Sukeo "Skeets" Oji

FIRST TOUR OF DUTY - OCCUPATION OF JAPAN - January 1946 to 1948

In arriving in Japan in January 1946, I saw all the devastations of war from Yokohama to Tokyo. The women in "Monpei" (baggie pants) and men wandering around trying to find food and makeshift housing. On my assignment to IX Corps Headquarters in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, I distinctly remember when we got off at the Sendai Railroad station, as I stood and looking toward the center of Sendai City, and I can distinctly see the Hirose River bridge clearly some two miles away. What devastation, and I thought, "Where did all these people go?" And I felt depressed. Although I found out later, by walking through these areas, many had made make shift shelters with whatever they could find.

With war over and language officers not having much to do, at my request, I was reassigned from 164th Language Detachment to the 583rd Engineer Construction Group as an engineer officer with Japanese linguistic ability. I was assigned to S-3, Operation, in charge of approximately 30 Japanese engineers. Most all of the Japanese engineers required my constant supervision to interpret English technical terminology into Japanese or visa versa. My Japanese language knowledge with background in engineering made me essential and necessary in meeting the objective of the 583rd Construction Group in preparation and for the construction of a complete 3,000 troop barracks cantonment, a IX Corps Headquarters and other supporting facilities. Also it included construction of some 400 dependent housing with proper Post Exchange, a Commissary, church, theater and a social club. It was to be built on the former Imperial Japanese Army 2nd Infantry Division Headquarters, which was completely demolished during the war, called Kawauchi Tract, where remains of former Date Masamune's castle overlooked the City of Sendai.

During my tour of duties, early in my assignment, I had an unpleasant task of going through the city, accompanied by a government representative, where Japanese housing still existed. It required me to inspect and evaluate those that could meet our safety and sanitary standards as dependent family housing. Those meeting standards were procured and confiscated by the Police Department for the US Army Forces dependents. Japanese families were outright evicted from their own homes. It was an unpleasant task for me. I only made recommendations. Although I did not get directly involved nor had anything to do with the actual eviction, I didn't feel proud of this.

Among the Japanese engineers, Mr. Takeshi Obara in time became my life time friend.

The troop barrack construction contract was awarded to Ohki Construction Company, a local contractor who was able to assemble skilled laborers, procure necessary construction materials and supplies. This was almost an impossible situation in a country almost completely devastated as a defeated nation. The Managing Director of Ohki Construction Company was a Mr. Yukichi Seki who, also, in time became another of my life time friends.

As "Shinchugun" Occupational forces, our wishes were taken as a mandate. It was "build at all cost" to please the victors. Many a nights, I have gone to the construction site and being a Japanese I talked to the workers and ate "nights ggohan" (rice ball) with "umeboshi" (pickled apricot) for midnight snack with them. I tried to comfort them as much as possible by answering their curiosity about life in American and my being in the American Army. Our Engineer Group had a Heavy Equipment Company with all its earth moving equipment. In order to get the earth moving task done, not by human labor, our Heavy Equipment Company with their bulldozers, cranes, graders, shovels, jack hammers, etc., were assigned to facilitate construction. It was loaned to the contractors with our enlisted men operators, who taught the Japanese how to operate and in time turn over the operation to them. This made our responsibilities easier. Also the Japanese contractors in time learnt how to use these earthmoving equipment for construction throughout Japan.

Being a Nisei, and being able to converse directly, we were able to make friends with the Japanese people and their families. Many were living in make shift houses made up with whatever they can find as covers. They, at first, were curious about us wearing American soldier's uniforms and fighting against the country where our parents came from. With this sort of curiosity and understanding our situation, we were more readily accepted by the people.

While stationed in Sendai, I was approached by several Japanese who said that they and their families returned to Japan after being incarcerated at Tule Lake Relocation Camp. These few, who with their family denounced the United States and returned to Japan on their own volition soon after the Pearl harbor bombing, came up to me to express that they made a big mistake in coming back to Japan as they nearly starved to death, had their homes destroyed by fires or bombs and their children and family suffered.

In accomplishing our construction requirement, one of the thing that came out constructively was the beginning of a 2x4 type construction method" in Japan.

