For those who can’t seem to get “Around To It”.

This is your invitation to attend our reunion held every 2 years since 2002.

Check our website http://www.519transportationassociation.com for details of the next reunion

location and date.

"Tigers of the 519th"

© The 519th Transportation Association, Thailand

1st Printing – 31 August 2001

2nd

Printing – 3 February 2002

3rd

Printing – May 2008

Updated PDF – 15 September 2012

FORWARD

“Tigers of the 519th”

is a look at the 519th

Transportation Battalion (Truck). The mission of

the unit was a difficult one, hauling various classes of cargo over varying highway conditions in

direct support of the war effort ongoing throughout Southeast Asia, especially to the Republic of

Vietnam.

Many of us who served in Thailand have been conditioned to feel (as I did) that our service

(more than 40 years ago) was of little importance and virtually insignificant. Until now many of

us have been silent about our service in Thailand, refusing to talk about it, even to our family and

friends. It was 10 years after retiring from a 22-year career in the US Army that I learned how

wrong that kind of thinking was and I’ve been fighting to change that.

“Tigers of the 519th”

is meant to encourage and educate those served in Thailand, as well as

the general public, the importance of our contribution. It will show that during the Vietnam War

years, we who served under the 9th

Logistical Command, the United States Army Support

Thailand, and other major commands that made up US Forces in Thailand were a vital link in

providing direct support to USAF combat units, as well as supporting all US military units

stationed in Thailand.

As you read “Tigers of the 519th”

you will begin to see the “Big Picture”, the history of the

US Army Transportation Corps, the 519th

Transportation Battalion and it’s subordinate units.

I want to thank everyone who contributed photo’s, stories, emails, and documents that made

“Tigers of the 519th”

possible and most of all you for taking the time to read this ebook, with its

photos and emails provided by members of The 519

th Transportation Association, Thailand.

Table of Contents

The Controversy

Introduction

History of the US Army Transportation Corps

History of the 9th Logistical Command

519th Port Battalion - WWII

Normandy to Thailand

History of the 519th Transportation Battalion

Red Ball Express Revived

Project 972

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Crests and Patches

Photos

Email Stories

Professionals

Biography

THE CONTROVRESY

In Country vs Theatre Veterans

Disclaimer: The following comment was posted to the website of a fellow veteran who served

with the USAF in Thailand during the Vietnam War. It typifies the treatment given by some

veterans who make a distinction between “In Country” Vietnam veterans and everyone else. For

those who didn’t know this view exists you may be shocked. We who’ve been on the receiving

end of this treatment have simply stopped talking about our service to others. This view is NOT

the predominant view held by the majority of Vietnam veterans, in fact many of those who

served in Thailand also served in Vietnam. For more than 40 years we who have had it thrown in

our faces but “Tigers of the 519th

” will show how proud we are today of our service.

"It is truly sad that you want to think of yourself as a Vietnam

Veteran, having been an Intel analyst in Thailand, you don't

qualify as a Vietnam Veteran. You do qualify as an era vet. You

can try to change REMF to anything you wish; you have that right,

however. I feel it is terribly sad that you attach yourself to the

REMF's of Vietnam. I served in Vietnam twice, 1966-67 and

1969-70. Both times I was a combat medic, once with the 199th

Light Infantry Brigade and once with the LRRP/ARPS Platoon of

the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. I have a Combat Medical

Badge, Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars "V" Device, OLC, 3 Purple

Hearts (2 OCL) and a variety of other decorations from that place.

I have no problem with our REMFs. I know and realize without

them, we'd have had no beans and no bullets. When I call a person

a REMF, it is with a certain pride and decorum, not disgust for

without my REMFs (for they are my Rear Echelon Military

Forces), I wouldn't have survived either to! ur. But I find it strange

that you wish to attach yourself as a Vietnam REMF, while having

listened to radio conversations in Thailand or translating things for

the Air Force. One, you are not a Vietnam Veteran (era maybe), 2.

I too qualify as a REMF, for several times I had to go to Saigon for

supplies and treatment. I'll tell you that you can't hold a candle to

real Vietnam REMF's. Although we pick on them, we also love

them and really needed them then. What hole of emptiness are you

trying to fill by claiming to be a Vietnam REMF? Just know that

you aren't and never will be, you simply don't qualify and leave it

at that. The site is pretty good; it is the content that brings it down.

You see, I'd die for any of my REMF's, but wouldn't cross the

street for you. I'm sorry you missed out on what you obviously

wish now you had been a part of, but the fact is you weren't. Let it

go and get on with your life."- John Hamm

This is the response from the wife of veteran Bob Norway:

Boy, you sure stepped into some deep stuff with your post to Wheatley's REMF guest book.

When you called for air strikes to cover your ass in the bush, where do you think many of those

planes were flying from? Thailand!!!! And if our guys hadn't been there to keep those planes

flying, your ass would have been dead....period! And, it was the Air Force tearing apart the Ho

Chi Minh trail and NVA troops in Laos to keep the Commie troops and supplies from getting to

the front lines.

Tell me, what are your definitions of a Viet Nam vet? There was so much going on with the

special ops, CIA, Air America, covert stuff, etc that you will probably never know. But, here,

the asinine "in-country" term overrides everything I guess!?!?!?!!

It is obvious that you really have no understanding of the full scope of the war and that you

think that you had to be up to your ass in a rice paddy before you were really there. Study your

history boy and find out that there was a lot more going on than what YOU saw. You're a truly

selfish son of a bitch if you think that you were the only ones that mattered.

You didn't have to be up to your ass in a rice paddy to be up to your ass in the war. Do some

research and you'll find that most of the POWs and MIAs were Air Force or Navy aviators

stationed outside of Viet Nam.

Grow up!! Your post tells me that you're a very selfish person. I have no pity for you and no

admiration for you. I will say welcome home to you because I truly believe that those words

were not spoken when they should have been. But, I will not accept your premise that my

husband's service in keeping those planes in the air was less important than your service. Do a

little research and you'll find that the guys in the rear faced some risks and danger too. But,

you'll never know if you don't want to know.

Linda Norway

(Joe, If you do include any of my spouse comments on this issue, I'd really appreciate that the

book be sent to Bob. Boy, we wives can be like tigers when our hubbies or kids are threatened.

I guess my language was a bit much for a female though. Oh well, that one got my hackles up. -

Linda)

******

I just wanted to let everyone know that comments like these are out there because people are

too self-centered, narrow minded, and are totally uneducated on the "Big Picture" of the war in

Southeast Asia. I've received over the past 10 years, more positive comments, expressing praise

and thankfulness from guys who were in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. They

outweigh the negative stuff many times over. I want to say Thanks and Welcome Home to each

and everyone for doing your part, as I did mine, the best we could. Many people were simply

unaware of who we are, where we were, or what we did. I personally owe a big thanks to Jimmie

H. Butler Col, USAF (Retired) for writing his book "A Certain Brotherhood". It showed me for

the first time the big picture, and how my part in Thailand fit in to the overall scheme of things. I

owe a debt of gratitude to each of you who encouraged me over the years. Everyone for the

email and/or guest book entries about finding a long lost friend again, these make it all

worthwhile. But like our time in Thailand, our time on the internet keeps bringing us all together.

It now becomes our job to continue education everyone about our important part in history, so

that others will come out of the shadows and find out that we do exist. I thank you for your

support. - Joe Wilson

Here's what many of you had to say to John Hamm:

"This guy John Hamm is a real piece of work, hero maybe or wannabe. I served in Vietnam

and never thought a Vietnam War vet needed to serve in Vietnam. JH and other small-minded

people will always be with us. Either a firm review such as yours or an attitude adjustment is in

order." - Terry Colvin

******

"Mr. Hamm, First of let me say thank you for your service to our country. I am happy you

returned to the comfort of your loved ones, unlike the 58,200 who did not. It should be noted that

many of those brave men listed on the wall were based in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, on

ships and at other locations throughout SE Asia. Apparently your education of the actual events

of the VN war are rather limited. It is always a good idea to know the full facts of a subject

before one spouts off such drivel as you spewed in the guest book of Bob Wheatley's REMF site.

I can only speak for myself, but I have to also ask you, were not those shot down from Navy

ships at sea and from bases throughout SE Asia, (not only pilots but search and rescue types), not

VN vets? In the short year I was at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, we had 2 F4s shot down (4 dead)

and 2 C121s lost (22 dead). In addition, many B52s and other aircraft were shot down, with great

loss of life, POW's and MIA's. These missions originated from bases and ships located

throughout SE Asia, all with the considerable help and dedication of support crews, also

warriors. At Korat, there were attempted infiltrations and at other bases sapper attacks were

successful, causing considerable damage before being repelled. These attacks were thwarted by

the personnel stationed at the bases involved. You sir, dishonor thousands of brave, dedicated

warriors of our country and our allies, as well. I hope you will exhibit some of the guts you had

in battle in VN by addressing this issue and responding to the many emails you have received

from members of the TLCB. Our dedicated veteran community deserves much better than what

you have shown. I will sign off with disgust at your ignorance and for your brazenness at

exhibiting it for the world to see." - John Vickers

******

"Of all the Brave men who served in SEA I was probably one of the least important because I

didn't load weapons on aircraft, fix the radio's on F-4's, I don't know anything about Crypto. I

never drove a fuel truck over the red roads of Thailand to make sure the FAC's, Nail's or Sandies

of NKP had enough fuel. I didn't cook for anyone or make sure everybody had the supplies they

needed. I didn't patrol the perimeter during the night. I never typed a report for a briefing nor did

I kick flares or put sensors on the trail, Hell, I didn't even wear a uniform. What I did do was my

Job...I slept, lived and working in the remote villages of Thailand, I didn't have a chow hall or

even electricity. I drank water that tasted of Iodine and bleach. I cooked my own food I even dug

my own latrine. So I just was a lowly 20 yr old who did my job, I helped the people of Thailand

in every way I could, I treated people with mere colds and cuts and bruises, I delivered a baby

and sewed a little girls finger back on her hand. I held an old lady, who every time she coughed

she spit blood because she had TB. I took away her pain and watched her die and you know

what, I may be more of a SEA vet than you. I did my job and I did it well, but it took the people

of TLCB to bring it out of me because before them I didn't talk about it much. Just my 2 cents

worth". - Jim Aubuchon

******

"I read our hero's reply to your posting, and initially was going to ignore it, because I've run

into a lot of paper heroes in my time but Mr. Bluster needs to be talked to by more than one of us

PROFESSIONAL soldiers. When personnel are put in harm's way at any time in combat or in a

combat support area, they deserve to be respected by myself and anyone else that knows what it's

like to be in that role. Peppergrinder in Thailand and other locations made it possible for me and

others that were with me to do my job. We're all proud of our awards and decorations, but they

should not be used to slap someone in the face or qualify our grandiose visions of ourselves. He

may very well be a hero, but he sure as hell is no soldier. REMF does not stand for Rear Echelon

Military Forces it stands for Rear Echelon M..... F...... and it's a derogatory term! who is this

clown trying to BS?" - D.L.Pompili

******

Ira and all.....let me echo in here as well. This honor and respect needs to go to "every branch

of service" and "every service man and woman" regardless of the AFSC, MOS or what have you,

and regardless if they flew airplanes, fixed them, typed up assignment orders, worked in

hospitals, mess halls or built make shift quarters for those "in-country". Every "spoke of that

wheel" is what made it all come together. So stand proud....regardless of what your duties

were....and remember this....I for one am glad and greatful you where there for "me". - Lonnie

McIntosh

******

"Mr. John Hamm: My note to you today in no way takes away the credit you deserve and the

recognition given you by the medals earned. I salute you. However, I do want to take exception

with you regarding taking away from me the pride I feel for doing what my country told me to

do. And I did it with pride. And you know what, some members of the 26th Marine Regiments

are very happy that I did what I did. They owe their lives to people like myself that were working

for them in Thailand. I did not go to Canada to hide nor to any other place. I went were my

country told me to go. And there (away from my family, like you) I worked very, very hard to

make sure that you would be as protected as possible. I helped you, and people like yourself, to

have less ammunition raining down on you. Specifically, many marines at the DMZ owe me,

and the unit under my command, their lives. And throughout Viet Nam, many, many combat

troops owe me their lives because of what I did. I do want to be clear. I was the one doing it !!!!!!

I was the one working there for you. I was not hiding or looking for a deferment from the

Selective Service. I went were my country told me to go. And I am very, very proud of that. You,

nor anybody else, is going to make me feel ashamed for my Thailand duty. I am not a second

class Army person. The Army said so when they also recognized me with the VNSM and the

VNCM. I strongly object at your intentions of calling me a lesser person because I was not "in

country". I strongly object to your biased opinion of my service to my country and my

service TO YOU !!!!!!!. I will not excuse your stupidity because you are an ignorant person. I

will not excuse your lack of appreciation to me, and my TLC Brothers, because you are a

prejudiced asshole. I only hope that one day you will have enough "cojones" to admit your

mistake. After all, it takes a real man to accept mistakes. Sincerely" - Jose L. Benavides

******

"Dear Mr. Hamm: A few days ago you said some asinine things to us and behaved very

stupidly. I threw a gauntlet at your feet and did not pick it up !!!! I will give you the benefit of

the doubt to your medals. I do respect your medals and the actions you committed to earn them .

Some of my TLCB brothers wrote some very smart factual information to demonstrate your

mistake. However, as I said on my note to you, it requires a man to admit his own mistakes. I

will understand your silence, by the lack of your apology, that you have not been a man. Just

because you have a Silver Star does not imply that you are a man. See, many times an act of

bravery is equated to an act of temporary insanity. Reason being, an act of bravery risks the life

of the person committing the act, hence, that person is going against the very normal instinct of

self-preservation. Therefore, an act of temporary insanity. An act of bravery does not necessarily

mean that it was committed by a man. To be a man requires an honorable strength in

character, to be a man requires a positive moral character, to be a man requires an intelligent and

righteous personal character fiber. You have demonstrated none of the above. Yes I do respect

your medals for what they stand, but I do not respect you, the man that wears them, because, you

have demonstrated that you are no man. Very, very sincerely" - Jose L. Benavides

PS: When George Bernard Shaw completed Pygmalion, he saw the need to explain some of

his thoughts through-out the novel and to speculate beyond the novel. He wrote an "epilogue" to

the novel almost as long as the novel. I am going to try to imitate Shaw, in case you do not

understand what I say.

