McGuire AFB 1985-1986
Trends: bowl cut and rat tails; AC/DC, Run DMC and Prince; Air Jordan 1 and Reeboks; Garbage Pail Kids, and the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Grade 5 with Mr. Umstead
The day would start with all the kids lined up outside, in the front of the school according to class. Exposed to the elements, and only about ten feet away from the curbside drop-off, we would be bathed in noxious piston fumes as parents would idle their gas guzzlers while they waited in queue to drop their kids off for the day.
All the boys would be talking about the latest episodes of “GI Joe”, “Knight Rider”, “You Can’t Do That on Television,” or burning each other with “cut you down” or “you’re so dumb” jokes. I remember our first interaction was some sort of a “you’re so short…” joke, because there was finally someone shorter than you to fling short jokes at. Another kid might’ve been insulted and thought them as a fighting words, but this was the beginning of our friendship.
We’d spend the rest of 5th grade, causing a raucous in School One. Those were magical days straight out of a typical 80s show. We had it all: paper objects flying across the classroom, whether it be a paper football, airplane or spit balls; lunch room challenges to see who could make the other spew milk out their nose; huddling on the playground during recess in the winter to keep warm; and fundraising for a 6th grade camp that neither of us would get to attend since we’d both eventually have to PCS to another part of the world.
Even though we’d engage in mischief, you can’t say that we were complete lackeys. We were both in TAG class where we’d be subject to lab rat experimentation. Like the typical Asian, I’d excel in rote memory exercises while you’d shine with your lateral thinking, abstract puzzle exercises. Together our brains would conquer the school and smash the spelling bee contest; being the finalists - we’d even beat the 6th graders!
After school we’d ride our bikes around the neighborhood, go to someone’s house and play with GI Joes, or play soldier games in the woods. I recall during one of those soldier games, you’d drive away the opposing team from capturing you by taking a stick and smashing skunk cabbage along the path behind you. The smell was so terrible that we just stopped playing altogether and did something else.
You saved my life, literally. It was the winter of 85-86. I recall that it was CM, J, AC, you and I playing in the woods next to a frozen creek. Being typical boys, we all decided to walk onto the frozen creek to test its solidity. As luck would have it, I was the furthest out from the bank. CM decided it would be fun to test how strong the ice was, and told everyone to hang onto a tree branch that was extending overhead above us. He only gave us five seconds to react, and of course me being the shortest, I couldn’t reach the branch or scurry fast enough to get back onto solid land. Next thing you know, I see CM jump, I hear a loud crack, and I’m falling through the ice into the creek! A wave of panic rushed through my mind as the frigid water started soaking through my winter outfit. All I could think of was, “How deep is this water?!” since I wasn’t a very good swimmer. I started sinking deeper into the the frigid cold, but before the water could get past my neck, I felt myself being pulled out of the creek by the hood of my winter coat by quick acting Levy! I still have no idea how you were able to pull me out so quickly. Everyone, of course, hailed you as a superhero!
Kadena AFB 1986-1989
Trends: spiked hair and long bangs; Heavy Metal, and New Wave; Airwalks and Chucks; trench coats and acid washed jeans; Skate or Die!
You left McGuire first for Okinawa, the land of Karate. That pretty much summed up what we knew of Okinawa at the time thanks to Daniel-san and Mister Miyagi. This would close the first chapter of our friendship, but Fate would have our paths cross again. My Dad would get his orders for Kadena several months later and we would make the 7,625 mile trip to the land of where Taco Rice was created.
I think it was the 3rd week after we had just moved to Kadena. My Dad and I were walking out of the MAC Terminal when I heard a familiar voice yell out my name. It was Julia! Your Mom and Dad just so happened to be at the Terminal as well, and they recognized us! We hugged, caught up on events, and exchanged phone numbers to make sure you and I could get in touch since you weren’t there.
A few weeks later we’d have our reunion with a sleepover at your house off base, and so would begin the next chapter of our friendship.
Just like 5th grade, Middle school was full of shenanigans that we gleefully partook. You pushed me into the girls bathroom, and leaned against the door so I couldn’t get out. We made such a commotion that Ms. C, the meanest teacher in the school, came out of her class and busted me while you ran around the corner to escape. The Gym locker room was a coliseum of tween gladiators vying for dominance with towel snapping and wedgies. You gave one of the best wedgies that tore C’s elastic off! The school locker area was a danger zone for pantsing where many victims ended up with their trousers at their ankles. And Mrs. B’s class would end our day with a chemical headache since she’d spray the room with Lysol before and after class to sanitize it from middle schooler cooties.
Summers were hot and humid, filled with the sound of buzzing cicadas. We’d hit the swimming pools to try and escape the muggy weather, spend some yen coins at the tabletop video arcades out at Gate 2 street, loiter at the teen center that was around the way from your house, or just roll wherever our skateboards would take us around the base.
Kadena Karnival 1988 has as special moment “burned” into my memory. We met up with a couple of your girl friends from Kubasaki to watch the fireworks. We decided to watch the fireworks from the bleachers overlooking the track & field where the launch platform was set up. We had the best spot, or so we thought. The view and the ambience for the show was perfect — until the finale. We suddenly found ourselves being showered by hot burning firework casings as the dazzling display of each rapid fire explosion faded into the smoky sky. I’m sure those girls didn’t forget that “flaming hot” date night either.
Julia sent me a picture of you cooking in the kitchen, and another manning the grill which reminded me of how much you appreciated all things culinary. While reminiscing, it sparked another memory from Okinawa. I was in the depths of an awesome afternoon nap, only to be awakened by an extreme burning sensation on my philtrum, your impish smile looking back at me, and a bottle of tabasco in your hand. I was in so much pain that I just ran past you to the bathroom to try and rinse away the tobasco that already soaked into my upper lip. After several minutes of rinsing, I finally regained to my composure and came up with a countermove. I chased you around the house, and when I finally got my hands on you, I took off your socks and hogtied you with them. Then I rolled you out of the house and we laughed as you tried to struggle out of the bindings.
This was our friendship, our special bond. My life was truly spirited with you in it. May you rest in peace brother.