The Corps of Engineer furnished State Side construction drawings for construction of the barracks, adapted to local sites. The set of drawings were given to the contractor, Ohki Construction Company (Mr. Y. Seki). A few days later Mr. Seki with the Japanese Government representative came to me and asked that they be given audience with the Commanding Officer (Col. Astrella) as their carpenters could not follow the "feet and inches" on the State Side Construction drawing. Their carpenter could only work with "sun" and "shaku". Since it was easier to change the drawing then train the carpenters "feet" and "inches," our Japanese engineers were assigned to change the drawings. Construction soon started with the concrete foundation poured, first floor installed, and then construction progress practically stopped. It was several days later when we heard about this. When I accompanied the Colonel soon after to the construction site, everything looked normal. As we approached the construction, the first floor frame work was up. However, the first thing we noticed was that all the joints were "Mortise and Tenon" fittings. I grabbed a few and found that most of the studs were loose fitting, in fact, it rattled loosely. The Colonel, seeing this, his face got all red, and practicably kicked every one of the studs out. This embarrassed the Japanese. Colonel demanded that I tell the Japanese Government representative and the contractor to be at his office "right now!"

The Colonel, by the time we returned to the office, cooled down some and stated that he was not aware that the "Mortise and Tenon Joint" method was going to be used. Even if they did, it needed to be done properly. The Colonel ordered the contractor and the Japanese Government Representative that the barracks and other planned structure shall be constructed according to the drawings, i.e. cut each stud just the right length and be secured by nails. And practically shouting, "No more Mortise and Tenon Joints!"

This disturbed the layman carpenters but as spokesman for the Colonel, I, with persistence and insistence, through Mr. Seki, the contractor, we made them reluctantly comply. We furnished the nails. Soon the Japanese Representative and the contractor came forth and admitted that it was a much easier way of building a wooden structure. In fact they now preferred it and accepted it as their way. To this day the wooden structures throughout Japan are constructed by means of this "2x4" construction method. This is one thing the Japanese construction industry learned from the Occupational Forces.

One of the big things that came out of this construction project, although for the Occupation Forces, was the creation of many jobs, for thousands of people. People were able to at least eat, buy clothes, and some started rebuilding their homes. The children and young people were able to start going to school and to Sendai Technical College.

My friendship with Mr. Yukichi Seki grew. He took me to his home in Funaoka, a small village, just south of Sendai, also where his company had their milling plant. He invited me into his home to meet his wife and their two girls of 7-10 years of age.

The other person, Mr. Takeshita Obara, and I also remained life time friends. Back then, Mr. Obara and his mother lived adjacent to the embankment of the Hirose River. Mr. Obara use to invite me over to his home and taught me how to fish for "Iyu," (Japanese trout). It was fun, so I went to his home often to fish in the nearby river, and I would invariably be invited by his mother to stay for lunch or dinner. I reciprocated by bringing whatever I could get a hold of and even send goodies from back home. Mr. Obara and I also loved duck hunting. In the fall, he and I would take a stool and sit in water in the middle of a harvested rice paddy in the early morning. Fog would be covering and you can hear the whirl of the ducks flying overhead, trying to find a hole where they can land to feed on the rice. As the fog started to lift, we'd shoot at the ducks flying overhead. Or go pheasant hunting. It was fun time and time to become good friends.

I was also able to meet other avid hunters. In fact, the Sendai Sporting Association invited me to their annual hunting party. Rewarding any members at days end as to who shot the most birds (anything that flew). I was awarded second place.

During the war the sportsmen were not able to get shotgun shells. So they saved the shells and reloaded them by hand. That's where I came in. I was able get new shot gun shells to give as presents. They were grateful.

I became friends with many of them. This was during my first tour of duties in Sendai, Japan. This made my stay very enjoyable with many Japanese friends. I remember while in Sendai, Lt. Akira Hara, assigned to Civil Affairs Detachment in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan, a fishing village on the east coast. He would invariable stop in Sendai to visit with me. When he went down to his headquarters in Tokyo, Major Stu Tsubota was his EXO, stationed in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.

By the spring of 1948, the construction project was basically completed and soon after I received orders back to the States. I was assigned to Camp Picket, VA, as an Engineer Officer. After 12 month duties I asked the Pentagon for another tour of duty in Japan. Needing Japanese speaking engineers, I received orders to Japan In February 1950.

