Times of Youth in Tsoying Naval Base and Places South

Gene Page arrived in Taiwan in 1978, accompanying his step-father who was working for Honeywell with the ROC Navy.

His thoughts of those times are reflected in his short letter found HERE

Gene's web site is HERE

Excuse Me, Got a Light?

I found this old lighter in my box of "stuff" a few weeks ago. It was a gift passed out to the club members probably at Christmas in 1966 or 1967. The condition of this lighter, it's chipped paint was probably caused by it being dropped into my trousers pocket after lighting up one of the hundreds of cigarettes I smoked using this lighter for fire. I always carried a lighter in my pocket to provide a light for patrons. One of the duties of all Club Management folks.

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I quite smoking in the mid 1970's.

I've posted some new information and photographs about the O Club Annex on the Taipei Air Station web site here: http://mirach.lunarpages.com/~taipe2/index_files/Page390.htm

Does anyone have photographs of the Officer's Club facility on Chungshan North Road or of the Officer's Club Annex? Any photographs would be greatly appreciated.

Changing of the Guard

Jim Caumo visited the Ministry of National Defense in late 1964 and took this photograph as the guard mount was approaching the post for the changing of the guard in the early morning. The sun is showing full on the MND Building, which faces east. Has to be early morning hours.

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The pedicab was still a major means of transportation at this time. Not a lot of traffic on the street this morning.

The Taipei Air Station Dining Facility

Les Duffin found this photograph of the "Charger Inn" in the 1973 Taiwan Report, a booklet normally presented to newly arrived personnel during in-processing.

Be sure to click on the photograph view the large copy of this photo.

As I recall, construction on the Taipei Air Station dining facility began in 1966. I was stationed at Taipei Air Station during construction and for some period after it's doors opened.

I never had an opportunity to eat there. I don't recall why, could it be that only personnel residing in the barracks were allowed to eat in the facility?

Can someone help with information about the facility.

How did the name "Charger Inn" become associated with the dining hall? Maybe the Mess Sergeant was from San Diego, OK, maybe he liked Dodge automobiles? Alright, someone help with the correct answer.....

The Hennessy Trophy was awarded to the "Charger Inn" in 1972.

Shu Linkou Air Station had an outstanding dining facility. They captured the Hennessy Trophy in 1968 and 1969, two years in a row. After Taipei Air Station won the trophy in 1972, Shu Linkou came right back and took home the trophy again in 1973 and 1974, another two year run.

I guess you could say, "The best Air Force Chow Halls in the Pacific in the late 1960's and early 1970's were in Taiwan."

Taiwan - our home away from home, serving delicious food just like Mom cooked!

Update - Saturday 26 July 2008: Les Duffin remarked: "The dining hall at SLK was always a highlight. One year when they didn’t win the Hennessy Trophy, they were so embarrassed they remodeled the whole place (new fountain & fish pond among other things) and added a row of Hibachi cookers out back so, when you went through the line you were asked if you wanted your meat cooked or smoked." That's a "bet you didn't know" story, few were aware of, but so interesting. Thanks Les.

Got a Match

A relic of the past, but it brings back so many memories. Most of us smoked during our days in Taiwan and match books from the club were everywhere. Got at match?

Homes in the Surrounding Area

Update 2: Jim Caumo furnished this additional photograph of the "China Arts and Sports Center" circa 1964. This is the circular building seen below.

Update: Les Duffin sent the 2 color photographs below and provided an explanation of the buildings in the black and white photographs below.

"I just saw the two photos on your site taken from the New Taipei Hotel. I have no memory of that hotel, but two buildings in the photos are familiar. The round structure in the distant left of the first photo and right in the second was a basketball stadium, but I don’t recall its name. The other building is the Mandarin Hotel which was under construction at that time. It’s the large building in the left of the second photo. I believe both structures were along Tun Hua North Road; I think the stadium was near the intersection of Tun Hua and Nanking East Road and the hotel was near the intersection with Minchuan East Road, very close to the airport. So I would guess these photos were of the northeast section of the city, probably looking roughly east. The airport should be somewhere in the distance behind the hotel, but I can’t make it out."

These 2 photos were taken from "The New Taipei Hotel." The hotel does not show-up in a Google search. I have no idea where it was located, however, you can see a couple of large buildings which someone may identify. These photographs were taken in 1963.

Some of these homes look really nice. I know a number of folks assigned to Taipei Air Station resided in the general area.

Your Home Away From Home in Gongguan - Outside the Gate 'UPDATED'

Jim Caumo, Taipei Air Station, November 1963 - February 1965, furnished these photographs of his off-base home and apartment near the Air Station. On base quarters were very limited and most folks had to reside in the civilian community. Quite an experience for a young man on his first Air Force assignment. (Be sure to click on the photographs for a larger view)


 



































On the balcony looking toward Taipei Air Station. The Gate area was just on the other side of that hill with the trees. A freight train is parked on the tracks.

Looking out the balcony to the left of the previous photograph, same hill in background. Notice the rail tracks just outside our apartment.

Jim's first home off-base, a small bungalow. This landlord also owned the apartment next door, which he moved into. The photographs above and below were taken from that apartment. Jim also resided in the Chinese Hostel outside of the HSA Compound, as many of us also called home one time or another.

Another shot from the balcony. Notice the train tracks and possibly a railroad station.

A shot off the balcony again, showing a steam engine hauling down the tracks .

Here's a Google Earth Map of the area these photographs were taken in. It was impossible for Jim to identify the exact area he lived. The streets have been changed, Roosevelt Road has been re-routed, the railroad tracks have been removed, everything is different in this area, including our beloved Taipei Air Station. Anyone else live in this area?

UPDATE - 13 February 2011 -

I ran these photographs through Photoshop and tried to clean and sharpen the images.

They seem a little clearer now.

I know a few friends visit this site regularly for updates.  Hope this is an improvement.