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Launch Date - 08/20/2008

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Last Post - January 13, 2010

This is the last 'Posting for TrabzonAirStation.COM.  Be advised that this Web Site will go away very 'SOON'.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover 

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Posting - October 26, 2009

It has been 5 years since I 'Launched' the first SmokeyStover.COM information gathering 'Web Site'.  From that 'Site' I learned that I could find old friends and acquaintances who could collaborate with me in research needed to write four books.  I have 'Launched'  many 'Web Sites' in the 5 years since SmokeyStover.COM.  I have discontinued many 'Sites' and then rebuilt and republished a few 'Sites'.  A few months ago I 'Merged' the two 'Trabzon Sites' into one.  The 'dithering' and 'smoothing' of this 'merge' should be completed by the end of this year.  I allowed the 'newer site' to terminate and the 'older/now merged site' to remain 'On Air' for all to view.  I have decided that I have expended all of the time I can afford and spent all of the resources and energy available to me in the maturing of these 'Sites'.  I have to retire and I have to 'trim my spending' as I learn to live on a 'fixed income'.  I cannot afford the many 'Web Sites' that I now have On Air.  As they now come due for 'renewal', I will let the majority of my 'Sites' go into retirement with me.  By the end of  2010, only - http://www.smokeystover.net   will remain On Air.  I have found an almost free place where I can 'park' this 'Site' so I will keep it 'On Air' as advertisement for the many enterprises which I will be working during retirement.  I hope to be completely retired from the 'Internet' by the end of 2010.  After January 1, 2010, I will let all of my 'On Air Sites' retire as they come due for renewal.

I have spent a lot of time, money, and personal resources in these 'Internet/Web Ventures'.  I have never received the funding needed to continue.  Trabzon Sites alone have encountered over 20,000 hits in the past 2 years.  It amazes me that so many Trabzon Veterans have enjoyed the viewing and yet so few have seen fit to financially support the project.  I and others have researched the 'Life Cycle' of 'Trabzon Air Station' and have concluded that between 6000 and 8000 GIs were stationed there from 1953 to 1970.  I have personally exchanged phone calls and emails with 300 plus Trabzon Veterans and yet we only have 60 plus on the 'Duty Roster'.  Of the 60 plus on the 'Duty Roster', only a handful are real financial contributors.

Those of you who have 'Contributed' have kept me going and made it possible to get the 5 years in that I promised.  I know that You would go above the call and support me further if I asked.  As I allow this 'Project' to go into retirement, I will be sure that you receive any and all that remains as your 'Memory Jar' of 'Trabzon Air Station'.  The 'Contributors' just mentioned should email me so that I can arrange to mail them those items that I will be making available.

Thanks again for your support,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/1963.

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Posted - November 8, 2008

I received this Video from Vic Longo.  Vic was a shipmate of mine and Viet Nam Veteran - 1965/67 on USS Brinkley Bass DD-887.  Click on the following 'Button' to view a really great 'Welcome Home'.

Check it out,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Veteran - 1962/1963

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Posted - September 23, 2008

I want to apologize to Greg Kilgore for taking far too long to process his photo collection onto our site.  Greg sent me a CD many months ago.  I have moved twice and lost many items to system crashes in the year just past.  I have just found Greg's CD and processed the great collection of photos.  I will spend more time with this 'Slideshow' ASAP.  Greg also sent a great collection of 'Documents' which I will be processing ASAP.  I processed this photo collection directly to PDF.  Use the latest Adobe to view and each photo description will be displayed to the left of the 'Slides'.  The email from Greg that gave me his dates of arrival and departure is lost.  I have added Greg to the 'Duty Roster' using his orders as an 'Arrival Date'.  Greg, please contact me so that we can renew communications.  I will change anything required after communications with Greg.  I will also process Greg's photos to his 'Photos' page and his 'Documents' to the 'Documents' page.

Thanks, Greg, for this great 'Slide Show'.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/1963

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Posted - September 10, 2008

I have just received, processed, and 'Posted' another 'Slide Show' from Rich Pointer.  Rich will be sending more 'Slide Shows' in the near future.  The following 'Click' will take you to the 'New Show'.   http://www.trabzonairstation.net/badroadtosamsun.pdf .

