Skywriter — May 2021 by Naval Air Facility Atsugi

Naval Air Facility Atsugi May 2021

NAFA Sailors Participate in CBRN Evolution Atsugi’s Time-Traveling Tomato Soup Cake

What’s Inside...

Public Affairs Officer Howard Sam Samuelson Deputy Public Affairs Officer Greg Mitchell

NAFA Sailors Participate in CBRN Evolution Page 04

Editor Greg Mitchell Skywriter Staff MC3 Olivier Clement MC3 Rafael Avelar Public Affairs Staff Ikumi Tanaka Maika Fujisaki

Atsugi’s Time-Traveling Tomato Soup Cake

Page 07

Facebook.com/naf.atsugi

Youtube.com/NAFAtsugi @NAFAtsugiJP www.issuu.com/nafatsugi

Tips for Hiking in Japan Page 10

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On The

Cover

Front/back Cover: Military members participate in a CBRN Exercise use an earthquake simulator as well as other CBRN Gear equipment. (U.S. Navy photos by MC3 Rafael Avelar)

CMDCM CORNER

With Command Master Chief Weba Roberts Team Atsugi, It is an honor to be back in Atsugi and serve as your Command Master Chief. I was stationed here over 13 years ago and while things have changed a little since then, NAF Atsugi is still a community that pulls together to support each other during challenging times. The love and appreciation for our great country is often given back twofold by total strangers who unabashedly show their gratitude to military members and their families, and this month we celebrate National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM) and additionally, on May 7th, we celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day. I urge everyone to say, “Thank you!” to our service members and military spouses to show our appreciation. National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM) came about when both the Senate and House of Representatives adopted resolutions calling for Americans to recognize and honor U.S. Service Members during NMAM. These resolutions urged the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe NMAM. Because most holidays commemorating historical military events have become little more than three-day weekends lacking focus on their original purpose, this month is to remind Americans of the sacrifices and the history we have been privileged to participate in since the nation’s birth. During the month of May, we are encouraged to support local engagements designed to draw public attention and illustrate public support and appreciation and thanks to the military family. I am an immigrant whose mother wanted a better life and opportunities for her children when we moved to Boston, Massachusetts from the Caribbean. As the realization of her dream, every success I’ve had in my career has been amplified by my family’s support. I want to take this opportunity to thank them! Happy National Military Appreciation Month, Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Happy Mother’s Day!

May 12, 1986

May 6, 1916 The first ship-to-shore radio telephone voice conversation was held on board USS New Hampshire (BB 25) off the Virginia Capes.

USS David R. Ray (DD 971) deters an Iranian Navy frigates attempt to board SS President McKinley in the Gulf of Oman.

May 20, 1909 USS Mississippi (BB 23) arrives at Natchez, Miss., and becomes the first U.S. Navy battleship to visit an inland city.

May 28, 1980 55 women become the first female graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Naval Air Facility Atsugi Sailors Participate in CBRN Evolution

CBRN:

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense are protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present.

Damage Controlman 2nd Class Petty Officer Cody Caswell prepares an earthquake simulator for demonstrative use as a part of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense training exercise conducted onboard Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan April 21,2021.

Damage Controlman 1st Class Petty Officer Kevin To briefs members of the 14 NBC Operation Support Wing Japan Ground Force Defense (JGDF) and Japan Air Defense Force (JADF) on the proper use of the mask component of a Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) as well as the importance of having an emergency preparedness kit during a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense training exercise conducted onboard Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan April 21, 2021.

