Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 21:38:15 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Sinop 1981-1982
From: <Dabosshere@AOL.COM>
Was assigned to Hippy from Mar 81- Mar 82. Have some good memories, some not so good. Was a 33S. Knew some good people like Ken Teal, Joan Reid, Col Francis Toomey. Knew some rats like Clint Talmadge, ha! ha!
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 11:39:04 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Mir Haba! Abi!
From: "Claude F. \"Tim\" Everhart" <ceverhar@turbo.kean.edu>
WoW! A Det 4 website! I served on "the hill" from Mar '72 to Mar '73. Send me an email, we can chat!
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 19:16:58 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: "Sunny Sinop by the Sea, 1972-1973"
From: Larry "Pete" Peterson <titleins@lakeozark.net>Just got "on-line" a couple of months ago, and was very surprised to see a website for TUSLOG DET 4! Didn't know it had such a long history, and I often wondered what happened to "The Hill" after I left.
I was assigned to TUSLOG DET 4 from December, 1972 to December, 1973. I was in the H&S Company (Headquarters and Service Company, and worked in the A.P.O. and the S-1 Section at Post Headquarters. Really enjoyed on your webpage of the town of Sinop from "The Hill"! It brought back alot of memories. It was the same view which I had from my H&S Company barracks room for that year.
Other memories I have of "The Hill" are of Saleh and "Cok Fena Charlie" and the waiter, (I can't remember his name, who described everything as "Delicious" whether it was edible or not) at the N.C.O. club, and the trips downtown on Saturday evenings to watch the "White Boat" come in and have a doner kebab meal at the Yeni Hotel.
Would like to hear from anyone who might have been there at the same time.
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 22:43:05 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: SINOP
From: Bill Davidson <kewb4@aol.com>
I was surfing a few weeks ago and found the DET 4 page. What a surprise! I was at Sinop from August 72 to December 73 and worked at Hippy. I'm an ex ASA guy but I was working for Radiation during my stay on the Hill. My ASA days were at Devens 69-71 and Shemya 71-72. Its been fun looking at the pictures but I didn't see a picture of the "White Boat". I will look through my boxes and see if I have one.
Thanks
Bill Davidson
Palm Bay,FL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ed. Note - There is a picture of "The Istanbul Steamer" at the top of Ron Eddins second page. Go to the end of the his page and click on the link for his page two.
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 11:00:54 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: U.S. Air Force in Izmir.
From: Kenneth Paul Swedroe <kenpaul@earthlink.net>
I was stationed in a little town out of Izmir in 1969-1970.
The town was called Cigli. I was a security police.
I would like to talk to others who were there.
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 22:54:26 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Sinop 8
From: Michael Galbreath <Mike502@webtv.net>
I was in on the Hill '77-'78 when we lost an aircraft and all the souls aboard including a couple Warrant Officers that had been chopper pilots in 'Nam and a Major that was a SF trooper in 'Nam. Another guy lost was a FNG MP right out of AIT with a new wife and baby on the way at home. I was manning the radio back a HQ when the call came in that the wreckage had been found. Those were sad days but it brought an already close bunch of soldiers even closer. I'm looking for anyone who knows anything about the Sinop "8" that were shipped out of the country in the spring of '78. I still drink çay and fondly remember sitting at the docks under the trees at little wooden tables, drinking çay and watching the "White Boat" come in.
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 18:37:20 -0400
From: "Kirk M. Oliver" <kmoliver@together.net>
Subject: Sinop Det 4(204)
On a whim recently, I decided to do some web searches on Sinop, and was pleasantly surprised at the number of hits I received. I had forwarded a couple to a friend and co-worker, Howard Garcia, who recently wrote you asking about Erhac.
Briefly, I was stationed with the USAFSS from 08/74 to 08/75 at Sinop. Det 204 was the AF's Det 4. I had an interesting entrance and again an interesting exit from Turkey.
After flying into Istanbul on a Pan-Am 747, and dropping a couple of us off, it was the the last civilian flight to fly for a while. As I later learned, the fight over Cyprus had escalated, and only Military flights were allowed. So you may ask, how does one get from Istanbul to Sinop? A Bus! A crowded Bus. A crowded bus that took 24 hours to get through the mountains during rain storms, and mud slides before we got to Sinop. That however is a whole long story in itself.
After spending a year on the hill, and just a couple weeks prior to my scheduled departure, the Turks, angry at the US for sanctions (Cyprus), took over our site (and others I guess) and we had little to do for a while. On top of it, we had local labor unrest, for a double whammy. Really did not know if we would have to evacuate, or be held in country. One day prior to my scheduled date, they let us leave, and it was Samson, Istanbul, then onto Pan-Am and home again.
Well, guess I got carried away here. I do want to pass on one item, a picture from the hill. It is a digital pix of an 11x14 I did while there. While I have dozens of slides from Turkey, but none are in prints. Maybe some day.
Anyway, take care.
Kirk M. Oliver
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 07:37:31 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Erhac Turkey, Det 93/113
From: Howard Garcia <hgarcia@us.ibm.com>
It was interesting to read the comments on Sinop - Is there anyone out there that served at Erhac in Det 93/113 ?
