Best Friends
I was officially assigned to the AF Element of DIA, but I actually was attached to the Central Intelligence Agency's National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC) in Washington, DC.
I retired from the AF in this position Oct 31, 1983.
Criteria The Legion of Merit is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States without degree for exceptionally outstanding conduct in the performance of meritorious service to the United States. ... The Legion of Merit is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States without degree for exceptionally outstanding conduct in the performance of meritorious service to the United States. The performance must merit recognition by individuals in a key position which was performed in a clearly exceptional manner. MoreHide
Criteria The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces who, while serving in a joint activity, distinguish themselves by noncombat outs... The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces who, while serving in a joint activity, distinguish themselves by noncombat outstanding achievement or meritorious service, but not of a degree to warrant award of the Defense Superior Service Medal. MoreHide
Comments
Assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency but attached to the Central Intelligence Agency.
Criteria It is awarded to all service members of the U.S. Air Force who complete four years of honorable active or reserve military service with any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Air Force Long... It is awarded to all service members of the U.S. Air Force who complete four years of honorable active or reserve military service with any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Air Force Longevity Service Award is a ribbon that replaces the Federal Service Stripes previously worn on the uniform. MoreHide
Best Friends
I was in charge of a large Imagery Interpretation Section consisting of 22 officers and several enlisted personnel. I also acted as Squadron Operations Officer for a period of time.
I left this assignment to attend ICAF.
Criteria The Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding noncombat achievement or by meritorious service to the United States, but not of a... The Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding noncombat achievement or by meritorious service to the United States, but not of a degree that would warrant the award of the Legion of Merit. MoreHide
Comments
My third oak leaf cluster for service from Jul 1977 to Jul 1979 at the 544th Intelligence Exploitation Squadron, ARTW, SAC, Offutt AFB, NE.
Best Friends
I was initially assigned to DIA at Arlington Hall, VA for about 1 month. Then BG H. P. Smith directed that a Photo Interpretation shop be setup in the Pentagon to support the Analysts there and to support current Intelligence and the Joint Staff. I was put in charge of this unit as a Major and later promoted to Lt. Col. The DIA unit designation was DIA/DB5F, but we were fondly refered to as "F Troop"
Criteria The Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding noncombat achievement or by meritorious service to the United States, but not of a... The Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding noncombat achievement or by meritorious service to the United States, but not of a degree that would warrant the award of the Legion of Merit. MoreHide
Comments
My second oak leaf cluster for service from Jul 1973 to Jun 1977 assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon, Wash DC.
Best Friends
Some of my 1st Seminar members:
Russ Tice, Marv Sproston (RIP), Jim Compton, Chuck Tygett, Paul Maye, John Kolovos (Greece), Kenneth Maccauley,
SEE THE PHOTO:
Best Friends
I worked directly for Lt Col Lenny Perrots (who became a BG or MGen later).
Two Lieutenants worked for me Terry Mooney, and Jack McMahon.
I left this assignment to attend Air Command and Staff College.
Criteria The Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding noncombat achievement or by meritorious service to the United States, but not of a... The Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding noncombat achievement or by meritorious service to the United States, but not of a degree that would warrant the award of the Legion of Merit. MoreHide
Comments
MSM first oak leaf cluster awarded for service from Sep 1969 to Jul 1972 while assigned to Hq USAF Dep Ch of Staff/Intelligence, Pentagon, Wash DC.
Best Friends
I was officially assigned to the DCS/Intelligence, Director of Targets, Current Targets Division. I was Chief of the Photo Branch. The Branch was physically located in the 548th Reconnaisance Technical Group facility in order to have access to all of the Southeast Asia photography, especially the Vietnam material. I was also the PACAF Command Photographic Intelligence Briefer. I presented daily photo briefs to the PACAF Commander and periodically to the CINCPAC. I was also selected as the HQ PACAF Junior Officer of the Year in 1968.
Best Moment
An OER indorsement from BGen Rockly Triantafellu:
ADDITIONAL INDORSEMENT:
Concur wholeheartedly in this outstanding rating. I have observed the war in SEA as DI 7AF and PACAF since Mar 1965. If I had to identify one man below the grade of Colonel who has contributed most to our air operations in SEA for the longest sustained period, I would name Capt Ditch. This officer has personally found more lucrative targets than any other photo intrepreter/target analyst in the Pacific. Not only has he discovered hundreds of heavily camouflaged targets, but has discovered the deceptive measures employed by the enemy. He found the first and many follow-on SAM units attempting to move into the DMZ area and must not only be largely credited for their destruction, but also for preventing possible loss of B-52s committed to the area. It is not possible to recount here the singular superb role this officer has played in application of air power in SEA. In his work he has not only performed as a highly qualified technician, but as an analyst of the first rank. He has consistently displayed exceptional capabilities in relating his technical observations to the broad picture of enemy capabilities and vulnerabilities, and producing meaningful intelligence, above and beyond the technician obligation. He is a purposeful, highly dedicated, professional airman, extremely conscious of the importance of his work to air forces in combat. There will eventually be appropriate recognition for this officer in Air Force history, but for the present his award and potential in the future should be provided for by immediately promoting him ahead of his contemporaries.
