AP Alley

By Terry Yurick

In the early 1960’s the Military knew they needed to develop a new method of intelligence gathering in locating the enemy in the jungles of Vietnam. Early attempts at developing a mobile method of interception and location of radio transmissions failed. Some successes occurred prior to the mid-1960’s, but there was no large scale plan on how to develop this into a major project to help win the war in Vietnam. Approval comes in 1966 and the project is named Phyllis Ann. The author becomes a part of this project as a mission leader in the winter of 1968. This novel is based on his experiences both in Pleiku Vietnam and Misawa Japan during some of the most turbulent times in our history. The taking of the Pueblo, Russian bombers testing our defenses, and the secret war in Laos were all historical events this young airman was involved in.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Jan 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483407111

Book preview

story.

CHAPTER 1

Pleiku, Vietnam

November 1968

T he O-2, a spotter airplane, circled over the runway at Pleiku again. Rick Travis had just come out of the back door of the barracks. The barracks were a two-story building with open bays that the airmen had creatively made into cubicles by moving lockers around and hanging up blankets. The barracks were surrounded by sandbags that went about halfway up the bottom floor, and on one side was a bunker made of sandbags that they used during rocket at tacks.

Hey, Rick. Come on up here and take a look at this.

Rick looked at the blue sky while searching for what George Dunham was yelling about. Then he saw the O-2.

Bring us up a couple of beers and watch this plane, George said. It has a big problem.

George was Rick’s roommate, and although they had only met when Rick arrived in Pleiku a month earlier, they had become good friends. George had been stationed in southern Japan prior to his assignment to Pleiku, and Rick had been assigned to northern Japan. Both had left girlfriends behind in Japan, but George had already decided that once this tour was over, he was getting out and returning to the love of his life in Japan.

Rick was not as sure of his plans. George had been an AMS, or airborne mission supervisor, for several months and was in charge of the mission once the airplanes were airborne. He told the pilots where to go.

There aren’t any cold beers, George. I’m still waiting for that Japanese refrigerator you ordered.

Rick began climbing up to the roof to see what the problem was. Once he got there and looked at the bottom of the O-2, it became apparent that the landing gear wasn’t down. George, I think we may be watching a crash today. Looks like he is using up his fuel before he tries to do a belly landing.

George replied, Yeah. They’ve already foamed the runway.

The O-2 began to lose altitude and started its approach to the runway. By this time, quite a large crowd had gathered around the barracks.

The O-2 made its turn for the final approach and began down toward the runway. All eyes were on it as it ducked down below the barracks, but George and Rick could still see it from where they were standing. It hit the deck and slid. With no landing gear, it had no brakes. Finally, it came to a stop, and the emergency vehicles surrounded it. The pilot jumped out.

Like I always say, Rick, any good landing is one you walk away from.

You got that right! Let’s go over to the airman’s club to suck down some beers.

In the airman’s club, their talk turned to their experiences in Japan.

George, are you really going to get out and go back to marry that girl? She probably is already someone else’s moose by now. In Japan, a moose was a girl who lived with a GI.

No. She wouldn’t do that to me. We’re in love. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me in this crazy war. I just want to get married, settle down, and find some peace in my life. This war is just a waste of good people.

Yeah. This war isn’t worth all the lives that have been lost—but getting married?

George nodded. That’ll be the only good that’ll come from all of this. I only enlisted to make sure I wasn’t drafted and sent to Vietnam, and here I am. Luckily, I got to spend two great years in Japan and found someone who loves me. If not for that, this would have been a waste of four years of my life.

Rick shook his head. But getting married? Why don’t you just go live with her and make sure that she hasn’t been shacking up with someone else?

George slapped Rick on the back. You need to start trusting someone someday.

I do! I trust you, George!

Ditto, Rick! What about the girl you left behind? What are you planning to do when you leave Nam?

Not sure, man. I have too much time left here. Long way to go. Rick looked out the window and then back at George. Besides, she probably is shacked up with someone else already.

You don’t believe that, do you? From what you told me about her so far, it sounds like she’s a pretty nice girl. Why would she cheat on you?

