Commanders

COL Steve Brooks disappears to the Tiki Karaoke Room every so often to unwind from his demanding official duties. His rendition of "Secret Agent Man" would do honors in an island-wide talent show.

COL Klewin and USACAP welcomed COL Brown with a hearty hello and a 100% evacuation for Hurricane DORA in Aug 99. The man didn't even get to unpack his suitcase before we had him on another plane outta here.

CSM

While endeavoring to return the seashell that he had found while diving in JI waters, CSM Isaacs managed to fling himself into the airport waters too! A good laugh was had by all….especially CSM Isaacs and a wet one-way trip home!

Immediately upon arrival in 96-97, CSM Carlos Estronza made cleanliness his personal crusade. Round, pink air fresheners were exhibited in all USACAP offices and apartments. Two years later CSM John Isaacs was seen in his quarters, removing what little he could find of the 58 air fresheners "planted" in the Sergeant Major's hooch.

LT's

We've had our share of misguided youth, for example, 1LT Joe Rogish, SPO&T Security Officer 97-98, took a wrong turn (he went left instead of right) when leaving the AMVETS after having one too many drinks…perhaps! He woke up the next morning in the woods adjacent to the far end of the Pluto yard! He claimed to have no recollection of what led to this new sleeping arrangement.

DA Civilians

After getting a hole-in-one on the golf course on his first try, Jon Diffenderfer cannot be dragged on the course no matter what prize is offered. Since Jon believes he hit the jackpot, there's no reason to continue golfing to prove anything and 100% of his golfing career is a hole-in-one!.

Five years ago Ginny Rolland found out that the birds are royalty on island. While walking from Hole #2 with fellow golfers, a frigate bird decided to drop his entire meal on the front of Ginny's tee shirt after circling the entire golf course.

Islanders

In the early years of USACAP the island obtained a Security Patrol Boat to control the JI waters. There was a contest to name this craft. During the initial checkout drive by MAJ Newby of the Defense Nuclear Agency the boat struck a coral head destroying the prop. Subsequently during the contest the MP unit won and the craft was named for a Dirty Harry Movie, surprisingly it was the "The Enforcer" rather than "Sudden Impact."

In 1991 a duck apparently got lost and flew on to Johnston Island. The duck settled at the "Wendy Guyer" island pool. The patrons of the old Lion's Den (now AMVETS Post) named him "Paul" since they claimed that the duck reminded them of a GI friend who was one of the club patrons. Lion's Den Club people began throwing food scraps to the duck through their rear kitchen window every afternoon. Within two weeks or so the duck laid claim to the entire pool. "Paul the Duck" would not allow people to go inside the pool. That was his territory. Fish and Wildlife eventually caught up with Paul and shipped him off island to Honolulu.

In early 1992 JACADS had a maintenance supervisor called DJ (Dennis Johnson). DJ was popular among his troops. He loved to party and dance. One Saturday night at an Indoor Theater dance, one of his employees, Dave Fluggum, had one drink too many and decided to play a prank on DJ. Fluggum approached DJ from behind as DJ was dancing and all-of-a-sudden he pulled DJ's pants down. That day the island found out that DJ did not customarily use underwear. The prankster was terminated and shipped off island.

Not many people can claim they were born here, but I do. I feel like I grew up here. Well, I am sure I did. I don't know how you couldn't after living here all these years with all the experiences some good, some not so good, but then made me a better person. When I first came to the Island on June 5, 1989, I hadn't traveled that much and JI was going to the end of the world. What a change. The first thing I saw when I got off the airplane - was a machine gun pointed at me, on top of a green thing (humvee) or whatever you call those things. I wasn't sure I was going to live through the day. Then I was taught how to mask up and stick the atropine needles to save my life. Heck, I just wanted a job. I really wondered what I had got myself into. Well I am not a quitter and I guess you can see that because of my years of service. I have been here through all the munition campaigns, changeovers, CSIs, Pre-ops, and numerous other inspections, to list all of them would take a page by itself. My biggest fear was not the agent but the possibility of having to go through a real hotline. That alone has made me follow procedures more than any boss that could have put fear in me. (This is because you get completely stripped to your birthday suit in front of the entire hot line.) It has been hard meeting great people and then saying so long, but somehow it wasn't forever long, because the majority come back to give JI another attempt.

There is a sand trap that got roped off for a while a few years ago when a periodic radiation survey uncovered higher then normal radiation. It was eventually determined to be a naturally occurring isotope rather than some stray plutonium, but talk about a fairway hazard!

The Wednesday evening meal on JI is always Prime Rib! How could we give that up for a Luau! Will the island people know what to do.

A couple years ago a small cat snuck into a Milvan and took a ride from Hono to JI. He had a ball for a couple of weeks being the only cat ever. The birds were going wild. Finally a Fish & Wildlife person caught him and a collection from the island generated $2000 to buy the cat an airplane ticket and stay time in a shelter. The cat was last seen in Las Vegas with a big wad of spending money and a big grin (this part is a joke).

