Guest Book

Please leave your comments in this public guest book.

NOTE: Due to Guest Book Spammers, I have removed the automatic submission form fields.
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Comment Date:: 18 September 2006

Great web site with terrific photos..easy to navigate. I wish I could have attended, but had too many conflicts.

Dallas Stone (1968/69)
FPS-124 Radar Maintenance Technician

Comment Date:: 19 September /2006

It was fantastic to revisit this place. Many memories.

Frederick R Ditzler
Height Finder 1966 to 1968

Comment Date:: 19 September 2006

Great photos. I LOVED your commentary. Thank you for recording a memorable day for each of us; your efforts helped bring back very positive memories.

Bruce Hadburg
Aug. 1971 to Dec. 1973

Comment Date:: 19 Septermber 2006

Thank you so much for the wonderful pictures. It was a very emotional day for me! Wow! I enjoyed your story as well. I sent my daughter the link to your site with the pictures and she shared that she was literally sobbing out loud as she viewed the photos. We have some wonderful memories of living on the Mountain Top! Thanks ever so much for sharing the adventure.

Joyce Seal

Comment Date:: 20 September 2006

A great job of photo jounalism.As, with every one who came to the reunion, I've wanted to go visit the site. I did'nt take pictures back then so your photo's will be cherished by me. Thanks!

Arnold T. Howe
'58-'59

Comment Date:: 29 September 2006

Thanks for an outstanding job of recording this memorable event. Everyone had a great time and we hope to do it again in the future.

Stevan “Steve” Turk
Radar Operator 1973–75

Comment Date:: 03 October 2006

I wasn't there (wish I had been, but it was a week after my spinal fusion surgery), and I really appreciate the folks who took pictures, so those of us who couldn't make it could feel almost as if we had. I was only there 8 months, but in that time, I worked as a bartender and swimming instructor, in addition to my duties as a 276. Great memories, and one sad one - I lost my fiance in an alcohol related auto accident. He was the site cop, and everyone loved him. He was a friend to all. Thanks agin for the photos, and the memories.

Nancy Halverson-Few
Radar Ops
5/74-12-74

Comment Date:: 10 October 2006

Thanks for posting the photos of the AAFS, They bring back lots of memories. I was stationed there from 1966 to 1968 and worked in the FPS 24 tower.

Bill Henderson

Comment Date:: 27 October 2006

Great site. Good pictures brought back good memories. Wish I knew about the reunion in Sept. Do you plan to have another? Was stationed there from Jan 60 - Aug 60 in the Power Plant

Ronald McIntosh
Jan 60 - Aug 60
Power Plant

Comment Date:: 26 November 2006

Great site! Was stationed there in 1968, between assignments from Japan to Vietnam. Have been looking for updated information about AAFS for some time before stumbling upon your site. Thanks.

Julian Kardas
NCOIC Supply, 1968

Comment Date:: 14 December 2006

Great web site Everything on this site really is Great! Being a kid growing up always looking up seeing the radar spin on that big cube on top of the mountain everyday I always had questions that went not answered correctly until now thank you.

E Todd

Comment Date:: 10 January 2007

I lived there from 1960-1963. My father was the base commander. My dad was Lt. Col. Kenneth B Joyce. seeing these pics brings back memories to me too, and I was an AF brat when my dad was base commander from 60-62. (Kenneth B Joyce) The oldest friend I have was made at this base, and I will send her this link. I wonder if any of the folks on the roster would remember our family? I only remember one name, an airman who lived near us. I think his last name was Coyne (sp?) . My friend's step-father's last name was Markley (sp?) I think he was a sergeant. Thank you for taking me back. I remember it fondly.

