Vietnam Reunion at Dayton part 3

For the first time since back in October the temperatures marked 60 degrees yesterday, if only for a short time, then the skies got cloudy and a few sprinkles touched down in western Ohio. Some rain overnight has gone north, and a spot or two of sunshine is popping out as the temps head back towards 60 for today, with 50s and rain in store for the rest of the week...the snow, for the most part is gone, except for a few piles in the shaded areas, and under the bushes.

I jumped in the Jeep and headed south to Marysville where a "local" baseball rules meeting took place at the local golf club.....Marysville is a 75 mile drive from Celina, so "local" is a stretch for me...Sam had a much shorter ride from Columbus, and showed up as well. We now both have enough local rules meetings, as well as our state meeting in for the upcoming season. Sam will next week join the Columbus Association, and will do most of his work down that way for the next couple of years, while attending Ohio State...he'll do some spring work and Summer ACME baseball here, and some early fall football in this area, and Christmas Break Basketball here, but mostly will work farther to the south and east until he is finished at OSU, sometime in 2012.

Sunday at the Reunion____

After seeing the "Wicked" musical on Saturday evening at Dayton, Patricia and I spent our last evening at the Hope before heading back to Celina on Sunday. We had been offered a Buffet at Packy's for our farewell get together on Sunday Morning....20 or so of us were still around, while some had left early for their distant locations. I should mention that Dennis Evans and wife Angie, were the long distance travelers this time around, flying in from Dallas, Texas....they live in Cedar Park in the Longhorn State. In addition to Texas, we had out of state attendees from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Youngest son, Hal and his girlfriend Lisa, joined us about 9:30, so Hal could pick up my Intrepid for use until his Ford's body repairs are complete.

We had coffee, the women had some "spiked" OJ, and a good breakfast, and started to say our various "Good Byes"....I think all hated to see the weekend end. It went by all too quickly to say the least.

As the last group sat around finishing our talks, photo taking, and breakfast, we were approached by a young Staff Sargent who introduced himself as a C5A(the largest plane in the Air Force Fleet) Loadmaster, and offered those left an inside look and tour of the his C5A Galaxy...I accepted for those left(although I didn't go because of time, Hal, and room considerations), so Rich Holstein, his 2 sons, Jack Smith with wife Roberta, and Dennis and Angie Evans took the Sargent up on his offer....Jack has some photos which are posted on his Facebook account, showing the amazing size of this bird, and the good time they had. Richard's boys were indeed impressed.

I first saw and guarded a C5A back in June 1971 at Griffiss AFB, New York...I was amazed then, and those big birds are still the Empire of the Air Force some 40 years later.

We said our final farewells, Patricia, Hal, Lisa, and I, were the last to part....an Outstanding weekend was winding down, and as sad as that was, we had the memories fresh in our minds, and our souls had been revived.

Thanks to All who attended...Here is the list as I have it:

Name/Vietnam/Thailand Base`year/Hometown

Bob Griffith /Tan Son Nhut/Da Nang 1970/Riverside, Ohio

Rick Adams/ Safeside/Cincinnati, Ohio

Mike Tillman/Phan Rang 1966/Pebworth, Kentucky

Wayne DeZarn and Family/Binh Thuy 69-70/Huber Hts, Ohio

Thom Bell/Tan Son Nhut 68-70/Middletown, Ohio

John Galinac/Phu Cat 68-69/Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

Doug(Pam) Davis/Phu Cat K-9 handler 68-69/Traverse City, Michigan

Tom Oller/Safeside 68-69/Morrisonville, IL

Tommy Webb/Nha Trang, (RVN) 66-67 NKP, Udorn, Don Muang(Thailand) 75-76/Beavercreek, Ohio

Bart Stack/Cam Ranh Bay 67-68/Pittsburgh, PA

Larry(Mary) Gearig/Tuy Hoa/Swanton, Ohio

Richard Holstein and Sons/Cam Rahn Bay/Bolingbrook, IL

Dennis(Angie) Evans/ Binh Thuy/Cedar Park, Texas

Bob(Donna) Gerhardt/Phu Cat 68-69/Hamilton, Ohio

Steve(Judy)Gianelos/Phu Cat 68-69/Bouthuyn, PA

Greg Cain and Sheila Gervase-Cain/Bihn Thuy 67-68, West Seneca, NY(Sheila is the President of our Women's Association at VSPA)

David(Brenda) Ramey/Tan Son Nhut 1969/Middletown, Ohio

Allen Workman(Martha) NKP(Thailand) 73-74/Louisville, KY

Sam(Ruth) Lewis/Phan Rang 67-68/Dublin, Virginia

Jack Smith(Roberta)/Tan Son Nhut 1968/Columbus, Ohio

Tom McCandles/Phan Rang 67-68/Indianapolis, IN

Pat(Patricia) Houseworth/Nha Trang 1969/Tan Son Nhut 1970/Celina, Ohio

One again my thanks to all these Security Police Brothers from our days in Southeast Asia. Can't wait to do it all again, if the Lord is willing.

Today_____

On more Baseball rules meeting this week. Tonight I will travel to Van Wert for my regular association get together.....then I need to get working on the pamphlets for next week's Dartball Banquet. Perhaps things will settle down to "normal" after that.

Back Later>>>>

photos-top left Sunday Morning at Packys, the last Sky Cops Standing: Left to Right~Allen Workman, Richard Holstein, Jack Smith, PRH, and Dennis Evans.(2) Breakfast Buffet at Packy's on Sunday Morning(3) Home on Sunday Afternoon, with temps in the 50s and sunshine, I had time for a Guinness Extra Stout and a good cigar out by the garage(4)below...a stretched out version of the photo at the statue.

The Perfect and "Wicked" Weekend part 2

Sun is back out this morning, but rain is in the forecast. The spots on the ground that are getting plenty of sunshine have lost the snow, those confined to shadows most of the time, still have some piles of dirty snow about.....I'm guessing most will be melted by the weekend, if the 50 degree temps stick around, as forecast.