Thanks, Rich, for another good 'Slide Show'.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/1963

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Posted - September 9, 2008

I will be adding a number of 'New Trabzon Veterans' to the 'Duty Roster' over the next few weeks.  I am ready to provide Email Boxes/Addresses for 'Members'.  Please check the 'Duty Roster - Email' List.  If your name is followed by the (E), you are qualified for Email already and already have an Email Address assigned.  As the old site goes away, all 'Duty Roster' Vets will be afforded Email.  I ask that everyone contact me ASAP so that I can start the Email Allotment Process.  Please take advantage of this 'Opportunity' while the 'Window' is open.  http://www.trabzonairstation.net/dutyrostermenu.htm .

Thank you very much,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/1963

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Posted - September 3, 2008

I have started updating.  I have 'Posted' 2 'New Arrivals'.  Today, I worked on the 'Email System'.  I have to spend the next few days earning some $$$ so I will be back at my Trabzon Air Station 'Work Station' in a few days.  Please use the next link to go to the 'Duty Roster Email' page.   http://www.trabzonairstation.net/dutyrostermenu.htm .  Please email me at - wstover@trabzonairstation.net : especially if your name is followed by an (E).  I will return your email with 'Email Access' information.  Eventually, all 'Duty Roster' 'Veterans' will have whatever access they desire.  For now, I am hoping to use those already qualified as 'Members' to help me 'Launch' the 'Email System' as the first step in privatizing this new Web Site.

Thanks for your support, keep in touch,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/1963

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Posted - September 2, 2008

I am finding that many of the pages from the old site are becoming a problem when reformatting to the new html pages that I am creating in the 'New Site'.  I knew this would happen.  I also knew that it would take some time to complete the reformatting and move to the 'New Site'.  I have just reformatted the 'Duty Roster' in order to facilitate ease of 'Posting' of 'New Trabzon Veterans' to the 'Duty Roster'.  I have 'Posted 2 'Recently Found' 'Trabzon Veterans' to the 'Duty Roster'.  I will mark 'New Arrivals' with -*/*-  http://www.trabzonairstation.net/dutyroster.htm .

Thanks and bear with, keep in touch,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/1963

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Posted - August 30, 2008

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I have received dozens of emails in the 6 months just passed.  I have at least a dozen to add to the 'Duty Roster'.  I have been exchanging emails, in recent days, with Lonnie (Kyle) 'Tony' Anthony.  Through this email exchange, the questions about the 'Napkin/Drink Mat and questions about life before the base were answered.  Jerry Mangas sent the latest copy of the 'card' from 1963.  Apparently the card was designed at least 5 years before and it was designed for the original 'Club Kismet'.  I am placing the 'dialogue' here for your reading.

Hi,

Tony,

Sometimes an email falls through the cracks.  I’m sorry I lost/missed your email for a month.  I am busy at my Trabzon  Air Station workstation.  I have just published http://www.trabzonairstation.net .  Check out the new site.  I will be privatizing the new site in a few months.  Get back to me ASAP so that I can place you on the ‘Duty Roster’ at the new site.  You told me the year/s that you were there.  Just email me with the dates of arrival and departure and your rank at departure and I will place you in chronological order on the ‘Duty Roster’.  http://www.trabzonairstation.net/dutyroster.htm .  I have had a number of Web Sites up for 3 years now while collecting data for my book and ‘Content’ that tells the ‘Trabzon Story’.  Conversations and Communications for the 3 years is archived on the following pages.  http://www.trabzonairstation.net/veryoldpostings.htm http://www.trabzonairstation.net/oldpostings.htm - http://www.trabzonairstation.net/recentpostings.htm - http://www.trabzonairstation.net/postings.htm .  You will also find a lot of information on my own ‘Enterprise’ Web Site.  http://www.smokeystover.com  .  http://www.trabzonairstation.com will go out of business in about 3 months, when I get http://www.trabzonairstation.net completed.

Thanks for checking in, come back with your info, keep in touch,

Bill ‘Smokey’ Stover – Trabzon Air Station Veteran – 1962/1963

Bill, or do you prefer Smokey?