Debbie Dewey
1960-1963

Comment Date:: 7 May 2007

I was stationed at the 682nd from the fall of 1974 to July, 1976. I remember Steve Turk and Nancy Halverson. This was my first assignment after tech school. I didn't know what a great place this was to be stationed until after I left. I lived up on the mountain in enlisted barracks for about the first 9 months. During my stay, we were moved from the housing on the mountain to apartments at the base of the mountain, taking buses up to the top for work. I worked as a 276x0, Radar Operator. I have many great memories of the people and area while I was stationed there. Hello to anyone who remembers me or that time. Anyone remember Don Brock, Marty Seebach, Rick Pasi, Vic Martinez, Frank Barbero, Cassandra Alston or Major Aftosmis (sp?) Feel free to contact me at [contact site owner for Jim's email]

Jim Bendtsen
Radar Ops
AAFS '74-'76

Comment Date:: 7 May 2007

Although I wasn't in the AF, I grew up in the Cambrian Park area of San Jose and always remember the rotating radar dish on the mountain. I had the pleasure of visiting the site when an open house was held about 1973 (?) on Armed Forces Day. It is an indelible memory from my younger years. We got to walk into the main radar building (during operation) and I still remember the fluorescent light glowing at full intensity that wasn't powered by anything except the stray RF energy. Very cool - maybe that's why I became an engineer. Thanks for your service and good luck to you all.

Rob Starr
Now living in Boise, Idaho.

Comment Date:: 5 August 2007

I was there from 69 to 71 at the GATR site. That pool was officially a water supply for fire.

Thanks again

Larry S. Robinson
GATR, '69-'71

Comment Date:: 29 July 2007

I was stationed at the site from April 1959 until my discharge in Oct. of 1960.
The 682nd went operational in 1958 during the so called "Lebanon Crisis".
During my time there the site was in transition from "manual" to "SAGE".
Thanks for reviving a forgotten history that as "Cold War" vets

Chuck Jeronimo
Apr '59 - Oct '60

Comment Date:: 3 July 2007

Just found out about it from a friend that was stationed there with me at the GATR site. I do have pics to share. will send them when I can find them.

Neill A. McKeithan, aka"Rebel Poo"

Jan '64-Aug '66

Comment Date:: 9 June 2007

We loved your pictures. I was stationed at the base from 1967 to 1970.

Gerald and Mary Cisneros

Comment Date:: 9 June 2007

Thanks for the memories! I was stationed at the 682nd from March 1960 to June 1962 and assigned to Ops. I was there for the manual to SAGE transition and held a dual AFSC (A&B). I could probably fill a book with all the stories about the people and the things that happened in those two plus years I was there. RON McIntosh: I worked for the contractor for 30 days leave time when they built the power plant. The pictures made me a little sad but then reality took hold, I guess I'm getting old and run down too. I was able to attend the 2006 party for two hours but missed the trip to the station.....prior commitment. Hope to be alive and kicking for the next 682nd reunion. As I commute from Morgan Hill to San Jose I still look up at the old site and think about the many friends I met and some I still stay in contact with. DEBBIE DEWEY: A funny story about your dad and the first night he came on the station. Coyne was a LT and Markley was a SGT.

A/2c Bob Watts
(My Ops. call signs were Ravin Willie and Rain Water)

Comment Date:: 1 October 2007

WOW, I didn't know that there was a reunion. My dad was Tsgt T. G. Willms, and that picture of base housing is where we lived, he was stationed there 1959 and we left go to Winslow 1962. I was just showing my co workers how we kids use to ride in the old box ambulance to got to school in San Jose, I was on Google and find your site.

Ted Willms
'59-'62

Comment Date:: 8 October 2007

Great photos! I was born and raised in the San Jose area and always remember the radar dome spinning about when I was a kid. Thanks for putting these photo's up.

Regards,
Vince D.

Comment Date:: 13 October 2007

As a dependent of Tsgt. Dave Mercer, we lived at the base in '68 -'69. Looking at these photos brings tears to my eyes!! Those 2 years were probably the best of my childhood. I was 12-13. Have searched high and low for my best friend there, Barbara Beckham, brother was Barry. I wish I'd known about the reunion. My two sisters and I visited Mt. Umunhum this month, hoping against hope that we'd be able to go up to the base to revisit old memories. We were stopped by the gate and were so disappointed. Would love to be able to contact old friends from there; Jeff Pitts, Glenn Lafebre, Keith Bates, Tina Mamone. We ranged all over that base and those hills! Thanks for the memeories!

Debbie Wyman (nee Mercer) '68-'69.

Comment Date:: 3 November 2007

I was mid-shift honcho from late 1959 until March 1963 when GTE Sylvania Electronics West hired me to build submarine warfare systems in Mt. View. As I recall I shared the Elapsed Time record for the eleven mile run down the hill with a Lt. He had a Jag and I had a hot rod Ford. My car was almost booted off the hill by the base commander when coming off my shift one morning as I passed him coming up the hill while I was in a four wheel drift with my headlight pointed at his doors. Awww, the good ole' days.

