I apologize for not posting in a while, but my blog has been under a little scrutiny from CTF70 lately, and I’ve had to mind my Ps & Qs as much as possible while I was underway. Now that I’m back, however, let’s rock and roll.
So, I know it’s widely known now that another Yokosuka Sailor has been arrested for murder. Similar to the 2006 murder situation, where an Airman on the Kitty Hawk beat a senior citizen to death, Yokosuka’s PR-machine is in full effect. They’ve implemented wide-ranging restrictions, a curfew, ban on alcohol consumption, etc. The greatest part? It will do absolutely nothing, especially after the latest revelation that Olantunbosun Ugbogu (try saying that 1 times fast!), the scumbag that killed the 61 year old taxi-driver, claims he heard voices telling him to kill. From Mainichi:
U.S. sailor heard voice in head telling him to stab someone, lawyer says.
YOKOHAMA — A U.S. sailor arrested on suspicion of robbery and murder following the fatal stabbing of a taxi driver here said he heard a voice in his head telling him to stab someone, his lawyer said Friday.
Testimony from the 22-year-old sailor, Olatunbosun Ugbogu, a Nigerian national serving as a crew member aboard the USS Cowpens, was read out by lawyer Yasutoshi Murakami at a news conference at the Kanagawa Prefectural Government headquarters on Friday.
Murakami quoted Ugbogu as saying there had been no money troubles between him and 61-year-old taxi driver Masaaki Takahashi, who was murdered in his cab in Yokosuka on March 19.
Responding to a request from the U.S. Navy, Murakami held a two-hour interview with Ugbogu at the Kanagawa Prefectural Police headquarters on Thursday evening, and received a statement of facts.
Ugbogu reportedly apologized for the murder, saying he regretted what he had done.
According to the statement of facts and the interview, Ugbogu admitted having stabbed Takahashi in the shoulder. When questioned over the motives for the attack, he reportedly said that on the day of the murder, he heard a voice in his head telling him to stab someone, and he went outside looking for someone to attack. However, since it was raining there was no-one around, so the voice told him to get in the taxi, his lawyer quoted him as saying. Ugbogu reportedly said he heard the voice telling him to stab someone again when he actually attacked the driver.
I actually believe the guy. I bet he did hear a voice, and it probably said something like “Fuck…I only have $400 to my name and I’m running out of cash. Paying a $170 fare is a bit much right now.” The best part about this, is that we’re now all restricted in what we can do outside the gates, and we’re scheduled to have a whole week of training about how we’re supposed to act in Japan…again. What’s the point though? The guy was a DESERTER, which under any other circumstance, completely alienates the individual from being associated with the Navy, yet somehow he’s still lumped in with us like he just got back from a deployment. Then there’s the little fact that HE…HEARD…VOICES! Yet more proof that overseas screenings are not being done correctly, if at all.
So what about restrictions? Not surprisingly, they’re very similar to the ones enacted in Okinawa after the alleged rape two months ago. Some of them include:
- Curfew from 10PM to 6PM. After 10PM all Sailors must be in their permanent residence. No staying at a friends house, and if you live off-base but your name is not on the lease, your ass is on the ship/in barracks.
- No alcohol is to be sold on base, at least until Monday.
- No public consumption of alcohol whatsoever.
- At least on my ship, the purchasing of alcohol from stores out in town is prohibited.
- Individual Liberty Plans (ILPs) are back, hopefully just temporarily.
I was told the restrictions didn’t apply to dependents or civilians, which is something Yokosuka leadership obviously learned from the Okinawa lock down fiasco. Something else we were told, was that we didn’t have to shy away from the press outside the gates. You can tell someone upon high would like us all to be seen in public walking around with our heads down and wiping tears from our eyes. We were told things like “You don’t need to run away from the cameras, you can act remorseful and show the Japanese public how you feel terrible about the killing.” It’s not hard to read between the lines of something like that. Honestly, it’s a bad thing when anyone is murdered, it’s a really horrible thing how one man can take another’s life. Unfortunately, that’s life. Since I’ve joined the Navy, I’ve see more horrible things that I ever wanted to, so it’s really hard to act remorseful in a situation like this. I didn’t even cry when my grandmother died, so I can’t really be expected to act like I’m really impacted by this on a “we’re all members of the human family” level.
