Tourists International

By Bobby Everett Smith

Tom Murry said goodbye to Momma Kemp at the brothel in La Grange, Texas just down the road from the University of Texas in Austin. He drove with friends back to his room on campus. The following week, waiting in the line at the bookstore, he met his soul mate, Julie Monroe They dated in the remainder of the senior year and after graduation—they were married and ordered to Pensacola for Navy flight school. Julie just missed the U.S. Olympic team swimming the Breast Stroke.
On completing flight school, Tom reported to All Weather Attack Squadron and where he was scheduled for an eight-month cruise to the Western Pacific. Julie soon got pregnant, and they awaited the birth of their first child, a boy whom they named Lafayette after Tom’s Grandfather. Tom received his TOP Secret Clearance in Nuclear Weapons Delivery.
At the end of the cruise, Tom was ordered to Atsugi, Japan with his wife and now two kids. Tom’s military obligation ended, and he and Julie moved to Subic Bay, Philippines.
Business opportunities were abundant in the new Free Port established by the Philippine Government. The Murry family moved in with Tom buying a Beechcraft Queen Air and the family buying the U.S. commanding officers on base quarters at Subic Bay, a perfect home for the Miller Home Academy which would become the household and headquarters for the new home-schooling which Julie intended to offer to her own kids and a few select affluent citizens on Free port.
Tom new business prospered, carrying passengers on a private charter service. Business was good.
The Senator from Subic Bay sent his son, Johnny to the Miller House Academy and he bought a 42 ft. yacht which he allowed teen-agers to command.
Tom’s ambition was to accumulate a wealth of $5 million by the time his oldest child reached the tenth grade.
Around the neighborhood, Laf lead the team which included his own family, Johnny and Amy and others, who spent their time exploring the crystal-clear waters of Subic Bay and the jungles and caves in the adjacent territory which included the jungles where the Japanese conduced the Bataan Death March at the beginning of World War II. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn never had more adventures or fun than they Murray kids did growing up in Subic Bay. They went wreck-diving for sunken Japanese treasure in 100 feet crystal clear waters in the Norther part of the bay.
In the tenth grade, Laf and Cate transferred to the Punahou School in Hawaii with the intent to get accepted into an Ivy League School for College and to bring home a medal in the next Olympics for swimming.
Cliff, the baby was accepted to UCLA where he majored in acting and where he got a position as a Movie actor.
With all the kids gone, Tom and Julie decided to fly their Queen Air around the world along the route that Amelia Earhart attempted in 1937—a fatal attempt to fly 25,000 miles in a twin engine aircraft. They final leg of the trip for Tom and JULIE WAS 2500 MILES from Honolulu to Oakland, CA. The fuel capacity of the Queen Air was 2500 miles on one tank of gas and on final, Tom had to declare an emergency—runway in sight and fuel gauge on empty. Mayday, Mayday Mayday. Tom and Julie try to resolve all their problems in these last frantic moments.
Mark Twain never developed his characters to have more excitement or more fun. For five bucks, you can have the most fun, reading of the summer by following along with the MURRY family. Contact Smashwords.com and search for Tour INTERNATIONAL.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bobby Everett Smith
• Release date: Jul 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005730680

Bobby Everett Smith

Bobby Everett Smith www.bobsmithsblog.comBobby Everett Smith is an American author of fiction and non-fiction essays, short stories and novels, and the publisher of the blog bobsmithsblog.com.Born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, Smith earned a degree in Economics from Rice University and an MBA from the University of Washington. Primarily during the Cold War, he served as an aviator in the U.S. Navy. His tours in East and Southeast Asia are inspiration for many of his works, taking the reader vicariously along for his adventurous rides, launched from aircraft carriers in the 7th Fleet.Fueled by his own leadership experiences in the U.S. Navy and the private sector, Smith has become passionate and knowledgeable about our nation’s leaders. In nearly a dozen summaries of great presidential biographies, he examines the lives, achievements and legacies of these important political figures.Smith’s most recent novel, Lida Murry Smith, was inspired by his own family history. Set in the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement, it traces the arduous and courageous 1905 fictional journey of the Smith family from their farm in Missouri, through the Indian Territories and Oklahoma to a new farm in Texas.For access to these and other works of Bobby Everett Smith, visit:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/744702