We finished up Dartball play last night at St. Johns, only next Monday's banquet to go. Playing for the South squad, we scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th to win the opener 8-4, the North bounced back in game #2 for a 5-2 win. After the North scored a run in the bottom of the 1st to open the deciding game #3, we bounced back with 4 straight and took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th...after 1 out, they had 3 of their next 4 batters stroke singles, the with an 0-2 count, and 2 outs, one of the boys from Schumm Lutheran knocked down a triple to tie things up...the next batter countered with a single to give the North a 5-4 win and take the series 2 games to 1, which ended a 3 year run by the South...pretty good stuff for a change, I had an average night, going 5 for 11 with an RBI. The All Star contests usually are not that close, and usually are done in 2 games, but the guys put forth a good effort last night. With the warm weather in the forecast, Dartball will be gone until the middle of Autumn, and we will go back at it again.

The Mini Reunion, Saturday_____

20 or so of us met down at Packy's for breakfast on Saturday morning, before heading over to the Air Force Museum....several gallons of coffee were consumed, and we continued with "War Stories" and impressing the wives(yes, I'm kidding). Amazing when you get to be somewhere in the 60 year old range(some folks even younger), how 9pm seems late. I think Patricia was in bed by 9 Friday Night, while I managed to stay at Packy's and finally hit the hay in the late hour of 10pm.

Saturday would be a much later night, so I guess we needed the sleep.....

At 10 we jumped in our cars and vans, and headed down 444 towards the AF Museum Gate...parking in the back area of the lot(where the SP Defensor Fortis Statue is located), the entire gang along with a dozen wives, children, and friends, gathered for more conversation, photos, and prayers for those fallen brothers of the Air and Security Police that went before us. 111 or more Air/Security Police were lost in the Vietnam War, with the exception of those men that flew bombing runs and sorties, "Sky Cops" were without a doubt the most dangerous of Air Force career fields in Southeast Asia.

My buddy Wayne DeZarn, who will be heading back to the war in the Middle East as a Security Consultant, lead us in prayer....and did an outstanding job. Wayne, along with the late Larry Dotson, Mike Tillman, Rick Adams, and me, were the original 5 that gathered together at the Museum back in February 2007, to begin what has become the Dayton/Wright Patterson Mini Reunion.

Events Coordinator Jane Leach had a section of the Cafeteria located above the Museum Main Floor set aside for our group again this year, so we could continue with photos and conversation for a couple of hours....then we would head down to the Vietnam Section of Museum to meet with Terry Aiken, the Senior Curator of the Air Force Museum. Mr. Aiken talked with us for 15 or 20 minutes to inform us what expansion plans the Museum had for the Vietnam area, and the parts he would like to assign to the Air and Security Police.....we had questions, and he provided the answers he could.

We then broke away for more photos, and many headed for different sections of the Museum...some of us gathered to discuss plans for the remainder of the day...for Patricia and I it would be to head back to The Hope and Packy's...a lite dinner, a couple of beers, and we would get ready for "Wicked"....the rest of the gang would plan their night at the Hope and Packy's...to tell the truth I was torn between staying with the gang and partying with them, and going to the Musical....since "Wicked" was a gift from the kids for Christmas, there of course was no decision to be made, "Wicked" it would be, and it was worth the 3 hours of sitting sober.

Prequel to "The Wizard of Oz"____

Patricia and I changed and got ready to head to downtown Dayton. To insure good parking, we left early. The play had a 8 O'Clock start time, and we arrived at the Parking Garage right at 7, and made our way to the Schuster...we walked around and watched others arrive, the doors would not open until 7:30.

Our seats were in the Upper Balcony, "nose bleed"? Guess you could call them that, but this place was sold out...all 2300 tickets were sold, and the 3 week run had been a sell out from the get-go. Not a bad seat in the Mead, and Patricia and I, despite being in the upper section, had seats right at the stage center.

My first ever, Off Broadway Musical, went well...3 hours sitting(except for a 15 minute break about an hour and a half in), was rough on my back...but the acting was excellent, the music, although not my type, was good, and the performance was as advertised....I do not regret going, sometimes you have to expand your horizons, it wasn't Hockey or Baseball, but it was pretty good.

We arrived back at The Hope and Packy's at 11:30 but the place was empty of Sky Cops...which was OK, we were beat and ready for bed....after an hour or so of watching TV Crime Dramas, I was ready for bed....we would have one more get together in the morning, with a buffet at Packy's...some left early, some stayed later, I'll talk about that in tomorrow's posting.

Today____

Will enjoy one more day of sunshine before the rains make a show....then tonight I will hook up with oldest son Sam, for another Baseball Rules Meeting, this one at Marysville with our Southwest Ohio, Top of the Hill Association....tomorrow it's on to Van Wert, for a Northwest Meeting and I'll have more than enough sessions to fill my requirements...then I can pick and choose, the ones I want to attend.

More on the Reunion tomorrow, a list of the attendees, more photos, and some final salutes and comments....back later

Photos- All photos except "Wicked", The B-52, and the cafe table photo are by Mike, our photo guy for Saturday.(1) 2nd Photo on Header is of the 22 of us at the Defensor Fortis Statue on the Air Force Museum Grounds(2) My wife, Patricia, and me at the Statue...our hair can't be that white, can it?(3) 15 of us at the Vietnam Section of the Musuem...the other guys were somewhere around BSing and looking for planes they guarded(4) The refurbished B-52, all of us who worked SAC(Strategic Air Command), "humped" these behemoths on Nuclear Uploads more than once, in all kinds of weather(5) A group of some of the original gang that got this event started, minus the late Larry Dotson...left to right, Wayne DeZarn, Rick Adams, Mike Tillman, Big Sam Lewis, Jack "the old cowboy" Smith, and me.(6)l to r, Rick Adams, Cincinnati, Tom Oller, Morrisville, Illinois, and a fellow Nha Trang Veteran from Beavercreek, Ohio, Tommy Webb.(7) And Patricia and my programs from "Wicked" which topped off our Saturday.

The Perfect and "Wicked" Weekend

A little rain rolled through western Ohio last night, the first dent in the string of sunny days we have had for the past 4 days. Dent I say only because by sunrise, the sun had moved the clouds out, and we appear to be in for a couple more days of sun and above normal temperatures, before rain moves in(but the temps remain warm) by mid week.

