Memories

I’d have to say that what I remember of those days in Japan is not very “Japanese”.  What I treasure about those years is the people – the wonderful teachers, TRUE friends I had, the fun we had no matter what we were doing.  Could’ve happened in any town in America, but I think what made it so special was the fact that we were all in it together … we couldn’t drive until we turned 18 so we didn’t have a lot of options: fun with Yo-Hi activities, sleepovers, fries with gravy on top (!), and the teen club that EVERYONE went to.  Ahhh the good old days!

I’m sorry I can’t be there with you all but that doesn’t make my memories of those days any less special.

Janet Bready-Sims

Since I asked others to put down their thoughts and memories it is only fair I do the same~

Arriving in Japan on my 14^th birthday

Getting off the plane and “THAT SMELL”

Heading towards Zama because that is where we were supposed to be stationed only to get there and find out they did not have room for us so we were sent to Yokohama .

Staying at the Grand Hotel for a couple of weeks during a typhoon-writing in my diary and missing my boyfriend….who I thought I was in love with.

Finally moving to Bayside Courts and then a Japanese house before finally settling in Negishi.

Being scared to death the first day of school.

Having a southern accent and knowing I must be the only one in the whole school besides my brother from Texas .  Being teased by everyone every time I said Ya’ll!!

Being a page at the Prom as a freshman and since I was dating Dave Scripko, I was able to attend an after Prom party that his brother had – thinking I was so cool.

Being in the pep squad – Red Cross – Kishine Hospital – Red Cross camp – Mt Fuji – teaching Japanese professionals English – a job I inherited from Terry Stanton.

Ms Inman’s English class and Mike Ferrell critiquing a paper I wrote.

Mr Tucker’s inappropriate remarks and Mr Carpenter’s stern voice and strict discipline.

Sneaking out of Ms Satre’s HomeEc class and going to the cafeteria….my first “F” in Biology.

Scandia Restaurant on Prom night – the hill behind the teen club and one party I attended where I ended up breaking my middle finger.

My brother Lonnie teaching me how to smoke in the cafeteria….

Train rides and hitch-hiking to Kamakura Beach .  Curry Rice – gravy and rice – gyoza and ramen noodles and of course we can’t forget Mike’s – the little hole in the wall off of D Avenue where you cooked your food at the table.

Friends leaving and never being able to say goodbye….there are so many memories!

Arriving back in the States and being scared all over again….crying because I missed my friends and writing in my Diary once again.

Roy Clumpner

-         Those ridiculous black leather Japanese shoes/boots Doug Spaulding wore.

-         Taking my PE class outside in a snowstorm and playing flag football which turned into tackle football.

-         Rick Carpenter wearing his white helmet riding his motorcycle to school.

-         The outburst of laughter from the back of the gym when Jeff Vogel threw a plate of spaghetti against a wall after Felix (Mark Hamill) served him his dinner in the play “The Odd Couple.”  That laughter came from Jack Burrell, the play director.  I still think that play was better than the movie.

-         Watching the band made up of Chris Huddleston, on stage playing/singing the “Brotherhood of Man” by Sly in which the band represented what the song was trying to say i.e. we can all get along.  The band had African Americans, whites Asians, etc. all together getting along.

-         Running into my students on a Friday night at the Red Shoes.

-         Of me going into the tatami room to meet my wrestling class after lunch and announcing that Martin Luther King had been shot and the unexpected cheers that followed (I was disgusted and let them know that I was)  Not a good memory of Yo-Hi.

-         One of my players (Takemoto) getting a rebound during practice and going through the rotten floor.

-         Those long rides to Kishini Barracks to play basketball games and looking up to the second floor balcony to see Viet Nam vets from the burn unit hospital in wheelchairs watching the game down below; many of whom were no more than one year older than the players and cheerleaders below.

-         The long ride back to Yo-Hi from Kishini after a game and listening to the howls and laughter from the back of the bus only to find out later that players were mooning (pressed ham on glass) the Japanese along the way.

-         The joy that players had when they finally beat teams that had dominated them in the past.

-         The unbelievable work ethic of all the kids I coached; especially those that would get on the bus at Yokosuka at 5am and not return home until late in the evening.  And of course their parents; esp. their moms who had to do the laundry by the next morning.

