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CAMP TOKOROZAWA

JAPAN

 

Ken Hoppe has provided for expansion of the Kanto Plains section of the Yohi Alumni web site a map and eleven photos of Camp Tokorozawa. 

Ken lived in Japan in 1963 - 1973, some 'off-base' in the Tokorozawa area, and graduated from Johnson AFB high school in 1971.

Ken's map was scanned, edited and redrawn by myself [J. Hyatt] in Jan 2006 and is included on these pages, along with his photos.   His material makes a substantial and unique addition to the history section of our Kanto Plains portion of the web site, and is most welcome.  

43ecb.gif (6922 bytes) His map and photos are especially important to me as I was stationed at Camp Tokorozawa with the U. S. Army in 1952/1953, having returned to Japan from Korea.  The entire post at that time was occupied by the 43rd Engineer Construction Battalion.  I was Executive Officer of Company B -- in building # S - 251.

At that time it is believed the main [an entrance] gate was located at building # T - 200, as it was a straight shot up the hill from the gate to the headquarters building.

My wife joined me in 1952, with original quarters assignment at Johnson AFB.   In 1952 we moved to Camp Tokorozawa to building # S - 56 -- the ONLY family quarters on base at that time.  It is believed that building had 16 apartments -- 8 on each of the 2 floors -- 4 on each floor in the front and 4 in the back separated by a hall down the middle.  Ken indicates that building S - 56 became known in the 60's as the 'BARN' -- and was where everyone lived temporarily until other on base housing in the nice but small area could be obtained.

After my departure in the winter of 1953, the base apparently was transformed into a 'depot' / 'storage' facility  -- with extensive construction of facilities [to include family housing] to accomplish that type mission.

Ken further states that Camp Tokorozawa's history as a 'LOGISTICAL CENTER' began in the late 1950's.   He knows that right after the Korean armistice was signed it was used as a depot for vehicles from that war.  The entire half of the base was covered with tanks, ambulances, weapons carriers, half tracks and jeeps, stacked 3 high.  It took them 10 years to cut everything down for scrap........ Then the base became a sub-depot to Sagami Depot and was used for MAP programs or military assistance to Pacific countries.  After the Air Force became a tenant, OTH and horizon radar's were installed.  During the Vietnam war the base was used as a medical depot with equipment maintenance and support for all hospitals in Japan and ambulance companies were stationed there.

 

PHOTOGRAPHS

 

MAP OF CAMP TOKOROZAWA

Below is a 'thumb-nail' version of the HUGE full version map seen when you click on the image.   Before you visit the full version you might want to take a few moments and study this 'thumb-nail' to orient your self as to the general and specific location of areas of interest to you.  Generally the bottom third of the map will be of primary interest as it is the cantonment area, whereas the remainder of the post is the 'storage' areas.  The 'housing area' is located in the bottom left and the 'main post' in the center and right bottom section.
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[CLICK IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VERSION]

FACILITY LOCATIONS
BOQ A COMPTROLLER B
CO'S QTRS C DDO D
DIC E FAMILY QTRS F
LIBRARY G MAIN GATE H
NCO CLUB I PX J
POST HQ K OFF CLUB L
SWIM POOL M THEATER N
BOY SCOUT O FIRE STA P
GOLF RANGE Q JAP NAT BOQ R
TEEN CLUB S

 

CAMP TOKOROZAWA MAP - DATED 24 JUNE 1962

MAP HARD COPY OWNERSHIP:   KEN HOPPE, JHS '71

THIS VERSION OF KEN'S MAP SCANNED /EDITED BY:  JAMES HYATT, YOHI '48, JAN 2006.

SCANNING / EDITING ALTERATIONS ARE:

1. Due to the fact the detail on the upper left quarter of the real map was only partially visible, much of that section had to be drawn by hand.  To complete the process many 'assumptions' were made -- thus that section is not as accurate as to locations and markings as the remainder of the map.
2. The scanning process distorts all images, especially the outer areas of the scanned image.  There were 16 scans -- thus each individual scan had to be pieced together which lead to more alterations to make things fit.