Comments on: Wake Island (Island Week) http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/ Why bother seeing the world for real? Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:48:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: RAYMOND E. DROZD http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-206931 RAYMOND E. DROZD Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:15:44 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-206931 TO ALL: I AM RETIRED ARMY AND AM RESEARCHING M.I.A.'S ON WAKE FROM WORLD WAR II. ONE OF THE GREATEST MYSTERIES TO DATE IS THE POST WAR EXHUMATION PROCESS OF WAKE'S MILITARY AND CIVILIAN DEAD, AND THE LOCATION OF THEIR ORIGINAL BURIAL LOCATIONS. IS THERE ANYONE WHO LIVED, WORKED, OR SERVED ON WAKE AWARE OF WHERE THE BURIAL SITE(s) WERE?? THE NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER, THE MARINE CORPS HISTORICAL CENTER, AND THE QUARTERMASTER SCHOOL ( GRAVES REGISTRATION) AT FORT LEE CAN SHED NO LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT. I AM REASONABLY SURE THAT THE REMAINS OF FOUR MARINES, AND TWO NAVY AIRMEN ARE STILL ON WAKE- UNKNOWN AND OVERLOOKED POST WAR. IF SOMEONE DOES KNOW, I ASK THAT THE INFORMATION BE SPECIFIC- AN EXAMPLE ONLY FOLLOWS: "WAKE ISLET, ON PEACOCK POINT, APPROXIMATELY 100 METERS FROM THE HIGH TIDE MARK ON THE EASTERN SHORE" - EXAMPLE ONLY. FINALLY, CAN ANYONE RECOLLECT WHEN THE BULK OF WAR DEBRIS WAS REMOVED, AND WHERE IT WAS REMOVED TO? EXAMPLE: BULLDOZED INTO THE SEA, BURIED, LIGHTERED OFF ISLAND AS SCRAP, ETC.? WHERE? WHEN? AND BY WHO? ANY OTHER POINTS OF INFORMATION, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, RAY TO ALL: I AM RETIRED ARMY AND AM RESEARCHING M.I.A.’S ON WAKE FROM WORLD WAR II. ONE OF THE GREATEST MYSTERIES TO DATE IS THE POST WAR EXHUMATION PROCESS OF WAKE’S MILITARY AND CIVILIAN DEAD, AND THE LOCATION OF THEIR ORIGINAL BURIAL LOCATIONS.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO LIVED, WORKED, OR SERVED ON WAKE AWARE OF WHERE THE BURIAL SITE(s) WERE?? THE NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER, THE MARINE CORPS HISTORICAL CENTER, AND THE QUARTERMASTER SCHOOL ( GRAVES REGISTRATION) AT FORT LEE CAN SHED NO LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT. I AM REASONABLY SURE THAT THE REMAINS OF FOUR MARINES, AND TWO NAVY AIRMEN ARE STILL ON WAKE- UNKNOWN AND OVERLOOKED POST WAR.
IF SOMEONE DOES KNOW, I ASK THAT THE INFORMATION BE SPECIFIC- AN EXAMPLE ONLY FOLLOWS: “WAKE ISLET, ON PEACOCK POINT, APPROXIMATELY 100 METERS FROM THE HIGH TIDE MARK ON THE EASTERN SHORE” – EXAMPLE ONLY.
FINALLY, CAN ANYONE RECOLLECT WHEN THE BULK OF WAR DEBRIS WAS REMOVED, AND WHERE IT WAS REMOVED TO? EXAMPLE: BULLDOZED INTO THE SEA, BURIED, LIGHTERED OFF ISLAND AS SCRAP, ETC.? WHERE? WHEN? AND BY WHO?
ANY OTHER POINTS OF INFORMATION, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU,
RAY

]]> By: Tony Burris http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-206853 Tony Burris Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:25:19 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-206853 My father, Jerry Burris was the Commissary Mgr at Pan Am on Wake for three different time frames. We were all there in1960-1963. Al Ching was the owner of the bowling alley, and it has more than two lanes, actually six, as I remember. Lastly, the school went to 9th grade, after that you has to go off Island for school. I was the class president of the 9th grade graduating class, all 8 of us. Tony Burris My father, Jerry Burris was the Commissary Mgr at Pan Am on Wake for three different time frames. We were all there in1960-1963. Al Ching was the owner of the bowling alley, and it has more than two lanes, actually six, as I remember. Lastly, the school went to 9th grade, after that you has to go off Island for school. I was the class president of the 9th grade graduating class, all 8 of us. Tony Burris

