619th Tactical Control Squadron

The detachments were known as Forward Air Control Posts, FACP's - and used search radar's to control aircraft and give artillery warnings. In 1968 there were 48 airmen and officers assigned at Duoug Dong Air Station. Typically, you would find a Aerial Port Squadron at one of our detachments, as well as Air Force Security Police personal on TDY assignment from the 377th SPS.

Members of the detachment 1 619th TCS are encouraged to submit via e-mail any recollections, remembrances, narratives or comments for inclusion on this page to Jim Hale - sunwatt@madisoncounty.net

Phu Quoc island is located off the southwest coast of Vietnam, and Det. 1 was a 500x1000' compound by the airstrip at Duong Dong village. There were many bunkers. The berm was strung with continua wire and claymore mines were laid outside the wire. Airmen from the Det. 1 manned two 81mm mortars, and quad 50 cal Jeep. In the final months I remember the additions to the berm, in the form of 55gal drums stacked 3 deep, all filled with sand. Charley and I, along with others had to knock the drum tops out with chisels and hammers. Filling sand bags was allot easier.

We were often called on by local MACV advisors to fire the mortars in harassment and interdiction events, as well as "Mad Minutes" when the siren would go off and we had to fire into the jungle.

Unit records I have obtained show that a helicopter did some close in defoliation straying. So anyone who served at Duong Dong needs to know that they were exposed to Agent Orange, and dioxin.

On the lighter side, we had a Jeep that hit a mine and declared a combat loss, but the mechanics repaired it and painted it hot pink, naming it the "Pink Panther". It was used for trips to recreational trips to town.

Phu Quoc was a very sandy and hot island, and when temperatures got too high we were allowed to go to the beach a short walk away. We didn't have surfboards but body surfing was a popular sport. There were a few who had small disks they skimmed along the beach line. Jellyfish were the main problem, but sharks had been sighted from the air while coming in for a landing.

Our detachment was deactivated in December 1968. One or two weeks before Christmas I believe the Security Guards left, & the radar and operations gear was flown out on C130's. After the mess hall and generators left, all personnel left except for myself and an unknown number of airmen and officers. By new years on January 1 1969 there was only a dirty dozen (or less) remaining. The last remnants of Det.1 personnel flew out on January 7th 1969.

Man i remember body surfing during monsoon, big ass storm, its was GREAT. I never rode such powerful waves be4. took 15min 2 get out 2 the waves, bout 30sec 2 ride back in. WOW. Also member sharks bout 30-50 yards out swimming round. The planes landing could c them in the water, then c us swimming ,thought we were all crazzy, we were!!!!

Member the time we all went 2 town, all got wasted & came back long after curfew. Boy was he pissed. He was waiting 4 us @ the entrance bunker, started yelling @ us, I yelled back, got in2 a real screaming match. No 1 else got in2 trouble but me, but thats the way it was with me. Member "DOC" the medic who went on a binge when we got orders 2 leave, on the plan back he went in2 dt's & flipped out on the plane.

That must have been a blast 2 travel all round like u did,I would have loved 2 did that. Boy talking bout nam brings back lots of memories, haven't talked bout it 4 25years or more. Member when the green barets attacked us just b4 they pulled out. Fired grenades & all @ us. Was that cool or what. Most people who never experienced what we did would have a hard time understanding what we r talking bout ?????

Well anywho its great having some1 2 talk bout nam wit. It still brings back feelings & all. So if ya got anymore pics, send them. I had some but i lived a pretty nomadic life after nam, moving round & round, not keeping anything or collecting anything. Not till i settled down.

Lonni

Do you remember one of the 377th SPS guys who had a pet crab on a leash? There was a sticker on the shell of the crab "I'm a good guy"? Also remember a guy who had a pet monkey named "Short Time".

Remember any of that?

Jim..... I remember the crab but not the sps . I do remember shorty very well because the "owner" was a guy named Bender from Pa. Shorty would spend alot of time in our hooch. We would give him shot glasses of beer when we played cards and after 2 or so he would go screaming around the place and end up sitting on the top fan blade in the hooch. Bender actually would bring me coffee at night or early morning out to my post. He came back to Saigon with me to see that I got off ok. I wasn't in great shape those last few days before I left. I didn't even know when I was suppose to leave he kind of took care of all the transport and paper work for me. Cool huh.

Charley and I both worked in the generator shack at Duong Dong Air Station. Its been great meeting him again after 30 years. Its only been online via email, but its a wonderful thing. We hope that others will be so fortunate to find there old friends from Vietnam. So much to catch up on after all these years.

Lonni was one of the 377th Security Police Squadron guys, who were TDY from Tan Son Nhut AB, Saigon, and those guys guarded the gate and compound. There were other airmen there from the 8th Aerial Port Sqdn.

Detachment 1 "Swissboy" Phu Quoc Island - Duong Dong Air Station

Detachment 1 "Swissboy"
Phu Quoc Island - Duong Dong Air Station