Hickam AFB Hawaii, Vietnam Era (1964-1966)
John Browne walking. Doug Clark on bicycle 1966...Chuck Barba and Bill Melchoir and Steve Schramm on the right.
ALOHA!
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08/11/07
I happened to stumble across your website while searching for WW2 photos of Hickam. I really enjoyed your website. I was stationed at Hickam from Feb 1958 to Feb 1961 as a member of the 1502nd Flightline Maintenance Sqd., as a recip. engine mechanic on 97's, 121's, 118's, and 124's. The gentleman who returnned after many years had me laughing with his comments about the base. I returnned in June 2002 with my wife, and also with a mindset of '58-'61 in wanting to show her Hickam. It was a very big mistake. I wrote the base commander explaining who I was and wanting to get back on the base. They assigned us a 27 year old Capt. whose heart was certainly not into being a tour guide. The only thing familiar at the main gates was the curved white wall !. Everyone had a sidearm on, I was not allowed to take any pictures. When I mentioned Area 61 where our wooden barracks were, he had no idea what I was talking about. The northern half of the flightline is gone, now base housing. The old terminal is gone. 2 golf courses, cement barracks, enlisted mans club, a BX the size of a Sears, restaurants, gyms, library and on and on. A friend of mine who had been there just before we were there said "they took our airbase and made it into a country club". The base appears to have been expanded. I dont know where your barracks were but ours is long gone. Going back after 40+ years was sure an eye opener,. I liked it better when I was there. I'm a WW2 buff and Hickam and Pearl Harbor sure fit in. Our old squadron is having our 1st reunion in late Sept. in Branson, MO. Thank you for letting me take up some of your time. Continue the great work.
Brent Bachman


Brent,
Thanks for the email. When I moved to Hickam in 1964, I lived in the same old WWII baracks in Area 61. That's where a lot of those old pictures of Lonnie Picket, etc., were taken. Somewhere around 1965, they built us a large new cement (stucco) barracks just Mauka of Hale Makai (the headquarters building). The golf course was constructed during my time at Hickam, also. It used to be the base dump or landfill. I'm glad that you like the web page! I am going to take the liberty of putting your email on the webpage pretty soon, if you don't mind. I'm also glad that you enjoyed ex-airman Melchior's recent "undercover" adventures on Hickam AFB. It doesn't seem like ole Melchior has changed much after all these years.
Best regards,
John Browne



Michael Warden Named To Lead Strategic Communication At CU-Boulder
Nov. 27, 2006

University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson today named Michael Warden associate vice chancellor for strategic communications for CU-Boulder effective Jan. 1. Warden currently serves as assistant vice chancellor for public affairs for the University of Texas system and has been with UT since 2001 following a long career in the U.S. Air Force. In the newly created associate vice chancellor post, Warden will direct all internal and external communications for the CU-Boulder campus. He will report jointly to Peterson and to CU-Boulder Senior Vice Chancellor Ric Porreca. “Michael is a proven leader who brings a unique combination of higher education and government communications experience at an executive level,” said Peterson. “He will be a marvelous resource in our effort to enhance internal and external communications, and help us to reach out to new audiences with new communication strategies and approaches.” Peterson said Warden will be charged with developing a marketing and branding strategy for the campus, coordinating the overall communication plan for CU-Boulder and managing the University Communications department, which consists of the offices of community relations, internal communications, news services, publications and creative services, and web communications. “This is one of the most exciting opportunities in all of American higher education,” said Warden. “The University of Colorado, as one of the nation's elite research universities, has wonderful stories to tell and I'm looking forward to leading that effort. This is also a wonderful opportunity to work with a truly visionary chancellor, a world-class faculty and staff, some of the best students in the nation and an energetic group of alumni and stakeholders.” Warden was selected for the position from 130 applicants in a national search. He served first as executive director and then assistant vice chancellor for public affairs since joining the UT System in 2001. He also is a member of the faculty at UT-Austin. Prior to coming to the UT System, he was a member of the faculty of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he taught courses in corporate communications and public affairs. Warden retired as a colonel in 1997 after a 22-year career in the U.S. Air Force, where he held a variety of assignments including service in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in Washington, D.C., and as director of public affairs at the headquarters of Air Force Materiel Command in Dayton, Ohio.