Book preview

Part I Leaving the U S Navy

Part II Two New Businesses in the Philippines--2000 to 2001

Part III: Punahou Prep School

Part IV Tom and Honey Fly Queen Air Around the World

Epilogue

Part I Leaving the U S Navy

Chapter 1 VU5 Assignment for Tom

When Japan surrendered, President Truman placed General of the Army Douglas MacArthur in charge of the surrender and occupation of Japan, under the title Supreme Commander Allied Powers (SCAP). Though the first two weeks of this mission were directed from Manila, on 30 August MacArthur flew to Japan. Arriving at Atsugi airfield, he established temporary headquarters some twenty miles away, at the Tokyo Bay city of Yokohama. Arrangements for the formal surrender ceremonies were made there. SCAP headquarters moved to Tokyo on 8 September, beginning six years of occupation government from the Japanese capital city.

In 2000 Regular Navy Lt. Tom Murry, USN, was a pilot in Utility Squadron Five, NAS Atsugi, Japan., Tom is contemplating his future: He can go back to the Continental U. S. for three years of shore duty or he can leave active duty in the military and start a civilian career.

He and his wife, Honey, live in government quarters at NAS Atsugi, a Naval Air Base about 50 miles southwest of Tokyo and 30 miles East of Mt. Fuji. The Murry’s have three kids, two boys, ages 5 and 1 and one girl aged 4. They have lived in Japan for three years and Tom has traveled extensively for the Navy going frequently to Okinawa and the Philippines where he flew airplanes that towed targets that U S Navy ships used to fire at for gunnery practice.

In his travels, Tom had grown to love the Philippines Islands--the weather, the Pacific Ocean and the people. He had wondered if there was some way, he could move his family there after retiring from the Navy. He brought up the subject to Honey.

Tom is a Navy officer, a pilot, an attack pilot with 100 carrier landings. Tom is a member of the Right Stuff Team. He has some faults too. In fact, he is obsessed with money, sex and alcohol. He likes women even though he is married and like a lot of officers and pilots, he drinks a lot. Some would say he is an alcoholic. Honey encourages him to go to AA and take charge of his alcoholism.

Honey’s mother died recently and left a good sum of money for her daughter. Honey is determined not to let Tom get hold of her inheritance, but she is willing to spend the money on the Murry kids. Honey knows that Tom fools around with other women occasionally. She has already thought of taking retaliatory action just to teach Tom a lesson.

Once I get the money from my mother’s estate, which I think will be about $500,000, we will have enough to move to the Philippines. You can start a business there and I can teach the kids at home., Honey said.

Later, Tom and Honey talked further. I’ve been thinking about home-schooling the kids in the Philippines. I could teach our kids in all the courses they need at least for the next five or six years. I also thought I could take in a few prestigious Filipinos who could afford a private American school. I could limit attendance to about 10 students including ours and teach math, English, science, history, government, and possibly Spanish, said Honey.

I have another interest that I would like to share with you. I ran into a Japanese guy the other day at the O’club bar. He sells very high-quality sporting boats which his company manufactures. He said they are the finest boat--like 20 feet fishing boats with outboard motors that are made in the world. I might be able to find a dealer in San Francisco which would sell boats which a company like his would manufacture. I have also thought about purchasing the timber to make the boats from high quality lumber grown and milled in the Philippines, lumber like Teak, Mahogany, or Walnut, said Tom.

That sounds good and with the inheritance we would have enough of a buffer to get those two businesses going and make a profit.

What about flying? You have almost two thousand hours of flying for the Navy. You could probably make some money flying civilian or possibly selling private airplanes in the Philippines, said Honey.

Right. I hate to give up flying and I am sure I could make some money with all the experience I have had.

So, are we seriously considering this? Honey asks.

I am serious if you are

Tom started advocating with his squadron for more trips to the Philippines and when he was there, he started looking into the requirements for moving his family there and for buying a house near the ocean where they could pursue the boating business, start a private but small school for elementary school students, and enjoy recreation living on a beach on the Pacific Ocean.

Chapter 2 Michiko, the Japanese maid

Tom’s first assignment after flight school was aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard, CVA 31 a United States Attack Aircraft Carrier-- in All Weather Attack Squadron 35. nuclear and conventional weapons delivery serving the 7th Fleet.

