My name is Denis Buksa and I was
stationed at Det 4 from Jan. 1962 through Dec. 1962
before volunteering for Saigon (Davis Station). I worked
as an 058 for that year and remember it quite well. Don't
remember what trick I was on but do remember special
occasions such as the alert we had in November, 1962 when
Kennedy was assassinated. Also a fly over by a Mig 15 in
about June during the middle of lunch.
Based on what I have seen on your
pages, I must have been among the earliest of the
troopies to live in the new brick barracks. I was on the
2nd floor of the building at the back of the quadrangle.
Don't have time for more
reminiscing now but will try to get back soon.
==============================================================
From: "Rush Miller" Rush46@aol.com
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2000 20:29:59 EDT
Subject: 1969
My year on the hill was 1969. The first man on the moon
and we missed it. Sent home so many things, a hooka for
my sister, wood burnings from downtown, meerschaum pipes,
semi-precious stones from GI Joe's.
Had jackets and shoes hand made. Never have had anything
fit so well before
or since. Remember the puzzle rings, 4, 8, 12 pieces? How
about those worry beads? Spent too much time in the EM
Club. Who could resist 20 cent beer and quarter shots.
Played those slot machines til I was out of change.
Nothing like a wild cab ride down the hill after pulling
your last mid but not wanting to waste your first day
off. Ate in almost every restaurant in Sinop. Could not
speak a work of Turkish so they would just lead us back
to the kitchen and let us pick what we wanted. Only time
I got sick was on that 'pizza' stuff they sold by the
docks near the American Hotel.
The Russian
Fort and the hippodrome. The birds that made first
landfall on the top of the hill after their Black Sea
crossing from Russia. The locals picked them up and put
them in sacks for a once a year treat. Very eerie
watching all those lanterns moving about the hill top
that night. The landline 'radio'. Sometimes on a day off
we'd buy a fresh round loaf of bread from the bakery, a
big chunk of goats milk cheese and a bottle of Turkish
wine and just relax near the water.
Sometimes we'd just meander through town taking
picktures, but not of girls of course. Sometimes we'd get
a haircut which always came with a complimentary cup of
chai. I liked the cinnamon flavored. The Turkish men
walking hand in hand and whispering to each other. The
call to prayer from the minarets. The Roman cobblestone
road. The Black Sea everywhere you looked. The Cyclops
residing in the cliffside caves.
Oh, and
don't forget the belly dances in the club. And what was
the name of that band which was made up of four of the
enlisted guys right from our midst? Was it meatloaf or
something like that? Their advertising included the
slogan, "You can't
beat the meat." We thought they were better than the
Beatles and the Stones
put together. One by one they rotated and the band was no
more. And of course that big donkey that was always
excited about something.
All these
thoughts came flooding back when my wife was straighening
up her jewelry box today and came upon two loose
'alexandrite' stones I brought home with me over 30 years
ago. Then I looked for those meerschaum pipes that never
got smoked. All great memories now that I'm 30+ years
removed. Sure would be nice to have a reunion of sorts
and talk over those times.
==============================================================
From: "richard tolbert"
<tolbert_hall@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 23:48:41 GMT
I stumbled across your site by accident. Memories came
back with a rush. I served as a 204 at B ops from June
1960 'til June 61. Many of the faces and names on the
site are familiar but I remember Don Ackerman best.
As I'm new at this Internet business, I'm not sure how to
send Don e-mail.
I have 100's of color slides taken during the
aforementioned time period. I plan on establishing a site
on the net and will post some pictures as soon as I can.
If anyone is interested in these pictures, let me know.
My temporary e-mail address is tolbert-hall@hotmail.com.
Richard Tolbert pfc/U.S. Army (ret)
================================================================
From: Dave Shively shively1@leland.Stanford.EDU
Subject: On The Hill
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000
I was on The Hill in '72 at Hippodrome maintenance, Sp5,
33C20. I was better at administration than technician
work and became Assistant NCOIC under MSG John Weigel.