The Reunion Weekend_____part 1

For the next few days, I will post photos, stories, and make comments, about the weekend just ended...a 48 hour period which saw plenty of old friendships renewed, and plenty of quality time spent with my wife of 33 years. The story of the Mini Reunion of Air Force Security police that served in Vietnam and Thailand, and the musical prequel to the "Wizard of Oz" called "Wicked".

Friday______

Patricia drove her van and I headed south towards Dayton in the Dodge....youngest son, Hal, had hit a table that had fallen out on I-675 sometime last week, and needed to borrow one of our vehicles while his gets body work and repairs done...so I gave up the Intrepid, and will use the Jeep Wrangler for the duration.

No traffic problems as we drove the 90 minutes to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and the Hope Hotel and Conference Center. Of the 45 of us that would attend this years event, at least 25 would spend the weekend at the Hope(named in honor and highlighted by a gallery of the legendary entertainer Bob Hope, a friend indeed to the American GI over his lifetime).

After checking in and getting settled in our room, Patricia and I headed down to "Packys" Sports Bar and Grill...Packys is also named after Bob Hope, it was nickname when he was boxing as an amature back in his Cleveland days....an experience that, by his unsuccessful work, that led him into Movies and Hollywood. Arriving ahead of us were Jack Smith and Roberta, and Denny and Angie Evans, who had flown in from Dallas, Texas. This year Dennis and Angie would win the "farthest traveled' award. David(who was stationed with me at Tan Son Nhut) and Brenda Ramey would arrive next, followed by the Phu Cat gang, and Wayne DeZarn and his family, along with our Reunion Photographer, Mike......by the time we retired for the night(early for us old folks) some 25 folks had arrived, with another group set to meet us at the Air Force Museum in the morning on Saturday.

Some of us had met before, but we also had quite a few newcomers as well. One of the highlights, in a crazy way, was 4 of the guys trying to finish off a complete appetiser of Nachos, Cheese, Sauce, and Jalapeno Peppers each one by themselves...a barging at $8, this thing could have fed a family of 4 for a week! Dave Ramey was the first to try to finish one, followed by Wayne DeZarn, and John Galinac, and one other guy....that brave victim's name escapes me at this moment....regardless nobody came close....Galinac did the best, he came close to finishing off about half the plate, but that was as good as it got. The photos speak for themselves.

All-in-all, The Hope was a quality place to spend a weekend, the rooms, while nothing fancy, were big enough and clean(the pillows sucked, they were too small and thin, but that is my only minor complaint)enough for all...the prices $69 to $74 a night were great, and Packys was the hit of the weekend as a place to meet. We ended up eating most of our meals there, and used it as a gathering place to wine, dine, and BS the weekend away. The Hope will probably be the site for us to stay come the regular big Reunion, scheduled at Dayton in October 2011....263 rooms, should be enough to hold us all., but that is a decision not made by me.

Saturday was the busy day of the weekend, especially for Patricia and I. In addition to the Museum gathering and tour, my wife and I had a date at the Off Broadway Musical "Wicked" on Saturday Night at a sold out Mead Center(2300 seats) at the Schuster in Downtown Dayton. I will blog about Saturday on tomorrow's posting.

Other Things_____

Did anybody catch the Academy Awards last night? Of course I didn't...but I saw where the lame assed anti American, anti Military, pro Islamic Terrorist film won 6 Oscars including winning Best Director, and the Best Picture Awards....2 words to Hollywierd "____ You"...nobody watches your tired ass Anti American films, like this piece of swill. The director did thank the troops in her acceptance speech, but the underlying theme was anti American, and like most other "winners" in Hollywood these days, nobody is seeing this film, it's playing to empty theaters.

In Sports___

Duke in the ACC and Ohio State in the Big Ten both clinched top seeds in their respective tournaments, leading into the March Madness of the NCAA Tournament.....Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 2 games to none in Hockey to move on to face Miami of Ohio, in CCHA Tournament action, top ranked Miami is led by Celina product Cory Reichert in Goal.

Tonight we finish up the "playing" portion of the Dartball Season with the Wabash Valley All Star Game at St. Johns....I'll be there along with JD, and Edison, representing the home team. Next Monday is the finish, as we have the league banquet.

Photos-(Some but not all, just the better ones, are from our Reunion photo guy, Mike)-The Vietnam Security Police Statue on the Grounds of the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. Great Photo by Mike.... Early arrivals Dennis Evans from Texas and Jack "Old Cowboy" Smith from Columbus, BSing at Packys. Middletown, Ohio's Dave Ramey, a big guy himself, was no match for the plate of Nachos and "Stuff"....and a photo of John Galinac's plate before he dug in....and finally for today, the entrance of our weekend home, The Hope Hotel and Conference Center at the Base.

Tomorrow, more photos, and highlights of the Museum and "Wicked".....

Back Later>>>>>

Air Force Security Forces take down a Low Life/Looking Back

Very light snow falling this morning, temps are around 30 degrees....looking ahead(which of course is not always good), the outlook for moderating temperatures looks promising...maybe, just maybe, we will hit 50 by the time of our Vietnam Reunion in Dayton come March 5th and 6th.


Shoulder still bothering me, but it is managable...will miss the Baseball meeting tonight, so I can officiate a JV Boys Basketball game at Lima Perry...one more on Friday at St. Marys and I'm done for the season. Hopefully the back/shoulder will be good enough by Saturday for the hands on portion of the Umpire Clinic at Dayton this Saturday.

Luke AFB Cop takes out a scumbag____

When I entered the Air Force in 1968, the Military Police of the Air Force was in the process of changing it's name from Air Police to Security Police. A number of years later, the "minds" of the Air Force leadership(an oxymoron if there ever was one), decided to change it yet again to Security Forces. Why? Who Knows?

Anyway, just so you'll know, whatever name they use these days, the Air Police, Security Police, or Security Forces, are basically the Air Force version of the Army MPs.

