"Post 10249 History"
Chartered: 8 January 1972
Original Location: Taharn Rd. outside Main Gate RTAFB, Udorn, Thailand
Jan 1976 moved to Soi Wai Po, 1979 moved to Soi Jintakam, 1982 moved to Soi Srisuk, 1986 moved to 337 Nongsamrong Road, Udorn.
New Location: Charoen Hotel, 549 Phosri Rd., Udorn Thailand
Commander-in-Chief: Joseph Z. Viutu
The History
Behind the Post Name
AFTN
Memorial VFW Post 10249, Udorn, Thailand (chartered: 1/8/72)
AFTN
Memorial VFW Post 10249 in Udorn, Thailand, is named in memory of nine airmen
(see names below) killed on duty when a battle-damaged RF-4C Phantom aircraft
crashed into the Armed Forces Thailand Network (AFTN) Udorn Radio-TV Station on
10 April 1970.
AFTN was a subordinate unit of the Armed Forces Radio Television Service (AFRTS), roughly the same type of organization as today’s FEN in Japan and AFFECT in Korea. It provided radio and TV services to military personnel stationed in Thailand, with broadcast units located at all AF and Army bases in Thailand. All stations, each manned by 15-20 personnel, were assigned to AFTN-HQ Korat and attached to the Base Support Group. AFRTS-Los Angeles provided AFTN Udorn with records, tapes, and other operational materials. AFTN was downgraded in later years to a Broadcast Squadron with Detachments.
The fateful
day, April 10, 1970, dawned as another beautiful Thai day. There was little
wind, and only a few puffy cumuli dotted the blue sky. At exactly 1302, an RF-4C
Phantom code-named Falcon 34 (tail number 65863) departed Udorn RTAFB for
tactical reconnaissance of a line of enemy communications in northwestern Laos.
Around 1330, after the aircraft climbed out of its first target run, its master
caution light illuminated. A check revealed failure of the PC-2 hydraulic
system; the pilot declared an emergency and headed back to Udorn. On the return
trip the utility hydraulic system also failed. Around that time the navigator
reported a hole 3 to 6 inches in diameter just forward of the spoiler in the
right wing.
Official reports and witnesses of the subsequent accident at Udorn say
that around 1400 hours the severely damaged recon aircraft began a long
straight-in approach after the pilot confirmed with the Flight Safety Officer
that he was able to maintain control. The landing was to be with no flaps and
with barrier engagement, and on final approach the landing gear and arresting
hook were down. At a point about one-quarter to one-half mile out, however, the
aircraft began to roll to the right, and failed to respond to controls. The
pilot initiated a go-around, but still could not stop the right roll. With total
loss of control, the crewmembers elected to eject.
The out-of-control plane subsequently hit the ground and careened through
the housing area, spraying burning fuel in all directions and knocking off part
of a 2-story barracks and a couple of officers’ quarters. It destroyed nine
buildings and a trailer, and came to a stop after piercing the AFTN Station. The
impact and associated fire instantly killed everyone on duty inside the station
except one airman who jumped from a window and later died from burns. (For more
information and photos of the crash, see “Brass Button Broadcasters,” by
Trent Christman, published in 1992.)
An Ecumenical Memorial Service and Mass were held on 17 April to honor
“the nine men of AFTN who died while serving their country.”
The Final Commendation of the Memorial Service contained these words from
the Bible: “I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believeth in me, though
he may die, shall live; and he who liveth and believeth in me, shall never
die.” The nine airmen are forever enshrined in the name of AFTN Memorial Post
10249, Udorn, Thailand.
TSGT
Jack A Hawley, Wakeman, OH
SSGT
James A. Howard, Denver, CO
A1C
Andrew C. McCartney, Lakewood, OH
SSGT Alfred N. Potter, Forest Grove, OR
SGT
John Charles Rose, Bloomfield, NJ
TSGT Frank D. Ryan, Jr., Mercer Island, WA
SSGT
Edward W. Strain, Myrtle Beach, SC
TSGT Roy Walker, Albuquerque, NM
A1C
Thomas L. Waterman, Roanoke, VA
Story compiled by Tom Elliott
VFW Post 2485)
AFTN
Memorial Post 10249 was established 8 January 1972.
The post is named in honor of the nine Air Force Thailand Network (AFTN)
servicemen who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.
On
that fateful day (10 April 1970), an RF-4C Phantom reconnaissance aircraft
(codename: Falcon 34; tail number; 65-863) was on a tactical recon mission over
Northwestern Laos.
While climbing out of his first target run, the master caution light
illuminated and the pilot reported PC-2 hydraulic failure.
A six (6) inch diameter hole in the right wing indicates that the damage
was caused by enemy ground fire.
While attempting an emergency landing with barrier engagement, the PC-1
hydraulic system also failed causing the battle damaged, aircraft to take an
un-commanded roll to the right.
Subsequently the out-of control aircraft hit the ground and careened
through the housing area, spraying burning fuel in all directions.
After knocking off part of a two (2) story barracks and destroying a
couple of officer’s quarters (nine buildings and a trailer), it finally came
to a stop after piercing the AFTN Station.
