KANU-TV, Channel 8

It appears that the mission of Kagnew Station was so important, and the location so remote, that the powers that be were generally supportive in providing for the troops. All are likely familiar with the remarks of General William Westmoreland upon his visit in 1971, "I do not believe we have a more remote station of our Armed Forces than Kagnew Station".

Rev. Curtis writes, "I heard that the Army's first recreational TV station was to be sent to the Pacific and was about to be shipped when one of our officers heard about it and got the orders changed to Asmara." Ty designed the first station IDs and hung around the crew setting up the TV station at the "new post".

The origin of Kagnew Station, replacing Radio Marina, came with the Base Rights Agreement May 22, 1953. However, the initial construction phase of Tract E was not completed until the late 1955-to-1957 period when the formal dedication occurred. Documents provided by 1956-1958 Radio-TV OIC Frank Griffiths confirm that the first television station operated by the U. S. Army, KANU-TV, went on the air *December 1, 1955 from the newly constructed studios at Tract E. This was one of the first facilities opened on the new post. KANU radio moved to the same building on May 11, 1956.

*The September 1973 edition of "The Hallmark" that you can find on the Kagnew web site incorrectly states, "KANU, installed in 1958".