Feelslikefar
Senior Member
- Location
- Nashville, TN
I've lived on 3 Islands and they couldn't have been any more different.
My first trip to Oahu, Hawaii was when I was 7 years old so I don't remember too much about it.
We lived there for about 3 years and for me, it was just another in the long line of places to live.
In 1964, we moved back to Honolulu and stayed till I graduated from High School.
Warm temps, tropical breezes and a laid back atomsphere. My dad taught me about the ocean,
how to dive and sail. I taught myself how to surf and that took up most of my free time.
Paradise for a kid growing up.
Next was the Island of Guam. First duty station after tech school in the Air Force.
Close enough in culture to Hawaii that I fit right in. More humidity than Hawaii.
Long hours taking care of aircraft, but I was young and ready to do my bit.
Fast forward to 1974 and I was stationed for a year on one of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska and boy
was that a wake-up call.
The Island of Shemya, Alaska is 2 miles by 4 miles long.
Cold and windy year round. No TREES. No village, just a bunch of guys hanging on for dear life.
( no women station there at that time )
Most food came up on a barge, so fresh items were a hit and miss type arrangement.
Canned and powered milk and my personal favorite...Powdered Eggs.
I would be in the chow line for breakfast and the 'cook' would always ask how you wanted your eggs.
"a couple Sunny Side up" I would rely.
He'd say "No Problem" and take his ice cream scoop and dig into the pan of powdered eggs and give me
two scoops onto my metal tray. Joy!
To pass the time when I wasn't working, I fished, played racqetball, played my guitar, played numberous
games of chance, explored the Island and probably consumed more alcohol than I should have.
1975, we experienced a 7.6 earthquake on the island which cut us off for quite awhile due to the runway
destruction. That kept me busy till I left 4 months later.
Looking back, grateful for those times and what it taught me and would visit them all if I had the chance.
My first trip to Oahu, Hawaii was when I was 7 years old so I don't remember too much about it.
We lived there for about 3 years and for me, it was just another in the long line of places to live.
In 1964, we moved back to Honolulu and stayed till I graduated from High School.
Warm temps, tropical breezes and a laid back atomsphere. My dad taught me about the ocean,
how to dive and sail. I taught myself how to surf and that took up most of my free time.
Paradise for a kid growing up.
Next was the Island of Guam. First duty station after tech school in the Air Force.
Close enough in culture to Hawaii that I fit right in. More humidity than Hawaii.
Long hours taking care of aircraft, but I was young and ready to do my bit.
Fast forward to 1974 and I was stationed for a year on one of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska and boy
was that a wake-up call.
The Island of Shemya, Alaska is 2 miles by 4 miles long.
Cold and windy year round. No TREES. No village, just a bunch of guys hanging on for dear life.
( no women station there at that time )
Most food came up on a barge, so fresh items were a hit and miss type arrangement.
Canned and powered milk and my personal favorite...Powdered Eggs.
I would be in the chow line for breakfast and the 'cook' would always ask how you wanted your eggs.
"a couple Sunny Side up" I would rely.
He'd say "No Problem" and take his ice cream scoop and dig into the pan of powdered eggs and give me
two scoops onto my metal tray. Joy!
To pass the time when I wasn't working, I fished, played racqetball, played my guitar, played numberous
games of chance, explored the Island and probably consumed more alcohol than I should have.
1975, we experienced a 7.6 earthquake on the island which cut us off for quite awhile due to the runway
destruction. That kept me busy till I left 4 months later.
Looking back, grateful for those times and what it taught me and would visit them all if I had the chance.