-         Remembering John Richardson running back to the huddle in football practice after diving for a pass and yelling “dogshit” and holding both hands out which were covered in said.  Turns out there was a Bonadori one night on our field, then a dog show followed by burning a house down on the field and dog remnants had not been picked up.

-         In the middle of a muddy wet field during practice, players noticed that with one exception, everyone was covered from head to toe in mud.  That lone player was Bobby Dapper who played safety.  I gave the players permission, and on the snap of the ball everyone on both sides of the line turned and ran toward Dapper who’s eyes were as big as saucers as he finally figured out what was goin on.  Escape he couldn’t and the team carried him above their heads over to a muddy pool of water and dumped him into the muck and soiling the perfectly white uniform he had taken great pains to keep clean.

 I have said this before:  Yo-Hi was a special place where “what ‘could be’ in the world” took place.  While we did not always get along, we worked at it and it was a prelude to a multicultural society.  I think because we were surrounded by a culture we didn’t really know that much about, we clung together and made it work.  It was an amazing period in my life and one I’ll never forget.

Bill Sims

 There are so many memories from my 3 ½ years at Yo-Hi.  It is difficult to make the list short enough that everyone isn’t already on their trip home by the time that I get to the end.  But, I will give it a try.  

• I remember being scared stiff on my first day at Yo-Hi because I was in a very foreign country and didn’t know anyone at the school.
• I remember playing Pony League baseball because my dad was the coach.  I got 2 hits all season.  Both of them were home runs… one in each of the 2 times that we played Zama .  Other than that I had a whole lot of strikeouts.
• I remember altering my ID card so that I could buy cigarettes.
• I remember going out drinking at a little bar just off of D Avenue .  The Shore Patrol starting down the street and the bartender snatching our drinks off the bar.  By the time the Shore Patrol got to the bar we were sitting there with glasses of Coke.
• I remember waking up on my 16^th birthday and finding a pack of Marlboro, lighter and ashtray sitting on the night stand in my bedroom.
• I remember the Tripoli marathon that we had at our home supporting the DeMolay.
• I remember feeling really cool because my folks let me get a Honda 155cc motorcycle.
• I remember taking a motorcycle trip with Mike Wirsing (?) and Kraig Tyson to meet Kraig’s parents at a camping area.  On the way we stopped for a break close to a railroad crossing.  It was dark and, as is Japanese custom, a car approached the railroad crossing from the opposite direction and turned off their headlights.  When he/she turned their headlights back on I took a step backwards and fell off an embankment that felt like it was a 1000 foot drop.  It was probably on about 30 feet but it sure seemed a lot further.
• I remember my sister staying out after the last bus had left and her asking me to drive her home on my motorcycle.  I did… and, of course, I got stopped by the Shore Patrol for having a passenger on my motorcycle.  Needless to say, I was grounded.
• I remember numerous trips up on the hill behind the Teen Club.
• I remember playing in the Turkey Bowl.  I was on the JV football team and we played the Japanese All-Stars.
• I remember assembling the weekly bulletin in the Teen Club.
• I remember getting into a serious “discussion” with Mr Hilbert, affectionately known as Mr Dilbert.  A friend of mine had a doctors appointment and he called the office and demanded that they tell him the reason this friend went to the doctor.  I told him that it was none of his business as long as this friend came back with an excused absence slip.
• I remember getting into a fight with Mike Sargent during football practice.
• I remember thinking that I could play a guitar and entering a talent contest.  It was just prior to the end of that gig that I came to the realization that I had no musical talent whatsoever.
• I remember putting the “68” on the roof of the gym.
• I remember playing ping pong for hours in the Teen Club.
• I remember narrating a poem for one of the assemblies.  I hated it.  It was a poem titled “Who Am I, What Am I”.  There were some dancers behind me and their movements were choreographed to the poem.  I was sooooo embarrassed.
• I remember having a motorcycle accident the week before we left Japan and having to go to Captain’s Mast with my dad.
• I remember being extremely sad when we had to leave and transfer back to the states because I had to leave so many wonderful friends behind.

Binki Witherby-DeCollibus

When Miss Satre went out for a smoke…we took a smoke break too!