Date: July 1, 1998.
Subject: Sinop
From: Jackson Beard < jackson.beard@metrokc.gov >All right! I was there from 67/68. I didn't know these websites existed until a friend mentioned them this morning. Just cruising through. Boy, does this stuff bring back memories. I was also at Herzo from 68/70. Got marriedt here and lived at #4 Bunzlauer Strasse. What a blast from the past. I will get through all these sites as my time allows. Meantime, you have my e-mail if you circulate anything. I was a 98j...Devons, Meade and then to the hill. I must have a ton of pix still in my trunk...gotta look that stuff up. .
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 18:04:23 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Sinop Water Supply Circa 1957
From: "Harold A. Fleming" <flem@yourlink.net>
Dear Bill,
I read Jay Foote's comments re the Sinop water supply with great interest and enjoyed seeing the water hole photograph.
In the fall of 1957 the US Army District Engineers let a contract to have a water well drilled to supply water to the hill. It was located at the narrow neck of the peninsula in Sinop proper. I recall that the well came in with a good artesian flow of water but with a lot of sand in it.
The solution solution was to let the water flow over several months and each day to replace the sand with gravel. Eventually a large gravel pocket would be created which would filter out the sand. So the contractor located a source of gravel and
arranged to have it delivered to the well head. Then someone hired a local man to shovel the gravel into the well.
After several months the water started clearing up and the local man, who had never been paid and now concerned that he might never be paid, came up to the hill and demanded his pay. Of course Det 4 had no money, the contractor denied that he had hired the man, and the District Engineer claimed that it was not its responsibility.
I returned to CONUS before the issue was settled, but I understand that the issue was settled before the US-Turkish Joint Commission.
Hal
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 16:41:19 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Two-Time Loser
From: "Jon M. (Mike) Brantley" <jbrantle@harris.com>
After having served in the Philippines and being convinced that the army was my home, I got sent to Sinop in April 67. Had the usual memorable year with a brief leave in Athens. Got assigned to Samsun as liaison for my last 4 months. PCS'd on the 200 foot boat we ran back and forth from Istanbul. Seven years later I was back again in 1974, but was Medically Evacuated due to a heart condition and no doctor on the hill. I have pictures of parties at the "Beach" and Rod and Gun Club and just the hill in General. I will only be at this email address through the end of the month, then I'm retiring from Harris Corp and starting with Siemens. I intend to be a 3 or 4 "dipper" before its all over. Would like to hear from any old friends from Sinop or my 22 Years in ASA (62-83).
From: "Raymond Younger" <rlyoun3@hotmail.com>
To: bsimons@pics.com
Subject: Mi Museum
Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 08:45:21 PDT
Trying to get the widest possible dissem...trying not to forget the dudes in Turkey Alak or Africa...love your websites.
Could you pass this on:
CQ CQ DE this goes out to all past and presently serving warrant officers James Huntley at Ft Rucker is trying to build up the warrant officer museum there, but has little to show for the MI side of the house. We need memorabilia, stories, &tc to help define the MI warrant officer as the major muscle group for the MI Corps. We have a very weak representation there, I know its means little to those of us who were at Camp Ripley or direct commissions, but Ft Rucker is the inevitable home of the Warrant. Please help Jim procure the "right stuff" and make that MI memorial something to look at. I have posted a few messages out to the old ASA crowd, lord knows they have the stories and pictures of a bye gone era. Lets not be forgotten. Help me do this for the Corps. Who is gonna miss drinking at the Last Chance
IMI 73 88 Ray Younger 313th MI BN
Jim can be reached at JGHUNTL@JUNO.COM
Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 14:51:07 -0500
From: "r.dooman" <r.dooman@banklife.com>
Subject: TORTURED TURKISH
Abbi = Turk (male) - like buddy
Dur! = Stop, usually shouted futiley to the bus driver
Mashalla = Bus driver's response (I believe it literally means "If it's God's Will" we'll get there in one piece).
I was your librarian (out of DET 27) back in 1961. I made one TDY visit to Det 4 and almost got myself shot by a Turk guard in the antenna field.
Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 16:18:46 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Sinop - 1964
From: Joe Welch <jetcity@switchboardmail.com>
I was in Finance (payroll) from Jan - Nov 1964 under Capt Alves, Al Winters , Robert Schmidt, Hardy Noble (in the finance cage), Larry Thompson and others.
I was a member of the Post Championship Baseball Team and will get the team photo scanned in the near future.
Habesh - was around in those days as he had the garbage contract with the post to dump the garbage at sea. We rented his boat one Saturday during the summer. We sent Bill Wier off to buy some wine and I remember him coming down the road with a hoibi carring a case of wine. The only other thing that I remember about that day was our landing on the white island known as BIRD SHIT Island.
Joe - 1964http://www.globalearn.org/expeditions/bsne/expedition/journals/pam/jrn960401-sinop-pam.html
May 13, 1998.
Hello Bill:
I was searching on the Internet from my Son’s computer and found your Web Page on USASA TUSLOG Det 4.