There were plenty of reporters by the way, a bunch of protesters too, but that’s not unusual. Reader Marti was nice enough to send me a photo he took of some of the commotion outside the main gate:
Some additional gouge…
In addition to all the official stuff, a few people wrote in to let me know about some additional restrictions that are going on or planned for the future. One person told me about CTF-70 or CNFJ possibly banning “Gerbers” and knives:
Jim,
My chief told me this morning that there is an instruction coming out banning knife and lifer tool (leatherman, gerber etc) carry by anyone who is not a BM. A PS told me that it’s either a CTF70 or CNFJ policy. I don’t know when the INST is due to hit the street. A lot of guys in my division (ETs and ICs) carry either a tool or knife or both, and use them nearly every day. What used to be a quick fix on the spot is now going to require a run to the shop to get tools. This is pointless and silly and I’m not really sure what purpose it serves. If the MLCs or Contractors are too afraid to come one the base because they think they will get knifed then perhaps they should just quit. I’m certain someone is willing to take the job.
I have to hand it to the leadership in Yokosuka, that’s a great idea. Honestly, walking around with this pocket knife of mine, I do sometimes get the urge to just start slashing. *sigh* If only someone would take it away from me, then I could think about something else, like studying for my advancement exam or something. (Before anyone sends MAAs to kick down my door, I’m not serious!). Oddly enough, if the e-mail is correct, and the restriction applies to everyone but BMs, it would have still permitted Olantunbosun Ugbogu to have a knife, as he was in Deck division on the Cowpens.
The e-mail also notes that several of the author’s friends stationed on the USS Stethem have told him E-5 and below have been required to fill out ILPs, even though the requirement was taken away months. Another shining example that Navy instructions and regulations are only relevant when it’s used for something in the leadership’s favor. When a blue shirt tries using them, you’re given the “Sorry, shipmate…this isn’t the Navy, this is the FDNF. Tip of the spear! One team one fight! We fight like we train! BLAH BLAH BLHSANMFG.”
I received another e-mail about restrictions being put on the Yokosuka Summer Festival. This festival is held every year, and is one of the few events where the Japanese public is allowed on base to allow interaction between the local Japanese and Navy communities. Everyone usually has a good time, and a lot of money is made for MWR programs. This year however, it’ll be more like going to a funeral. CFAY has put some restrictions on what can go on at the festival, and how people can act…like “no open displays of merriment.”
The official notice has been passed down from C7F/CNFJ/CFAY and we’ve been
directed to scale back the CFAY Spring Festival to ONLY Cherry Tree Viewing
in Kosano Park and Food/Beverage/Creature Comfort Item sells with the
following caveats:1. No alcohol sells (this provision impacts MWR and NEX booths only)
2. Our personal conduct must absolutely follow and reflect the respectful
and somber mood warranted by the recent tragic events occurring in the City
of Yokosuka that may have USN personnel involvement. Any activities we do,
including those associated with the Spring Festival, must follow the
standards and meet the spirit of the Lawful General Order issued by VADM
Crowder and RADM Kelly. In other words, we must be on our best behavior
which includes but not limited to:a. Appropriate clothing must be worn (IAW USFJ Instruction) as well as NO
funny costumes NOR ornamental attire (i.e. Party Hats, etc).b. NO overly overt soliciting of customers (i.e. Scalping, Hawking, etc)
c. NO attracting attention to your booth / concession
d. NO open displays of merriment by your booth / concession personnel
e. NO music
f. NO entertainment
g. NO horseplay
h. NO games
Note: The CFAY CSO (CDR Lundquist) will be at the event and he stated to me
that he will personally marshal the Private Organization Areas to ensure
proper decorum is carried out amongst the concessionaires. So, please take
the above cautions seriously.
The last thing I’ll touch on is something that was put out at one of the five meetings we had yesterday. Our Chief read a sheet off that was something like indicators of personnel at risk for becoming incidents. The list was about 35 items, like “depression,” “relationship problems,” and “anger at superiors/supervisors.” I’m not sure what the actual point of reading it was, but sadly, nearly every one of us in the division stood around afterwards, talking about how we each fit about 3/4s of indicators on the list. Maybe the leadership should be looking at the sources that lead to people meeting “indicators,” instead of more useless training about stuff we already know.
Comments 46
Jim - Once again, BRAVO ZULU for getting the word out quickly and consolidating the news sources on this gruesome murder. I have a suggestion for the higher-ups who might be reading this, desperately seeking advice for a military-political situation that is quickly spinning out of control.
#1) Notify the Japanese Police IMMEDIATELY whenever there is some hose-bag deserter out there. This whole thing stinks of a cover-up. Forget about the nit-picky details of the SOFA Agreement. Use common sense and good Naval Leadership. It doesn’t take a rocket science to figure out that deserters will do desperate things to survive. They have no money, no friends, hello!!! Is the light on Admiral?
#2) Start a JOINT Japanese-American Shore Patrol in the Honch and train station areas to show we really care, not just having these b.s. Open Base Festivals where all we do is make money with overpriced, expired crap from the NEX.