Faking my way through HomeEc …all I knew how to make were bound buttonholes…of which I made many and I can do perfectly…but only on a sample swatch.

We were told that Mr Brunell had a wooden leg.  So I kicked him in class and it wasn’t.  I had to see Ms Cretella for that one.

Anything with gravy rice.

Anything RED and WHITE!

Being in agony after an assembly because my legs fell asleep and I never could walk for a few minutes.

Way too long bus rides..going backwards as much as forward.

Being on a bus back to Yokosuka when there was a demonstration.  Everyone yelling “Yankee go Home” and someone opening up a window and yelling “Yankee waana go home”!

Thinking the biggest thing in the world would be to go to a McDonalds.

Charlie Brennan dying her white/blond hair green with food dye for St Patrick’s day and it didn’t come right out.

Remembering the amazing way Ms Jordan had with aspiring artists.

Classes emptying and someone spilling those little firecrackers in the hall that we stepped on.

Theresa Nash-Remillard

Most of my memories contain either rain or snow… such as the day it snowed about 15 inches and they couldn’t decide whether to let us go home early or not so we sat around in Yokohama until about 1:30.  Then they put us on a bus (this was the day before Valentine’s Day).  But Yokosuka and Hyama were completely snowed in and we got stuck.  We sat there until 11:00p.p.  Then the Navy finally sent Jeeps to pick us up a few at a time and take us home … of course, these were OPEN jeeps so it snowed on us all the way home.  Coincidentally, my parents got stuck about four cars behind us and when they saw the bus they got out of our car and came to be on the bus with us – probably to chaperone.  When my mother got on the bus, I thought she’d come to rescue me.  When I said I was so glad they’d come to get me, she looked at me as if she’d raised an idiot and said, “Theresa, we’re not here to get you.  We’re stuck too.  Do you think a Datsun could get through this snow when a bus can’t.  I honestly thought you were smarter than that”  Ha ha ha.  Everybody had a good laugh on me.  We finally got rescued by a bunch of Navy Seals in open-air Jeeps and I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold in my life.  My father stayed with the bus after we left to make sure everybody got taken home safely.  Sometimes that Marine Corps obsession with organization is a good thing.  I had a terrible cold and sitting there for so long on that freezing bus just made it worse.  I ended up with pneumonia and missed a week of school.  But Dean had given me yellow roses for Valentine’s Day and it was so cold in our house they stayed fresh for nearly a month.

My very favorite memory from Japan was the restaurant Scandia.

David “Greek” Russell

I had hoped to write you all a “better-letter!”  I wanted to convey some thought & extend some wishes to the gathering at “The Big Chill” reunion.  Alas NOT through procrastination, this did not materialize due to Patti’s continued back problems that manifested themselves before June & continue to this day.  After visiting Georgetown Medical Center & a second opinion with the Annapolis Spine Center we decided to go with the latter.  They said last Friday they would get to her “soon”.  Yesterday they called & set surgery up for tomorrow, so time has compressed on us rather quickly to say the least.

We had planned to attend, but this kinda jumped onto the front burner on high heat, as Patti was experiencing problems even before June.  We kept putting off reservations waiting for a cessation of the maladies & had resolved to fore-go the early bird special, just to make sure she could enjoy the trip.

So … … … … all the thoughts I wanted to convey to the gathering alumni are indeed scattered & bouncing around my “gourd” like a run-away pin-ball this morning!!

At any rate here is a feeble attempt to say a few words to the folks who, together shared an extremely rewarding (I hope!) experience in our youth (which is desperately trying to escape us!!)

I have followed the Big Chill web site noting who was attending and what a great gathering of folks.

There were folks that I played sports with, our schools cheerleaders ( the best damn good looking, school spirited ones in the Far East & the Near East for that matter!!!) & the folks who I spent hours socializing together at both the “Teen Club” & the N.E.X. cafeteria.  Folks who I spent time at the beaches with, a few of the gathered folks shared “mischief/devious” deeds together & they will remain nameless…. BUT you know who you are!  Some are folks I’m still in contact with through “E-Mails.”  All in all just an excellent group of people who were very much a part of my youth and contributed to my life experiences in a positive way, & for that I thank each of you.

