1946-2007: An Old Soldier Returns to Camp Site in Beppu
 

To all:

Several posters have asked me to write of my recent return to Japan (emd, TravelGirl2, EKSCRUNCHY included).

Rather than write of our nearly month-long journey through parts of China and Japan, I've decided to write a shorter version description of just the most emotional highlight.

This may be a very timely story. Allow me to explain. I'm a writer and a long-time independent traveler, having recently returned from both places to which I have been before. When planning the Japan portion, I had a strong yen (pardon the pun) for returning to the town where 60 years ago I was a young G.I. with the 19th Infantry Regiment as part of the first U.S. occupying force right after WW II.

Months ago, I had contacted the Beppu, Japan, Mayor's office through their internet web site and I immediately heard from one of his staff who was gracious enough to welcome me as the first-ever returnee to Beppu from those long ago, immediate post-war days.

When we arrived in Beppu, Kyushu three weeks ago (my wife and I), a "plush red carpet" was laid out for us and we were escorted to the former campsite by two officers of the Japanese Defense Force and the young lady from the Mayor's staff with whom I had been corresponding. We were taken to the exceptionally awesome Beppu City Peace Park, an enormous Japanese-style garden covering several acres...on the site of the former Camp Chickamauga (we were the "Rock of Chickamauga" Regiment), and they pointed out a 60-foot pine which has been named "The Chickamauga Tree"...it was the once 10-foot pine that was used to decorate with Christmas Lights, and it was especially saved from the bulldozing. By this time, my eyes began to well up, and my legs were shaking. (You have to imagine returning anywhere after 60 years absence!)

Next to the tree, there stood a large plaque commemorating "the kindnesses shown by troops of the 19th Infantry Regiment to the people of Beppu"... and Tomoko, the young lady, told me of the stories her grandfather and his cronies used to tell of how respectful and caring the young occupation soldiers were toward the people of the downtrodden town.

I clearly remembered how we would never go to town without bringing some food items and other necessities, especially for the ill-fed children. Although I was choking up, I was never more proud of being an American and of once being part of all those gestures of good will, when animosities could have easily ruled the day.

The Colonel and the Lieutenant saluted me when they left, which I returned to them...me a little old PFC, suh!

To go along with these memories, I must mention that my regiment was responsible for patrolling the polling places in the region during the first-ever Japanese free elections. I was assigned to drive a recon jeep with a lieutenant and a Japanese-Hawaiian fellow G.I. as interpreter, into some of the most remote polling locations on that island of Kyushu. The elections went off without an incident (as indeed did the entire occupation of the country...contrast with today's Iraq!).

At the time I was 18 years old and when we returned to base two weeks later, I wrote a lengthy essay under the theme of, "Is Japan Now Ready For Democracy". My mother sent it to the Quincy (my Massachusetts home town)Patriot Ledger, and they printed it in full with my picture. I have an old yellowing copy, of course.

I believe the timeliness of this story couldn't be more appropriate, in light of military events the world over. I seem to think that this is in stark difference to the Iraqi situation...a time when an American occupation of a defeated foreign power met with far better results.

P.S. Tomoko proudly told me that during the Christmas season, the local populace lights up the Chickamauga Tree every year...and as you know, there are very few Christians in all of Japan. But, she told me, they do so not for Christmas, but in honor of the good deeds of the 19th. (I still wear my baseball cap with the Division's taro-leaf patch).

Stu T.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...42010001.html#

http://www.beppu-navi.jp/ml/english/history.htm (see mention of Camp Chickamauga)

Photos of the event:

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...47249823655634

What a lovely story, Stu. Thanks for sharing.

I salute you, tower, what a moving story, can't wait to meet you when you come north.

Thanks so much for writing an account of your return for us!

Stu that is truly touching. Wonderful. But I find it VERY DIFFICULT to believe that you were 18, sixty years ago. Those numbers add up to a figure that in no way jibes with your youthful appearance. Amazing!!

To those who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Stu...this man does not look anywhere near that age!!!! There is hope for all of us!

Aw gee, EK!

That face mask I borrowed from Phantom of the Opera must have really fooled you! Or it might have been that tap water in Beijing that had hidden face-lift properties!
Thanks anyway.
Stu

Stu,

Thanks for the story and your service to our country.

Aloha!

stu---nice report....thanks for sharing..

bob

Stu,

You might find this interesting - from today's Bangkok Post: http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/23May2007_news07.php

Thank you Hanuman...very interesting read. By the way, were you able to download my pix? I've had some trouble with Picasa in the past, and I was just wondering.

stu T.