I told you that she’s a bar girl. I don’t trust them. Hell, I had a girlfriend back in the States who cheated on me shortly after I left for Japan, and she wasn’t working in a bar.

Well, make sure you take some R & R and go see her. Maybe you will have a surprise when you go back to Misawa.

That’s what I am afraid of. They both laughed.

A few hours and a few beers later, they headed back to the barracks.

The ground shook. This is the giant voice. This is not a drill. Get to the bunkers. We are under attack!

Rick and George ran for the bunkers as rockets slammed into the base. The message kept repeating, and people streamed out of the barracks. The Vietcong usually stopped at Pleiku on their way down south to Saigon and hit the base with several rockets—fewer to carry that way.

The Ho Chi Minh Trail coming out of Laos led almost directly to Pleiku, and it was almost a given that they would get hit at least once a month. The explosions kept getting closer as they piled into the bunker. First in front of the bunker—and then behind it. Luckily, Charlie was a lousy shot. The rocket attacks were more psychological than deadly.

Thirty minutes later, the all-clear signal sounded. By that time, Spooky was up and spraying the outside perimeter with rounds. Spooky was a C-47 gunship with Gatling guns mounted inside. In seconds, it could cover an area the size of a football field with rounds of ammunition. Nothing in that area would be left alive. Charlie was more than likely long gone by now. They had already seen what Spooky could do and wanted no part of it.

As usual, the only casualties from this attack were people with broken or twisted ankles caused by panicky people running out of the barracks to the bunkers. Charlie rarely could claim any kills and used the rockets more for psychological reasons than for strategic ones. A rocket had killed only one person in the six months George had been there. It was a doctor, of all people, who got hit running to the bunker.

The Vietcong and North Vietnamese had sustained severe casualties during the Tet Offensive earlier that year and had still not recovered. They had resorted to guerilla-type operations that they had used early in the war, and many of the North Vietnamese troops had pulled back into Laos where there were no major American troops to continue the fight.

This, however, did not stop the secret war of locating them and trying to destroy their capabilities. At least half of the missions that Rick and George flew in Pleiku were in Laos near the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a very dangerous place with antiaircraft guns and surface-to-air missiles. That was where the game of hide-and-seek was played, sometimes with lethal consequences. The hit-and-run rocket attacks, like the one they had just been in, were unlikely to kill them. Flying in an unarmed plane going 125 miles an hour would be far more dangerous for them and their fellow airmen.

But tonight, they were safe. It was just another typical day in Pleiku, an aircraft emergency followed by a rocket attack. Rick and George had survived another day, and both had less than a year left before they would complete their tours. George only had a few more months, and Rick still had eleven months to go—too long to be counting the days.

In their cubicle, Rick and George had hung blankets around their area to make it more like a room since they were in an open barracks with no internal walls.

Rick thought about his conversation with George. He had many concerns about his girlfriend in Misawa. He had met her at Tony’s, a bar at the end of one of the alleys in AP Alley. AP Alley was a warren of alleys outside Misawa air force Base in northern Japan. It was mostly made up of bars and serviced the air base. Many of the airmen shacked up with the girls working there, but very seldom did relationships get serious.

The tour of duty in Misawa was normally two years, so the men were gone in a fairly short time. If anyone with top-secret clearance got married, he would lose the clearance and be sent back to the States—minus the new wife. The air force wanted men to enjoy their stays, but it had plans for the men after they left, and having a foreign national for a wife was not one of them.

The girls working in the bars usually wound up owing money to the owners of the bars. The owners used this to keep them working there and did not let them leave until the bar tabs were paid up. In the 1960s, the economy in Japan had still not recovered from the war, and the desperate Japanese did whatever possible to survive.

With the cold war with Russia ongoing and the hot war in Vietnam going strong, there were a lot of airmen to choose from in Misawa to help support the girls. Many of the girls would spend the night with an airman for as little as 1,800 yen, which at 360 yen to the dollar, was five dollars. It was a difficult life for the girls, and they did what they needed to do in order to survive. In Japan during the 1960s, a woman was treated as a second-class citizen.