Asinine: Having the qualities of a jackass.

Stupid: a psychological definition stating a lower than Moron mental classification. Threw a

gauntlet at your feet; I challenged you. Did not pick it up: no answer to the challenge.

Committed: as in the difference between involvement and commitment. (In a breakfast of

eggs and bacon, the chicken is involved, the pig is committed)

Very smart factual information: ALL of my brothers are SMART people (Smart, having a

high degree of intelligence or high IQ.) They presented you enough intelligent and factual

information for you to understand your mistake.

Bravery: an act of temporary insanity. Gen. MacArthur implied once that the military

profession is the only one where its members do not want to do their duty. See, WAR IS HELL,

and nobody wants to go to hell. In war, although conscious, you really do not want to be there,

but once there, you will do things to preserve your life.

Normal and natural reaction: sometimes, you temporarily forget your own safety and try to

preserve the life of your brothers. This forgetting of your safety can be called "temporary

insanity" (I know this concept can bring a lot of arguments, but it is only being used as I just

explained it)

Not being a man: lack of "cojones"

RESPECT: what you would have gained if you had apologized!!!!!

******

"Dear John, I was just about to shut down for the night, but Bob Wheatley just forwarded his

exchange with you regarding his website and his qualifications as a Vietnam Vet. I'd like to add

a little perspective. Your message tears away at something I've been trying to build for the

last 5 years. In the fall of 1996, I published a fact-based novel called A Certain Brotherhood,

centered on forward air controllers of the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron who flew Cessnas

over the Ho Chi Minh Trail from the remote base at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. (Just a bit of my

background to establish my credentials with you: I flew 240 combat missions in Cessna O-1s and

O-2s from February 1967 to January 1968. I earned a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross,

and Air Medal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters. My Bronze Star isn't one with the combat V. It came

for working about 40-60 hours per week as an additional duty squadron admin officer in addition

to flying 7 or 8 combat missions during the same week. No purple hearts, fortunately. When you

flew Cessnas against 37mm Antiaircraft Artillery, you tended to either come back unscathed, or

you didn't come back at all. One hit from among the volleys of maybe 60 shells that came at us

was going to blow a hole about 3 feet in diameter, and I didn't have many places like that I could

give up in a Cessna Bird Dog and still keep flying.) After my book came out, a couple of the

maintenance troops in my squadron (they were there after I came home) read A Certain

Brotherhood. One, MSgt Paul Lee, USAF, Retired, made a revelation to me that was a

real shock and a perspective I had never even considered in the nearly 30 years since I'd

completed that combat tour. Paul told me that he and Dick had felt like second-class veterans for

nearly 30 years because they had ONLY served in Thailand. I still remember my immediate

reaction and almost my exact words. I told Paul, "You have nothing to be ashamed of. You

didn't run away to Canada. You went where your country sent you and where you were needed."

What I learned from Paul was that in going into VFWs or Vietnam Veterans of America

meetings, he had run into other veterans like you, who had considered him a second-class

veteran because he had ONLY served in Thailand. That classification obviously has occurred to

you, John, but it had never occurred to me. Through my first few weeks of flying the Bird Dog

off the metal runaway at NKP, it usually took about 3 or 4 airmen to get me and my parachute

and my flak vest and my survival vest and my mission kit and my weapon and ammo loaded into

the tiny cockpit of an O-1. Once they got me in, they grabbed my little airplane and pushed it

out on the taxiway for engine start. Before I got to my bird for the day's mission, someone had

refueled and repaired the bird. Someone else had loaded the 4 Willie Pete rockets beneath the

wings. In July of 1967, one of my hedgehopping buddies let a fuel tank run dry, and flipped his

Bird Dog into a rice paddy about 5 miles east of the airfield. Our maintenance troops went out

with a big truck, dragged the bird back, and they rebuilt it to fly another day. That was

something I sure wouldn't have been able to do if I'd been over there without a supporting team. I

don't have to tell you about weather in SEA as you understand it, but our monsoon season was

opposite that on the Vietnam side of the Annamite Mountains. The forecast for NKP was 80

inches of rain in May, June, July, and August, and those maintenance troops were always out

there sending me off and taking care of me and my bird when we came back 3 hours later. (I

fictionalized a scene in A Certain Brotherhood from 15 April 1967 when some of these non

Vietnam Vets as you categorize them made the difference between my crashing in a monsoon

downpour and being guided in weather close to zero-zero to a safe landing in a grass field at a

radar site in Mukdahan, Thailand. One of my friends in the Thailand-Laos-Cambodia

Brotherhood, was one of the young airmen out there that day trying to get my Bird Dog tied

down and sandbagged so it wouldn't blow away after we finally landed. As a young radar

controller, he also made a difference day after day in the war that raged in the skies of Laos and

North Vietnam.) In a brief aside, part of the problem is in terminology. You probably call it the

Vietnam War. I call it the War in Southeast Asia, because that's a more accurate description.

Also, the times I came the closest to being killed were over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. (In

one 8-night period in November 1967, I didn't fly one night, and was almost shot down by 37mm

AAA five out of the other seven nights.) Part of the problem is those of us who served in

Thailand and Laos were part of the Secret War. Every mission I flew out of Thailand over Laos

was classified because of Laos being a neutral country. I've worked with a US Navy Squadron

(VO-67) whose members have only recently been able to talk about the missions of their top

secret squadron after more than 30 years of silence. But many veterans didn't understand the

secret war. I'm not sure how much of it you understand. Turns out Paul, and Dick, and a few

thousand other Americans sent to serve in Thailand didn't really understand the secret war over

most of these years. When I came down from my classified missions, I never discussed details

out on the parking ramp with the maintenance troops who supported those of us who flew across

the Mekong River into Laos. I always just assumed they understood generally what we were

doing. We took off in a Bird Dog and came back in 3 hours. (How far can you go for a round

trip at about 80 knots?) Most of the times we came back without those four marking rockets that

had been loaded beneath the wings before our missions. Sometimes our birds came back with

bullet holes. In the six weeks before I arrived at NKP on 7 February 1967, 3 of the squadron's 20

or so Bird Dogs didn't come back at all. I had assumed at least our squadron maintenance troops

understood we were on important missions over Laos, but most of them didn't. They did their

jobs without knowing how important their jobs really were for guys like you. And I'm not just

talking about the maintenance troops. Guys like Bob had an important role listening to the

radios. The guys on the other side of the river listened to our radios and sometimes beat us

because of that. We probably beat them sometimes because of guys like Bob listening on our

end. The US Air Force operated out of several major air bases in Thailand: U Tapao (on the

coast), Korat, Takhli, Ubon, Udorn, Nakhon Phanom, and other Americans of various services

were stationed at scores of other locations in Thailand and Laos with the purpose of trying to

help you and your buddies survive and win the war in South Vietnam. Many tons of bombs were

dropped from USAF aircraft flying from those bases. Only one base was on the coast, which is

where ships bring in the ordnance. Someone had to get the bombs from the port to the other

bases, as many as 400 miles or so away. I flew a number of cross-Pacific missions in C-141s

between 1964 and 1970, and I assure you, you don't lug thousands of pounds of bombs over in

the cargo compartments of C-141s. One of my friends here in Colorado Springs was a US Army

Trucker delivering the bombs, along with the more mundane support items that we needed to go

attack the Trail to try to save the lives of you and your brothers. Of course, when he met guys

like you even in his own service, they reacted to him much as you have reacted to Bob. I've

carried on too long, but I have a couple of bottom lines. I see you spent some time down south

in 1967, so I don't know how much your first tour and my tour overlapped. So you probably

weren't around when I was flying the Trail in November 1967 and directing strikes that burned

trucks almost every night. I do recall a foggy morning in early March 1967, when I spotted

trucks scurrying for cover off the side of Harley's Valley just west of the border of North

Vietnam. I excitedly passed what I'd seen (those were the first real trucks I saw on the Trail) to

Major Keith Taylor in the other Bird Dog, and he directed strikes that killed three of the trucks.

One blew up like a fuel tanker--just like in the movies. My point is that you might be alive here

today in 2002 because the bullet/bullets that had your name on them were on one of those trucks

that morning. Everything you've enjoyed over those 30 years (and the sorrows, too; my older

daughter died of breast cancer in 1994) might never have happened if I hadn't spotted those

trucks that morning in a lonely valley in the jungles of Laos. But I couldn't have been there if

Major Taylor and I hadn't had a great deal of support from a great many people (intel,

maintenance, supply, food service, medics, transportation, refuelers, security police,

communications, and on and on and on), whom you have never met, except perhaps with a sneer

in a VFW when you learned that they had ONLY served in Thailand. Maybe you were home

safe from your first tour by early March, or the month or two later that it would have taken those

bullets to reach your part of the south because those truckers had to run the gauntlet we put along

the Trail to try to save as many of our brothers in the south as we could. If you were already

gone, perhaps the bullet with your name on it was in a truck burned by Captain Lee Harley, who

had been another 23rd TASS FAC in 1966 before he was shot down in that lonely piece of

terrain we all called Harley's Valley. Once I recognized what the problem was with this Second-

Class Veteran Crap, I started making the point to guys like Bob Wheatley, Paul Lee, Dick

Anderson, and a few hundred other vets of THE WAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, that if it weren't

for the missions flown out of Thailand against the Ho Chi Minh Trail and against the heartland

of North Vietnam, The Wall in Washington, D.C. would have had to have been a lot bigger. Just

as I had never considered the folks who supported me and my attacks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail

to be second-class veterans, I suspect that you've never considered that The Wall might have

needed more space for your brothers' names if those you seem to have such disdain for hadn't

done the job their country sent them to do in Thailand. I went where I was sent. I fully expected

to be assigned to South Vietnam until I got to Bien Hoa, and the sergeant typing up my orders

said I was going to some secret base in Thailand that no one could tell me anything about. Bob,

and Paul, and Dick, and all the other troops that made those missions possible went where they

were sent, just like you went where you were sent. (Just a point of reference from a USAF guy:

We had approximately 850 F-105 Thunderchiefs in the USAF inventory in the early 1960s. We

left over 400 of them in North Vietnam and Laos, along with a great many brave pilots who were

trying to help make sure you and as many of your Vietnam Veteran buddies as possible survived

that war. Virtually all of those birds flew out of Korat and Takhli and were armed, maintained,

fueled, etc., buy the troops who don't seem to have earned your respect.) I admire you for having

completed a second combat tour in the service of our country. If the hour weren't approaching

midnight, I suppose we might speculate about where the bullets with your name on them (not

counting the ordnance that earned you your Purple Hearts) ended up in 1969-1970, because by

then, the bombing halt covered most of North Vietnam and the real out-country war had shifted

to Laos with battles almost daily and nightly. Many of the trucks that were burned in those years

by USAF AC-130s, etc., were located by a system of sensors (initially dropped with great valor

and at great cost by the men of the top secret squadron VO-67)that fed information back to Task

Force Alpha at the secret base at NKP. And, incidentally, Task Force Alpha was manned almost

entirely by the troops that don't seem to have earned your respect. As I said in the beginning,

you've torn away at something I've worked hard on for five years, but I'll assume you've done it

more out of ignorance (notice I didn't say stupidity)and not too much out of maliciousness.

Maybe 5 years ago, your comments would have driven Bob back inside himself as many of my

friends in the TLC Brotherhood were for so many years. However, now Bob and many of the

rest of them are less ignorant about the Secret War and how important it was in keeping guys like

you alive to see another day. So Bob has taken this in stride and sent you a very reasoned

response. I hope you'll give some thought to the tale I have told you this evening and perhaps be

more interested in understanding these other brothers that you don't seem to understand you've

had over all these years. After all, most of us never got the respect and parades we deserved from

a nation that treated us with disdain. That has drawn many of us closer together, and these

veterans who helped keep me alive and helped keep you alive no longer feel like second-class

veterans, whether you judge them so or not. I hope some of this is convincing and perhaps next

time you hear one of your buddies spout off from a level of ignorance about the Secret War,

perhaps you might point out that the bullets with his name on them ended up as scrap along some

remote dirt road in a jungle in Laos in one of the valleys some of us knew like the back of our

hands. I appreciate the efforts of all our support troops, and I hope you will too. Welcome

home." - Jimmie H. Butler

******

"Joe I have two cents worth that I would like to add and if you would loan me a couple of

cents I will add that too. I was with the 53rd Trans Co of the 519th Trans Bn at Camp Vayama,

Thailand. I was also with the 444 trans Co of the 27th Trans Bn in Phu-Tai, Vietnam. I consider

my service in Thailand as important if not more so than my service in Vietnam. While in

Thailand my company was charged with port clearance of the Delong piers and the Deepwater

Port. We took the bombs from the Victory ships and either took them to the ammo dump or to U-

tapao Air Force base. From there they were delivered to Vietnam by the B-52's. I would suspect

that we had a hand in killing more of the enemy in some months than were killed by every

soldier that has ever served in country combined. Now we will add in the ammo that we moved

to the TTP's and sent north to U-dorn, U-Bon, and NKP to be used by the fast movers there. Here

we probably had a hand in saving a lot of in country units from being overrun. From the

deepwater port we off loaded food and necessities which we also sent all around. We worked 24

Hours a day in shifts, 7 Days a week, 365 Days a year. We didn't get stand downs from the field.

A majority of the people that ever served in Vietnam owe their asses to the guys from Thailand.

And as far as the VFW Joe. I belonged to the VFW and the American Legion at one time. Just

because I was an in country Vietnam Veteran don't think that I was welcome there. Those people

have trouble even accepting Korean War Veterans. I look with suspicion at any veteran that

would be little another's service. There are a lot of Wannabe hero's out there Joe and the guilty

dog usually barks first. When they start running down your service ask them to see their 214's.