After eight months on his first cruise, Tom returned home to Honey and the two kids in Coronado, California. The squadron was in a state of transition. Normally returning aviators would be assigned to another carrier for a second deployment. Tom’s squadron was being reorganized and that meant he would be assigned to another squadron for the next cruise.

On the deck of their apartment, Tom and Honey discussed future Navy assignments. The two kids played in the fenced-in yard. "Our squadron is being disbanded and I have to find another squadron. Potentially I have the chance to go to Japan and take the family. Would you be interested in living in Japan? It’s a three-year assignment.

I could leave tomorrow, Honey replied.

My only question is what we would do with Hannibal. I am attached to him and you saw how excited he got when he met you returning from the cruise last week.

If you are interested, I will check into the next step. I need the skipper’s ok and then approval from ComNavAirPac.

The next day, Tom went to VAAW 35 headquarters and requested permission to meet with the Commanding Officer.

When he was invited into the Skipper’s office, he said,

Thanks for seeing me this morning. I have a special request.

"I understand the squadron is being disbanded and I would like to request that my next assignment be in Japan, at NAS Atsugi. I liked it there and I understand that I could take my family with me. That would be incredibly attractive to me and I need your permission before I apply to Com NavAirPac.

If you can get the orders, I will approve it, said the Skipper of VAAW35.

Thank you, sir, I will be going over to Personnel at Air Pac this morning and if they have a billet for me, I will get back to you for your approval.

Com Nav Air Pac

NAS North Island, Coronado, California

When Ltjg Smith got to AirPac Headquarters on Coronado, he asked to see the personnel officer who managed the Navy resources on Atsugi, Japan.

Ltjg Tom Murry talked with Lcdr. Dan Brown.

I want to request a transfer to Atsugi, Japan with my family of two kids and my wife. I have just returned from Bonnie Dick, 8-month cruise and it would be great if I could fulfill my next sea-duty tour with my family in Japan.

"I don’t know what I have available in Atsugi right now, but you probably know you would need your Commanding Officer’s approval even if I had a slot for you.

I just talked to him this morning. He will approve the orders if you issue them.

Give me a couple of days and I will check it out, Lcdr Brown said.

Two days later, when Tom arrived at VAAW35 squadron headquarters, the Officer of the Deck said,

"Tom, we’ve got a letter here from ComNavAirPac.

"Tom opened the letter:

"Orders:

Ltjg Tom Murry, you are ordered to Utility Squadron Five, VU5 at NAS Atsugi, Japan.

The orders went through the Navy jargon that ordered him with his family to Atsugi, leaving on August 31, 1999. With the option to travel by Navy air transport to Japan or by US Navy ship transport. The orders were good for a three-year tour. He could check in with his preferred type of transportation as soon as possible.

Tom jumped and screamed. He ran to the phone and called home.

"We’ve got orders to Japan, leaving August 31. We can take a plane for the 24-hour trip or a ship which takes 11 days. I don’t know yet if Hannibal can go. But that means no more carrier tours for me at this stage of my career. You want to fly or go by ship?

24 hours with two babies is a long trip in an airplane, but so is 11 days out on the ocean.

Let me call the transport people and get some more details and I will call you back.

OK. I am starting to pack.," said Honey.

Great news.

Tom went to his Commanding Officer, who signed who signed the document approving the orders.

Tom called the Naval Transport Command in San Francisco.

This is Ltjg. Tom Murry and I have orders to NAS Atsugi, Japan with my wife and two kids and I have a dog if you can transport pets.

If you want to take a dog, you must go by ship and it’s an 11-day trip. The earliest I can get you out is September 5, 1999.

Chapter 4 Arriving in Japan

Lt. John Ustick and his wife Nadine met the Murry family at the port in Yokosuka, Japan on September 16, 1999. Lt. Ustick was one of the pilots in VU 5 and he had been assigned to act as sponsor to the Smith’s to help them get settled in Japan and in the squadron. They drove to Atsugi, about 30 miles --an hour away. Nadine took Honey to the Commissary on the base for a few groceries. They then drove to their temporary quarters on Atsugi, a Quonset hut with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Nadine had requested a maid for the family and Michiko was waiting for them at the Quonset hut on the base at the Naval Air Station. She would work for the family for $28 per month, six days a week and if they needed baby-sitting, she would stay late at no additional charge. She was about 30 years old and attractive. Laf and Cate adjusted to her immediately and Honey took a day to get used to having help with the kids.

