US Army Thailand 1971-1975

[Borey the Bald]

^Some interesting stuff there. I guess I wasn't aware of the extent of US involvement in Thailand in the mid-60's.

My memory of Utapao in 1974-1975 is mostly of B-52's and U-2 spy planes. But it was still a busy place. Our Army aircraft were designated U-21A's, so our pilots, to make themselves sound more important, would give the designation as U-2.....1A.

Thanks for the memories.

[RickThai]

I was stationed at Camp Samae San during the mid-70s. Absolutely loved the entire lifestyle. I would go on about my mission, but it was classified!

It is great to read about some of the old places. I lived in Kilo Sip for awhile, and I can still remember lying in a hammock, drinking an ice-cold Singha, while watching a U-2 spiral up into the sky before heading over to Vietnam.

Ah to be that young again!

[ltnt]

Just How can a mission in 1970 still be classified? sounds like my idiot brother working for Martin/Lockheed who said he couldn't tell me what he did or else he'd have to kill me. What B.S. Over self importance on his part. He did electrical harness gear for aircraft.

[Bazzy]

Just How can a mission in 1970 still be classified

I'm sure the spooks don't send letters out to the participants to say "Hey its now declassified you can blab about it all you like."

Would you risk a jail sentence?

[spudge]

Just How can a mission in 1970 still be classified?

Makes Govt X look bad: classified
Makes Govt X look good: Look out news media, here it comes!

Bazzy got it right above, and anyway who cares? I really like seeing the pics of TH and other places that ex-servicemen (of all nationalities) post from that era or any other really. They provide a fascinating snapshot (lit. & fig.) into a past era.

I wish I had something for the thread. My ancient MiL was a cook at a US base during the Vietnam war and said that she had a crush on an Italian. Were there any Italian soldiers involved or would it have been an Italian-American or Italian contractor or something?

[RickThai]

Just How can a mission in 1970 still be classified? sounds like my idiot brother working for Martin/Lockheed who said he couldn't tell me what he did or else he'd have to kill me. What B.S. Over self importance on his part. He did electrical harness gear for aircraft.

Actually is was in the mid-70's, and as someone who once held a clearance that included access to nuclear weapon activation codes, I personally believe that some "secrets" are better left unsaid.

Besides, what happened several decades ago is not something that I would necessarily want to bring up (especially with relative strangers!).

Can't understand why it bothers you so much (unless your trolling for "secrets").

You wouldn't happen to be a covert agent, would you?

Lighten up and enjoy your life is my motto.

BTW: Although I was Army, I was "load master" qualified, but Camp Samae San had no aircraft or runway; they were all at Utapao, a few klicks down the road.

[nkped]

There was some number of Army with the joint HQ at Nakhon Phanom in 74-75. Probably 50 or less although the deputy commander of the HQ was an Army 2 star. God knows why I remember that.

[pseudolus]

Watching that video of the old Thailand hookers, I am convinced that one of them (3.44) lives in my village. Old miserable cow and shouts at any farangs who dare to walk past her house. I will print it out and ask her assuming she does not throw bleach in my face for daring to speak to her. Just the type to have been used and abused in her youth and holding the grudge well into her 70's.

[Keech]

There was some number of Army with the joint HQ at Nakhon Phanom in 74-75. Probably 50 or less although the deputy commander of the HQ was an Army 2 star. God knows why I remember that.

NKPed is correct about Army troops stationed at NKP. I was with the 56th Security Police Squadron, part of the 56th Special Operations Wing, there in 73-74 and met some army folks while there. NKP was a major player in Rescue, recon and the United States Support Activities Group. (seek & peek stuff) On occassion some army types and some plan clothes folks, along with a few indiginous troops would need to cross the blue line into Laos & beyond for intel reasons.
The base is basically non existant now and the small town of NKP has changed a great deal since I was there.

[chassamui]

What a brilliant thread and thanks for digging it up. I left school in 69/70 and grew up with daily news bulletins about the war in Vietnam.
Never realise how widespread the support and R&R services were until I came here about 4 years ago.
Amazing stories Borey and chums. I 'get it' now since I did a few years in the British army and spent some times with your modern day colleagues.
History is only important if it is recorded by people who were actually there. Thank you.

[Rural Surin]

History is only important if it is recorded by people who were actually there.

Though, perspectives and interpretations might vary as it applies to historic content/historiography.

[chassamui]

Though, perspectives and interpretations might vary as it applies to historic content/historiography.

You could have said; some people view things differently.
Usually this is not important. In this case your pseudo intellectualism is detracting from an excellent thread.
Kindly desist from further comment unless it adds value to the discussion. Thank you.

[Rural Surin]

Semper Fi! Chaz.

[ltnt]

Semper Fi! Chaz.

Well RS, life in the boy scouts couldn't have been all that different from regular military life could it?

Humorously, we often referred to ourselves as "chimps." You would receive commands to drop and give them push ups, climb ropes, clean toilets, peel potatoes, scrub your clothes, clean the C.O.'s jeep, dig holes and then fill them in...

When we lined up for our meals we had to recite the regulations for posting guard. If you made an error you did more push ups and until you performed properly with approval from the D.I., then you were permitted to eat.

Seems like yesterday when I was a paid performer in my countries service. $73 a month paid for your services as a private no class. You struck it rich when you were finally sent overseas. In addition to your regular monthly pay you received a bonus of $12 overseas pay, and $65 combat pay. All you had to do to get it was go to Vietnam. Where you still retained the "chimp," performing act, but it had more value to it.

