Memorial Services
By mid-September “fall is in the air” and the annual National Fire Prevention Week occurs in early October. For the men and women at Kamiseya “fire” is a word taken extremely seriously.
The first memorial service was held on Monday, 27 September 1965 – 3 days after the fire. The small base chapel was too small to hold everyone, so the service was held in the station theater.
The first anniversary of the fire was commemorated on 22 September 1966. By then a memorial plaque had been cast and was on display. The service was held near the main gate at the flagpole.
In 1970 the command moved north to Misawa, Japan and many of the historical records moved with the command. What remained became the Naval Security Group Detachment, Kamiseya.
Documentary and photographic evidence culled from existing records indicate that a 10th anniversary memorial service was held on 1975 with additional services held in 1977, 1981, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 and a final service (at Kamiseya) held in 1994.
The memorial service in 2005 marks the 40th anniversary and is thought to be the first service not held at Kamiseya. Regardless of the location we do not forget – and will not forget – those who have given their lives in the service of their country.
Memorial Service 1981
Memorial Service 1981
Memorial Service 1981
Memorial Service 1989 presided over by
Captain Glenn S. Bartholomew,
commanding officer.
Memorial Service 1989 presided over by
Captain Glenn S. Bartholomew,
commanding officer.
Memorial Service 1989 presided over by
Captain Glenn S. Bartholomew,
commanding officer.
Cover story of the “Skywriter” – NAS Atsugi base Newspaper 28 September 1990
DiMuzio, commanding officer. To the right are LCDR
Terry W. Haggard, executive officer and Chaplain
Douglas M. Withington (with Bible).
The last Memorial Service at Kamiseya, 23 September 1994. This was one of the very few services to be held indoors, at the newly constituted base chapel.
Captain Robert G. DiMuzio delivers remarks.
The last Memorial Service at Kamiseya, 23 September 1994. This was one of the very few services to be held indoors, at the newly constituted base chapel.
Command Master Chief Jay R. Browne delivers remarks.
Station HYPO 
23 September 2025 at 13:14
Our family lived in Yokohama from early 1963 through 1966. I attended Nile C. Kinnick High School (YO-HI). My Dad, CTRC Richard “Dick” Sansom, was stationed at Kami. Not once while living in Japan or for the next 23 years when his “key went silent” (KH6BRZ, KA2LD, KR6LD, W3MTU) in 1989 did he ever mention the Kami fire. Of course, he didn’t mention any of the specifics during his WWII service while a Radioman and member of the Armed Guard serving on merchant ships crossing the Atlantic or being in the 2nd wave going ashore on Okinawa. I’ve experience a lot of that “silence” from other members of America’s “Greatest Generation.”
Mario, thank you sir for posting this recap of NACSECGRU history that we all wish had never happened.
CDR Richard “Sam” Sansom, USN (Ret) (65-95 CTRC/CDR)
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23 September 2025 at 23:38
I got to Kamiseya for my first SECGRU tour in may of 1967. Prior to being cleared for ops work, I was assigned as the Industrial Relations officer. My collateral duty was as CAPT Pearson’s Fire Prevention Officcer. That was one of the most intense collateral duties I was ever assigned. The impact of the fire on the station’s personnel was very obvious. The civilian fire chief (cleared) was a great help to me. I have been vigilant in fire protection on every station and living situation ever since then.
Dave Mail
CDR USN Ret.
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