243
243
0
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
4
4
0
Finishing up my first active duty assignment as a Sentry Dog Handler at B Battery 2/52 ADA Nike Herc Site on Key Largo ,Florida.
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
From 1972 until March 1973, I was assigned to MAG-12 and was stationed at Bien Hoa, RVN and know about the losses as we were kept apprised of them, people have said we were only there for the mop up, but we still lost friends and most who say that were never there and don't know what it was like in those days ... our eyes saw things our minds cannot forget, just like others from their tour in country ... I am thankful for being lucky enough to return, and pray for all those who didn't make it home ... may the Lord have mercy on them all and may they rest in peace ...
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
May 1971 to May 1972 I was assigned to B. Company, 716th MP BN in Saigon. I was the MP Desk Sgt. at CPOC (Combined Police Operations Center) with an office at 666 Tran Hung Dao Street in the National Police (Canh Sat) HQ.
I felt like I was doing an important job, I was good at it, and I loved the city of Saigon. Needless to say, the Army reassigned me to White Sands New Mexico. I was there from May to December 1972, when I got out of the Army.
I felt like I was doing an important job, I was good at it, and I loved the city of Saigon. Needless to say, the Army reassigned me to White Sands New Mexico. I was there from May to December 1972, when I got out of the Army.
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
Flying between Bien Hoa and An Loc with the 229th Avn. Bn., 3rd Bbe., (Sep.), 1st Cav Div. during the Easter Offensive. On the 10th I would find myself in the woods outside Bearcat trying to find the cause of the crash of a Ch-47A that killed 34 Us Soldiers.
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
4
4
0
Graduated High School in May; 18th birthday on July 10th; reported to Ft. Polk for Basic on July 12th. Finished Infantry AIT at Ft, Polk and boarded a bus for an overnight drive to Ft. Benning’s Airborne Training. I had my first plane ride; by the end of the year, I had taken off in a plane 6 times but only landed with the plane once. I finished the year pulling Guard Duty at Harmony Church, making sure no one stole the Ranger School Barracks.
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
I served with the Radio Research Units (Army Security Agency/NSA) in Vietnam Jun 66 thru Feb 68. We intercepted enemy intelligence about the upcoming offensive and provided that information to MACV, but they refused to accept it as true and ignored our warnings. Their G-2's couldn't verify our information because they did not have the same means of gathering intelligence that we had. The main problem we had was what was called the "Green Door" which did not allow us to provide our methods of intelligence gathering and therefore , to often the supported commands would not give our reports a high reliability rating. One local commander did take our advice and pulled back some of his troops to protect Saigon. Had he not done that the results of the NVA/VC attack on Saigon would have been much worse.
Another note, we beat the North Vietnamese so completely during Tet '68 that they were seriously considering going to the peace tables. But, when reporters like Cronkite etc. gave their version of the battle and the following press coverage which caused mass protests in the U.S., the North decided that all they had to do was to prolong the war and we would eventually tire of the war and quit. They were correct in their beliefs. The war should have and could have ended in 1968.
Another note, we beat the North Vietnamese so completely during Tet '68 that they were seriously considering going to the peace tables. But, when reporters like Cronkite etc. gave their version of the battle and the following press coverage which caused mass protests in the U.S., the North decided that all they had to do was to prolong the war and we would eventually tire of the war and quit. They were correct in their beliefs. The war should have and could have ended in 1968.
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
December 18, 1972, I was learning to cope with below zero temperatures at Grand Forks AFB, ND. Got there on the 17th. :-)
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
I was in diapers!. Born Dec '71. My mom was stationed at Ft Jackson in '73. I was there for basic in '89.
(4)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google