This is all about the Doe Family - Brian, Danora, Christopher,
and Michael - living and working in Misawa, Japan. Misawa is a small farming community located on the Pacific coast
on the northern part of the main island of Honshu. It is located
within the Aomori Prefecture. The City of Aomori, located at the
northernmost tip of Honshu - about 140km NNW of Misawa, is the
prefectural capitol; and Hachinohe - about 20km SE of Misawa, is
the regional center. Misawa's climate is moderately warm and
humid with occasional rain during the summer, and cold with
frequent snow - occasionally heavy - during the winter. Misawa's
prime economy is centered around agriculture, as well as support
of the United States military and the Japanese Air Self-Defense
Force (JASDF) located at Misawa Air Base.
Brian is a 32 year old avionics technician in the United States
Navy. He first enlisted in July 1987, first being stationed with
Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 based at NAS Lemoore,
California. While there, he completed two 6-month deployments -
one aboard USS Constellation (CV-64), the other aboard USS
Independence (CV-62), where he participated in Operation Desert
Shield, when Iraq invaded Kuwait. He also did a short stint on
the USS Midway (CV-41). Following his tour with VFA-25, he took
orders to the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD)
at NAS Fallon, Nevada, working in more intimate detail with the
defective "black boxes" that the aircraft squadrons remove from
their aircraft. While there, he married his wife, Danora, whom
he met while in Lemoore. Following his three-year tour in
Fallon, he took orders to AIMD NAS Lemoore, where he did two more
deployments, one on USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), the other on USS Carl
Vinson (CVN-70). He participated in Operation Southern Watch in
the Arabian Gulf during both deployments, and in Operation
Desert Fox while on the Vinson. He also did a couple of work-ups
onboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). On August 16th, 1999,
prior to transferring out of Lemoore, Christopher was born.
After Lemoore, Brian transferred to AIMD NAF Misawa, Japan, where
he worked as the department's Automated Test Equipment Branch
Leading Petty Officer (LPO). In March 2001, Brian took on much
larger responsibilities as he was re-assigned to the department
Quality Assurance division as the Avionics QA Representative,
where he works today. Danora is a 25 year old devoted mother and housewife. A Hanford,
California native, she married Brian just after graduating from
high school. She very quickly learned the peculiarities and
quirks of a military lifestyle. While in high school, she was an
active participant in her school's Future Farmers of America
(FFA) chapter, raising and showing dairy cows and rabbits at
various state and county fairs. Her talent in this area netted
her several high-ranking awards for Best in Show, among others.
Her agricultural talents currently on hiatus, she plans to return
to her agricultural roots after Brian retires from the military,
passing the art down to her next generation. In the meantime,
she plans on attending college and working on her degree. Christopher , age 2, was born at Naval Hospital, Lemoore,
California, on August 16th, 1999. Weighing in at six pounds nine
ounces, and measuring 19 inches at birth, he has grown like a
weed, and developed nicely. His current occupation is to keep
his parents on their toes, as he has learned how to walk, run,
and climb (usually onto our dining room table), and make his
displeasure very well known! It will be just a matter of time
before he tries to play a peanut butter sandwich in the VCR. Update: This has been done. Thankfully, Brian is quite good
with electronic repair! Michael Anthony, the newest member of the Doe Family, was born at
Misawa Air Base Hospital, Japan, on Tuesday, November 7th, 2000.
He weighed in at seven pounds one ounce, and measured 19 inches.
At less than a day old, he was already more vocal than his older
brother! Michael has learned how to walk, and has wasted no time
at all in mastering the skill! He also has an intense obsession
with electrical cords, and will usually have one unplugged within
seconds of being set down on the floor -- Christopher walks
behind him plugging back in whatever Michael unplugs. Needless
to say, their parents are always highly wired and on their toes!