Tokyo, Japan, October 1959: Like many young American boys, Bill Wheeler has a part-time job after school. What is unusual is the job. Bill is a soba boy. The 11-year-old youngster is learning the intricate recipes and cooking methods of making the 40-odd varieties of Soba. “I’m not the greatest cook in the world yet, but it’s fun to try.”

During Pacific Stars and Stripes’ 80-year run, our staff has written about all the different aspects of military life and the experiences military families have when living abroad.

Read young Bill Wheeler’s full story and see additional photographs here.

Be sure to check out Pacific Stars and Stripes’ 80th anniversary special here.