KAMI SEYA JAPAN "TUNNEL FIRE"

After I graduated from CTR "A" School, I was sent to Kami Seya, Japan.  Our work spaces were underground in an area appropriately called "The Tunnel."  On September 25, 1965 at approximately 0230 hours a fire consumed that area.  12 of my shipmates perished.  Below is the 8-page KAMISEYAN, from October 8, 1965.  By the Grace of God, my name is not included on page 3.

The reason for the loss of life given by the Navy on page 5 below says, "Personnel who lost their lives were engaged either in rescue or salvage operations or in trying to locate the source of the heavy and blinding smoke which preceded the actual and unexpected outbreak of the blaze."

That reasoning was a cover-up for not evacuating the facility while there was still time.  We were Morse Code Russian Intercept Operators.  Our mission was considered critical and it was ingrained in us that we could not miss a "dit" or a "dah."  Those who died were manning their positions, initially wearing gas masks, during "the heavy and blinding smoke."  And then it was too late!

This tragedy resulted in the Navy revising their operational procedure.  They now consider lives to be more important than manning Intercept Positions during a fire.  There could have been no loss of life!