Vietnam War - Share Your Story

[flyinazn10]

I'm writing a paper for my history class on vietnam. My essay is mainly about the effect the war had on the nation back home as well as after the war to present day. Things including racial problems, treatment of veterans, and movements (protests ect.). I figure a good amout of guys here were around back then, and could have some interesting stories I could use. It doesnt matter whether you were out in Vietnam fighting, back home protesting, or just saw what was going on, any information would be useful. the only thing i ask is a full name so i can properly quote and credit your words. thanks!


note: Essay is due tuesday 7/17, so i dont have too much time ;)

[Viper Pilot]

Nothing like procrastination, huh?

[marjamar]

I don't have any story, only that I was in the AF from '69-'73. After basic and 14 months of tech school, I was stationed at Strike Command at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. My job was in Telecommunications and the 1928 Comm Group (my command group) was responsible for maintaining all non-base communications and all communications for Strike Command.

When I first got to my permanent duty assignment, I still had not received my Top Secret/Crypto Access Security Clearance, so every where I went I was assigned a security person to watch over me. It was kind of fun at first, like a puppy following you around the house, but this went on for over 6 months until my Security Clearance came in. Not so fun in the rest room I might add.

It was interesting and sometimes a bit overloading as we had to deal indirectly (sometimes directly) with from 10 to 30 admirals/generals that had offices at Strike Command. These were from all branches of the service, as Strike Command was a Joint Task Force responsible for strategic placement, and support for all the military first strike operations around the world. IIRC we were able to place within 72 hours completely mobilized, armed, and supported deployment to any part of the world, friend or foe. Because of this mandate, Strike Command was directly under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the DOD and the President as Commander and Chief. Tech Control, Crypto Control and perhaps some others in the 1928 Comm Group became directly under that same command, but isolated from all the AF except from our Squadron Commander and Base Commander about a year after I got there. It was done this way to circumvent direct authority over us by all of the high ranking officers we were their to indirectly serve. As you might guess, some Generals are pretty use to saying "Jump" and everyone is suppose to say "How High Sir". Well, in the position we were placed in, we need to continue our job as mandated by the DOD and DCA and not every General was exactly understand of this. Believe me, it pretty hard for an enlisted man to tell a General his personal tele-autowriter (personal fax) isn't a high enough priority to fix it immediately. You find ways of smoothing over your repair schedule a little to keep the peace -- At least if at all possible.

During the course of my assignment, I found some parts to this job more interesting then others. Because we need to be always ready (in fact before my enlistment ended Strike Command changed names to Readiness Command) we always had missions running that we maintained communications oversight for all over the world. We often were in direct communications with one the Flying Command Post on these missions and in-fact if I had been a little less stupid I would have gone TDY as a technical advisor on some of this mission as I could have seen the world on Uncle Sam and had some great memories of such today -- I really could be stupid back then (sometimes ever now ;>) ).

Some pretty big shot guys came for visits to Strike Command over the years. Once I had the privilege as shift-supervisor to give a minimal technical briefing to Adm. Zumwalt who was touring our station. I choked out a few words and showed him a little bit of our job as technical support, but mostly looked at this very impressive man and wished the AF had some of the super classy dress uniforms the Navy did. Pretty petty and shallow, but at 22 years old and about a know-nothing of the real world, I hope I can be excused or at least dismissed for the littleness I had to offer anyone in those days. Today, I'd hope to listen and learn from someone with his rank and ability and experiences.

Well, what else?

I got to listen to and read some pretty neat stuff on occasion. We had and were responsible for circuits that ran to and from all parts of the world. From the Pentagon on down to field commands we monitored these as need to do testing, troubleshooting and assign work orders. Although we weren't specifically there to monitor anything content-wise, we did hear and read at times some very important stuff. Having been so indoctrinated to never release anything classified, I can remember once reading on a TTY from the pentagon a TOP SECRET message to one of our Adm/Gen. about a Russian sub off the coast Miami, near Cuba. There was alot of concern in the message as I recall and thought to myself, "oh great, here comes another nuclear threat like the Cuban Missile Crisis in '62". needless to say I wanted to let my family in Miami know about this, just in case. But, instead I kept my mouth shut and said nothing to anyone. But, guess what, later that next day it was on the network TV news! Well, so much for TOP SECERET I supposed. Maybe not all to different today, huh?

There is more to share I'm sure, but don't want to be too long winded (as I am usually).

If you do some googling, you may find some emblems of Strike Command and perhaps even 1928 Comm Group, DOD and DCA. More (and more accurate I'm sure) background info on Strike Command and it's role in those troubled times during our involvement in Viet Nam.

Hope this will help you with your essay.

Rodger Marjama, Sgt.
USAF 1969-1973

[epilot]

Read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Long-Time-Passing-Vietnam-Generation/dp/0385158424

(and read it fast ;) )

Michael

[dll932]

I didn't go to VietNam because my draft lottery number was 349...in other words, I won. :) This is not to say I don't respect the sacrifices of those who went, but I wasn't going.

Anyhow, some years ago I was working as a tradesman in a new doctor's office. The doctor was there along with the building super and a couple other trades. Someone mentioned Nam, and all of a sudden we all had something in common; whether you went or didn't, whether you were for or opposed, it was the pivotal event of your generation if you were in a certain age range-just like WWII was for our fathers.

By the way, if you were against that war, you took a lot of flak, too. That eventually turned around, just like opposing the war in Iraq did.

[flyinazn10]

just finished up my story, included a small bit of your experiences in my paper about young soldiers in the army rodger, as well as a quick mention the draft and how much of a profound impact it had. thanks alot for the input guys!