[T43NR2W]

In late 1964 or the first half of 1965 there was an incident involving the transfer of several hundred thousand US Dollars in cash between 2 banks on the island of Okinawa. The money was being transported by truck in I believe a canvas bag accompanied by bank employees. Upon arrival at the Bank of the Ryukyus in Naha the bag was missing. I do not think the loss was ever solved. I cannot find any web site or newspaper article on this incident. Can you point me to a web site or newspaper article?

Thank you.

[frangipanis]

In late 1964 or the first half of 1965 there was an incident involving the transfer of several hundred thousand US Dollars in cash between 2 banks on the island of Okinawa. The money was being transported by truck in I believe a canvas bag accompanied by bank employees. Upon arrival at the Bank of the Ryukyus in Naha the bag was missing. I do not think the loss was ever solved. I cannot find any web site or newspaper article on this incident. Can you point me to a web site or newspaper article?

Thank you.

Sounds fascinating. I have no idea, but would be fascinated to know how you came across this piece of information?

[Fr_Chuck]

I pride myself at being good at finding info on the web, but sorry I could not find anything about it. Where did you hear about the story ?

[T43NR2W]

Thank you Frangipanis & Fr_Chuck for your interest in my Okinawa Bank "heist" query. I was stationed on Okinawa from June 1964 - October 1972 as a civilian working for the Department of the Army. I remember the incident clearly as it was covered in all the local media. The reason I bring the subject up at this time is that during a recent sorting out of old Japan/Okinawa newspaper clippings I came across this poem that was published in The Morning Star newspaper (an English-language paper that folded after the Okinawa reversion to Japan). It was published in the 10 July 1965 edition in Letters to the Editor, Voice of the People. Following is the poem:

THE VAGABOND

While driving north on Highway One
One bright and sunny day
I chanced to hit a piece of glass
A-lying in the way

A tire went flat, I stopped the car
Off from the traffic's tide
And lo--I saw a vagabond
There standing by my side

This vagabond was dressed in rags
His hair in disarray
His bearded face just like a wraith
You'd meet on judgement day

He stood and watched me change my tire
His manner calm and still
When from his rags there chanced to drop
A twenty dollar bill

I was so flabbergasted at
This happening so weird
I just stared at this vagabond
Behind his grimy beard

At last my senses did return
I asked him whence it came
He answered in a voice quite clear
"I've hundreds of the same"

"They were lying by the roadside
In a canvas bag, one day
They dropped out from a passing truck
As I strolled along the way"

"I took the bag up to my home
A cave in "Hacksaw Ridge"
About a thousand meters south of Machinato Bridge"

"I papered all my walls with cash
Two hundred twenty grand
You'll find no finer cave my friend
In this or any land"

"But don't try to discover it
I've covered up the place
And twenty sticks of dynamite
Removed the faintest trace"

So if you want the treasure friends
Please follow my advice
When'er you meet a vagabond
Be sure to treat him nice.

When this was published it was obvious to all that this poem referred to the unsolved incident of the bank transfer loss of several hundred thousand US Dollars. In the 1960s that was a considerable amount of money. It should also be noted that US Dollars were used by both US Forces and the Okinawans at this time.

One other thing, there actually was an Okinawan man as described in the poem. You would see him frequently walking up and down Highway One, the main north-south highway on the island. He would be wearing nothing but a tattered raincoat (nothing underneath) and it usually flapped in the breeze so it was apparent that was all he was wearing. I don't recall but he also probably had on rubber zori (flip-flops) as coral could be rather brutal on bare feet.

I know that this incident would have been covered in the following newspapers:

The Morning Star
The Ryukyu Times
The Ryukyu Shimpo
The Japan Times
The Asahi Evening News
The Mainichi
The Yomiuri
The Pacific Stars & Stripes

[okinawa]

Where did you stumble upon this information?

[nealcoffin]

I lived on Okinawa from 1957 to 1972 and recall the bank robbery. I also recall the robber was enticed back to Okinawa by his girlfriend, several years later. He was arrested upon arrival.