New Years Day, Japan

January 1, 1956It was the custom in the Air Force in those days, to call on your commanding officer on the first day of the year. The commander basically held an open house and you would make your call any time during the prescribed hours. There was always a silver tray by door for calling cards. Sometimes people had the trays made from the engraving plates from their wedding invitations.
This picture is taken in front of our quarters in Castle Heights. You can see the number and "Lt Col R. G. Davitt" on the sign to the left of the door. I think I took the picture with my Box Brownie. Mom was wearing a green knit suit. Check out her handbag--the top trim is made from real tortoise shell.

Nagoya, Japan 55 - 57

Quarters 406-B, Castle Heights, Nagoya, Japan
Jan 1954 - Apr 1957

We lived in a U.S. Air Force housing area called Castle Heights in Nagoya, Japan. Our building was very long--4 families lived there--and the neighbors would all get together in the back in the evenings. They would cook steak and burgers on the Japanese hibachi and roast marshmallows. In this picture, Digger is dispensing a treat to a neighbor. I don't know her name. You can see the hibachi of the late 50s look nothing like those of today. The posts are the clotheslines. Check out the swanky lawn lounger.

Digger led the neighborhood kids in games several times a week. Kick the Can, Hide and Go Seek, Mother May I, Red Light-Green Light, Dodge Ball, Red Rover and Slow Bike Races are some that I remember.

Before housing was available, Mom, Dad, Greg, Patty and I lived in "Private Rental"--a Japanese couple rented out half of their home to us. 60 1-Chome, Yamanaka-Cho, Showa-Ku, Nagoya-Ken, Japan, was our address from Jan 54 - Jan 55. Digger made Greg and me memorize it so we could recite it to taxi drivers.

This Is Me, Terry Davitt

I was looking for something in the closet today and found all the Davitt albums...and a ton of loose photos. My sister, Pat, and I have discussed labeling them--someday.

My nephew, Max, has been recently asking about my dad. It made me realize that no one has the sense of Digger that his own kids do. So I thought I'd jot some stuff down.

Ralph G. Davitt
Born in 1916
Grew up in the Bronx
Attended Regis High School
Joined the Army Air Corps
Earned the nickname "Digger" on the golf course. (Double Divot Diggin' Digger Davitt)
He loved the nickname and all of his friends and grandchildren knew him as Digger.
I loved my dad.