According to Dave Hamilton, Security Service closed the facility in the late '60s and the Marines picked it up from the surplus property list. The Marines used it until Okinawa reverted back to Japan in 1972. At that time, it was taken over by the Japanese Self Defense Force. They used it for a few years and it now stands abandoned (sigh!).

Click here to read an account of life at Camp Onna Point -- USMC.

Mr. Naotsugu Urasaki of the Military Base Affairs Office of the Okinawa Prefectural Government was kind enough to provide us with information about "The Point" that dovetails nicely with the information provided earlier by Dave Hamilton." Their records carry it officially as "The Onna Communications Site."

Mr. Urasaki also indicated that the U.S. Army 58th Signal Battallion used the site sometime during the period the Marines had it. It is not known whether they shared the site with the Marines or whether they moved in after the 3rd Marine Recon Battallion transferred back to Camp Schwab in March 1982.

Other information provided by Mr. Urasaki also shows that the geographic entity known as "Onna" now extends southward to Nakadomari (where you turned left to go up the winding hill toward Camp Hague and Chibana) and northward to beyond the place we knew as "Onna Village." A host of world-class,luxury resorts and recreational areas have been developed in that area and it appears to be well on its way to becoming Okinawa's "Gold Coast. The road we used to call "Route 1" (where the 6927th RSM sign was) is now called Highway 58.

A map from a 1993 document published by Mr. Urasaki's office shows the facility still in U. S. hands at that time. It was not turned over to the Japanese until 1995. However, they are unable to do anything with the site because it was found to be contaminated with PCBs and Mercury.


Randy Wing a 202 who arrived at the point in January 1970, reports that the last day of operation for the 6927th was March 15, 1971. Randy was one of three people who composed and sent the last telex from the 27th on that date. The troops were moved to Kadena as a detachment of the 6990th and were bused to work at JSPC colocated with the 3rd ASA at Torii Station in Sobe.

In March 2006, we received an e-mail from Bill Fogle who reported that the Marines actually moved in in May 1971. Bill was a 1stLt and the 3rd Recon Batallion's adjutant at the time, they moved into the Onna Point site in May 1971--barely 60 days after the 6927th was deactivated and renamed it "Camp Onna Point." .

According to Aussie Thayer, a former Marine stationed at Camp Butler as an MP from 1983 - 1986, the site was manned only by a lone Japanese security guard during the 1985-86 time frame but otherwise abandoned. It was considered by the Japanese guards to be a "punishment" assignment as it was the bottom of the barrel as far as guard assignments went.
Thanks, Aussie and "Semper Fi" to you, too.

"Visiting my old Air Force unit site at Onna Point, ... ... was a trip into another dimesion. The base had an empty look from a distance. Arriving at the gate, it became immediately apparent that the emptiness was no illusion. The site was deserted. And not recently. Peeling paint on the cinderblock buildings, broken windows, doors fallen from hinges. A silent dog eyed me warily from inside a padlocked gate. I noticed that although the buildings were in a state of tropical decay, the grounds had been maintained. Grass cut, hedges trimmed. A lone cartetaker graciously allowed entry into what had been an around-the-clock center of military activity.

Viewing the exterior of these dead buildings I once knew so well was eerie enough, but going through the doorless entrances was a feeling beyond my experience. Was this really happening? Was it really I that spent two and a half years living and working within these walls? Perhaps it was my father who was here. My grandfather? An episode from 'The Twilight Zone' I saw years ago

The rooms reeked of decay and things long gone. I stepped gingerly not only to avoid the debris, but so not to disturb the spirits whose presence were as heavy as the smell of mildew. I went room by deteriorated room, building by building. The compound where all the electronic activity occured, the very purpose for the base, was definitely the most frought with feeling. This windowless blockhouse which once had the tightest security--armed MPs, Top Secret Clearance and photo ID required for entry--was now secured by a rotting 2x4 nailed across the doorless entrance. In a dreamlike state, I walked the dark hallways. Is that the constant chatter of teletype machines I hear? Do I detect the clicking of a morse code key from that corner room where I spent eight hours each day?

Former 6927th 203 Bill Harris at what was the main gate house. (Sorry Bill, the last bus to New Koza left in March of 1971.)	Here's Bill waiting for an AP to show up and give him his badge so he can get to work. Still as dedicated as ever.	What was left of the chow hall. Grogan says the SOS improved considerably with age but the coffee was as lousy as ever.

From what could be determined from the caretaker, the base was abandoned years ago by the Air Force and taken over by the Marines (as is almost every military installation on the island). And the marines, apparently not into sedentary entertainment, had converted the old movie theater into a racquet ball court and the antenna field became an exercise course.