I was at Sinop from October 1959 until October 1960. So I was at that site the same time you where there.
I am not familiar with sending E-Mail and could not get your telephone # from the operator in New Jersey. I guess you have an unlisted#. So I decided to drop you a letter.
I worked as a ‘RADIO OPERATOR" I tbink my MOS said. I did a lot of listening.When I left Sinop I selected the next tour in Germany. I was stationed first in KASSEL and set up a remote site in DABME and then moved to OFFENBACH Germany, near Frankfurt.
It was interesting to read your web page. It brought back a lot of memories, many were good. Some people would wake up everyday and say "I HATE THIS PLACE".
I lived in a Quansit Hut while I was there. I wondered how you rated the wooden barracks.I pulled out my photo album to refresh my memory. You did not mention the big 4th of July picnic we had in the open field with the free beer and the slot machine.
I have pictures of a big snow storm that winter, which was very unusual for Sinop. Also the Turkish Navy made a port call in the Summer time.I spend quite a bit of time in the town of Sinop. We went to the USO beach and would go out on the Cris Craft boat which was owned by the Army. It was run by a Turk named CEAZER. We would also ride the horses we would rent in town.
I have quite a few good pictures from around the site and Sinop. I developed a lot of the pictures myself in the photo lab.
Some of the people in my photo album are:
J. B. Reeves III (Jay) from South Carolina, I think.Jim Donnelly (Tall 6’ 3" blond guy.)
Abbie (Our Turk House Boy)
Krause (Paul, I think from upstate N.Y.)
Andre (Also a fun guy, a little older than most of the guys)
Ikelberger (Ike) I think from N.Y. city
Roger Strefling (Always a fun guy, did a lot of drinking
One night we told him to guard the foot bridge across the ditch going to the officer's club. He wouldn't let some officer across, caused a little stir)Some other names of guys which I don't remember, Dicker, Fern, Riley, Lowe, Wood, Stevenson, Opperman, Adams, Seabolt, Hinkley, Doss, Ackerman, Long.
....... snip, snip ...............
Sincerely,
Bob Van Erem
Hello D. Cairns,
My Email reply got bounced back because of an "ambiguous recipient".
"The following recipient(s) could not be reached:
cairnsd@HUACHUCA-EMH1.ARMY.MIL on 5/16/98 3:36:39 AM
Ambiguous Recipient
MSEXCH:IMC:ORGANIZATION:ATZS-DEC:ATZS-IMC-N1"I would like to post your version of the beach fight and any pictures that you may have from your Sinop days.
I was also an 058 but do not recall any of the names you mentioned.Bill Simons, Web Master
From:<cairnsd@HUACHUCA-EMH1.ARMY.MIL>
To:<Bill Simons
Subject:Sinop 59-61
Bill, I was an 058 in Sinop. Got there in November and left in Oct. 60.
Looking back, I enjoyed Sinop. Don't know if you remember but JudBowers, Don Lewis, and I were beat up on the beach on 18 July 60 by a group of turks. It was just an interesting time and a great mission.
Went from there to Bad Aibling and from there to OCS. Retired as a
Major in 1976 did a few things and came into civil service in 1979 (got
8 more months before I retire for the second time). Currently working
for INSCOM (new ASA name) here at Ft. Huachuca AZ. What did you do in Sinop? Did you know Lt Joe Schinstock (he is here in the area)? Like to hear from you.
Date: Sat, 9 May 1998 11:15:26 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Sinop Memories
From: Phil Hotton <photton@hotmail.com>
I was in Sinop from April 55 thru March 56. I don't think that I would recognize it today. The ops shack on the "hill" was literally a shack . There were never more that 12 of us in town at one time, usually less. Included were one GI cook who couldn't so we kept him sloshed all the time and hired locals Ali Bas to cook and his brother Ahmet as a go-pher. We could do this as JAMMAT-TUSLOG was paying us a rather generous per-diem rate. We were also given one a very good mechanic who took care of our site's diesel power as well as our lone 3/4 ton and one forlorn deuce and a half which was naturally refered to as the iki bochuk or just iki bo.
I was a 204.6 (if that still has the same meaning). I could go on and on about living off the local economy for hours. I will be glad to tell what it was like. Most times were good and many of them are pretty funny, like the week Ali bas actually cornered the market in Sinop for all the Turkish beer and what the local Turkish "mafia" did about it. I am a late comer to e-mail and hope this works.
Subject: I was there!
From: Tim Sheline <sheline_t@popmail.firn.edu>
Like your site. I was stationed in Sinop from June of 1964 until July of 1965. I was an 059 since I washed out as a 058 at Devens. What a blessing--if I didn't I'd most likely be hearing morse code now--instead of screeching that I hear now in my ears. Sinop was an experience especially when you were just out of school (Ft. Devens) and lived all your life in a small midwestern town. If you hear of anyone in during my time that was a 059 give them my E-Mail address.
Thanks and thanks for keeping the memory alive!
Tim Sheline
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:29:02 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Bob Hope's Christmas show
From: Bob Shadwick <bob.shadwick@alcoa.com>
I remember very well the Bob Hope Christmas show in 1963.
