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By this time in 1972, the war in Vietnam had been going on for over ten years. Tens of thousands had been killed, even more wounded and a few thousand POWs and unaccounted for MIAs.
Looking back on this time of year, specifically December 18, 1972, most of us know where we were. Most of you younger troops were not yet the twinkle in your Daddy’s eyes.
For me, I was on my second remote/isolated tour in Southeast Asia. In March of 1971, I was assigned to the 307th FMS (Field Maintenance Squadron) Aero Repair or A/R shop at U-Tapao AB, Thailand. We carried the same AFSC or MOS if you will as those who were the primary crew chief on the heavy jets. Those being the C-141A, C-5A, KC-135 and variants and the Queen of the Air, the Mighty B-52. I mention this because the A/R shop caught all the jobs that no one else wanted or would do. We all know sh*t runs downhill. Well, we were the bottom of the hill. But I digress.
During my year we worked 12/12/6 and 7, meaning 12 hours on, off 12 and 6 and often 7 days a week. It was hot, dirty, sweaty work but we did what we had to do. We did it in spite of many not wanting to be there. We launched planes about every 90 minutes around the clock 24/7/365 except when the head shed slowed things down or even ceased flying for the holidays.
After my year at U-Tapao I asked for and received a COT – consecutive overseas tour. This time headed for Vietnam. In March 1972, I headed for DaNang. My tour there was to be short-lived. In September, my unit closed up shop. Those with over 180 days in country on the close date would go home while the rest of us would be reassigned. I was one of the lucky ones, I got to stay…well sort of lucky. After about 60 days, in November 1972 I was selected to go TDY to of all places, Clark AB, Philippines. That story is fodder for another time.
After returning from Clark, I was like a new man. Even though working 12/12/5 I returned relaxed and rejuvenated. The guys in the squadron never let me live that down either. The morning of December 19th is what will always remain, The Morning After the Night Before. It wasn’t because the town got painted red or any such frivolity but we walked into the maintenance shack to discover that the entire B-52 fleet in both Thailand and Guam went downtown to pay “Chuck” a visit. At first we were in disbelief, thinking that Radio Lone Star was jerking our chains with some kind of holiday gag. It turned out to be true. We were ecstatic. All of us were now filled with a new sense of resolve and purpose. This was the beginning of Operation Linebacker II.
While those of us in Vietnam were cheering, our brothers in Thailand and Guam were busting some serious hump. The next 11 days would prove to be a turning point in the war on so many levels.
First off, we lost more B-52s in those 11 days of Christmas* than we had lost in the entire war. We lost many good men on those missions. We had many more end up in the hands of “Chuck” and his accommodations at the Hanoi Hilton. Then after 11 days the deluge of BUFFS stopped. We shut down for Christmas. It wasn’t until years later we learned that had we just kept up the bombing for 2 more days, the North would have surrendered. We all know now how that turned out.
I have a number of friends who were aircrew participants in Linebacker II. I have the greatest admiration and respect for what they did in spite of the head shed screwing the pooch.
Never will I forget where I was in 1972 during “The Eleven Days of Christmas.” With that, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
* ‘The Eleven Days of Christmas’ is a book written by Marshall Michel
Looking back on this time of year, specifically December 18, 1972, most of us know where we were. Most of you younger troops were not yet the twinkle in your Daddy’s eyes.
For me, I was on my second remote/isolated tour in Southeast Asia. In March of 1971, I was assigned to the 307th FMS (Field Maintenance Squadron) Aero Repair or A/R shop at U-Tapao AB, Thailand. We carried the same AFSC or MOS if you will as those who were the primary crew chief on the heavy jets. Those being the C-141A, C-5A, KC-135 and variants and the Queen of the Air, the Mighty B-52. I mention this because the A/R shop caught all the jobs that no one else wanted or would do. We all know sh*t runs downhill. Well, we were the bottom of the hill. But I digress.
During my year we worked 12/12/6 and 7, meaning 12 hours on, off 12 and 6 and often 7 days a week. It was hot, dirty, sweaty work but we did what we had to do. We did it in spite of many not wanting to be there. We launched planes about every 90 minutes around the clock 24/7/365 except when the head shed slowed things down or even ceased flying for the holidays.
After my year at U-Tapao I asked for and received a COT – consecutive overseas tour. This time headed for Vietnam. In March 1972, I headed for DaNang. My tour there was to be short-lived. In September, my unit closed up shop. Those with over 180 days in country on the close date would go home while the rest of us would be reassigned. I was one of the lucky ones, I got to stay…well sort of lucky. After about 60 days, in November 1972 I was selected to go TDY to of all places, Clark AB, Philippines. That story is fodder for another time.
After returning from Clark, I was like a new man. Even though working 12/12/5 I returned relaxed and rejuvenated. The guys in the squadron never let me live that down either. The morning of December 19th is what will always remain, The Morning After the Night Before. It wasn’t because the town got painted red or any such frivolity but we walked into the maintenance shack to discover that the entire B-52 fleet in both Thailand and Guam went downtown to pay “Chuck” a visit. At first we were in disbelief, thinking that Radio Lone Star was jerking our chains with some kind of holiday gag. It turned out to be true. We were ecstatic. All of us were now filled with a new sense of resolve and purpose. This was the beginning of Operation Linebacker II.
While those of us in Vietnam were cheering, our brothers in Thailand and Guam were busting some serious hump. The next 11 days would prove to be a turning point in the war on so many levels.