Atsugi’s Time-Traveling Tomato Soup Cake

How Three Spouses, a Popular YouTuber and a Vintage Cookbook Came Together During Quarantine By Reese Churilla For many of us, the memory of 2020 is like a chaotic blur with lingering effects. Together, we shared a kind of collective anxiety from witnessing a global pandemic spread in real-time — a period wrought with uncertainty and the constant shifting between hope and despair. We social distanced and donned our masks. Remote work became the norm. NAF Atsugi, like most overseas bases, experienced heavy restrictions that confined military servicemembers and their families to their quarters for months. Little did anyone know, three spouses were busily Photos provided by MWR Atsugi trading among themselves a vintage Pictured from left to right: Ashlee Gaines, Lindsey Clements and Kristina Miller cookbook that had just arrived in — with The Cake. the mail, sent by a popular cooking for nearly three years. “Kristina Youtuber, and containing recipes tagged me in the Facebook post with like “Tomato Soup Cake,” “Miracle Emmy’s tomato soup cake video. Pudding,” and “Grandma Bump’s Both the concept and the fact that it Whole Wheat Bread.” was made by spouses here on NAFA “Emmy’s video came to my was fantastic! It’s a look at our history These recipes from the past had attention last November when it was from the 1950s made by wives on been compiled by the Atsugi Allshared to the Atsugi Community base. I thought here we are in 2020, Wives in a quaint tome titled, Cook’s Resource Facebook page,” said in a global pandemic, where we have Tour, printed in 1955. Lindsey Clements — one of the three seen our own food shortages and have ladies responsible for acquiring the had to improvise.” This is the story of the quest for book. “Kristina said she was going “Atsugi’s Cookbook” and how three “When I saw the video on the to reach out to Emmy. So, between foodies were able to bring it back Ashlee, Kristina, and I, we knew we Facebook page, I thought it was so home in a year of uncertainty and needed to get a copy of it and bring cool,” Kristina Miller said. “Who separation. Even more, it’s the story would’ve thought this existed for our the book back home, so to speak.” of how technology, food and cooking little base here in Japan? I commented kindled a communal spirit through a “My first thought was where can on Emmy’s post, sent her a message window looking back to the naval air I find this cookbook!” said Ashlee and email, not expecting her to see facility’s culinary past. Gaines who has lived on NAF Atsugi any of it. A week later she responded

And it all began with a Facebook post.

to me — it was so neat! I wanted to know where she’d gotten it.” The “Emmy” they are talking about is more widely known as emmymade on Youtube (formerly emmymadeinjapan) whose quirky cooking videos have attracted nearly 2.5 million followers. In her Tomato Soup Cake video, Emmy holds up the recipe book Cook’s Tour and explains how a fan named Kani sent it to her. Kani’s mother, Mera, was the editor of the book, and it was all because Kani’s father had been stationed at NAF Atsugi. (A handwritten letter from Kani to Emmy was included with the cookbook. It includes a few more details on the book’s production. We have not published the letter out of privacy concerns; however, it will remain with the physical copy of the cookbook.) Emmy then points out how, in classic “retro style,” the recipe contains no eggs, butter, or milk — perfect for rationing — nor does it feature any instructions apart from the dish’s ingredients. “You have to remember that this was published in 1955 and that these Atsugi spouses were children during and shortly after The Great Depression. So, when you talk about something like the Tomato Soup Cake, you’re talking about recipes that were created in a time of shortages for things like butter and sugar. Some of these seemingly ‘off-the-wall’ recipes came from when preservatives had just became a thing. It allowed people to kind of play with their food, and you can really see that willingness to experiment in the kitchen within the “Cook’s Tour”— Lindsey Lindsey, an MWR employee at Atsugi Library, used her research

skills to track down a copy of the cookbook with little success. “I have my own collection of vintage and antique books, so I was helping with the hunt by searching vintage booksellers across the web. I was all over eBay, Amazon, and sites I’d never heard of. I eventually came across a copy of “Stars & Stripes” from 1955 that somebody had scanned onto an internet archive featuring an article about how they were printing it. I reached out to them and said, ‘Hey, do you guys have this book?’” Lindsey learned that the newspaper had lost many of its archives prior to 1962 when its headquarters moved from the old Hardy Barracks office in Tokyo into a new building on the same grounds. “The folks at Stars & Stripes graciously dug around for us, which was really cool,” Lindsey said. “And then Ashlee messaged me out of the blue and said, ‘You’re never going to believe what showed up in the mail today… IT’S HERE!” Ultimately, it was Kristina who discovered Emmy had not only responded to her message, but that she was willing to send her own copy of Cook’s Tour directly to Kristina. “I told Emmy she didn’t have to send it, but she insisted,” said Kristina. “She was happy to. ‘It’s going home,’ she wrote to me.” “Emmy sent us the book so we could return it to the Atsugi Library,” said Lindsey. “That the Library could reunite with this piece of Atsugi’s history, and we all can watch over it.”

such as Latin American dishes with Tabasco sauce, and Norwegian desserts made with soda. Cook’s Tour also includes tips on canning fruits and vegetables, making your own sauces and salad dressings, and how to use herbs and spices. “There’s such a variety of recipes, and the book is organized in some places based on where spouses were stationed previously,” said Lindsey. “Spouses brought recipes from Spain, Korea, Italy, and from their own homes. There is so much cultural diversity that’s reflected in these pages.”

o how did Cook’s Tour come about? What was the intent of compiling these strange, quirky recipes on an overseas Navy base? Lindsey explained that recipe books and cookbooks were huge in the 1950s, and the Atsugi All-Wives were publishing it as a fundraiser. “It was just like what the Atsugi Officers’ Spouses’ Association (AOSA) does today, where they do fundraising and ensure that all the money goes back into the Atsugi community. That’s what the All-Wives were doing, too.” Flipping through the pages of the cookbook is like catching a glimpse of a bygone era with simple instructions for familiar staples like beef stroganoff and meatloaf, and international fusions