SECOND TOUR OF DUTY - OCCUPATION OF JAPAN - February 1950 to August 1950

I was assigned back to Sendai, Japan, and many friends remembered me. I was able to continue my association with Mr. Obara and with Mr. Yukichi Seki of Ohki Construction Company. I was assigned as Project Officer in the Post Engineer Office for the construction of additional BOQ quarters. However, this was for a short period of time, with the Korean war erupting on June 25, 1950. In August 1950, I was ordered to Korea, in charge of Interrogation of Prisoner of War Detachment assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division. Lt Claude Mimaki and Lt Eddy Morikawa were assigned to my Team with some 14 enlisted men. After nine months in Korea, I rotated back to the States in July 1951. My tour of duties in Korea, even though I went through hell and coming out without any physical injuries, I thought it was one of the most interesting assignment in my Army Career. After three years in the Engineer Section, Headquarters Sixth U.S. Army at Presidio, San Francisco, California, I, again was reassigned to occupation duties in Japan in August 1954.

THIRD TOUR OF DUTY - OCCUPATION OF JAPAN - August 1954 to September 1957

In September 1954, I was assigned to the Japan Construction Agency (JCA), U.S. Army Forces, Japan, as the liaison Officer between the Japanese Ministry of Construction and the US Army Forces - Japan, to carry out the policy promulgated by the Joint Committee (Far East Command and the Japanese Government). It so happened that Lt. Gene Uratsu was the liaison officer at that level and he happened to be my roommate at the Yuraku Officers Quarters. I replaced Capt George Ishida of Hawaii. The position was already vacant for several months.

One of the agreed policy was the relocation of U.S. Forces. Under the Japanese government construction program under the Security Treaty, the American Forces was to continue to be garrisoned in Japan until its own security force can take over. The Japanese Government through the Joint Committee requested the release of as many commercial and metropolitan facilities in use by the U.S. Forces. The Japanese government also suggested in order to expedite the release of Japanese Real Estate that they provide the facilities with funds they had available under the Termination of War (TOW) reserve funds. A gigantic construction program to replace housing, administration, shops' communication, medical' supply storage and training for the Army' Air Force and the Navy amounted to some $150,000'000 worth of construction. .This major construction program was to be under the over-all general supervision of the Occupation Forces.

The U.S. Forces Army - Japan decided that this requirement necessitated the activation of the Japan Construction Agency (JCA) to carry out its mission. This also required establishing liaison with the Japanese Ministry of Construction, who was responsible for this gigantic construction program. Although the program was approved for implementation in 1952, this gigantic construction program did not really get underway for over a year. I was in charge of the Liaison Section. It was a tremendous task of coordinating the construction requirements of the army's technical facilities such as the hospitals, ordinance shops, signal communication, transportation, petroleum storage and distribution system, etc. We had many conferences and meeting with representatives of Japanese Ministry of Construction outlining and stating for whatever facilities needed replacements. This required the Liaison officer to transmit and receive all technical requirement from our military representative in English and transmit to representatives of Japanese Ministry of Construction in Japanese.

As Engineer Liaison Officer for the Japan Construction Agency, it was essential that the I also be a good linguist and have a good background in engineering. This made our programmed construction project a success with a good understanding with the Contractor and with the Japanese Ministry of Construction. A Mr. Masahiko Yokoyama represented the Japanese Ministry of Construction as liaison person with the U.S. Armed Forces, Japan, through my office. As for Mr. Yokoyama, our friendship lasted till last year when he passed away. In his last Christmas card he wrote "However the "Relocation Works" is still in my mind. It was about half century ago, we worked together to carry out quickly that schedule.

Many of the construction projects were related to the troop barracks and support facilities. Some of the projects were the Troop quarters at Hardy Barracks, BOQs and Officers Mess at Washington Heights facilities at Camp Zama, Yokohama Negishi Race Tracks, Kobe, etc. Also a large petroleum tank farm on an island off of Onomichi, Hiroshima-prefecture. This required for me to be at these construction sites, whenever problem came up or at the time of accepting the completed facilities.

I had two other engineer officers assigned to me, a Capt. Wright (not a linguist) and Lt. Kawakami of Hawaii also had several capable U.S. Army engineer sergeants. Colonel Icke was our Commanding Officer. He was a likeable person and Mr. Seki and I became good friends with the Colonel. Some time in 1960's he passed away suddenly while assigned with a mapping outfit in South America. Mr. Seki and I have visited Mrs. Icke, several time at her home in Encinitas, CA.