I've made contact with SSG Gary Bartholomew who was the
shop supervisor and was VERY LUCKY to have my friend
David Neeley contact me through this Sinop web page. I
was offered E-6 to "kick it" after 3 years but
was too stupid to go for it and took the early out
option.
Home Page:
http://www.stanford.edu/~shively1/
================================================================
From: "Victor Moore" vpgrls23@home.com
Subject: checking in
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2000
I wandered into this site while
researching Turkish rugs. I was an E-4 with Det 169 in
'73-'74. I looked up Ron Eddins' site, because one of his
tours was around my time. We lived in the exact same
house (18 Houses) about a year apart! His site had a
picture of my (our) house, and I almost fainted!
One story:
I can remember taking a trip with a couple of Turks (Adil
Sert and Kazim Dincer from the motor pool) out to the
village of Gerze, about 30km outside of Sinop. They had
great rugs, and Adil and Kazim went into the shop first
to check on prices. Then they brought me in. The
shopkeeper couldn't charge me the "G.I." rate
because he had already quoted his prices to my Turkish
akadashes. I got a beautiful rug which three grown kids
couldn't ruin. I remember being really hung over that
morning, so they took me out for some cold tripe soup,
the Turkish version of a bloody mary.
Bill, if you're the one loading
the roll call pages, the data for me is:
Sinop (73-74) Moore, Victor (nickname Arthur), Spec 4,
e-mail vpgrls23@home.com.
===============================================================
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000
From: "Rhett Polson" Rhett.Polson@AUC.TRW.Com
Subject: Sinop list
Bill, name is Rhett Polson. At
Hippodrome '71 to 72. SSG Ops.
My roommate Dick Johnson rebuilt the EM club....does
anyone
remember that horrible red flocked wall paper?
==============================================================
Date: Wed, 02 Aug 00
To: Roll Call
From: "Dennis Rolstad"
<n1wyu@hotmail.com>
Dennis Rolstad, here in W. Ma. I
had the honor of being on the hill at Bankhead from
December 1968 through December 1969 in sig maint, 33C. I
just looked for my name, and hav'nt looked but for a few
minutes at this website, so don't have any names to add
at this time.
I got E-5 in July 1969, I forget now what more info
you need. I got out in Aug,71,from 328th RR 23rd Inf Div.
509th RR. Gp.
Thank you for letting me not to be among the missing.
Regards, Dennis Rolstad.
===============================================================
From: Dennis Kasabian KEMOradio@aol.com
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000
Subject: Not a dog but a Kitty
In 1978-'79 the MP's inherited a
Black Cat we named Wookie. Doc Paterson even performed a
spay operation in somewhat sterile conditions in the
Barracks rec room. I guess alchol is sterol. I believe we
had a large party in there the night before. Wookie would
know the shifts we worked and would walk to the MP house
and walk the out going shift back to the barracks then
return to the MP desk for a snooze.
Sgt Kasabian, Dennis
==============================================================
TO: Robert Bolling
From: Bill Simons
My reply to
your email message bounced back as undeliverable, here is
is:
========================================================
"Thanks for the Comments
Robert.
I'd be happy to set up a page for you at the Sinop site
and post any pictures/stories etc that you wish to share
with the rest of us. If you have a scanner, you can send
me the scanned JPG images as message attachments (limit
it to 3 pictures per message please) or if not, send me
the photos and I'll scan them here and then return the
originals."
=============================================
Date:
Thu, 15 Jun 00 19:07PM EDT
From: Charles
Morehouse cam44616@yahoo.com
Subject:
addition
Hi Just browsing around, found
you.
Can you add me to your roll call, I saw several there I
know, wish to say hello on a bulletin board if available.
In particular Mark Meese.
I am Charles Morehouse, former SSG, courier at Det 4,
73-73, worked out of the comm center, MOS 32G. Home near
Kalamazoo Michigan, phone 616 664-4706 email cam44616@yahoo.com
cul
thanks
=============================================================
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 09:57:57
-0400 (EDT)
Subject: I was there '61 to '62
From: William (Bill) Peak <wapeak@yahoo.com>
What a surprise to see this site. It brings back so many
memories.
It would be great to see more entries from my old trick
but seeing this site and remembering the events that took
place around us turns back the clock for me.
