I was stationed at Tan Son Nhut AB from 1971 - 1972. I was and E4 at that time. I worked in the DSTE Van out at the end of the runway. We typed up all the sorties in north Vietnam. My NCOIC was SSgt Robert Everett. AFSC 29150. Assigned to the 2003 CNM SQ.

@JohnHillCountry

9 ай бұрын

Hi William, thanks for taking the time to comment. Your work ‘office’ sounds awful - working out of a van. Welcome home brother!

7AF for 6 months then MACV for 6 months 1971/1972 Thanks for video

@JohnHillCountry

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind comment! Welcome home brother.

Thanks for posting. I was with the 377th Hospital at Tan Son Nhut. Left on Feb. 26, 1973. Welcome home!

@JohnHillCountry

5 жыл бұрын

Hi Bill and welcome home to you! Fortunately I never saw the inside of the hospital there!

Great to see your vid. I live in Saigon now, doing charity work. One of my hobbies is mapping out and documenting places around the city related to the war. Thanks again

@GuonMr

11 ай бұрын

Do you witness any changes from when the Americans life in '75, that is, in the life style of the people in Vietnam particularly in Saigon then & now? I see the KZread videos of Saigon but it looks the same as if when I left in the '70s. One thing I regret seeing is the changing of Saigon to be called HCM City; but I bet the locals still call it Saigon.

@motsetao

11 ай бұрын

I just discovered this video today. I was thrilled. Then I discovered your comment. You may be able to help me if you're so inclined. I'm writing a book about my experiences with a certain hotel. I have all the memories and adventures remembered .. Casablanca level stuff. I need logistical info pre-Ho Chi Minh city .. street names, maps, even owners' names of the hotel, other hotels in the area, police chief name, jail was called the Monkey House. I was stationed at TSN AFB, 72/73, Naval Support Group, as a 1st Class Yeoman with Tri Service ATCO. We had a window in the civilian terminal and our office was located next door. I collated movement information for SE Asia. It was a delightfully decadent time. As a sailor I had already sailed some oceans. I need to lay the background of these post ceasefire times in Vietnam behind my story and details are fuzzy for me at 74😎 I will pay.

@dennislurvey3235

6 ай бұрын

check out hundred piaster alley. just outside the main gate of TSN where the hookers stayed.

Thanks for sharing. I spent the summer of 72 there, fixing our C-130s TDY from Little Rock AFB.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Welcome home brother!

Thanks for the memories. Was there 1970-1971 MACV Joint Command Group under General Abrams THN. Was an interesting time.

@JohnHillCountry

Ай бұрын

Hi Ken, you are very welcome and welcome home brother. Such a long time ago.

Thanks John for sharing old memories of Tans Son Nhut. 1969-1970 8th APS OLAP TSM and Phouc Vinh.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Welcome home brother! 👋

Great to see old videos like this, especially for the now old cars, trucks, planes, helicopters, and of course bikes.

I was stationed there 1966-67 as a crew chief on a RF-4C with the 12th TRS. My barracks was across the street from the C-119s you had a good shot of the axcet location.Thanks for the memories

@JohnHillCountry

9 ай бұрын

You are so welcome and thank you for your comment. Happy you and I missed the Tet offensive in '68.

These personal films of Vietnam are really interesting history. Thank you for sharing! Just I side note, Navy and Marines used the smaller CH-46 Sea Knight. Army the big CH-47 Chinook.

@JohnHillCountry

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! Initially I had no idea there were two versions of the Chinook but I was corrected a few years ago so I mentioned that in my comments. You have a sharp eye!

I was there in 70-71 . worked out of the USARV hangar . We flew U-6 Beavers and shared the hangar with a group flying U-21s

Great video. Thanks for posting. Best wishes from Australia.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Thanks very much mate!

God bless you brother. . never (boring)i was 4/5 yrs. . from the uk. .thank you for your service..your story is so very important..thank you and please..iam from Manchester England uk..father of 3 sons 2 daughters..peace and love to us always flat out truth seekers everywhere ❤😎👍☝👀

@JohnHillCountry

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind comments, sincerely appreciated. Unfortunately wars and the such are a product of a fallen world - started with Cain and Able in biblical times.

I was stationed at TSN AFB, 72/73, Naval Support Group, as a 1st Class Yeoman with Tri Service ATCO. We had a window in the civilian terminal and our office was located next door. I collated movement information for SE Asia.

@JohnHillCountry

11 ай бұрын

Very good, thanks for watching and welcome home! My barracks was near the parking aprons, Bldg 890

Thank you for sharing this history!

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

You are very welcome, I appreciate the kind remarks.

Thanks for sharing, yes we were all young in those days..take care brother…

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Yes sir, so young. Those were the best days of our lives. No aches, pains, sharp memory, etc., etc. Welcome home!