That usually brings on a case of lockjaw. When those so called legs start bragging about their

combat experience I just turn a deaf ear to them. It is a proven fact that most of the infantry

people over there never fired their guns in anger. Only a small portion of them were ever

engaged in any significant combat. Most walked for days in rice paddies and never confronted

the enemy and returned to camp only to be mortared and rocketed and have to take shelter in

bunkers. Just the way the war was. Most of the contacts the infantry made was by sheer accident.

>You would have been proud of our Trans units in Nam Joe. We worked as we did in Thailand.

7 Days a week, 365 Days a year. We were ambushed on the roads weekly and sometimes daily.

The legs did not even want to ride with us. They considered it too hazardous. 2 MOH's and many

silver and bronze Stars came out of the units. Thanks for the 4 cents worth. I will take my service

in Thailand and call it a day and be proud of it for the rest of my life. If someone doesn't like it. '

EM. Joe if you would like to share my feelings with the rest of the group feel free to do so. Like

you I am proud to have served with the 519th

." - Jim Rose

******

"It is clear that this guy is a jerk! The US Government saw fit to award us the ribbons and

title because of the logistical "direct support" to the Royal Thai Division. That is the qualifier

and as far as I know is still a part of regulations. I did find that as I went up in rank and as the

years passed, there was more acceptance. For the last 20 years it is fairly well recognized that

where ever you are on active duty overseas you are at risk and sometimes more so than those in

the combat zone! We did our job as required supporting and were part of the big logistical

complex of Log Commands all working for the same common goal. We also made the country a

better place to live with roads, hospitals, deep water port and other improvements." - COL Jim

Eubanks

******

"Dear John, I was informed of your entry in Mr. Wheatley's Guest Book. How Rude! I cannot

believe that you wrote that. What you said was very mean and hurtful, weren't you raised better

than that? Did your parents not teach you that if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing at

all? For over half my life I have been working on Veterans & POW/MIA Issues. I have been

studying and researching the war in Southeast Asia since I was a teenager. The war was not

fought just in Vietnam; Americans were fighting and dying in Laos and Cambodia as well. Geez,

I'm a girl and I know that. The men who were stationed in Thailand and Guam are not second

class "era" Veterans. No Sir. Do you recall Operation Linebacker II? Do you know what that is?

The Christmas Bombing of 1972. Guess where those B-52s were flying out of. It certainly was

not South Vietnam. Are you familiar with the Raven FACs and Air America? They had bases in

Laos and Thailand. Do you know anything about LS 85? The men on top of that mountain in

Laos allowed our Bombers and Fighters to fly missions into North Vietnam. That LS was

overrun in March of 1968, some died and some were captured. Those who were captured never

came home. By the way, the Bombers and Fighters mostly came out of Thailand. Did you not

receive Air Support when you were in the field? Let's see, your Spectres, Sandys, F4s, FACs,

Jolly Greens, F101s, F105s and I can go on here - all these had squadrons stationed in Thailand.

Do you realize that someone had to fix, maintain and do the up-keep maintenance to allow these

planes to fly? Guess who stuffed Buffs. That was done by American troops stationed at U-Tapao.

Without them, the Buffs couldn't have dropped any bombs. I can add more examples if you'd

like. So you see Sir, this argument and or thought process of yours is utterly ridiculous. The

Grunts needed air support, rescues, intelligence, etc... and it came from American Military men

stationed in Thailand and Laos. All was not done in South Vietnam alone just as the war was not

fought only in Vietnam. I am not attempting to take anything away from you, however, I am

asking that you expand your mind and look at the facts, perhaps do a bit of research because this

war was not strictly in Vietnam and it would be totally unjust to exclude the contributions, merit,

valor and dedication of the Americans who served our country from bases in Thailand, just as

you served our country while stationed in SVN." - Jennifer Martinez

******

"Personally, I am at a loss as to an appropriate response My family served in every conflict

from 1776 to date, in all capacities, from Private to General, my sons currently serve and have

been involved in Kosovo, Macedonia and other places with hostiles not much different from

Vietnam. My father earned all the awards cited plus 7 battle stars from WWII, and never had

anything but praise for the support troops. He also commanded the RED BALL Express for

several months in Europe. Mr. Hamm appears to have been overly influenced by the current

'Army of One' advertising campaign. With all he claims, all he needed was the CMA to outshine

A Murphy. The 519th, the 9th Terminal Command, USARSUPTHAI was commanded and

staffed and run by those that also were "in-country" RVN. Not all but over 40% from those I

knew. I can wear badges & patches on both shoulders, plus devices on left and right front . I

earned all of them, but I most prize what is on my right collar, that was the hardest won. I put

myself in harm’s way, and DA decided my assignments, I survived to grow a career and a

family, and I am PROUD to be called a REMF, because it takes intelligence and knowledge to

be one of nine supporting the front line one to make it happen. I am even surprised that any

response was made to Mr. Hamm. The Transportation Team in Thailand and in the US Army did

it as a team, a concept he apparently missed concept in Infantry Basic. My sons (CPT ARMOR

AND SGT (SIGNAL) tell me that same mentality still exists today in combat arms and support

arms. When are some people going to learn that a conflict takes teamwork and smart people to

execute, and there are 3 elements (combat arms, combat support, and combat service support). It

takes all 3 to make it work on the military exercise. The 519th Website works. It provides a

forum for all interested to recap experiences and contact old Army friends. Do not let some

disgruntled jerk medic with visions of grandeur spoil it. I applaud everything Mr. Hamm did and

achieved and was decorated for during the Vietnam era. Congratulation of your awards and

medals. I'll match 1 for 1 and maybe lose (I got a few he got plus some he don't got. But my

right collar brass will breaks any tie.. Truck, My advice is that next a malcontent appears -

ignore. Not worth the effort to respond. Wsite 'works' and will support. And my guess is that

Mr. Hamm was part of the '100,000' group, just a guess, but his mentality qualifies." - Peter D.

Thacher

******

"Like as though everyone who served in-country in Nam is a "combat-hardened" veteran. We

all know the number of support personnel required per soldier in the field. I'll bet you songloy

baht this guy was a "REMF". Besides, all you guys really did was haul truckloads of bombs! Ha

piece of cake! If anything went wrong that jeopardized the integrity of your load, all you had to

do was dropout of the convoy and fallback so a chain explosion wouldn't take out the whole

convoy if it blew. Our "REMF" friend probably would have left a pee trail all the way to NKP.

Later," - Les

******

"Dear Hamm, The Vietnam War was a theater. South Vietnam was only one part of the

theater. While it’s true the majority of personnel (75%) actually served in the country of South

Vietnam, the other 25% didn't. So Mr. Hamm you're saying 25% of the Vietnam War theater

veterans are actually Vietnam era veterans? Who gave you the authority to make this decision?

Please state the facts and figures you so carefully deciphered to arrive at your conclusion.

Actually, your piss ant opinion isn't worth the space you wasted to type it. Below is a portion of

the U.S. government opinion of what makes a Vietnam War veteran. The text was cut straight

off the U.S. Air Force Awards and Decorations web site. And yes, the first paragraph is worded

EXACTLY the same for ALL branches of the service. Nowhere do I read where it says its only

for primadonna's who served in South Vietnam. One other asinine comment you made upsets me

to no end. You claim only primadonna's who served in South Vietnam are real war veterans. I

take your statement to mean the POWs, some who spent many years in the Hanoi Hilton, aren't

really war veteran, just maybe era, because they weren't incarcerated in South Vietnam? I just

know the POWs would be so impressed with your theory. Think I'll pass it along to them. Some

in our group wonder if you are as real as the bullshit you spout? Whether you really have all

those chest trinkets you so openly brag about. From past personal observation I've found the

biggest braggers are usually also the biggest wannabe phonies. Tell you what, there is a mail

address on our web site. Why don't you mail us a copy of your DD-214 to prove you're not as

full of shit as I and others think you are. Lastly, there are lots of good books on the market about

the Vietnam War Theater. It’s very obvious you haven't read any of them. There is just the

possibility if you broaden your narrow minded, or your total lack of, knowledge on the Vietnam

War, you might just change your opinion. I can certainly tell you have been spurting off your

bullshit since the day you got your discharge. Well, times have changed and it’s time to get your

head out of your ass and learn what you have proved you haven't. I know that once a moron it’s

hard to change, but please give it a try and not badger those of us who served our country in the

Vietnam War theatre just like you did." - Howard Wyman

*****************************************

Vietnam Service Medal - "Created by Executive Order 11213, July 8, 1965. It is

awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces who between July 4, 1965 and March

28, 1973, served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: In Vietnam and the contiguous

waters and airspace; in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or the airspace there over or in the

direct support of military operations in Vietnam. Personnel previously awarded the Armed

Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam between July 1958 and July 1965, may,

upon request, exchange that medal for the Vietnam Service Medal; however, no one is

authorized to wear both medals solely for services in Vietnam".

******

"I also was treated badly by a lot of people and my family when I came home from Thailand. I am ashamed of myself that I allowed them to control my life. I had planned on going back to Thailand and marry a wonderful lady that I meant when I was in Khon Kaen. My family told me if I married Yesoon they would disown me. I turned to my friends and they said the same thing. When I tried to get a good job and said I went to Thailand I could not get the job. Of course they made up another excuse. I finally stopped telling people were I was at in the Army. When asked I would just say I was overseas. Of course everyone thought it was V.N. Later in my life thanks to Joe getting this web site on the net I started feeling proud of what we all did over there and also the solders that never went any were outside of the U.S.. I even went through a few years of depression and thanks to Joe’s web; sight helped me understand what was wrong with me. Now I am doing great. I found we all did our part no matter where we were stationed. It was a team effort that made it work. My main regret was I did not go back and getting Yesoon and I waited so long to be proud of myself for doing a good job. The letter from Pompili, David, CTR" helped me a lot and I hope it also helped others, that were treated badly when they went home. God Bless all of you." -Galen Slatter

******

"I am sure we all understand his position. I suspect he is suffering from mental illness as well

as a serious lack of self-esteem all his adult life after serving in Vietnam (proper.) No - I don't

feel it necessary to criticize him or take his insults personal. If I was to "draw a line," it would be

as simple as "who served," ie, in uniform and "who did not serve." But, I don't even want to do

that. You see, it is just a matter of pride for having served; having served over ten years and for

that ten years the army gave me a full college education and tons of experience in computers and

enjoy a living in Honolulu, Hawaii (only a dream for most Americans.) I've met combat medics

and assisted one that had joined the TLCB about 18 months ago with his website. He

disappeared. Got pissed off about the rhetoric and nostalgia and a good example of someone that

still suffers from some form of depression caused by combat fatigue. His views may be very

prevalent amongst "blue collar" Americans that are Vietnam veterans. Sure, they have a lot to be

proud of, but sadly - one of those things that seems obvious to me is they never matured as an

adult because of their sacrifice. In fact, it has become a lifelong crutch. Sad. It isn't a matter of

"turning the other cheek" either. He is suffering from a common form of mental illness. It’s

"spelled" low self-esteem. All he has is his memories of what he WAS then... The primary

reason I choose to label my mental health issue or rationale as such is such manners are not only

insulting to other veterans not necessarily in theatre, but aim to be devisive. sp? Sorry, devisive

is not in my vocabulary. Therefore, I am not sure of the spelling. 30 years later, and writing such

statements is truly pathetic. I cannot really go beyond that except to note that his email address is

a freebie "yahoo" and that in itself, although, cannot be conclusive may be pointing in the right

direction of a person with limited resources and life hasn't been too kind to him... Please feel free

to share my views, if you think it may help heal some of the wounds of insult that TLCB

members may be feeling in a form of anger towards this man. As far as REMF/Vietnam and

Support function from Thailand, well, they got tax-free pay is how I look at it. 71H in-country

enjoyed a lot of benefits that grunts in the field never realized, but Korat (AND BANGKOK)

beat Saigon for duty any day! I'll close with an observation related to a person that I have a lot of

respect for: "Wheel of Fortunes" Pat Sajak. Pat went to the same Old Hospital Area Clerk

School at Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri I attended the same year, 1967, but he headed for Saigon

and Armed Forces Radio (his dream.) Tonight's show, there was a senior Navy officer that I

think said he has served some 28 years and except for 3 years in Japan, mostly on the East

Coast. Pat, at the end of the show, while shaking his hand, his normal routine for all contestants,

remarked: "Thank you for your service to our country." Pat, on another recent show also

quipped: "He was a Vietnam vet and proud of military personnel" or something of that sort. I

have always found Pat to show additional acknowledgment to active duty personnel that become

contestants on the show. If he has one (minor) itty-bitty flaw, it was like me - married to (too)

young a woman. I sure hope him a happy a long marriage unlike mine. <bg> BTW, this is in

jest/kidding. THAT poor bastard that wrote that in the REMF Guest book seemed to be offended

by many things and that's his problem, NOT mine. Warmest regards," - Franco

******

"Welcome Home...Would you please go to the following web page. It is about a site in

Northern Laos that I helped set up in '66. Tell these guys that they are NOT Vietnam Vets.....I

am not a COMBAT vet...but have been shot at in the air and on the ground...returned fire, tossed

a couple of grenades and probably killed some unfriendlies...But I am not a COMBAT vet...I

have a Bronze Star w/o the V.....I am proud of it....I fortunately do not have any Purple Hearts. I

thank the Good Lord above for that....I appreciate all the "grunts" that were out in the field. They

all deserve credit. I FEEL I AM AS MUCH OF A VIETNAM VETERAN AS YOU AND THE

REST OF THE GRUNTS...and I am a PROUD MEMBER of the Thailand Laos Cambodia

Brotherhood. http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/3097/ls85.htm As you can see by my

sig. below...I am a member of both national and local vet org's. I am a board member of my

VVA chapter and Vice President of Vietnam Veterans of Central Florida. We have many Silver

Star w/V, Bronze Star w/V and Purple Heart members. None of them have EVER treated me or

said anything close to my NOT being a Vietnam Vet. Nuff said. I'm sure your mail box has been

inundated. God Bless You God Bless America" - R.G. (Dick) Grimes

******

"Seems to me Jose has said what needed to be said. He did however not conclude that one of

Mr. Hamms "Purple Hearts" must have been for a head wound. Why else would Mr. Hamm

insist on insulting brave men who did brave things against almost impossible odds? I speak today

of my VO-67 brothers , 20 in all, whose lives were taken from them as they were ripped from the

sky in Laos by non in country ground fire. The Marines at Khe Sanh sure do consider us

Vietnam Vets. Because of the Air support of VO-67, and many other service branches not

stationed in Vietnam, most of those Marines were able to walk away from that place alive. I will

bet that a lot of these air support people, all branches, never placed a foot on the ground in

Vietnam yet they hung there asses out to dry for Mr. Hamm and others like him just a few feet

over his head. Aircrews were not able to hide behind thin air, no jungle for them. They were at

most times, wide open targets. That took balls! I have read the responses to Mr. Hamms

disrespectful words from members of the TLC and I have been both saddened and inspired.

