By Jeff Mazziotta.
On Saturday, August 3rd, 2024, YCAPS was pleased to host a walking tour of Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), followed by lunch at the Harbor View Club. The event was attended by 12 local YCAPS members and led by local expert Phil Eakins. Mr. Eakins, who has lived in Sasebo since the 1980’s, first as an enlisted Journalist (a predecessor to the modern Mass Communication Specialist rate), and now as a Navy civilian, has conducted extensive research into the history of Sasebo, first as an Imperial Japanese Navy and now a U.S. Navy base. His research has led him to amass a substantial collection of artifacts related to Sasebo and even to write a book about the subject, “Serving The Fleet: A Brief History of The Sasebo Naval Station From The Rising Sun To The Stars & Stripes” (published in 2009).
The tour organized by YCAPS was in fact a retread of dozens of similar tours sponsored by CFAS that Mr. Eakins has led in the past. YCAPS thanks Mr. Eakins for leading such an informative and entertaining tour!