Congratulations to Michael and to Patty and Leo, his proud Mom and Dad. John Browne (January 2007)



Ckick here to hear a "Mommas and Poppas" tune, about John Browne that one of his Ham Radio friends made up about him in 2007. <



Subject:
Back after 30+ Years
From:
BillMelchior
Date:
Sun, 1 Oct 2006 17:52:55 EDT To:
DOUG CLARK
CC:
I just returned from a business trip to Honolulu. The 5 hour flight to Phoenix and the 6 hour flight to Hawaii was a back breaker. While there you just had to know I was going to try something fun or get into trouble. I decided while there to try and get onto the base. Yes, I know that you can contact your Senator or a political big wig, but you know me, I gotta try it my way. First off they do not have air police at the front gate. they are now using a private security service. That was a big opening since you know they are not paying over 6.00 per hour for those folks. After being stopped at the gate and directed to the visitor's office I explained SLOWLY to the guy at the desk that MSGT Leo Warden was my sponsor and he wanted to me to meet him so we could discuss ways to make the base newspaper more exciting. No, I did not have a passport nor copies of my DD 214 or birth certificate to show citizenship. After he called the Information office attempting to call Sgt. Warden he gave up and told me to contact the good Sgt and return with a visitor's pass or a sponsorship number to be provided by Sgt. Warden. As I was pulling out of the parking lot I threw my car rental tag up on the dash. Avis gives you this cardboard summary of your rental agreement when you rent from them. As I pulled out of the side office the rental guard waived me right through the front gate. Holy Crap I was on and in. I got very nervous each and every time I saw an Air Police car and was convinced that they were looking for me. Here is the front of the Pacific Headquarters building. The Front of the Building Base Command Here is the new Base Command Headquarters. The road has been relocated and it appears that the Photo lab has been relocated. The whole roadway system has been redone as well. They have all new hangers that come right next to the roadway. I was pulling over to show that it looks like they parked the fighter jets right next to the road but I was nervous because an Air police car was right behind me. They drive Ford Taurus Rather than pickup trucks now. I tried to get into MAC Terminal but I saw two Police right by the front door just hanging around and my Rental card on the dash looked a lot smaller when one of them looked my way. My old barracks is gone and a Gym has been built in its place. I did see the Mess hall, its still there. When I tried to drive around I just kept getting caught in residential areas and got turned around. I really wanted to spend more time but I thought better of it and got out while I had the chance. I had to ask joggers for directions and one lady officer actually read the Avis card while she gave me directions. I swore that she got on her cell as I drove away. I'll send interiors of Pacific headquarters in another email later. I can hear Schramm now, "Holy Shit, he did it again"

Bill and Rosemary Melchior in year 2000


CHARLIE WELLS where are you now????


Frank Kiss in 1965

Steve Schramm in 1966 (I think Steve and I were trying out a new Nikon lense). Steve can be reached at: Schramm28@aol.com

Arlie Johnson 1965


01/30/03 Guys;
CAN SCHRAMM PLAN A GET TOGETHER WHILE MELCHOIR IS IN TOWN? THE 18TH WOULD BE FINE IF IT IS WORKABLE. WHERE WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR ME & DOUG TO STAY THAT WOULD BE CONVENIENT.
UNCLE (LEO)

Bill..Leo.....2003.....Steve..Doug

The four of us picked it up as if we'd been seeing each other every day for the past 35-years. Old friends are the best friends -- and we sure qualify for that.
Your Pal, Steve

Absolutely the greatest to see you guys again after all these years. I feel so excited, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your company. We could all go back to Hawaii and start today in the Old Photo Lab.
Your Eternal Friend, Steve


Bill, Steve, Leo and Doug


John Browne and children at daughter Melody's college graduation in May of 2003.

Click here for original scientific research by John Browne!!




John Browne's alter ego "KI6KY" also is presently active producing Blankheads.com an amateur radio webpage.




Click on the picture to read John H. Browne's WWII flight diary.


Irene Howard and Frank Kiss 1964


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