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Karamursel 1976-1977
Allen Moon
Allen Moon
© 2007
I was assigned to Karamursel CDI in November, 1976. On the day I arrived at my first permanent duty station, I was greeted by my supervisor, Sgt Cheryl Adams. I must admit, I was pretty abrasive after having to leave my family behind and a 17 hour, 4 stop airplane flight from JFK in New York. At the time, I thought that this was going to be the incarnation of hell on earth, but I was soon to find out otherwise.
My wife, Carol was still in New York and pregnant with our second child. Our oldest was only 18 months and there was no way they could join me at that time. Accompanied tours for Airmen Basic was not authorized, but this, too changed. After getting settled in to the dormitory, I reported for duty at TUSLOG Det 48-6, 7025th Air Postal Squadron and met all my co-workers. TSgt Norman Reese was the NCOIC, Sgt Adams was in charge of admin, SrA Robert “Bama” Simpson worked the incoming mail, SSgt David Presser worked mail also, A1C Mike “Radar” Peterson also worked mail. I had a lot to learn about the embargo, postal policies, procedures, and of course, local customs.
As time went on, I began to completely enjoy myself at Karamursel. Some of the people I had gotten to know took me into Yalova, and some of the other neighboring towns. I grew to love the food. The kabob, ekmek, Efes, and even the raki. I guess the last two aren’t really food, but what the heck. I found the locals to be extremely friendly, outgoing, and tolerant of my foreign ways. That was almost the hardest adjustment to make, that I was now the foreigner. I took Turkish lessons and tried to fit in as best I could. Along the way, I met some very influential people who had a great impact on my life and my time at KCDI.
Despite the fact the base was closing down, all the military and civilians assigned were positive, upbeat, and concerned for everybody. It was a great experience for my first assignment. I met several people who I put together a Top-40 band with in 1977. Sgt Don Willing, Sgt Cheryl Adams, SSgt Dave Ladrach, and some others whom I have to admit I can’t recall right now. We called our selves Moonshadow and the Air Force was generous enough to provide us with transportation to remote hilltop sites around northwestern Turkey where we played gigs just like a DoD or USO show. For most of 1977, we packed up our blue goose with our instruments and other necessities and took off for such glamorous resorts like Eskeshir, Diyarbakir, Balikeshir, Imzir, and Cakmakli. We would get into a site and set up and then we would do a 90 minute gig. What a blast. I couldn’t believe the reception we got at every location, not to mention the bus rides through the winding mountain trails. Those drives were almost better than roller coasters! Turkish roads in the hill country were not built for an Air Force bus. Especially when there was two-way traffic.
My job at the APO was to work the stamp window. At some point in time during my 18 months there, I had to have seen everyone on that base. My most memorable moment was during the lifting of the package embargo in Jan-Feb 1977. For 4 weeks, we took in more boxes and packages than I have ever seen in my life. For those who were there, you knew this was the only time you were going to get things out. I spent 72 hours working on getting all the packages sorted by destination, size, weight, and making sure the postage was affixed properly to try and meet this demand. I wasn’t assigned as a loadmaster, but boy could I build a pallet after that. Everybody helped out to make sure we got all our boxes out before the embargo was reinstated. It was creepy to see the Quonset hut we called our office filled to the ceiling with boxes waiting to be palletized and shipped out to Yalova to be put on the 130 to freedom.
Yalova air strip was another oddity. When the C-130’s would come in bringing the mail and supplies, they had to be pretty careful on the landing point or they would have problems with the runway taking a sharp right to avoid the Marmara. They always seemed to manage it, though.
We had a football team, fast pitch softball, an “L”-shaped bowling alley and so many other functions and activities that you could never be bored. I used to go to the Rec Center (TSgt Les Simmons was NCOIC) and watch the movies on Friday nights, and after my wife and children came over, played Bingo. I can’t remember an assignment since then where everybody really supported each other. The community we shared there was truly special. From what began as a frightening and lonely experience, it became an assignment I will never forget.
I got to visit the Black Sea, Istanbul’s underground bazaar, the seven churches tour, visiting all the remote mountain sites, Incirlik AB, Ankara, Adana, and too many others to name. there are a lot of worse places I could have gone for my first assignment in my 20 year career, but this was the best!
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