In my days of stateside duty, first at Dover AFB, Delaware, then at Griffiss AFB, New York, I worked the Security section of the Security Police...Law Enforcement was seperate, but housed within the same Squadron, with the same Squadron Commander and the 2 divisions were somewhat interchangable. Actually on my orders when leaving Vietnam, I was supposed to work Law Enforcement at "The Griff"...in all the wisdom and failed promises of the Air Force however, I never saw the spit and polish of the LE portion of the 416th SPS. In retrospect, it was lucky for both me and the squadron...I wasn't exactly a spit and polish kind of guy. And that is what the expected of Law Enforcement types...that was no,t and would never be, me. I didn't like haircuts, didn't like pressed and starched uniforms...and sure the Hell didn't like taking orders and didn't take them very well. In short I was a trouble maker...from the day I first arrived at Dover in October 1968, until I walked out the front gate at Griffiss on May 5, 1972, it didn't work well in Security, it would never work in Law Enforcement. Looking back it was amazing that I made Buck Sargent in 18 months, and even more amazing that I kept my stripes for the 4 years.

I made my share of enemies from my superiors over the years...TSgts Jack Adkins at Dover, and Joe Gomez at The Griff come first to mind...but they were not the only ones. Indeed I also got along with others like Staff Sgt Carroll Marcelle(Griffiss), and Staff Sarge Melvin Sloan, along with TSgt Phil Lange, both at Nha Trang....they could handle the wild hair I had planted somewhere inside, others hated my free spirit and disrespect for forced authority. But I'm getting carried off in different direction than I wanted to go.... so back to the Luke Shooting in Arizona.

It seems a couple of car thief types decided to charge their stolen vehicle through the Main Gate at Luke late Monday night in Arizona....at least one paid the ultimate price:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587217,00.html

The only time I worked Law Enforcement in the Air Force was at Nha Trang in 1969...and yes I worked the Main Gate on occasion, a boring shift, but you had to be alert, especially in a war zone. It appears this Sky Cop, scared for his life, kept his head together and did what he needed to do....Congratulations to him from a fellow former Air Force Cop...Salute!

That is about it, the short list for today...between seasonal changes, meetings, reunions, and life in general, the next couple of months will be busy....but I'll keep at this blog as it heads towards its 3rd anniversary.

back later>>>>

Photos-(1)A Security Police Shield...all of mine were plain, not fancy blue things, including the one framed on my wall these days.(2)Me, in a Mug Shot from San Antonio back in the late summer of 1968...I never again wore the "White Hat" of Law Enforcement...(3)only a Blue "Piss Pot" with the LE guys of the 14th SPS at Nha Trang in 1969(4) The Main Gate as it looks today at Luke AFB, Arizona (5) Marc Payen, Sgt Ky(of the South Vietnam version of the MPs), and Harry Bevan at the Nha Trang Main Gate in October 1969

Remembering Tan Son Nhut

Light snow flurries greeted the old Airedale, Reagan, and me when we walked to the bird feeders, to give the daily ration to the sparrows and squirrels. It was a change from the past couple days of drizzle, fog, and melting snow banks....the ground is grimy, the snow has turned a somewhat muddy brown on top, and the back yard is a mess of bird seed, droppings, and a few piles of Reagan's works...which I will get to tomorrow when it freezes...always fun when the snow melts..Not!

JD and I were at the Church last night as the South Division Dartball Playoffs between Hopewell Lutheran, and Mt Carmel Church of God, were held at our place(being this years host team/Church)...Upstart Hopewell with some young players won the first half championship, while perennial power Mt Carmel topped the South in the 2nd half....Last night Carmel got off to a fast start and won the first of the best of 3...before Hopewell got hot, winning the second game 9-8 in 10 innings, and taking the series with a 10-5 win in the final game.

Hopewell will take on Schumm from the North next Monday, for the League Championship. Meanwhile Mt Carmel will join Schumm, Mendon, and Rockford, in the semi-finals of the post season tourney....we at St Johns are long gone, except to host the event...although JD, Ed, and I will take part in the All Star Game on March 8th, also at St. Johns.

Nothing going on tonight, no Dartball, no Basketball, no meetings.....maybe my shoulder and neck can make a recovery, although this pain is different than most back and neck problems. I may have to see the chiropractor if it doesn't work itself out soon.

Tan Son Nhut(Saigon) RVN_____

I have written many times on this blog about the time I spent at Nha Trang AB on the South China Sea in South Vietnam. A full dozen of those men I served with I have met through the Vietnam Security Police Association.....one, Phil Lange, my NCOIC, honored me with a Life Time Membership in the VSPA, before he passed away last spring. The names and faces of Nha Trang, where I worked day shift(A Flight) Law Enforcement are etched in my memorty banks, as clear as the days at that base usually dawned. Bevan, Lange, Payan, Thompson, Niemotka, Copland, Johnson, Sandridge, Sloan, and others. Not so for Tan Son Nhut......

I first set foot on Tan Son Nhut on July 1, 1969. Just a day stop on arrival from San Francisco, via Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines....one day and one night at the Transit Barracks, before heading back to Base Operations and jumping a C-130 to Nha Trang on July 2nd. I left Nha Trang and returned to Tan Son Nhut on December 27, 1969....crazy part is, I don't remember the flight, the plane, or for that matter even my arrival. The trip from TSN to Nha Trang 6 months earlier, I remember in great detail, the flight back, not at all.

But arrive I did...I would spend the next 6 months working Security, 3 months on Charlie Flight Security, walking the flight line, working the towers and bunkers...the final 3 months I would work "Blue Patrol"...once again on Charlie Flight, but this time in the alleys and buildings of the interior base, keeping down crime, and busting locals and GIs who would rob the place and base blind if given the opportunity.

The clearest memories of my time at Tan Son Nhut are the days I spent downtown in the bars and brothels of Saigon, and my 5 days in Hawaii on R&R in April of 1970. I suspect the reason TSN memories are not as clear comes down to a couple of reasons.

(1) The Size of the Squadron...the 377th SPS was the biggest group of Security Police in Vietnam, while the 14th SPS at Nha Trang was one of the smaller units on a smaller base.

(2) Working day flight at Nha Trang made things clearer...that along with plenty of sleep. At TSN, I worked overnights, and ended up with Insomnia for at least 2 months of the 6 I spent there. I would work until 6am, unable to sleep I would go the the NCO Club and drink beer until I figured I could go back to the barracks and pass out.

Regardless of the reasons, I just don't have the clear memory of people and their names as I do from Nha Trang, even though I served my time at TSN, after Nha Trang.

I do however have memories of a few....