We all set in the gym and waited for hours for them to arrive, we knew that Bob Hope would not be with the group, as he had returned to the states for an operation.
However, we eagerly awaited the group as Tuesday Weld, was the main attraction as far as we were concerned.
When they finally arrived, much to our dismay, Tuesday Weld was not with them, rumored to have stayed in Ankara, due to a hangover having dallied with an officer the previous night????
Anyway Jerry Colonia came busting onto the stage with a couple of lesser known individuals, all being recorded for later TV broadcasting. The entire show lasted less than 15 minutes, and we all sat/stood there in shock. A sargent looked as us and said "Well, let them know what you think." There upon came a round of boo's and extended fingers. Needless to say, Sinop did not make it on the TV that year.
I do remember a night of bellydancing that was presented. When we cheered and requested that one lady "take it all off" she indicated that she couldn't because of the lights. Some wise soul took out his zippo, and we all immediately followed suit, and the house lights were extinquished. Thereby, our request was rewarded. Certainly much better than Bob Hope!!!!!
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 17:16:32 -0400
From: KARL & EDITH CHAPMAN
Reply-To: Madison@nehp.net
Organization: Preferred Company
Subject: Service
I served in good old Sinop from Nov. 1926 thru Dec 1963.
Great to find other people that were there. Sorry I don't recognize any of the names due to a couple of years before my time.
We had a quadrangle with barracks and dining hall.
Of course OP's was a good size too. I'll see I can find some pics.Karl Chapman, Desk Jokey
Date:Tue, 28 Apr 1998 05:20:20 -0400 (EDT)
Subject:Looking for friends of FS Sinop
From:Bob Pauley <Pauley6@juno.com>
This site is great. I served as a Captain / Public Relations Officer from Oct 1986 to July 1987. INSCOM had FS Sinop as a major section in the INSCOM magazine. I have a few copies. I wrote many of the articles.
I miss the comradery "The Hill" created. Col. Walters called it "Sunny Sinop".
I would like to know if there is someway for me to find out where some of the people are now living whom I served with, especially Sgt. Karen McAllister.
Thank you again for taking the time in creating this site.
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 21:35:07 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: bayanami?
From: pete carston <petesr@buoy.com>
I believe the Bayanami was the form (about 18" long) that had to be filled out showing major articles, cameras, watches etc. that were brought into Turkey or purchased there.
This was always a worry when leaving the country, not knowing if the Turkish officials would question anything you put down. I seem to remember there being a pretty hefty tax. What did we know, we just wanted out of there.
Spent time on The Hill mid 63 to 64 (went home for Christmas and missed Bob Hope, not that I regret missing him since our daughter was born the next Sept).
When I think back, I have to say I enjoyed Sinop. And now with all these great ASA sites it really gets your mind going.
Would like to hear from anyone 63-64...have a lot of names, but haven't seen them come up..ASA ALL THE WAY
Pete
Date:Thu, 2 Apr 1998 20:39:09 -0500 (EST)
Subject:Stationed at Sinop
From:"Norris L. (Buck) Goss" <buckgo@tu.infi.net>I couldn't believe my eyes when I got to your site. To read mail from guys who shared a similar experience after all these years is truly amazing. I served tours at Helemano Station in Hawaii, 8605th AAU, and at Kagnew Station in Asmara, but will never forget my stint at Sinop in 1956-57.
It was the most primitive conditions I endured in the Army. We didn't have barracks but lived in Quonset huts. But I met some great guys and learned something about the hinterlands of Turkey. Thanks so much for establishing this site for all the ASAers who sometimes (for me at least) feels it may have all been a dream.
Buck
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 20:06:06 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Lost Friend
From: Al Camp <alcamp@bellsouth.net>
Bill,
I'm trying to locate an old friend of mine that was stationed at Sinop in the early 80's with (I believe) the Navy. Her name was Lisa Friedrick (sp) and she was from Minnosota. She may have gotten married while there. She was a former Army Cech linguist stationed at FSA in the late 70's (78-79) who got out then came back in the Navy as a Russian linguist. I have tried nearly all of the ASA/Army pages, FSA Home page and even the Military City Online page with no luck. Would appreciate you posting this...maybe someone will remember her and know what happened to her.
Thanks....ASA LIVES!!!
Al Camp...Ol' Sarge
Date: Sat April 18, 1998.
From: Arne Simonsen, CTICM, USN-retired <SimonsenA@aol.com>
Great to see Sinop on the web! I spent '69-70 in the Navy Det, led by CTICS Bob Bradler; worked in the bowling alley; loved the Turks on base (particularly Nadir; then an abbi in the Navy Barracks, and later the Tax man!). I was short-toured from Athens in '77 to reopen Sinop and the Navy Det. I had to play Command Chief and Ops Chief, which drove the Army S3 Major crazy (as I was his Navy counterpart). One night, in the Sportsman Club, a strange Naval officer appeared; seemed the CNO's plane was forced to land at our airstrip due to bad weather! Talk about a shock to get everyone together on short notice to greet the CNO! When 60 Minutes arrived to do a bit about reopening Sinop, everyone was told to stay away from them, but we managed to borrow a jeep and get ourselves in the background shot towards Hippy!
