Walked down to the seawall in Kadena-cho in Okinawa, Japan today after Typhoon Jelawat. Here are a few photos I took.
Category: Events
Waiting Out a Typhoon in Okinawa
Typhoons are a rather common occurrence in Okinawa, Japan during the months of April through November. Usually when there are typhoons you just wait it out by staying indoors as most businesses will be closed. This can be a very long and boring time. Sometimes the typhoons can even last up to a week or …
Okinawa Route 58
Driving up route 58 in Okinawa near the East China Sea and Kadena marina.
Kadena Circuit Actions
Kadena circuit actions airman hard at work.
Pallet Building
During Joint military exercise Cobra Gold here are some United States Airmen building a pallet at the Wing 1 exercise complex in Korat, Thailand.
First Thai Kickboxing Experience
While in Thailand for joint military exercise Cobra Gold I took the opportunity to see a live Muay Thai kickboxing event. During the event they started out with the lower weight classes and worked their way up to the main event fight. From my observations the lower age and weight class fighters were primarily just …
Deutsches Haus
After a 12 hour shift and then a 1 hour bus ride back to the hotel, during Cobra Gold 2000 in Nakhon Ratashima, Thailand I enjoyed going out to a local restaurant called the Deutsches Haus. It was owned by the nicest German man named George. George would cook up some good food, sing karaoke, …
Navy F-18’s at Cobra Gold 2000
During Joint Military exercise Cobra Gold 2000 the U.S. Navy had some F-18 hornet’s on the flight line at Wing 1 of Korat air base in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Cobra Gold 2000 Technical Control
After a 12 hour shift this Technical Control airman is waiting to go back to the hotel during Cobra Gold 2000 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Welcome to Thailand
This is my first time ever to Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand I took a couple photos looking out of my hotel room window to see what Korat had to offer. Then I decided to go for a walk to see for myself. While walking down the street there was a guy riding an elephant, so I …
Joint Military Exercise Cobra Gold
Here is a group photo of the communications team that was taken during the joint military exercise Cobra Gold that was held in the kingdom of Thailand.
F-15 Versus Air Force Security Forces
While serving in the Air Force I received an e-mail with this safety briefing about an accident that happened at Eglin Air Force base in Florida. Even though they say it was an accident, every part of this looks like people were screwing around.
White’s Bridge
Went over to White’s Bridge near Lowell, Michigan to see the historic covered bridge.
Ali Al Salem Air Base Facilities
Here are some of the facilities at Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait. You can see the base exchange, the recreation center, and the gym in the photos above.
Explosive Ordinance Disposal
While at Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait my commander was an ex-Explosive Ordinance Disposal (E.O.D.) person so he asked me if I wanted to go out and watch EOD blow some things up. That’s how I was afforded the opportunity to go out with EOD and watch them blow up 24 sticks of …
Digging Cable Trenches
Ali Al Salem air base was a tactical base that was quickly setup and it has a mess of cables all over the place. To try to clean the cables up and run them neatly through trenches. The biggest problem though was that it was all rock and digging through that was not easy.
Radio Tower View of Ali Al Salem Air Base
The view of Ali Al Salem Air Base from the radio tower. This definitely gives a bird’s eye perspective of what it was like on this base. You may notice a swimming pool in the photos. The swimming pool was only 3 feet deep and the main reason it was there was because it was …
Sights around Kuwait
Here are some different things you can see around Kuwait.
Kuwaiti Puma
At Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait I happened to see a couple Kuwaiti Puma aircraft. Here are a couple photos.
Shooting the Big Gun
This is what a 50 caliber Baret looks like and this is what it looks like when you are aiming at a bad guy through a scope. These photos were taken at Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait.
Ali Al Salem Tent City
While deployed to Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait I was afforded the wonderful opportunity to go camping in the desert 39 miles away from the Iraqi boarder. The United States Air Force was ever so kind as to setup tents with air conditioning. It was so hot in the desert that if you …
Reenlistment Ceremony
While at Ali Al Salem air base I reenlisted in the Air Force. Here are some photos of the reenlistment ceremony in front of “The Rock.”
Air Force Predator Aircraft
During my time at Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait it was common occurrence to see the Air Force Predator aircraft. This plane is pretty cool because it is an unmanned aircraft and has virtually a lawnmower engine to power it. There was a lot of debate between different types of pilots about if …
Hardened Aircraft Shelter at Ali Al Salem
Here are some photos of the hardened aircraft shelter’s (HAS) at Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait. The story behind the HAS was that they were built by the French and they were designed with 10 foot reinforced concrete. Apparently the French who built them for the Kuwaiti’s sold them as being bomb proof. …
Welcome to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait
After 34 hours of flight travel I finally arrived at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. This base was 39 miles from the Iraqi boarder. Here are a few photos of C-130 aircraft with a photo of the base out of the back of a C-130. Just a few of the things I saw …
Okinawa Dragon Boat Race
Went to watch the dragon boat races at Tomarin in Okinawa. This was a pretty neat event. There were teams with Okinawan people from different places and there were also teams from different military bases in Okinawa. It seemed as though they were building friendships through friendly competition while experiencing some of the Okinawan culture.
Fighter Jets
Here is a photo of an Air Force F-117 stealth fighter while it is refueling and a photo of a Navy F-18 static display at Kadena air base “Friendship Festival.”
18th Communications Squadron Flag Football
18th Communications Squadron from Kadena Air Base playing flag football against Marines on Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan.
Jason Newsted (Former Metallica Bassist) the Unknown Story
In 1998 I was in Okinawa, Japan when I received my Metallica fan club magazine which informed me of the bands upcoming tour. It was actually happening, Metallica was coming to Japan. I knew immediately I had to get tickets. So I checked with the Metallica club to see if I could get tickets through …
Sapporo Building
While in Tokyo, Japan I went to Asakusa and on the way back I stopped and snapped this photo of the Sapporo building. Sapporo is a big beverage company in Japan and they are best known for their beer.
Habu Sake (Snake Rice Wine)
I went to the botanical gardens in Okinawa with some friends to see a Christmas light event that was going on. While there I was walking through a gift store and saw this Habu sake. In Okinawa, “Habu” means snake and sake is Japanese rice wine. So you literally buy a bottle of wine that …