The impact and associated fire instantly killed everyone on duty inside
the station except one airman who jumped from a window and later died from
burns.
At
the Memorial Service was held on 17 April to honor the nine men of AFTN who died
while serving their country.
The final Commendation of the Memorial Service contained these words from
the Holy Bible “I am the Resurrection and the Life; He who believeth in me,
though he may die, shall live; and he who liveth and believeth in me, shall
never die.”
TSGT
JACK A. HAWLEY
Wakeman, Ohio
TSGT
FRANK D. RYAN JR.
Mercer Island, Washington
TSGT
ROY WALKER
Albequerque, New Mexico
SSGT
JAMES T. HOWARD
Denver, Colorado
SSGT
ALFRED N. POTTER
Forest Grove, Oregon
SSGT
EDWARD W. STRAIN
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
SGT
JOHN C. ROSE
Bloomfield, New Jersey
A1C
ANDREW C McCARTNEY
Lakewood, Ohio
A1C
THOMAS L. WATERMAN
Roanoke, Virginia
The
nine stars represent the airman who gave their lives in service for our country
forever enshrining them in
our post logo
During
the Vietnam era, post membership was at an all time high with 1,500 plus
members. The post home was located
on ถ.
ทหาร Tahahn
Road or Military Highway, close to the Thai gate of the airbase.
In 1975, word came down that the American forces would be leaving Udorn
Royal Thai Air Force Base and in October the post held it’s final farewell
meeting. All funds and assets were
sent to the Department of Pacific and AFTN Memorial Post 10249 was officially
closed.
Several
of the post members (Kit Carson Price, John T. Pough and Thomas B. Smith) who
elected to stay in Thailand after the war, decided to reorganize the post.
They contacted previous members and recruited new members until they met
the eligibility criteria to reopen the post.
In June 1976, John Donahue conducted the institution ceremony that
reactivated Post 10249. With only a
few members, no money, and no place to call home the post moved from one place
to another to hold the monthly meetings. On
occasion, Smitty would host the meeting at his home and treat everyone to a good
home cooked meal. In August 1986,
the post moved to TJ’s Steakhouse, which Tommy Thompson hosted as the post
home until 2001.
Almost
immediately after it’s rebirth, the post members became active helping the
local community. Over the past 30
years, Post 10249 has provided clothing, sports equipment and many other
necessities to the Nong Khai Boys Home, the Udorn School for the handicapped.
Countless other schools and orphanages in a 200 km radius were also
supplied with fans, student desks, chairs, water coolers, typewriters, storage
cabinets, and sports equipment. In
1979, the post started making a quarterly rice donation to the Udonthani Senior
Citizens Home. A tradition that
still continues today. In 1999
Comrade Forest Williams rented a shop house and began to manufacture canes,
walkers, and crutches he made out of PVC pipe. His
program is called Project Crutch and it has benefited countless children and
adults in the Udonthani and Khon Kaen area.
Several of the post members are volunteers to work as Wardens for the
U.S. Embassy. For many years the
post worked with the United States Consulate in hosting the annual Independence
Day celebration and Post 10249 assumed this responsibility when the consulate
closed in 1995. The post also hosts
annual celebrations (open to the public) for Easter and Christmas. Proceeds from
these events are used to purchase rice for the Udonthani Senior Citizens Home
and the many needed supplies for local schools and orphanages.
As the reputation of the posts charity work continues to grow, so does
the list of schools and orphanages. To
help as many needy recipients as possible, post members donate their time, money
and the post continues to solicit the help of and initiate joint projects with
several other organizations that do charity work in Thailand. The Thai, Laos,
Cambodia Brotherhood (TLCB), and the 7th Radio Research Field Service
have been our greatest supporters.
When Internet service became available in Udorn, our Khon Kaen website was published. Tommy Thompson pushed to have a membership page that resulted in obtaining many new members. It has also reacquainted many servicemen who were stationed in Southeast Asia. In 2002 we moved our meeting place to the Charoen Hotel and we posted our new website the post membership currently stands @ 365 members of which about 70 live in Thailand.
In 2002 post members working with the Thai-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood, provided 12 area schools with approximately $12,000.00 worth of needed items. Post members also traveled to Nakhon Phanom (NKP) to help the TLC-B dedicate a site for the first Southeast Asia Memorial to honor American, Thai and Allied Forces that served during the Vietnam War. Project Crutch opened operations in Udorn and Comrade Forest Williams provided the drawings and technical expertise to help the Karl W. Richter Memorial Post, 10217 in Korat, Thailand start a project crutch program. We moved our meeting place to the Charoen Hotel. Comrade D. Marohl designed the post logo and we posted our new website.
April 2003, Robert R. Wilson robertrwilson@hotmail.com
was elected as our new post commander and will take the reins of leadership
following the 37th Department of Pacific Areas Convention in Pattaya.
If you have anything to add to the History of the Department of Pacific Areas, either to the Department, Districts or Posts, Please Email dpahist@vfwdeptpacific.org with the information in Document format.