The pig roasts, the fun during the Army-Navy game, Alice's Restaurant, at the Black Beach, the forbidden Roman tunnels under the base, the tea, the Yeni Hotel & the Brits; what a blast!
When the base reopened in '77, we were finally going to get to work with our Turkish counterparts in joint operations. I met some great guys, Yuksel, Memet, et al. We had some great times.
When the base closed, the Command Chief sent me some photos from the Navy scrap book and preserved the bar with all our names carved in it, for the NSGA museum.
Then, there was the Limberdick Lounge for senior NCOs/CPOs! I have a cassette of one of our nights telling jokes to each other!
To my friends in the town of Sinop, thank you for taking us in and befriending us! You are always in my thoughts!
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 15:48:46 -0500 (EST)
Subject: USAFS Sinop Unit Crest
From: Steve Dennis <sedennis@msn.com>
Shortly after departing USAFS Sinop-Diogenes Station, the unit crests I wore there were lost (in the winds of divorce). I have been unable to find any at various militaria trade shows I have visited. If anyone has one they can spare, I would gladly pay a reasonable fee for your trouble. Can anyone spare a crest??
At 10:50 PM 4/4/98 -0500, you wrote:
Name: Ron Cole
From: rpmjcole@aol.com
"Those were the days my friends" etc....
I spent a wonderful year with my Turkish friends - the guards names I don't remember, but I do remember just about pissing my pants that first night on guard duty. There I am, 19 years old, half a world away from Gloucester, Mass. with some dark skinned buster brown saying "kotch para abbey" and pointing to my watch. This is the end I sez to myself........
Bill, I have lots more reminisences, is this where I should put them?
RSVP to my email allah is marladick.
Ron <rpmjcole@aol.com>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill replied
Hello Ron,
If you have other memories to share, just write them down with any sort of text editor or your mail program and send them along directly to me at "bsimons@pics.com".
If you have some photos to go along with the text, so much the better.
I'll list you as a "contributor" and set up a contributor's page of your very own on the site.
You were about 6 months ahead of me. I never got to be on guard with any Turks, they were outside the barbed wire and we were inside it. (If I remember correctly!)
Thanks for the feedback.
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 17:44:03 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Looking for buddies in sinop from Mar 72 thru Mar 73
From: Bob Keck <Keck1@WebTv.net>
I was astounded to find the amount of information concerning Det 4 in Sinop, Turkey. I was station a few years after most of the mail I read but it still brought back a lot of memories.
I would be intrested in finding a Danny Mayer of Bennington, VT and Everett Dean of North Carolina. Everett was a Chaplains Assistant.. I was stationed with a Maj Robert Peetz from Pitt, Pa.
Of course when I was stationed there we had all the comforts of home. I working in the HQ S2 and Message Center. I will look forward to visiting this site often for further info.
Thank You.
Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 15:16:13 -0500
From: John Newcome <ms384031@mindspring.com>
Subject: Sinop of Course
Bill,
I have had this picture in my never loose stuff since 1965 when I snapped it in front of the meerschon pipe shop. It is a picture of the boxmaker and his son. I don't remember the box makers name but I spent a lot of time sitting in his shop when I could.
Recently, I came accross the box of pipes I bought from the guy in 1965. The box was hand made by the guy but he bought the pipes from some wholesale source. The set is still as beautiful as the day I picked it up.
John Newcome <ms384031@mindspring.com>
From: "Greg Covington" <cov1@bright.net>
Subject: ASA Sinop
...I saw on the ASA website that you spent time in Sinop with the ASA.
I am looking for knives or info on knives made by a Turkish swordmaker who had a corner shop in Sinop and made a lot of knives for ASA guys stationed there.
Email me if you can give me any info.
Thanks much! GregC
------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Simons replied:
I had a knife made for myself while I was stationed there in 1960.
I don't recall exactly where in Sinop the shop was located.
I'll try and get a clear picture of the knife if you are interested.
The workmanship was quite good with a Crescent moon and
star "proof mark". Supposedly the blade was fashioned out of
Army truck springs. What else would you like to know?
Bill
-------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Greg Covington" <cov1@bright.net>
Subject: Re: ASA Sinop
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 10:57:32 -0500
I'd like to know the maker's name if possible. A friend of mine who was with Det 4 had one made in 67' before he returned to Vietnam. I'm a knifemaker and he showed me that knife which spawned my interest. In 1996, I found one of those knives at a flea market and its construction is identical to the one he brought back.
... The knives bear similiar construction of brass guards and pommels and stacked leather handles. The blades were stamped with a Turkish star and crescent moon...