Rambo was a myth. It took many heroes located not only within Vietnam but throughout SEA to

allow Mr. Hamm to last longer than five minutes. Mr. Hamm may not understand the concept of

"A Brotherhood." I have seen this wondrous relationship in the TLC and in my own outfit, VO-

67. Not even then in Thailand or now does the VO-67 Brotherhood consider any of its shipmates

any less equal if they did not fly combat missions. Respect in our ranks runs rampant! It took us

all to do our mission. We respect our "Brothers in Arms" that were actually in the Country that

pitiful war was named for. We expect the same respect. I am proud to be a member of the TLC

and honored to be among men who understand courage and commitment no matter where they

laid there head each night. In Brotherhood:" - Bob Reynolds

******

"John Hamm is entitled to his opinion - bitchy as it is. If his self-stated citations are factual

and genuine; and I have no reason to doubt that they are, he may have served two Vietnam tours

with pride, distinction, and honor. We all should commend him for his service. Unfortunately

after the passage of over thirty years Hamm appears to carry a chip on his shoulder, he tramples

his honor and displays a false pride by blowing his horn and demeaning others who also served

in the same effort. We as past members of the 519th are proud of our service and duty. We need

not compete with John Hamm in his game of "King-of-the-Mountain." I betcha he thinks his dad

can whip your dad too. It's a no-win situation to deal with a person whose mind is evidently

clouded. He's not worth the drool hanging from his bottom lip. Leave him alone - let him be." -

Bob Travis

******

"Maybe this part of the country I come from is more laid back and relaxed about the service,

but no one I know who has been in the service (any branch) has ever said anything more than

"we were the lucky ones who made it back home". We would talk about the ones we knew who

didn't make it and comment on them (remembrances and conjecture). We all had to face the

service in one way or another and luck and fate seems to play a large part in where we went and

what we experienced. Some told grim tails of horrible experiences and some the opposite, but all

acknowledged the fact that we made it back and some of our friends had not. I did not know until

recently (this is after 30 years) that anyone thought they were the better person for having served

in Viet Nam than for having served anywhere else. This is a new concept for me to try to

understand. I don't believe that I have heard a WWII veteran (my uncle) tell another WWII

veteran (my father) that because he was at Omaha beach on D-Day that he was better than the

truck driver who got stationed in Italy, or my other uncle who got stationed in the South Pacific.

It is quite the contrary. As for myself, I feel that we need to appreciate each other and not dwell

so much on how each of us got here, only that we are here together now. Remembering our

friends, our contribution to America, and that we are all veterans, even if we are now over weight

and under paid. Har Har Har!!!! Sincerely yours" - tom petty

******

"Tom: I don't know how anyone could have said what you said any better. Your words far

exceeded and overwhelmed any that had been said in the past about the Email exchange. There

is an old adage" You can lead a horse to water, but to get him to float on his back, then you have

accomplished something." Tom, you made the horse float." - Bob Vidrick

******

As you can see, we all agree that service to our country is honorable. Going where and when

we are sent, doing what we are trained to do and taking care of business in war and in peace. It’s

sad when it takes the John Hamms of this world to bring out the brotherhood in us all. - Joe

Introduction

Life in general for a member of the United States Army is not an easy one. Soldiers are being

training for war. The objective is to win the war. More importantly to the frontline soldier the

goal is to survive and go back home to our family and friends.

When I came home from Southeast Asia (Thailand) on 31 July 1970 I received a warm

welcome only from my family. I found out that there was a distinction between those who were

"In Country Vietnam" and those who were not. I soon learned to avoid conversations that talked

about my service to my country in Thailand.

I was welcomed into the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States on a technicality. (I

had been awarded the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal for

my service in Southeast Asia.) But when I was questioned about being "In Country" the

conversation turned negative rather quickly. I stopped associating with the local VFW and didn't

talk about Thailand, except with others who had been there. We all were led to believe that our

service in Thailand was less than honorable service.

After my break-in-service I rejoined the US Army and went to Fort Lewis, Washington in

1972. The US was still fighting in Vietnam and the 9th

Infantry Division was rebuilding units

with colors that had been returned from Vietnam. It was common to see soldiers wearing their

combat patch on their right sleeve, attesting to their time "in country", whether they were

actually in combat or not. Not everyone who went to Vietnam actually served in combat.

At this time we who served in Thailand had no "combat patch" authorization, and this soon

became crystal clear this was a "standard" we did not meet. As late as 1976 while undergoing a

uniform inspection in the Canal Zone I was told to remove my Vietnam service medals from my

uniform, or sew my "combat patch" on my right sleeve. I did neither and suggested that the

inspecting officer check my official 201 file.

It was clear that battles fought with words are just as effective as battles fought on the

battlefield.

The soldiers of today's military must be proficient in basic soldiering skills. There is a certain

breed of soldier that is an indispensable and very important part of today's fighting force. It is the

Combat Support (CS) and the Combat Service Support (CSS) soldier. They are mechanics,

clerks and drivers. They are in all types of units both active and reserve.

The motor vehicle operators of the Transportation Corps are found in support platoons, motor

pools and logistical units. They deliver the ammunition, fuel, food and supplies to battalions,

companies, platoons and forward elements throughout their theatre of operations. Whether it is in

peacetime or in times of war, their mission rarely changes. The cargo must be delivered safely

and on time.

Growing up in America during the 1960's and 1970's we believed in the American way of

life. We wanted to do our part for our country. Many of us went to Southeast Asia and ended up

in a country called Thailand. Because it was not publicized by the news media or officially

acknowledged by the United States government it was dubbed the "Secret War" in Southeast

Asia.

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia, separated from Vietnam by two communist countries,

Laos and Cambodia. At it's closest point, Thailand is a mere 150 miles from North Vietnam, a

perfect striking point for US aircraft.

In 1961 the Royal Thai government asked the United States to provide assistance for civil

construction projects. Assistance was given under Joint Task Force 116 to counter the growing

conflict in Southeast Asia. On 15 March 1961 the 9th

Logistical Command was activated to

provide this assistance and deployed troops from Okinawa in May 1962.

When the task force was inactivated the 9th

Logistical Command remained in Thailand with

the mission of storing and maintaining pre-positioned stocks, conducting people-to-people civic

action programs, and maintaining an in-country communications base.

A most visible unit of the 9th

Logistical Command was the 519th

Transportation Battalion.

Arriving in Thailand in 1966, the 519th

Transportation Battalion operated as a line-haul truck

battalion throughout central and northeastern Thailand, with the longest single Line of

Communication (LOC) of any single transportation battalion in Southeast Asia, (more than 1070

road miles).

The 519th

Transportation Battalion was responsible for keeping supplies moving smoothly

throughout Thailand. This required placing strategically located Trailer Transfer Points along the

LOC in places like the deepwater ports in Sattahip, Bangkok, Korat and Khon Kaen.

A primary mission of the 519th

Transportation Battalion was "Project 972" (formerly

classified operation) and was the battalion's main involvement in the Vietnam War. "Project 972

was directly ordered, organized, supervised and controlled by the Secretary of Defense, Robert

McNamara." It was part of something called "the McNamara electronic wall of Defense". These

electronic devices were transported by the 519th

Transportation Battalion and dropped by the

USAF in the DMZ, the Ho Chi Minh Trail and around every other major US Military installation

in Vietnam. Project 972 was also part of something called "Igloo White" and was heavily utilized

around Khe Sanh during TET 68"

In early 1970 US Forces began withdrawing from Southeast Asia. Units of the 9th

Logistical

Command and USARSUPTHAI were being deactivated and their personnel were being returned

early to CONUS.

In April 1970 elements of the 519th

Transportation Battalion began to stand down and were

being deactivated.

On 12 June 1970 the 9th

Logistical Command was deactivated and the 519th

Transportation

Battalion and other units went under command of the United States Army Support Command,

Thailand (USARSUPTHAI).

On 20 February 1971 the 519th

Transportation Battalion headquarters was inactivated at

Camp Samae San, in Sattahip. As its subordinate units were inactivated, the 260th

Transportation

Company became the last active element of the battalion in Thailand, until it's inactivation on 31

October 1975.

General Orders Number 308

14 Jul 1970

Meritorious Unit Commendation

By direction of the Secretary of the Army, under the provisions of paragraph 203, AR 672-

5-1, the Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded the following-named unit of the

United States Army for exceptionally meritorious achievement in the performance of

outstanding service during the period indicated:

THE 519TH TRANSPORTATION BATTALION (TRUCK) and its assigned units:

Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 519th Transportation Battalion (Truck) 33d

Transportation Platoon (Reefer) 53d Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo)

260th Transportation Company (Medium Truck Petroleum) 291st Transportation

Company (Medium Truck Cargo) 313th Transportation Company (Medium Truck

Refrigeration) 505th Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) 569th

Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo)

The citation reads as follows:

The 519th Transportation Battalion (Truck) and assigned units listed above, distinguished

themselves by exceptionally meritorious performance of duty in support of United States

Army and United States Air Force missions in Thailand from 16 December 1966 to 31

December 1969. During this period, the Battalion achieved outstanding success in its

diversified transportation missions and especially in transporting and handling of all cargo

destined for all construction of an inland road. The officers and men of the Battalion

displayed outstanding professional skills, high morale, and exemplary esprit de corps in the

execution of their numerous and varied missions, many of which exceeded their

requirements and capabilities. The extraordinary support, remarkable proficiency, and

devotion to duty displayed by the members of the 519th Transportation Battalion

(TRUCK) and assigned units reflect distinct credit upon themselves and the United States

Army.

For the COMMANDER IN CHIEF:

William P. Yarborough LTG CHIEF OF STAFF

Here’s a side note about GO 308, dated 14 July 1970. This document never made it officially

into the statement of service for the 519th

Transportation Battalion until 31 December 2001,

when GO 29 was published to include the original general order (See below).

History of the 9th

Logistical Command

9th

TAACOM

Constituted on 5 May 1960 on the island of Okinawa, Japan as Headquarters 9th

Logistical Command.

In May 1962 at the request of the Royal Thai government the unit deployed to Thailand. It's purpose was

to provide assistance in civil construction projects and later became the logistical support element for Joint

Task Force 116 and counter the growing conflict in Southeast Asia.

Upon deactivation of JTF 116, the 9th

Logistical Command remained in Thailand with the mission of

storing and maintaining pre-positioned stocks, conducting people-to-people civic action programs and

maintaining an in-country communications base.

On 12 June 1970, the 9th

Logistical Command was inactivated in Thailand.

On 1 November 1994, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th TAACOM was reactivated at the

United States Army Japan headquarters, Camp Zama, Japan.

US Army website at http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Heraldry/ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=4442

The 9th Theater Army Area Command

The 9th Theater Army Area Command was activated December 9, 1994. The unit was activated to

organize forces in Japan and the Pacific similar to Army elements based in other theaters overseas.

The activation of the 9th TAACOM was intended to enhance the U.S. Army Japan's ability to perform its

two primary functions --the defense of Japan, and support of contingencies in the Pacific.

USARJ continued to serve as the Army Component Command to U.S. Forces Japan, to support bilateral

and unilateral operational planning, training, regional contingencies, and requests for humanitarian

assistance.

The 9th

TAACOM is currently a USAR element of USARPAC with elements in CONUS and Asia:

http://www.usarpac.army.mil/history2/evolution.asp

From Normandy to Thailand

By Captain Gerald J. Sheehan - 26 June 1970 - USARSUPTHAI Sentinel

{Submitted by – Captain Thomas O'Connor TC.}

The 519th

Transportation Battalion was originally activated June 25, 1943 at Indiantown Gap,

Pennsylvania, as the 519th

Port Battalion. It embarked aboard the E. P. Alexander at Camp Miles

Standish, Boston, Massachusetts, on March 24, 1944 for England.

After a training period in England, the Battalion participated in the invasion of Normandy

where it went ashore on June 7, 1944. On Nov. 14, 1944, the battalion departed Normandy for

Antwerp, Belgium, remaining there until its inactivation on Oct. 3, 1946.

For its service in World War II, the Battalion was awarded the following campaign streamers

and decorations:

Campaign streamers:

Normandy (with arrowhead),

Northern France, Rhineland,

World War II (embroidered Normandy,}

Meritorious Unit Commendation embroidered European Theater.

French Crois de Guerres with Silver Palm,

The Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Antwerp.

The 519th

Transportation Battalion was reactivated at Fort Eustis, Virginia, on Feb. 1, 1956 as

the 519th

Transportation Battalion (Terminal Service). It was assigned the mission of preparing

various boat companies and terminal service companies for participation in Project 572-W, the

supply of material for the construction of the DEW line in the Arctic. Upon completion of this

mission it was inactivated at Fort Eustis, Virginia, on Dec. 15, 1957.

On May 20, 1966, the Battalion was again activated at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, as

the 519th

Transportation Battalion (Motor Transport). Filler personnel were assigned and started

arriving late in May. The majority of the officers and NCO's were returnees from Europe. The

enlisted men, for the most part, were fresh from basic training. Early in June, sufficient personnel

were on-hand to begin POR/POM (preparation for oversea movement) training. During its own

training phase, the battalion was assigned the responsibility of supervising the training of various

transportation, signal, engineer and quartermaster units for deployment.