Me and Aceavedo waking up on our off day at a brothel in downtown Saigon... it appears we had been slipped a "Mickey" and passed out. We were 2 miles from base, and broke(robbed), except for the $5 MPC(Military Pay Currency) that I had slipped in my fatigue pocket...enough for us to grab a cab ride, hangover and all, back to the base entrance, where a couple of LE Guys, fellow Cops, gave us a ride back to the barracks.

I also remember working a tower out in Bravo Sector on the perimeter one stormy night. The tower was medal with a lightning rod...during a heavy rain and rare thunderstorm a large bolt of lightning struck the fence line, not 50 yards from my "metal" tower. "Screw This" I said to myself....I wasn't about to get fried(like what happened on more than one occasion to SPs while manning towers during storms)...so I grabbed my M-16, my equipment bag, threw my rain poncho over my head and climbed down out of that tower. I plopped my ass down in a small ravine covered the weapon with the bag, and waited for the storm to end....I was soaked when relieved by the day shift the next morning, but damn, I was still alive! Hell, even "Charlie" as Gung Ho as those crazy sons a bitches were, wouldn't be out on a night like that. What I did was of course illegal, I basically left my post...tough luck.....I survived the storm.

The Hawaii R&R trip and the day I left Tan Son Nhut on my way home to the states, 29 June 1970 are also well remembered....but as far as hooking up with folks I actually remember, or those that might remember me, just has not happened. With the exception of Chris Godfrey from California...of course everybody knew Chris...we called him "Surfer Joe", he spent over 3 years of his tour with the 377th, still kicking around in California today, Chris Godfrey is a Tan Son Nhut legend.

Despite that, I have met many folks that were there the same time, before ,and after my time with the 377th...I just have not found Ace or the guys from Boston I hung around with...but I will keep looking. If I could just remember a few more names???

One great location for those that served with the 377th SPS in Vietnam is Charles Penley's(A fellow VSPA Member) great web location:

http://webpages.charter.net/cepenley/377th/index.html

And for former Security Police and non Sky Cops, there is the Tan Son Nhut Association web site:

http://www.tsna.org/

Captain Paul Christensen_____

Captain Paul Christensen was one of the men that worked Charlie Flight the same time I did....he was one of the "bosses", whom I probably met, saluted, and saw, during my 3 months in Charlie Flight Security at Tan Son Nhut....Paul arrived before I did, in August 1969, and left about a month after me....so I'm pretty sure we crossed paths. But I just don't remember him. However I did contact him regarding his on line photos of Tan Son Nhut and the 377th SPS....most of those here, but not all are credited to Captain Christensen...Thanks Paul!

back later >>>>

Photos-(1)Entrance to the 377th Squadron(2) Me, getting ready for Charlie Flight work in March 1970, just after getting my Sgt stripes....(3)The Barracks inside the 377th Compound, I lived in the 2nd from left on the top floor(4) Tango Tower #10, I spent many nights in this and other towers...trying to stay awake.(5) A view from one of the towers overlooking TSN (6) And the Terminal at the Saigon Airport...I arrived and left from this building on more than several occasions. Photos 1, 3, 4, and 5 are credited to Paul Christensen.

The Plane Crashes at Nha Trang Air Base 1969

Still no sun in the past 2 weeks now...a cold rain yesterday and now a cold front moves through. It seems more like March than January for the past couple of weeks. After yesterday reaching near 50 for a high, this week looks snowy, cloudy, and cold.

Yesterday my old radio buddy "Wulfie" and I headed to Coldwater to visit and old friend who is laid up in the Hospital with a serious infection. Kent's infection is due to the cancer fight that he is currently going through, and it appears the infection has entered where the "port" for the Chemotherapy is being administered. Kent is a pretty young man{upper 40s}, and he is in a pretty rough fight, but being the exercise freak he is, he's beating the double demons he is facing...my prayers are with him in this go.

As more normal January temperatures approach, Mom will be heading south to the Fort Myers area for the remainder of the winter....unlike the past years however, older brother Mike will be holding down the homestead, so no winterizing will be needed. It appears the temps in Florida have warmed up...got a couple calls from old friend Tom, who headed down to train horses for the winter in Central Florida, and things have returned to the 70s and 80s for highs.

Looking back at the 1969 Crashes of Nha Trang_____

I have mentioned several times, including here:

http://patsdailyrant.blogspot.com/2007/12/air-vietnam-crash-12221969.html

The plane crashes that I witnessed while stationed at Nha Trang during the Vietnam War....now being a Cop(Security Police) in the Air Force, stationed at various Air Force Bases, you invariably have witness of or secure plane crash locations...the 2 in the last part of 1969 are the ones that stick in my mind more than the others from my 4 year hitch.

The interesting thing is that I have had several comments and contacts from guys that were stationed there during the same time...they just happened to drop by this blog, either by accident or search. This past week I was contacted by a Army Vet who was stationed at our sister location, Camp McDermott, located on the perimeter of Nha Trang Air Base....Bruce Beagley contacted me, saying he had some old grainy black and white photos of the incidents. He sent those to me over the weekend, and I will share some with you today.

October 1969....Jet Goes the Wrong Way off Runway___

{photo at top of page left}

I remember it was my day off in October 1969, when a Air Force Jet Pilot crashed landed at the end of the Nha Trang Runway....I'm not sure of the real true story, but rumors were that he thought he was heading into Cam Rahn Bay, suffered combat damage, or was just landing the wrong way...what I do know are the results.

He crashed landed going the wrong way, not far from the Main Gate, being manned by a couple of fellow Law Enforcement guys with the 14th SPS, and their partner QCs from the RVN Air Force. The pilot went through the barrier fence and ended up going past the beach road that ran in front of the base before ending up in the sand. He survived, but 2 Army Troops were killed in a 1 1/2 ton{or 3/4 ton} as the Jet smashed into them....several civilians on the road were killed as well. I had seen several photos of the events, but the black and white one sent by Bruce seems to set the mood of that day.

