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Insp807

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Posts posted by Insp807

  1. Just received my VA benefits letter.

    Had a H/A and Bypass surgery last December. Submitted claim for IHD and Hearing / Tinnitus. Was awarded service connected disability for all with Agent Orange listed for IHD. Claim included TDY's to Naha, Clark with flights to Vietnam and 90 days at Tan Son Nhut. Did not have any orders or vouchers but had AFEM and 11+ months foreign service on DD 214. Personal records had TDY dates but no assignments listed except 314th OMS Stewart AFB Tenn. 1962 to 1966.  ( Crew Chief - Bravo section) Had APR noting TDY to SE Asia and an Airmans Open Mess membership card from Tan Son Nhut. Used county VSO here in NC who submitted all papers. She stated that the Airmans club card would prove Vietnam service. 

    Note: I did receive a letter from the VA asking me to detail how I was exposed to Agent Orange. I took the advice from posts on this site and submitted a Statement In Support Of Claim VA form 21-4138. I detailed my TDY's to Clark and Naha and flights into Vietnam. I also detailed my TDY to Tan Son Nhut on ABCCC 62-1825 in September 1965. I sent this as my affidavit of service in Vietnam and exposure to Agent Orange. ( I would highly recommend submitting your statement after receiving the letter for proof from the VA.)

    Process took 6 months and a special thanks for all the information posted on site.

     

  2. Mike, Thanks for this info on filing a claim. I just started the claim process for IHD, MI, Bypass Surgery. I have requested records as others have recommended on this site. I'm working with a county VSO who is knowledgeable of the process. Your view on the appeals process was well received. The main issue with C-130 personnel is proof of service in Vietnam while on TDY status. The VA and the Air Force should have recognized this problem without us having to justify our service because of their political decisions and poor record keeping.

  3. I was in the 314th from 62 to 66. There is mailing list for members of the 314th TCW and an annual reunion is held in Nashville.

    One person you might remember is SMSGT Al Blumhoefer who was NCOIC of maintenance at Natrang with the 314th. I believe he was also at CCK. Email me at [email protected] and I'll forward you the contact list.

    I must live right down the road from you, I'm in Leland NC.

  4. I just posted a picture of 62-1825 which was the first ABCCC C-130E that I crewed in Saigon TSN AB. We got there in September 1965 and I left in December. It was crewed by the 314th out of Sewart AFB. Boyd Green was a radio operator in the capsule who took the picture at Eglin prior to picking us up at Sewart.

  5. Bob,

    C-130B 61-0960 was assigned to the 314th TCW at Sewart, we were changing over to the E's in 1965. My roommate Ken Moser was involved in a drop from Andrews as the crew chief. He is a member so you might want to ask him. I remember the flight going to Andrews as an out and back. A drop was made but no one could discuss it at the time. At the time we awaiting discharge having returned form Saigon.

    Jim Lane

    Jim

    I sent him an e mail through the site about 3 weeks ago. No answer. Can you contact him?

    Thanks

    Bob

  6. There is a reunion on Sept. 14th, 2013 in Smyrna next to the base. This includes all 314TCW personnel along with 61,62,50 and 18 TCS from 1960 to base closing.

    The link is posted in this Form under announcements, 314TCW Reunion. This link also has a neat blog containing info from a lot of the old troops.

    Jim

  7. After posting my question, I found the definitions in Wikipedia along with the history. The AFEM is described as a medal awarded for service in an specific operation where you encountered or were in danger of hostile action by Foreign Armed Forces. The Vietnam Service Medal is described as awarded for service in Vietnam, Laos,Cambodia or Thailand on land, sea or in the air in direct support of the operations in Vietnam. The AFEM was awarded for service in Vietnam from July 1958 until July 1965. It was also issued for service in Operation Frequent Wing April 29 & 30 1975. The VSM was awarded for service from Nov. 1961 to April 1975. It's anybody's guess how they determined who got what.

  8. I have a question after reading this thread. I looked at my DD 214 and AFEM AFR 900-10 was noted in the medals section. Is this for service in Vietnam as I was at TSN as a crew chief 1965 and prior to that at Clark and Naha on rotation from the 314 TCW.