All this went through Rick’s mind as he drifted off to sleep. He had really enjoyed his time in Misawa, but in the back of his mind, he always knew it was temporary. They said, Don’t fall in love because once you have to go to a new assignment, someone else will take your place. That happened a lot, and it bothered Rick immensely.

The first time he went down to the alley was painful; his girlfriend back in the States had sent him a Dear John letter, and he needed to get out and get over it. He dreamed of getting the letter and going down to the alley with Jerry. It was quite a night—a night he would never forget.

CHAPTER 2

Misawa Japan

January 1967

I t was a brutally cold day. Outside, the snow was coming down lightly, and the wind was blowing it across the Hill. The wind was blowing hard as only wind from Siberia can. Misawa often got the winds blowing across the ocean from Si beria.

Inside the barracks, sitting alone in his room, Rick kept staring at the letter. He had received it when he got off his shift from the ops building. The words had hit him hard; one line kept repeating in his mind: It’s over. I have found someone new.

He kept remembering what the training instructor back at Lackland had warned them about in boot camp. One of these days, you will all get a letter from that girl you left behind. It will say yours is bigger and better, but his is here! Don’t think that it won’t happen; it always does. Now it had happened to him.

Rick had pretty much stayed on the base in Misawa since he had arrived the previous July. Too much temptation down there in the Machi. The Machi was the city of Misawa, and AP Alley was a popular hangout for the airmen. AP Alley was made up mostly of bars, hotels, and girls. His friends had tried hard to get him to go with them—get out and have fun—but Rick was serious about this girl. Now it was over.

Jerry Fisher walked into his room and said, Rick, I know I’m wasting my time, but I am heading down to the Machi to go to the movies. Thought maybe you might go. No booze, no girls, just a movie.

Let’s go Rick replied. But we need to stop on the way and get a couple of combat jugs.

Jerry almost fell over. Really?

Yes. Really. Let’s go. I need to get out and have some fun. I’ve been cooped up on the Hill much too long.

Okay, Rick. Let’s go catch the bus. I know a great place to get some combat jugs filled with Sapporo!

Rick got up, threw the letter in the trash, and walked out of the room.

Jerry followed, wanting to ask what Rick had just thrown away, but something on Rick’s face warned him not to pry.

They headed to the bus stop with their parkas on. It was still cold, and the falling snow was starting to increase. It was going to be a very cold evening, but they had seventy-two hours to enjoy doing whatever they wanted. On the Hill, they worked rotating shifts, three swing shifts, then three graveyard shifts, followed by three day shifts, then seventy-two hours off. They had just completed their third day shift.

Jerry watched Rick as they got on the bus. Something was bothering Rick, but he wasn’t about to ask. This was only about the third time that Rick had gone down into Misawa with him, and they had never gone drinking together. He wasn’t going to ruin it by asking questions.

They rode down to the main gate in silence. It was a long ride since the Hill was several miles away from the main base.

When they got off the bus and walked past AP Alley, Jerry said, Maybe after the movie, we can go have a few down the alley.

Sure. Why not? I’m in the mood for some heavy drinking tonight. I need to warm up. Might even get some of that antifreeze you always are talking about, Jerry.

Oh you want to drink sake? You might want to think twice about that on top of a combat jug of beer. You will already have close to a gallon of beer in you when we leave the movies.

We’ll see. I am feeling very down tonight. I need to get something in me to change that. Have you ever felt like that, Jerry?

Sure, but go a little easy, my man. We will have a great time after the movies. We’ll do some barhopping, okay.

Sounds great! Let’s do it!

When they left the movies, they both were staggering. Drinking a combat jug in less than two hours will get you high—and they were. They headed for AP Alley. Jerry said they should go to Toys first; it was a Trick Two bar. Trick Two was the group they were in; it was based on their schedule. Everyone who worked the same schedule was on the same trick. There were four tricks since operations were going 24/7. It was like Vegas—never closed!

