Its correct name was Headquarters, U.S. Army Security Agency Pacific, but both the locals and the soldiers called it "Oji Campu" after its location in the Oji section of Tokyo, Japan. I, and hundreds of other guys, was stationed there in 1957-58. Now, fifty years later, some of us are reminiscing about our experiences with the idea of putting together some sort of an unofficial history. The first goal will be to reconstruct from memory, old photos, and some saved scraps of paper just how the place was laid out. Here's my diagram, aided, corrected and enhanced by dozens of e-mails exchanged between several of us. It may still have errors, so if you were there in the late 1950s and have anything to add, please contact me.
This diagram was modified in April 2007 but is still tentative and will need correction. Until then, the numbers represent:
1) Headquarters; 2) Theater; 3) Communications Center; 4) Machine Aids; 5) Officers' Club, BOQ ?; 6) Personnel & Chapel; 7) Fire Station; 8) Mess Hall & Billets; 9) Gym; 10) PX & other functions, Billets upstairs; 11) (not shown); 12) Hq. Company Orderly Room & Billets; 13) Ham Radio Shack; 14) Supply; 15) Motor Pool; 16) EM Club; 17) Personnel Processing (Casual) Detachment; 18) Hobby Shop; 19) NCO Club. The tiny building by the main gate was the guard shack.
FLASH! New Map and Post Diagram Material on Page 4, Clicky.
Here are some photos to start with:
Mess Hall (left) & Personnel/Chapel (center) Feb. 58, sent in by Glenn Kunkle.
Ball game, Summer 58
Old EM Club, top floor of billets, Aug. 57
A picnic at Oji, late summer 57
View from Building 12, the car being pushed is the Evil Studebaker.
In the new EM Club, early fall 57.
Another view of the new EM club, late 57
The CQ desk at Personnel Processing Detachment, late summer 57.
Jim Webb, chief clerk at Personnel Processing Detachment, late summer 57.
Me living in the lap of luxury, 3rd floor, Building 12, spring 58.
And here is the outside of that Building 12, sent to me by Noel Garland. It apparently was taken in the mid-1950s, before I arrived. My room (photo above) was in the upper left, in the dark section above the white part of the buildings, the first two windows before the 3rd floor of the white building on the left.
Image above is from a World War II Strategic Bombing Survey made in 1945. Some parts of Oji Campu are quite clear, especially the Headquarters Building. See if you can find it. This image was sent in by Noel Garland of Texas.
CLICK HERE for more "Oji Campu" on Page 2. If you have pictures or stories to share, please send.
CLICK HERE for Page 3 and what Oji looks like today.
CLICK HERE for Page 4, new Oji maps.
CLICK HERE for Page 5, the ASA Star.
CLICK HERE for Page 6, More photos of the guys.
CLICK HERE for The Beers of Oji.
And CLICK HERE for memories of North Camp Drake and JCRC-J.
Earl: In building 12 do you recall
the photo processing shop on the 2nd floor? I pulled a 2 week restriction to post for some minor infraction, and filled my time very nicely, enlarging, printing and developing my photos. I don't think many of the guys on post even knew the place existed. Also in the same building at the time, was the company clerk's office on the ground floor. You would remember this company clerk as he was, I believe, the fattest guy on the post. He had gotten him-self in trouble by "breaking his tour of duty in the FE." (He had flown to Hawaii on leave..then
flew on to his home in NYC)
Another notable figure living in building 12 was a person accused of
murdering his wife at their off post apartment. I understand that he was initially cleared of the charge, but the Military Police reopened the case.
Anyway...just jogging your memory.
Do you remember any of this or did I just dream all of this. John J
Posted by: John Jubb | March 19, 2007 at 12:58 PM
John,
Noel Garland here. The man in Bldg 12, was Richard Stovall, from Okalona, Miss. He was on Trick 3 or 4 there in comm center, a young man I knew pretty well. In fact he asked me to accompany him down to his American Lawyers office in downtown Tokyo one day, and told me some interesting things while we rode the train downtown. I met his father one time, when he came to Tokyo to meet with Richard after the CID had begun their investigation. We heard it was his wife's parents who initiated the investigation, but it was strictly hearsay. I never inquired into any details. I did talk to Richard once after 1996 when I learned of his whereabouts. He was a farmer, had 19 grandchildren, but forget how many children he had after getting out of the service, probably 4 if I remember rightly. Later when I called back, his wife told me sometime in 1999 or 2000, that Richard had been killed in an automobile accident there in his home town. I think he was from Jackson, Miss originally, where his father was some kind of influential banker in town. Again only hearsay.
Did you ever have any good luck in getting a reunion of your Camp Drake veterans together? I remember seeing you at our Reno reunion I believe.
Noel
Posted by: Noel Garland | March 20, 2007 at 04:28 PM
I went thru Oji Camp ASA HQ April 1957 on way to Korea 301st ASA Btln of 501st Grp. I was Company Clerk of Co. B. Later went to DMZ 1st Platoon.
My high school buddy FRANK PAUL assigned to Oji Camp 1957-1958. I visited him on R&R Nov 1957
Posted by: Bill Clymer | January 12, 2008 at 07:48 PM
I am the daughter of Corporal E-4 Dominic J. Grace. He was an army security agent in communications. We are also researching information regarding his assingment at Oji from 1955 to 1957. He played baseball rightfield. He was known as Ace Grace. We have some pictures that will try to get from our father.
Thank you for putting this website together. Dr. Denise Grace Lindheim
Posted by: Denise Lindheim 9 daughter of Dominic Grace) | July 09, 2009 at 10:52 PM