A lot of decent Americans who have lived here for many years in this WONDERFUL country are sick and tired of these undisciplined sailors running a muck while naval leadership comes up with quick-fixes like liberty plans and Open Base festivals where Merriment is Prohibited.
Posted 04 Apr 2008 at 4:17 pm ¶Salty Dog hit it just right in my opinion. What steps ARE taken to find deserters or UAs? I’ve actually wondered about that before, what happens when a guy (or girl) just disappears? Is it the command responsibility or NCIS or what? And if the Japanese police knew and could post a flyer about a missing gaijin, we all know that the foreigner would be found with a quickness.
I also agree that the screening must be flawed but what about the recruiters and RDCs at boot camp who deal with these guys initially? My husband had a lot of fruits in his group that had to be kicked out for acting up but a few got through. I think the military as a whole should be more selective who they let in to begin with. I didn’t even know that Nigerians were recruited into the Navy until this.
The merriment thing is really tacky. No merriment? I’m glad I’m going to miss this years’ somber tree viewing. I wonder how it’s going to turn out.
I read in the S&S that one Japanese guy said it was a cultural shift in Japan. Murders used to be rare here and slowly, there was a change, Japanese kids are killing kids, Patriarchs killing their entire family, child abuse…it’s all over Wai Wai and Local at Mainichi Daily. It’s really sad…and easy for Japanese to say that the shift is due to “western thinking.”
Humanity needs to value life more. Less killin’ more chillin’. (I’m a poet and I know it cause I rhyme all the time…sorry, I know…)
Before anyone goes ballistic on me, I’ve never been in the military. I’m an Army brat and wife of a dirty blue shirt at one of the tenant commands here and he’s on shore. If I ask a dumb question, it’s because it is a dumb question so just answer it ok?
Posted 04 Apr 2008 at 4:50 pm ¶I*lub*rice - The military is a game. It’s an easy game at that. If you really want an opportunity to see a foreign country all you have to do is play your cards right in bootcamp. It’s super easy, just keep your mouth shut, lay low and do what you’re supposed to, and BAM you’re in Japan! Even if you’re not the smartest person out there, you can still get past bootcamp with flying colors. Then, when you get to (put foreign country here), you scope things out and see what you can get away with, but most of the “fruits” push the envelope a little to far and screw it up for everybody.
Western thinking…isn’t that what most japanese want? They listen to our music, buy the clothes, love the food, would love to go to America. I can’t help that they (more so the younger generation) have identity issues. (just from what I have seen) But hey…who am I to say if it’s they who are confused or the Americans? lol Meh…I see the flaws of Japan and Americans, but either way you look at it I really enjoy it here in Japan and if it were my choice, I’d stay here for a very long time.
Posted 04 Apr 2008 at 5:37 pm ¶A couple comments I’d like to highlight from one of my previous posts. They’re relevant to the topic, so I’d prefer they not get lost in the archives:
IT1(SW/AW) wrote:
I think a command like that would be a good idea. Some place where new Sailors are rigorously put through some type of cultural training, and their backgrounds are put under a microscope.
I hate to say it, but maybe harsh prerequisites must be met before Sailors can go overseas. Maybe if there are certain pre-service waivers, or the Sailor has any history of violence, or even breaking the law. I hate to say it, because I would be disqualified myself. (pre-service waiver for “experimentation.”)
He also writes:
Another vote for proper screening. There is definitely a pattern of the perpetrators of these crimes being junior Sailors, and I believe most, if not all of them, were single. Alcohol tends to play a big part as well. There might be another pattern in these crimes, but the topic is so taboo in the Navy, that even I’m too afraid to talk about it. He also mentions the most obvious outcome of punishing everyone for the faults of a few, YOU LOSE GOOD SAILORS. Despite what people who read my blog think, you can ask my command, I am a good Sailor. I am a hard worker and extremely dedicated to my job. As a direct result from the bullshit that goes on in the FDNF, I decided not to extend again like I had previously planned, and am picking orders now.
Finally a former Kitty Hawk Sailor gives a little lesson about history repeating itself:
Posted 04 Apr 2008 at 5:53 pm ¶Otawatuboga…. heck Jim, I can’t even type that 1 times fast!
Gerbers, are you kidding me??? There is talk about taking away my Gerber!
What about screw drivers, ice picks and box cutters??? Heck, they may as well take my toenail clippers and call me a terrorist!
Posted 04 Apr 2008 at 6:30 pm ¶Jim- Another thing that bugs me is that somehow, by not drinking, this shows the local host national out in town that we are remorseful??? I think not. Perhaps we should do something drastic, of meaning, that would grab public’s attention.