The Marines, in turn, abandoned the base and there it sits, crumbling buildings with trimmed lawns. A Pacific ghost town. I'm sure it's but a matter of time until some enterprising Japanese real estate developer turns the whole thing into condos."

"when i was back on oki doing the nat geo story, i naturally paid a visit to the old 6927th rsm site. it ain't there any more. i mean, it was astounding: from that left turn off the coast highway up to the site itself, it's all chock-a-block with houses now; the sweet potato fields are gone; and there is not a sign that anything had ever been built on the site itself. even the concrete foundation slabs have been taken out. it's all razor grass and wild sugar now, and a soft wind blowing over the place gives it a genuinely eerie feeling."

NOTE:--The site may have been cleared due to perceived environmental hazards reported in March 1996, SF.

".... Then, off base, FIRST DESTINATION: Onna Point! And, yes, it is GONE! Totally obliterated. As one makes that run from Kadena to Onna, the whole coast road is now dotted with trendy and expensive beach resort hotels, one right after the other. As one enters a much grown-up town of Onna on Highway 58, that left turn into the Point is now a busy intersection, the road goes in a thousand yards, and as it starts to make that right uphill turn past those old (and newer) Okinawan graves, even the PAVED ROAD is....GONE! It's now a sand road, and as we went up the hill, I kept telling Eve, this is about where the Onna Point site was. But there was NOT A TRACE! All grass and weeds and coral. But not a foundation or a grown-over sidewalk or anything. I began to even question if this indeed WAS the place.....until I drove right to the cliff, and there below, was that same set of coral outcroppings, cliffs, and the big cave with its gaping hole facing the sea, where I--and many of you--scuba dived or beach-combed or just relaxed looking at the sea urchins, seaslugs, starfish, and tiny cobalt blue fish, which are all still there, in lesser abundance."

April 1953:

USAF Security Service establishes the unit at Yontan Airstrip as Detachment 2, 15th Radio Squadron Mobile(RSM).

October-November 1953:

The unit becomes Flight A, 29th RSM. The 29th RSM was located at Clark AFB in the Phillipines.

November 1954:

The unit redesnigated as Detachment 1, 29th RSM.

Late 1954-Early 1955:

Construction begins on a new home for the activity at Onna Point to be known as the 6927th Radio Squadron Mobile. Completion scheduled for Spring 1956.

May 7-8, 1955:

The 6927th is born when Detachment 1, 29th RSM is redesignated 6927th Security Flight.

February 1956:

Squadron moves into newly completed barracks at the Onna Point facility still under construction. The operations people continue to commute to work at Yontan pending completion of the Operations Building at Onna Point.

August 1956:

Typnoon Emma severely damages the Yomitan facility and a decision is made to just relocate the activity to the almost complete Onna Point facility rather than rebuild. Thie move was accompanied by the upgrading of the unit to a squadron.

March 15, 1971:

Operation of the 6927th ends and the site is turned over to the Marine Corps shortly afterward.

May 1971:

Marines Open the facility as the "Camp Onna Point "; home to the 350- man 3rd Recon Batallion.

1974:

At the 15th meeting of the Security Consultative Committee (SCC),
an agreement was reached that returned 260,000 square metres [About 40 acres] of the total
of 631,000 square metres[About 100 acres] occupied by the site [to Japanese control]. This was most likely the area to the north of the site used for the antenna farm.

Sometime during 1977:

USAFSS goes out of business with the remnants folded into the newly formed Air Force Electronic Security Command (ESC).

March 1982:

The Third Marine Corps Reconnaisance Battallion transferred to Camp Schwab

1985-86

Site sat abandoned but used by Marine Corps for patrol dog and Military Police SWAT team training.

June 1990:

The U.S.-Japan Joint Committee confirms that they will continue with realignment
process and completely return the site [to Japanese control.]

November 1995:

The Onna Point Site is returned. [Presumably to Japanese control.]

March 1996:

PCBs and other chemicals are found in the water filtration tanks at the site

November 1997:

Seventy former members of the 6927th RSM gather in New Orleans for a reunion. The reunion was a resounding success. All who attended enjoyed it and many old friendships were renewed. Another reunion is being planned for October 1998 in San Antonio.

Reunions become an annual event. Click here to view Ward Vuillemot's albums of photos from all of our annual reunions since 1997.

December 1997:

Found someone trying to tell the world something we knew 40 years ago. Take a look at http://www.virtualginza.com/scuba0.htm

June 1999:

The photo below, of the site once occupied by the 6927th RSM, was taken in June 1999 by the son of a friend of Terry Clarke's who is a jet jockey stationed At kadena.





The photo below was also taken by Terry's friend's son on his June 1999 visit to Onna Point. It shows the intersection where you turned left off the old Route 1 looking south toward Moon Beach.



