6 More Ghost Stories from the Most Haunted Place in the US Military

The island of Okinawa, Japan, is arguably the most haunted duty station U.S. military members can be sent to. The stories of spectral samurai, elderly harbingers of doom and dead soldiers asking the living to light their cigarettes are well-documented -- but previous lists are far from exhaustive.

READ: Why Okinawa Is the Most Haunted Place in the Military

Author Jayne A. Hitchcock lived on Okinawa between 1992 and 1995, where she wrote five books about her time on the island. She documented the history, folklore and, of course, ghost stories that seem to permeate the entire countryside. In 2018, she published the fifth edition of her book, "The Ghosts of Okinawa," an updated edition with even more stories, instructions on how to use a Ouija board and etiquette on entering haunted places.

Just in time for Halloween, here are a few of the newest old military ghost stories floating around the island.

1. The Author's Own Haunted House

Hitchcock is not only an expert on Okinawan hauntings because of her research, she actually lived it as a military spouse. After a mysterious puddle began appearing in her kitchen with no clear cause, she invited local psychics to see whether there was an otherworldly source. They said the spirit of a World War II-era Marine or sailor inhabited the house. Since he was friendly, the Hitchcocks nicknamed him "Mike" and went on with their lives.

Mike, it turned out, had a sense of humor and loved to throw things at the author's husband. Jayne and some friends decided to conduct a seance to talk to Mike. During the interaction, Mike apparently leaned into the ear of one of the guests to whisper the word, "Boo."

2. Security Forces vs. a Japanese Regiment

Kadena Air Base contains a very haunted grassy clearing, located in a secure area. One night, an Air Force security policeman (today known as "Security Forces," for you younger types), decided to stake out the grounds to see whether they were really that haunted. That's when an entire regiment of Japanese ghost troops began marching toward his police car.

Naturally, the sight of a ghostly World War II-era enemy formation marching toward you would be unnerving (to say the least). Legend has it the officer struggled to get his car rolling and accidentally drove through the entire formation of hundreds of ghosts. He refused to patrol the area ever again.

3. Camp Foster's Haunted Barracks

Dorm life for troops can already be pretty stressful. Surprise inspections, lack of privacy and the general unease of living in and around hundreds of other troops in various stages of personal hygiene can make life in the barracks tough.

Imagine nights filled with slamming doors, ghostly laughter and loud footsteps in a room in which you thought you were alone. The barracks on Camp Foster was replete with stories of unseen visitors in the darkness, enough to make anyone consider an arranged marriage just to get better housing.

4. The Angry Okinawan Women of Maeda Point

Okinawa's Maeda Point may have some of the world's best snorkeling sites, but American males are warned to avoid walking around alone during the night. Even walking with another male can be problematic. Hitchcock cites numerous reports of U.S. men being harassed in the night by spectral women.

The women are dressed in World War II-era Okinawan garb and are so consumed with anger and hatred of "evil" American troops that the ghosts will attack them and try to throw men off the cliffs.

5. Revisiting Building 2283

The story of Building 2283, a house on Kadena Air Base, is nothing new. A ghostly woman who washes her hair in the middle of the night, the ghost of a samurai warrior riding through the living room, and untold stories of the spirits of small children are just a few of the experiences from those who have lived there. What is new is that Hitchcock visited the house at night with a few of her psychically sensitive friends.

When they tried to take a photo of the house, the camera refused. It would work perfectly when taking photos of anything else -- just not the house. Then, one of her friends heard the voice of a man who demanded to know why they were there. After that night, they got permission to conduct a seance inside the house. At night.

During the seance, the author says they made contact with the ghosts in the house at midnight. Two of them, a little girl and boy, loved playing together, but didn't know they were dead. What they knew is that they were afraid of the man on the horse. The seance also revealed that "Mike," the friendly ghost from Hitchcock's house, had traveled to the famously haunted house to protect the living. The experience shook the (living) visitors so much they never returned.

6. The Haunted Kadena Towers Apartment

During Hitchcock's time hunting ghosts on Okinawa, she was asked by a family living in a third-floor apartment in Kadena Towers to investigate their home. They reported cold spots, strange movements and even things being thrown at their children during prayers. The last straw came when one of the parents found their daughter having a conversation with an invisible child who had "walked through the wall."

It turns out the towers were built on the tombs of the Kamisei-Shimosei clan, a family who lived on the island some 250 years prior. Before the building was constructed, the remains were excavated and the ground blessed by Shinto priests, but that apparently didn't stop a military family version of "Poltergeist" from playing out in the apartments. The Kadena Towers have not (yet) imploded on themselves, however.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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