| Wednesday 5/16/2007 5:23 AM |
| Name: |
Rhett O. Webber CMSgt (Ret) |
| Homepage: |
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| E-Mail: |
rhett_webber@yahoo.com |
| Referred By: |
Search Engine |
| City/Country: |
Angeles City, Philippines |
| Assigned to 1882nd?: |
at Phan Rang |
| When Assigned?: |
Jan 66 - Jan 67 |
| Section Assigned: |
MRN-12 Mobile Control Tower |
| AFSC: |
27290 |
| Comments: |
In Jan 66, I arrived at Tan San Nhut and reported in to the Group, with orders to the 1883rd Comm Sq. However, the ATC NCOIC quickly advised me I wouldn't be going there, as the last ATC'er they'd sent to Quin Hwon hadn't been heard from lately. He pointed to a map of Vietnam on the wall and said pick a certain colored pin, as that's where an ATC guy was needed. I picked Phan Rang, as it looked near the coast and of course that meant babes and beaches. I saw the beach once and the babes at Phan Rang only qualified as babes by one physical attribute. They were the skinnest, ugliest females I've ever seen anywhere. Of course after a couple of Balmy-Balms who cared! Plus we didn't have that much spare time anyway. I'll scan and send along some photo's of us building 'hootches', so we wouldn't have to live in tents. Arriving at Phan Rang in Jan 66' was quite a surprise, as most of us had never lived in combat conditions. Simple things like cold water, ice, and warm showers were luxuries, not readily available to enlisted troops. I'll list some names along with the photo's. I worked the one man shift in the overly spacious MRN-12 Mobile Control Tower, while Terry Farmer worked in the GCA next door. We used to volunteer our spare time working the MARS Station-AI8AIR. I remember the 1st MOB bringing in a Mobile TACAN and the first pallet off the plane was loaded with San Miguel Beer. As all we had access to green Miller beer, those San Miguels were like gold. I remember Capt Dutch too! He helped keep my butt out of serious trouble, after I'd flown a couple of missions with the Army Bird Dog L-19's, as a spotter. Seems the Major didn't take too kindly to my over looking who was going to replace me, if and when we were shot down! We had the only first sergeant on base with his own Army Jeep, donated by the 101st Support BN, located next to our compound. I'll never forget the day when an airman was struck and killed by lightning , while washing his mess kit at the flight line chow hall. Or the time a fireman fell off the back of his fire truck, while responding to an F4 on fire, at the end of the runway. Luckily he survived, but sure lost alot of skin, while rolling down the AM-2 taxiway. Spent 30 years in before retiring, with a couple of assignments to the 4th and 5th MOB's and really enjoyed those assignments. Super Site! Hope to hear you all! |
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