On Dec. 10, 1966, the first of four C130s departed from Andrews Air Force Base loaded with

an advance party of personnel and equipment of the 519th

. The remainder of the personnel and

equipment left on later flights. The battalion completed its move and closed in Thailand on Dec.

17 1966. Its first headquarters was located at Camp Charn Sinthope near Phanom Sarakham.

In February 1967, the headquarters moved to Camp Friendship, near Korat. In September of

1968, the headquarters returned to Camp Charn Sinthope and after a stay of nearly a year it was

moved to its present location at Camp Samae San in August of 1970.

As the only transportation truck battalion in Thailand, the 519th

's mission is the establishment

and operation of a truck transportation system along its line of communication (LOC). The LOC

routes total 1,070 miles and included roads from Sattahip to Korat, Udorn, Khon Kaen, and

Nakhon Phanom, Chachoengsao to Bangkok to Takhli, and Korat to Ubon. A special survey

disclosed that the "Tiger Battalion" has the longest line of communications and largest mission

of any battalion of its type in the world.

The 519th

currently has units located in Bangkok, Sattahip and Korat. The 569th

Transportation Company located at Camp Khon Kaen and the 33rd

Transportation Platoon

(Reefer) have been inactivated. Their missions were quickly taken over by the other units within

the battalion, once more exemplifying the spirit of accomplishing the mission.

"Tiger Battalion"

The battalion has adopted a tiger as its symbol, based on the dominant figure on its distinctive

crest. Personnel of the battalion participated in the design of the distinctive crest, which was

approved by the Institute of Heraldry on Aug. 31, 1966.

Transportation Battalion Crest

The insignia is a gold medal and enamel device, one and one eighth inches in height. It

consists of a brick-red disk edged in gold with three battlements at the top. In the center is a -

gold, black striped tiger's head in profile with jagged extremities. The latter surmount a green

wreath in base composed of laurel leaves on one side and palm in the other. On the base and

sides of the gold rim is a tri-parted gold scroll inscribed "QUID," "QUANDO," "QUO." in black

letters. The motto refers to the battalion's only query when assigned a mission: What is the job?

When must the job be done? Where is the job?

"Red Ball" Express Revived

by Captain B. Mike Fillmore

Korat, Thailand - During World War II, General George Patton made such a swift assault

across France his supply base had difficulty keeping pace.

In order to help his supply personnel, Patton established an emergency trucking system that

could cross France by bringing him necessities to sustain the attack. The system was called "Red

Ball".

Because of endless stretches of road between Bangkok and American installations in the

Northeast, the supply of fresh dairy products has always been a problem for US Forces in

Thailand.

Although Patton had something on his mind other than milk, his "Red Ball" concept has

alleviated that problem here.

The new system, which provides non-stop refrigerated trucks called "Red Ball" enables trucks

to deliver refrigerated products within 24-hours after they become available in Bangkok.

In the past distribution had taken as long as four days before the "Red Ball" system came into

effect.

At the dairy in Bangkok, products are made available to the Army every other night at eight.

Refrigerated trucks from the 313th

Transportation (Company's) Platoon ('s) load immediately and

leave for Korat where the first distribution is made.

They arrive in Korat by 4 a.m. changing cab and driver. Distribution further north to Udorn

and Sakon Nakhon are made by drivers from the 33rd

Refrigeration Platoon here.

The new system has solved the same problem that has consistently plagued dairy distribution

in the past.

Servicemen in northern cities now enjoy fresh dairy products with their noon or evening meal

knowing they were produced the preceding day.

Individual Unit Histories of

The 519th Transportation Battalion

"Super Tigers"

On 1 April 1943 the unit was originally constituted as the 519th

Port Battalion, Transportation

Corps and activated on 25 June 1943 at the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in

Pennsylvania.

Then on 30 June 1943 the unit was reorganized into the following: Headquarters and

Headquarters Detachment became the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 519th

Port

Battalion. Companies A, B, C & D became the 302nd

, the 303rd

, the 304th

, and the 305th

Port

Companies respectively. From this point the lineage of each company became separate.

On 24 March 1944 the 519th

Port Battalion departed Camp Miles Standish in Boston, MA,

and crossed the Atlantic Ocean aboard the E. P. Alexander and arrived in Liverpool, England on

4 April 1944. The unit worked the ports at Liverpool unloading ships until they participated in

the Normandy invasion on 7 June 1944. They immediately started unloading their own ship and

continued working the port at Normandy for the next five months, before moving to the Port of

Antwerp in Belgium. They worked the Port of Antwerp unloading ships under continuous enemy

air and V-bomb attack for 175 days. They were inactivated in Belgium with honors on 3 October

1946.

The 519th

Port Battalion received campaign participation credit for Normandy w/arrowhead,

Northern France and Rhineland. The battalion was decorated with the Meritorious Unit

Commendation (Army), with streamers embroidered: European Theater, French Croix de Guerre

with palm, World War II, streamer embroidered Normandy, and was Cited in the order of the

Day of the Belgian Army for action at Antwerp.

On 12 January 1956 the unit was re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters

Detachment, 519th

Transportation Battalion (Terminal Service). The unit was activated on 1

February 1956 at Fort Eustis, Virginia with a mission to prepare boat companies and terminal

service companies for participation in Project 572-W, (the supply of material for the construction

of the DEW line in the Arctic wasteland across North America). The unit was inactivated at Fort

Eustis, Virginia on 15 December 1957.

On 20 May 1966 the 519th

Transportation Battalion (Motor Transport) at Fort George G.

Meade, Maryland with the mission of supervising the training of transportation, signal, engineer,

and quartermaster units for deployment to Southeast Asia. The 519th

Transportation Battalion

began its deployment on 10 December 1966 from Andrews AFB, Maryland to Southeast Asia

aboard C-141's. After landing in Thailand, the battalion completed its move into Camp Sinthope

at Phanom Sarakham on 17 December 1966.

During the year 1966, the following transportation units deployed to Thailand to become part

of the 519th

Transportation Battalion delivering supplies and equipment to US forces throughout

Thailand:

33rd Transportation Platoon

"Reefer Kings"

The smallest and relatively newest member of the 519th

Transportation Battalion was

constituted on 10 May 1967 as the 33rd

Transportation Platoon and was activated on 25 August

1967 at Fort Lewis, Washington. The unit deployed to Thailand in September 1967 and moved

to Camp Friendship in Korat until being deactivated on 1 April 1970. The unit was awarded the

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army).

53rd Transportation Company

"Movers"

The 53rd

Transportation Company was originally constituted on 28 May 1943 as Company C,

54th Quartermaster Truck Battalion and was activated on 7 July 1943 in North Africa. On 3

November 1943 the unit was reorganized as the 3355th

Quartermaster Truck Company. The unit

was inactivated on 12 April 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. On 1 August 1946 the unit was

converted to the 3355th

Transportation Corps Truck Company.

Re-designated on 1 September 1948 as the 103rd

Transportation Truck Company and

activated on 10 September 1948 at Fort Lewis, Washington. The unit was inactivated on 15

December 1948 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Next the unit was activated in the Philippine Islands

on 1 June 1949and inactivated on 22 July 1949 in the Philippine Islands.

On 12 September 1952 the unit was re-designated as the 53rd

Transportation Heavy Truck

Company and activated on 25 October 1952 at Camp Roberts, California. The unit was re-

designated on 20 June 1953 as the 53rd

Transportation Company.

The 53rd

Transportation Company deployed to Thailand in November 1966 and was stationed

at Camp Vayama in Sattahip until being inactivated on 30 December 1970.

The 53rd

Transportation Company received campaign participation credit for World War II-

EMEA, Sicily, Rome-Arno, Anzio, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central

Europe. The unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army).

260th Transportation Company

"Professionals"

The 260th

Transportation Company was originally constituted in July 1923 as the 935th

Motor

Transport Company. It was re-designated on 1 July 1936 as Company K, 513th

Quartermaster

Regiment.

Activated on 1 April 1943 at Fort Custer, Michigan as Company D, 513th

Quartermaster

Truck Regiment and reorganized and re-designated on 15 December 1943 as the 3890th

Quartermaster Truck Company until inactivated on 25 June 1946 in France.

Next it was converted and re-designated on 1 August 1946 as the 3890th

Transportation Corps

Truck Company. Then it was re-designated on 13 February 1948 as the 260th

Transportation

Truck Company and activated on 1 March 1948 at Fort Myer, Virginia. The unit was inactivated

on 9 August 1950 at Fort Myer, Virginia.

On 23 March 1956 the unit was re-designated as the 260th

Transportation Company and

activated on 1 June 1966 at Fort Riley, Kansas. The unit deployed to Thailand in November 1966

and was stationed at Camp Friendship in Korat (1966 - 1968), then at Camp Charn Sinthope in

Phanom Sarakham (1968 - 1970) and at Camp Samaesan in Sattahip (1970 - 1975). The 260th

Transportation Company was inactivated on 31 October 1975 in Thailand. The 260th

Transportation Company received campaign participation credit for World War II-EAME,

Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe. The unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit

Commendation (Army).

291st Transportation Company

"Road Runners"

The 291st Transportation Company was originally constituted on 10 November 1942 as

Company B, 467th

Quartermaster Truck Regiment and was activated on 10 December 1942 at

Fort Custer, Michigan. The unit was reorganized and re-designated on 16 December 1943 as the

3622nd

Quartermaster Truck Company. The 3622nd

Quartermaster Truck Company was

inactivated on 25 June 1946 in France.

It was next converted and re-designated on 1 August 1946 as the 3622nd

Transportation Corps

Truck Company. The unit was activated on 22 January 1948 at Portland, Maine and was re-

designated on 13 June 1948 as the 291st Transportation Amphibious Truck Company until it was

inactivated on 1 February 1950.

Next it was re-designated as the 291st Transportation Company and activated on 1 October

1966 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The unit deployed to Thailand in November 1966 and

was stationed at Camp Friendship in Korat (1966 - 1968), at Camp Charn Sinthope, in Phanom

Sarakham (1968 - 1970), and back to Camp Friendship in Korat (1970 - 1971). The 291st

Transportation Company was inactivated on 30 June 1971 in Thailand. The 291st Transportation

Company received campaign participation credit for World War II-EAME, Normandy, Northern

France, Rhineland, Central Europe. The unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation

(Army).

313th Transportation Company

"Cool Cats"

The 313th

Transportation Company was originally constituted on 9 April 1943 as Company D,

510th

Port Battalion. It was activated as the 313th

Port Company on 15 July 1943 at the

Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania. The 313th

Port Company was inactivated in

the Philippine Islands on 30 June 1946.

It was next re-designated as the 313th

Transportation Port Company on 13 June 1947 and

inactivated on 21 June 1947 at New York, New York. The unit was ordered to active military

service at New York, New York on 11 September 1950 and released from active military service

on 15 September 1954.

Next it was reorganized and re-designated on 15 November 1954 as the 313th

Transportation

Company. The unit was inactivated on 15 May 1959 at New York, New York.

The 313th

Transportation Company was activated on 20 May 1966 at Fort George G. Meade,

Maryland and deployed to Thailand on 22 November 1966 where it was stationed at Camp

Friendship in Korat (1966 - 1970), and at Camp Vayama in Sattahip (1971 - 1972). The 313th

Transportation Company was inactivated on 31 March 1972. The 313th

Transportation Company

received campaign participation credit for World War II-AP, Bismarck Archipelago, Luzon,

Southern Philippines. The unit was decorated with the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation,

Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945. The unit was awarded the

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army).

505th Transportation Company

"Pacesetters"

The 505th

Transportation Company was originally constituted on 26 November 1943 as the

3640th

Quartermaster Truck Company and was activated on 10 December 1943 in Italy.

The unit was converted to become the 3640th

Transportation Corps Truck Company and

activated on 1 August 1946 at Fort Riley, Kansas. The unit was re-designated on 7 March 1947

as the 505th

Transportation Corps Truck Company. It was later re-designated on 15 July 1947 as

the 505th

Transportation Truck Company and on 1 April 1954 it became the 505th

Transportation

Company and was inactivated on 25March 1956 in Japan.

The 505th

Transportation Company was activated on 23 May 1967 at Fort Benning, Georgia

and deployed to Thailand on 24 November 1966 where it was stationed at Friendship in Korat,

and on 11 November 1967 at Camp Vayama in Sattahip until it was inactivated in Thailand on

30 December 1971.

The 505th

Transportation Company was activated in Korea on 20 September 1990 and was

inactivated in Korea on 17 March 1991. The 505th

Transportation Company received campaign

participation credit for World War II-EAME, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po

Valley. Korean War, UN Of fensive, CCF Intervention, First UN Counteroffensive, CCF Spring

Offensive, UN Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Korea, Summer-Fall 1952, Third

Korean Winter, Korea, Summer 1953. (**Does not include any recognition of unit awards from

Korea in 1990 - 1991**. The unit was decorated with the Meritorious Unit Commendation

(Army), Streamer embroidered European Theater, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),

Streamer embroidered KOREA. The unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation

(Army).

The 519th

Transportation Battalion moved to Camp Friendship in Korat in February 1967 to

assume a high priority mission "Project 972". Along with this mission came the requirement for

an additional transportation company to be stationed at Camp Khon Kaen in Northeastern

Thailand.

569th Transportation Company

"Muleskinners"

The 569th

Transportation Company was originally constituted on 1 January 1942 as Company

D, 399th

Quartermaster Battalion and activated on 10 February 1942 at the San Francisco Port of

Embarkation, California. Next it became Company D, 399th

Port Battalion, Transportation Corps

on 31 July 1942. The unit was reorganized and re-designated on 25 January 1945 as the 569th

Port Company and was inactivated on 17 September 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

On 5 January 1955 it became the 569th

Transportation Company and was activated on 24

February 1955 at Fort Eustis, Virginia. The unit was inactivated on 15 December 1958 at Fort

Eustis, Virginia. The 569th

Transportation Company was activated on 25 June 1959 at Camp

Leroy Johnson, Louisiana and inactivated on 25 March 1963. The unit was activated on 1 May

1967 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

The 569th

Transportation Company deployed to Thailand in December 1967 and was

stationed at Camp Khon Kaen, Thailand with the primary mission to transport with weapons and

protect the delivery of Project 972 cargo to the USAF bases in Northeastern Thailand. (1967 -

1970) The 569th

Transportation Company was inactivated on 1 April 1970. The 569th

Transportation Company received campaign participation credit for World War II-EAME,

Algeria-French Morocco, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland. The unit was awarded the

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army).