Thanks for posting. I was at TSN, 8th Aerial Port Sq, Oct '71 to Oct '72. I enjoyed a bit of a pleasant flashback with your film. I lived in the 800 area as well. I started many days with the Pax Terminal's chili for breakfast, then headed to the freight section. Hope you're able to beat the cancer, brother. Welcome home.

@JohnHillCountry

5 жыл бұрын

Hi Norman! I always ate at one of the Vietnamese stands on base - never did see the inside of the chow hall. Cancer free so far, praise the Lord!

@choossuck7653

8 ай бұрын

Welcome home boys🙏

Thanks for the memories. I was there from Jan 72 to Nov 72, first with the 1876th and then with the 1964CG. I seem to remember the barracks only being single story but could be mistaken. Worked the PAFCO relay center then the main comm center in the 7thAF compound.

@jocool4302

3 жыл бұрын

They were 2 story i lived in the sps barracks.

I arrived there 15 December 1971 assigned to the comm sq. I ended up in intelligence but kept the comm id for cover of my work. I graduated from the LRRP school 30 April 1972. Left country 30 November 1972 as part of Nixon's reduced force plan. Exchange rate at the time was 9 Dong to a dollar. A lot more today. Have been back to Vietnam twice since the war. Beautiful country, wonderful people.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Hi Ron, thanks for taking your time to watch this video. So I was in the squadron about six weeks before you. Did you stay in the squadron's barracks? My two vivid memories of Vietnam were the music and the traffic in Saigon. Their music sounded like cats being tortured and traffic in Saigon was more dangerous than the VC. Traffic lights were treated as a suggestion, when your light turned green you had to inch in the intersection. Only when the green light traffic infiltrated the intersection did the red light people stop.

I was stationed there 1971- 1972 with the 377th Security Police tiger flight

@JohnHillCountry

3 жыл бұрын

Welcome home brother! Base security had a bunch of KIA during Tet when the VC attacked TSN.

I was with the 377th Security on perimeter patrol about the same time you were there. Although I did move around a bit, my last month was at the Army MACV Compound. I also had an apartment in town close to the Shell gas station for a couple of months which was an easy walk to the base main gate. From the security stand point, not all was quiet much of the time. May 3rd ' was definitely not quiet. However, I had not thought of using a movie camera to record experiences - and you did a great job with yours. Thank you for doing that.

@RememberKatrina2005

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the memories. During that period I was at Phan Rang, Air Base. Welcome home to you my brother. Ssgt Allen Kimble, Jr.

@mikemurray1047

9 ай бұрын

I was also with the 377th SPS . We had just came down from Cam Rhan Bay attached to the 483rd SPS. I worked main gate and several other areas on base. We held guard mount every night conducted by Sgt.. Lilly and went to our assigned positions. I drove a Jeep carrying water, C-Rats and chow hall food to SP’s assigned in Saigon. Was very familiar wit Tru-man-gee street. Volunteered and went to Monkey Mountain just outside of DaNang

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

@@mikemurray1047 I remember Monkey Mountain, we had comm circuits that would frequently go down from TSN to MM.

I was at Ton Son Nhut during the Tet offensive. Didn't realize the Agent Orange operations were centered there. I was diagnosed with an incurable form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 2 years ago. Got a letter from the VA in early August saying I might have a claim under the PACT act. Filed my paperwork and I am currently awaiting to get through the backlog. Reading through the documentation, one of the diseases listed for Viet Nam service was Pulmonary Fibrosis, a disease where your lungs slowly turn into cement blocks. My brother-in-law just passed from it two years ago. He served at an Army helicopter base where they had burn pits. After watching him deteriorate, if I developed it, I would be looking for my gun.

@JohnHillCountry

9 ай бұрын

So sorry about your health situation, my wonderful father-in-law passed away from a lung disease several years ago. Sort of ironic you survived the Tet offensive only to have a disease related to AO.

@tommytwogloves16

8 ай бұрын

The AO drums were clearly color marked and identified. Fault your CO for not properly briefing you. We were given adequate briefing on AO It got into the water supply so many cancers developed 30-50 years later. The VA was dragged kicking and screaming to acknowledge ant connection and to finally pay disability pensions.

Thank you for posting Sir.

@JohnHillCountry

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching, much appreciated.

I was attached to the 377th SPS 1972. We came down from Cam Ranh Bay and I work security and in Saigon then ended up going to monkey mountain outside of DaNang

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment Mike, I appreciated the 377th keeping the VC at bay. Welcome home.

Was there around the same time you were. Stationed across the street at the 716th mps. Thanks for the video. Did enjoy ur swimming pool

@JohnHillCountry

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you John! Welcome home!

Thank Thank you so much for sharing this information with us ……………

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

You are so welcome!

