From 1:00 P.M. on 23 Aug., the reception of festival was held at NCO Club, JAAGA officers, vice president Ochi and secretariat Bandoh, participated to it with the invitation by Colonel John F.Newell Ⅲ, commander of Yokota AB and 374 AW.. And JAAGA members, Mr.Ishikawa and Mr.Yamaoka, joined as member of local friendship club. We tried improvement Japan-U.S. friendship while enjoying light meal.
In this reception, commander Newell said "we are very pleased that you participate to the festival on Yokota AB. We hope you to deeply understand the mission of Yokota AB.. then he introduced the distinguished guests, friendship clubs of Yokota AB, head of local governments and commanders of JASDF units on Iruma and Fuchu air base. We proudly mention that JAAGA were introduced first.
It's first time for me to participate to "Yokota Open House" for American Independent Day on 4 July in 1982. I flew F-104J to Yokota in order to display F-104J for the event. When I worked at CCJ office of 5AF headquarters in 1990, this Open House event has been carried out in summer vacation as US-Japan Friendship Festival. At that time I sold goods and drinks with members of 5AF Operation Div. included Col.Waskow (former 5AF/CC, JAAGA honorary member) under hot sunlight of midsummer, I could happily remember my old days. Reception was over for one hour. We left base with appreciation for warm hospitality that commander & Mrs.Newell and all staffs provided us. (Reported by secretariat Bandoh)