Yes, camping out for 12 months with pay, food and weather you just couldn't beat. I personally lived in a 20 man tent in base camp, slept when there on a canvas cot, (luxury suite), drank hot Black Label beer when it was available, smoked Lucky Strikes at .10 cents a pack, took hot showers using Immersible heaters, shit blood for 15 months due to variations of micro bacteria found everywhere and poor daily diets of shit and more shit. Piss tubes and common toilets train one not to be shy.

Yup, life was fun in those days. Fond memories indeed. So good that 45 years later I can almost feel the mid day sun on my soaking sweating body humping along on yet another day trek into surrounding flora and fauna of SEA looking for adventure...and serving Uncle Sam.

[superman]

smoked Lucky Strikes at .10 cents a pack

When I worked with US forces we always ate their rations which contained packs of 'Lucky Strike' and I always assumed yanks got cigarettes free?

[ltnt]

When I worked with US forces we always ate their rations which contained packs of 'Lucky Strike' and I always assumed yanks got cigarettes free?

Those 4 per pack contained in "C" rations were from WWII. Pretty harsh, but when in need did the deed.

[chassamui]

I once traded an old NBC training suit for Italian field rations on exercise. It included wine and cigarettes. The wine was enough to make you go AWOL.

[superman]

Those 4 per pack contained in "C" rations were from WWII.

I'm not that old. I'm talking 1970-72 on the training areas Luneburg Heath and Hohenfels, Germany.

[Rural Surin]

Semper Fi! Chaz.

Well RS, life in the boy scouts couldn't have been all that different from regular military life could it?

Humorously, we often referred to ourselves as "chimps." You would receive commands to drop and give them push ups, climb ropes, clean toilets, peel potatoes, scrub your clothes, clean the C.O.'s jeep, dig holes and then fill them in...

When we lined up for our meals we had to recite the regulations for posting guard. If you made an error you did more push ups and until you performed properly with approval from the D.I., then you were permitted to eat.

Seems like yesterday when I was a paid performer in my countries service. $73 a month paid for your services as a private no class. You struck it rich when you were finally sent overseas. In addition to your regular monthly pay you received a bonus of $12 overseas pay, and $65 combat pay. All you had to do to get it was go to Vietnam. Where you still retained the "chimp," performing act, but it had more value to it.

Yes, camping out for 12 months with pay, food and weather you just couldn't beat. I personally lived in a 20 man tent in base camp, slept when there on a canvas cot, (luxury suite), drank hot Black Label beer when it was available, smoked Lucky Strikes at .10 cents a pack, took hot showers using Immersible heaters, shit blood for 15 months due to variations of micro bacteria found everywhere and poor daily diets of shit and more shit. Piss tubes and common toilets train one not to be shy.

Yup, life was fun in those days. Fond memories indeed. So good that 45 years later I can almost feel the mid day sun on my soaking sweating body humping along on yet another day trek into surrounding flora and fauna of SEA looking for adventure...and serving Uncle Sam.

How romantic....

[Keech]

...and then if your really lucky, years later you can enjoy the wonderful effects of "defoliant exposure" as an added benefit.

[ltnt]

I'm not that old. I'm talking 1970-72 on the training areas Luneburg Heath and Hohenfels, Germany.

Perhaps in the European theater of the US Army they got the newer versions of "C' rations? We used to drive by "mountains of cases of "C" rations in storage yards. I truly believe that much of it went to the V.C. or sold on the black markets in Saigon or elsewhere. My era was 66-67.

How romantic....

Yes, very much so. Had a case of prostrate swelling once. The brigade doctor gave me a three day pass to go to the local village to immerse myself in the pleasures of the Vietnamese whores to reduce the swelling. Something I found quite abnormal as prescriptions go. It worked however.

...and then if your really lucky, years later you can enjoy the wonderful effects of "defoliant exposure" as an added benefit.

Only defoliant I saw was from the air. What worried me most was the amount of giant creators in the landscape below. After close encounter with a B-52 drop zone I have a high regard for things that drop from the sky.

Must be "fish or shrimp," farms now?

[fresh]

A late reply, but was reading around on TD and came on this wonderful post. Only want to mention that maybe for some of you guys it's interesting to know that over here in Kanchanaburi, at the military district, is a war memorial and museum with some nice original aircrafts used those days, the memorial is dedicated to the thai soldiers.

[thaipilot]

I am really hoping some other old vet would pick up the thread and run with it. I may have to dig out some more photos tomorrow to add to this.

Hello Borey,

I'm wondering if there are any alumni of Ramasun station and Udon airbase and am wondering if you worked there during the Vietnam war? If so, are you still around the area and are willing to meet up? I will be in Udon from the 1st of June until the 5th. Sorry for the short notice. I will not be checking these forums and signed up specifically to get in contact with you so please email your reply to benja_henderson @ hotmail.com or call me at 0945560307 (Thai number). Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Ben Henderson

[ron2mutt]

Rescue mission of Roger Locher involving the Army, USAF, etc. & Udorn is one matter that is apparently now somewhat declassified as Brig. Gen. Ritchie discussed it on a Youtube video here:

[Amina]

Ron2mutt,
I just stumbled across your BG Ritchie's rescue story. Thanks for sharing it. I found it to be very interesting, and I appreciate you sharing it with this group.
BTW - My husband is also retired USAF, who served with the 4 TFW & 355 TFW (F-105s) at Takhli RTAFB, in Nakhonsawan province, from 1965/66/67. I made sure he saw this U-Tube video as well, and I can report it made him very proud to hear BG Ritchie's story, and the efforts our country went through to get Roger Locher back from NVN.
Merry Christmas to all you expats in Thailand.
Amina Christoph

Rescue mission of Roger Locher involving the Army, USAF, etc. & Udorn is one matter that is apparently now somewhat declassified as Brig. Gen. Ritchie discussed it on a Youtube video here: