Here it is, another post from a deployed location. I am again on the small island Japanese Prefecture, Okinawa. I have been here for 1.5 months so far this rotation and have about another half month until I am allowed to return home to the family I miss so much.
I am actually flying a different variant of the my jet with a different squadron this time. The schedules are much less predictable than I am used to and we tend to fly long boring missions with a few brief moments of excitement. I'm having a good time learning how these guys work and all of the people on my crew are great. That being said, it hasn't all been completely without adversity. So far two typhoons (Pacific for hurricane) have passed directly over the island. The first one forced us to evacuate to mainland Japan to a base about an hour outside of Tokyo. Pictures later. We were allowed to stay for the second typhoon, a category 3/4 when it passed over the island, but over that time I developed an infection on my leg (no pictures). Long story short, it has finally started to heal and I'm back up flying. There is a third typhoon on its way though.
Below are a lot of pictures taken from with my phone of the trip so far:
ALASKA
On our way to Okinawa, we made a pit stop in Fairbanks, Alaska, staying for one night.
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| Eielson AFB Tower |
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| Our hotel |
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| Tasty local beer |
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| View on our way into AK. Mt McKinley is there somewhere |
KADENA AB, OKINAWA, JAPAN
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| Here is a view from our building looking towards the city. |
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| My hallway. Very similar to last time. |
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| My attempt at capturing the "Lawn Ninjas" here |
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| Another visit to the tomb of the Sweet Potato Man |
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| Former AAA site |
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| The entrance to an ancient castle on the island. |
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| It was in fact a World Heritage Site |
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| Another ancient gate |
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| Stairs on our way to the castle |
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| Actual spring where royal family got water |
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| Panoramic view from the top of the stairs seen earlier. It is the city of Naha with the ocean in the background. |
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| Rebuilt Shiri Castle |
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| Close-up |
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| View of the actual ancient remains of the castle |
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| Recreated throne |
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| Chair from where the king addressed his subjects |
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| Traditional Japanese rooms in the castle |
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| Bridge leading to building built to house a book that was given to the king as a gift way back when |
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| Fancy drinking fountain with minty gargle water |
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| Torii Beach located north of Kadena AB |
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| Me paddle-boarding |
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| One of the guys on the crew kite-boarding |
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| View of inside of tanker that took us to Tokyo |
TYPHOON EVAC TO TOKYO
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| Downtown Tokyo |
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| View of Tokyo from Tower |
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| Tokyo Tower |
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| Tokyo subway car |
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| Electric district of Tokyo |
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| Fancy fountain |
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| Another castle, this time where the Japanese emperor lived |
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| Hotel where we met up with a crewmember's dad who is a 747 pilot that happened to be in town |
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| Resturant that serves blowfish |
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| Picture in subway for Brady |
LOCAL FOOD
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| Grilled Cheese w/taco meat |
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| Korean BBQ at "Blinky Light" place. |
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| Fresh catch of the day from Okinawan seafood place. |
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| Shark burger at same place. Actually shark meat. |
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| One of my plates from the O-Club Sunday Brunch |
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| Very tasty pancakes from local pancake house |
That is all. Thank you to everyone for all of your support. I really miss everyone back home and cannot wait to be back soon. I love you Rachel, Brady, and Layla!!!
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