A NEW MAP OF NORTH CAMP DRAKE:
This map was made by scanning an old 1958 Engineers TOPO map of the entire area that Glenn Kunkle found online and sent me. I layered the new drawing on top of it using CorelDraw, then deleted the base and converted the image to a JPEG. The base map did not show the boundaries of the post, so I took a guess at that, and it was not very clear about buildings, so I only included ones that I have photos of. If you know of any corrections or additions that should be made, please let me know in the comments section below.
None of this exists anymore. A recent search on Google Earth by Glenn yielded an aerial photo in fairly high resolution that showed only the footprint of the "Little Pentagon" building, apparently under demolition at the time the survey was made. There was not even a trace of the other buildings.
Do you remember those chrome metal nametags we had at JCRC? Here's mine, all scratched up and a little worse for wear after these nearly 50 years. I'm finding all kinds of this stuff in old boxes, will post what's interesting here.
stationed at north dake 1954 until 1956 with a unit called far east signal command i have tried to find whare they went to
Posted by: robert j hammock | October 03, 2007 at 07:15 PM
stationed there 1954 1956 with fec sigal batt.help move from diachi bldgig to north camp drake
Posted by: robert j hammock | October 04, 2007 at 02:59 PM
Stationed at North Drake Feb 1966 through Nov 1968. The unit name then was ASA-PCRSJ (Pacific Communications Relay Station Japan). I don't think "Units" ever left, they just changed the name.
Your map looks good (correct). We were up-stairs in the west wing and the billets was the same. Opposite the billets was 500 MI Unit.
My father-in-law was stationed at "Asaka Camp" when Grant Heights golf course belonged to the Emperor (1944+/-).
Posted by: Dale Hill | December 20, 2007 at 07:50 PM
I was searching for an old link I had for Camp Drake. (My computer crashed) Found your site. I was at North Camp Drake from late 1959 through May 1961. ASA. I remember well the times at the NCO club, bowling and Papa San downstairs, that polished our shoes. Looking back, he was probably one of the wealthiest individuals around Asaka. I too have some pictures and if I can locate them, I'll send them along.
Oh.. I still remember the Strip out front along with the the B1 Bar, The Corner Bar and Yoshiko..
Bill Winchell
Posted by: | January 05, 2008 at 06:26 PM
i was stationed as an mp at cp. zama 1-'73 til 6-'73, then cp. drake 6-'73 til 11-'73, then back to zama until 7-'74.
we did security for no., so. drake, g.h., sanno hotel, a few other housing areas i dont remember now. i actually miss being there.
Posted by: jay knickerbocker | January 20, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Re: Robert J. Hammock's posting( 10/04/07 )
I was at Camp Drake during 1967-68 attached
to the 294th mp det.One of our guys, Fred
Herring was friends with a couple of asa guys; don't remember names. Could Robert
Hammock email me or whatever?
Posted by: Bill Bollinger | February 26, 2008 at 06:32 PM
I was at Camp Drake in 1967 and 1968 and was in the ASA unit. I played softball for the ASA team there on the base. If u have any info on how i can find a list of people in my unit that were there please pass that along to me. I am looking for a person who may have married my girlfriend from there. Thanks and will be waiting for a reply from u. Greg
Posted by: GRegory Grude | April 08, 2008 at 03:40 PM
I was stationed there 1970-1972 in the 1967 Communications Squadron. Wow, what memories. I had such a great time and got to be a member of one hell of a group of men and women!!
Posted by: Danny Davis | May 07, 2008 at 12:15 AM
This is a first for me, using email to send information.
I have a copy of the handout frunished me upon my arrivalin July 1952. A brief description and map of the camp.
I later spent 12 months at Drake when our company was transferred there from Tokyo
Posted by: | May 26, 2008 at 05:24 PM
i love this site.
Posted by: Ron | August 04, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Was with 500th MI from 59-92. This site brings back a lot of memories from Drake and Asaka/Strip. We had a intense dislike for the Agency guys (just unit rivalry). We were the spooks.
Posted by: Art Norton | November 23, 2008 at 08:53 PM
I was stationed at north cmp drake from '69 - '73 with the 1967 Comm Sq. Rembember many Viet Nam casualties being treated there. Lived with my wife in the housing area ".. Heights".. My daughter was born in Tachikawa AB.. Wow it seems like a million years ago..
Posted by: Robert Porras | November 28, 2008 at 02:26 PM
I was stationed at Camp Drake with the 1967
Comm. from Feb.1966 to Sept 1968. Worked with
a great group of people. Their names were
Terry Spurlock,Eugene Saari,John Grivetti,
Michael Keller,Scholl,Big Man,Sholz and many
more. I do remember the corner bar,I was
very young then. The ku (Shinjuku),Harajuku,
Ikebukuru,Grant Heights,alot of fun,I hope
to hear from some of my old pals..Ja mata...
Posted by: BIll Alarcon | December 03, 2008 at 11:25 PM
I was shocked when I did a GOOGLE for John Grivetti today..my name was listed right beside his .. from a post on this page by Robert Porras just above !! Email me at
lex.talionis007@gmail.com please. Great to find and see this website. Thanks all. MK
Posted by: Michael Keller | March 26, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Someone told me I needed to look at this site, and that I was mentioned. Wow, great to see Bill Alarcon's name along with Gene Saari. I think everyone remembers the Corner Bar, it was an institution. The 67th Comm Squadron was a one of a kind operation, and a ton of fun. But, as Bill mentioned, we were very young then, and I'm probably looking at it through the eyes of time.
Posted by: Terry Spurlock | May 11, 2009 at 01:34 AM
Great web site. The pictures and the thoughts of others bring back a lot memories (249th GH Oct 66 - Jan 68). By chance I met a guy last week that had played golf at South Camp Drake as I had. He asked if I remembered the layout of the back 9 because he could not and I could describe 10-13 and 16-18 but could not pull up 14 & 15 (some gaps in the memory bank). When I returned home I found an old score card but it did not help on the layout. Does anyone know where I can find diagram of the course?
Posted by: Don Forkum | May 29, 2009 at 02:43 PM
i was an army medic with the 249th GH from oct 66 ot aug 68; many happy memories; we never left the south gate, it was everything your mom warned you about; anybody remember the old toothless woman who used to proposition any soldier, night or day. cant believe what happened to the base, we returned last may, nothing but a jungle and a rusted old yield sign
Posted by: david brew | June 02, 2009 at 02:04 AM