SHEMYA AFB... Anybody been there before? If so, when?

I was there 12/60 - 11/61 with the Army Security Agency (79th USASASOU). Every thing I did was classified at least SECRET.

I was a boom operator on kc-135's from 88 to 96. did a few tours on the Alaskan tanker task force. Flying in to Shemya was always a crap shoot! I only saw -35. that was bad enough.

I was stationed there 1/86 to 1/87 work in CE High Voltage.

I was the crew chief on the Cobra Ball early 86 thru early 87.

I heard that the top medical complaint there was carpal tunnel!

I was there with DoD Anderson (civilian contractor) from 84 - 87.
Met some great people!

I was a firefighter on Shemya from September 85 to September 86. Was in very good shape when I got there and kept fit the entire time on the island. Not such a bad place to do a year, it went by quickly if you kept busy. I would love to go back to visit...

I was there Aug 81-Jul 82 as a young SSgt assigned to the Fire Protection career field. I worked 24hr shifts with a day off between with a 3 day break ofter the 6th shift. I also worked the BX snack bar on my days off for a while then worked for Barns Security a firm out of Anchorage for my remaining time there on a average of 24hrs a week. The firm was putting in a new fire protection system in bldg 600. We worked hard and played hard. We would take the rescue truck and the tech services truck out on duty and cut washed up logs on the beaches and take them to a beech where we would have a beach party the next evening when we were off duty. We would come out of the Rocker around mid-night and go to mid-night chow and then knee walk across the street to the 3 story barracks (the fire dept had the top floor) and get up that morning go to chow again then go out front and catch the bus to the Fire Dept. It was a great year and I still stay in contact with my year long room mate J.B.

I was there Aug 81-Jul 82 as a young SSgt assigned to the Fire Protection career field. I worked 24hr shifts with a day off between with a 3 day break ofter the 6th shift. I also worked the BX snack bar on my days off for a while then worked for Barns Security a firm out of Anchorage for my remaining time there on a average of 24hrs a week. The firm was putting in a new fire protection system in bldg 600. We worked hard and played hard. We would take the rescue truck and the tech services truck out on duty and cut washed up logs on the beaches and take them to a beech where we would have a beach party the next evening when we were off duty. We would come out of the Rocker around mid-night and go to mid-night chow and then knee walk across the street to the 3 story barracks (the fire dept had the top floor) and get up that morning go to chow again then go out front and catch the bus to the Fire Dept. It was a great year and I still stay in contact with my year long room mate J.B.

I was there 1972/73, was a desolate place with about 350 military and like number of contractors working on the Cobra Dane project. Not too much there, had a movie theater, bowling alley, gym, craft building and of course a club, where most of the "action" was. Wind blew all the time and would knock you off your feet, sun came out twice I think, usually foggy and windy. I understand it is in contractor status now with 50 to 100 people maintaining it.

I was there 82-83, met my future wife there. I remember the Rocker and "Pops".

Lived on Adak and flew to Shemya a couple of times to pick up passengers and fly to Elmendorf. I remember we were asked to lower the shades while on approach and on the ground. Hope to return to the Aleutian Islands some day.

I was there from 11/67 to 8/68. Helped get a Satelite communication terminal on the air. Moved from the composite building into a refurbed WW2 hut. Spent lots of time in the old gym. The quality of life there was what you made of it. Would I do it again? Probably.