I hope the years have been kind to all these folks & that their memories are indeed as warm & satisfying regarding their YO-HI experiences as mine are.  I also hope that the years have been kind and their lives have been blessed with joys, health & happiness, & their sorrow few.

What really “frosts me” is now, NOW(!!!) that we are of “legal age” I won’t be there to have a drink with you all!!  And to think of all the “practice time” many of us had a places like K.B.H. (Kirin Beer Hall) & Washington Square off Moto-Machi Street !!

I hope each & every person has a superb time & the memories & laughter flow like the waters over Niagara Falls .  I hop to make the next re-union with my wife Patti & re-capture some of the experiences you all are lucky enough to be having this week-end.  ‘Till then know that you all are STILL teen-agers in my mind & I hold the fondest memories of each of you & you will ALWAYS be remembered fondly.

Durene Inman-White

In 1966, when I left Houston for Tokyo , I had no idea what the next two years of my life would hold, but I believed it would be wonder-filled.  I would not be disappointed.  My time with the administration, faculty, students, and parents of Yo-Hi, as well as with the Japanese nationals outside the school setting would be a delightful and life-changing experience.  In fact, as I left Japan two years later, a large part of my heart stayed behind.

When I hear or read “Yo-Hi”, the following is some of what comes to mind:

Being picked up at Tachi by Bill Lacey and immediately realizing I was in the presence of a very special person.  He dropped me off at Bayside Courts but returned the next morning to check on me.  He found me having breakfast at the Main Brace and said, “I’ll bet you can’t pay for that.”  I was indignant, “I most certainly can!”  “Do you have MPCs?”  “MP whats?!  He paid for my breakfast.  Doesn’t everyone have a story of a Bill Lacey kindness?

Thinking Tim Valdez had taken a real interest in class only to learn he was doing an assignment for Ellen Jordan’s art class --- sketching the teacher!  He later gave me the sketch; I still have it.

Depending on Pete-san for just about everything.

Living dow the hall from Sharon Donohue – just when you needed a lift, Sharon was there with her wonderful laugh, a big smile, an encouraging word…and maybe even a song!  What a gal!

Traveling with Dorothy Inouye…she would hide make me ask for directions so the Japanese wouldn’t scold her for her Hawaiian version of Japanese.

Taking the Latin Club to Tokyo to see a Pompeian Exhibit…explanations fo the historical treasures were in Italian and Japanese.  The non-Japanese speaking students translated the Italian using Latin, and the Japanese speakers told us if we were correct.  Believe it or not, to us that was a fun day!

Skiing with John Gagnon…our favorite photographer…when he grew weary, he’s day, “I’m going to get into my prenatal position and leap into bed.”  We never actually saw him do that but thought it would be an interesting sight.

Hearing Doug Spaulding comment that if you wanted a job done, get a busy person to do it.  He added that it was also a good idea to get a Fittz kid to do it!

Thinking of the distinctive smiles of the students … including Don Gallion, Carlos Fleming, Ken Miyasaki, Patty Mosman, Sandi Payne , Alberta Valdez , Jan et Bready … Come to think of it, there were lots of smiling faces at Yo-Hi!

Taking the buss to Yokosuka Hospital on Wednesday evenings to visit our wounded --- they were so young!  One especially memorable occasion….I was talking to young burn victim.  A nurse came in to give him a very painful burn treatment.  I was excusing myself to leave, but he pled with the nurse, “If I could just hold the hand of an American girl while I have the treatment, I don’t think it’d hurt nearly so much.”  Humbled by this young soldier, I stayed, teary eyed, and held his had.  I wish I’d thought to get his name.

A fainting female… A hard and fast rule in my classroom was not to raise your hand while the teacher was speaking.  One morning in my first period class a student kept waving her hand as I was speaking.  I continued speaking, pretending to ignore the waving arm…until it stopped and the blonde female owner let out a moan and fell out of her desk onto the floor in a dead faint.  I later learned that she had given blood for our soldiers before coming to class.  (In my mind I see Paula Everett’s face, though I may be mistake about who it was.)  The soldiers in uniform were not the only ones who gave for America !