It's nice someone remembers.

I also remember walking out of the tower during the Cuban missile crisis, expecting to see a missile headed our way any moment. We were at DEFCON 2 so it was spooky.

Keep up the great work.

Regards,
Jim Walraven

Comment Date:: 21 November 2007

Very nice that you put the pix up. I was there in 1971-until April 1972. I was at the reunion (I’m the guy in the wheelchair), and had a great time.

Jim Withers

Comment Date:: 7 December 2007

Brings back memories. I was first the maintenance Officer then Commander of Almaden AFS and 682 AC&W Squadron in the early 1970s.

Harl Porter

Comment Date:: 1 January 2008

Almaden AFS was my first duty station after completing Crypto School. I arrived as an A2C in January 1965 as the first and, at that time only, Crypto Maintenance guy. I had to go TDY to Norton AFB - LAADS (Los Angles Air Defense Sector) for 5-level OJT. After they discovered that I was the only KW-7 trained crypto guy in the entire sector, I was PCS’d to LAADS sometime later in 65.

I remember the NCOIC of the Comm Center was TSgt (or maybe he was MSgt) Whitehead – he also ran the bowling alley. The commander at the time was Col Gerwick. I worked switchboard just for something to do, as the KW-7 wasn’t even installed when I arrived. I recall there was a cook named Scott, who also worked as bartender in the ‘lounge’. I can’t recall the First Shirt’s name, but he always had a habit of saying “Toot-toot, next case”. There was an old TSgt who ran the snack bar – I remember he had a basket of hard boiled eggs that he kept on the counter, and every once in awhile we’d slip a raw egg into the basket and sit back and watch the fun. I also recall that at one time some of the dependent wives tried to restrict the use of the swimming pool to only dependents during certain hours --- rumor was they didn’t appreciate the young enlisted guys eyeballing them --- but the powers to be (I think Admin or Rec Officer – maybe one in the same) told them that they were guests, and the pool was there for the active duty folks – so if anyone was going to be restricted it would be the dependents.

Years later, after I retired in 1987, I worked with a retired Col named Steve Place, who said he was assigned to Almaden as a Lt and was instrumental in getting the pool put in – justifying it as a water reservoir for use in case of fire.

Enjoyed seeing the pictures!
Steve Rudd

Comment Date:: 4 January 2008

Found your neat site by accident after searching for Mt. Umunhum. Outstanding! Remembered some of the names from the e-mails. Was stationed there as Maintenance Office from July 1974 to 1976.

Norman Gallacci
Retired Capt., USAF

Comment Date:: 5 January 2008

Wonderful site, beautiful pictures. Also, the posters was very interesting. My name is Bob Tolley. I was assigned to supply. My tour was from March 1963 until July 1965. I worked for Capts. Moberly and Davis.

Comment Date:: 28 January 2008

Thanks for the memories. Great web site! My name is Jimmy Blair. My father was SSgt Craig Blair. He worked at the mess hall around 68-69. Finding your web site has brought back great memories of a young boy and the mountain. I explored that mountain all over. I remember the Murcer Girls, Barbra & Berry Beckham, Fran, and her sister, Jeff and so many more, was the best time of my life. Would love to know what happen to everybody. If you're out there email me (contact this site's host for email info).

Jimmy Allen formerly Jimmy Blair

Comment Date:: 20 February 2008

Thanks for sharing those photos. Mt. Umunhum has been part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. Down in the valley its how we oriented ourselves if we got lost. Back in the 60’s my mom decided to drive us up there. We were turned around by a polite but firm armed guard. Since then I’d always wondered what that view was like.

Pat Lundquist
Lockheed

Comment Date:: 23 February 2008

Harry Giles
AAFS

Comment Date:: 04 March 2008

UNCLASSIFIED

Wow...I've never seen these pictures before, however my father, Kenneth Wilson, just sent them to me. He also told me that he thinks I was the only child ever born on the top of Mt. Umunhum. I was born at home on 22 March 1970. If anyone can remember this I'd love to hear from you.

