Chaiyaphums Role During Vietnam War

[NovaBlue05]

Politics and hate Gary? Surely it is just history here, might not be taught in the schools now but US bases in Thailand was a fact - the only thing that is hidden is what those bases did.

Try making a list of US military bases and start with the arch enemy 'Cuba' - just how do you get a military base in a country you hate?

As far as history being taught in schools now, I doubt the average student today could even give you even the most rudimentary info on the Vietnam War....or WWII for that matter. Rather sad really.

Gitmo? You sign a lease in 1934 that requires both parties agreement to break. Castro knows he can have it if he can take it.

[thaibites0]

How do you take it from the worlds Police? How do you say 'excuse me, would you mind going home now' to the country with the biggest arsenal in history?

Who would dare to do it? The Japanese or the Phillopines or S Korea or Germany et al - just who would dare to say 'get out' ?

How would the very sick Castro word his letter to ask for that part of his country back and who thinks he would get it?

[Nignoy]

Politics and hate Gary? Surely it is just history here, might not be taught in the schools now but US bases in Thailand was a fact - the only thing that is hidden is what those bases did.

For a country that has never been invaded (except the invasion 400 years ago) there seems to be a lot of US bases around the world.

Should we tar the UK government with the same brush (I do - Mr Blair needs to be on the same gallows) as we do our beloved leader?

Try making a list of US military bases and start with the arch enemy 'Cuba' - just how do you get a military base in a country you hate?

Who do you think the british army were building an airfield for in Leong Nok Tha?? definitely not for the Thais,this 3000 yard slab of concrete is still there guarded by the thai army in case someone steals it, all these military runways are the the basis of thai airports today, sadly!! gone are the days of landing at don muang, pay 25 baht to get a lift in a police jeep into the city, a choice of a few hotels, and only the odd US military advisor trying to blend in as a tourist, its all part of thai history now, and many of us old Farts who got the thailand bug helped to write it Nignoy

[NovaBlue05]

How do you take it from the worlds Police? How do you say 'excuse me, would you mind going home now' to the country with the biggest arsenal in history?

Who would dare to do it? The Japanese or the Phillopines or S Korea or Germany et al - just who would dare to say 'get out' ?

How would the very sick Castro word his letter to ask for that part of his country back and who thinks he would get it?

I dont make policy nor do those questions concern me so I'll let you ponder them. My only related question would be ....How the hel_l do you allow the Soviets to stage nukes on your island pointed at the US mainland and then expect them to abandon their base just because you ask ?

It's a politically symbolic rather than strategic statement anyway these days.

Anyway...It's not Thailand.....or Isaan related.

Chok Dee!

[dee123]

nignoy,what an amazing life you have lived

[Nignoy]

nignoy,what an amazing life you have lived

Not Really!! : just an Old Fart with lots of memories Nignoy

[ChiefBEM]

How do you take it from the worlds Police? How do you say 'excuse me, would you mind going home now' to the country with the biggest arsenal in history?

Who would dare to do it? The Japanese or the Phillopines or S Korea or Germany et al - just who would dare to say 'get out' ?

How would the very sick Castro word his letter to ask for that part of his country back and who thinks he would get it?

It looks like some people need to be updated on a few things that are going on in the world.

Major USA Bases have already been closed in Japan, Korea, and Germany.

The closures have been in the Department of Defense (DOD) plan and other closures are also going to happen in the next 12 months.

Japan was very concerned with the USA closing too many bases. We (USA) basically replaced bases with Patriot Missile deployments throughout Japan. The Japanese are asking for more missile sites.

The USA has closed in excess of 10 military bases in the last 12 months. The DOD 5-Year Plan has more base closings scheduled in 2007.

Germany on the other hand told the USA it was time to close some of the military bases on German soil.

In the 2003 5-Year Plan (scheduled for the years 2004-2009) USA planed to pull over 30,000 USA military out of Germany. We started closing bases in 2004 and have many more on the list for 2007.

After we told Germany we would close bases as they desired, they changed their mind after they looked at the economic impact the would result if the USA did close all of the bases on the list. The German government wants the bases to remain until their country's economy is stronger.

Now on Cuba.

Castro does not want the USA to vacate Gitmo.

The following applies to everywhere that the USA has people (civilian/military.)

The USA pays rent for every inch of soil where USA military are based.

The USA uses local people and companies to provide services and products for the bases. When bases are closed the local economy goes into the ditch! Companies go out of business and individuals loose their jobs.

Rent + local companies products and services + individual employment = security and prosperity.

[ChiefBEM]

can anyone enlighten me on the role of the us military base in the town of chaiyaphum,where my dear wife used to pilfer scraps of food with her 9 brothers and sisters as they lived next door to it.....thanks

Dee123,

I do not remember what was at Chaiyaphum.

My first guess as to what the US Military were doing there is it was a communications relay site.

The US Army operated quite a few of these type of sites.

The typical staffing would be 10 or less army guys and the site chief (one in charge) would be a Staff Sergeant (E6).

Regards,

[lopburi3]

In line with above post the state of the art for communications in those days was VHF/UHF point to point and HF or troposcatter (where you put a million watts into the sky and hope a micro-watt finds its way back down to be received by a relay point) and 75 baud was a normal teletype circuit speed (which provided enough speed for most typists so why ask for more).