The total program was finally completed in 1956. I was then reassigned as a Project officer, assigned to constructing and improving the U.S. Army Forces communication facilities and networks throughout Japan. This included a couple of classified communication facilities in Hokkaido and Kyushu. As my last assignment I accompanied a signal officer to the northern most tip of Hokkaido, a place called Wakkanai, a small fishing village facing the Sakhalin Island which can be seen on a clear day, occupied by the Russians. A small detachment of U.S. Air Force communication detachments was already there for a classified mission. I was sent there to make a preliminary feasibility evaluation and assessment for a site to construct a communication "listening post" aimed at Sakhalin Island. The problem was finding adequate source of water, sanitation, electrical power, fuel oil storage and accessibility, for billeting and operation where, physically, the detachment was snowed in and isolated for six winter months period. It required me to contact the local Japanese Utilities companies and the local government offices. My report and recommendation was accepted for further detailed planning and for final approval by higher headquarters. This ended my tour of duties in Japan on September 1957.

October 1957 to September 1959

Was once again assigned to Presidio of San Francisco, Calif., as a General Staff Officer in Assistance Chief of Staff, G-4 Section, Headquarters Sixth Army, in charge of all Engineer Maintenance Program within Sixth Army area. In August 1959, I asked for another tour of duty in Japan but told I needed to go to Europe with assignment as a Facilities Engineer in Germany. My friend Mr. Takeshita Obara of Sendai went to work for U.S. Army Forces in Okinawa and on to Saudi Arabia for 2-3 years.

With much of the U.S. Army Forces Japan construction work from our JCA office in Tokyo completed, The Ohki Construction Company of Sendai (Mr. Seki was by this time the president of the company, now the 14th largest construction company in Japan) followed the construction works for U.S. Forces by relocating their main office to Tokyo. Again working together on U.S. Military construction project, our friendship continued to grow. My last tour of duties in the Occupation of Japan ended in September 1947.

In my personal visit to Japan in 1966, Mr. Seki and family invited me and my wife to stay at their home. In 1969, we invited him to visit the United States. I took Mr. Seki to my parent's home, also to meet my brothers and sisters and their families in Yuba City, California. Mr. Seki and I have traveled together twice across the United States, visiting many famous places as the Grand Canyon, and second time with his brother Mr. Sozo Seki. We traveled together to most countries in South America.

While I was serving in Europe (1961), I invited Mr. Seki to travel with me for a full 30 days throughout western Europe, even to Berlin, just before the walls went up. Mr. Seki was interested in seeing some "Shell-type" roof designs and construction for large buildings available in Europe. This design was something new in Japan. So we traveled from Rome up all of Italy and headed for the French Riviera and on toward Marseille. we found several "shell" constructed buildings. We got permission to take pictures with his movie camera. He applied this type design for his apartment building in Tokyo. But not for a roof, but a clever reverse application as the foundation. This way he was able to eliminate expensive pilings for his foundation, which would have been costly due to soil condition underneath. He was recognized in a Construction Journal for his creativeness.

Around 1966, he asked me to investigate a lead he had of a lightweight concrete called S3 Concrete in Berkeley, California, by a name of Mr. Saboni. It was in my neighborhood then. Through the telephone directory, I was soon able to contact Mr. Saboni. After meeting with him and seeing his sample "S3 Lightweight concrete," I made arrangement to have Mr. Seki come over to see and learn something about this product. Mr. Saboni was very secretive about its composition. After much discussion, Mr. Seki returned back to Japan and before long he returned with his concrete expert. This time with financial commitment by Mr. Seki, the composition and its "construction" was disclosed. In Japan his concrete expert improved upon it and finally his company was able to apply it where lightweight concrete was economically advantageous.

In 1993, Mr. Seki and I traveled on the "SILK ROAD" in China, way west China to city Kashigar just 50 miles from the Pakistan Border.

I must have visited him every year except times we traveled to other countries. Our life time friendship lasted till year 2000 when he succumbed to cancer. I attended his 49th day service. I continue my friendship with the Seki family. My wife and I, with my daughter Margaret, traveled to Japan in year 2003 to pay our respects to my parents who are laid to rest in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan. Also made our last respect to my Cousin, Mrs. Toshiko Ichikawa, 96 years old in a nursing home, and their son's family in Hiroshima City. From there we traveled all the way up to Sendai to be with my friend Mr. Takeshi Obara and family for few days.

While in Sendai I went to the former U.S. Army facilities site the "Kawauchi Tract" to see if anything remained of our constructed back in 1946 thru 1948 period. The total site was turned over the City College and the only structure that remained was a troop barracks - and it was being used by the school as storage. Finally, back in Tokyo, I visited with Mrs. Yukichi (Masue) Seki and their many off-springs.

To this day' I still keep in touch with my friends in Japan. I have many, many fond memories.