I'd like to eventually do an article on these knives for one of the knife magazines. I need to get more info on them and try to find more knives. That would be great if you'd send me a pic of the knife and if you should ever decide to part with it...I'd appreciate it if you'd keep me in mind. Thanks....GregC <cov1@bright.net>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 14:16:03 -0500 (EST)
Subject: plug in from a former Sinop-er
From: Dale Swoboda (Dee Patrick on KBOK) <dswoboda?cbhe400@admin.mocbhe.gov>Mir Haba, Abbi!!! Thanks for your work. I have just discovered the asa websites. Man, do I feel reconnected. I was in Sinop from May 69 to May 70 and Two-Rock Ranch the next year. Good memories. Thanks to Vern and the others doing the same thing. Love your pictures.
(Editor's note: Dale was the evening disk jockey Dee Patrick at the Sinop radio station, KBOK during his tour.)
Date:Tue, 31 Mar 1998 09:14:17 -0600
From:"Ernest C. Wright" ewright1@netins.net
Subject:Re: Sinop '68/'69Hi Bill,
Well, here are two photos for your Sinop page. The one attached to this message was a polaroid taken downtown at the sailing dock in the fall of '68 probably. That is me in the foreground. I still remember what an incredibly beautiful day it was when that photo was taken. We went sailing around in the harbor for a couple of hours that day. I wonder if the local builders are still handcrafting sailboats like these in the picture? The other shot attached to the next message is of my barracks room taken in the winter of '68/'69. I had brought some Peanut Scale airplane kits back from the States after our trip home at Christmas and you can see one hanging in the upper part of the picture.
........ Sorry this took so long. We've been pretty busy around here and I kind of forgot. I hope Spring is well underway there. It has been raining steadily here for a couple of days and the river is bank full.Regards,
Ernie
(Editor's Note: Ernie's photos can be accessed from the main page)
Date:Wed, 11 Mar 1998 01:30:47 -0500 (EST)
Subject:Sinop service
From:Tim O'Connor <Tco2749@aol.com>
I was at Sinop 1975-1976 in the MP platoon. I know it was Sinop but I
have a lot of good memories from that time. Thank you for your
contribution to this site. I plan on visiting it often.
Date:Fri, 20 Mar 1998 07:28:32 -0500
Subject:SINOP
From:TIM AAROEN
IF ANYONE HAD TOLD ME 25YRS AGO THAT I WOULD REMEMBER THE HILL WITH ANY KIND OF FONDNESS, I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT THEY WERE A COUPLE REVS SHY OF A MISSION.
I WAS THERE AS 98J FROM MAR74-MAR75 AND AGAIN IN THE SUMMER OF 75 WHEN THEY SHUT THE SITE DOWN DURING THE FIGHT OVER CYPRUS.
IT 'S NICE TO SEE THAT THERE ARE A FEW WEBSITES NOW FOR THOSE OF US WHO CARE TO REMEMBER.
TIM AAROEN grizzily@mhtc.net
Date: Thur, 19 Mar 1998
Subject:the hillFrom:Kevin Coles
Any of you remember the time a guard from the gate requested a
song from the DJ at the radio station on base and was told that
the song was unavailable and a very short time later Radio Moscow
played the song for the guard at the gate, Diogenes Station?
The bees were buzzing about the hive that night.
Anything's fun if your drunk enough!Kevin Coles rancho@asis.com
059
'59-'60
From: Dick Johnson <DJohnson@dht.com>
Subject: RE: Turkish
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 12:18:25 -0500
I was "on the hill" from May, 1966 until April, 1967. 72B20 in the comm center. My name is Charles Richard Johnson (Chuck, or Dick).
I'm going to have to find all the old pictures and send some your way.
By the way, Turkish 1-10, spelled phonetically... as we don't have the "C" or "S" with the comma under it.
Bir, Icki, Uch, Dort, Besh, Alti, Yedi, Seces, Dokus, On
Dick Johnson <DJohnson@dht.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 16:53:02 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Sinop Tour
From: Steve Donohue <socserv137@aol.com>
I was at Sinop from April 66 to March 67. I was a SP-4 Russian Linguist and hung around with other Marys like Horace Fleming, Ted Garcia, Mike Blessington, Al Chelik, Tom Deberg. I then went to Petaluma, the NSA building, and got to go to Germany when the Soviet Army had their fall vacation in Prague. Thanks for the great page. Keep up the good work. Hope to hear from you. Steve Donohue RA all the way.
From: LT Don Berg, USNR < chicosan@seanet.com> or <bergd@u.washington.edu>
I can't tell you how great I think your homepage is. I was stationed in Sinop in the early '80's when the navy det changed from, "TUSLOG Det 28" to US Navy Field Station, Sinop, Turkey. I have nothing but good memories about my time there (though I remember being forced to watch the same movie dozens of time because it was the only video we had on station).
I remember the cold heads, the lousy food (breaded veal cutlets five or six time a week) that was intended for the US soldiers/sailor (the Navy people almost always ate the "turkish meal" since it was far better).
I remember little heat, little running water and lots of booze.
I also remember how beautiful it was/is.
I remember almost falling off the end of the penisula early one sunday morning, while out hiking where I didn't belong with my (former) friend, Hike Jones.
I was supposed to go back on vacation last fall. Alas, my plans fell through.