Battalion Commanders (1966 - 1971)

7/66 – 11/67 – LTC Harry F. Middleton - Ft. Meade, MD to Camp Sinthope, Phanom

Sarakham and Camp Friendship, Korat.

Battalion Staff: MAJ Wilcox XO, CPT Berry S-3, 1LT Steere S-1, S-4, CW4 Graham

Maint. Tech.

11/67 – 11/68 – LTC Jack Schwartz / CSM Summers (Nov 67 - Nov 68) - Camp Sinthope,

Phanom Sarakham.

Battalion Staff: Maj. Fucella, XO, MAJ Brennan, S-3, LT Linsley Asst. S-3., LT

Steel, S-1, LT Crabb, S-4, Supply Officer - , Maint. Tech. - ?.

11/68 – 11/69 – LTC William R. Mantooth / CSM Robert B. Crawford (Nov 68 - Nov 69)

- Camp Sinthope, Phanom Sarakham.

Battalion Staff: XO, S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, Supply Officer - ?, Maint. Tech. - ?

11/69 – 11/70 – LTC Robert L. Vidrick / CSM Hans Kleinschmidt (Nov 69 - Nov 70) -

Camp Sinthope, Phanom Sarakham to Camp Samae San, Sattahip.

Battalion Staff: XO - MAJ James F. Sellar, S-1 - CPT Gerald Sheehan, S-2, S-3 -

MAJ David Forcier, S4 - CPT Pollack, Supply Officer - ?, Maint Tech - CWO Dardis.

11/70 – 11/71 – LTC David R. Hall (Nov 70 - Feb 71) - Camp Samae San, Sattahip.

Battalion Staff: XO, S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, Supply Officer - ?, Maint. Tech. - ?

The 519th

Transportation Battalion served in Thailand with honors and was awarded the

Meritorious Unit Commendation on 14 July 1970 for exceptional meritorious achievement for

outstanding service from 16 December 1966 to 31 December 1969.

The 519th

Transportation Battalion was inactivated on 20 February 1971 with elements

remaining in Thailand until 31 October 1975.

AR 670-1 authorizes personnel stationed in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia from 1 March 1961

to 28 March 1973 to wear the (VSM) and (RVCM) as well as AR 600-

8-22 authorizes unit patches like either the 9th Logistical Command patch or

the USARSUPTHAI patch to be worn on the right sleeve as a "combat patch" for

action in direct or indirect support of the war in Vietnam.

Additionally DA General Order 8 dated 19 March 1974 authorized all personnel to be awarded

the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (ribbon only).

"Project 972"

Project 972 was a highly classified mission of the 519th

Transportation Battalion and the

reason the 569th

Transportation Company (Class "A") was located at Camp Khon Kaen to

transport with weapons and protect the 972 cargo delivered to NKP. All other elements of the

519th

were Class "B" units composed of local national and GI drivers. Their convoys operated

without weapons.

"Project 972 was directly ordered, organized, supervised and controled by the Secretary of

Defense, Robert McNamara and was part of something called "the McNamara electronic wall of

Defense". These electronic devices, transported by the 519th

were dropped by the USAF aircraft

(out of NKP) into the DMZ, the Ho Chi Minh Trail and around every other major US Military

installation in Vietnam. Project 972 was also part of something called "Igloo White" and was

heavily utilized around Khe Sanh during TET 68.

According to public statements made by Col Lownds (the Marine Regiment Commander of

6000+ troops), the reason for the success of "Operation Niagara", was the electronic devices

around Khe Sanh. The Air Force was able to determine where enemy troops were and guide the

defensive bombing over the VC troops. He says that if the electronic devices had not worked as

well as they did, the list of casualties in The Wall from 20 Jan 68 to 1 April 68 (for Khe Sanh)

would have been twice as long.

As you can see, as little as it might be, OUR HANDS were directly involved in Vietnam. You

might be glad to think that, maybe, you saved somebody's life!!!!. Besides that, the effect on the

Ho Chi Minh Trail was also very significative for the war effort. Your hand was also there. -

Jose Luis Benavides CPT, TC USAR (not now in active duty).

The 519th

Port Battalion - World War II

"I was a member of the 304th Port Company, 519th

Port Battalion from July 1943 - Basic and

Advanced training at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania, then stationed at

Camp McKay, Boston, where we worked in various facilities in the Port of Boston.

We departed for England on March 24, 1944 on the troopship E.P. Alexander arriving in

Liverpool, England on April 5, 1944. We soon moved to Bristol, England where we were

billeted in private homes, (since all Army installations were bulging with GI's at that time). For

two months we worked in the ports of Bristol, and Swansea and Newport, Wales handling

materials destined for the impending invasion of France.

We arrived in Normandy on June 6, 1944 unloaded the vessels we arrived on (one of which

was hit by a dive bomber - killing 20 members of our battalion), and were quartered in an area

about 300 yards inland from the sea wall, and later in an apple orchard nearby. We worked 12-

hour shifts for approximately 5 months unloading all sorts of ships, landing craft, etc. We were

then sent to the Port of Antwerp, Belgium after it had been taken by Canadian troops, providing

better facilities than were available at the beach. We worked in Antwerp (through 175 days of

continuous air and V-bomb attacks). The 518th

and 490th

Port Battalions - were a part of the First

Engineers Special Brigade in France.

Following V-Day we returned to the US, on a point system, - I left Europe on the 12th

of

January 1946 and was discharged on the 16th of February 1946. I served in various capacities in

the 304th

(primarily as a winch operator).

For 34 years I have worked as an elementary teacher and principal in Wisconsin - now retired,

and living near Tucson, Arizona." - Dave Weaver

History of the Transportation Corps

http://www.eustis.army.mil/overview.htm

"The Transportation Corps was established 31 July 1942 by Executive Order 9082.

Transporters have a long history of answering the nations call. As far back as the Revolutionary

War when General George Washington appointed the first Wagon Master, Transporters have

been there to move and sustain American fighting forces.

Prior to the war of 1812, military transportation had taken a back seat in the national military

strategy. It was apparent after the war that some form of organized transportation support was

needed to guarantee the new nation's ability to successfully engage and defeat an enemy.

In response to this need, General Thomas S. Jesup was appointed as Quartermaster General in

1818. Later General Jesup initiated programs that not only improved the transportation capability

of the U.S. military, but also encouraged the United States expansion to the west. These

programs included the building of the Great Military Road of 1836, which linked the far-flung

ports of the west with the industrial bases of the east and the use of the steamship for amphibious

landings.

During the Civil War, transportation proved to be an integral part of military logistics through

the organization of railroads as a viable and efficient means of military transportation. By 1864

five of the nine divisions in the Quartermaster Department dealt exclusively with transportation.

A substantial number of battles were won because of the field commander's ability to swiftly and

effectively move troops and supplies.

During the Spanish American War the awesome task of mobilizing and deploying a largely

volunteer force to Cuba and the Philippines magnified the need for a separate transportation

service within the Quartermaster Department. Army transporters worked with both the civilian

railroads and the maritime industry to pull together a successful intermodal operation.

The Army Expeditionary Force that deployed to France during World War I emphasized the

need for a single transportation manager. W.W. Attebury, a former railroad executive, was

appointed as the Director General of Transportation and a separate Transportation Corps was

established in 1918. Having satisfied the immediate need and requirements of the day, this

forerunner of the modern Transportation Corps was abolished after the war.

With the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States began the largest mobilization in its

history. This time there was no hesitation concerning the control of transportation. In March

1942, the transportation functions were consolidated into the Transportation Division of the

newly created Services of Supply. That same year, on 31 July, President Roosevelt established

the Transportation Corps. By the end of the war the Transportation Corps had moved more than

30 million soldiers within the continental United States; and 7 million soldiers plus 126 million

tons of supplies overseas.

When the Soviet Union cordoned off the city of Berlin in 1948, the Transportation Corps

played a vital role in sustaining the city. Two years later, on 28 June 1950, President Truman

established the Transportation Corps as a permanent branch of the Army.

During the Korean Conflict, the Transportation Corps kept the U.N. Forces supplied through

three brutal winters. By the time the armistice was signed, the Transportation Corps had moved

more than 3 million soldiers and 7 million tons of cargo.

The Vietnam War saw the most diversified assortment of transportation units ever assem

bled. For over a decade the Transportation Corps provided continuous support for American and

allied forces through an unimproved tropical environment using watercraft, amphibians, motor

trucks and Transportation Corps aircraft.

On 31 July 1986, the Transportation Corps was inducted into the U.S. Army Regimental

System, heralding a new era in Transportation.

In 1990 the Transportation Corps faced one of its greatest challenges in its 200-year history

with the onset of the Gulf War. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the

Transportation Corps working out of ports on three continents effectively demonstrated its ability

to deploy and sustain massive forces. Transporters ensured that no soldier was without the

resources to face and defeat the enemy.

Successful operations in Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti and Bosnia have continued to demonstrate

the successes of the Transportation Corps soldiers."

Crests & Patches

The 519th

Transportation Battalion Crest

313th

TC mascot

33rd

Plt Patch

Photo's Page

This page is dedicated to photo's sent in by members of the 519th Transportation Battalion

(WWII and Thailand).

Patch worn by 519th

Port Battalion personnel.

World War II

This first picture is of the Autocar, the second is some fully loaded ones in Italy during World

War II.

(These very well could have been predecessor to the 569th TC?)

Monuments to the 519th Port Bn at Normandy in 1943.

519th Port Bn in troop boxcars in Belgium - World War II

Thailand

(Dave Weaver standing w/overcoat & glasses)

The “keeper of the bear” / SP4 Hamm (569th)

291th TC Convoy

SSG Davis on the road / SSG Davis at Pattaya BBQ w/505th TC

569th Messhall @ Camp Khon Kaen

519th Trans. Bn."under construction"

NKP "Ammo Dump" / SP5 Copper "Taking down lines" at NKP

SP5 Wilson (569th) / My truck 569 - 229

569th - "1st Plt award"

SSG Rose (53rd) / LTC Jack Schwartz

"Commanders Call" at 519th / more of the "Commanders Call"

53rd TC Warehouse @ Camp Vayama / 291st TC motor pool @ Camp Friendship

Pvt Givins - 569th (later drowned) / 569th TC drivers

more 569th

drivers

Undated photo of 519th personnel in formation / Jerry Nienhouse (later 2nd Plt Sgt, 569th TC)

291st TC tractor in the ditch.

SP5 Wilson & LTC Mantooth / SP5 Copper & LTC Mantooth

During a 569th

TC award ceremony

569th

Accident on the road to Ubon.

The 569 TC NCO Billets (1989)

The 569th

Platoon Billets (1989)

3rd

Shop Motor Pool (1969) / 3rd

Shop Motor Pool (1989)

569th

Motor Pool (1969) & Motor Pool (1989)

Former Thai Guard and Joe Wilson (1989) / Orderly Room ruins (1989)

Going to Thai Guards house (1989)

Your Emails

This page contains a variety of guestbook entries from The 519th

Transportation Association,

Thailand website at http://www.519transportationassociation.com as well as email from the guys

assigned to the 519th

Transportation Battalion, as well as it's predessor - the 519th

Port Battalion

during World War II. Although not enough space to include everyone, I've placed those which I

feel were expecially important in conveying the essence of the organization that inspired this

book. – jjwilsonjr@yahoo.com Joseph J. Wilson, Jr. - SFC, Retired, TC.

8-28-1997 - I served in the 519th

in Sattahip as the skipper of an army tug from May 76 to Jan

77. wbacon@mindspring.com - Willard J. (Jerry) Bacon

1-7-1998 - Anyone who was in the 313th

drop my wife Doi and I a line. I was there in 68-69

VietNam 69-70 and back there again in 70-71. I am looking for my old Commander Then a

Captain Benjamin M.Fillmore who really saved my life and probably doesn't know it. Many

years I've looked for him, any info would help. Also looking for a George L.(?) Dennison. Hope

everyone had a great X-mas and New Year, Your friends thaihvn@fmtc.com - Dan & Doi

Sanford U.S. Army Retired.

4-15-1998 - I first arrived in Thailand in Jul 1968 and was assigned to D Co. 538th

Eng Bn

(we built Camp Samea San). I PCS'ed back to the states Jun 1969 on orders to Germany but was

able to get them changed and returned to Thailand assigned to D Co. 809th

Eng Bn which was

located just west of NKP. I stayed there for 3 months and was reassigned back to D Co. 538th

Eng Bn. Upon on its deactivation I was assigned to the 260th

Trans Co. I married Sangad

Tippasert in May 1970. (Some of you may have known her by Sam, she worked at the EM club

in D Co 538th

's area) We PCS'ed to Ft. Knox, KY in Jul 1970. We returned to Thailand in Jan

1972 on orders to the 313th

Trans but upon arrival I was told that they had deactivated so I was

assigned to the postal company on Samaesan. I was finally assigned back to the 260th

in Sept

1972 where I remained until Jul 1974. I would like to find a Darrel Nelson who was assigned

there also but will answer email from anyone who was there or just wants to chat. Oh, also

looking for a Jim Valletine who was in the 538th

and the 260th

with me.

gladams@worldnet.att.net - Gary L. Adams

4-19-1998 - I served in the 313th

Trans. Company in Sattahip, in July 71 and also at Port

Vayama (ammo) until July 72.If anyone knows of Jeff Schroeder who also served with me I

would like to know of his location. He was th S1 of Sattahip Detachment. spark@ptialaska.net -

Paul E. Dawson

5-2-1998 - I was deployed to Thailand on 24 Nov 1966 via the 505th

Transportation Company

out of Fort Benning, Ga. We were the first Transportation Company to be invited into Thailand.