Then there was the time when most of the island showed up at the terminal at midnight to see off a co-worker that died from a tragic accident. All the island pulled together as a family, formed a line of respect from the terminal to the plane and said a hard farewell while a bagpipe player played in the background.

And we can't forget our past mascots - Good Friday 72-86, My Bruno 73-87, and Old Jake 81-92. The only three dogs to be on the island and friend to all. They remain buried with headstones along highway 0 next to the JOC.

Tuesday's AMC is the island's "Banana Boat". Residents rush to the dining hall when it opens at 5 a.m. the following morning to get their share of protein. All hell breaks loose if the "Banana Boat" is cancelled or fellow residents leave no bananas for the lunch and dinner meals.

In response to the request for stories about the soldiers on the island I am reminded of a story told to me by Mike Grizzle who worked out here with SWRI (he had the gas mask collection that was displayed at CSF). It seems that one day the CHAS lights turned red and the site alarm sounded. The entire event turned out to be a false alarm but all responses were made. Mike said that he had his gas mask on and was driving past the plant to the SWRI offices downrange when he came across a soldier sitting on the ground crying. The soldier had his weapon, helmet and gas mask all scattered on the ground around him. Grizzle, immediately concerned, stopped and inquired what had happened. The soldier told him that he was just sitting there waiting to die. Grizzle asked what brought the soldier to that conclusion. The soldier replied that they had been trained that they had 10 seconds to get their masks on when the alarm went off otherwise it was too late. He said that it had taken him longer than the 10 seconds to get his mask out and that he knew it was too late and that he was now just waiting to die. Grizzle said that he told the soldier to put his mask on and pick up his equipment and get out of there before someone important saw him.

Remember...

Remember what it took and what it was like to be on 24-hour notice, evacuate all 1100 of JA's inhabitants for Hurricane Dora and then find rooms for everyone?

Remember loading box, after box, after box records for every piece of furniture down 4 flights of stairs because the elevator that has been working for 40 years broke.

Remember masking tape on every item in USACAP with "Hs" and "Bs" on it.

Remember Redhat pin / One-way decon ceremonies, when they were a little "Chunkier" than Ice water and Gatorade? (USACAP personnel get deconned with gatorade plus other things as they get ready to depart)

Remember Captain Albano's decon?

Remember CSM Issacs going over "How many bags.. What Size!!!.. It'll fit in that opening - about 100 times."

Remember "Bunker dragging"?

Remember the SSG Adams and SGT Bean impromptu Chem Battle Drill during repalletization of the M23's, and the "Jailbreak" moves of PFC Swayze and others when the alarm was sounded?

Remember 16 OCT 99, the day the streets of JI ran with all the alcohol that was stored/ kept/ hoarded in barracks rooms. Reminiscent of Chicago-the Untouchables + Prohibition- the JA version of the Volstead Act?

Remember the "JI Dry Days" from 16 OCT 99 - 15 Dec 99?

Remember the Par Carts driven into the Pacific, off the boat ramp (Mardi Gras, March 2000)?

Remember the Am-Vets and how it would be a hole in the wall dive you wouldn't go anywhere near if it were anyplace in the world but JI?

Remember Friends, Coworkers, and Acquaintances going, "One Way"?

Remember Tubing with SSG Adams, SPC Justice, SPC Glatz, SGT Bowman, and others?

Remember the Waikiki and the Bingo Wars?

Remember Sumo nights at the Tiki?

Remember SPC Allen who was projected to perform 6 simultaneous critical tasks at 6 different locations during Operation Guam Express II?

Remember Jose and the Hostage Scenario CAIRA Exercise?

Remember NOT needing a calendar to know what day it was, All you had to do was go to the Coral Reef Cafe. If it's Prime Rib, it's Wed; Mexican night - must be Tue; Steak, must be Sat; Shrimp, it must be Friday, etc, etc?

Remember when EVERY MWR event meant a FREE T-shirt for every participant?

Remember the Mardi Gras Parade/ Party, the Millennium Bash, the last 2 Halloween Parties, the runway Turkey Trot (99), etc, etc?

Remember the countless hours spent in the SSCC, 710, PSC, trying to make 12 hours pass faster?

Remember getting rained on while watching a movie at the outdoor theater, huddling in the restroom, trying to stay dry?

Remember crowds at the Post Office whenever a mail plane came in?

Remember when getting in to the Coral Reef Cafe didn't require badge verification? Remember when they had Dove Bars?

Remember the rush to the BX the day after the barge arrived?

Remember watching football at 7:00 Sunday morning?

Remember feeding time at the shark chute?

Remember covering your ears whenever a plane took off?

Remember when there was on-island photo developing?

Remember the "Island Breeze" being a different color everyday?

Remember when a calm day meant the wind was blowing less than 20 MPH?

Remember the strong, sickening smell during coral spawning season?

Remember when haircuts were free?

Remember when a week old newspaper at the library was current news?

Remember when making an off-island call took a lot of patience?

Remember what a red flag, double red flag, and black flag meant?