Rick and Jerry were ditty boppers. They intercepted Morse code. Some of the other people on their trick intercepted other types of messages. Ditty boppers tended to hang together. They had top-secret crypto clearances and had to be careful what they said.

One of the guys from Trick Two was shacked up with Toy, the lady who owned the bar. She catered to Trick Two because of that. The bar was on a side alley, away from the main alley.

By that time, the snow was about six inches deep. Luckily, they had both worn their machi boots. They didn’t go down to the alley in the winter without machi boots.

Rick didn’t know it then, but he was going to meet someone that night who would change his life, but he wouldn’t meet her in Toys.

When Rick and Jerry staggered into the bar, a few airmen looked up and said hi, surprised to see Rick.

Jerry steered Rick over to the bar. Toy, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.

Sure, Jerry. He’s good looking.

Be good, Toy, or I’ll tell your boyfriend. This is Rick.

Hi, Rick. Nice to meet you.

Hi, Toy. Can we have a couple of Sapporos?

Coming right up, Rick.

Rick took a look around the cozy bar. There was a bar, ten stools, and a few tables. The outside had not been much to look at either; it looked like it had been there for a long time.

Rick and Jerry drank their beers and headed back out into the cold. They hit a few more bars and were feeling quite good.

Jerry told Rick that he was saving the best bar for last. Jerry’s favorite bar was at the end of a long alley where the alley curved around.

Rick kept asking Jerry why the bar was so special, but Jerry just laughed and said, You’ll see.

As they headed down the long alley, Rick looked up and saw the name. Tony’s. Tony’s was a Trick Three bar, but Jerry liked to hang out there, probably because when he was off, Trick Three was working. Less competition for meeting the girls. Is Tony some girl?

No. You’ll see, Jerry said as they walked inside.

Tony’s was newer than Toys and had been built after a fire in the winter of 1966. It had formerly been the Stand Bar. It had a longer bar, booths, and a dance floor. Jerry steered Rick to one of the booths.

As they sat down, a cute Japanese girl came over to them.

Jerry said, Hi, Masako. Is Miyoko working tonight?

"Hai."

Please ask her to come meet my friend, and we would like two Sapporos.

"Okay, chotto matte. This meant just a minute. Masako went into the back room, and Jerry leaned over and whispered, Wait till you see this josan. She is hot!"

As the two girls approached, a stereo was playing Goin’ Out of My Head by Little Anthony and the Imperials.

I think I’m going out of my head over you. I want you to want me.

The lyrics reverberated in Rick’s head.

She was gorgeous, tall for a Japanese girl—maybe five foot seven—with long black hair and a beautiful shape. Rick just stared.

"Konbawa. I am Miyoko," she said, looking directly at Rick.

Jerry said, Miyoko, this is my friend, Rick.

Hi, Reeck. May I sit with you? She slid into the booth next to him.

Sure, Rick said.

Do you have girlfriend in Misawa, Reeck?

Rick continued staring, and Jerry said, No. He has a girlfriend in America.

That okay, Reeck. You have girlfriend America and here too. It our culture.

Rick said, But that is not the culture in America.

You not in America, Reeck. You in Japan, okay.

Masako brought over the beers, put them on the table, and sat down next to Jerry.

Well, Miyoko, I no longer have a girlfriend in America.

Jerry said, What happened?

Not important, Jerry. Let’s just have a good time tonight.

Miyoko smiled at Rick, and he smiled back.

Masako just looked at both of them.

I knew something was up when you agreed to go to town with me, and I saw you throw something into the trash when we left.

Let it go, Jer. So, Miyoko, do you have a boyfriend in Misawa?

She started to laugh and said, Not yet, but like to.

Masako shifted her gaze from Rick to Miyoko and then got up to wait on a new customer.

Rick said, Well, then, we should go out sometime. Maybe a movie or dinner.

Sure, Reeck, but I work most nights. I only get one or two nights off a month.

Well, the next time you are off, maybe I will be off too. We could go out.

"Hai. Maybe."

Masako came back to the table and said something to Miyoko in Japanese.

