MONTHLY REPORT - OKINAWA BUREAU - OCTOBER 1988

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 8, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 2, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
ROUTiNG AND RECORD SHEET tO
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SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report Report -- Okinawa Bureau
FROM: I EXTENSION
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NO.
Chief, Operations Group
DATE
October 1988
TO. (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
1 OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
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C/DRD
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Managing Editor
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ME/AF Branch
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USSR/EE Branch
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12.
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Retain/Destroy
FORM 610 USE PREVIOUS
EDITIONS
1-79
GPO : 1983 0 - 411-632
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
? Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THROUGH:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
I. GENERAL
UNITED STATES FORCES, JAPAN
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
OKINAWA BUREAU
APO SAN FRANCISCO 96239
FBIS 5027-88
2 November 1988
Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
Chief, Operations Group
Chief, Okinawa Bureau
Monthly Report - Okinawa Bureau - October 1988
A. It is quickly becoming the custom at Okinawa Bureau that
each new bureau chief is greeted by a typhoon not long after
arrival. Super Typhoon Nelson packing sustained winds of 161 mph
caught everyones'attention as it headed for Okinawa in early
October. The Bureau transferred Beijing TV coverage for 5 and 6
October to Hong Kong and Moscow TV for 6 October to London as it
made preparations to stow the antennas. On 6 October the Bureau
changed shifts early and went to minimum staffing for the
evening. The evening shift stayed through the night and was
relieved some 17 hours later. Fortunately Super Typhoon Nelson
lost most of its strength as its center passed within 100 miles
of Okinawa. Maximum sustained winds at Kadena were 68 mph and
total rainfall was 7.5 inches. The bureau and housing area
sustained little damage other than broken tree limbs and some
water seepage in a few of the housing units.
B. The yen rate dropped to a low of 124 yen per U.S. $1 this
month following the release of U.S. trade figures for August.
The rate had reached a high of 137 yen per U.S.$1.
C. DDS&T Evan lineman visited the Bureau 12-14 October. The
Bureau marked the occasion with a barbecue lunch at the office
and a Bureau party at the Bureau Chief's home. Mr. Hineman also
paid a courtesy call on General Ralph T. Browning, C/O 313th Air
Division, toured Bureau housing, and met with Bureau staff.
II. OPERATIONS
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. The new computer "clipboard" program for news
agencies became operational mid-month after the LEC contractors
finished training the editors and several of the commo operators
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
? Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
on its use. The new program saves considerable time and effort
in editing English-language press agency items and has been well
received by users. With the installation of the new press agency
computers, the two original press agency computers were moved to
slots 1 and 2 giving the slot editors a separate computer to use
for press agencies.
2. The Japanese Unit was busy this month with the visit
to Tokyo of Yevgeniy Primakov, director of the USSR Institute of
World Economy and International Relations, and the stray bullet
issue at Camp Hansen. Primakov was interviewed by several Tokyo
newspapers, as well as NHK Television and his remarks on the
northern territories, in particular, received extensive coverage.
In the Camp Hansen issue, several stray bullets believed to have
come from some of the firing ranges were found in a small town
near the camp. This caused a great deal of concern among the
local population and was reported and commented on quite heavily
in the local newspapers. The U.S. Consulate at Naha and the
Embassy in Tokyo expressed their appreciation for the
translations provided by the unit.
3. Beginning with the October issues, the Chinese Unit
assumed coverage of BAN YUE TAN, GUOJI WENTI YANJIU and ZHONGGUO
JIZHE from Hong Kong Bureau.
4. The Bureau's editorial trainees, STAT
have completed the first half of their training STAT
program and are now working independently.
B. Communications
The Bureau experienced some 88 hours of commo outages
during the month. Mode I was out over 43 hours and Mode V for 45
hours. Everyone is looking forward to the installation of the
new commo system and its greater reliability.
C. Cruising
1. On 27 October, Beijing Television announced that
effective 1 November 1988 they will cease using the Intelsat
(66.0E) facilities and advised users to make preparations to
receive their transmissions off the Chinasat at 87.5 degrees
east. The Cruising Unit, however, has noted that Beijing
Central Television still continues to use the 66.0E after 1
November. The new China satellite was first observed on 23 March
1988 and had been carrying Beijing Television's First and Second
programs in parallel with the 66.0E Intelsat.