Enjoyed this trip back to TSN. I was a sky cop in the 377th SPS, Law Enforcement Section from March 69 to Mar 70!. Lived in the SPS compound directly across the street from Hotel 1., the big Army Heliport. Experienced many different situations during that year!. Thanks and hope your recovery is forever! In Ky.

@JohnHillCountry

6 жыл бұрын

We certainly appreciated the 377th! So far so good with being cancer-free. Thank you for the kind remarks and welcome home!

@nathanarmstrong6630

6 жыл бұрын

Suncast45 There with 377th SPS 9/70 to 9/71 working in LE.

@jocool4302

3 жыл бұрын

@@nathanarmstrong6630 I was in the 377th Security Police worked QRT UNIT PIG PEN 6/71-6/72 .

I was borne in California 1968. Us kids of that time mostly learn about what went on over there from what we saw on T.V. during that time but get a glimpse of day to day life from you guys that were there from videos like this be base life or out in the shooting. I was borne when my Dad was 50 he survived WWII in the Netherlands. I know I had buddies in school who's Dad's went over to that war but like my Parents and Grandparents they don't talk about it. My Nefew is 44 and doesn't talk about the shooting part of going to Afghanistan. Mostly because he was Army intelligence and it's uncomfortable. I recently introduced him to a Vet from the Korean war who was originally what them was a Frog Man now the Navey calls the Seals . Herb is 89. I left them to talk and went to get us lunch. It was good for both of them. Experience jumps generation gaps.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the comments. Unfortunately war and spilling blood are inherent to the human race - ever since the biblical Cain and Abel (sp?) Front line combat troops (we called them "grunts') are only 10 or 15% of the overall force but they get most of the publicity. There's a huge cadre of rear echelon military supporting the grunts, rarely is that publicized. I worked 72 hours a week so that kept me busy and out of trouble.

Thanks for you service.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Thank you very much.

Thanks for the video. I was there in 64 and I too came down with cancer. We were spraying Agent Purple but that was deemed too toxic and they switched to Orange in 65. I was also called on to do a special assignment over in Long Cheng for Air America, crazy times.

@JohnHillCountry

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Jerry and welcome home! Never heard of Agent Purple, that's an interesting tidbit of info. Right across from our barracks was the parking apron for the Air America Pilatus PC-6 Porters. They were coming and going all of the time, I might have mentioned that in the video.

@belga3513

8 ай бұрын

I lived in Saigon in 1969 to 1975.My father Anton Werlinger (deceased) worked for Air America. I spent a lot of time on TSN Air Base swimming,bowling and going to the movies,commissary and I will never forget it. I loved living there and miss it still.

thats cool ! thanks. Sitting at the Ibis Saigon hotel overlooking the airport. Live in Quy Nhon. Its still crazy on the roads

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much! Stay safe over there, it was a bit more dangerous when I was there LOL.

This is interesting. I live in Saigon and my apartment is near the TSN airport, overlooking the park that used to be a golf course during the war. Only a few hundred yards from the former MACV HQ.

@kenwenzel9040

Ай бұрын

Wow. I worked at Mac HQ. 1970 - 1971. I used to see the golf course every day.

Grateful for the upload .. enjoyed and will share it on forum I use ..

@JohnHillCountry

7 жыл бұрын

You are quite welcome.

Thanks for posting this. I was there all of 1969 and most of 1970. I worked in the 7th AF Communications Center.

@JohnHillCountry

6 жыл бұрын

Welcome home! We were a pretty small squadron, never set foot in 7th Comm Center.

@geod3589

6 жыл бұрын

I worked in base comm for a few months then to the tandem switchboard 70-71.

My grandfather Douglas Earl Brown was there 1970-71. He once told me the one thing you heard all day and night "the never ending sound" were the helicopters.

@JohnHillCountry

4 жыл бұрын

The air traffic was indeed constant, especially the Chinooks, Sea Knights and UH1 Hueys choppers. I smelled JP4 (kerosene) all of the time since our barracks were so close to the parking aprons.

@tomcomiskey6350

2 жыл бұрын

I was there for a very short time with the U.S. Army , went into Saigon a couple of times , don't remember alot there.

I went back there in August 2019. The only recognizable were the radar domes and the "in-country" terminal, which was across from the 800 area, which is now a park. My hotel room was on the old base, and I did not realize where I was until my guide showed me where the main gate was. Only then did I see the old Plantation Road and the old "100-P" alley is still there, lol.

@JohnHillCountry

4 жыл бұрын

Welcome home brother!

Thank you so much for sharing this. Interesting to see Ton Son Nhut AFB. I was only 11 years old when you were there, but have always had an interest in USAF history during the Vietnam era, especially all of the aircraft varieties. Your film really gives us a "feel" for what it was like to be there on a daily basis. Thank you so much for your dedicated service.