My year there was an experience I will never forget,
especially the people with me.
I will be following this site from now on.
How many of you still have your infamous NCO Club
lighters? I treasure mine.
=============================================================
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 22:40:22 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Remembering Det -4
From: Cecil Eller <ellercc@appstate.edu>
I was stationed at Det 4 in 67 and 68. I lot have of good
memories.
I remember going to the flicks and Pan Am was always
featured at the first of the movies and everyone would
stand and cheer and scream out how many days they had
left. I worked in operations on shift work. I remember
the Turkish workers we had and anytime they came into the
compound they had to be escorted. We called it obie
watch. I remember the fire drills the Turks had it looked
like a Laurel and Hardy Movie. I remember the Turks
blowing up our water line and we had no water for days
and had to eat c rations. I also remember the em club.. a
lot of beers.
=============================================================
Date:
Thu, 08 Jun 00 16:25PM EDT
From: YENCHIK
Tommy P Tommy.P.YENCHIK@Co.Benton.OR.US
Subject: New guy
"Yeni" for your list
I was assigned to Det 169, Sinop,
Turkey, from Jul 74 thru Jul 75, got married over there,
and still married after 25 years. I married SP4 Sher
SOKOLOFF (Also with Det 169). If you would like to add us
to your list it would be great. It's easy to look back
now with fond memories. It's been years since I've
thought about Sinop, just can't ever get the place out of
your mind.
=============================================================
Date:
Sat, 10 Jun 00 19:55PM MDT
From: Charles
Morehouse cam44616@yahoo.com
Subject: Add to
database
I tried this once and got it
returned. Possibly the wrong address so I'll try again.
Please add me to your database. I served at USASA Field
Station Berlin from late '71 to March 73 where I was
NCOIC of the Comm center at T-Berg.
I was then transferred to TUSLOG
Det 4, Sinop where I stayed from March 73 'til March 74.
My MOS was 32G. I was a SSG E6 and my function at Det 4
was as a courier.
I am especially interested in contacting Mark Meese, my
clerk, can anyone help me here?
Morehouse, Charles email cam44616@yahoo.com
616 664-4706
9300 Enzian Rd. Delton, Mi. 49046
=============================================================
Date:
Thu, 8 Jun 2000
From: Roger
Staffin rstaffinthirtysix@yahoo.com
Subject: Add to
Roll Call, Etc
I love the web site. You've done
an outstanding job and I thank you.
Please add me to the roll call
pages. I served at Det4 at the same time as Harry Lance,
in fact; flew in and out with him. We served from 4-59
(app) to 3-60, so we missed you.
I ran the gymnasium on the hill overlooking the ball
field and organized the first heavy football program. I
also wrote for the "Gimp Gazette", and worked
on "Sin" Radio KYSO; wrote an adaptation of
Frankenstein. Played football with the Mad's Marshalls
(guard & kicker) with Tony Vitale, Harry Lance,
Harlan Crisp, Don Elkins, Jack McKenna, Tom Yanko, etc.
I ordered a lot of sports equipment from Europe to
supplement our meager and outdated stuff. Worked in the
gym and had an assistant named Harvey from The Bronx, but
can't remember his last name.
It's only been 40 years ago, but
I do remember a lot.
I don't have the computer setup to send pictures, but I
do have some if I can send them to someone to include in
the gallery I would be glad to do so.
The guys who came before the
barrachs endured much. We didn't have WACS, barely had
sacs, outdoor latrines, bad food, no sidewalks, and
counted the hours, but the gang there helped each other
to endure the loneliness and the frustration and helped
to count the hours before we left. Somehow I miss the
place, but I know it is because I miss the guys and the
comraderie. You can include my e-mail, phone and mailing
address.
Roger K. Staffin,
1018 Eleanor Avenue,
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707/584-7773;
e-mail: rstaffinthirtysix@yahoo.com anytime after six
P.M. PST.
=============================================================
From:
"Thomas D. Sellow <WHITEHORSE@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun
2000
Subject: NOT A
DOG BUT A DONKEY
==============================================================