That is a fact, we were INVITED by the Thai Government to be there. As invitees, we were not

allowed to carry weapons. Over the next two months, other Transportation Companies came into

country, the 53rd

, 313th

, 260th

and others. In November of 1966, the 519th

Transportation

Battalion (HHC) arrived in Korat, next to the U.S. Air Force Base. I was with the 505th

Trans Co.

at the time but was selected to move to Korat and work with the 519th

Tr Bn. The Battalion

Commander was LTC Harry F. Middleton, MAJ Wilcox was the Battallion XO, CAPT Barry

was the Battallion Adj. We also had a MAJ Gilley (sp), who was a dead rigginer for MAJ Frank

Burns of the TV series M*A*SH*. If there is anyone out there from either the 505th

or the 519th

?

I would enjoy hearing from you. My e-mail is QuickenTree@worldnet.att.net. Best Regards,

Lloyd W. Stimpson

11-12-1998 - I was in Thailand in the 519th

transportation. In part 68 and 69 I started out as a

cook and then became a truck driver. I also ran the movies. The Caption (I can not remember his

name) had a bullconstruter snake, and a cat that looked like a bobcat. I use to feed the cat and

helped catch the snake when it got out. I use to develop film for my camera. If there is any one

that remembers me, and would like to chat about the past Please E-Mail me.

all_ways_dancing@yahoo.com - Galen Slatter Twin Falls, Idaho

12-15-1998 - I was stationed at Khon Kaen from February 1967 until April 1968. I was one of

the first of four replacements for the Company members who had sailed all the way from

Maryland to Thailand. I was surprised to find anything about the 569th

. Your story brought back

many memories. If you had to be in the war Khon Kaen was the best place to spend it. I never

found friends as good as I had in the 569th

. don@tubafor.com - Don Deschenes

4-18-1999 - I was the senior medic at that took care of the 569th

at Khon Kaen in 68/69. The

unit hauled crated bombs to the AFB in Udorn. Each 5-ton tractor had a small signal box in the

cab of the truck that indicated the integrity of the bomb crate. If the light went from green to red

they were suppose to pull out of the convoy and drop back and follow from a distance. That way,

if they blew up, it wouldn't take any other trucks. The drivers were all crazy! I remember a

couple bad wrecks when the convoy stopped and a truck that was engulfed in dust didn't see

them in time and slammed into the back of the truck in front of them. I treated a young man who

had a near amputation of the (r) forearm. He got it caught between two tractors or a tractor and a

trailer one evening. I kept him alive and had to argue with the USAF to get a medevac. I also

remember treating a black soldier who was severely burned when the fuel he was using, to burn

off everything growing on the perimeter, ignited and blew up on him. There was a civilian that

we called "Speedy". As I recall, he was a graduate engineer but served in more of a interpreter

capacity. I treated his infant daughter for severe burns on the hands and arms that she sustained

when she tipped a vessel of bowling water over onto herself. I traveled all over the country. I

went to a leper colony, in a remote, northern village, with a Catholic Priest (missionary). I also

remember a long water slide, sort of a waterfall, over smooth rocks but I don't remember the

name of the place. I had two great friends. One was Jim Amerson, the unit armorer, from

Raleigh, N.C. and the other a driver named Bill Marriot whom we called, "Tex". I conducted sick

call, dispensed malaria tablets and salt tablets, treated social diseases off the record, and anything

I couldn't handle we shipped a little farther north to a doctor at the 7th

Radio Research Field Site

(RRFS). This was some top secret military air radio service (MARS) site just north of us. Our

camp looked primitive to the facilities they had there. Does anyone remember the small coca-

cola hootch out in the yard in front of the motorpool? How about the PSP sidewalks, and who

could forget the monsoon rains. I also remember a large, flying insect that resemble a huge water

bug. They called it a "mangdau" (sp?). It was considered a delicacy and they would get all

excited when they caught one. Then, they would wrap it in paper and ignite the paper. When it

burned down, they would dig it out, brush it off and eat it. I think it also had a stinger that had to

be removed. A wonderful place and great people. I'm glad I had the opportunity to serve the

569th

. I can't say I was a part of it because I was a from a medical support unit in Korat. Even

though I spent my entire time in country, in Khon Kaen, I was not a driver and if you didn't drive

- well, you just wasn't one of the bunch. They were quite a bunch! Sa-wa-dee to all!

lbhartshorn@midamerican.com - Doc H - 133rd

Medical Detachment.

8-18-1999 - I am writing this. Bill has talked about his time over there often. He seems to

have good memories. I think he would like to talk with someone that might have been there

when he was. That would have been May 68 thru May 69. He said he was with the 569th

,

attached 9th HHC. He told me he did vehicle or trailer maintenance. If you were there please dial

him up. Our e-mail address is listed buslight@pacbell.net. - William R. Light - Thanks Bill's

wife.

9-24-1999 - I was in Thailand from Mar 69 - Feb 70 at HHD in Samae San and toured as S-2

throughout the country. I hope some of the guys will log on and chat about that brief but exciting

part of time. dat200@iswi.net - John Scibby.

10-23-1999 - I was the CO of the 291st Trans Co. of the 519

th battalion under LTC Jack

Schwartz from Jan 1968 to Jan 1969. Would like to hear from old friends. dbass@cftc.gov - Don

Bass.

11-7-1999 - I was a SSG at Camp Vayama in the 53rd

Trans during parts of 67 and 68. My

jeep driver was Mr. Yuan and my interpreter was Jake. Had the mission of clearing the Victory

ships to the Ammo dump and to Utapao and also clearing the deep water port.

jhr0545@prodegy.net - James H. Rose.

12-16-1999 - As a member of the 519th

Port Bn from Indiantown Gap, PA (IGMR) through

Normandy to Antwerp, Belgium I always thought that the 519th

was deceased when we were

deactivated in Oct. 1964. I was amazed to hear of it's rebirth as the 519th

Transport Bn., and it's

subsequent achievements in two theaters. They have a proud record. You are to be commended

for your outstanding web site. I would enjoy hearing from anyone associated with or interested in

the 519th

Port Bn. dalweaver@aol.com - David H. Weaver.

6-21-2000 - Although I am from North Carolina, I am now a resident of Clarksville, TN. The

569th

Trans was my first assignment. I arrived in the unit in Jan 68 and departed on a early

rotation in Dec 69. I am glad to have been referred to the organization by SEC Koons. It brings

back good memories of what it meant to be a soldier in the real army. Will definitely keep in

touch. garlandj1@juno.com - Jimmie M. Garland CW4, Retired, QM.

7-12-2000 - My first duty station was with the 569th

Trans. Co. 69 - 70 Khon Kaen. I was in

second platoon and LT Koons was my plt leader. I arrived with pvt's Canfield, Ronald, Heuck,

James E., Quimby, Richard W. and Givens, James N. ra,pski@netscape.net - Juan F. Ramos, Jr,

E-7, (Ret).

7-17-2000 - Got your address from Jim Rose who called me this weekend. I served with the

53rd

Trans. Co. at Camp Vayama 69 - 70. Supply officer and a brief time as company

commander between captains. Enjoyed reading the website and will try and put together some

information and photos that I still have (slides actually) if I can find them. It's really great to read

this after all these years. Great job and thanks for your efforts. tkillion@peerlesspump.com - Tim

Killion.

11-29-2000 - I was with the 569th

from July 1969 to July 1970. At least until we stood down

early spring of 1970. From there went to Camp Vayama, 505th

Trans...Great to see so many

names I remember. Let's talk Mule Skinners...I am in the Michigan phone book. Regards, -

lcpr_jr@worldnet.att.net - John Raschk

12-10-2000 - I was stationed with 313th

Transportation Company until it stood down and then

transferred over to the 260th

Transportation Company. I was under the excellent leadership of

CPT James Haupt and 1SG Whiting. I was there July 1971 to July 1972. I was the company

supply clerk and armorer and did some trans runs up to Korat and Udorn.

bobperryhk@yahoo.com - Robert Perry

12-13-2000 - I was the last Adjutant of the 519th

. I was at Camp Samae San from August

1970 until the battalion was de-activated. LTC Vidrick was the battalion commander most of the

time I was there. Major Jim Sellar was the XO and Major Forcier was the S-3. I just saw Sellar in

Honolulu in December 2000..he is doing fine. Spoke with LTC Vidrick in Richmond, Virginia

and he seemed great also. I have been with EDS for 30 years since leaving the Army in 1971.

coley.clark@eds.com - Jack Coley Clark

2-5-2001 - 313th

Trans Co/Opns Off/Nov 68 - Nov 69/Bangkok - I remember: Ted Nemeth,

the guy I replaced taught me my first word in Thai, "medlamood"; the "Tiger's Lair". 3rd floor

apartment on Soi Long Suan. The Thai Younoke where Tiger Lily hungout down the street (LTC

Mantooth had a thing for Tiger Lily); lunches at the NCO Club; the Montien Hotel, late nights at

the Aladdin; early mornings at the US embassy medical mission; monthly Commander's dinners

at the 519 Trans. Bn. in the boondocks; Tomya my faithful interpreter; my neighbors Lynn

Mckenna, & Jack (surrogate dad), Anita and Betty Quinn; my good friend Peter Chinn the

Chinese porn film producer; my apartment buddies Mike Fillmore (my CO) and Jimi, and last

but not least our housegirl - Som. I have many good and lasting memories. If any of this rings a

bell, drop me a line. Sawadee Krap. bobtravis@olywa.net - Bob Travis

2-26-2001 - I was a 2LT plt ldr assigned to the 291st in Dec 1967. I DEROS back to US in

Nov 1968 together with LTC Schwartz and others. I will send you an extensive story about my

year with the 519th

and the tremendous accomplishments we had. I want ALL associated with the

519th

to be proud of our record and our work. We did good. I will fill in some details of the 519th

during Dec 1967 to Nov 1968. Joe, you may want to publish some of this or all of my letter. It

will have a lot. Everyone must be proud of our Meritorious Unit Commendation. We did

GOOD!! Bye for now. I will be in touch. And...Hello and sawadeeh to all. joselb@msn.com -

Jose L. Benavides.

6-14-2001 - I was a member of the 519th

Port Battalion from July 1943 until I was transferred

to the 334th

Harbor Craft Co. in Dec. of 1945 at Antwerp, Belgium. I was a clerk in Hg. & Hg.

Det. of the 519th

Port Battalion. I was discharged in Jan. 1946. I still keep in contact with about

ten fellas that were in the 519th. Let me know more about the reunion. I have enjoyed reading

the history of the 519th

. bkramone114@aol.com - Bruce C. Kramlich.

7-2-2001 - Hi Joe thanks for the info about us being Nam vets. Technically that may be correct and it makes me feel better buuuut..... The 972 info is dynomite ha ha ha. Hauling 972 and other ordinance always made me feel more like a war effort supporter than reading manifests that said K-9 food, toilet paper, liquor, however, everyone liked making those beer runs. Can't wait for the reunion. See if Koons can dig up any info from old paper work or family info & I'll try like crazy to track people via telephone. The more the merrier. The web is great but any & all resources should be tried. Sah wah de. knbarbara@uswest.net - Nick Kush.

7-16-2001 - Hello Gang!! In some ways it seems like it was yesterday rather than 32 years ago that we were all together in Khon Kaen. Been lots of water under the bridge during that time but seeing these e-mails makes the years melt! Funny how you remember things—from my first days as 2nd Platoon Leader. Thought I would share this and see how much y’all could add!! - Steve

"Platoon Leader: 1LT Steve Koons, Platoon Sergeant: SSG Jerry Neinhouse, Asst Platoon Sergeant: SSG Wright, 1st Sqd Leader: SGT Pennington, 2nd Squad Leader: SGT Jackie Rowe, Jeep PFC Chaney, SP4 Wukluk—then Mike Cummer, 201 - PFC

Hallman, 203 - PFC Lawson / PFC Walker, 205 - PFC Semotchke / PFC Cole, 207 -

PFC Benson (Grandpa), 209 - PFC Brown, J., 211 - PFC Mike Cummer, 213 - SP4 Brown D ./ PFC Willis, 215 - SP4 Nick Kush, 217 - SP4 Reyes / SP4 Patrick, 219 - PFC

Boyd, 221 - SP4 Carpenter, 223 - PFC Schnarrs, 225 - SP4 Kandrach, 227 - SP4

Covency, 229 - SP5 Joe Wilson / PFC Knight, 231 - PFC Bennette / PFC Ramos, 233 -

PFC Williams, 235 - SP4 Campbell / PV2 Bracey, 237 - PFC Terry Hamm, 239 - SP5 Copper / PFC Kitchen." steve.koons@forscom.army.mil - Steve Koons.

8-9-2001 - I was a member of the 519th

from 19 May 66 - 26 Nov 67, deploying from Ft

Meade with the Battalion. I was initially a Plt Ldr in the 313th

TC and moved to the Bn as Asst

S3 and eventually took command of the 291st TC. Following is info I recall about the 291st

(circa 1May - 26Nov 67): Commander- CPT Thomas R. Millen, ISGT- SFC Donald H York, 1st

PLT LDR - LT Robert S. Bach, 2nd PLT LDR - LT George R. McDowell,3rd PLT LDR - LT

Richard Booker, Maint Off- WO1 George W. Bobberts, COL Middleton's staff follows: XO-

MAJ Robert L. Wilcox Jr. S1- CPT David C. Burke S3- MAJ Gerald R. Gillie S4- CPT Roy C.

Berry Maint Off- CPT Ronald S. Pletter PBO- WO William Weaver Looks like a lot of great

work has already been done. I hope this helps a little. tmillen@mindspring.com - Thomas R.

Millen Colonel (Ret.)