The JMSDF had a fire on of thier ships and had two collisons on other vessels killing two. Did they come out with ILP’s, curfews and drinking restriction? No. Here is what they did:
“The Defense Ministry has announced that 88 officials, including Administrative Vice Defense Minister Kohei Masuda, will be punished in connection with two accidents and one scandal involving the Maritime Self-Defense Force.”
I think it is quite phony that each time there is another incident the base officials pull out the same old ILP, curfew, anti-drinking restrictions they always do and I imagine the Japanese public can see straight through it too.
Yes these situations are different but as everyone has pointed out, ILP’s, curfews and, no drinking would not have stopped a guy that was UA. I like what the others have said on here but perhaps we should take an idea out of the JMSDF’s playbook. I bet if the top 88 US officials here in Japan, from the Admirals on down, lost their jobs, thier replacements would take a much grater interest not just in thier Sailors lives but in the quality of sailors we brought to this AOR.
Posted 04 Apr 2008 at 6:53 pm ¶Instead of the same old punishments, why not show what we can do? Like perhaps a city clean-up, have lots of people from on base (including us civilian dependents, ’cause I’d do this) go off base and collect trash from around Shiori and down and around the downtown Yokosuka area? How about more taking care of the homeless or the cleaning up and helping maintain the old folks’ homes? Send some of these young people out to interact with human beings, show that we’re not all scary Americans that depend on alcohol to have a good time. It could also be a good dog and pony show for the higher ups at command hill to get some good press. It’s win/win.
Of course, that’s just an example.
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 2:40 am ¶Jim - You might want to publish this link from the left-leaning Daily Yomiuri. It addresses possible reasons why the quality of recruits is going down the tubes. This newspaper is run by the Japanese Democratic Party, which is anti-American in their views. It gives an insight about how the “Yankee Go Home” Jap dudes types think.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080405TDY03105.htm
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 3:21 am ¶I read the link - the article is laying to the left, it’s not just leaning. Oh, but the Japanese crimes weren’t mentioned…not even one peep about that Japanese heiress who starved her son to death and then called his dad to say “eh, maybe [he's] dead.” I see what you mean Salty…wow, I feel hated.
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 3:28 am ¶What coverup? The base already new this dude was AWOL. There is already the SHIPMATE WATCH to patrol on evenings to look for stupid sailors too irresponsible to handle a beer much less two. We barely have enough MP’s to patrol off base housing areas. I don’t agree on losing my gerber, this was not a drinking incident, why did they take my liquor away for the only weekend I had without duty?
The last time A kitty sailor killed that lady there was a city trash clean up……like that really made up for it. I guess they should be scheduling another one soon. And your right about the JSMDF ship. They did nothing to act towards the sincerity of the public did they?
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 3:59 am ¶I’m just happy that I got out of Japan before all this shit started going down. As much as I loved Japan, there’s no way I will ever go back while i’m in the navy.
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 8:34 am ¶Here’s Ugbogu’s Myspace page
http://www.myspace.com/lazzzzyyyy
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 10:07 am ¶D-San - Thanks for posting that link. I would assume you know this miscreant, which is unfortunate for you. I just looked over the murderer’s my space page. First of all, his assumed name “Lazy…” tells you a lot about the guy. I’m sure the prosecutor will have a field day with that when he goes to trial (if he uses that). Also, I noticed his last log in was Mar. 13th. Unless he uses an good anonymizer, the police could have figured out his physical location if they even knew he had a myspace.com page. He doesn’t look like the brightest bulb on the tree and based on his posted pictures and friends, a murdering megalomaniac. Rot in hell Ugbogu!
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 1:47 pm ¶for the overseas screening…how about we follow the bar “Budweisers” and say “NO G-STYLE IN JAPAN.” foreals, they need to go to club US, GEODANA’s and round up everyone in there and send them back. we’re in the military, i don’t know why G-style is permitted. these douche bag kids come over here thinkin’ and dressin’ like Flavor Flav. like they say, you can take them out the ghetto, but you can never take the ghetto out of them. i know this is not right but maybe we should use racial profiling…betcha it’ll work.
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 4:21 pm ¶Does that got for the people go to Kenny’s Bar and Rock City too? What about Georges. Hicks just love to fight, and Georges is full of them, am i right? If you want to racially profile people our Military would be in the crapper. Because you basically limited alot of people with a broad scope of racial profiling. For one, I think its a bad idea and definitely not what America stands for and will tolerate. So I think that would be shot out the window in a heart beat. Regardless of whether it would work or not isn’t the point. This is why we have CMEO’s, which I think that is another topic within itself lol.