]]> By: B W http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-206833 B W Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:07:29 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-206833 The runway was built that direction because it's the only place on the island with a long enough platue for 9000 feet of strip. The island is appx 2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide The runway was built that direction because it’s the only place on the island with a long enough platue for 9000 feet of strip.
The island is appx 2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide

]]> By: Lou Borok http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-206740 Lou Borok Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:54:14 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-206740 I was a B-29 crew member in the early 50"s and twice stopped at Wake for fuel. Then, after college I went to work for Pan Am and they sent me to Wake In December 1964. I was there until Jan. 1966. Prior to WW II Pan Am ran Wake. The Pan Am manager was also the official Federal Government administrator for Wake. There had been a Navy rescue outfit at Wake but they left just before I arrived. Periodically they sent people up...I think from Iwo. When they were permanent there they operated a tiny radio station...WAKE. Because I had worked in radio and TV in college as well as at a commercial station I fired up the equipment and when I had time I would broadcast news and play records. If I recall correctly the bowling alley then was owned by a Chinese man and I think there was only one alley....maybe two. I have a lot of memories of Wake. I was a B-29 crew member in the early 50″s and twice stopped at Wake for fuel. Then, after college I went to work for Pan Am and they sent me to Wake In December 1964. I was there until Jan. 1966. Prior to WW II Pan Am ran Wake. The Pan Am manager was also the official Federal Government administrator for Wake. There had been a Navy rescue outfit at Wake but they left just before I arrived. Periodically they sent people up…I think from Iwo. When they were permanent there they operated a tiny radio station…WAKE. Because I had worked in radio and TV in college as well as at a commercial station I fired up the equipment and when I had time I would broadcast news and play records. If I recall correctly the bowling alley then was owned by a Chinese man and I think there was only one alley….maybe two. I have a lot of memories of Wake.

]]> By: Eugene Delenia http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-141636 Eugene Delenia Sun, 06 May 2007 14:11:56 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-141636 Wow! It's great to stumble onto a site like this and read comments about Wake Island from other people I lived on Wake as a child from 1960 to 1972 and know about every inch of that Island. As other people have mentioned that long thin strip you see in the photo is a concrete causeway that once linked Wake and Peale Island. It was built by the Japanese during their WWII occupation to transport tanks, vehicles, and materials between the two islands. Part of the structure was bombed by the Americans during their bombing "practices". The Japanese could offer little defense since they were effectively cut off from receiving any supplies. On another note, I am the founder of the Wake Island Spirit which brings together former Wake Islanders. I've been organizing reunions since 1992 which have been well attended. There will be a reunion this year in Branson, MO for anyone interested in attending. You can contact me from either of the following websites: http://groups.msn.com/WakeIslandSpirit www.wakeisland.ws To Gary Lumia: I would be very interested in obtaining a copy of your Wake Island photos. They'd be of great interest to the Wake Island Spirit members. Mahalo! Wow! It’s great to stumble onto a site like this and read comments about Wake Island from other people I lived on Wake as a child from 1960 to 1972 and know about every inch of that Island. As other people have mentioned that long thin strip you see in the photo is a concrete causeway that once linked Wake and Peale Island. It was built by the Japanese during their WWII occupation to transport tanks, vehicles, and materials between the two islands. Part of the structure was bombed by the Americans during their bombing “practices”. The Japanese could offer little defense since they were effectively cut off from receiving any supplies. On another note, I am the founder of the Wake Island Spirit which brings together former Wake Islanders. I’ve been organizing reunions since 1992 which have been well attended. There will be a reunion this year in Branson, MO for anyone interested in attending. You can contact me from either of the following websites:

http://groups.msn.com/WakeIslandSpirit
http://www.wakeisland.ws

To Gary Lumia: I would be very interested in obtaining a copy of your Wake Island photos. They’d be of great interest to the Wake Island Spirit members. Mahalo!

