From: Jim White
Date: January 18, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
Hi, I got a little more done on AFVN-RADIO-TV.org. New additions include the audience surveys taken in 1968, 1970 and 1971 (at least what I have available) and three 1969 AFVN Newsletters. As I wrote on both of those pages, please send me anything more you might have available. MS Word, JPG or PDF files are all welcome. Or you can send them to me "snail mail" at
[Deleted due to privacy concerns. E-mail the Webmaster for the address.]
Also, as I have written before I am still trying to find someone to act as "emergency webmaster" if the need arises. I have donated over $1,200 to AFVN in the form of payments to GoDaddy.Com in order to set this site up and to keep it going for at least the next five years. I'm not asking for donations in greenbacks or MPC, but simply for one or two people whom I can send the information needed (domain name, password, etc) in order to keep the site going after I'm gone. Honest Injun, at 78, I don't expect to be the "last man standing" in this group. Anyone out there stupid enough to volunteer?
Jim
From: Jim White
Date: January 18, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
Hi, I got a little more done on AFVN-RADIO-TV.org. New additions include the audience surveys taken in 1968, 1970 and 1971 (at least what I have available) and three 1969 AFVN Newsletters. As I wrote on both of those pages, please send me anything more you might have available. MS Word, JPG or PDF files are all welcome. Or you can send them to me "snail mail" at [Deleted due to privacy concerns. E-mail the Webmaster for the address.] Also, as I have written before I am still trying to find someone to act as "emergency webmaster" if the need arises. I have donated over $1,200 to AFVN in the form of payments to GoDaddy.Com in order to set this site up and to keep it going for at least the next five years. I'm not asking for donations in greenbacks or MPC, but simply for one or two people whom I can send the information needed (domain name, password, etc) in order to keep the site going after I'm gone. Honest Injun, at 78, I don't expect to be the "last man standing" in this group. Anyone out there stupid enough to volunteer?
Jim
John Thomas ETN2, USN
Engineering, Saigon 1971-72
Photos are at the bottom.
(Messages are from late 2012 and early 2013.)
Individual Photo Albums & Stories
From: John Thomas
Date: January 21, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
The names don't ring a bell but that's my memory for you. The fellow that was in charge when I got there was Army. He was an older fellow who retired/got out and stayed in Saigon. I think he had a job with one of the civilian companies there. I bought a chrome plated 45 off of him. I got to doing some digging today and according to the papers I have, I was transferred from Long Phu to AFVN 30 July 71. I also found an 'early out request that I made in November, I was trying to get out in time to start college in the Spring Semester of '72. The names on that were, Ronald L. Turner SFC; William R Seeger CW2; R. H. LaFrance CPT; G. A. Thieme LT USN. These may have been people in the USN personnel office. The performance evaluation sheet (rotating out of AFVN) that I found, dated 16 Jan 71, must have an incorrect date because where I signed it was 15 Jan 72. This was signed by L. W. Souville, LTC, USA. So it looks like I was only there from the first of August '71 to around the first of January '72. A short tour but busy.
John
From: Jim White
Date: January 20, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
John (Thomas),
From your other message. Yes, I can certainly use the three photos you sent. I assume the "Allen" in one of them is Sp5 J. Allen. Do you remember his first name (i.e., more than an initial?). Also, who is the other G.I.? (And, which is what?) Also, please confirm if the girl is Rose An (Han?) who was the telephone operator and clerk who worked for AFVN. The other two are identified by place and I assume that all of were taken sometime during the second half of 1971. Can you pin any of the dates down a little better? Your request for an early out obviously went "up the chain of command." I don't think that there is an SFC Turner on the AFVN Roster [NB: As of April 2014 Ron is on the roster] but he could have been the NCOIC of the Engineering Section [NB: He was.]. CWO Seeger was the head of the Engineering Section when I was there through June 1971 and, if he extended, might have still been there in late 1972. CPT LaFrance might have been the Adjutant in November 1972 because CPT Hasting, the Adjutant when I left, arrived in October 1970 and should have been gone by November 1971. That leaves LT Thieme, whom I am sure was in the USN personnel office. I'm also sure your performance evaluation sheet was incorrectly dated. LTC Souville didn't arrive until February 11th, 1971.
Jim
From: John Thomas
Date: January 20, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
Well I would be glad to help with money, if that would help. As far as the age thing goes, I am not to far behind you. However if I can do anything just email me.