“I found it interesting how the wives broke it down by cuisine or by different regions of the world,” said Kristina. “There are many ingredients we don’t really use today — some of it I’ve never heard of or wonder how they even got them out here.” “We’ve only made the brownies,” she added with a laugh. “They were the best brownies we’ve ever had, probably because they’re loaded with sugar!” For Lindsey, Ashlee, and Kristina, browsing the cookbook offered a catharsis from the stresses of isolation. They realized that by looking backwards in time, they had in fact set the stage for future entries in the Atsugi cookbook — that their quest did not end when they received the book, but instead would continue to evolve with the ever-changing population of the Atsugi community. “The idea behind the cookbook allows a connection to the history, to

the base, and the people who come here,” said Lindsey. “I think when you’re moving around with the military, you sometimes feel a little rootless, blown about in the wind, and through cookbooks like this, and history books, the more you know about the place where you’re stationed the more attached you become. For me, food is a pathway to connection.” “I would like to see our community members have an interest in our history through the cookbook,” said Ashlee. “It’s been so much fun to be a part of the book coming full circle. But even more, I want this to show people that their actions matter — that something we do now could have an impact 50 years or more from now.” “I hope the book brings people together,” said Kristina. “I encourage everyone to get a chance to read it and make something in the book. Most of all, I want to know how people are making do with what they can get their hands on here in Japan. What recipe can you add to the story?” At last, Cook’s Tour has returned home to the Atsugi Library where it will remain as a non-circulating item. Patrons may view it there and even take photos of recipes to make in their own kitchen. And if you prepare any yourself, let us know how they turned out! We’d love to know! In fact, stay tuned to this blog and to our Facebook page for details on a new and improved Atsugi Cookbook in 2021 — and how you can be a part of it. Special Thanks to Hannah McCarthy, who graciously offered her kitchen, cooking tools, and ingredients to prepare the cake — as well as for preparing her own tomato soup cake for additional photos soon to arrive on our Facebook page.

U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brooke Macchietto

Tips for Hiking in Japan

By MWR

great hike isn’t normally just a stroll in the park. It’s an outdoors adventure leading you up and down trails of unfamiliar terrain. If you’re a seasoned hiker, you know hiking can be tremendously fun and exhausting. But the most important things to consider before starting any level of hike are: know your route, plan your trip, and be prepared. Whether you’re heading out on one of our International Tours & Travel (ITT) hiking tours at NAF Atsugi MWR, or going solo, we hope this information is useful for your next hiking adventure.

Here’s what you should know about hiking in Japan. • Hilly Trails

Hiking Trails, Terrain and Climate • The View is at the Top

About 70% of Japan is mountainous, meaning your planned hiking trail is likely to experience some ups and downs. Consider this fact when prepping gear and selecting your hiking shoes.

Keep in mind, the most scenic and selfie-worthy locations await at the summit of a mountain. This means your trek will be almost entirely uphill. Consider this well when prepping.

• Rugged Routes

• Japan Gets HOT

Some trails, many in public parks, provide mostly flat walking paths with convenient, well-maintained steps. Many trails in Japan, however, consist of jagged, uneven rocks, or slippery gravel and mud. Know the conditions of your route before setting out.

Spring and summer are peak hiking seasons in Japan, and the climate is prone to extreme heat and humidity. These conditions may lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and cramps — especially during physically-demanding intermediate and advanced level hikes.

ITT Hiking Classification Eyeing a new trail to conquer? Before choosing your gear, ask or search for your hike’s difficulty level. ITT here on NAF Atsugi classifies each of their hikes using the following levels of difficulty: EASY/BEGINNER: Trails are 80% flat and 20% ascending and descending. Total distance: about 6 miles. Recommended Conditioning: These trails are recommended for beginner hikers with a conditioning routine that includes walking, commuting by bicycle, or low-intensity cardio training.

INTERMEDIATE: Expect trails to be about 50% uphill and downhill and 50% flat with a variety of terrain. Ascending these trails can be physically demanding and descending them is moderately demanding on lower body muscles and joints. Total distance is six to 10 miles. Recommended Conditioning: These trails are recommended for people with some hiking experience and who condition themselves with regular (twoto-three times weekly) intermediate-level cardio training, such as running, cycling, or StairMaster for 30 minutes.