Air Vietnam Sabotage 12/22/69_____

Air Vietnam was the Trans American airlines of it's day in South Vietnam. On a sunny hot day shortly before Christmas Day in 1969 I had received orders to transfer to Tan Son Nhut(Saigon) for the remainder of my tour...on that morning we received a call that there had been an explosion in mid air on a Air Vietnam DC 6 carrying a large number of passengers, it turns out that someone had blown a hole in the skin of the aircraft with some sort of explosive:

http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1969/1969-80.htm

As the Cops and the Fire Protection guys were waiting near the runway, the plane sat down, bounced, and skidded off the end of the runway hitting a school house and parts of the shanty village located near the end of the runway...as you can see from the enclosed photos, it was a miracle that only 10 were killed on the plane, and 24 on the ground{although I have seen some reports that the numbers killed on the ground were much more than 24}.

Of the 6 months I spent at Nha Trang....these 2 events as well as the Rocket Attack on October 12, 1969, stand out as my biggest memories of my time on base. Thanks Again Bruce for the opportunity to use the photos.

The Rest of the Week____

It's gonna be a busy week Basketball wise....games tonight through Saturday night without a evening off....will see how the back and legs hold out. Plus Dartball tonight after I drive back from the Freshman game at Antwerp.

back later>>>>

Photos-Top and Left is the aftermath of the Air Force Jet after it overshot the runway and crashed on Nha Trang Beach...the other phots are from the Air Vietnam DC-6 that had a explosion in flight, landed and overshot the Nha Trang runway, finally hitting a school and out village and burning...10 were killed on the plane, and another 2 dozen on the ground...the color photo is one I took of the school in August 1969, before it was destroyed in the photo from 12/22/69...bottom is an Army Jeep that got caught in the resulting explosion, after the AV Prop Plane it the ground and burnt. The expression of the civilian women compared to the military personal is an interesting contrast.

Death of a Sky Cop-Larry Dotson

After the first batch of rain yesterday morning, the skies turned sunny and the humidity rose as well. It stayed that way, and by the time I reached the Crestview ball diamonds it was 83 and the sun was shining. Jim R and I had taken a Junior ACME double header, rather than the single Varsity ACME game, for obvious reasons....$100 as compared to $50. We did not get through it....4 innings into game number #1 the clouds circled around and the lightning and thunder put a hold on the games on both fields....we never restarted, the downpour started again about 7PM and we called the contests off....Sam, doing a game at the artificial turf in Celina, got into the 3rd inning when they shut things down. Severe storms were the order for the rest of the evening and overnight. This morning we are facing a mix of clouds and sun, and rain is in the forecast through tomorrow night....topping that off, tomorrow June 4th a high of only 60 is in the cards. Global Warming my ass! Death of a Warrior_____ I first met Larry Dotson in February 2007 when 5 former Air Force Security Police guys that served in Vietnam decided to meet up at the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Mike Tillman, Wayne DeZarn, Rick Adams, Larry, me, and the oldest son Sam(who I was returning from a RV run to Florida with) met on a cold but sunny day at the Defensor Fortis Statue on the grounds of the museum. I had never met the others in person, we had served on different bases in Vietnam, but we shared a common past, and had conversed through e-mails and opinions on the pages of the Vietnam Security Police web site Bulletin Board. http://www.voy.com/287/ Little did I know that Larry Dotson had a personal story that had been chronicled in the pages of a best selling book by Gary Williams called "Siege in Lucasville". This was the story of Larry Dotson former Air Force Sky Cop, and prison guard at the infamous Lucasville Penitentiary in Ohio, where in April 1993 Larry and others guards were taken prisoners by the gangs that had taken over the facility. "Siege" is the story of Larry Dotson's survival for 11 days of terror at the hands of murdering thugs. Others were not so lucky. The book remains in print and can be found at Amazon and other on-line book outlets. The 5 of us spent a couple of hours together talking shop, and the Air Force, with Sam taking photos of the gang, before we departed for our various homes....Last fall we all decided to meet up again at Dayton, and invite as many other VSPA and non member sky cops as possible. Last Janaury 31st, 35 former Vietnam and Thailand cops gathered at the museum with another 25 wives and friends along for the ride....Wayne, Mike, Rick, yours truly were there...the one of the original 5 not to show was Larry Dotson. Larry's health had deteriorated, and he sent his wishes and his pain in not being able to attend...little did I know just how much he had fallen health wise. I corresponded with Larry via e-mails right up until last week....no health problems were mentioned. Last night while checking my e-mail, after returning from our rain cancelled games, I spotted the note from Wayne DeZarn....Larry Dotson had passed. Details would be coming for services. Larry Dotson, former Air Force Cop and survivor of 11 days of terror at Lucasville has passed on. God Rest your Soul Brother....you were one brave and tough man. Peace be with you and yours. Our ranks are growing thinner, but life moves on. Housing Projects____ I am still trying to get into a frame of mind to start the painting project....Thursday looks to bring a few sunny and no rain in sight days...so maybe I'll start then. I know, I know, sound like procrastination doesn't it....well you are right. The tendon in my left arm(which was torn a few years back in a weekend warrior sports mishap) is acting up...and the pain, although moderate, is a hindrance. So, starting the paint war will depend on just when I'm damn good and ready. Meanwhile Patricia has decided which Amish Crew will do the roof....the price tag? $4100.....gotta do what you gotta do. I can see it now..."Hey, look at my newest investment?" Speaking of investments, Hal called this morning thinking his car is on it's last run....well Hell, what better way to finish up his Masters studies than to have to purchase a newer car, before having a full time job secured? And life goes on...... back later>>>> Photos--A foreign cover of Gary Williams book that chronicled the 11 days that Larry Dotson was held prisoner at Lucasville. February 2007, from left to right at the AF Museum...Larry Dotson, Pat Houseworth, Wayne DeZarn, Rick Adams, and Mike Tillman, Air Force Vietnam Security Cops all. January 31, 2009, Pat Houseworth and Larry's great friend Wayne DeZarn at the Defensor Fortis Statue honoring Air Force Security Police, located at WPAFB and the Air Force Museum.

Nha Trang, RVN part 2

Climbing into C-130 that early July morning I got my first real glimpse of Vietnam...miles, and miles of forests, that was the view was from the open hatch of that lumbering airplane as it headed east and north up the coast of South Vietnam. It was around noon when the plane landed at Nha Trang's combination concrete and laid metal runway. I had made it this far!

