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From: Ron Turner
Sent: February 25, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Mike, Interesting observation. I think I have another one with LaMonica traveling w/me & MacDonald. Almost a clean sweep. Regards,
Ron
From: Mike Jackson
Sent: February 25, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Also, Ron, in looking closer at your TDY order, I’m surprised people didn’t think we were part of the French Foreign Legion.
MikeJ
From: Mike Jackson
Sent: February 20, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Thanks, Ron.
From: Rick Fredericksen
Sent: February 20, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
I'm grateful to have all this straightened out. Good recall--even backed up by documentation.
Thanks.
From: John Thomas
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Jim, I am going to try to dredge up my memories of the 4 quarter of '71. We sent an RD2 [possibly Ripps, James T. RD2 USN (71)?], think have a picture, to the detachment that was the most northern one we had at the time. I do not remember which one that was. He went up there to destroy what ever equipment there was. If memory serves me correctly he was the only American up there at the time. I remember he said it was spooky. At that time we were pulling back, that is my memory.
Then in that same time frame is when I went to Qui Nhon and then Tuy Hoa to try to get some TV signal into Tuy Hoa.
From: Jim White
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Request to all:
The following is a quote from a message from Ron Turner who was with AFVN from late 1971:
"When I came to AFVN (i.e., September 71) Det 5 Hue was in operation again; I know not when they started up. They were broadcasting TV and, I think, FM. In the case of FM, it was either installed from Phan Rang or Quinn Nhon or enhanced by the FM setup from Qui Nhon. The support command at Qui Nhon told the site NCOIC that he could no longer provide security."
Also, although I (Jim) hadn't noticed it before, there is the following in AFVN History / AFVN Timeline:
"November 24 - Detachment 5, Quang Tri is moved to Hue and is operational for only limited FM and Television broadcasting."
Right now the Graph Timeline (attached since it is not available on the Web right now) shows that Det 5 at Quang Tri closed down with many of the other detachments in Feb/Mar 1972.
I think that this moving of the Det 5 TV van from Quang Tri back to Hue needs to be made a little more prominent. Therefore, any information that any of you can give me regarding this move back to Hue, who was there, photos, facts, etc. would be most hel
From: Bob Nelson
Sent: February 18, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
I sent a message to a former net PD.
From: Rick Frederickesn
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
But this still was an AFVN station, correct? Was it located at the original site? Full of questions aren't I?
From: Mike Jackson
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
I think the OIC at Quang Tri at the time we were trying to set up the Hue stations was a Captain named Grabowski. Anybody remember this guy? I’d sure love to make contact. All I can remember from my visit there is learning to eat very fast . . . a habit I’ve never been able to shake.
MikeJ
From: Jim White
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Request to all:
The following is a quote from a message from Ron Turner who was with AFVN from late 1971:
"When I came to AFVN (i.e., September 71) Det 5 Hue was in operation again; I know not when they started up. They were broadcasting TV and, I think, FM. In the case of FM, it was either installed from Phan Rang or Quinn Nhon or enhanced by the FM setup from Qui Nhon. The support command at Qui Nhon told the site NCOIC that he could no longer provide security."
Also, although I (Jim) hadn't noticed it before, there is the following in AFVN History / AFVN Timeline:
"November 24 - Detachment 5, Quang Tri is moved to Hue and is operational for only limited FM and Television broadcasting."
Right now the Graph Timeline (attached since it is not available on the Web right now) shows that Det 5 at Quang Tri closed down with many of the other detachments in Feb/Mar 1972.
I think that this moving of the Det 5 TV van from Quang Tri back to Hue needs to be made a little more prominent. Therefore, any information that any of you can give me regarding this move back to Hue, who was there, photos, facts, etc. would be most helpful.
Thanks,
Jim
[NB: The timeline is now available here.
January 2014
AFVN Group Conversations
From: Ron Turner
Sent: February 25, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Mike,
I'll give it some thought, but I seldom contact others unless they indicate the contact is wanted. Perhaps I'll dig out a couple of photos and send to him, he probably already has copies of TDY orders.
Ron
From: Ron Turner
Sent: February 20, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Mike, et al,
I'm quite confident I visited the Hue site in December of 71 and almost as confident that I was there at the time of the invasion (Apr 1). As to the dispostion of the site after the invasion, I have no recollection. Attached is a TDY order for 12-12-71 [See above].