@JohnHillCountry

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Duane for the kind remarks! I had it so much better than the Army guys and the Navy River Rats (and the USAF fly boys). Every time I smell diesel exhaust it still reminds me of living in the barracks across from the aircraft parking aprons, jet fuel is basically kerosene.

@mikemurray1047

9 ай бұрын

I came down from Cam Rhan Bay (483rd SPS) and was attached to the 377th SPS. 1972. Sgt. Lilly conducted guard mount every night. Volunteered to go to Monkey Mountain, DaNang area

@duanemartin1094

9 ай бұрын

Wow, Mike, interesting to hear of your service...thank you..I could listen to your stories all day. Thank you for ALL your service..I wish today's younger generation could hear your stories and greatly appreciate all that you did. Thanks again for sharing...blessings, Duane

thanks for sharing, I spent 3 days at TSN (late March early April 1971) out processing from the 6924th security Squadron at Da Nang on my way to Udorn, Thailand. Stayed with my buddy from Alaska at the 6994th at Tan son Nhut, an airborne unit, we were 292x1 AFSC's "ditty bops" Morse Intercept Operators.

Thank you for your service Sir.

@JohnHillCountry

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you again Sandy. I never once regretted my time in military service.

@sandydremmel1506

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry Because of your service, you helped many asylum seekers escaped Vietnam to find the freedom in United States, Canada, and Europe countries. I escaped Vietnam with my younger sister. I was 15th and she was 13 th years old. Our siblings found an American dream because we found inner peace, which the Communists couldn't robbed, harassed, mentally tortured us. Thank you again.

@sandydremmel1506

2 жыл бұрын

I own you a gratitude.

@sandydremmel1506

2 жыл бұрын

I came from family of ten, and nine of us escaped Vietnam successfully. Thank you Sir. Our family have steady job, house to live, and at last, inner peace. We work hard, finished school, and American dream come along. Thank you Sir.

Not sure about back then but modern CH47s definitely do auto rotate and don't just drop like a rock. Thanks for your video.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

That's good to know. One of my buddies (now sadly deceased) was a Cobra and LOACH pilot in Vietnam (Purple heart, etc then an airline pilot). He did not ever want to set foot in a CH46/47 - too many 'go-around' parts that could fail.

nice to see it, pls upload more video of Saigon at that time if you still have, thank you.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Hi and thanks for watching the video. Sorry but that's all of the film I took at the time. Super8 movie film was very expensive for me as was developing.

Great movies! Loved the shot of the 800 area where I lived. Shows bldg 888 at first, I lived in 883 upper. 1876th CS, 29150. Rarely see videos or pics of 800 area. Thanks again. BTW, I had prostate cancer too from AO, get disability also.

@JohnHillCountry

6 жыл бұрын

George Smith I think I was on the first floor of the barracks, maybe as an E5 I got dibs on the ground floor :)

Welcome Home brother!!!!! And I sincerely mean that from my heart! Dong Tam, My Tho, Bein Thuy 1970-1971 (365 days exactly). Construction surveyor with HQ Company 93rd Engr BT. Someday I will write my story 🙂

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your very kind reply Bill, it is very much appreciated. You got to move around while I was stuck at TSN but there were base diversions for my one day off each week. Blessings to you and get those memories documented!

May 68, I spent one night there before being transferred to the IIff armor. Nasty barracks for incoming and outgoing troops. Slept on the springs as the mattress was nasty.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Hi Bill, thanks for the comments and welcome home. I don't remember my mattress pad being one way or another but since we weren't transient maybe we had better accommodations. I do remember sleeping under mosquito netting and being on the first floor. I'm thinking since I was an E5 maybe that gave me first shot at the ground floor.

@billmorley2101

8 ай бұрын

@JohnHillCountry Welcome home, brother . Thanks for the video

Really interesting stuff. I understand kit isnt the subject of this excellent video, but the 'navy chinook' is a Sea Stallion or Sea Knight I think. Chinook was an Army asset.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Yes, the heli in my video is a CH-46 Sea Knight, I made the correction in my video description. Thank you for watching the video and your comment gunner 👍

I wasn’t born, thanks for your service! God bless you!

@JohnHillCountry

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sam, I really appreciate the thoughts.

"Warsh" lol. My dad Roy Pulliam was there during this time period.

I went there is 72 TDY from Guam I worked on flight like for about a couple of months don’t remember how long. Since I was TDY it doesn’t show up on my add-214 I now have ischemic heart issues I’ve been trying for many years to get help to no avail!

@JohnHillCountry

2 жыл бұрын

I'm so sorry you are having health issues. Have you tried to document the history of your unit? I was able to find quite a bit of information about my Comm Sq at Tan Son Nhut so maybe there's something out there for you. Best of luck and God Bless.

