saxon, MNSN; Lt. Andersen, unit commander; on the crane/tractor is Henry Warner, MNSN.

[BD-09] John Keen, MN3, (Retired as MNCM) with what passed for heavy transport in the civilian community on Okinawa in 1953.

[BD-05] Bill Darlington, MNSN, left and Jerry Jones, MNSN, prepare to
celebrate the 4th of July, 1952, at Naha Air Base, Okinawa.

[BD-04] Such scenes were common on Okinawa in 1951. World War II had ended just 6 years earlier and finding and burying the more than 200,000 killed during the battle for the island took second place to earning a living for the Okinawans. Pictured is Bill Darlington, MNSN.

[BD-08] One of the thousands of caves that the Japanese fought from during the Battle of Okinawa in WW II. This particular cave went for several hundred feet inside the hill and contained sleeping quarters, medical facilities, ammo storage areas, and firing ports that covered all approaches. Pictured is Bill Darlington

Bill Darlington spent two years on Okinawa, during the Korean War.
He has written his memoirs and graciously shared his account of life in the Navy while there.