G-style is permitted because our lovely MA’s don’t say shit to them when they walk out the gate, but they’ll be quick to call me out on shorts that are freyed but fit right, and my weekend facial hair. Screw the guys with pants down to their knees, shirts to big, etc. we’re gonna go for the good looking white pretty boy, just to harass him for looking decent on his way out..and on the way back in too.
Ohhh guess what I just realized!!! NKO is the future of the Navy!!! WOOHOO!!!!! Fuck off!
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 6:42 pm ¶Just got back from going on-base to see what the atmosphere was during the Open-Base Festival. Same old … same old … lots of Japanese people buying peanuts and old candy bars from the NEX tents … people buying Anthony’s Pizzas and BEING ALLOWED TO TAKE THEM OFF-BASE right on front of the Japanese Police and Base Security! Hmmm … isn’t this a custom’s violation of some sort? The guy who runs the new Pizza place (NY Pizza in the Honch) should protest this quickly. The latest Brain Child of the CFAY is creating a “Japanese Support Group” which consists of a handful of Japanese spouses who are advising CAPT DefCon on how to handle the Honch and the murders. Band-aids fixes as usual. Time to get a new CO and Admiral. Fire everybody and get a new crew in here to lead the way.
Posted 05 Apr 2008 at 7:32 pm ¶@ tiredofthisshiet
Do you realize how racist that was? Yeah, let’s all judge people by appearances. that always works to spot murderers. I’ve known plenty of “G-Style” guys who get sent back at the gate for their clothing. I saw it even more so than “other” people.
@ Salty Dog, I don’t know him personally, but my Fiance sent me the link, the JN girls network reaches far.
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 3:17 am ¶Don’t forget to report the guys wearing the dusters and cowboy hats. They are also part of a cult or drinking organization.
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 9:08 am ¶The family of the murdered man, if they observe traditional Japanese customs, will neither send nor receive any New Year’s or holiday greetings/gifts for one year from the date of his death. They won’t participate in any festivals or large parties for a year. They’ll miss out on a lot of things that they would normally enjoy, for an entire year.
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 1:37 pm ¶The restrictions placed on Navy people are not so draconian. I’m sorry the guy was killed. I didn’t have anything to do with it but I don’t see giving up alcohol for a few days, or toning down the base festival, as a punishment for me - I see it as a way to express regret that it happened and show respect for the family.
If I can’t NOT drink for a weekend, or four days, or a week, or a month - I don’t guess I should have overseas screened, either.
why was it so easy for the navy to find him once he commited the murder, but when he was a deserter, and bound to do some harm bcuz he had to of been running out of money, they couldnt find his ass? does that make sense? i think so, bcuz lest we all forget, the navy is full of stupid asses, most of which are “in charge”. my favorite part of this whole situation is that the higher ranking “people” are saying that the new restrictions are not a punishment. i thought thats what a restriction was, a punishment. i mean, when you take away what little time that i have to be away from this place and relax, and then call it a “sign of remorse” instead of what it actually is a F*CKING PUNISHMENT, you deserve to be stabbed for being a complete retard. the navy is full of cover-ups and stupid rules. maybe one day the higher-ups will be slapped silly and have some common sense put into their M&M sized brains…but until then, i guess we all will have to deal with these stupid stupid rules…
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 1:40 pm ¶I don’t see why it’s such a big deal, not drinking that is. It’s not like I didn’t see a slew of sailors (it was obvious who they were) buying beers from the 7/11 outside Womble Gate, a friend of mine (also a sailor) saw a bunch of sailors sucking down drinks in TGIF’s on Saturday or a bunch of people from Yokosuka (officers down to seamen) at the Kanamara Matsuri on Sunday. Business as usual.
FTN, I realize that in the states if, let’s say, your mom was murdered, the whole town she’s from wouldn’t stop drinking for a day in her honor, but here in Japan, they just want to see some kind of remorse, that’s how the culture is here. I mean really, it’s a foreign country, it’s not like every place in the world has to bow to our traditions. We’re here in their country, try to have a little compassion. I mean really, do you have to drink just because it’s a weekend? You should have gone to TGIF’s, seems sailors feel safe drinking there. And really, is this what you’ll be bitching about on your death bed? It’s a weekend free of alcohol, is it really that big a damn deal? Be home by ten? For a weekend? Come on.
Sounds like you have authority issues. You got a shitty boss or something? You know stuff like this is never going to change. If you’ve got a better plan, spit it out. If you were in charge, what would you do? If you don’t like the damn solution, give us some idea of how this shit can change. If you know the path to utopia, fill us in because for now, this is gonna have to do.
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 4:17 pm ¶$*(@&#^($*&
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 4:38 pm ¶Sounds like punishment to me!!