V/R

CW2 Wilson, Steve
11th Trans BN
Battalion Maintenance Officer
LSA ADDER

Comment Date:: 20 March 2008

Great set of pictures! I was stationed there from 1977 to the closure in 1980 serving in both Height and Search. Didn’t know about the reunion though I walked around the place once in the late ‘80s. The stairs to the 14 tower sure go WAY up there after not climbing them for many years! Though I live in Tehachapi now, I still go through San Jose frequently and always get a tight feeling when I see the 24 Tower from down in the valley. I still have one of the bearings from the 24 antenna, lots of memories.

David Maxwell

Comment Date:: 9 May 2008

Great picture tour of Almaden AFS. I was stationed there 1977 until the closure in 1980 in Radar Maintenance (Search, Ancillary and Height shops). Though it was my first permanent duty assignment, it turned out to be one of the best in my career.

Thanks for bringing back some great memories!

Dan Coughlin

Comment Date:: 18 June 2008

Great pictures and great website. Would love to make it out to the '08 reunion. I was stationed there after my 'Nam tour, remember reporting in New Years eve, '71. Worked height radar under TSgt Vic Martinez. Was on duty and blew the siren when we went "yellow" back at the start of the Isreali/Arab war. Can still see the scared look in the eyes of some of the others reporting in that night, although for me, didn't seem like a big deal after Hon-Tre Island, CamRhan Bay and Plekui. Can't rember a lot of other names, but remember Si Flores and I think an old lifer named Joe Mellity who hung out at the motor pool. Lived down in Campbell while stationed there until I seperated out from Travis July 74. I have a few old photos of the site while stationed there, they sure have let the place go!

David Pagel

Comment Date:: 25 June 2008

Thanks for the great pictures of the old 682nd. It was my first and best duty station out of tech school in 1976, and I left there for Iceland in 1978. Boy did I ever regret leaving. I worked for Gene Pierce and Ron Piercy, and some of my fellow height finder techs I remember were Ray Ritchie, Chuck Cuthbertson, Regina Van Heumen, and John Farmer (search tech).

The decay of the site as well as the pictures of the housing area, rec center, and motor pool brought tears to my eyes. I spent many happy hours at the "auto hobby shop" aka motor pool, bowling alley, and wearing my hat into the old club so I could buy a round.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane, and I hope to be at the reunion this year.

Jim Shelton

Comment Date:: 22 July 2008

Thank you for posting the pictures of the old Almaden Air Force Station. I have always wondered what it looked like growing up in its shadow in San Jose. Now a Captain in the Air Force myself, I always wondered where the kids I went to school with went. Kim Christensen (Moyer)

Christensen, Kim I Capt USAF ACC SGA

Comment Date:: 28 August 2008

I also want to thank you for posting those pictures of Almaden AFS. I spent 5 of the best years of my life (1974-79) atop Mt. Umunhum as a Q-47 Common Digitizer (computer) technician.

I was also the lifeguard and the Scoutmaster and I grew close to many of the young people on our base. Two of my own children were born while we were there. Their mother has passed now, and those early years of our family history are important to them. And the families on base were our extended family. I’ve missed the Martinez, Seal & Wurster families, all of my Boy Scouts and their sisters. I often wonder what those kids are up to these days. I’ll be returning to the base this October for the reunion, and even now I find the memories flooding in on me to be almost overwhelming.

Dewey Paris
AAFS 1974-1979

Comment Date:: 5 October 2008

I was never stationed on Mt. Umunhum but did visit it in the early 70's after I retired. Never worked on a 24 as my time was with the old 20 and 60 series radars as a Radar Maint. Tech. I'm sure you also had the FPS-6 Height Finder. I retired out of Fallon, Nevada. Pretty flat country for a Radar Site But.....

I recognized MSgt Murphy in your group shot. I got to know him quite well and am still in touch with him. He remains active in veteran affairs here in the valley. Thanks for the memories.

Carlos Ramos

Comment Date:: 5 October 2008

Great job. I'm a retired USAF guy and really enjoy our annual reunions, so I salute your efforts. It seems that serving together forms connections that endure time. I live with a direct view of the site and have for 35 years, so I remember it's operation and deactivation. Also have attended several open houses...but always thought it must have been a unique place to be assigned.

I hope the troops continue to get together and relive the time they served.