Soon, though....I hope to be sitting at Al Bash and eating Iskandeer Kabab and getting my hair cut by Ehkran at #23b on mainstreet.
LT Don Berg, USNR < chicosan@seanet.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 13:24:14 -0800
To: bsimons@pics.com
From: sobe <sobe@orionsys.com>
Subject: turkish words
allahashmarlidik ( I knew it pronounced as allahshmaladik) actually meant
' go with god' a formal goodbye used with anyone who was leaving your
presence.
gale gale (probably spelled wrong but pronounced guh lay guh lay) meant
cry cry, and was used to show that the person leaving was close and would
be missed ...
Ron
Date Tue, 3Mar1998
From: Robert Welsh <n3rw@voicenet.com>
Hi,
just checked out your web page...
I was at the hill Jan 63 to Feb 64 as the 283 for P van on trick 5 (straight swings).
1st worked in 'master control'; that is, room #1 then 'volunteered' for P van.
Great move, great job in the van.
It's been a long time since Sinop but nothing in my life has such fond memories as the hill.
I'd like to add to your 'Turkish' dictionary:
when your buddy left, you said "allah ismarladik" (sp?) aka "old smelly dick"
the person remaining said "gule gule" (sp?) aka "git laid, git laid"
Something really beautiful ...(was) "chok gazel" aka "very beautiful".
Burned your finger on a hot soldering iron in the maintenance room, next
to the supply room in the ops bld you yelled "sen dille peche" aka "son of a b***h".
I'm an active amateur radio operator and have had QSOs with numerous Turkish amateurs. Imagine their surprise when I begin with "mer habe", etc.
They go into orbit!
I stayed in the electronics field for 12 years; earned a degree in
Electronic Physics (GI bill, of course) and now teach physics.
Thanks for keeping the light lit...
ASA all the way
73, Rob callsign N3RW <n3rw@voicenet.com>
Hi Bill:
Got to you via Mike Doran's site.
Just a brief on me. I'm an old ASAer. I trained at Ft. Monmouth in '48 (MOS 3239 Teletype & Crypto Equip Spec.), went through Arlington Hall, Two Rock Ranch and the 1st Tokyo Arsenal to wind up at the 126th Sig. Svc. Co. in Kyoto (actual Fushmi Momoyama) -- later became the 8610 AAU. I was assigned there from mid 1949 to mid 1952 although I itinerated around a lot to install and maintain equip. at various remote DF sites. While I was at Kyoto, I wore the I-Corps, 8th Army, 25th Infantry and finally the Japan Logistic Command (JLC or Junior Legion Commandos) patches. Our joke was that you could always tell an ASA person because his shirt shoulder was worn out from changing patches so often.
Bill, here's why I'm writing: Recently, after two years of preparation, a Veteran's Memorial Museum has opened here in Centralia, Washington. It is very good and a real emotional experience to tour. They also have a good library of military history, but as you might imagine, they have nothing on the ASA. As a writer and historian, I thought I might try to rectify this oversight by collecting materials and data and writing up a paper on the ASA, illustrate it with as many graphics as I can locate and donate it along with any artifacts (patches, etc.) to them. .
So, I'm telling you all this to try and enlist your aid in locating any ASA information or artifacts (badges, patches or reproductions thereof) to make this effort as complete as possible. If you have access to anything you think would be an asset to this study or display please let me know how I can work with you to obtain it.
In my day the ASA had no specific patches. Now I find that they later came up with a number of very nice and colorful ones. I'd like to do a display with as many of these as I can find. As you might imagine the usual outlets don't have ASA patches. So I'm asking around to see if anyone has any to spare.Thanks so much -
-- Wayne (personal sign: GW)
"WWG" <wwg@i-link-2.net>
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 18:41:33 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Sinop Det 4
From: Web Anderson - <rwa@aug.com>
Thanks for the Great Page Bill.
Ahhh the Hill 1963-1965, WHERE you could get steak on hot dog night if you entered the mess hall 5 min before closing,
WHERE the GI beach had a pebble line to separate the" (YOU stay on this side GI, but " WE" the local gentry can go anywhere we please & by the way, don't look at our women while they change from 90 day Sh----s to bathing attire"),
WHERE GI Joe down town was the only K-Mart (yea rite) in a gazillon miles, WHERE the slaughter factory down town often smelled better than some of our chow. (Those were the days that the German cooks were off), WHERE Butch Strahlem was the smartest guy I ever met and Dave Rosie the funniest, WHERE KBOK was the only radio station in the Universe that was clear-tex, WHERE the NCO & EM club had 10 cent beer & 30 cent Crown Royal, WHERE the Turks beat your utility uniforms on rocks in a stream & starched them to where it was a chore to put them on, WHERE the Silver Fox (our beloved commander) got rifted for not spending the required number of days on the Hill, WHERE at the NCO club you could buy a super tender steak with canned corn, a slice of fresh tomato & a small bottle of wine for $1.50, WHERE those umungus dogs at the point could tell the difference between ASA's & non-ASA's (THANK GOD!!) WHERE 1st Sgt K---- outlawed the handle-bar mustaches Thank you Dave),and where I had a great tour and met a lot of great guys.