I arrived at Trabzon in November 1957 from Syracuse via NSA at Ft. Meade and ASA at Ft. Devens, Mass. Departed in November 1958 when I returned to Syracuse for intermediate language training. I was at Trab when we were still on the local economy so I never saw the base. I and 3 others rented a house in an area called Sok Su (cold water). I was at Samsun from October 1959 until October 1960 and wanted to visit Trab but never got the chance.

Oh, I was an A/2c (E3) for my entire tour at Trab.

Smokey,

Was just browsing your web and saw the card from the old Club Kismet. I am the one who designed that card and named the club. When I was at Trab the orderly room was upstairs and the club and PX was downstairs in a two story building on the road at the bottom of Boztepe.

Lonnie K. Anthony

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Posted - August 29, 2008

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http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/trabzon

The link above takes you to one of those sites that I look at often to find Trabzon Veterans.  This site has hundreds of beautiful photos of the Trabzon area and from all over Turkey.  This site, as is http://www.trabzonairstation.net is not in competition with any other site.  The Web Manager is trying to get as much as he can to his audience.  I have the same hope.  I only wish to find as many Trabzon Veterans as possible so they can share their individual Trabzon experience with all other Trabzon Veterans.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted - August 29, 2008

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Just like all other 'Web Sites', this site will go through its life cycle and 'disappear' before it is completed.  I am working hard to 'finish' this 'new' 'Web Site'.  I continue my search for 'Trabzon Veterans' that can be added to our 'Duty Roster'.  I am amazed to find 'dozens' of Trabzon Air Station Veterans who check in with other 'Web Sites' and never check in with us.  http://www.trabzonairstation.com and now - http://www.trabzonairstation.net are at the top of http://www.google.com  -  http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADBR_enUS276US276&q=Trabzon+Air+Station . I really don't understand why they don't check in.  I am behind in my 'Postings' of new 'Trabzon Veterans'.  ASAP, I will add about a dozen or so new Vets to the 'Duty Roster' on this new site.  Only one year within the 'Life Cycle' of Trabzon Air Station is still not represented (1955).  I have just today read the comments, on another web site, of a Trabzon Vet from 1955.  I have made another appeal to a number of sites for those who frequent them to check in with us.  I will continue my search as I ready the new site for privatization.

Thanks for your great 'Content', keep in touch,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/63

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Posted - August 20, 2008

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Welcome Aboard !!!!  I have worked my backside off for the best part of two months to put up a great Web Site.  It has been more difficult than I would have ever imagined.  This 'Site' is about 75% of what it should be.  I will be refining its functionality for about three months before it will be up to spec.  Now that the 'Skeleton' is up and running, I will be adding in all of the 'New' 'Duty Roster' Veterans and a truckload of 'New Content'.  Please 'Bear With' until I can get caught up.  Keep sending new stuff.

My 'Systems' have crashed for a multitude of reasons such as lightning hits, power failures, viruses, misuse, and others during our three years of communications.  My address book has been lost at least three times.  I have lost many of your addresses and many of your addresses have changed.  As you access this new system, please email me with your latest email address so that I can communicate with you.  Thanks for your support and great content.

I have spent most of the last few days testing this 'New Site'.  I have accessed the site from newer WinVista/HP systems, from older WinXP/Compaq/HomeBrew systems and very old Win2000 systems.  I have found that access is pretty quick on all systems but 'Page' and 'Document' loads are very good with 'Newer Systems' with more recent 'Browsers' and 'Up to Date' 'Adobe Acrobat Readers' and 'More Memory' and 'Faster Hard Drives'.  If you have problems or experience 'Slow Response' you may want to upgrade, especially your 'Browser' and/or your 'Adobe Reader'.  For older WinXP systems, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 is available and for newer WinVista systems, MIE 7 is available, both through Microsoft Downloads.  The latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for your PC/OpSys is available from Adobe Systems : http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

The following are the first two emails that were 'Posted' to the original 'Trabzon Information Gathering Site'.  I want to thank both Gene Wolter and Jeff Duvall for helping 'Kick-Off' the almost three years of 'Trabzon Veteran Dialog' that has made this site a real 'Memory Jar' for all who once lived on 'Boztepe'.

