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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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My 1972 wasn't nearly as exciting as yours was SSgt Gilmore - I was at the Defense Language Institute, Monterey CA, taking my 2nd Russian language course and looking forward to my 2nd assignment (guaranteed) to Elmendorf AFB, AK.
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I was back home in the world. I think I had started graduate school in Political Science at UW-Madison. I remained in the Reserves after I got back in '68, had made GMG1 (my field promotion to 2nd Class had taken in the Reserves!), was married (in 1970) and had a daughter. I remember feeling about the bombing campaign something along the lines of "HELL YEAH!!!! We should have been doing this a LONG time ago and this crap would have been OVER!!!"
Thanks for the recollections and your service...
Thanks for the recollections and your service...
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in Boot Camp PISC or in Admin School at he same place. 19 y/o.had gone t a young men's academy so as to 'avoid he draft' [altho the daft had changed to the Lottery by then] at my father's express wishes. 3 yrs 7 mos and 7 days never got awarded the GDM was just thrown on my rack n the barracks. no formation, presentation, etc].
and yeah, nowadays, when I get thinking on it, I would have3 been far better of either enlisting directly out of High School into the Army, or staying out of the4 military completely altogether.
I recall VERY clearly the term "Lifer Pig" from back in those days, and why it existed too. yeah, very very clearly do I remember tat stuff.
and yeah, nowadays, when I get thinking on it, I would have3 been far better of either enlisting directly out of High School into the Army, or staying out of the4 military completely altogether.
I recall VERY clearly the term "Lifer Pig" from back in those days, and why it existed too. yeah, very very clearly do I remember tat stuff.
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Jan 72-May 73 I was at March Air Field in Southern California as a NORS controller. Worked day and night ordering parts for the honey-coned B-52's.
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I had rotated to North Carolina in 1970, then left on a 6 month Med cruise in Jan-Feb 72. They kept us moving so we didn't grow moss on the north side
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CWO3 Dennis M.
LtCol Robert Quinter I was on the USS Leahy DLG-16 in 1972 and it was in Feb 72 we departed Norfolk for a Med Cruise, we must have been in the same Battlegroup? Maybe even dragged our knuckles in the same ports and bars??
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LtCol Robert Quinter
CWO3 Dennis M. - Probably so. Corfu, Athens, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, the Riviera, Livorno and several other spots the names I can't recall. Would like to take my wife over but have to ensure the statute of limitations has run its course! I believe I was on the Guadalcanal that trip.
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CWO3 Dennis M.
LtCol Robert Quinter - I am still laughing about your Statute of limitations comment...USS Guadalcanal huh? I bet for a Marine, a ship of that namesake must have been a great honor to you? Before WWII, my Father-in-Law was a student at Dartmouth College class of 36 while there he was in the Marine Corps reserve and stayed in the Marine Corps reserve all through Medical School. When the war broke out the navy wanted to commission him as a Navy Doctor, but he said he wanted to stay with the Marines. The Navy said NO PROBLEM he got it QUICKLY!!! He was assigned to the 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He loved the Marines and even though still a Navy Officer, he only wore the Marine Corps uniform. His shoulder patch was a Blue diamond with a Red "1" with the word Guadalcanal in the red "1", with five white stars in the blue field around the "1". He told me he was at many island invasions Cape Glouster, Talasea, Peleliu, and his last invasion was at Okinawa. He told me in his opinion Peleliu was the worst he had seen with 1800 casualties and he was in charge of all shp/shore evacuees for the whole Phib 3rd corp at Okinawa. He gave me a book to read which he transcribed some details in the front of the book. The book title is "With The Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa". By E.R. Sledge. I am also in possession of his shoulder holster with his .45 m1911 that he carried, a Japanese rifle, a Japanese Battle flag with all kinds of writing on it (which he had translated after the war and I found it very interesting), and a Japanese 1000 knot belt. M father-in-Law loved the Marines, but he still had nightmares until he died in 1989.
I too will have to consider statute of limitations should I ever return. Although I was there again in 1986 when we slapped Qaddafi around by crossing his line of Death while on the USS Bainbridge CGN-25 Coral Sea Battle Group and I didn't find any one looking for me while ashore? Your list of port calls are all haunts I remember, and it was during the time of old Navy and we were allowed to be sailors ashore. We did not do any community service ashore...if you know what I mean? I did note Naples and I seem to remember the Isle of Rhodes was missing and I am sure there were others but the beer fog has erased some of those port calls. Semper Fi Col.
I too will have to consider statute of limitations should I ever return. Although I was there again in 1986 when we slapped Qaddafi around by crossing his line of Death while on the USS Bainbridge CGN-25 Coral Sea Battle Group and I didn't find any one looking for me while ashore? Your list of port calls are all haunts I remember, and it was during the time of old Navy and we were allowed to be sailors ashore. We did not do any community service ashore...if you know what I mean? I did note Naples and I seem to remember the Isle of Rhodes was missing and I am sure there were others but the beer fog has erased some of those port calls. Semper Fi Col.
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In 1972 I was heading to Disney World to see its grand opening. Gas was 35 cents a gallon. To young for the war. Thank you to those who served.
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Let's see... in '72 I was probably lying in my crib trying to get my toes in my mouth while soiling my cloth diaper...... ;)
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