8-24-2001 - Webmaster Wilson: I had the following item all written up and ready to send out

on the web when I stumbled across your terrific web site last Friday. It answers some, but not all

my questions about 972. I hope to be a regular contributor to the 569th

/519th

web site (I got out of

the Army just before New Year's Eve, 1969 and have spent most of the time since as a

newspaper reporter or editor. I presently am editor of a small weekly newspaper (The Madison

County Eagle) in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. My memory of names and many details isn't

so hot (must have been that 90-cents a bottle Vodka our company armorer sold me in the

evening), but I remember a lot of "war stories" and hope to contribute some of them. I also have

a bunch of color slides that I have been meaning to scan. Mostly scenery, but I'll send some. The

ones attached were old photos and I didn't even write names on the back of them.

glassgreg@hotmail.com - Greg Glassner.

Essay on 972:

by Gregory Kurt Glassner Former 1st Lt., USAR

In 1969, I was a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army, stationed at Khon Kaen, Thailand, in the 569th

a

truck company of the 519th

Transportation Battalion. We were, to my knowledge, the only U.S.

Army truck battalion operating in Thailand at this time.

We carried bombs, ammo, rockets, and Class X (beer and booze) to the USAF (Actually

"Royal Thai") Air Bases at Nakhon Ratchasima ("Khorat"), Takhli, Udon Thani ("Udon"), Ubon

and Nakhon Phanom ("NKP"). Civilian truck companies carried everything else. Our truck

battalion was the link between the port at Sattahip and the Air Bases upcountry.

One company (the 505th

) was at Sattahip and used Thai drivers. (I spent the 13th

month of my

tour with this company, taking convoys to Takhli. B-52s took off over my "hooch" each

morning.) Battalion HQs was between Sattahip and Khorat. Another company took cargo from

Korat to Camp Khon Kaen. My company, the 569th

, did the final legs to Ubon, NKP and Udorn.

(I was XO, as well as platoon leader for two platoons, supply officer and a bunch of other titles!

It was a small camp.)

I was vaguely aware of what most of our cargo was. It's hard to disguise a large bomb, and no

attempts were made to do so. The crates and containers were labeled in some way, or disgorged

their contents when one of our trucks ran off the road or jackknifed, spilling some of the contents

on the highway. (I have a slide, somewhere, of rockets strewn on a dirt road several miles from

NKP. By the time we righted things, it was dark and the road was no longer "secure," so we

spent the night at a tiny Corps of Engineers camp.)

Some pallets of beer were "damaged" by the time they reached us, with a few cases pilfered.

This was an excuse for our company to pull a few more cases off and have a morale boosting

company party or cookout. One cargo continues to mystify me, however. I assume it is now

declassified, but it was very hush-hush when we hauled it. I am still curious about the contents.

This cargo, I remember the code name being "972," was packaged in Styrofoam shipping

containers and carefully strapped to the trailers of our 5-ton tractors. An electric warning device

ran, via wires, to the cab of each truck and we were instructed to stop the convoy whenever the

alarm went off. When this happened, the officer and NCOs who accompanied the cargo swarmed

all over it to determine if it was a loose wire or larger problem.

On one occasion, they had us escort them and the defective weapon to an abandoned air base,

where we watched them blow it up with explosives. An interesting aspect to this mystery cargo

was the special escort. This was unusual, because we were entrusted with all of the conventional

weapons of mass destruction - no escort necessary. The officer and NCOs wore Chemical Corps

insignia and I was told they had come all the way from Kansas, by rail to the Coast and by Ship

to Sattahip.

Although I was security officer for Camp Khon Kaen, I was not privy to the contents of this

cargo. The 972 was hauled to NKP, which was where many of the prop planes and other "spook"

aircraft were. We ran numerous convoys of 972 in 1969. I believe I was on three or four. I

routinely rotated convoys with the other two lieutenants in our company.

Being a nosey sort, I enlisted our First Sergeant to chat up the Chemical Corps NCOs over a

few beers. He came back with a story about our mysterious cargo being clusters of "humane"

anti-personal mines that fluttered down to the ground on parachutes. He said they activated after

they hit the ground, were capable of blowing off a foot, without actually killing the enemy, and

deactivated after a few days, so the "friendlies" could pass through unharmed. I do not know if

this was a "cock and bull" story, a cover story or the truth. It did strike me as odd that Chemical

Corps personnel would be in charge of the weapon described. For all I know, our secret cargo

could have been a gigantic flop - our Vietnam experience certainly produced its share of

catastrophes.

This cargo remains a mystery to me, and perhaps to others. Maybe it was not of sufficient

significance to warrant more than a footnote, somewhere. Still, even after 32 years, I'd like to

know what the heck it was. glassgreg@hotmail.com - Greg Glassner.

Escort for Project 972

9-4-2001 - I was TDY to Thailand 3/68-3/71. I escorted Aerial Mines from Sattahip to

northern Air Bases as a member of the US Army Technical Escort Center from Edgewood

Arsenal Maryland.

We had to ensure that the aerial mines packed in containers containing freon would not leak,

otherwise the "mine" would become armed and dangerous. The containers were electronically

monitored to maintain watch on the freon level. In the event that there was a leak and the freon

level dropped, we were prepared to drill the container and fill it with diesel fuel which would

render the "mines" harmless. Our unit made numerous trips in Thailand. lkfeil@earthlink.net -

Les Feil, former Captain USA Chemical Co

As a general observation

by Captain Jose Luis Benavides

The main reason for the US Army in Thailand was for supporting the war effort in VN.

There were certain phases of this support. As a truck battalion our mission was transporting

cargo of all nature.

For example: the 260th

was a medium truck POL company. They arrived in Thailand with 60

tractors, 5 ton and 60 trailers 5000 gal POL. Shortly thereafter the Army realized that the

capabilities of only one POL company was not enough for the Air Force requirements. The 260th

was ordered to return all their POL equipment and draw 60 trucks 5 ton dump.

Yeah, they were converted into an engineer unit. The Transportation Corps has no "dirt

transporting mission" in their books. But building roads was one of the main VN support

missions in Thailand. The 260th

was attached to the 809th

Engr. Bn. located at Phanom Sarakham

(Camp Shinthop, or something like that) for about 18 months. (Sometime early 67 thru late 68).

Then they were converted again to Med. Trk. Cargo (5 ton Tractors).

The 313th

Med. Trk. Refrigeration was relocated to Bangkok about Jan 68 because the

Bangkok port system is where the Army had big cold storage facilities and all the cold storage

stuff (food) was docking at Bangkok. From Bangkok, the 313th

, distributed food all over

Thailand.

The 53rd

was a Med. Trk. Cargo/Port Clearance unit. All they did was to clear the port of

Sattahip of all cargo coming in. They would move from the port area into the Trailer Transfer

Point from where the 505th

would move it to Phanom Sarakhan. From Phanom the 291st would

pick it up and either continue to Khon Kaen or the 569th

would support the operation sometimes

and pick it up from Korat and continue to Ubon, Udorn or NKP. I think that the 505th

also had

some responsibility for Takli and Chian Mai. And, there was 972 of which we have talked a lot

about it already.

So to sum up. We supported the Air Force, the Engineers, and other Army units in all their

work efforts for the VN war. And of course, the reason of our MUC is ALL the measured

accomplishments in Thailand. BTW, I was detached from the 291st in Korat and assigned to the

809th

for support in their efforts of building the Thai Infantry Training Camp at Kanchanaburi.

From around March to June 68 I was stationed in Phanon Sarakhan moving heavy equipment for

the Engineers. And when I finished, I went back to Korat. The Bn. personnel was: LTC

Schwartz, CO, Maj. Fucella, XO, Maj Brennan, S-3, Lt. Steel, S-1, Lt. Crabb, S-4, and Lt.

Linsley, Asst S-3. Can't remember the name of the PBO. He was a CWO4. And the BN.

Maintenance Officer was a CWO3. (Can't remember his name either) Any questions or if you

need more stuff, let me know. As always, your brother – Jose.

More to come!

Biography

Joseph J. Wilson, Jr.

Sergeant First Class Wilson enlisted in the United States Army on 13 September 1967 in

Boise Idaho. He completed BCT (Basic Combat Training) with B-3-3 at Fort Lewis Washington

on 6 November 1967 and was promoted to Private E-2. He completed AIT (Advanced Individual

Training) with C-2-4 at Fort Ord California on 5 January 1968 and was promoted to Private First

Class (E-3) on 10 January 1968.

His initial assignment was on 20 February 1968 in Southeast Asia to the 519th

Transportation

Battalion at Camp Friendship in Korat (APO SF 96233) in Northeastern Thailand. He was

further assigned as a medium truck driver with the 569th

Transportation Company at Camp Khon

Kaen (APO SF 96282) where he was promoted to Specialist Four (E-4) on 27 June 1968 and to

Specialist Five (E-5) on 21 January 1969. In March 1970 he was transferred to the 505th

Transportation Company at Camp Vayama (APO SF 96232) until July 1970 when he returned to

CONUS and was honorably discharged at Oakland Army Terminal in California.

In 1971 he left inactive reserve status and joined the 321st Engineer Battalion of the 96

th

ARCOM at Boise, Idaho. In June 1972, he again enlisted in the United States Army as a

Specialist Four (E-4) and was stationed with the 9th

Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington.

He served as a driver and as an infantry operations specialist with the 2nd

Battalion, 39th

Infantry.

He completed the 6th

Army NCO Academy on 9 August 1972. In 1973 he served as the assistant

support platoon sergeant with the 3rd

Battalion, 60th

Infantry. He was promoted to Sergeant (E-5)

and completed the Basic NCOES course at Fort Eustis, Virginia in 1974.

While stationed in the Panama Canal Zone in 1974 he served as a driver, squad leader,

household goods inspector, and military customs inspector with the Atlantic Transportation

Office at Fort Davis. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant (E-6) on 11 June 1976.

After returning to CONUS he served as an assistant platoon sergeant with the 360th

Transportation Company at Fort Carson, Colorado. After serving as the assistant career

counselor with the 68th

Transportation Battalion he was selected to become an army recruiter.

After completing the basic recruiter course at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana in May

1979, he was assigned to the San Francisco District Recruiting Command. His duty station was

at the Monterey Recruiting Station in Monterey, California. While on recruiting duty he was

selected for the Advances NCOES course at Fort Eustis, Virginia. On 15 May 1980 he received

constructive credit for the Advanced NCOES course after being selected for the standing E-7

promotion list.

On 30 May 1980 he served as a senior instructor, then course development NCO with the

Motor Vehicle Operator Course at Fort Leonard Wood. He was promoted to Sergeant First Class

(E-7) on 2 January 1981 and was a member of the 64C AIT Standardization Project at Fort

Eustis, Virginia.

His next assignment was with the 37th

Transportation Group in Germany where he was

assigned as a platoon sergeant with the 78th

Transportation Company at Azbill Barracks,

Russelsheim (APO NY 09185). He served as the Liaison NCO for the 106th

Transportation

Battalion, first at Rhein Main AFB, then at Offenbach Mail Facility, before becoming the

battalion night operations sergeant.

Upon returning to CONUS in January 1985 he served as the support platoon sergeant with the

1st Battalion, 77

th Armor. In July 1986 he served as platoon sergeant, then truckmaster with the

360th

Transportation Company at Fort Carson in Colorado.

His final overseas assignment was to the 17th

ASG at Camp Zama, Japan (APO SF 96343)

where he served as truckmaster of the US Army motor pool at the Yokohama North Dock. He

completed the Senior Leadership Development Course at Camp Zama on 15 September 1989.

He returned to CONUS and retired on 31 December 1990 as a senior transportation sergeant

with more than 21 years of active duty.

Sergeant First Class Wilson's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Unit

Commendation, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd

Oak Leaf

Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), the Good Conduct Medal (7

th

Award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Ribbon, the NCO

Professional Development Ribbon (3), the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon,

the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (w/60 Device) and PENDING the Republic of

Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (ribbon only).

Sergeant First Class Wilson married Montian Luckjant on 4 September 1969 during a

ceremony in Khon Kaen, Thailand. They currently live in Colorado Springs. Their grown

children and grandchildren who also live in Colorado Springs.

|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||

|......519th TRANSP....| ||'|";, ___.

|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -

"(@)'(@)""*****|(@)(@)*****''(@)

CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATE:

Initial Welcome Letter to our new members,

Welcome to our Yahoo Group email lists.

I don't know how involved you are online, but we have several websites, email lists and

Facebook groups for our members and you're welcome to join each of them.

Emails go to the entire list members. As a member you will be able to login, read our archival

emails and see what's been going on prior to you joining the group.

You may already on either the

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/USARSUPTHAI/ USARSUPTHAI @ Yahoo Group or

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/519tathailand/ The 519th Transportation @ Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/519thAgentOrangeThailand/ The 519th Agent Orange @ Yahoo Group Lists We also have these sites that you are welcome to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/154849561231642/ USARSUPTHAI FB Association https://www.facebook.com/groups/177132712320450/ 519th Transportation Association FB Please join us as site members on: http://www.519transportationassociation.com - The 519th Transportation Association, Thailand http://www.usarsupthai.webs.com - USARSUPTHAI Association

Feel free to register on our site members pages for our websites. Membership is absolutely free

and there are many benefits. New friends, old friends (some of us fall into both categories),

reunions (next one coming up in 2014 in Colorado Springs, and lots of communications via

email with just about everybody you've never heard of but will learn to recognize them by their

email addresses.

Any questions, contact me: jjwilsonjr@yahoo.com

Joe Wilson

569th Trans Co Camp Khon Kaen 68 - 70

505th Trans Co Camp Vayama 70

SFC, USA (Retired) 9/68 – 12/90

Webmaster, listmaster and the "Big Tiger" of the 519th Transportation Association, Thailand

Webmaster and Co-Founder of the USARSUPTHAI Association

We have recently made available as reunion fundraisers: USARSUPTHAI Decals and Bumper

Stickers for $6 each, or a set of 3 (USARSUPTHAI Decal, 9” USARSUPTHAI and 6”

USARSUPTHAI bumper stickers) for $15 postage paid. (One Round TUIT is included with each

order.

Simply send a check made payable to: The 519th

TAT

Mail it to: Joe Wilson, 1530 Winnebago Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80915-1818

Your decals will mailed out upon receipt of your check.

THE END