Brad was one busy young man in Japan during 1950-52, single-handedly trying to increase the resources for the underfunded Marine Corps, improve the working conditions of his Japanese staff, and raise the standard of living of many young ladies in the village outside the base. However, he did find time to pursue his long-time love, gambling.
There were one-coin slot machines in the Airmen’s Club and occasional poker games but blackjack was king on the base. This was very fortuitous for Brad since he had long ago learned that the key to profitable gambling was having a big bankroll. This was especially important in the kind of blackjack played at that time, even more than during his Tonk experiences.
Whoever got a blackjack became the dealer until the next blackjack came up. The dealer had to have enough money to pay off all the bets – and many players did not have enough to do this. So they could choose the option of turning down being the dealer and taking a “free ride,” meaning they could play the next hand for free. Therefore, in most games Brad was the only one with an adequate bankroll so he would be the only dealer.
Why was this such a lucrative situation for Brad? Although there were some favorable rules for the players – double on blackjacks and 5-cards-or-less – the killer was that the dealer took all pushes! Brad probably never had seen such a big edge in his gambling life before – or since. But he never lacked for players. On paydays, the games went on non-stop. After lights had to be out in the barracks at 10 p.m., they spread out blankets in the latrine and played until morning light. Even during working hours, the higher-ranking sergeants, who might still have some money left in-between paydays, would call up Brad and ask him to set up a game in the backroom behind the supply office.
Twice during Brad’s stay in Japan, he had to leave his base for a month to be checked into the United Nations Hospital in nearby Osaka, once for treatment of pink eye and another time for hepatitis. Fortunately this gave him another gambling opportunity, playing poker with patients in the psych ward. These poker games were encouraged by the hospital staff as a form of therapy for the men who were suffering from battle fatigue and other mental conditions as a result of their service in the war zone. The men were still drawing their pay and had no place to spend it. So the players were well financed – but not always particularly skilled. However, Brad treated the men with his usual kindness so they looked forward to his arrival at their ward each day and didn’t seem to mind losing to their new friend.
A little BJ before reveille. That’s Brad in back, partially hidden.