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 4:41 pm ¶i*heart*rice—i completely understand that we are in another country and we have to respect their traditions. i have no problem doing so. if the navy wants us to be remorsefull or something like that then why dont we have a memorial instead of just not drinking, or having a curfew? i dont have a problem with the drinking thing, i rarely drink anyways. the curfew thing kind of pisses me off bcuz i have japanese friends who have invited me out to have fun, go to rock shows that kind of stuff, which has been planned for a long time now, and i couldnt go because some kind of “remembrance”, never a punishment, was implemented??? come on, lets get serious. what is this really going to show the japanese people? i have got the worst possible boss, im sure of it. if i was in charge i would have a memorial service, do community work with the japanese people, show that we really do care instead of simply putting restrictions on the sailors who havent ever done anything wrong, and never will…
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 4:43 pm ¶I agree with you there, the curfew is crappy but it’s same shit, different crime. Personally, I think the Navy dropped the ball on this guy. Maybe he did it for a gang initiation since the guys he hangs with throw gang signs too. We’ll never know. I do know this, and you are right on it, we keep doing the same pony show after every crime and it’s eventually going to mean less to everyone. Someone mentioned earlier that the community help effort happened before, some kind of clean up. I guess that didn’t go over well with the base people either.
I thought it was awfully crappy that no one from the Navy attended the funeral of the cabbie.
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 4:58 pm ¶It has nothing to do with the specific restrictions as it does with the principal of punishing the masses for the shortcomings of a few. Yes, someone was murdered and in principal it’s a sad thing. Unfortunately, I’m a little too apathetic to change any of my plans because of it. Call it heartless or what you will, but I think it’s just a result of being in the military. The point is we’re in a global situation right now, and our Navy requires the best and brightest that are willing to pass up civilian opportunities for the Navy life. We’re no longer in the industrial age where everyone is expendable. We’re a new Navy that needs dedicated people that have a highly valued skill set and who are willing to sacrifice for the needs of the Navy. We (fleet Sailors) sacrifice enough to have to pull back in and be restricted. I’m 25 years old and no longer want to be treated like a child. Yes, I know I’m in the military, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not supposed to live an adult life and make adult decisions without Big Navy telling me how I should make them. I certainly don’t want to waste the greatest years of my life being part of some public-relations campaign to try and make up for the shortcomings of the Navy and its policies that aren’t being enforced.
Posted 06 Apr 2008 at 5:08 pm ¶Jim - Your salient points are well taken. Having been a fleet sailor myself way-back-when, I truly “feel the pain” when the Navy comes up with Mickey Mouse, quick-fix solutions to problems that they really have little control of. I just read an article from the leftist Daily Yomiuri. If this article is true, our wonderful Base Security Dep’t allowed this guy to COME BACK ON THE BASE after murdering a local national so he could use an ATM machine. Read it yourself at: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080407TDY02303.htm. If you set your Google Alert to “Yokosuka” you’ll see may articles pop up lately about this tragic event, some neutral, some negative.
My view is - read all news sources, don’t really just on Stars and Stripes. They have some GREAT reporters, however, the rag is DEFINITELY censored, and NEVER - EVER - runs their own editorials, other than from the Ombudsman who occasionally dips the quill into the ink-well and enlightens us from his lofty Ivory Tower. They don’t even respond to Letters to the Editor - all they do is polish it up, and print it. They wouldn’t get away with it in a major U.S. city.
So, CAPT DefCon and Admiral Sponge Bob get the Keystone Cops to punish the masses just to show our Japanese hosts that we are doing something for their t.v. cameras and photographers stalking outside the gates. What a crock! My wife, a civilian NAF employee, had to go to one of those mandatory b.s. “We’re so Sorry” lectures the other day. Now, why does a 40 year old woman, mother of three, have to go listen to this crap on government-paid time? Do you think she’s out Honch-crawling, knifing innocent taxi-drivers over cab fare? She told me that the supevisors didn’t go to the training because they said they were EXEMPT!
Lead - follow - or get out of the way!
Posted 07 Apr 2008 at 5:29 pm ¶These quick fix solutions are just there to make things look pretty. It’s like painting or rust. Sure it looks nice but that wall is still falling apart. All this shit they put out and all this rules will affect nothing. It seems to me that since the murder two years ago when the first set of liberty policies got put down that more people have screwed up. If any one wants anything to change anything they need to find the problem first. I’m pretty sure that there were some indicators that this guy was a problem. Him being on restriction showed that. And if you look at others that screwed up royally over here there was probably a pattern of misconduct. Documented or not any one around the individuals can tell what path they are probably going down by their actions and words. Find them and fix whats wrong before it ever reaches this level and pointlessly affects the masses. If the higher ups focused more on what makes life miserable here and fixing the general climate of the FDNF instead of focusing on post-incident actions or tighter overseas screenings things might actually start changing. Do you ever here of problems like this at Yokota or Misawa or any other bases besides Okinawa, Yokosuka, and Sasebo. Do the worst sailors get sent to just those areas or do they just suck that much that it breeds this type of thing no matter how good/bad the person was before they got here.