2. The Cruising Unit reported initial confirmation that
Radio Television Hong Kong had begun its reported twice-daily
shortwave broadcasts in Vietnamese on 1 October. This followed
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
up an earlier request from the BBC asking for cruising support on
these broadcasts.
D. Technical
1. The contract for the steel platform for the Skylink
antenna was signed on 3 October. Final shop drawings were
delivered on 21 October and approved. The platform is being
constructed at the contractor's factory and delivery is planned
for the second week in November. The satellite installation team
arrived 26 October and began work inventorying equipment and
assembling equipment racks. Completion of the project is planned
for late November.
2. The 7.5 meter TVRO antenna arrived from Hong Kong at
the bureau on 18 October. The tower and dish have been assembled
and the dish placed on top of the tower. The Engineering Unit is
installing the feed horn and making final connections. Adding
to the assembly challenge was the lack of any real instructions
for this "Chinese puzzle".
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
1. Senior editor
October.
arrived PCS on 20
2. This was a busy month for the stork as editor
and wife became parents of
on 12 October and earrorT and wife
arrival of on 13 October.
ins
3. LEC TDYer's
departed 15 October upon completion of training and
a ation of the new press agency software and hardware.
LEC, departed 19 October and headquarters engineer
on 14 October.
greeted the
B. Buildings and Grounds
The bureau carpenter completed and installed the
furniture for the new office for the logs officer and the system
administrator.
IV. VISITORS
To The Bureau:
LI---0-t-h71 T Evan Hineman for talks, 12 -14 October; RMO
for consultations, 12-13 October; Col. George Har
ea Support Group, Torii Station on 17 October for
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
61AI
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
ey, CO, STAT
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orientation and tour; , Special Agent-in-charge,
Okinawa Field Office, 5UUtn Mi Brigade on 20 October for a
courtesy call; John Tyler and Joe Romeo, Army Corp of Engineers,
paid a courtesy call on 26 October; satellite installation team
arrived 26 October; Gen. Ralph Browning and Col. Dick Giblin,
CO and Deputy 313th Air Division, and Chuck Gibson, DODSPECREP on
27 October for briefing and tour; Lt. Col. Jerry Berry, Army
Corps of Engineers, paid a courtesy call on 27 October; and
Headquarters contract power specialist, 29 October - 2 November
for consultations.
From The Bureau:
Bureau Chief and Deputy to NSGA Hanza for briefing and tour
on 11 October; Bureau Chief represented FBIS at the annual
Navy Ball 14 October; and Bureau Chief to breakfast meeting
with Col. Worth Sweet and Lt. Col. Richard Curasi, Commander
and Deputy Commander 500th MI Brigade, Camp Zama, on 25 October.
V.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
have joined the Marine Corps
rifle
and
oots for M-16 rifles on the
first
pistol team. montnly s.11
Sunday and for .45 caliber and 9MM pistols on the third
Sunday
take place at the Camp Hansen rifle and pistol ranges.
All
weapons, ammunition and equipment are provided by the Marine
Corps.
Attachment (HQs only):
Equipment Report
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08 : CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1
SUPPLEMENT TO ENGINEERING MONTHLY REPORT
EQUIPMENT RECEIVED
: NEW FBA PRESSFAX COMPUTERS
KEYBOARD AFS 2000, MEG S/N 71301125
KEYBOARD AFS 2003, MFG S/N 71301081
STARGATE AFS 1711, 1709, 1713, 0794
DISPLAY UNIT AFS 2002, MFG S/N 4510238
DISPLAY UNIT AFS 1281, MFG S/N 4506778
VICTOR, CPU MODEL 286, AFS 2001, MFG
612000932
VICTOR, CPU MODEL 286, AFS 0671, MEG S/N
605020101
UPS, EMERSON, MODEL UPS-800, MFG S/N
870901259
ASIA PACIFIC SATELLITE SYSTEMS, 7.5 METER,
TVRO.
EQUIPMENT TRANSFERRED : NONE
EQUIPMENT DISPOSAL
EXTEL, MODEL B-305, S/N 0192912, 0192911,
0192910, 45281, 115916, 142956, 136103,
149509, 115915, 115910, 149508, 115911,
136104.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/07/08: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400110003-1