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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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Since I was a mere 4 years old I was probably at home watching some cartoon or other kiddie program.
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Having been enlisted for 5 1/2 yrs, I was commissioned in 1972 and assigned to McConnell AFB, KS. At that time we were a base with two different missions. We were initially a TAC base and was home of the F-105 Flying Tigers rotating in and out of SEA. However, the base also provided support for SAC Missiles. Before leaving for SEA, the base command had changed to SAC.
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SSgt Jim Gilmore
I went to McConnell in 73 as an air traffic controller. Lots of KCs along with the Thuds...
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Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.
SSgt Jim Gilmore - Sorry, I forgot about the KCs. I guess you may have been in the tower directing traffic when President Nixon issued a "top-secret" orders to and we sent all our F-105s to Vietnam and a lot of planes full of military support. I remember getting the alert call early in the AM. Heck until then we never had alerts that early :). I called in and the Sgt was irritated by the officers calling back in. He said this is for real -- get your backside in here now. In reality, during my prior enlisted yrs, we only had "practice alerts."
We and my neighbor, the Base Fuels Supply officer, observed ourselves getting dressed as we jumped into our cars. As I reported in with others at the Base Supply Commander office, the CMSgt said the words -- "this is the real thing" and the Commander will have a War Plans meeting beginning in 10 minutes. We then read the the sealed top-secret orders: We were launching support forces and equipment to Vietnam and C141 would begin landing at XXX to transport mobility personnel, equipment and support supplies to Vietnam. The F-105s were already departing the base and would be refueling on the way to support the bombing N. Vietnam.
I guess you were very busy!
What surprised me was that the orders were from President Nixon and we were to suspend all rules and regulations regarding restrictions and control that would limit launching the aircraft, personnel and the shipment of support equipment, supplies, arms, etc. That made things very easy, we sent "everything." For the first time in years, the inventory in Base Supply had the cleanest records in the world. :)
I guess it was just luck that my name was not on the active on the rotating mobility list at that time.
We and my neighbor, the Base Fuels Supply officer, observed ourselves getting dressed as we jumped into our cars. As I reported in with others at the Base Supply Commander office, the CMSgt said the words -- "this is the real thing" and the Commander will have a War Plans meeting beginning in 10 minutes. We then read the the sealed top-secret orders: We were launching support forces and equipment to Vietnam and C141 would begin landing at XXX to transport mobility personnel, equipment and support supplies to Vietnam. The F-105s were already departing the base and would be refueling on the way to support the bombing N. Vietnam.
I guess you were very busy!
What surprised me was that the orders were from President Nixon and we were to suspend all rules and regulations regarding restrictions and control that would limit launching the aircraft, personnel and the shipment of support equipment, supplies, arms, etc. That made things very easy, we sent "everything." For the first time in years, the inventory in Base Supply had the cleanest records in the world. :)
I guess it was just luck that my name was not on the active on the rotating mobility list at that time.
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SSgt Jim Gilmore
Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. - I got to McConnell in late 73 after ATC school at Keesler. I was in Saigon until March 73. I recall in the fall of 73 that it appeared the defecation was about to contact a high speed rotatin oscillator in the Middle East. All of us retrainees coming from critical AFSCs were pulled into a classified briefing. We were issued orders that if notified, where and when we would report. This had half my class in the briefing. You can imagine the the rest of the class and instructors wanting to know what was happening. They weren't too happy when we said we could tell them and then we'd have to kill you all.
I'm glad that call to report never came.
I'm glad that call to report never came.
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Fortunately for me, I was on leave at my home in Daytona Beach 18 December 1972.
I was halfway through the 317XX school at Lowry AFB.
I would end up at Holloman AFB, never to get near Vietnam.
Me? I consider myself quite lucky.
I was halfway through the 317XX school at Lowry AFB.
I would end up at Holloman AFB, never to get near Vietnam.
Me? I consider myself quite lucky.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
After Vietnam in 1969 and part of 1970 I went first to Hanscom AFB, MA then in 1970-71 was in the Security Police at Lowry AFB, CO. I was on my second enlistment when I arrived at Lowry, just barely over 4 years total service and a SSgt.
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Vietnam was two years behind me. Unfortunately, the memories persisted. Even after almost fifty years.
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I had left Vietnam in August 1972. December 1972 I was still licking my wounds in a USAH stateside.
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In 72, I was headed HOME... little did I know what I would be in for, now that I was back after having had surrendered youth, adolescence fun and adventures, Some gave ALL.. Yes, overseas was a wake-up call, however, the Shock, the Trauma was the way Vietnam, (Vietnam ERA) Veterans were treated when arriving Home to the Country we Love, the Constitution we believe in and the people we put FIRST... For some are STILL suffering the abuse, the neglect, of this war, and the time we were abandoned by the Politicians of the Country we Honorably Served !!
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