I was stationed at Tan Son Nhut with the 834AD (ALCC) from Nov 66 to Jan 70. I lived off base & rather enjoyed the job I had in ALCC airfield survey office providing administrative support & on occasion travelling with AF engineers to survey airfields for capability of C-130, C-124 & C7 aircraft to land. I would of stayed longer in TSN if it wasn't a reassignment that was offered to be being station at Taipei AS, Taipei, Taiwan. Btw I served in Taiwan for six years & one month & loved every minute of it being station there. Also, back to my service at TSN, my replacement for my job was one of my running partners in the streets of Saigon; I was notified that he was killed when the helicopter he was flying in along with the survey officers "went down" on trip to survey drop zones in Cambodia; his names Durwood Wolf (I called him "big bad wolf"), you can find his name on the Vietnam wall. P.S. Like this video of TSN, I have my own Super 8 film (now on CD) that maybe l'll get around transferring onto KZread & to the public. Now I am on my retirement with the fond (& sometimes bad) memories serving in the AF for 28 years.

@JohnHillCountry

11 ай бұрын

Interesting story, thanks for taking the time to comment. I enjoyed reading about your experiences over there. Shame about your replacement, I’m not aware of anyone who I knew that was killed over there. My buddy shuttled back and forth between Vietnam and Taiwan working on C-130 compass’s and autopilots. He also really liked Taipei. Get your movies uploaded! Best, John

The airport in Saigon is still called Tan Son Nhut, the concrete revetments and bunkers are still out on the field. The only difference now is the main international civilian terminal is a super modern glass and stainless steel fully airconditioned building. Customs and immigration are now almost a pleasure stepping off into a covered air bridge straight into A/C. SO much better than the stand up bus ride with rifle totting guards into a tin shed immigration area that was still in use in the early 2000's.

The Chinook has a very good Auto rotation capacity with either single or twin engine LOP. Just a correction to your request for comments. Thanks.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for that correction, I had no idea that was possible on engine loss. However I was thinking about damage to one blade to where it was shut down (assuming that's possible with the drive shafts, gearing, etc.)

This is so cool to see. My papaw was personnel there. I've only seen photos of his barracks with the mosquito netting around their beds.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Yes, we all slept under mosquito netting. When I went to the latrine at night (separate building) I had to fight the giant cockroach’s 🤨

@tftrainman

8 ай бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry sounds like a heapin good time. I remember some of the stuff my papaw would tell me about the flight line and heliport. I know he lost most of his hearing sice his office was right next to the helibase

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

@@tftrainman My barracks was close to one of the parking aprons but as an E5 (Staff Sgt) I got a bunk on the first floor. There were concrete blast barriers between barrack buildings so that helped keep the noise down. I was probably so tired noise didn't matter since we worked six 12 hour shifts.

@tftrainman

8 ай бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry that would definitely make sense. Idk what kind of aircraft y'all had but when I was stationed at kadena Air base in Okinawa my dorms were just across the boulevard from the upper fighter ramp for the F15s. We had 52 of them. Every morning that I was off shift that was my wake up call.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

@@tftrainman There were C54's, C-123, C-130, Pilatus STOL ("Air America" or the CIA), C47s (gunships) and probably a bunch more I don't remember. When I was stationed at Kindly AFB (Bermuda) we only had rescue helicopters as I recall. There were a bunch of transient aircraft coming and going.

We were 377 Security Police by then, some of us combat trained. We successfully defended the base in 1968. We got hit my first night on duty Dec 19, 1969, there is a video of it. After that not much to do except to keep our own people from killing each other or Vietnamese.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

You guys were the tip of the spear and much appreciated! I know there was a security post on the perimeter that took a rocket killing some of the APs 😢 in that attack.

Worked at that base 71-72. Army Aviation.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Welcome home!

@CockpitScenes

8 ай бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry Thanks, and likewise to you...

I believe the last attack before the fall of Saigon was Dec 19, 1969, four rockets. Our sense was the war was over. I took a second job at the BX and took two semesters of english from instructors from University of Marylyn. I was able to use one of them towards my bachelors degrees in 2000. My barracks was across the street from the heliport, so we had choppers coming and going 24/7. We could call home on the Mars system, we had to say 'over' between talking. Our mail was great. I received letters from my fiancé almost daily with perfume on them. But on return she broke up with me. A lot of us lost relatives or wives while we were, and there was a lot of alcohol drank from that. I came home with serious PTSD which I still have today.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Welcome Home Dennis! Good for you getting your degree as an adult student. I finished my Masters Degree in 1996 - I had no life for three years. Wake up, go to work. Off to school after work. Head home about 2130 hours. Repeat. I had no time for a second job at TSN as I worked 12 hour days six days a week. After 72 hours I was ready to chill. Take care of your PTSD - don't let the basta*ds win!

@dennislurvey3235

Жыл бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry Thank You, John!!!

I was a 362xx..(afsc talk) in the usaf in 1988...we were known as "wire dawgs".