Pete Taylor

Almaden Valley, CA

Comment Date:: 5 October 2008

Great PICS, I grew up in the Cambrian area of San Jose & often wondered what it looked like up there. I remember the little blue bus that shuttled them down the hill into town, stopping at Charlie's Donut shop on Almaden & Foxworthy to pick up several rolls of movies to be shown up there. Now we at least we know what it looks like thanks to your fine photographs.

Mark Adams
San Jose

Comment Date:: 5 October 2008

I'm sorry I missed the reunion this week. I was unaware of it until I
saw the article in this morning's Mercury News. It certainly brought
back fond memories of a part of my military career and the wonderful
people and places my family and I enjoyed so much.

The Mercury's picture coverage showed two individuals I worked with,
Frank Aldridge and Dave Hess. As I recall, Dave was in charge of the
receiver section of the AN/FPS-24 and I believe Frank was a young
airman who had just arrived prior to my retirement in 1977. I was in
charge of the transmitter and antenna section of the FPS-24 during my
tour of duty. My family and I were there from 1972-1977.

It was interesting to read the comments in your guest book. I
recognize some of the names from the past. My wife and I recall Joyce
Seal who wrote how much she had enjoyed living on the mountaintop. Hi
Joyce.

John Beach
AAFS 1972-1977

Comment Date:: 9 November 2008

HI THERE!

I'M TINA MAIMONE.....(RUTHERFORD)

THE DAUGHTER OF CHARLES AND LUCILLE MAIMONE....THEIR LEGACY WAS THAT THEY HAD 10 CHILDREN!

MY DAD WAS IN CHARGE OF THE BOWLING ALLEY, ON THE SIDE OF HIS REAL JOB ....RIGHT?

WE SPENT ALOT OF TIME THERE ALONG WITH THE TIME AT THE POOL AND THEN OF COURSE ROMPING THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

Tina Maimone
AAFS 1967-1968

Comment Date:: 22 February 2009

Brings back memories. I was a controller there in 1962 and 1963. Then went to 748^th AC&W Squadron in Kotzebue. So many stories to tell.

Larry Crist
AAFS 1962-1963

Comment Date:: 28 February 2009

I arrived at Almaden AFS on July 3, 1960 and was there until September 10, 1963. I was a sales store specialist and ran the Base Exchange for a time until I cross-trained into the Air Police. I well remember the fire that almost burned down the base. At the time I thought the duty was terrible but as I look back over the years, I really enjoyed my tour. I was looking over the 2008 Reunion and saw an old friend, Charlie Unger. He looks great after all these years.

Rev. Bill Preston

AAFS 1960-1963

Comment Date:: 27 March 2009

I just thought to look up Mt. Umunhum, and was surprised to see about the reunion. My Father, TSGT Elisondro "Sal" Salazar, was the Security Police, from 1975 until July 1977. I enjoyed seeing the pictures.
My Father is now deceased. My sister, however was born while we were stationed there, so that is somewhat a birthplace to us.

We were the Salazar's; Sal, Shirley, Mary & Nelley
I would hope this note reaches some of the people I have mentioned. To know we still think of them from to time. God Bless you all, and God bless America.

Mary C. Salazar Nevers
U.S Army 1981-1984

Comment Date:: 29 March 2009

Just discovered your wonderful web site. I was stationed at the 682nd in 63 and 64 as Air Police. Spent many lonely nights in that guard shack. Please let me know if there will be another reunion. Thanks for your efforts in having the reunion and making the pictures available.

Patrick Bressler

Comment Date:: 22 December 2009

My name is Scott Browning and I just found this website searching for Almaden Air Force Station. Almaden was my first active duty station out of tech school back in the winter of 1969. My time at Almaden (reassigned in March of 70) was short but plenty of good memories were made.

Scott Browning
Heating Specialist
1969-70

Comment Date:: 30 December 2009

I was not stationed at the AFS. I was with GEEIA out of McClellan, AFB, Sacramento. Our team installed the height finder (FPS-6) on right side of the Search tower. I can remember that large antenna turning slowly in fog. I think it the same day that a deer and I almost ran into each other as I was going toward OPS.

Allan Smith

Please leave your comments in this public guest book.

NOTE: Due to Guest Book Spammers, I have removed the automatic submission form fields.
To submit a Guest Book entry, please email me.