S.E.A. STORIES

By the spring of 1972, Vietnamization had been almost completed. It was now time to access the negative implications of the program on the ARVN, while there was time to make the necessary corrections. Most U.S. troops had been withdrawn, and the large complex U.S. intelligence, communications and logistics structure in South Vietnam been dismantled; virtually all American-built bases had been turned over to the South Vietnamese who unfortunately lacked the means to secure and maintain them. In addition, the Senior American headquarters MACV, 7th Air Force, and III Marine Amphibious Force had been reduced sharply. The U.S. advisory structure was also rapidly reduced during this period. By April 1972 U.S. advisors were assigned only at ARVN corps and division levels. With so many drastic changes taking place militarily inside South Vietnam due to the process of Vietnamization, the ARVN had to do some major shifting of troops to make sure vitally strategic regions were covered. One of these very important areas was along the de-militarized zone (DMZ.)

Both MACV and the South Vietnamese military anticipated the dry season Communist offensive which began on 30 March, 1972. A massive preparatory artillery barrage, followed by an estimated 15,000 North Vietnamese troops with tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and mobile anti-aircraft guns attacked across the DMZ from the north and northwest into Quang Tri province in the newly designated Military Region 1 (formerly I Corps.) It is interesting to note that even though a Communist attack was expected, many South Vietnamese units were completely surprised by the timing and scope of the attacks. In Military Region 1, the new ARVN 3rd Division was quickly overrun and retreated south, out of Quang Tri Province. The NVA attacks did not only come from the north. In the next couple of weeks their divisions struck South Vietnam from bases in Laos and Cambodia, in Military Regions 2 and 3, (formerly II and III Corps,) threatening to cut South Vietnam in two. There was heavy fighting outside of Saigon, Loc Ninh, and especially An Loc, all in Military Region 3. The fighting at An Loc was critical to the safety of Saigon, due to the fact it was a mere sixty miles north of the capital on Highway 13, which led directly into Saigon.

Nixon and Kissinger both realized that the fall of Saigon to the Communists was a real possibility. In Nixon's words it was a very major crisis, and a do or die time for the South Vietnamese Government. The so-called “Nixon Doctrine”, stated that the United States would provide military aid to Asian countries under Communist assault. The aid would include air and naval forces if required but would under no circumstances involve US ground forces-a reversal of policies advocated for so long by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara.

US politics had put the Air Force in the position of having to compensate for drastic reductions of ground forces. Faced with this challenge, USAF responded with a mass movement of troops and equipment and fearsome attacks with new systems, all of which were key factors in eventually halting the invasion.

In 1972, Takhli RTAFB was a Royal Thai active Air Base, a training site for the Thai Air Force Security Forces and also supported a small contingent of United States State Department and CIA personnel. The USAF had withdrawn from the installation a few years earlier and although many facilities existed on the base, those buildings and areas not being used by the Thai military were in terrible disrepair and overgrown with elephant grass often six to eight feet tall. Many of the facilities had been literally striped of all salvageable material such as copper wiring, plumbing, etc.

DET8 43ARRS Bergstrom AFB, TX was notified under secret orders on May 4th, 1972. We were to depart May 6th, 1972. This was "OPERATION CONSTANT GUARD III". The orders were for 4 Pilots, 4 Flight Engineers, 5 Mechanics, 2 Flight Medics, and 4 Airborne Rescuemen/Firefighters. We were told we would be re-opening the base and there would be very few military there upon our arrival in Takhli. We had 2 days notice to get our family matters and shots up to date. Our Flight Medics had us line up and gave us our shots. We were immediately taken off LBR Standby and the mechanics worked day and night preparing the 2 "birds" for shipment.

A C-141B Starlifter came in and we loaded both H-43's, spare parts, tools, etc.. Personnel sat on the old red cargo seats that were uncomfortable and very cramped. I can't remember the length of the flight, but seemed like it took forever.

When we arrived, the base was like a ghost town. If we weren’t the 1st there, then we were the second. The old Officers Barracks were still there so we went on a scrounging mission around the base looking for blankets and cots. I found only blankets and remember sleeping on the floor in an empty room for a couple of nights. The base had been over run with weeds and growth; watching for snakes became a priority. After working long hours we managed to set up a helicopter pad and get the birds all back together and ready to stand Alert.

We had to go out and search the base again for more cots and some mosquito nets. At night on Alert, we slept out under the stars and listening to F-U lizards. The first F-U lizard I heard scared the crap out of me. He must have been close to me and I wasn't prepared for the sound. I damn near came off the cot and right through the mosquito net. Anyway, getting back to the cots, we damn near got in trouble over that. The cots were in a locked building; we kind of opened it and got the bedding. Someone from supply found out because they later came around to have us sign for those cots. Thank goodness Major Raisor stood up for us so we didn't get in trouble.

I spent 4 months at Takhli until my replacement arrived. I then returned to Bergstrom and was discharged from the Air Force a couple months later. The H-43's stayed there but don't know what ever happened to them.

Ralph Reed

The following personnel took part in reopening TAKHLI RTAFB during CONSTANT GUARD III:

Maj. Harry E. Raisor, Det 8	Capt. Peter F. Dineen, Det 8
Capt. William E. Lyon, Det 8	Capt. Robert E. Ricketson, Det 8
SMSgt Frank L. Kroupa, Det 8	MSgt Jackson H. Kilgore, Det 8
SSgt George J. Reedom, Det 8	SSgt Robert L. Schmidt, Det 8
SSgt George D. Garrett, Det 8	A1C David B. Southard, Det 8
A1C Howard G. Garrett, Det 8	A1C Ernest Amador, Det 8
A1C Ray G. Self, Det 8
Sgt Joseph M. Dempsey, USAF Hosp	Sgt David M. Cowher, USAF Hosp
SSgt Stanley E. Reeh, 67^th CES	Sgt Ralph Reed, 67^th CES
Sgt Ronald W. Murphy, 67^th CES	Sgt Carl W. Clossen, 67^th CES

Editor’s Note:

Many thanks to Ralph for bringing back some great memories and remembering the details after all these years!!!

Main

The Old Guard

FlightSim

SAR/ED

Mr. Huskie

Charm

On Final