LONG TIME COMING

[Johnnie M. Purvis]

HEY WHAT UP EVERYONE THAT MIGHT COME ACROSS THIS COMMENT. I HOPE ALL YOU ALL ARE DOING ALL RIGHT OUT THERE IN THIS WORLD. IT'S BEEN OVER TWENTY YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK IN OKINAWA BUT I HAVE FONDEST CHILDHOOD/TEENAGE MEMORIES OF THE PLACE. I'M SURE ALL OF OUR LIVES HAVE CHANGED A LOT SEEING THAT WE'RE LIVING IN THIS BIG ASS RAT RACE OF LIFE. OKINAWA SURE WAS SOME FUN ASS TIMES. I'M GLAD I SURVIVED ALL THE CRAZY STUFF WE DID THERE. I STILL REMEMBER MANY OF YOU GUYS AND NOW THAT I'M MUCH OLDER, I THINK OF YOU MORE AND WONDER HOW YOU ARE. SEEMS WE ALL CAN USE MORE OF A SOCIAL NETWORK SINCE WE ARE CONNECTED SO EASILY NOWADAYS THOUGH THE COMPUTER, AND YOU NEVER KNOW HOW ONE OF US COULD BE CONNECTED TO HELP OUT A FRIEND FROM THE PAST. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER FRANK ALLEN...HE USED TO COME TO THE DANCES AND USE TO BE ONE OF THE BOYS EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T GO TO KADENA. FRANK GOT BLOWN UP BY "FRIENDLY FIRE" WHILE HE WAS ON TOUR WITH THE MARINES IN IRAQ BACK IN 1991. HE WAS AND STILL IS MY BEST FRIEND I'LL EVER HAVE. I MISS THE GUY TO THE MAX. LOSING FRANK MADE ME REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT FRIENDSHIP IS, AND HOW FRAGILE LIFE IS...EVEN THOUGH MY LIFE NOW IS FILLED WITH MANY NEW FRIENDS AND A WONDERFUL FAMILY, I CHERISH THE AWESOME MEMORIES FROM OKINAWA AND MY MEMORIES OF THE FRIENDS I HAD THERE. I WOULD NEVER FORGET THAT ISLAND. WE PARTIED LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING TO LOSE. I HOPE THIS FINDS EVERYONE IN GOOD SPIRITS AND I HOPE ALL YOU GUYS ARE WELL. PLEASE TAKE CARE AND STAY IN TOUCH IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO. ALOHA, JOHNNIE

[Miki Plowman Cox]

Johnnie, that was especially touching. I have many memories of you two guys...I remember I had the biggest crush on Frank, and I remember the day that he died. I called my sister in Hawaii to check on Gina. She and Cindy are still very close. It has been a very long time for myself before reconnecting to my past and I miss everyone so dearly. You look great Johnnie...Take Care and look Cindy up.

[Beth Hohenthal (Thigith)]

Johnny that was very well said and I to have very fond memories of Okinawa. I left Okinawa in 1993 and I haven't been back since. My husband is actually going there for a year and I wish all of us could go with him. I truly miss is there and I hope that I will be able to go back. When you talk about Frank it all came back to me about his death. I was actually in Okinawa when it happened and it was a truly sad time. Do you still talk to his sister? I know you dated her for quite a while. If so what has she been up to?

It is great getting back in touch with you and you don't look like you have aged at all. I guess it is all the fresh air you are getting in Hawaii!! Take care Johnnie!!!

[Erron Redoble]

Johnnie,
What you doing up @ 6:30am!!! What up?! This is your old buddy Erron. Frank is all in our hearts bro. I know you mentioned it to me, but let's go see him soon huh? BTW, for all...Frank & his dad are both up @ Punchbowl Memorial...the National Cemetery of the Pacific. A fitting place for our hero.

It is great to find this website & catch up w/ol' pals. I miss the old days as well, & hope to catch up w/some of you. ALOHA!

[Evette Flesher-Uribe]

What a wonderful tribute to Frank and to all of us who lived in Okinawa! Every old friend I find is a blessing and the friendship picks up as if we were still is school! Okinawa was truly a special place to be for us 80's people!