During the Vietnam-War era, David, my husband of 43 years, used to work at Yokota Air Base, a United States Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan, in a unit called 610 MASS. “610,” or more accurately, “610th,” indicates a particular group which contained all functions necessary for the Air Force to support military-aircraft traffic; MASS stands for Military Airlift Support Squadron. 610 MASS was in existence between 1966 and 1978.
Fast forward to July 2014, we attended a 610 MASS reunion for the first time. Participants from all over the United States get together once a year. We later found out that it was its 16th event. Our decision to participate was driven by the fact that, around the same time, we were already scheduled to be in Orlando, Florida, for an investment conference.
The few names that David and I remembered from his Air Force days were not on the roster of attendees. Regardless, the atmosphere of the reunion was so warm that both of us felt as if we were among our long-lost friends and family. We enjoyed every minute of being among them. We decided that, moving forward, all future commitments – business or otherwise – needed to be made around the annual 610 MASS reunion schedules.
The 17th reunion was held in July 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. For about a month leading up to the event, both David and I were like little kids, getting increasingly excited about the trip. On the way down to Nashville, we made it a point to visit the National Museum of the US Air Force near Dayton, Ohio. David posted a blog about the visit to the Museum on August 9, 2015, which coincided with the 70th anniversary since the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
Before long, David was being asked by Ed Strahan to consider succeeding him as Chairman and Reunion Coordinator. David and I talked about it. After exchanging questions and answers with Ed and Harold Mitchell (aka Mitch, Ed’s predecessor), I gave David my full blessing – so long as he helps me with our investment business at least 3 hours/day, Monday through Friday. Perhaps I am a bit biased but I know David will do very well with his new responsibilities. What he is agreeing to do – which is to serve the members of the 610 MASS – comes quite natural to him. He loves people; he loves traveling; and he is great at planning and executing events.
At the 3-day reunion, the evening of the arrival date was the first of two scheduled dinner events. No matter which table you decide to join others, you KNOW you have something in common with them; i.e., everyone (or at least one of the significant others for each couple) was in Japan at some point during their affiliation with the U.S. military several decades ago.
The second day was an entirely free day. You could choose to do nothing and relax; do your own thing in town; or sign up for one or both of the organized events. We chose to preregister for both of them.
The first organized event was a guided tour of Nashville. We always enjoy these tours at our travel destinations because we get to learn a lot about the area and its history in a short period of time. For instance, the history of Ryman Auditorium and how, instead of being razed, it was saved as an historic landmark. It is a wonderful example of how foresight and determination of a few individuals can help change the future economic wellbeing of an area. We learned that, in winter, the Grand Ole Opry comes back to this Auditorium – whose size is perfect for a smaller audience.
The second organized event was a show featuring Carrie Underwood, Ricky Scaggs, and many other talented musicians at the Grand Ole Opry. Back in 1982, when we went to a show there, our seats were way up at the back of the theater. With the steepness of the stairs, I remember being more consumed about keeping our boys, ages 9 and 7, safe than being able to enjoy the show itself. This time, as part of an organized group, we were seated on the main floor and much more comfortably. Aside from Carrie Underwood’s incredible vocal performance, the highlight of the two-hour show was when 610 MASS was officially welcomed to the Grand Ole Opry by the MC. Just about everyone in the large audience honored them with a standing ovation for their service to the country. What a wonderful gesture it was! I know David, for one, was totally surprised by what had transpired at that moment. No doubt, it will be a very special memory for the rest of his life.
On the third and final day, the only scheduled event was a very special dinner meeting. More on that later.
With our new friends that we met at this year’s reunion, Jim and Lois Montague from Michigan, who live relatively close to us, we visited a local factory by the name of Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company. We got lucky with our schedule in that we chose to go there on a Saturday, which happens to be the only day of the week that the company opens its factory door for guided tours. We scheduled ours for 3 p.m. (No spot was available when we were there in the morning.)
In each new city that we visit, based on the Yelp rating on our smart phone, we prioritize which restaurants to try out. In Nashville, Monell’s was given the highest priority. I was attracted to Monell’s not only for its high rating – 4.5 stars with over 600 reviews, which is phenomenal – but because it was to be a family-style restaurant, passing the dishes among those who are seated together at a large table that seats about a dozen. It was a wonderful way to enjoy conversations with people from different parts of the country/world while sharing a common meal together. This was “getting down to the basic human needs – as social animals – at a dinner table” at its best. The experience was not only unique but culturally enriching. Aside from the annual Thanksgiving dinner that Jesse and Kathy, our precious son and daughter-in-law, host for everyone in the family, it was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences ever for us.
Back at the chocolate factory for the tour, we were able to taste raw cacao nibs that came out of the roasted cacao-bean shells, which came from inside the cacao pod. One of my most favorite items from Olive and Sinclair is “Barrel-Aged Bourbon Nib Brittle.” It tastes as scrumptious as the name sounds! David is on a mission to figure out the recipe.
We learned the difference between chocolate maker and chocolatier. Olive and Sinclair is a chocolate maker that transforms cacao beans into chocolate. Chocolatier, on the other hand, is someone who buys chocolate bars from a chocolate maker and creates his/her own specialty chocolate. Sayklly’s, which produces Yooper Bars, for instance, would be an example of a chocolatier. (See the last bullet point from the October 2013 blog post.)
During 610 MASS’ relatively short existence of 12 years was when David and I had a chance meeting each other. The reunion, therefore, is a very special event for us. It reminds me how the U.S. military had such a positive impact on post-WWII Japan. In my humble opinion as an adult immigrant, the United States of America has absolutely nothing to apologize to anyone in the rest of the world. In contrast to what today’s U.S. media likes us to believe, I know the silent majority of the rest of the world is grateful to the United States of America. If you have any doubts about my statement, just ask any immigrant why he or she is here today.
Before long, it was time for the special dinner event back at the hotel. We started out with Posting the Colors (an example), followed by a memorial service. There are few, if any, eyes that remain dry when we honor those who had passed on since the previous reunion – when the Chairman reads their names, one deceased veteran at a time, and a single rose is placed for each, also by a veteran, on the memorial plaque. It reminds us how fleeting and precious life is.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the 610 MASS reunion again in July 2016 in Reno, Nevada.
