Minemen Around the World
NAHA, OKINAWA - 1966
THE ORIGINAL CREW
NAF Naha, Okinawa, Mine Division
LT Donald DeCronaWhen I reported for duty at the Naval Air Facility, Naha, Okinawa, on 19 March 1966, I was in relief for LT Coleman Wright who had his change of duty orders. My orders were for duty with the Mine Detail Augmenting Unit (MDAU) 0301. According to then Ensign Lyal Stryker, Mine Division Officer, that in January 1960, the Naha MDAU was integrated into the NAF Naha Mines Division.
At the time of my arrival the Mine Shop was located in Quonset huts on the air base proper with a new mine facility under construction on Senaga Shima. The new mine shop was the forerunner of the type of mine shops considered to be built in the future. Everything was under one roof, even the battery storage freezers.
Magazine storage on Senaga Shima was limited, so mines were stored at "South Stow", a small magazine area on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, about 10 miles from Naha at the Southern end of Okinawa. Mines had to be trucked back and forth for maintenance
The Ordnance Department consisted of three divisions: Ordnance Division, AUW Division, and the Mines Division. LCDR F.A. Butler was the Ordnance Officer and an aviator. He told us that he was the luckiest department head, because he knew very little about ordnance, that each of his division officers was a Limited Duty Officers.
Prior to taking occupancy of the new mine shop I had assigned to MN2 Walter Kibe the collateral duty of Safety Petty Officer, his only duties were that of safety for the Mine Division. His first duties were to become familiar with those safety directives for both the Bureau of Ordnance and of the NAF. I had selected MN2 Kibe because I had served with him before and I knew his dedication and thoroughness for details. As the shop was being built he reviewed construction plans and conducted on site review for any installation that would be in violation of safety directives. When the new mine shop was activated on 15 November 1966, he had the complete responsibility and authority to stop any task that at that time was a major hazard safety violation or that could cause immediate bodily harm. On all other safety violations he would discuss the situation with the responsible supervisor. Kibe told me that his duties in the safety program had a direct influence on him being promoted to MN1. He said many of the questions on the exam related to safety and other areas he had to do research.
MNC Tomashofsky had approached me on a plan he had for better utilization of magazine space for storage of mines. Our first meeting didn't completely convince me that his presentation was complete. He was persistent and I still remember the day he stood at my office door with a stake of publications in his arms asking if I was available for a hot, drag out discussion on his proposal. He convinced me on his plan and subsequently his proposal was submitted to the Naval Mine Engineering Facility, Yorktown, VA., and later was disseminated by NMEF to mine activities for their use, if appropriate.
We had a young sailor who was not a designated Mineman but was a very hard worker. After working hours he definitely enjoyed his liberty in Naha City or at the EM Club. One day I requested that we have a talk about his future. I made the proposal that we would train him so he could become a Mineman striker and that we would try to send him to Mine Warfare School. We did what we promised and Seaman M. W. Whitener was on his way to become a Mineman. Seaman Whitener retired as Master Chief Mineman Whitener. While at Naha, to occupy his time, he took martial arts lessons, as did others from the division. He excelled in martial arts so well that in later years he was a referee at the international contest held in Manila, Philippines. Also, he opened his own martial arts school.
MN1 Bill Savoy and MNC Haskel Menser departed Naha to enjoy their Navy retirement.
During and after the construction of the new facility, the Okinawa office of the Army Corps of Engineers informed me that they were developing plans for a similar facility sometime in the future. We provided our recommendations for improvement of those facility plans, as there were several safety and construction areas that needed to be addressed. One example, we had explosive proof outlet fittings in the heads, the type required in areas where there are explosives. At times after a person made a head call we were sure that they were needed in the heads!!
New Mine Shop On Senaga Shima showing the construction of the facility.
[DDN1-15] Plank Owners of Naha, Okinawa Air Facility
[DDN1-16] Activation of new mine shop 15 November 1966
Back Row (L to R) SN C.A Boyer, SN M.W. Whitener, MN2 W.R. Sturgill, MN1 CD. Graham, MN2 W.S. Former, MN2 C.W. Briggs, MN2 W.T. Kibe, MN1 Joe E. Spoon, MN3 W.J. Schmidt, SN T.M. Collins.
Center Row (L to R) MNC B.W. Fowler. MNC H.P. Menser, LCDR F.G. Butler-Ordnance Officer, LT D.A. DeCrona-Mines Officer, MNC C.F Tomashofsky, MNC L.A. Ziegler
Front Row (L to R) SN J.A. Hall, MN3 R.R. Davis, MNSN D.M. Harless, MN2 R.F. Smith
[DDN1-03] Mine Shop Crew
Back Row, L to R: MNl Savoy, AA Sanders, MNSN Clifton, MNSN Schmidt, MN3 Temple,
SA Collins, MN2 Graham, MN2 Kibe, MN3 Davis, AA Manning, MN2 Fortner.
Row, L to R: MN3 Yancy, MN3 McCumber, MN2 Terry, MNl Ziegler,
MN1 Spoon, AA Hall, MN2 Briggs, MNC Menser
Missing: MNC Tomashofsky and MNl Kennedy
[All photos courtesy of Don DeCrona]
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