I have many memories (nightmares?) of my military service, 1959-1961. A most pleasant memory is my R&R from Korea, a week spent in Japan among some of the most courteous and pleasant people I have ever encountered. During that time, I made a winter ascent of Fuji-San in company with two Japanese lads I encountered on the slopes. We had no common vocabulary, but we were all climbers and all went wonderfully. Even in the winter, Fuji is non-technical, just a great hike in the snow....

I have often regretted not giving them my contact info, since I soon returned to civilian life and a relatively normal existence.