[abdulrahman]

The German Government wants the bases to remain until the country's economy is stronger.

(quote)

Yeah,that third world country need the (devalued)dollars!

Castro doesn't want the UsA to vacate Gitmo.

(quote)

Yeah,the Middle-East players in the local Casino contribute a lot to the Cuban economy!

[cm-happy]

Its pretty well documented about the US Air Force presence in Chaiyapum, during the VietNam conflict. Carpet bombing and a safe haven, thanks to "The Gang of ThREE Tyrants".

In fact the USCG had established a LORAN (aid to navigation) base in Lampang during the war to provide navigation aids for returning bomb runs.

[Gary A]

I think some of you guys should take your anti American rants and find another forum. Years ago I had all I wanted of Vietnam and then some. Today I get VERY tired of hearing about the situation in Iraq. I'm sick of political correctness and all the crap that goes with it. I live here in Thailand to stay away from this kind of bullshit.

I was told long ago to NOT concern myself with things I had no control over. I can assure you that I had no control over Vietnam or Iraq. I'm perfectly happy to live and let live. I live by that motto and even have some English and French friends although not many.

[chuckd]

Let me add another player to the scene up north. Air America. I would suggest you people read the following link and you will get a pretty good history of what happened at Udorn and other locations. I used to and still do work with many of these guys and still play golf regularly with a B-52 driver that used to fly out of Utapao and several others that drove both fixed and rotary wing aircraft up north.

https://www.cia.gov/csi/studies/winter99-00/art7.html

I also love it when the US is the first to be criticized when anything goes wrong but is the first to be called for help when anything goes wrong.

Some of you people are truly amusing.

[Khun ?]

Sounds like a few loser that could not pull themselves out of a gutter to keep a job.

They didn't get handed a silver spoon in life and now need to blame someone for their

useless ways in life. The need for them to find a way to be better than someone or something is pathetic. I bet it is the very reason Thailand is the #1 place of drunken losers, whore mongers

and drop out of society deadbeats.

At least there is many who have done good things with their life and love Thailand regardless

of the hateful dropouts it is attracting.

I hope they forgive themselves someday for the lack of their own ethical morals and failures

that they want to hold others to.

Life is a big party but I can't afford to attend so I'll make everyone as miserable as myself

that I can crowd.

[dee123]

so apart from that your fairly happy

[chuckd]

Sounds like a few loser that could not pull themselves out of a gutter to keep a job.

They didn't get handed a silver spoon in life and now need to blame someone for their

useless ways in life. The need for them to find a way to be better than someone or something is pathetic. I bet it is the very reason Thailand is the #1 place of drunken losers, whore mongers

and drop out of society deadbeats.

At least there is many who have done good things with their life and love Thailand regardless

of the hateful dropouts it is attracting.

I hope they forgive themselves someday for the lack of their own ethical morals and failures

that they want to hold others to.

Life is a big party but I can't afford to attend so I'll make everyone as miserable as myself

that I can crowd.

Would you care to share to whom this is directed, or is it merely a generic insult?

[Khun ?]

Of course, the ones that always have to interject their derogatory remarks and slanderous

non-facts. They shouldn't mind getting a little of the junk back should they.

Every time Germany, England, France or many other countries is mentioned does hitler and

whatever have to be brung up and certainly half truths or theories of some writer that sponges

off other writers misinformation.

[dee123]

germans!....schhh.dont mention the war.

[JacknDanny]

germans!....schhh.dont mention the war.

Dem Geermans. They bombed our chippy!!

[ronz28]

I don't remember people mentioning Chaiyaphums when I was stationed in BKK 1968-1969 in an Army finance office on Soi Asoke. I do know there were some Army engineering units building roads all over the country mostly to move bombs from the deep water port U.S. help build at Sattahip to the air bases including Ubon and Udorn using trucks. I have met some IBM contractor people who said they worked at small signal sites during that time in Thailand but I don't recall where. If your relatives weren't near one of the major bases maybe it was a small signal site or a temporary location of an Army Engineering unit used while they were building roads.

[chuckd]

Of course, the ones that always have to interject their derogatory remarks and slanderous

non-facts. They shouldn't mind getting a little of the junk back should they.

Every time Germany, England, France or many other countries is mentioned does hitler and

whatever have to be brung up and certainly half truths or theories of some writer that sponges

off other writers misinformation.

The silence you hear is nobody caring about your opinion.

[dee123]

I don't remember people mentioning Chaiyaphums when I was stationed in BKK 1968-1969 in an Army finance office on Soi Asoke. I do know there were some Army engineering units building roads all over the country mostly to move bombs from the deep water port U.S. help build at Sattahip to the air bases including Ubon and Udorn using trucks. I have met some IBM contractor people who said they worked at small signal sites during that time in Thailand but I don't recall where. If your relatives weren't near one of the major bases maybe it was a small signal site or a temporary location of an Army Engineering unit used while they were building roads.

thanks ronz28 for your constructive reply;....please take note khun.?

[ChiefBEM]

I guess that about covers it all.