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Very good. I was a 362x4, Telephone Equipment Installer Repairman, not sure if I mentioned that in the video. 18 week school at Sheppard AFB. I noticed that AFSC has disappeared. I completed the training for the 5 level and my boss wanted me to get started on the 7 level. No thanks as I wasn't going to stay in. There wasn't any re-up bonus either to boot.

Sir, I hope you still check on your messages. I enjoyed this video very much as my dad must have been in your area. He was an air traffic controller, must have been there about the same time, and when he left we were on the USAF Academy in the early 70’s to around 74? Anyway, his name was James Keon, thanks for the video.

@JohnHillCountry

3 жыл бұрын

Hi and thanks for the kind comments. Don't remember your dad - there were a couple of thousand people at TSN.

If you’re still around you should take a trip to Vietnam, you won’t believe how modern it is and still cheap to visit…

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Never had a desire to visit anything in Asia, we traveled extensively in and around Europe and some in South America. In any case, I'm done with commercial air travel - never want to set foot in an airport unless it's to pick up or drop off someone 🙂.

'71-35 gen support group 1st aviation brigade

@JohnHillCountry

5 жыл бұрын

Welcome home Tom!

My dad was their at rhe same time, he was a crew chief on the f4 phantom and f111

@JohnHillCountry

11 ай бұрын

Now you are making me feel old LOL. Was he at TSN or based somewhere else?

@kevinnix5495

11 ай бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry tsn two tours, and Thailand but I'm not sure he doesn't talk about it too much

Spend a month or so just before Christmas to work in the mall hanger until I got sent back up to Camp Eagle in 71 when we were standing down, but I was transfer to a base just out side 90th replacement ini believe Long bend Vietnam 1971 & 72 101th Airborne Camp Eagle My posting if you wish to look

Thank you for sharing your experience in veitnam!!Extremely extraordinary men HONORABLE HEROES!! WELCOME HOME 🏡! From the bottom of my heart!! No words can describe what these men went through on a daily basis!! I APPRECIATE ALL VEITNAM VET'S FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MADE UNTHINKABLE?? Your stories must be told? Don't let the GOVERNMENT AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FORGET?? THE ONLY SHAME IS ON THEM!! FOR THE BETRAYAL AND DISGUSTING TREATMENT TOWARDS THE VEITNAM COMBAT VET'S!! THE VEITNAM VET'S ARE THE REAL STAR'S!!! SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE NFL PLAYERS AND THOSE HOLLYWOOD SCUM BAGS TAKE FOR GRANTED!!!

@JohnHillCountry

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for the heartfelt thanks. How we Vietnam vets were treated and vilified was disgusting - those late 1960 and 1970s hippies are now running the country. Let that sink in. One of my very good friends passed away a few months ago. Holder of the Purple Heart he was shot down in a Cobra and then a LOACH helicopter. He was very hesitant to discuss his experiences even to a fellow Vietnam Vet but finally he opened up. It was extremely emotional for him to discuss even 45 years later.

The ch46 from the navy detachment at the west side of the fight line did regular mail and supply runs , we were always able to get beer from the pi from them.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

That CH46 I was on must have been from that detachment.

That first helicopter on your joy ride was a CH-46 sea knight Both 46 &47 helicopters had a drive shaft connected with both engines

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Right you are, I made that correction in the description. I had no idea the Navy had a version of the Chinook.

landed on mon. left Sat. Never saw anything but mess hall. They found out I and 10 other medics were only 17. Summer 71.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Wow! I thought 17 would have been the minimum age with parent's approval. In any case, you saw something I never saw while I was there - the inside of the mess hall 🙂.

Thank you for your video, I was born in Saigon, Cho Lon in 1971. I have been wondering how South Vietnam looked like before the Communists took over.

@JohnHillCountry

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sandy for the kind comment. I remember Saigon traffic was terrible and nobody paid any attention to traffic control signals (red lights.) I probably had more of a chance of being killed in traffic as I did from a VC rocket attack.

@sandydremmel1506

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry You are right. I bet my life every time I across a street since I was little. Have you ever go back to Vietnam? The traffic still the same. Drivers don't respect pedestrian at all.

@JohnHillCountry

2 жыл бұрын

@@sandydremmel1506 Some things never change LOL. No, haven't been back and no plans to visit. We prefer to visit Europe and particularly Scandinavia.

They call the airport Tan Son Nhat these days. Large areas around the airport are now full of civilian buildings with the Vietnamese military still occupying some areas. A lot of the old hangars are now slowely disappearing

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Interesting they still call it TSN. Not surprised the old buildings are disappearing, they are getting really old. Thanks for watching the video (assuming you did that) and the comment.