Dee and Dorothy Bennett (parents of Dale) visited me in Houston in the early 1970’s.  My husband, children, & I visited Lois & E.J. Smith in New York on two occasions . (parents of Linda, Darby, Skipper, and Stewart Smith; E.J. was principal of the elementary school)

More recent treats include a reunion with Bill and Jan et (Bready) Sims and Lisa and Alan Hill .  After connecting on the Yo-Hi website and learning we lived only an hour apart, we met for dinner and much reminiscing.  Later the group extended to include Mike Roley and Sharon Batterton .

It was fun seeing Dean Richardson, now a distinguished veterinarian, in his TV interviews and recalling that 40 years ago he carved into my podium, “I hate Miss Inman” J I wrote him at the New Bolton Center, PA.  He was kind enough to respond and update me on his mom…and remind me that I’d given him more detentions than any of his other teachers.

Only after I returned to the states and the relatively boring classrooms, did I begin to fully realize how special my Yo-Hi kids were.  They knew there was a war in Viet Nam and what it cost.  If I could, I’d tip my hat to every one of them.  One of my sons is a veteran Navy SEAL, currently on yet another lengthy deployment ….a wife and 2 & 3 year old sons back in the States.  Yes, I can appreciate my Yo-Hi kids more everyday.

My husband says I need to stop calling 50+ year old adults “my kids”, but I still think of you that way.

Our city is filled with retired military, and I never know what reaction I’ll get when I say, “I was a DOD teacher.”  Sometimes it’s positive; sometimes it’s negative.  Either way, we end up remembering together the good times and close friends of our years with the DOD.

Post Script:  I will miss The Big Chill as my husband and I will be traveling to Yokohama shortly after the date of the reunion.  You can be sure I’ll be thinking of you!

Lisa Coffey-Hill

Memories of that 4-year wedge of my life that I fondly now refer to as my “YoHi Days” lie very deep in my heart are something that is a mixed bag for me.  We are gathered here today among some of those memories that had a life-long impact on the very core of our beings, whether we choose to admit that or not – and for a whole variety of reasons.  Nevertheless, my memories begin with my stepfather telling us we were NOT transferring to beautiful beaches of Hawaii , but to a country I never had given any thought to…JAPAN.  What on earth was he thinking, I thought.

Fast forward to steaming into Yokohama Harbor and being overcome with garbage floating in the bay.  Oh, happy day!  What a vision for me.  Not at all what I had “suggested” as a new “home”!  Not that my requests would have made one ounce of difference.  I was 16 and had just traveled half way around the world on a Navy transport ship with other military families relocating, but more importantly, with many, many Marines being sent to VietNam .  I have often wondered just what happened to some of the acquaintances I met on that ship and it makes me sad.

Upon our arrival, of course I knew no one, but that never made any difference since we were used to moving and re-beginning.

We finally settled into Bayview Housing, a duplex type of arrangement and I soon became very close friends with someone who is still near and dear to my heart – Nancy Parker.  Now that’s another story!

Nancy and I had one or two “adventures” during our time in Yokohama :

--  Sneaking around in the dark, in the bushes, spying on Chris Bridges while she was smooching with her boyfriend at her house – and Nancy and I nearly getting caught (more than once by SP).

--  Going on a scavenger hunt – the grand prize of which was (oh yummy) a box of chocolate covered ants.

--  Hanging out at the teen club and dancing my fool head off to the sounds of the local bands (and despite what Alan tells you I said, he was the coolest guy there).

--  Train rides and streetcar rides all over the place after hiking down the huge hill across from my house to get to – guest it was Ave. D.

--  That great Chinese restaurant that I think was in Motomachi that, to this day, is still my favorite.

--  Modeling in Tokyo – (they just liked my bleached blonde hair).

--  Flying around in my beloved VW that you would have to stick your foot out the door and help push the car up hills.

--  Being awarded the “Miss Torchy” fire hat award for “Fire Prevention Week”.

--  Singing at Blue Sky Nightclub – a most definite highlight for me, despite my mother’s best efforts.

--  Being completely swept up in the quiet beauty of Sankien Gardens .

I was unable to travel much and see places in Japan like some of you because of family responsibilities, and truly did not know the treasure I had been given at that time.  45 years later, I am still connected to this YoHi family, as is evidenced by this gathering here tonight.  We truly are family and have chosen to make the effort to keep our memories alive.  Some things are just worth that effort…and you are.