NKP Veterans

Vernon Harmeyer

Last updated 3 months ago

Arnie Harmon

Last updated 3 months ago

John ( Known as Mike) Harrison

Last updated 3 months ago
Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Widowed
Children: 2
Occupation: Semiretired ( Maintenance worker)
Comment: 56th Combat Support Group Supply Squadron May 69 to May 70

Jay Hauser

Last updated 3 months ago

James Hebert

Last updated 3 months ago

Don Hengesh

Last updated 3 months ago

Orville Henserson

Last updated 3 months ago

Jim Henthorn

Last updated 3 months ago

Ed Hill

Last updated 3 months ago

James (Jim) Hoover

Last updated 3 months ago
Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Retired
Comment: James (Jim) Hoover arrived at NKP, Thailand, on 19 May 1970, after a quick turnaround at Don Muong, subsequent to a 22 hour flight from Travis AFB, California.  I was an Airman First Class (A1C, E-3) Security Policeman, Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 81150, who had been previously assigned to Vandenberg AFB, California. 


 


The Orderly Room assigned me to a 4 man hooch when I requested to be “dormed” with a Vandenberg buddy, A1C Mike McLaughlin.  I was initially impressed that I was a part of the 56th Special Operations Wing, something like the movie Green Berets with John Wayne.  Went to my head somewhat.


 


After three days of training and outfitting in the squadron I was assigned to swing shift, B Flight, (1500 to midnight) security.  Did flight line entry control, which was boring as few vehicles came through; perhaps 3 an hour.  Checked every line badge.  Another entry points were the Munitions and POL area.  I never did understand why the powers to be put those two together; were they wanting the 4th of July at NKP if a sapper got past me and blew the area up?  C-Rations were our dinner.  At least the Chicklets gum was tasty; recall the tiny bottles of Tabasco Sauce and 4 cigarettes in the box.


 


I guarded F-4s which had been wounded over Laos and Vietnam, C-123s which were part of the Project Ranch Hand operation.  I was probably exposed to Agent Orange there as that was the mission to drop the defoliant all over Southeast Asia.  I later developed ischemic heart disease and diabetes from this exposure.


 


One of my favorite entry points was the Pedro alert facility and the choppers.  Later in my life I worked for Kaman Aerospace Corporation in Bloomfield, Connecticut. The Kaman HH-43 Huskie is a helicopter with intermeshing rotors used by the United States Air Force, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps from the 1950s until the 1970s. It was primarily used for aircraft firefighting and rescue in the close vicinity of air bases, but was later used as a short-range overland search and rescue aircraft during the Vietnam War.  I got to know the aircrew folks quite well.  Whenever they came running out of the alert facility I knew there was trouble and just waved them toward the Pedro.  I personally recognized them and didn’t check their line badges.  Every second could mean a life.


 


I heard about a man rotating from the Law Enforcement flight A, day shift, 0600 to 1400, The job entailed working at the Correction Custody and Confinement facility and when there were no prisoners, I would work law enforcement main gate (see photo of me, a Thai Air Force enlisted man, and my lifelong friend Sergeant Paul Montes), Thai Check Point at the entrance of the base, and walking post in the officer hooch and air conditioned trailer area for the flight crews and Brigadier General Butcher, Task Force Alpha Commander.  In the latter assignment I organized the house boys and girls to let me know of any suspicious activity in the area.  I did get to know quite a few of the officers in their party hooch’s and learned a lot about the flying risks they had to endure.  All of the officers to include General Butcher expressed appreciation of my protective approach in their area.  Apparently, a sapper had sneaked on base previous to my arrival and done some damage to the NCO Club.


 


One day in our SPS hooch area there was an old Master Sergeant cussing a blue streak.  He was trying to type an APR using the hunt and peck method.  Having nothing better to do on my off time I offered to type it for him.  He allowed me to correct his grammar and the job was done in much less than an hour.   That rascal told folks that I could type fast and accurately, so I got ordered to move from my Law Enforcement job which I loved to the Orderly Room.  I wound up typing decorations and APRs for 11 hours a day, 6 days a week.  First Sergeant John Cagle rotated very soon after I wound up in this assignment and our new “First Shirt” was MSgt Earl F. Twigg.  This man was of the highest character and was a pleasure to work for.  He later rotated to Biloxi, Mississippi to Keesler AFB, where he retired and bought a fishing boat. 


 


I was sent home on 12 May 1971, via the C-130 klong to Don Muong to the “Freedom Bird” across the Pacific.  My wife met me at Travis AFB, CA. 


 


Memories of NKP



  1. November 1970, our base went on alert.  There was no mail in or out for about 7 days and no one knew why.  Folks were not able to go to town (Nakhon Phenom City, 10 miles away).  Again no one knew why.  We went on full alert and 350 + Security Policemen charged the arms room where A1C Mike McLaughlin worked as fast as he could to hand out our issued M-16s.  I was assigned to sit in a Jolly Green Helicopter at the ready to launch, but the First Sergeant pulled me to guard the hooch area from thieves.  Later we were told this was all done in support of the Son Tay Raid. Anyone not knowing about this heroic and genius planned operation should google it. 


  2. The many other alerts.  Too many to enumerate, but nerve wracking nonetheless, they came at all hours, usually at night.  One of them lasted 26 straight hours.  25 man sweep teams through the base, Armored Personnel Carriers, and SPs in towers and sand bunkers.  Lots of energy expended.  Often a poochai (AKA Communist Terrorists) would sneak onto the base and dash toward the aircraft.  Nary once did they get to one. 


  3. The USO was such a relief, a fun place to get away from it all and free coffee.  The Skyraider Inn was our dining hall.  The base veterinarian monitored it for bacteria and it was fairly decent food.


  4. Everyone I knew did a countdown; they knew exactly how many days to go to DEROS (date enlisted return from overseas).  Countdown calendars under 100 days were fashionable.


  5. The daily mail room run when the red flag was up. 




 


After I departed NKP, I headed back to my base of choice, again Vandenberg, where I retrained into administration, AFSC 70250, became a clerk in the Base Commander’s Office, and later took a commission, and served at Shaw AFB, SC, in the 9th Air Force Inspector General’s Office. Subsequently I headed to my first Commander, Armed Forces Courier Station (ARFCOSTA) at RAF Mildenhall in England.  Then to Edwards AFB, CA, to the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory and later to Main base for the next two squadron section Commands.  After being the Range Officer at Edwards AFB and running two successful Combined Federal Campaigns I retrained into being an Air Force Acquisition and Contracting Officer where I purchased specialized contract for the Government concerning the Star Wars Program among others.  I moved to East Hartford, CT, where I bought engines for the Navy F-14 and F-18 programs and the USAF F-15 and F-16 platforms.  I retired at 20 years, 19 days of service.


                                       


Following this I worked 14 years in various aerospace industries, served three terms on the Vernon, Connecticut, Town Council, retired at age 56, moved to California for a time, held several offices in the American Legion to include Post 327 Commander, and now enjoy living in God’s country in Lynchburg, Virginia.  I keep active in church activities and service opportunities.  I am currently the Program Chair for the NKP reunion group working for and with Barry Rowland.