@marcblank3036

8 ай бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry yes I enjoyed watching the video and better understand the surroundings of the airport. The buildings were strong but the airport is just too small for all these planes. The military still hold on to certain off limit areas. I have seen a c119 and c123 parked around there. Cam Ranh airport is very big and changing fast. Da Nang still has many old buildings. The old American school near TSN is now a museum for the SE Asian military forces. Funny enough the code for TSN is still SGN.

In regards to helicopters, lose a rotor blade on any type of helicopter you are toast. Not to be confused with an engine failure. Re Agent Orange, ALL of my friends who were in Viet Nam have died from cancer due to Agent Orange exposure. One passed as early as 65 years. Another made it to 85.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Roger on the engine failure vs rotor failure (I flew fixed wing.) I'm actually surprised my prostate cancer hasn't reappeared - I'm cancer free for 8 years now which puts me as an outlier on the charts for cancer-free. The good Lord isn't finished with me as yet so I'm still hanging around.

welcome home brother I was there same time ariel port Sq 😎

@JohnHillCountry

4 ай бұрын

Thank you very much Allen, and the very same welcome home to you as well. - John

Thanks for posting the video John, the Navy chopper you were having a ride with is not a CH-47 Chinook, it’s a CH-46 Sea Knight. As for the 3 wheel taxi you are referring to, they are called Lambretta or Lambro. www.google.fr/search?q=3+wheel+lambretta&client=safari&hl=en-fr&prmd=isvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-yqzX07jXAhWHIewKHSjIALIQ_AUIESgB&biw=1024&bih=643#imgdii=scPiuvXt_0ZY0M:&imgrc=2-R4RJDCxw71bM:

@JohnHillCountry

6 жыл бұрын

Yup, roger on the Sea Knight - somebody beat you to the correction :) . I never knew who made the little scooters ("Hop Taxs" or "Hop Tacs") - I sure spent a bunch of time in them to get around base. TSN was huge.

@moitoi4064

6 жыл бұрын

John Canfield unlike regular taxis, in a Lambretta you have to wait that it is full with passengers before departure.

Hi John - this footage is really amazing. I was wondering if I could use a short clip (10 seconds) for a documentary I'm working on? Thanks!

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Hi Jake. In what context are you going to use the clip? John

@jakesolomon3733

Жыл бұрын

Hi John - the doc is about a Cambodian man who fled the Khmer Rouge to the states. He became good friends with a Vietnam Veteran and they did a lot of work together building schools. There is a short portion where he describes his time in Vietnam and how it led to him being a psychiatrist who worked with veterans with PTSD. We'd use the clip when he discusses his time in Vietnam.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

@@jakesolomon3733 Hi Jake, that sounds like a noble project and I do give you permission to use clips from my video. I would love to see the completed documentary. Best of luck, John Canfield Tan Son Nhut, VietNam 1971-72

@jakesolomon3733

Жыл бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry Thanks, John!

My husband was there during the time you were there. Dola Miller III

@JohnHillCountry

4 жыл бұрын

Hope he did okay over there.

just to let you know that jeep offloading somebody is a Australian army land rover jeep. i can't see the unit's emblem below the left tail night blue/red badge clearly definately a Australian unit badge. i though all Australian units had left Vietnam by 72.

@JohnHillCountry

21 сағат бұрын

I've always wondered about that 4X4 - I never knew what it was. Thanks so much for the clarification, much appreciated. There's a bunch of secrets that never see the light of day in a war. Cheers Andrew!

I’d seen that, in later comments

My Dad Thomas Lorenzo McDaniel 614th lucky devil's TFS from Lynchburg VA was here when Tet broke out

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Thankfully I avoided Tet. Tan Son Nhut had a rocket attack either then or Little Tet, some of the Air Police (base security) were KIAs. Thank you for watching the video and your comment Bryon.

depends on the mal function for a chinook...

45th Tac RECON `69-70

@JohnHillCountry

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Larry, welcome home!

US Navy CH-46 "Sea Knight".

@JohnHillCountry

3 жыл бұрын

Yup, I made the correction quite a while ago in comments. Thanks though.

I believe that was called "Rocket City" when I was in VN

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

You mean TSN was called Rocket City?

@stevewilliams1197

8 ай бұрын

@JohnHillCountry John my memory is fuzzy on that. So I might have gotten that wrong.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

@@stevewilliams1197 No worries Steve, know what you mean about a fuzzy memory!

6:15 is that a Land Rover, Aussie?

Interesting

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

You should have been there 😊

@stevec2940

8 ай бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry too young

3:35 Sergeant Carter.

@JohnHillCountry

4 жыл бұрын

Oh wow, I'm surprised you can recognize a face from the grainy film.

had orders for vietnam tan son nhut when kissinger signed the paris peace accord. my orders were cancelled the next day. i was teletype maint.

@JohnHillCountry

26 күн бұрын

Wow, you were lucky James. When I worked for SW Bell one of my jobs before promotion to management was a TTY tech, did that for 7 years. Models 28, 33, 35 and 40s. Thank goodness we didn't have any Model 15s.