Posted 07 Apr 2008 at 6:24 pm ¶You don’t necessarily have to come back to base to use the ATM machine. There is one conveniently located right outside the main gate near one of the entrances to the A Club.
Are you kidding me? I’ve never seen anyone go through the gate without having to show their ID card. Ahh…the simple mindedness and quick to jump to conclusions media.
As was stated earlier, you don’t have to go on base to use the ATM; the Bank of America ATM allows you to withdraw Yen and Dollars using any valid card. Also, I seroiusly doubt Admiral Kelly anything of the sort regarding ID Cards.
Whatever makes them sleep better at night I guess.
Posted 07 Apr 2008 at 8:24 pm ¶Pigeon-Man - Domo so–much-oh for the School Call on ATM machines. Yomiuri oftentimes provides the speculative, circumstantial, left-leaning crap, not exactly the unvarnished truth. BTW, where is this Bank of America ATM machine ? Do you mean the one that is physically attached to Club A, or there another one I don’t know about it? I thought that one was operated by Comm Bank.
Posted 07 Apr 2008 at 10:54 pm ¶Salty, Community Bank is affiliated with Bank of America, but is considered a DOD bank for overseas use. Since Navy Federal doesn’t deal with yen, the solution was to bring in a bank that would. I just paid off my B of A credit card and was asking about their affiliation about two weeks ago. That was the info I got from the associate there. The ATM attached to Club A is the Community/B of A ATM that PigeonMan is talking about.
Posted 08 Apr 2008 at 3:14 am ¶There is a memorial service for the taxi driver at the Chapel of Hope tomorrow (Fri.) at 10 A.M. if any bloggers want to attend. I’ll be there to pray for his soul.
Someone told me that at the Ombudsman meeting today the Base CO put out that, according to the Japanese locals, the problem is that we Americans have a “cycle of violence” that needs to be curbed by the base community with everyone involved. He kept comparing what happened to the taxi driver to the Kitty Genovese incident back in 1964 in NYC. If I’m not mistaken that is where there were over 35 witnesses who could have prevented a brutal murder, but didn’t, claiming, they thought somebody else would do something. I truly believe that the Base CO is a good, honest, decent man, taking hits for events that are almost completely out of his control. There is no quick fix, there is no easy solution.
Posted 09 Apr 2008 at 1:23 am ¶I am sure the Base CO is “a good, honest, decent man, taking hits for events that are almost completely out of his control”… but so are the masses he imposes restrictions on each and every day. I have no sympathy.
Posted 09 Apr 2008 at 1:49 am ¶You can’t possibly think that he can only impose restrictions on set of people do you? We all work here, we’re all apart of this base. Educating people about what is going on is where the prevention starts. Mind you that it won’t stop it all and most probably think it’s a waste, it’s still a precaution. Needless to say, it’s pathetic that we had to wait this long to start this “Anti-Violence” policy. I’m not really in the mood for debate today and I think I’ve said enough. Have a great day and quit shitting on the people you don’t know squat about.
Posted 09 Apr 2008 at 4:18 pm ¶Hey Pigeon, I was talking about a different bird of the same name on the other site. Not you.
It’s hard to say what any of us would do if we were in charge, but I’ll tell you, they have to make some hard decisions…they have to kiss the asses and do the dances, I’m not sure sure I’d be able to do it myself. They have to go to the meetings with the mayor, meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. I mean, really, we can bitch about the problem, we can bitch about the solution but could any of us really do any better?
Posted 09 Apr 2008 at 4:28 pm ¶You kind of had me worried there for a minute. I’m def. not what you called that other bird…
Posted 09 Apr 2008 at 4:46 pm ¶It’s a huge HUGE MASSIVE joke between me and this other bird and the dumb girl he’s trying to “save.”
Posted 09 Apr 2008 at 4:48 pm ¶Hey guys. Let’s try to keep these blogs on-subject w/o personal attacks. Let’s keep our eye on the ball. The “ball” is the truth - which is why we have this type of blog in the first place. Now, my wife told me that at her work place civilians got a sit-down lecture from some low-ranking GS employee who basically said - “If you know of someone who has a mental problem - call Security and report them immediately.” They only did the lecture for U.S. hires, exempting, of course, the Japanese employees. So, I guess they’re “re-educating the masses” on government time. If they were Navy they’d be teaching them about ILP’s!
