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Camp Kubasaki Campus
The school located at this facility was known as one of two names between 1952 and 1957
Okinawa American Dependents High School and Kubasaki American High School |
Photos and Information on the Camp Kubasaki Campus
Fall 1952 to Spring 1957 At Some point while the campus was located here the school name was changed to Kubasaki-American High School.
This facility was in use by DODDS (Department of Defense Dependent Schools) from 1952 to 1957 and from 1964 to 1982. The break from 1957 to 1964 was while it was used by the NMCB 3 and 173rd Airborne Brigade, some detail below.
The names of all of the DODDS campuses that were at this location were:
(This Historical Document only pertains to the first 4 names)
Okinawa-American High School 1952 to 1955 Grades 9 to 12
Okinawa-American Junior High School 1952 to 1955 Grades 6 to 8 in 1952-53 7 to 8 in 1953-55
Kubasaki-American High School 1955 to 1957 Grades 9 to 12
Kubasaki-American Junior High School 1955 to 1957 Grades 7 to 8
(Other Names DODDS called this facility - this document does not cover any of these schools, but, so many people remember attending this campus, for the sake of clarity, the names are included, here.)
Kubasaki Junior High School
Kubasaki 9th Grade Center
Pacific Middle School
Additional information on these Schools can be found at: School History of Okinawa Camp Kubasaki Heading.
Location of the Camp Kubasaki Campus
Campus was Located at Camp Kubasaki also Known as Kuba-Saki near the town of Kuba, Okinawa
Other Schools that used this facility were Kubasaki 9th grade also known as K-9 as well as Pacific Middle School. Exact years these schools used this facility are unknown.
Coordinates to the original Entry Gate to the camp: 26°17'7.41"N 127°48'55.41"E
Some History of Camp Kubasaki
Camp Kubasaki was originally built and inhabited by the Seabees (81st Naval Construction Batallion) and had been equipped as a port. The area of the camp was objective #2, just after landing on the west side of the island, in the early days of the invasion to complete the east/west line and cut off the enemy troops, in the north, from those in the south. The waters off the coast were deep enough for ships and this location was of strategic importance. The seabees built a pier for supplies to reach the troops. As the war wound down, the Seabees engaged in construction activities island wide. Camp Kubasaki was used extensively for delivery of construction supplies and storage.
The Camp was also used during this early post war time for the purpose of delivering human cargo. Many Okinawans had been enslaved and shipped all over the Pacific. Camp Kubasaki was used as the entry point for Okinawans that were returning to their homes, repatriation, from far off lands. As construction activities decreased, and Camp Kubasaki was used less and less for delivery and storage of materials.
As the seabees drew down and repatriation drew to an end, the camp was largely uninhabited. It was then, in 1952 turned into a school as the student population on Okinawa was ever increasing. It was used as this school, Okinawa-American High and Junior High School from 1952 to 1955. The school was renamed to Kubasaki-American High and Junior High School in 1955. The school moved out in 1957.
The school was moved to Naha in 1957 and Camp Kubasaki, then, fell into usage that is largely unclear for several years.
Seabees, NMCB 3 (Naval Mobile Construction Batallion 3) was quartered at Camp Kubasaki from 1958 to 1961 while MCAS (Marine Corp Air Station) Futenma was being constructed. This was learned in an email from Jack Faller, former Seabee with MCB3. This information is also corroborated with the historical information that MCAS Futenma was constructed by MCB3 starting in 1958 and that MCB3 was stationed in Okinawa from 1958 to 1961.
In 1963, Camp Kubasaki was used as a training camp for Airborne troops readying to deploy into Viet Nam in the very early period of the Viet Nam War. The 173rd Airborne, Sky Soldiers, called Camp Kubasaki their home base from 1963 to 1965. In May of 1965, the 173rd Was deployed to Viet Nam.
In the latter part of 1964, the kids moved back in. From 1964 to 1982 the camp housed Kubasaki Junior High School, Pacific Middle School and Kubasaki 9th Grade (K9). In 1982, the camp was completely emptied of all American interests, ownership and usage was soon reverted back to the local community.
Site: Present Day
Currently the old ball field and a newer building constructed near it are used as a community center for the village of Kuba. A monument to past usage is constructed in the easternmost area of the field. Below is a photo of the monument provided by Mark Payne.
Translation By Timothy Langley:
KAIRAKU
WAGAKUKU
(roughly "Wagaku Ku Memorial Field")
At this site before The War, a peaceful village known as Kuba existed. Only a simple community, it was reduced to ashes as a result of The War. Finally on March 31, 1983 as a consequence of Reversion, the 36 year period of exclusive use by American military forces came to an end. Commonly called Kubasaki, a school known as "Kubasaki High School" once existed here.
This was the first property to be treated under Reversion and as a result, the legal complexities faced here were significant. It was only by the incredible efforts of former land-owners and investigators that this area finally could receive a formal legal designation as land included within the administrative bounds of the city. This was not without challenge, including treatment of various conditions taking into account issues of the bereaved. It was the longing of the former villagers to return to a sense of community as it once existed, and their indomonable spirit, that overcame these obstacles.
It is with profound appreciation to those in the present and those in the past who contributed to this effort that we dedicate this monument. There shall be no other place like Kuba.
Dedicated auspiciously January, 2010
The Village of Nakagusuku, Kuba Regional Resettlement Union
Anyone that has any additional information about this site, the school, the people, the circumstances, memories, written or photographic, please contact us!!
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