From: Jim White
Date: January 19, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
John,
A question. Are you the Sp5 Thomas who was late in reporting in as Duty Driver on January 15th, 1971 and therefore made me miss the bus back to the Plaza? If so, you're forgiven.
Jim
From: John Thomas
Date: October 22, 2012
Subject: Memories
Being one of the techies, I have some memories that may be a little different. The Bob Hope Show. It was a howl to watch and listen to the uncut stuff back in the VCR room. I don't know what you called it, we were in the transmitter room 90% of the time. All the signs and comments that they did not want put out on the air were priceless! Another VCR room memory, on the late shift, were the 'quickies' that someone had on tape. The people that showed up come Christmas! Wow, I thought that civilians were not allowed in combat zones. LOL Then the girls showed up, I think they were Playboy Bunnies. It was hard to tell due to the crowd of people surrounding them. (Grin!) We has some great food out of the little eating place out back, sorry I do not remember the name. The Spring Rolls around Christmas were wonderful. Listening to the great programs and music was always nice. You guys spent a lot of time making some great choices for everyone to listen to. Before I got to AFVN I spent some time in the Delta, you bet the radio was on. You were our link to home! Tape players were around but the radio could go with you out to the dock or other places where a tape just wouldn't survive. Being a tech we made sure that the radio worked! Thanks for the programming and entertainment while we all visited a different land.
John T
A lone motorcycle. It was rare to see this little traffic.
Anyone know what Pancho VIlla was doing in Saigon?
Possibly RD2 Conley, USN.
John wrote: "I think that his name is Conley. He was the only one to go up-country to disable/destroy one of the transmitters in 1971. I can't remember which one. The story he told was good. He was the only American... [and] he sure watched what the Vietnamese around him were doing."
Taken from the roof of the Kyson Annex BEQ?
The AFVN tower with the upper level lookout post.
Some 1971 Photos from John Thomas
[Since John didn't do too much towards indicating what was what, the Webmaster has taken the liberty to add some titles.]
One of Saigon's favorite landmarks.
The AFVN sign and main entrance. Looks like there is a jeep and then the OIC's Bronco in the background.
From: John Thomas
Date: January 19, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
No, I am the ETN2 who ran the transmitters in '71. I think I got in country March '71. I am not sure when I got to AFVN. I had to make a side trip to Long Phu in the Delta first. There were some ditches and other things calling my name. However when I did get to AFVN I really enjoyed it. I wish I could remember the name of the Army E-8/9 that was my boss at AFVN, he was a really nice guy. You know 40 years kind of messes with your memories . However let me know if there is anything I can do to help out. I am not the most computer savvy person, but I can usually figure it out. That is terrible thing to say since I do write computer programs.
John
A rare night shot of the Hung Dao Theater across
from the Ky Son Annex BEQ.
Perhaps a beggar and possibly near the Saigon Zoo?
From: Ron Banks
Date: January 20, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
Ron Banks here. I left transmitter duty at Saigon in July of 71. Was Army Sgt Ravencroft (Ravenscroft), Air Force Sgt Squires or Marine Sgt Cash still there when you got there?
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Project Jenny KLIK - 1st Inf Di v Women in Vietnam RELATED-- To AFVN To Saigon To Vietnam Further Afield Index
This statue, showing "cooperation" between an American and a Vietnamese soldier, was in the same area. It was one of the first things torn down by the North Vietnamese when they captured Saigon in 1975.
From: John Thomas
Date: January 21, 2013
Subject: AFVN Web Page Update
I think it was James Allen, I am not sure. He is the one on the right He was an Air Force Staff Sargent and Ham Operator. The other fellow on the left was Halsey or Halset. [NB: There is an SFC Robert Halsey, USA, on the roster. JimW] I think he was in the front office area. I think you have it correct for Rose. All I knew was that she was up in the front office area some where. Sorry I don't know more of the dynamics of the station. I was focused on the equipment and keeping everyone supporting the transmitter on their toes. The two pictures were taken probably in September of '71, for sure the second half of '71. The I got sent up there to see if I could get a better signal out of the repeater at Tuy Hoa. The repeater was getting it's signal from Qui Nhon. The transmitter at Qui Nhon was on it last legs I tweaked it the best I could, it was only putting out 70% of what it should have. The signal at Tuy Hoa was so low that I could not get enough to even get good snow. Since we were in the process of pulling out of those areas no new parts were available to get signal back up. I can remember the technical things but not the people, shame on me. Tuy Hoa really had a pretty white beach. One of my brother-in-laws was stationed there a few years before, he worked the MARS station.
Looking the other direction towards the downtown area.