Posted 09 Apr 2008 at 11:57 pm ¶I can read between the line and I sense that what you want to say is racial. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind, but not all black guys are the “G-style” gangsters that people try to make them out to be. Let’s judge the individual and not the color.
Posted 10 Apr 2008 at 2:24 am ¶The Navy had that too, but we invited our civilians and GS peoples. We also had training by department. Is this enlightenment that bad? I’m pretty sure it got people out of work and they weren’t too unhappy. At least the people I work with (civies/govs and military) weren’t too terribly upset.
Posted 10 Apr 2008 at 3:48 am ¶Hey Ugbogu,
I hear voices in my head all the time too…. they say, “Be cool, leave people alone, do your job and enjoy life”
Posted 10 Apr 2008 at 6:09 am ¶“I can read between the line and I sense that what you want to say is racial. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind, but not all black guys are the “G-style” gangsters that people try to make them out to be. Let’s judge the individual and not the color.”
You’re right: not all black guys that are “G-style” gangsters are made out to be “G-style” gangsters but by anybody but themselves. You see all these clowns on myspace with their grills, nickel-and-dime clothing lines, penny-pimping production and party promotion companies and rap groups and what does it get them? 60k a year, at best? That’s chump change!
Associates at Goldman-Sachs (if you don’t know who they are, educate yourself) pull in $500k, on a bad year, and their only “skillz” are a BA/BS and maybe an MBA. Starting salaries at major lawfirms begin at $165k and include profit sharing. Again, educate yourself. Besides, what are you going to do when you’re trying to work a club promotion when your 40 and graying, and hip-hop has long gone out of fashion (don’t laugh, it happened to disco).
There are tons of blacks who have made themselves marketable, but it’s not (only) by espousing a lifestyle that promotes murder, misogyny and mayhem. Unfortunately, another young black man, Ugbogu, is going to suffer for falling into this canard that thuggery is going to get you somewhere.
Here’s a hint: get educated, and respect yourself at all times by presenting a proper appearance that doesn’t try to intimidate people. You just might get a job and not have to kill somebody over a measly $170.
Additionally, if you are older than 22, it’s a pretty safe bet that you are not going to be the next P Diddy, the next Michael Jordan, the next Russell Simmons; stop trying to copy these “trendsetters” and make your own way. You’re already older than 95% of all college grads; you better hurry and catch up before you get left behind…
Lord knows this “Angry Black Man” is already way ahead of you…
Posted 11 Apr 2008 at 6:00 am ¶Thank you for that Public Announcement. You can’t be gangsta in squidville.
Posted 11 Apr 2008 at 1:31 pm ¶Angry Black Dude - Right on when you wrote: “Here’s a hint: get educated, and respect yourself at all times by presenting a proper appearance that doesn’t try to intimidate people.” I don’t care if you’re White, Black, or in-between, it’s good advice, especially the part about NOT INTIMIDATING PEOPLE with your mannerisms, or dress. I’ve been around the world a couple hundred times and can attest to the advantage of staying “low-profile.” And that goes for my ex-Navy life, my current CIVPAC life, and my real life. Can you believe that back in the early 70’s you weren’t allowed on liberty from the flagship unless you were wearing a shirt that had a collar and NO BALL CAPS whatsoever were allowed, not even the ones from you unit. Yeah - Dylan got it right when he sang - “The Times - They are a Changin’.”
Posted 12 Apr 2008 at 7:23 pm ¶This one is for “D-San,”
I wanted to crack on your clothing brand; I wanted to say it was on cafepress, and guess what, I’m sorry to say it was! Go back to school brother! Pimping tees ain’t gonna get you to where you want to go.
ABM.
Posted 13 Apr 2008 at 3:26 am ¶As I’m sure all military personnel in Japan know, all the serious crimes in Japan are almost caused by Blacks only, or at least 90%.
The murder of the taxi driver this year was done by a Black Guy. The murder of the senior citizen in 2006 was also done by a Black Guy. Another incident in 2007 in Uraga Yokosuka, not murder, only stabbing of two teen age girls who refused him sex, was done by a Black Guy. The two rapes in Okinawa were done by Black Guys.
I know that white guys also do stuff, but it is far less. I’m not prejudice at all, however it seems that Black Guys seem to have very little self control. The military needs to make stricter mental profiling requirements for new recruits, especially low income or gang banger Black recruits.
And the Japanese immigration needs to make the restrictions on military personnel admitted into the country much stricter. The Japanese immigration should require seeing a background and mental profile of each and every military person, before being allowed admittance to Japan.
Japan belongs to the Japanese, not the Americans, so if we can not behave ourselves, the whole military should be ejected from the country. Sooner or later, that is probably what will happen.
Posted 19 May 2008 at 4:38 am ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 1
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