I would settle in Nha Trang for the next 6 months, and as I look back, it would be my favorite time in the Air Force, the time I actually transformed from the small town teen into someone who actually challenged authority and thought for myself. I was assigned to day shift(A Flight) Law Enforcement, Phil Lange was my NCOIC, and Melvin Sloan was my flight supervisor. Staff Sgt Sloan was a tall black man who had served nearly 20 years in the Air Force, this was a man I respected and became close with, despite our differences, those being, he was black and a "lifer" and me being lily white, with no intentions of staying in past 4 years.

The 14th SPS had good sleeping quarters, a base outdoor theater across the street from our barracks. In addition, as SPs we had our own little movie house where we consumed drinks and snacks while watching the latest movies or TV...this is where I would watch our home area hero, Neil Armstrong, step foot on the Moon. Basically I spent the 6 months drinking beer, working on my tan at the beach, or heading to the red light district for "entertainment" Despite a war zone, it was indeed good duty, at least for this 20 year old kid from western Ohio, via the beaches of southwest Florida.

Things went fairly smooth for my tour at Nha Trang, we did have one nasty rocket attack in October 1969, and a few mortar shots fired into the base.....but nothing serious, being surrounded by the Green Berets at Camp McDermott didn't hurt in that regard....we were well protected, mountains on one side, beach and sea on the other, and the Army Special Forces next door.

In late November came the bad news...The 14th was disbanding, they were sending most of us out...I watched guys I hung with leave for other various bases or home. Johnny Claflin went to Phu Cat, Harry Beven headed back to Philly, where he would become a veteran police office with the PPD. Marcus Payan would head back to the states, and end up in Federal law in El Paso. Melvin Sloan, Bruce Thompson, and Phil Lange would head back home, or to other bases stateside...most of those guys I have contact with today, many have joined the VSPA:

http://vspa.com/

Late in 1969 there were two tragic aircraft accidents at the base. First in October, a fighter jet barreled off the wrong end of the runway near the main gate. The pilot ejected and survived, however, a couple of Army guys in a ton and a half were killed as were several civilians walking along the beach roadway. Just before Christmas, while on LE duty, we received word that an Air Vietnam Airliner had a small explosion on board, and was crippled...it would try a emergency landing at Nha Trang. Our jobs as SPs was to make sure the rubber neckers and picture takers were far enough from the runway to keep them safe, and away from the possible carnage. We secured the runway despite some harassment from a couple of Army Warrant Officers who tried to "pull rank", needless to say, that didn't work, Hell, we were in charge!

The plane was carrying about 75-80 passengers and crew, the landing gear was lowered by hand because of the damage. The crew made one "touch and go" landing attempt before turning and making the final attempt...the plane hit the runway hard and slid down the runway, before taking out part of the local elementary school house and several houses at the end...(in my original story I had stated no one on the ground was killed, but this was wrong), about 10 civilians, including a couple of students on the ground were killed, as were a dozen or so on the plane....more than 25 total if I recall correctly. The Air Force Fire Protection guys earned their keep that day, as did the 14th Security Police....looking back, it's a sight I shall never forget.

A few days before the December 22nd plane disaster I had received my orders to transfer out of Nha Trang....I would ship out 12/27/69 for Saigon and Tan Son Nhut, going from one of the smaller Security Police units to one of the largest in the world. The 377th SPS at the Saigon Airport and Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base....instead of A Flight LE, I would work overnights, C Flight Security, manning the towers, walking the flight lines, and eventually driving the coffee Jeep on Blue Patrol....it was good duty, not much Chicken Shit to contend with, although some of the gung ho types tried their best.

Funny thing is, I can remember a dozen or more names and faces from Nha Trang, but nary a hand full from the much larger unit. Nha Trang was indeed my favorite duty station, and if given the option, I probably would have spent the remainder of my enlistment there...but that was not to be, and after my stint with the 377th at TSN, I would head to Griffiss AFB, New York....but that is another story.

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After working for an hour or so yesterday at Greenville, I headed north to Fort Wayne, and met up with my buddy Rick at the Allen County Library...as mentioned before this place has one of the largest Genealogy sections in the nation....and folks come from around the country to do research. It had been 5 years or so since I last visited, and I was impressed. As for me and Rick, two outdoor guys in their late 50s sitting around doing hours of research in a Public Library....who would have thunk it?

Rick is doing some good research, as for me, I had done the bulk of Houseworth Genealogy,

http://israelhouseworth.blogspot.com/

between 1999 and 2002, it now comes in dribbles and spurts, but even yesterday I found a few items I didn't know and will post them on the Ancestor blog.

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Easter weekend is upon us, we will have sister Marty's family over Sunday, meanwhile March Madness had descended on us, and I have hit between 14 and 15 of 16 on my various "brackets"...a good start, but if Duke had not pulled that game out, 71-70 over underdog Belmont last night, I could have chucked them all in the trash. Meanwhile yesterday, youngest son Hal finished up his Senior Year at Wright State University in Dayton....he will take a few months off, then in August begin his Masters Program in High School History....down the road he hopes to teach HS History and coach baseball....but that is a year or more off.

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photos-Me and my trusty Jeep in September 1969, Nha Trang Beach as it looks today, Payan, Bevan, and Sgt Ky of the South Viet QC at the Nha Trang Main Gate in October 1969, and Me(R) and Harry Bevan in August 1969 on patrol(or goofing off).

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Say a special prayer for Jeff's(FHB) family, just found out his father, whom he wrote about often on his blog has passed away this week.

http://fathairybastard.blogspot.com/

The Air Force years...Hot and Cold

2:20pm

Finally cooled off, got Mike to the VA in Columbus and back...he got to see his newest granddaughter and oldest daughter Lori(a nurse herself, so she can help consult on his Health questions).

Football(Jr High game at Wayne Trace)...tonight, little cooler, but the rain is gone....the change to fall is beginning, some leaves changing and even falling off some trees.

Hey! Not much going on...........

Speaking of weather changes

__________________________

The weather I experience in the Air Force ran the gamete...hot, dry, wet, cold, snow, blizzards, humid.....