Later that night the Ustick came by to take Tom and Honey to a welcoming dinner at the Officers Club at Atsugi. About 30 officers from the squadron and their wives were there to greet the Murry’s who were totally exhausted from the trip but overwhelmed by the welcoming dinner. Everyone ordered his own dinner from the menu and paid for their own drinks and food. Drinks were $.25 each and a steak dinner delivered sizzling to the table was $2.50 each. Tom and Honey sat with the Ustick’s` at the Commanding Officer’s table. The Skipper, Cdr. Rockie Nelson, delivered a welcoming speech and Tom thanked his fellow officers and telling them how glad he was to be there. By 11 p.m. they were back home in their Quonset Hut. Michiko was up but decided to spend the night since it was so late. She had a small cot in one of the rooms with the kids and she joined the family just like she was part of it.

Chapter 5 The Family

Lt. Tom Murry was 29 years old, from Wichita Falls, Texas where he was born on May 12, 1970. Tom had graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1990 and at the same time received his commission as an Ensign in the U S Navy after finishing the NROTC Regular Officer’s program. He received orders to Navy Flight School in Pensacola with a class starting in September 1991.

Tom was handsome, especially in his dress white uniform, which he wore to his wedding the following week after graduation. At six feet, he weighed 195 pounds and was strong, in good condition, a good-looking specimen like many of his fellow pilots in the squadron.

Tom frequently drinks too much or so Honey thinks. "When you have three drinks or more, you get drunk, and you are a mean and aggressive drunk. I sometimes wonder if you are going to hit me or something abusive.

I’ve never hit you and I never will. I realize that I can’t handle too many drinks at a time, and I am thinking about some way to cut that back. I might go to the Alcoholics Anonymous. They have a good reputation for helping alcoholics control their drinking. I just have a hard time thinking that I am an alcoholic. I am a pilot, and those two things don’t go together very well. Tom replied.

Honey DOB 5-14-1971

Honey and Tom met at the library at the University of Texas. They began dating shortly after they first started talking while waiting in line to buy books for their junior year. Honey was also a native Texan--from Dallas and a member of the UT Swim team, trying out for the Olympics the following year.

Honey, as Tom, soon began calling her, was in excellent physical condition, 5 ft. 6 in tall, short blonde hair, and nice boobs. Tom fell for her soon after they started dating. Pretty soon they started dating exclusively. They decided at the beginning of their senior year to get married and they broke the news to family and friends early in that year.

One night when they were parked and fooling around, Honey asked, Tom, what do you want to do with yourself when you grow up?

One thing for sure, I want to have a family and I want my kids to grow up and be somebody themselves. I would like to see one of my kids win a gold medal at the Olympics, become a professional golfer or tennis player, or become a United States Senator or Congressman.

I would also like to be rich myself, worth at least five million dollars by the time I am 50, Tom said.

What about you?

I am with you on the kids. I almost made the University of Texas Olympic swim team and I would like to see my own kids make the team and win a medal.

I am not into making so much money but if I am part of your family, I would support your goals from day one.

How do you plan to make that much money?

I’m not sure yet, but I think I would have to have my own business of some sort. People I have known who are rich have made it with their own business. Certainly, staying in the Navy will not make a lot of money. Nor would working for someone else on a salary. I may need to get some more education, like an MBA or a PhD but I will have to investigate that further. It costs a lot of money.

My mother has a fair amount of money which I will inherit when she passes away. About $500,000 for my part of it if I understand her wealth correctly. I will share that with you if we are married, said Honey.

Speaking of being married. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I need to work on my short-comings, and I promise to do that. I did not intend to propose to you tonight, but I think you know that you are the person in this world that I have chosen to be my soul mate.

I love you, too and we will both have problems as we go through life, but we can handle them, Honey replied. One of my problems is that I like sex too much. That is a good problem to deal with unless it gets out of hand.

Speaking of sex, I brought a condom with me tonight. Are you ready?

Maybe, Honey replied. "This car is not such a good or safe place to have