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For Publication:

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - I received this message from Gene on November 18, 2005.  At that time my Web Sites were not ready for Posting.  I am catching up today.  I do apologize to Gene and I know that anyone that spent time in Trabzon will enjoy this communications.  Thanks Gene.

DEAR SMOKEY,

    IT APPEARS WE SPENT SOME TIME TOGETHER IN TRABZON.  I WAS THERE FROM LATE 1961 TO APRIL 1963.  I FIND IT ASTOUNDING THAT TWO PEOPLE CAN BE IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AND GO AWAY WITH SUCH DISPARATE OBSERVATIONS.  I ALSO FIND IT DISHEARTENING BECAUSE I KNOW, DEEP DOWN, THAT MOST OF THE GUYS WHO WENT THROUGH TRAB PROBABLY FEEL MUCH AS YOU DO. 

    I WAS ALL OF 17 YEARS OLD WHEN I ARRIVED IN TRABZON.  I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU CLASSIFIED AS EITHER "VERY ADVENTUROUS OR VERY IGNORANT", BECAUSE I HAD MADE MY FIRST TURKISH FRIEND WITHIN A WEEK OF MY ARRIVAL.  SADI IS NEITHER A FUNDAMENTAL MOSLEM NOR IS HE UNEDUCATED.  I SPEAK OF HIM IN THE PRESENT, BECAUSE WE STILL SEE EACH OTHER OFTEN - BOTH HERE IN THE STATES AND IN TURKEY.  HE NOW LIVES MOST OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK CITY WITH HIS WIFE AND THREE SONS - A DOCTOR, A LAWYER AND AN INVESTMENT BANKER.  I GUESS NONE OF THE BOYS WANTED TO BE A EUROPEAN EDUCATED ENGINEER LIKE THEIR FATHER.

    SADI WAS NOT MY ONLY TURKISH FRIEND.  OVER FIFTEEN MONTHS, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING MANY OTHER FINE LOCAL MEN AND WOMEN IN TRABZON.  IN FACT, IN 1992, MANY OF THE SUCCESSFUL TURKISH WORKERS FROM BOZTEPE HELD A LARGE THIRTY YEAR REUNION AT THE SKI RESORT ON ULUDAG MOUNTAIN NEAR BURSA.  I WAS THE ONLY NATIVE BORN AMERICAN TO BE INVITED AND TO ATTEND.  THE PARTICIPANTS AT THE REUNION WERE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN THE MOTOR POOL, FOR TUMPANE OR FOR PERSONNEL SERVICES.  BY 1992, HOWEVER, MANY OF THEM HAD GROWN TO LEAD SOME OF TURKEY'S MORE IMPORTANT COMPANIES.  I AM STILL IN TOUCH WITH MANY OF THEM ON A LESS REGULAR BASIS.

    I WAS ALSO GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF HONORARY MEMBERSHIP IN THE TRABZON SPORT CLUB.  THE CITY'S SOCCER TEAM WAS HIGHLY REGARDED IN BOTH TURKEY AND EUROPE.  TO THIS DAY, TRABZON STARS PLAY FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON SOME OF THE BEST SOCCER TEAMS IN EUROPE.  AT THE 1962 REUNION, THE TURK'S SPOKE BOASTFULLY OF MY SOCCER EXPLOITS.  THEY ALL CLEARLY REMEMBERED THE TIME I HAD KICKED THE BALL SO HARD I KNOCKED OUT YILMAZ, THE TEAMS HIGHEST REGARDED NATIONAL PLAYER.  I LOVE THE STORY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ALL REMEMBER IT INCORRECTLY.  I WAS, AT BEST, A POOR PLAYER - AND YILMAZ KNOCKED ME OUT.  I THOUGHT IT SERVED NO PURPOSE TO ENLIGHTEN THEM ON THE TRUE EVENTS. 

    IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU - AND MANY OTHER GI'S - FELT "COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM OUR COUNTRY, OUR FAMILIES, OUR VALUE SYSTEM, IN MOST CASES OUR RELIGION, OUR WAY OF LIFE AND FROM THE PROTECTION OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM".   I FELT THAT THE AIR FORCE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF BRINGING AMERICA TO TRABZON.  BETWEEN OUR AFEX, SNACK BAR, NCO CLUB, MOVIE HOUSE (AND GYM), RADIO STATION AND BOWLING ALLEY, WE HAD MORE ACCOMMODATIONS THAN MOST AMERICAN SMALL TOWNS AT THAT TIME.  WE HAD A PROTESTANT CHAPLAIN, A LOCAL ITALIAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND A VISITING RABBI.  I WONDER HOW MANY SMALL TOWNS IN TENNESSEE COULD BOAST THAT IN 1962. 

    THE FIRST SERGEANT AND BASE COMMANDER DID A PRETTTY GOOD JOB OF GETTING INDISCREET GI'S OUT OF SCRAPES.  I KNOW, SINCE I HAD PICKED UP TURKISH PRETTY QUICKLY AND WAS OFTEN ASKED TO INTERPRET FOR SOME OF THE MORE DELICATE SITUATIONS.  FOR THE MOST PART, HOWEVER, I FELT THAT THE LOCAL TURKISH POPULATION WAS QUITE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE GI'S WERE YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED, HOMESICK AND OCCASIONALLY PRONE TO DRINK A LITTLE TOO MUCH.  MOST OF THE STORIES ABOUT GI'S BEING IMPRISONED OR BEATEN FOR LOOKING AT A WOMAN WERE NOTHING MORE THAN "URBAN LEGENDS". 

    AFTER ABOUT ONE YEAR IN TRABZON, I MET THE GIRL WHO WAS TO BECOME MY WIFE.  HER FATHER WAS THE PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND HAD STUDIED WITH A U.S. UNDER-SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.  WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR SOME FORTY YEARS AND HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS (ONE OF WHOM IS MARRIED TO A TENNESSEE MAN - MAKING IT COMPULSORY FOR ALL OF US TO WEAR ORANGE EVERY FALL SATURDAY TO WATCH FULMER AND COMPANY CRUMBLE IN HIS HOPES FOR A NATIONAL TITLE).  WE HAVE FOUR GRANDSONS, ALL OF WHOM ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE VISITS FROM THEIR TURKISH RELATIVES.   MY WIFE IS A PROMINENT ART DEALER AND I AM A RETIRED BANK PRESIDENT. 

    STRANGELY, I NEVER FELT LIKE A HERO, ALWAYS LOOKED AT MY TOUR AS A JOB AND AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND DO NOT REMEMBER EVER BEING AFRAID.  I TRAVELED FREELY - AND OFTEN ALONE - THROUGHOUT TRABZON AND TURKEY.  THE TENSION OF THE MISSLE CRISIS WAS REAL, BUT I NEVER EMBRACED THE FINGER ON THE BUTTON MENTALITY THAT MANY GI'S SUFFERED FROM.  IT IS OBVIOUS NOW THAT WE WON THE COLD WAR - BUT I WAS NEVER CONVINCED THAT THE RUSSIAN PREMIER BLINKED FIRST.  THE US ALREADY HAD LOCKED AND LOADED TITANS IN TURKEY.  THE RUSSIANS HAD MISSLE PARTS IN CUBA.  THEY AGREED TO REMOVE THEIR MISSLE PARTS ONLY AFTER THE US CONSENTED TO DISMANTLING (SECRETLY) THE TITANS IN TURKEY.  I THINK I'D GIVE THAT ROUND TO THE RUSSIANS.

    I WILL PASS ON YOUR MEMORIES TO SOME OF MY AMERICAN AND TURKISH FRIENDS FROM TRABZON.  I WISH YOU A LOT OF LUCK WITH YOUR THREE BOOKS AND WITH YOUR MOTOR HOME TRIP AROUND OUR GREAT COUNTRY.

GENE WOLTER,

DAVIE, FLORIDA

P.S.  REMEMBER THE GIRL BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR.  SHE WOULD SIT AT HER WINDOW ALL DAY AND WATCH THE GI'S COME TO TOWN ON THE BUS OR IN THE TRUCKS.  YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW SHE MARRIED ONE OF THE GERMAN COOKS AND NOW LIVES IN GERMANY - OCCASIONALLY VISITING NEW YORK.

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December 6, 2005:

For Publication:

Message from Jeff Duvall:

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