ADVANCED: These trails are 90% up and down hills with rugged and slippery terrain, with a total distance of 6 to 10 miles. Mt. Fuji falls in this category due to its high elevation. Recommended Conditioning: Recommended for avid hikers who run at least five miles three times weekly or participate in similar intense cardio exercises, such as StairMaster for 45 minutes, three times a week.

What to Bring (Basic Items)

Now that you’ve chosen a trail to match your skill level, and the weather forecast’s looking good, let’s look at the basic items you should take with you: • Clothing: A change of dry • Dress in layers: Dry-fit material • A fully-charged cell phone clothes, socks and shoes is shirt to draw sweat from your body • 1 small backpack recommended since getting wet and dry quickly In colder months. • 1 light raincoat from sweat, rain or wet trails is a Your body will heat up quickly • 1 small towel possibility. Don’t forget a change once you start hiking, especially • Snacks of dry socks! since almost all hikes start out • Tools/Repair Items • A hat with a draw string to keep going uphill. • Knife or multi-tool it from blowing away. • Gear repair kit • First-aid kit/Supplies: (band-aids in case of blisters) Sunscreen, • Stay Hydrated: Water & electrolytes sunglasses, and sun hat (optional) Menstrual products What to such as fruit & vegetable juice or sports Wear Broken-in light soft hiking boots or trail running shoes (with drinks. These are especially important gators to prevent rocks from getting into the shoes) Thick socks during warmer months to prevent Comfortable pants or shorts. It’s recommended to wear pants or dehydration and cramps. shorts made from dry-fit material or material that dries quickly. Oh, and a few additional tips include: take it slow when on the trail! A slow and steady pace helps you conserve energy and to take in all the wonderful sights. Running not only drains your long-distance energy, but may risk the safety of your fellow hikers, especially in rugged or or slippery areas. Visit our Gear Rental shop in Building 978 (next door to ITT) to rent the following hiking items: hiking poles, headlamp, poncho, and backpacks (daypack/waist pack, two-person, three-person and internal frame).

Finally, here’s a list of great local hikes organized by level of difficulty: EASY INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED Kamikochi Walk (Leisurely and Nikko Mt. Takao Nishizawa Flying Mt. Fuji 1st — 5th Station Hike: great for beginners!) Oze National Dragon (Hiryu) Waterfall Advanced* Mt. Fuji Full C Mt. Park Tsumago Magome Village Lake Oyama Mt. Kintoki Mt. Shirane Okutama Shasui Waterfall *All Mt. Fuji trails are currently closed to the public. Follow The Official Web Site for Mt. Fuji Climbing for updates, or ask ITT or Gear Rental.

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

Branch Health Clinic Atsugi For Appointments: 264-3959 or 0467-63-3311

The Final Word WITH NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI COMMANDING OFFICER

CAPT. J. M. MONTAGNET NAFA Atsugi Community,

Recently we released a new P.H.E, and this latest guidance is based upon two changing and developing issues: Inside our fence line, we are extremely pleased to see more and more of our general population receive the vaccine. However, outside the gates, we are monitoring a rise in COVID-19 cases. Accordingly, local and prefectural governors and leadership have instituted quasi-emergency directives through May 11 to manage these new cases. I still remain elated and hopeful as we continue our path to herd immunity. And, again, a huge thanks to the Branch Health Clinic for staggering their vaccine schedule to give everyone ample opportunity to get the vaccine. Let me make another important point: Please ensure that when you get the vaccine you are reporting your status to your sponsor and your chain of command. We are not documenting individual names, as your privacy is your own, but we must get an understanding of total vaccination rates to identify future vaccine requirements and this is important to everyone returning to a normal lifestyle. Other recent changes that I want to share with the community are changes with ROM procedures and new availabilities for children to get the vaccine. With respect to ROM, if you are fully vaccinated or are a recovered positive within the last 90 days, you go straight into the holding period on the installation or your off-base residence. The 14-day requirement remains, as that is a requirement set by our host nation. The holding period simply means that you don’t have to stay in your room or house for the whole 14 days. You can’t go out and about outside of the base, but you will be free to move about on base. I think this is great news! I want to encourage everyone associated with NAFA to get the vaccine. Please get the vaccine because it works. I look at it this way, if you get the vaccine, you won’t get sick. You may experience some discomfort for a day or two, but that’s it. When you weigh that against, first, getting separated from your family and friends at a minimum and and, second, possibly getting very sick for a long time, I believe the choice is very clear. So, please get the vaccine. Finally, this month we recognize Mother’s Day. So, on a personal note, thank you, Mom! To all of the mothers out there, thank you for being the best role models for all of us; thank you for keeping your families safe; in the end, thank you for being Mom.

CAPT John M. Montagnet Commanding Officer U.S. Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan