Check Six: a pilot’s term meaning look behind you.
Twenty years ago today, the 201st Combat Commutations Group hosted a retirement party of Lt Col Roy Matsumura. Roy retired as the Group’s Director of Logistics. Earlier in his career he served as the commander of the 293rd Combat Communications Squadron and held several other staff positions.
In the photograph above, starting at the left are Col Melvin Morris, Col Ernest Shima, Lt Col Matsumura, Col Jeffrey Okazaki, Lt Col Paul Mori.
Lt Col Paul Mori was the first commander of what was then the 201st Mobile Communications Squadron. Paul served as commander from 1967 through 1975, when the squadron became a group.
Colonel Paul Goya became the group commander and served until 1980. He passed in 1987.
Colonel Ernest Shima served as commander from 1980 through 1990. A Traditional Guardmember, he worked for the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), heading the telecommunications branch. Ernie retired in 1990.
During his command, Col Melvin Morris served as the Deputy Commander and the fulltime technician detachment commander. Mel became as the Group Commander in 1990 and served through 1991. He returned to the 154th Wing as the Deputy Commander for Maintenance (DCM).
Colonel Jeffrey Okazaki became the commander in 1991 and served until 1996 when he retired. Jeff was a Traditional Guardmember who worked for the United States Army at Fort Shafter as the head of civilian personnel. During his command, Lt Col Jiro Arakaki and then Col Myron Dobashi served as the fulltime technician detachment commander. Jeff retired in 1996.
Thanks to Robert Finley for remembering some of the dates.
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