Started out in late June(1968) at Amarillo, Texas....hot and dry for the 7 weeks...at San Antonio for the next 6 or 7 weeks it was hot, humid, and wet. Dover, Delaware, nice fall, windy, wet, and some snow for the winter...back to Lackland(San Antonio), hot, hot, hot(June 1969)...Nha Trang from early July 1969 through December 1969...hot and humid, but missed the Monsoons. Post Christmas in Saigon(Tan Son Nhut) until June 29, 1970....hot, some wet, and did get to enjoy the Monsoons...then onto the lovely Rome, New York....August 1970 was nice....but that was it. I think we actually had measurable snow in June of 1971...the first winter(70-71) we saw over 300 inches at the base.

The good news was, I learned how to Snow Ski, and I learned how to cliff dive(from 50 cliffs) in the short summers....off base was great, on base "humping" those B-52s and KC-135s in January was not exactly sweet duty.

But, I did see, and experience it all(weather and otherwise) during my 4 year stint.

prh

{photos: Basic Training at HOT Amarillo 7/68...French Bunker @ Nha Trang HOT 9/69...me at WARM Waikiki, Hawaii April 1970...The Tan Son Nhut Monsoons...May 1970...My 1970 Charger BURIED in Janauary 1971 at Rome, New York.}

Summers Last Gasp/Dover AFB 1968

1:50 pm

The last official weekend of summer beckons....I have to say we have had a run of nice weather for about 10 days...a little humid the last couple, but it's been nice, and I have not bothered to look at the extended forecast.

Sam headed over to Nappanee to grab a new International Diesel Pusher RV, taking that to Pomona(the San Diego run has been delayed for a week), California.

At the Rec League football game last night my partner didn't show...so I got a parent to watch the other line, and did the game myself....a pain, but not impossible at the 6th grade level....did work up a sweat. Will mow and do some yard work this weekend....I'm in no hurry for cool weather, but come it will.

Hal will drop home for a short visit and to pick some stuff up today...then back to Dayton for his weekend gig...as he pays his way through his final year at Wright State, he will get his BA in High School History education this winter...and move onto his masters, either at Wright St or University of Dayton.....he is leaning towards Dayton, but either way he will be able to live in the same house and finish up without having to move again....unless of course that gang from Celina and St. Marys gets their butts booted out of their housing....which is always possible.

39 years ago this weekend

_____________________

Was just finishing up my first leave after Air Force Cop School at Lackland AFB in Texas...my duty station was to be the Military Airlift Command(MAC) base at Dover, Delaware.

Wasn't sure what to expect during my first full time duty station...but it would become what I will call Chicken S**t Base #1. This boy from the sticks still had not gotten his sea legs as far as dealing with the diversified military life...but one thing had not changed since my civilian days....I still had a big mouth, which would get me in trouble with my "lifer" bosses, especially one Tech Sgt, named "Smiling Jack Adkins"...he was to become the persona of A-holes in the Air Force...don't get me wrong there were good 'career guys' and sorry lifers throughout the Air Force...the Security Police field was full of both types...so don't think I am making a blanket statement on these guys...but Adkins(now in his 70s and living in upstate New York) is the one I remember most from Dover, and it's probably best we never met once I got out.

Aside from Smiling Jack there was a cast of misfits that were as diversified as possible...most from the east, however there were others, like me, from the midwest....

Turcott(Conn) Pritchert(Ohio via Chicago), Lippencott(Ohio) Walsh, Docko(another it's best I never saw again), and the late Bill Hocandoner(shot to death by a girlfriend's ex-husband in 1971) from Pennsylvania, Biggy Resnick from Ohio, the effeminate black kid, Parham, from New York, the spoiled rich kid, Robert Little from Virginia...and my favorite, Jack Gates from Sulfur, Oklahoma....Jack we considered the Old Man of the flight....he chained smoked and was 23, while the rest of us were 18 or 19 years old. Last time I saw Jack was at Tan Son Nhut in June 1970...he was on an incountry R&R, and we hit a couple of bars and bath houses together...I did talk to him on the phone a couple of years ago...still living in the flat lands of central OK.

The Security Police security duty at Dover was typical....3 days on, 24 hours off, 3 days on, 24 hours off, 3 days on, 72 hours off....you worked rotating shifts...graveyard, 2nd, then days....it sucked, you could never get enough sleep, especially if you like to hit the bars.....our major haunt was "The Mounds" that is where they kept the nukes...even though DAFB wasn't a SAC base, it did have the nuke storage...we also worked the flight lines...but for us rookies it was usually mound duty, and it consisted of standing guard on 20 foot high concussion walls, made of dirt, with a 2 foot wide path at the top, that you walked for your 8 hour shift...getting a half hour break for meals.....we used to, in cold weather, sneak down to the storage area to get away from the "hawk" (wind) and cold.

For the 68-69 Christmas/New Year season they gave us the option to work 5 days of 12 hour shifts, then get 5 full days off...we voted on it and took the bait. I was with the group selected to work over New Years and get Christmas off....worked great for me. I took the 5 days and headed back home for the upcoming holiday. Don't remember much about that, but I do remember coming back...working about one half shift and along with a few other guys caught the "Hong Kong" flu...it was highly contagious and they shipped 4 or 5 of us to the base hospital for the next week. On New Year's eve instead of humping the mounds for 12 hours, we got to watch the Orange Bowl Football game between Kansas and somebody...and Jack Gates and another guy sneaked up a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Scotch up to the room....we mixed it into our water bottles and managed to get a buzz on, even with the flu symptoms still lingering.

As spring sprang in central Delaware, I had become sick and tired of Smilin' Jack, sick and tired of Mound duty, and sick and tired of Dover...it was and is a boring town, that never warmed up to the men and women of the Air Force, that were stationed there. Anyway, I headed down to base opts, and asked if I could volunteer to get out of Dover...the Sarge in charge, said "sure....where you want to go?"....I wrote down Thailand and Vietnam, even though I had joined the AF to stay out of combat and such....I figured even southeast Asia was a better option than Dover.

Didn't take long, within 3 weeks I had my orders....Nha Trang AB, Republic of Vietnam....Dover was done in short order, I lasted 8 months, I've been back once, in 1997, to show the family the base.

I didn't look back, to me anyway, Vietnam was superior duty to Dover, or my last base in upstate New York....not gung ho was I, I just knew my limitations, and Dover and Smilin' Jack drove me to those limits.

[photos-not many photos from my DAFB days, and those I have are in bad shape, here are a few....at a Nuke Upload....off post at the Mounds....and dressed up for a dance in my best blues.]