  9. I'll look in my slides, I had a few of the B models while on troop drops etc. while at Sewart. Sorry to hear about 955, that picture was taken in Tehran Iran while on a rotation out of Everaux, France in 1963.

    I' see what I've got.

    Jim

  10. One of the good aspects of being left with the aircraft and being on your own as a crew chief was staying out of trouble. One trip to Istanbul the crew blew it out the night before we left and in the morning didn't have enough money to pay their hotel bill. I ended up pooling all I had with them to get the bills paid. When we lifted off I don't think we four dollars on the plane. I did get paid back.

  11. Yes Sir, I was assigned to the 314th from the 61st when the CC went to maintenance. I was in Bravo Section along with Ken Moser above. I just uploaded a set of blanket flight pay orders that were cut in 1965 for our sections. I'm sure you will remember some of us. Albeit we are a little older.

    Jim Lane

  12. I'm pretty certain we had a Sgt. Bischoff in the 314th OMS at Sewart. He was a crew chief on the B models 1962&1963. I believe I trained under him when I was assigned in 62. I'll ask Ken Moser if he remembers him.

  13. You might suggest a closer look at sites where Agent Orange was used. I recently read where the DOD finally admitted using the product around the bases in Thailand. This just happened within the last couple years. If I can find the info I will forward it.

    I googled Agent Orange in Thailand and the first one listed was from the VA. It gives all the particulars on its use at the bases. It says the info is from a recently declassified Checo Report. Korea is also mentioned.

    I will send this to Mrs Sager

  14. You might suggest a closer look at sites where Agent Orange was used. I recently read where the DOD finally admitted using the product around the bases in Thailand. This just happened within the last couple years. If I can find the info I will forward it.

  15. After receiving all the replies and Bob helping me determine the serial number 62-1825 I did a search and found a reply from Ray Roddy to a thread in 2009 with an excerpt from his book Circles In The Sky. It turned out to be the first in SEA and some of the special activities I remembered were correct. I'm glad Ken and I still have some memory left.

    I posted a picture in the gallery of a hit we took in Nov. 65 during a mission.

    Thanks for all your help.

    Jim

  16. Was the aircraft a 314th bird? Our series ran from around 64-0520 to 64-0540 when we got our E models. I was in Bravo section of the 314th OMS. As soon as I figure out how to upload to the site I'll post some pictures.

  17. Bob,

    I think you have nailed it. A lot of the aspects of the mission such as to crew make up, aircraft/capsule, command etc. were not normal from my viewpoint and need to know as the crew chief. I was treated very well and stayed downtown with the aircraft and capsule crews. I did get bumped to Top Secret but i figured that was due to the equipment on board. Anyway thanks for your help in answering my question as to the identity of the aircraft and where it is today.

    Jim Lane

  18. I don't think so. We took the aircraft over from Wright-Patterson to Saigon. I believe it was either the first or one of the first in SEA. The call sign was Headshed and we sat pretty alone on the ramp. If there were others we did not park together. The Abccc call sign project lists it being there in 1964 with Operation One Buck. It might have been but we went over during Rolling Thunder April to December 1965. Ken told me the mission ended in Jan.66 when he returned to the states. It was equipped like the others with external air scoops for the capsule and antenna etc. I did fly some with it and my flight log which I do have shows several combat entries on missions flown. Most of the time I was fixing it when it came in late and went out early. I was assigned to 314 OMS as all the crew chiefs were and I believe the flight crew was from the 314th.

    I appreciate your input as I am trying to jog some old memories, at the time I was 21 and everyone else was somewhat older than I.

    Thanks again,

    Jim

  19. Would like any info on a C- 130 ABCCC I was sent to Tan Son Nhut in 1965 as the crew chief. I know it was used as a command ship for the air war and Rolling Thunder. The crew stayed downtown at the Majestic Hotel in Saigon by the river. The aircraft was parked across the runway for the main base. I know the bomb dump was behind us which wasn't a good feeling. Call sign of the aircraft was "Headshed". I was relieved in December 65 by Ken Moser who is a site member and we were assigned to the 314 TCW at Sewart, Tenn. which was moving to CCK Taiwan at the time. Looking for serial number and whatever happened to the bird. Both Ken and I were discharged in 1966 and I know a lot happened to the 314th after that.

    Thanks for any help and as a new member I love the website.

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