(signed)
ROCKLY TRIANTAFELLU
Brig General, FR9504 DCS/Intelligence
Hq PACAF
Criteria The Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding noncombat achievement or by meritorious service to the United States, but not of a... The Meritorious Service Medal may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by outstanding noncombat achievement or by meritorious service to the United States, but not of a degree that would warrant the award of the Legion of Merit. MoreHide
Comments
My first of four awards of the AF Meritorious Service Medal. For service from Sep 1966 to May 1969 at PACAF Headquarters at Hickam AFB, HI
Criteria The Outstanding Unit Award may be awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to numbered units such as Air Forces, Air Divisions, Wings, Groups, and Squadrons and to Medical Facilities such as hospital... The Outstanding Unit Award may be awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to numbered units such as Air Forces, Air Divisions, Wings, Groups, and Squadrons and to Medical Facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and medical centers (whether or not they are numbered) for exceptionally meritorious service or exceptionally outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. Heroism may be involved, but is not essential. MoreHide
Best Friends
Best Friends were John Irwin and Harold "Fitz" Fitzgerand.
We lived together in a villa in Saigon not far from the Tan Son Nhut Air Base where we worked.
I was assigned as OIC of the Out Country Photo Interpretation Section. We were responsible for first and secondary readout of Aerial Phototograph taken of North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. We predominantly looked at day and night photos and Infra-red imagery of North Vietnam taken by Tactical Recon Aircraft (RB-66, RF-101s, and RF-4C, etc). We also did some review of high altitude SR-71 imagery and the Low Level Drone missions called "Bumpy Action."
We would put out reports sent via classified message to all Intel and Operational Strike Forces in the Theater.
I also had the previlage of doing some daily Bomb Damage Assesment briefing to the Director of Intelligence and the Commander of 7th Air Force. Occasionally these briefings would lead to restriking of some targets, and also of pursuit of similar targets that were lucrative in destroying enemy supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Best Moment
My most memorable moments:
I was at the 13th RTS Aug 65 to Sep 66. I ran the out country PI shop and towards the end I was the photo briefer for the 7th Air Force. I’m trying to find the photos we used to help 7th AF put the smackdown on some trucks in a big truck park in North Vietnam while I was there. RF4s and RB66s flew some Night Photo (cartridges) and Infrared one night and caught a convoy pulling into a truck park just north of the ferry crossing. We walked the info and photos over to 7th AF HQ and they had it struck it at first light. Big time hit on those NVA dudes. Pilots reported multiple secondary explosions and burning POL. Daylight BDA photos during the day showed many destroyed trucks and fires still burning. Also, I sure would like to get my hands on the BumpyAction low level Drone photos I used to identify an SA-2 missile on a camouflaged transporter near the DMZ during one of the TET stand downs.
Criteria The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding ac... The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or by meritorious service not involving aerial flight. MoreHide
Criteria The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or aft... The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after December 7, 1941. MoreHide
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria Awarded by the Vietnam Government to military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting the enemy and have been cited individually at the regiment, brig... Awarded by the Vietnam Government to military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting the enemy and have been cited individually at the regiment, brigade, division, corps, or armed forces level. MoreHide
Criteria This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical l... This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces; or 3. Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or (2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a. Wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b. Captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; or c. Killed in action or in the line of duty; or 4. Were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. MoreHide
Best Friends
John Irwin, Bill Bycraft were my closest friends. They helped me return to active duty after a 1 year and 4 month break in service.
Detachment 2 of the 4444th RTS.
I also went to Squadron Officer's School during this assignment on TDY.
See the SOS class photo.
Best Friends
John Irwin, Bill Bycraft were my mentors into the Photo Interpretation Specialty. I learned from them how to readout and report on aerial photographs. I also did some Air Force 200 series Aeronautical Chart updating.
I was released from active duty at the end of my ROTC 3 year committment in September, 1962. We moved back to Lafayette, LA with my wife and our daughter. One other child was on the way and was born at the end of September in Lafayette.
Best Moment
I was the Officer In Charge of a Geodetic Survey Section. I supervised a section of 10 Airmen and NCOs. We functioned as a Survey Team for various Ninth Air Force Communications and Radar Squadrons. We determined the Geodetic location and orientation of Ground Guidance Sites, Radar Sites, Communications equipment and Missile Launch Sites.
When we disbanded the Section and transfered some surveying personnel to the Base Engineering, they wanted to make me the Sq Administrative Officer. But I complained and asked to be sent to the 4444th Intell Squadron, which they did.
I was officially assigned to the AF Element of DIA, but I actually was attached to the Central Intelligence Agency's National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC) in Washington, DC.
I retired from the AF in this position Oct 31, 1983.