I was able to see your photos- Thanks for posting them!

Thanks for the feedback, Tim and Liz!

Stu T.

Stu...do you have an idea of someone who can ship me that tap water???

EK:

Try Kong Lin...he is the one who turned me on to this great secret...he's been taking it for years, and he's actually 66 years old!!!His girlfriend is 63.

Stu

This is a touching story, Stu. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. The pictures are beautiful.

Stu:
As I was reading a post on another thread, I saw a reference to your post here. What a wonderful post! It must have been very emotional, I know it was for me just to read your words. Thanks for your writing and for your service to our country. In my book, you are a true member of the "Greatest Generation".

All the best,

d1

I'm so glad I found this very touching account. Thank you so much for sharing what was obviously very important to you. (And, yes, the contrasts are obvious.)

Stu,

Thanks for sharing this story and for the kindness your regiment showed to the people of Beppu.

I'm delighted you were honored!

Stu - thanks for sharing. And thank you for your service.

I'm glad I re-read your post. I see you were there as part of the victorious occupying force and not as a POW.

It is a wonderful thing that you were welcomed so kindly, and that the memories were good on both sides. And it must have been a very special experience for you. BUT - I have to admit to deep unease with the overall feelgood factor.

Let us not forget those (including Americans - I have to say that otherwise the retention factor of this post will be zero) who saw the War from the other side.

I am speaking of those who spent the war in Japanese POW camps

I assume you are all familiar with the Burma Railroad and the Sandakan Death March?

I don't want to spoil the party but I think we all need to recognise the dangers inherrent in remembering only parts of our history.

It is not my intention to diminish or otherwise question the attitudes of the Japanese of today - but I think it essential that we all remember what the Japanese did.

Especially for younger readers who quite possibly have never heard of the Burma Railway.

Anyone care to comment?

Chinmani,

Over and over you seem to forget that this is a travel forum and not your personal political forum to air your disturbed thoughts.

Are you questioning what I am saying, Hawaiiantraveller?

Or are you saying that because this is a "travel forum" truth/fact is inadmissable?

The OP's post was not about the best places to stay or the best places to go. It was about history. That, as I read it, was the whole point.

I replied in the same vein. Thinking to open up a discussion between people who think. It interests me to consider how the relationship between the US and Japan has changed. And I suspect it might interest the OP too.

But not you. Suggest you improve your comprehension skills, or just don't bother reading posts to which you hae nothing useful to contribute.

Bonjour Chimani,

Please enlighten us poor comprehension-challenged and tell us

a) since when is collective distrust and guilt by association acceptable ?(last that I checked my history books, not all the Japanese were soldiers or camp guards who committed/ordered/covered atrocities).

b) for how long, how many generations, should the World keep on distrusting "the Japanese" ?

c) by the same token, are Europeans wrong to be buddies with the Germans so soon after WWII ?

d) what about reparations for the Crusades ?

e) and finally, do you really think insulting forums members who disagree with you will win you many friends and followers ?

Inquiring minds want to know ...

chinmai, well, well, you seem to be quite the history buff.. are you? me, i'm happy i escaped with a c, but i still know a little about history.

so, if you are talking about bad behavior, lets not forget the americans, chinese, koreans, malaysians, cambodians, vietnames, and our friends across the pond, the romans, greeks, brits, germans, french, etc. and yes, as florence mentioned, even the christians.

cruelty to a fellow human being is not the private domain of the japanese, but is an unfortunate by-product of every nation that took up arms.

stu provided a feel good story, so lets just leave it at that. :-)

btw, ht has provided more positive contributions here, than you ever will.

now, as an aside to this thread, about four months ago, a friend took early retirement, and told me she was going to japan for a year. i said good for you, and what do you plan to do there for a year.

her reply was...yep, to photograph manhole covers throughout japan.(of course i thought she was insane)

now that i saw the picture of the manhole cover, i understand and have a better appreciation of her adventure. she said she plans to publish a book of her photographs of the manhole covers.

shalom.

Enough.

Yet again I find myself telling Chimani to take the anger and vitriol somewhere else.

The OP's post was about a journey HE took, not a political statement about the history of POWs. So your point, however much you try to justify your sheer nastiness, is completely lost. It's obvious you're out to aggravate people...most all of your posts on here are button-pushing. I think I speak for most when I say: we're sick of it.

Go away. Find something better to do with your time. Stop hiding behind your computer and attacking people on here.