Regards, Ron Turner
From: Bob Nelson
Sent: February 19, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
From: Steve Wiltsie
Sent: February 19, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
I’m pretty sure that is correct. CPT Grabowski took over from me as OIC of Det 5 in Quang Tri around May of 1971. At that time I didn’t know of any plans to move the station that I can remember.
Steve Wiltsie
[The roster has been corrected. Webmaster]
From: Ron Turner
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: History - WOW
Jim, I am absolutely fascinated by the possibility that history can completely lose touch with something physical and human in such a historically short period of time. Apparently so few artifacts survive - it makes me even more supportive of formal oral history programs and archives. It is truly amazing how places cease to historically exist in the lifetimes of their former occupants. Under these circumstances, long term oblivion is certain for many human endeavors. Obviously Hue has provoked these thoughts. By the way, I'm pretty sure that the Hue enlisted were billeted in the MACV compound which had some giant old French bathtubs (truly strange what sticks in one's mind). In late March 72 the OIC and NCOIC were billeted with CORDS (courtesy of LTC Jakes, the CORDS ranking person) in white trailers I believe.
Population in the Hue area in early 72: my memory tells me there was a large MACV and CORDS population in Hue proper. At nearby Phu Bai there was a large 101st AB contingent and substantial ASA and NSG populations. And, of course, different aviation based units (both Naval and Air Force) were present at Phu Bai. No doubt there were [other] aviation elements there in support of the COMINT and Cords efforts.
Hue itself (1972). CWO MacDonald and myself drove around Hue late in the evening and were absolutely amazed at the fact that almost no lights were visible nor was there hardly any discernible activity. This is contrary to all other large RVN, or for that matter: E. Asian, cities I've visited. The norm is intense activity in the evening (particularly true in tropical climes) - Hue appeared dead at night ; perhaps this was a leftover from the TET 68 experience? Beats me, but strange and interesting.
Ron T
From: Rick Fredericksen
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Rick, I along with Master Sergeant Rodgers put Hue back on the air in mid-1971 to support the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Eagle. Camp Quang Tri had reduced its perimeter significantly and we used some of the tower that was left outside the perimeter to establish an FM and TV station for the 101st. Afterward, I went back to Saigon to once again take up by job as New Director for the Network.
Sorry, but my memory is lacking after so many years as to specific times and events.
MikeJ
From: Rick Fredericksen
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
This is sure interesting. I hadn't known that Hue went back on the air. But why move the van from Quang Tri back to Hue so late in the war? Was it a matter of security at Quang Tri and there were more American units still near Hue? How long was Hue during its second life?
Rick
From: Mike Jackson
Sent: February 25, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Mike,
I think he’d enjoy the contact. I sent him several photos earlier and he really enjoyed them.
Whatever,
MikeJ
From: Mike Jackson
Sent: February 25, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Ron, why don’t you send Al a copy.
Al Lamonica
808 261 2643
almonik@aol.com
1204 Mapuana St.
Kailua, Hi, 96734
MikeJ
From: Mike Jackson
Sent: February 20, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Rick,
I think they went on the air after I left sometime in August or September of ‘71. I can’t remember whether it was supposed to be a repeater of Quang Tri or a stand-alone detachment, but in either case they would have had to have been AFVN stations. My best guess is that they were repeaters for the 101st ‘s Camp Eagle and were to be used as an originator of signals when Quang Tri stood down.
As I recall, the stations in Hue were housed in an old 2 or 3-story abandoned schoolhouse about a half-mile from MACV Team 3’s compound, where we were billeted. I have other memories of the things we did to put it together, but as for specifics, they’re pretty sketchy after so many years (and drinks): like I do remember our installing the generator next to the building . . . it was so loud that you could hardly hear yourself think. And there was the time we took a Huey from the southern shore of the Perfume River out to a secret island off shore that had a tower on it that might have been suitable for our use, but didn’t work out.
Sorry I can’t remember more.
MikeJ
From: Rick Fredericksen
Sent: February 19, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
Jim, it seems that post TET Hue documents are a little scarce and memories are retreating. This TDY order more or less confirms the existence of Det 5 at Hue in Dec 71.
Ron
From: Walt Christiansen
Sent: February 17, 2104
Subject: Hue Detachment in 1971?
The name RON GRABOWSKI sticks in my head. He was an Army Captain with AFVN while I was there.
[He is listed on the Roster as a 1LT. Can anyone confirm his rank? Webmaster]