73, Web
G.I. Joe's "K-Mart" in Sinop.
Photo courtesy of Abdullah Eren.
Date : Sat, 21 Feb 1998
Name: CTR1 De Vera <pgrj@earthlink.net>
I was stationed in Sinop from March 88-March 89. I am interested on the NAVY detachment, United States Naval Field Station, Sinop. Your page is great, brings back many memories being that it was my very first station. That one picture of the hill from the town is just like I remember. Now I would really like to see info on my type of people, the sailors that were stationed there. I remember being a seaman on an Army Base asking myself "what am I doing here?". One thing that stuck out, I was only 19 and it was legal to get drunk! I thought that was awesome. There was a saying back then, "Either you become drunk, become buffed or become very religious". I worked out a lot that was for sure. Luckily I didn't become an alcoholic. Please send me the info if you have any. Keep up the good work!!!
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 01:05:15 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Thanks
From: Jerry Orton <jerryo@lcc.net>
To: bsimons@pics.com
--------------------------------------
Thanks for providing this forum for us ASA'ers at SINOP to float back through time.
Gerald Lee (Jerry) Orton, 058, SP5
Sinop TUSLOG Det 4
Oct 63 - Oct 64
Name: Bill Spitler
From: bspitler@TheRamp.net
--------------------------------------
I was stationed in Sinop from June 67 to June 68 as an 05H taking ditties until I was deaf. At the time, it seemed like a pretty crummy experience, but those are good memories.
I have probably 300 slides taken of Sinop which I haven't looked at in probably 20 years. Having seen your page, it's time to get them out again (I hope I can find the slide projector). Maybe after I have had a chance to refresh the memorias with the pictures, I will write something of my memories.
Thanks again for doing this page. You have made my day!
Bill Spitler
Princeton, IL
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 22:00:36 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Sinop 71-72
From: Frank Sullivan <crypto7073@erols.com>
Bill,Thanks for the time you've spent putting this together! I've met countless vets since I ETS'ed in '73 but no one who was ever in Sinop.
I was a ASA Ru lingie, worked in COMDEV near main ops bldg. I worked with Jerry Hayes (O5K?), Chuck Clendenan (sp?), Mark Lutness, Walt Gingrich(?),"Chris" Christopher, and others. When I first got there I was assigned to the Navy shop since there wasn't much of an army mission. Worked with Tom Strong, Chuck Biggie, and other CT's whose names escape me now.
I lived in the barracks but also rented a room downtown with Walt from Nato the barber; Nato's English wasn't the best but his able assistant, Nazim, spoke pretty well. We shared part of the flat with Nazim and so were able to see a side of Turkish life that others didn't. When ever we needed something from down town he knew right where to get it! When he got married in '72 we gave him a bunch of stuff from the PX at a shower. Whenever I got tired of the hill, I'd spend my nites downtown; when the Turks got to me I'd sleep back in the barracks.
It was usually pretty dull on the hill except for a few times...
I still remember the morning in the winter when I got off a mid shift; I went to the chow hall to get some breakfast and was greeted by....
GIANT SNOW PHALLUSES!!
Someone had made some phalluses 4-5 ft high in the middle of the quad and on top of the short roof in front of the mail room! The MP's were called in to knock them down. Everyone buzzed about it for days. The command tried to find the culprits but none were found.
I was also there when an MP was killed in the club. There was a fight, he got pushed, and choked on his vomit. Sad...
It seems so long ago, but I still remember some details so vividly!
Cheers!
Frank - <crypto7073@erols.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 15:40:08 -0500 (EST)
Subject: ASA, Sinop 1959-1960 communications
From: "John C. Adams" <jbj.adams@aol.com>
--------------------------------------
I was in Sinop from 1959 thru 1960. Went back to Arlington Hall Va. Lots of memories, lots of good and bad times at the camp on the hill. Would like to hear from anyone that was there before, during, or after my time.
At 03:41 PM 1/18/98 -0600,Ernie Wright wrote -
Thanks for going to the trouble of putting together the web page for Sinop. It was with real pleasure that I found the site while looking for something totally other.I was at Sinop in '68 and '69 after a stint at NSA in the ASA having come there from the 318th at Herzo Base. It was a pretty bad time in my life as I was vehemently anti-war and pretty pissed off at the Army for many reasons. We all did the best we could under the circumstances, I suppose, and I made friends there and was able to see the roses among the garbage so to speak. I have carried many good memories of the natural beauty of the place and even recognized with the passing of the years that the work was interesting in itself.
I have often wished that I had taken the opportunity to travel some when I was in Turkey but the best I did was to take a stinky bus to Ankara with a bunch of buddies, fording the rivers on the way, to fly home at Christmas for a short visit with my new bride in Florida. I came into Sinop on a launch from Istanbul and when I went home at the end of my tour in the Army I took the elegant Black Sea steamer that was operating at the time.
I now live in N.E. Iowa and am a designer/artisan in wood and glass with my wife.
I will enjoy showing her and my daughter some of your pictures of the area.Regards,
Ernie <ewright1@netins.net>