]]> By: James Bair http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-140479 James Bair Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:26:52 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-140479 Dear Mr Lumia, I might be interested in the disk of Wake Island photos you mention. How can we get in touch? Dear Mr Lumia,
I might be interested in the disk of Wake Island photos you mention. How can we get in touch?

]]> By: Gary Lumia http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-139822 Gary Lumia Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:35:57 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-139822 I worked on Wake Island from 1991 until about 2 weeks ago. Typhoon Ioke pretty much left the island a mess but all the historical sites are undamaged. The end of Peale from the Loran Station out to the point was completely underwater. The hill which the big gun sat on washed away exposing an octogon shaped base made of steel roughly 40' in diameterand 10' high. I have a disc with a hundred or so pics on it. I would gladly make copies and mail to you. I worked on Wake Island from 1991 until about 2 weeks ago. Typhoon Ioke pretty much left the island a mess but all the historical sites are undamaged. The end of Peale from the Loran Station out to the point was completely underwater. The hill which the big gun sat on washed away exposing an octogon shaped base made of steel roughly 40′ in diameterand 10′ high. I have a disc with a hundred or so pics on it. I would gladly make copies and mail to you.

]]> By: Tina Pratt http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-139487 Tina Pratt Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:45:44 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-139487 There were floating drydocks in WW2 my father was construction battalion befor there were ever Sea Bees. He was at Sampson NY for 12 weeks and helped build the base there. Now its a museum. Then to Great Lakes in Michigan for more training . He was sent to the west coast from there he was at Hollandia Mandus , Los Negros finally Dutch New Guinea. One lake he remembers is lake Sentani. But this lake is in northern British New Guinea. I am looking for photos of planes in trees. The runways were built so our planes as they ran out of fuel getting back to ship wouldnt crash into the ocean. Building the airstrips saved countless lives. Please search another web site it might help all of you. www.pacificwrecks.com Any info for me send to 1123 S. Main St Elmira, NY 14904 OR if your family served with a Tostanoski in the war. Thankyou There were floating drydocks in WW2 my father was construction battalion befor there were ever Sea Bees. He was at Sampson NY for 12 weeks and helped build the base there. Now its a museum. Then to Great Lakes in Michigan for more training . He was sent to the west coast from there he was at Hollandia Mandus , Los Negros finally Dutch New Guinea. One lake he remembers is lake Sentani. But this lake is in northern British New Guinea. I am looking for photos of planes in trees. The runways were built so our planes as they ran out of fuel getting back to ship wouldnt crash into the ocean. Building the airstrips saved countless lives. Please search another web site it might help all of you. http://www.pacificwrecks.com Any info for me send to 1123 S. Main St Elmira, NY 14904 OR if your family served with a Tostanoski in the war. Thankyou

]]> By: matthew http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-136456 matthew Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:43:39 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-136456 The 98 rock is on Wilkes Island. From Wake Island go past the runway, around the man made harbor area, and just as you come to the fuel tank farm you will see on the right hand sign a sign which points you to the rock. It is on the harbor side of the island. Before hurricane Ioke the Thai people who live on the island used to maintain the 98 rock area. They has a rock trail that led down to the rock from the main road. Further down from the rock is a beautiful bird sanctuary where there were millions of birds before Ioke. The 98 rock is on Wilkes Island. From Wake Island go past the runway, around the man made harbor area, and just as you come to the fuel tank farm you will see on the right hand sign a sign which points you to the rock. It is on the harbor side of the island. Before hurricane Ioke the Thai people who live on the island used to maintain the 98 rock area. They has a rock trail that led down to the rock from the main road. Further down from the rock is a beautiful bird sanctuary where there were millions of birds before Ioke.

]]> By: Todd VerBeek http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-135389 Todd VerBeek Sun, 25 Mar 2007 17:16:23 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/09/01/wake-island-island-week/#comment-135389 Can anyone who's been to Wake tell/show me where the 98 Rock is located on the island? Can anyone who’s been to Wake tell/show me where the 98 Rock is located on the island?

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