If you seriously want to "open a discussion between thinking people" then I suggest visiting one of innumerable historical, political, or philosophical boards to quench your need for intellectual discourse. Maybe they're more tolerant there of boorishness.

Dear Mr. Tower
Yesterday I was strolling in the Beppu Park with my friend and was telling her your story. She was almost crying. And today she told me that she found this post. I was moved to tears... Mr. Tower, thank you so much for coming back to our city and thank you for remembering us after so many years.
Tomoko

Tomoko...so nice to hear from you. Thank you for writing. Beppu is always in my thoughts...and has been for 65 yeqrs!
Domo arigato.

Stuart Tower
Former "resident" of Beppu

Dear Mr. Tower-I just found your story, and wanted to see if you ever met my Dad when you were at Camp Chickamauga. His name was Robert Peacock, he was in the 19th infantry and was there in 1946 til I am not sure when. He was from West Orange, NJ. he was a very good athlete and played for the Chicks football team as quarterback. He was a great guy and always spoke fondly of Beppu and the people of the town and his Army buddies. He and my Mom went back to visit the town in the 1980s and had a wonderful experience. He passed away about a year ago and my 4 siblings and I were going through some of his old stuff this past weekend and I found a photo album with tons of photos of the camp and the men stationed there. I would be happy to scan some and email them to you if you are interested. It was great reading your reflections on your time there, and I just wondered if you ever knew my Dad.
Sincerely,
Karen Peacock Trachtenberg
Email: [email protected]

nice to read this again

Karen:
So sorry, but your dad's name just doesn't register..65 years is a long time. He and I shared an interesting eeperience. I played baseball for the Chicks team and I saw every football game. One of my buddy's was also a Chick FB player, Tom Sfikas from Lynn, Mass. As a matter of fact, the Coach really liked the guys from the baseball team cheering on the football team, which we did. He asked another buddy and I if we would like to go to Kokura for a weekend pass and scout the Engineer Battalion's team they would be playing the following week. What a blast that was...we came back with diagrams for their plays and it must have been helpful because the Chicks soundly trounced the Engineers. I will scan some more Beppu pics and send them on to you in the next few days. Thanks for the memories..I'm sorry you lost dad....bless my comrades memory! I still wear a baseball hat with the 24th Division insignia on it..with it, I've run into several old timers around the country from the 19th, the 21st and 34th (the three regiments making up the 24th division).

Stu Tower
PFC, "E" company, 19th Infantry regiment, 24th Division...oh, so long ago!

Thanks for the "heads up" Bob..
stu

This was very interesting to me as I was the Company C jeep driver and also drove for the Elections in 1946 when I was 18 years old. I took basic training at Fort Dix N.J. and sailed for Japan the day after Thanksgiving on the General Black troop ship and landed in Japan 28 days later. I arrived in Camp Chickamauga just before Christmas. I left Japan in December 1947.

Sorry, Lyle, old buddy, I just saw your post today. Imagine, we go back 65 years! I was in E Company, came to Japan from Fort Lawton, Seattle, took basic at Fort McLellan, Alabama.
I pulled the election duty because I had "bought" a bootlegged jeep drivers license for $1.00 and they were short fot the election patrols. What a great experience. I correspond with an old 19th comrade who lives in Miami...I'm in L.A., and you?

I'll post some more Chickamauga pics.

Stu Tower

I'm in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My company commander tried to get me to reenlist as he said I could retire at 38 years old. I have read that three fourths of the 19th was killed or wounded in Korea so I think I made the right choice by coming home. Was Louis Abid in your company?

Lyle...I got the pitch also..but in Camp Stoneman, California, waiting for discharge, the pressure was really put on with promises you could rejoin your outfit. My god, you're right, the 19th was wiped out at Taegu and Pusan..the 75% number is probably not far off....I shudder to think about it. I remember reading the papers and each time I came across 24th Divsion, 8th army or any regiment of the 24th including ours, I choked up. Don't know a Louis Abid. We lucked out. And even beyond that if Uncle Harry didn't drop the bombs, we could have been in the Japanese invasion which was predicted to be beyond brutal wih more than a million losses on each side.
stu

Lyle...I guess we've been hijcking my own post...so why not write me at [email protected]
I'll send a slew of old Beppu pics..

I am so glad I found this, Thank you for your service and this great post, all of you fellows out there!

lina...thank you for your kind words...so nice of you to write....Lyle and I are now in email touch..what a thrill...we were mere boys all those decades ago while on duty in Japan...now 65 years later, we're octogenarians, still alive and writing to one another!

Stu Tower

Old soldiers never die - they just keep on travelling and having fun!