Pup Tent History

Honey Bucket Special - Pup Tent 1
Camp Zama, Japan

Honey Bucket Special – Pup Tent 1 was instituted in 1954 at the Yates-Gonzales VFW Post 9612 at Atsugi, Japan. Original members of Post 9612 were Navy Sea Bees constructing the  Kamiseya Communications Station, but the area was generally referred to as Atsugi. Shavetails on the original Charter included: 1. Charles E. Mollett, 2. Henry M. Knowles, 3. Richard H. Cormier, 4. Richard E. Liston, 5. Clyde R. Hall, 6. Luther R. Payne, 7. Gilbert D. Thomason, 8. Raymond L. Kemp, 9. James T. Walters, 10. Ray C. Mix, 11. Clarence L. Manuel, 12. William L. Sachs, 13. Sidney G. Harris, 14. Walter F. Sigler, 15. Tracy M. Simmons, 16. Charles E. Sprayberry, 17. John H. Ecklund, 18. Manson Cowe, 19. Ray S. Miller, 20. Claude E. Greenshaw, 21. Louis S. Brune, 22. Guy Russell, 23. Walter P. Lermen, 24. William A. Sequira, 25. Floyd H. Swiney, 26. Harry M. Leong, 27. Norman W. Vaughan, 28.  John H. Armstead, 29. Aldean Gutherie, 30. Gerold E. Strong, 31. Hubert E Trotter, 32. Amos Laredo, 33. Paul L. Logan, 34. Douglas D. Palmer, 35. Jack F. Handrix, 36. Felix A. Von Magnuss, 37. Adrian W. Hinely, 38. Albert A. Spille, 39. James L. McDonald, 40. James W. Cothran, 41. Millard F. Nixon, 42. Worth H. Norton, 43. Wilber A. Witte,  44. Robert J. Simpson, 45. Gerold C. Gay, 46. John Hammons, 47. Vernon G. Lynch, 48. Henry D. Silka, 49. Joseph J Lugo, 50. Francis R. Calnan, 51. Willie E. Musa, 52. Paul Newman,   53. Donald E. Hamilton, 54. John H Case, 55. Purvis J. Kelly, 56. Orvel N. Weyant, 57. George F. Richer, 58. Frank H. Scolinos, 59. Dale Y. Park, 60. Kenneth Bombard Jr., 61. Walter T. Nagle, 62. Lawrence E. Shoenrock, 63. John William Harvey, 64. James William Morley, 65. Wayne Edward Burris, 66. Edward F. Riley, 67. Joseph A. Mora, 68. Francis W. Potter. The Charter was signed by Raymond Burke – Supreme Commander and James K. Cole – Supreme Adjutant.

- Future Grand of Japan Commander Paul E. Newman was initiated into PT1 on 7 November 1954 as Cootie #52 while the Pup Tent Charter was still open. A Military Order of the Cootie provisional Grand of Japan was established in April 1963. The first Scratch of the provisional Pup Tent was held in conjunction with the Far East VFW Department Convention at Yokohama, Japan, 24-27 April 1964. The Grand consisted of four Pup Tents in mainland Japan: 
-          Honey Bucket Special – Pup Tent 1, located with Yates-Gonzales Post 9612 at Camp Zama, Japan.
-          Seam Squirrel: Howard Dupont
-          Torri Geisha – Pup Tent 2, located with Post 9450, Tokyo, Japan..
-          Seam Squirrel: William Jones
-          Butterfliers – Pup Tent 3, originally located with Post 3861 at Hakata on Itazuke Air Base, Japan. It then moved to Johnson Housing Annex, Johnson Air Base, and located with Post 9555.
-          Seam Squirrel: Nick Theodopoulos
-          Benjio Honchos – Pup Tent 4, located with Post 9794 on Tachikawa Air Base, near Tokyo
-          Seam Squirrel: Alex Radgosky 
The following slate of officers was elected:
Commander: Paul Schumann, PT1
Blanket Bum: Howard Dupont
Hide Gimlet:  Leon Caslin
Grand CCDB:  Wood Bousman
Grand Shyster:  Franklin Warren
Pill Pusher:  Maurice Creegan
Sky Pilot:  Leonard Hipple
KCR:  Lee Kavetski
Scratch Site:  Yokohama, Japan
 
-          A five member Grand Council of Administration was elected.  This CofA was comprised of James Macke, Wayne Lewis, Howard Davis, James McCarthy and Arthur McMasters.   Commander Schuman was Past Seam Squirrel of PT1 and a Supreme Deputy Inspector. Prior to the 2nd Grand Scratch in May of 1965 two more Pup Tents were established. Effective 27 December 1964, “Kojiki Shiramis” Pup Tent 5, Yokohama, Japan was instituted.  Cootie Paul Schumann assumed duties as Seam Squirrel. On 16 January 1965, “Survivals” Pup Tent 6 was instituted at Itazuke Air Base, Japan by Grand Commander Elmer L. Matheke.  Cootie Charles D. Black was installed as Seam Squirrel. In 1966 the Military Order of the Cootie formerly came to the Pacific with the institution of the Grand of Japan and was comprised of Pup Tents chartered on Mainland Japan. Pup Tent 1 was located at Yates-Gonzales Post 9612, Camp Zama, Japan, having moved there from Naval Air Station, Atsugi in March 1962.

1964 –1965

1965 – 1966

1966 – 1967

1967 – 1968

1968 – 1969

1969 – 1970

1970 – 1971

1971 – 1972

1972 – 1973

1973 – 1974

1974 – 1975

1975 – 1976

1976 – 1977

1977 – 1978

Seam Squirrel – Louis E. Herrin
Blanket Bum – Marvin Schaus
Hide Gimlet – Robert A. Moeller
CCDB – William G. Alterfer
Hospital Chairman – Roy C. Kinney
VFW Booster Chairman – Dale T. Montieth
** In September 1977 Louis E. Herrin resigned his position as Seam
Squirrel and Blanket Bum Marvin W. Schaus assumed the office of
Seam Squirrel. Hide Gimlet Robert A. Moeller assumed the office of
Blanket Bum. In November 1977 Steven T. Oshiro was elected to the
vacant position of Hide Gimlet. Francisco Torres was elected to CCDB
to fill the vacancy that had occurred in that position.

1978 – 1979

1979 – 1980

1980 – 1981

1981 – 1982

1982 – 1983

1983 – 1984

1984 – 1985

1985 – 1986

1986 – 1987

1987 – 1988

1988 – 1989

1989 – 1990

1990 – 1991

1991 – 1992

Seam Squirrel – Donald F. Newton
Blanket Bum – Joe Rynne
Hide Gimlet –
CCDB – Edward Jablonski
Hospital Chairman – Edward Jablonski
VFW Booster Chairman –
Installation conducted by Past Seam Squirrel Howard S. Redding

1992 – 1993

1993 – 1994

1994 – 1995

1995 – 1996

1996 – 1997

1997 – 1998

1998 – 1999

1999 – 2000

2000 – 2001

Seam Squirrel – Edward Jablonski
Blanket Bum – Donald Carnahan
Hide Gimlet – Sidney Malone
CCDB – Linney J. O’Malley
Hospital Chairman –
VFW Booster Chairman –
Installation conducted by Past Seam Squirrel Richard Keeley

2001 – 2002

2002 – 2003

2003 – 2004

2004 – 2005

2005 – 2006

2006 – 2007

Various Photos from 1954 to Present

Updates provided by PT-1 Cootie JJ Johnson on 30 April 2007.

Webmaster Bernie Kenna