QUESTION: what year did veterans affairs begin requiring us to file a claim within on year? It wasn't the law in 1972, what year did it begin?

@JohnHillCountry

6 ай бұрын

Sorry Dennis, don't know. Contact your Veteran's Service Officer.

Not a Vietnam vet (wasn't even born back then) but I'm Indonesian and much of the video feels eerily similar to shots of Indonesia in the early Soeharto era. Probably because we had our own red scare and a right-wing military government around that time too.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

that's quite interesting, thanks for the comments. I don't associate "right-wing" with our involvement in Vietnam back then rather the objective was to stop the spread of Communism - the so called domino theory. Keeping Vietnam as a market driven economy with elected leaders was critical for preserving democracy in SE Asia. Ironically Vietnam is sort of market driven now since lots of manufacturing have moved from China to Vietnam. As a side remark Communism and its sibling Socialism are failures which has been demonstrated over and over again for over 100 years.

@LafayetteCCurtis

8 ай бұрын

@@JohnHillCountry I don't really care that much about the domestic politics that drove US support for the associated governments in Indonesia or South Vietnam -- either way the US-supported governments in both countries ended up being right-wing, ultraconservative ones that muzzled personal liberties and political expression roughly as much as their Communist rivals did. Would Communist rule have been better? No. But in the Indonesian case at least, I can't help wondering whether the political environment down here wouldn't have been so dysfunctional if the US-supported regime hadn't so completely suppressed the left-wing opposition for over a generation.

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

@@LafayetteCCurtis Oh my goodness. Your premise is exactly backward. There is no freedom under Communism, the state controls the economy, the educational system, any news broadcast is propaganda, prices and wages are fixed, and on and on and on. Everyone is equal except for the ruling class. Conservative or ultra conservative (I have no idea what the ultra tag signifies, you're either conservative or not) stands for personal freedom and all which that encompasses. As far as Indonesia, I know nothing about your society or the country's politics. As far as Vietnam, I was there during the war and have first person knowledge of that situation. As far as conservative vs liberal, I'm there with first person knowledge and I know how destructive liberalism is to the very fabric of the American way of life and our Constitution..

Fascinating to see these old movies , much more interesting than rockets and bomb blasts . I always get a chuckle , the American military must have spent unbelievable amounts of money in Vietnam. The British army would have a few old canvas tents and some sort of makeshift hanger to store our few Helicopters in . If you had the chance to back in time would you do it again the same ?

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Billions and billions of dollars were spent there and over 59,000 killed in action. The problem wasn’t equipment related but war management. Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) insisted on micro managing the tactical and strategic planning and operations. If the military had a free hand the outcome would have been different. The NVA were highly motivated compared to most of the ARVN (Communists vs South Vietnamese) who had no such motivation. Even if we (USA) prevailed initially the conflict would have gone underground forever. Horrible waste of people and resources.

I did not know the navy had chinooks.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

They had the navy version of the Chinook, I didn’t know that either until corrected here

Did you ever encounter a Colonel Bolger?

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

I do not remember that name but as an enlisted troop we didn't socialize with the officers at TSN. At my previous base, in our squadron we all partied together.

You mean the CH 46?I The Army had the CH 47.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I made the correction in the description a long time ago.

Its a CH-46 Sea Knight

@JohnHillCountry

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, I corrected the type of helicopter in the video description quite a long time ago.

I’m not a Vietnam vet but a Veteran of the Marine Corps. I served 81-88. I did serve with a Lot Vietnam vets. My brother served in the USAF 66-70. Never left Texas. I thought the Video was really nice. Of course I like stuff like this

Spot the Landrover at 6.17...... must have been some Australians there?

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

I think there were Aussies there.

friction... fog... politicians' stupidity

@JohnHillCountry

9 ай бұрын

Yes indeed

sorry about your cancer i was army 69-70 phan rang

@JohnHillCountry

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Dennis, much appreciated. Cancer free so far - been 8 years.

Các ông làm tôi nhớ vietnam ngày xưa khi đảng Cộng sản chưa nắm quyền

@JohnHillCountry

5 жыл бұрын

I'm very sorry there isn't a democratic South Vietnam, 60,000 of our young men and women were killed in that effort.

I was stationed there 197 71 was a fuels guy correct about agent orange all my buddies are dead cancer gave me a brain hemorrhage and rashes all the time.

@JohnHillCountry

Жыл бұрын

Welcome home brother! I'm cancer-free for seven years now but hold my breath with every PSA test. Hang in there and beat Agent Orange!!!

US Navy CH-46 "Sea Knight".

@JohnHillCountry

6 жыл бұрын

Yup, right you are. Thanks for the correction.

@jetvette66

6 жыл бұрын

John Canfield Yes sir. You're welcome.