First off, we lost more B-52s in those 11 days of Christmas* than we had lost in the entire war. We lost many good men on those missions. We had many more end up in the hands of “Chuck” and his accommodations at the Hanoi Hilton. Then after 11 days the deluge of BUFFS stopped. We shut down for Christmas. It wasn’t until years later we learned that had we just kept up the bombing for 2 more days, the North would have surrendered. We all know now how that turned out.
I have a number of friends who were aircrew participants in Linebacker II. I have the greatest admiration and respect for what they did in spite of the head shed screwing the pooch.
Never will I forget where I was in 1972 during “The Eleven Days of Christmas.” With that, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
* ‘The Eleven Days of Christmas’ is a book written by Marshall Michel
Command Post
Vietnam War
JBSA - Joint Base San Antonio
Military History
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 270
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Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr
2 Years out, and 1.5 years into my marriage...With a Beautiful 2 yr old.
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In January and February 1972, I was based in Danang, Vietnam, with the 12th Signal Group, 1st Signal Brigade, serving as one of three E7 supervisors in a major communications relay station and then as NCOIC over the communications' missions in the 270th Signal Company. In March, I was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Security Group, ACSI, DA as a Commcenter Supervisor in the Intel community at Fort Bragg, NC.
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Christmas 1972, was on the line DMZ Korea. There were a lot of Vietnam Vets there who refused to go back to the world, due to the anti-war, anti-military demonstrations, and unwelcome from the U.S. general public.
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SGT Carl Blas
Went to Daegu one time from the DMZ about 300 miles away, my platoon Sargent and I drove down south to a large Army camp there. We were looking for shocks for a 5ton truck, no luck there, they didn't have any spare shocks. So we did the next best thing, went to the Black Market and bought the shocks. lol
It was better in Fort Bragg NC, when we needed parts, we just went over to the next motor pool at night and borrowed the parts, just don't get caught. Anyway the guard was always sleeping.
It was better in Fort Bragg NC, when we needed parts, we just went over to the next motor pool at night and borrowed the parts, just don't get caught. Anyway the guard was always sleeping.
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SGT Carl Blas
No never did get sick from agent orange. Do you remember in 73 a black soldier was killed on the DMZ Bravo company? Someone emailed me if I could verify the event on his claim for PTSD. I remembered the event, it took 20 mins. for the chopper to get to the DMZ, I was told as soon as the chopper took off, the soldier died, to bad he was only 18 or 19 years old.
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SGT Carl Blas
PFC Donnie Harold Harris - No, never got sick from Agent Orange, growing up burning the bushes and trees after cutting, you never stood down wind. Same thing applies when spraying anything in the area.
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Arrived at the 24th Evac Hospital at Long Bihn in September 1971 and left in September 1972 with an inter-theater transfer to Germany. I was chief of supply and services for the 24th and had to get the hospital equipment turned. there was a delay in that process because the VC had occupied the POD yard.
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In December of 1972, I was stationed at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. We were beginning to see a lot of troops and equipment being pulled out of Nam and stopping at our base before heading back across the pond. The biggest movement came in February of 1973, when we had to move our Phantoms off the flight line and park them in a dirt area.....just so the bigger than life C-5's could taxi by to get refueled before taking off again. We were taking bets on whether they could get off the ground in time before dropping off the end of the runway and into the bay. They all lifted off at the last possible second.......really something to watch! One had to be unloaded while some repairs were done, and we couldn't believe the size and amount of equipment that rolled off the ramp. My dad had worked for Lockheed Aircraft and had participated in the C-5 project......so I knew they were big planes......but I had no idea how big until I saw them in action. I told him he had built a hell of an impressive aircraft!
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Serving as SP6 Jones at the US Army Strategic Field Station, Augsburg, Germany.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr. Wullenweber, Dinosaur Cage, Elephant Cage. Excellent for HFDF. Yeah I worked in One at Adak 79-80 and went to a School in One for Outboard Refresher in 91.
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CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr.
RGR. I was the maintenance NCOIC got the Augsburg FLR-9 from when it was turned on in SEP 71 until I made Warrant Officer this n NOV 73. Really enjoyed the work and committed to the mission.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
CW5 Edward "Tate" Jones Jr. - I was down at the Augsburg Satellite Facility in Bad Aibling for Vacation in 85. Neat, Neat Place.
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1972 "Young Tiger" to U-Tapao from Carswell AFB, Tx. CC on KC-135 (62-3120) Loaner. 12 on 12 off for 95 days, with Jungle boots and fatigues and a tank top most of the time. When off, I would hit the ground running to Kilo-sip, Newland or Pattaya beach chasin Puying. Partied hard, but worked hard too. Sometimes I miss those days.
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SGT Carl Blas
Lol, thank you Steve, when you said, "with Jungle boots and fatigues and a tank top most of the time", it brought flash backs on the DMZ Korea in 1972.
You know, being there with all the Vietnam veterans, the Army life was so, deferent in the states. The attitude was fun and workable at camp, and in the field.
Hats off to you, Sir, for a good memory of a good time in the army, with a good bunch of guys.
You know, being there with all the Vietnam veterans, the Army life was so, deferent in the states. The attitude was fun and workable at camp, and in the field.
Hats off to you, Sir, for a good memory of a good time in the army, with a good bunch of guys.
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