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Presently:

According to most recent information available, the U. S. military and the Japansese Defense Facility Administration continue ongoing discussions about the site. However, the site has been completely leveled with even the roads and building slabs removed.

THE 6927th RADIO SQUADRON MOBILE HALL OF FAME

Over a thousand men were assigned to the 6927th during its organizational lifetime. While it might not be considered unusual for perhaps one member of a group that size to achieve national or worldwide recognition, we have identified at least four such superstars and are proud to have known them "way back when..."

To recognize the achievers among us, we have established the Onna Point Hall of Fame. While a lot of our alumni have gone on to do great things, the hall of fame is reserved for those who have risen to national or international prominence as a result of their accomplishments.

Here are the ones we know of and a rundown on what they have accomplished to merit being in the OPHOF. If you know of someone whose name would be recognized nationally or worldwide by people outside of their own fields, then let us about him. Also, if you see any errors of commission or omission, please let us know so that we can correct them. In view of the fact that we have at least one world-class journalist looking over our shoulder, the least we can do is try to be accurate.

Here are the members of our own "Hall Of Fame."

Mike returned to civilian life and became CEO of Fairchild Publications; parent company of numerous national periodicals such as Women's Wear Daily. Indeed an accomplishment. Wish we knew more about Mike to include here but he seems to be a bit publicity shy. Proud to have served with you, Mike.

Got to see Bill's resume in full. The guy is a phenomenon. However, in compliance with Bill's wishes, here are the specific accomplishments he feels are his most meaningful ones:

Dr. William A. Harris

Served at Onna Point, August 1958 to February 1960.

Later Career:
Director of Black Studies, Western Washington University
Ass't Professor, Center for Afro-American Studies, Wesleyan University
Director of Research, University of the Virgin Islands
Visiting Professor, African American World Studies, U of Iowa
Currently, Dept of Sociology, Boston College"

Not to take away from these not inconsiderable accomplishments, even if Bill won't say it, let it be known that what you see here is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg; an extremely LARGE iceberg.

Onna Point alumnus JC Quinn (Nov '58-Aug '60) can be seen in TWO films coming (March 1998) to a theatre near you; "The Deceiver" and "Primary Colors." In the Deceiver, he plays a mob-connected priest, and in "Primary Colors, he plays the role of "Uncle Charlie."

JC's story is almost a screenplay in itself. He came to the Air Force as a high school dropout and after returning to civilian life, he eventually found acting. His career took him from local reptory companies to the world-famous Actor's Studio and on to roles in about 70 feature films including "Barfly," "Vision Quest," "The Program," "The Base," "Criss Cross," "Days of Thunder," "Turner and Hooch," "The Abyss," "Wired," "Big Business," "Heartbreak Ridge," "At Close Range" and "Chud."

JC's TV credits include roles in episodes of "Cheers," "Cagney And Lacy," "Quantum Leap," "Miami Vice" and "Silk Stalkings." He also played a role in the first episode of last years "Big Easy."

In February 2004, while driving back to his home in North Carolina from Mexico, JC lost his life in a traffic accident. Rest in peace, JC.

During his tour at the '27th, Art was well known for his wit, artistic ability and talent as a writer. Thus it came as no surprise that he was one of the few who rose to the top of his chosen field.

Art's achievements since leaving the 27th and returning to civilian life, without a doubt, make him a true Onna Point Hall Of Famer. We had to twist his arm, but here's what we were able to wheedle out of him: Eight years as a staffer at Time, Inc., including reporter, Life Magazine (Sports), staff writer Sports Illustrated (yachting and skiing [If it were me, I would have even taken a pay cut if they let me do the swimsuit stuff. S. F.].

He did a stretch with Time's San Francisco Bureau capped off by three and a half years covering Vietnam and Southeast Asia for Time and Life.

In 1968 he jumped ship and went to work for Newsweek as national affairs editor and followed that up as a Newsweek correspondent in Vietnam (1973-74).

Awarded a Professional Journalism Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a year's study at Stanford (1975). [Note: Although he doesn't mention it here, I think that he has taught graduate level journalism at Stanford in recent years.]

Not content with reporting on current affairs, Art also wrote the book "The Rising Sun" chronicling the start of war in the Pacific for the Time- Life Books World War II series.

Art's work most likely to be seen by the average person has to be the many major stories he has written for National Geographic. His most recent story was the cover story for the September 1997 issue; "China's Three Gorges Dam." He did one on Okinawa called "OKINAWA: Claiming Its Birthright," that appeared in the June 1997 issue. Also among the articles Art has written for National Geographic were "The Fall of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos" (July 1986) and "Japanese-Americans" (April 1986). The latter was chosen for inclusion in National Geographic's own anthology of 100 years of great writing.

Sad to report, Art departed this world for the "Big Press Gallery In The Sky" in 2012. His obituary can be found HERE