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
Description
Awarded to 824 Supply Squadron, Kadena AB, Okinawa.
Other Memories
Promoted to Sergeant while on Guam, also TDY from Clinton Sherman AFB, Oklahoma. Flew to the States on a KC-135 Refueling Tanker. Then flew from Louisiana to Oklahoma on C-47 Gooney Bird.
Description This period was from January 22-July 7, 1968.
The air campaign in defense of Khe Sanh, an outpost held by the U.S. 26th Marine Regiment. began on January 22. 1968. For 2 and 1/2 months Allied tacticalThis period was from January 22-July 7, 1968.
The air campaign in defense of Khe Sanh, an outpost held by the U.S. 26th Marine Regiment. began on January 22. 1968. For 2 and 1/2 months Allied tactical air forces continuously attacked targets surrounding the base and B-52s dropped bombs near Khe Sanh on an average of every 90 minutes. At night AC-47 gunships provided illumination and close air support. Air Force and Marine airlifters. mostly C-130s. frequently landed under fire at the Khe Sanh airstrip. bringing in supplies and reinforcements and flying out the wounded and refugees. When the transports could no longer land because of intense mortar and artillery fire. their crews used parachutes and arrester cables to extract cargo from the aircraft as they flew a few feet above the ground over the airstrip. Beginning on March 6 the Seventh Air Force provided fighter escorts to suppress enemy fire and lay down smoke screens until the C-130s dropped their cargoes. Gen. William C. Westmoreland, MACV Commander, encountered difficulties coordinating the air resources of the USAF and U.S. Marines to meet both the military demands at Khe Sanh and the requirements introduced by the Tet Offensive that the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong launched on January 30, 1968. On March 8 he appointed the Seventh Air Force Commander. Gen. William W. Momyer, as Deputy Commander for Air Operations. MACV. to manage all tactical air resources in South Vietnam.
Late in March 1968 the North Vietnamese surrounding Khe Sanhmwithdrew. leaving only a single NVA division to oppose the Allied advance. On April 1, the 1st Marine regiment and the Army's 1st Cavalry Division moved along Route 9. relieving Khe Sanh 5 days later. On April 10. for the first time in 48 days. no shells fell on the base.
A week later, on April 19. the Allies mounted a helicopter-bome attack against A Shau Valley on the Laotian border. 30 miles south- west of Hue. The Viet Cong and NVA had built a vast stores and logistical base in this area since 1966. Preliminary USAF and Allied air strikes. including B-52 bombings between April 8 and 13, 1968. failed to clear the enemy from landing zones. In spite of the heavy resistance. on April 24, the U.S. Army seized the A Luoi airstrip at the northwest end of the valley. USAF transports airdropped supplies. often during bad weather and without tactical air support, because intense ground fire prevented the landing of C-130s until May 4. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese withdrew into Laos in mid-May, leaving behind large caches of weapons and supplies.
Earlier in the year. on January 30, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese launched the Tet (Buddhist New Year) Offensive throughout South Vietnam in an effort to regain the political and military initiative that they had held 2 years previously. At Bien Hoa and Tan Son Nhut Air Bases. alert base defenders successfully repulsed initial attacks, but in the next 2 weeks the air bases came under frequent mortar and rocket attacks; in all, the USAF lost 14 aircraft on the ground and another 114 damaged. During the Tet Offensive. Seventh Air Force pilots provided close air support for Allied troops. and C-7s and C-130s hauled ammunition, supplies, and reinforcements to isolated areas. Within 2 or 3 days Allied forces cleared the Viet Cong troops from all cities except Saigon and Hue. By February 5, the Allies had driven the Viet Cong from Saigon, although a large force remained in the vicinity. North Vietnamese forces that had taken the old imperial city of Hue were more difficult to dislodge. The Seventh Air Force used close air support carefully to avoid indiscriminate and unwanted damage in Hue; AC-130 gunships that could deliver precise fire day or night provided the most effective support. On February 25, Allied forces succeeded in driving the enemy from the city. Although
the Allies successfully and rapidly countered the Tet Offensive. the Communists gained a significant propaganda victory. Many Ameri- cans believed that a failure of U.S. military policy had permitted the Communists to mount so extensive a battle throughout South Vietnam.... More
Memories TDY as part of ARC-LIGHT, from SAC BASE! 6 months TDY from Clinton Sherman AFB, Oklahoma. RefueledTDY as part of ARC-LIGHT, from SAC BASE! 6 months TDY from Clinton Sherman AFB, Oklahoma. Refueled B-52 Bombers flying bombing missions from Anderson AFB, Guam, to Vietnam.... More
Description Operation Arc Light was the 1965 deployment of B-52F Stratofortress as conventional bombers from bases in the US to Guam. Arc Light missions continued until the cessation of hostilities by all U.S. foOperation Arc Light was the 1965 deployment of B-52F Stratofortress as conventional bombers from bases in the US to Guam. Arc Light missions continued until the cessation of hostilities by all U.S. forces on August 15, 1973.... More
People You Remember SSgt. Richard Shoemaker and I were the POL, Fuel Specialists selected to go TDY in January of 1968 tSSgt. Richard Shoemaker and I were the POL, Fuel Specialists selected to go TDY in January of 1968 to Anderson AFB, Guam as part of Arc Light from Clinton Sherman AFB, Oklahoma. ... More
Memories There was something like 30 of us Air Force Personnel, who boarded a C-141 on a Friday at Base OperThere was something like 30 of us Air Force Personnel, who boarded a C-141 on a Friday at Base Operations. We really did not know much about where we were going, and I remember we stopped for fuel in California, and Hawaii. It was in January and cold in Oklahoma, when we landed on Guam and unloaded from the Aircraft, it was immediately Hot. We left on TDY for 90 days, but turned into 180 days. I lived at an off base barracks called Marbo, and later it was called Andy South. I spent the 6 months refueling B-52 Bombers flying missions to Vietnam. I also spent time being a mobile refueling operator at night, putting fuel on anything that needed fuel. I think the Air Force lost me, but I got promoted to Sergeant E-4 on Guam, and I did get orders to go back to Oklahoma. Richard and I got on a KC-135 leaving to go to Barksdale AFB, LA, which had also been TDY. The pilot, a Major was going to drop 15 of us off in Oklahoma, but he was going home. We went with him, and found ourselves at Barksdale AFB. We stayed there a week, until our base commander from Clinton Sherman AFB, flew down with a C-47 Gooney Bird, and flew us home to Clinton Sherman AFB. His very words when he saw us, "Where did you guys come from?" When we got to Clinton Sherman, the whole wing was gone to SEA, just a small group left on base, and this was the 70th. Bomb Wing. In 4 months, I was on the way to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa PCS for 17 months and that is another story.... More
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 United States Air Force awards a single ribbon, known as the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, for an expert qualification on either the M-16 rifle, M-4 carbine or the individuals AFSC's (dut... The United States Air Force awards a single ribbon, known as the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, for an expert qualification on either the M-16 rifle, M-4 carbine or the individuals AFSC's (duty) designated handgun weapon. The ribbon is issued in only one degree; however, a bronze service star may be worn on the ribbon for those who have qualified expert on both the service rifle and handgun. MoreHide
Comments
While in Basic Training at Lackland AFB, we qualified with the M-16 Rifle. I fired Expert. This was in 1966.
S/Sgt. Haze Tingle
Unique in that we refueled only C-141 Aircraft, going to or coming from Vietnam.