Reeck, I must go. Please come again.

I will.

As Miyoko and Masako headed for the back room, Jerry turned to Rick and said, I have been coming in here for months and could never get her to sit down with me. Every time I asked, she said she was too busy. And you come here for the first time, and bam, she sits down right away! How do you do it?

I don’t know, Jer, but she is gorgeous. Do you think she has a boyfriend?

Rick, most of these girls either are shacked up with someone or are charging you to go home with them when their shifts end.

When the bartender walked over to their table, Jerry said, Hey, Cowboy. How are you, man? Rick, this is Cowboy, the best bartender in Misawa.

Hi Jerry-san, who is your friend?

Cowboy, this is Rick. He’s a good friend of mine and will be a good friend of yours soon.

Welcome, Rick-san. Another beer?

No, Cowboy. We have had enough. Got to head back to base before curfew.

"You not going home with one of the josans?"

No, not this time, Cowboy. Maybe next time, Jerry said.

They walked back up the alley, heading for the base. They passed the New Tokyo Bar, and Jerry waved to Coke Bottle. Everyone called her that because of the thick glasses she wore, and she didn’t seem to mind.

So all the girls either are shacked up or charging for sex?

Rick, I know that you haven’t been running the Machi, that this is your first time, but that is how things work here. Some girls shack up with two guys on different tricks.

That must be difficult.

It does take a lot of planning, but these girls are very resourceful.

I guess it does.

Rick, keep in mind that the war only ended twenty years ago, and this country was devastated. And this is a man’s world; women are second-class citizens in Japan. They have had to find a way to support themselves. Rumor has it that once they start working for the bars, the owners loan them money so they can rent a place to live and then charge them exorbitant interest rates that they cannot pay back. The owners wind up owning them unless they can find someone to pay off their bar bills.

That is criminal!

Like Miyoko told you, you’re not in America anymore—you’re in Japan. There are different rules here, and you need to learn them. I am sorry to hear about your girlfriend, but don’t you get too involved with anyone here. You know we are only here for a short time.

Thanks, Jer, but I can take care of myself. I am grateful that you told me what goes on down here. I had no idea. I still think that is terrible; both girls seem very nice.

Well, you don’t know what they have been through. Don’t be surprised later when you get to know them. Not everything is as it seems.

They entered the base just before curfew. Anyone who was caught wandering around town or in a bar after curfew was in trouble. Curfew was at ju ichi jihan. Eleven thirty.

The ride back to the Hill was very quiet. Jerry fell asleep, and Rick thought about what Jerry had told him. He had been unaware of this world and was having a hard time accepting that this was how things were. He really felt for the two girls he had met. He couldn’t get Miyoko out of his mind.

Yes, I think I’m going out of my head over you. Over you. I want you to want me.

Wow! He had not expected to meet someone so soon after getting the letter. She was so beautiful and seemed so nice.

He opened his door, and his roommate was asleep on the top bunk. Rick walked over to the trashcan and picked up the letter. He walked outside, took out the matches he had picked up at Tony’s, held the paper over the railing, and lit it. As it burst into flames, he let it flutter down into the snow. It was his way of letting that relationship go.

As Rick reentered his room, he realized he was hooked. From then on, he was going downtown whenever he could—to the alley, but mostly to Tony’s. He did not know what the future held.

He was in for some interesting times, and eventually he would wind up in a place he had never wanted to go to. The only thing on his mind was when he would see Miyoko again! He undressed and climbed into his bunk. Images of her flooded his mind as he drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER 3

Pleiku, Vietnam

December 1968

T he EC-47 lumbered down the runway. Rick looked out the window as it took off and wondered, as he always did, if he would ever see the base again. They were headed for Laos, which was the most dangerous of all places to fly. He had just recently been made an AMS. Senior Master Sergeant Scales had recognized his ability to use the flight equipment and his leadership abilities. Rick was a natural, low-key leader, and people were willing to follow his direc tions.

Rick looked out the window again as they passed over Pussy Mountain. It was more of a hill than a mountain, and its real