This is in regards to your request for information on the December
1966 attack on Tan Son Nhut AB. Though I did not know Airman
Bevich (above photo), this letter is what I remember of
the attack, and our response to it. I was just one of the
small cogs in the big wheel that made up the 377th Security
Police Squadron, I'll always remember the attack and the
feelings of camaraderie of my fellow Air Policemen. I use
the old designation of what is now the Security Forces.
Sincerely,
James P Jerome,
377th SPS, Nov, 1966-Nov 1967
January 24, 1998
Dear Joseph,
I was at TSN when the Dec. 1966 attack happened. We went to the Base
Chapel for the services for the three fallen Air Policemen. It was a
very moving experience. The chapel was full with some of us standing
outside.
This Airman was living in the 400 Area which was at the end of Charlie
Row. Charlie Row is where all of the Ranch Hand aircraft were parked
and loaded. Also the Caribou’s, which still belonged to the Army, used
this ramp, with all in-country supplies loaded and sent on its way.
Needless to say living in the 400 Area was at most times a rather noisy
place to five.
Air Police occupied one barrack in this area, with the rest of the Squadron
over in the concrete barracks. On the night that Airman Bevich was killed
we had hit the racks early so we could start our shifts at 0400 hours.
We were awaken to the sounds of mortar rounds impacting out by the flight
line. Also a LtCol from next door came running through spreading the
alarm. Airman Haugen, from Minnesota, had the bunk above me.
We hit the floor stuffing our feet into our boots, and headed to the
bunker located next to the barracks. This bunker was two conex's end
to end with sandbags piled up the sides and across the roof. Also there
was a stack of sandbags in front of the door to prevent any blast form
a mortar round to enter the doorway, and thus getting at the personnel
inside.
For some reason I grabbed by my fatigues on the way out, and was trying
to get into them with the mob of people in the bunker. Why that stayed
with me is beyond me. But you do live very intensely for a few hours.
We stayed in the bunker for only about 15 minutes when we started to
get the idea that maybe we ought to get over to the Squadron area and
pick up our weapons and report in. The bunker was a mix of officers
and maintenance types from the C-130 squadrons and F-4 Reckon Wing,
with AS mixed in. Some of the officers suggested we all stay put until
we heard the all clear. Our last word from our Squadron was to get to
the weapons room as fast and as safely as possible.
Haugen and I waited caught the shift of mortar fire out to the west
of the main part of the parking aprons. We decided to get a move on.
The two APs, post-one at the entrance to the cantonment area and the
other across the street at the entrance to Charlie Row, told us to hold
up until they could clear us up the street and over the next street
to the weapons room. As we waited for clearance we listened to the radio
traffic from the portables that the two gate guards carried. Most of
the VC were making a frontal assault on Echo sector. Those posts were
screaming for reinforcement when they had time to get on the radio.
It seemed like forever before we got the OK to make our run to the weapons'
room. Just as we started out the VC Sapper Squad started to set off
satchel charges under the aircraft out on the parking aprons. The one
I remember most was when they blew up a B-57 Canberra bomber at the
west end of Charlie Row. This sent shrapnel over us, and onto us. I
still have a bum mark on my chest from where a hot piece of metal landed.
As soon as things got sort of quite again we took off for the weapons
room. The last thing I heard from the gate was the guard telling the
other posts that we were coming. As we ran up the street we had to slow
down for two more gate posts at the first one I turned around and was
surprised to see about 30 troopers with me and 4 or 5 others leading
the pack. As we ran towards the Base Hospital the guards there told
to slow down because up ahead at the old French fort APs were loading
ammo, and they had a guard out. From the old French fort to the weapons
room was less than 120 yards. A few of the group stopped to help load
ammo for another pickup which had showed up for more ammo. We picked
up weapons and the NCO that was handling the alert made up SAT teams
and sent us on our way. The team I was on went to re-enforce the fence
over behind the 800 area just as we were loading up on pickups and jeeps
to head out, and an NCO came out and told us to hold tight. He stated
that they wanted to get a better picture of what was going on, and whether
an attack was coming through that area or it was just harassment. The
VC fired a bunch of rounds and threw a few grenades, and then pulled
back. About twenty of us were taken around to reinforce gates and the
perimeter for the rest of the night. At around 1400 hours we were sent
back to the barracks with our weapons and told to get some sleep but
be ready to report back at a moments notice. All of us were beat, so
sleep came easy!
That night around 0200 hours the balloon went up and out we went
again. This time I was posted out on the west end of Charlie Row guarding
a string of aircraft. There I stayed until day light when we were hauled
back to Billy Hill Control (Base Police HQ). There we were made into
another SAT and told to stay together and get some rest. Around noon
we all were reposted to gates and stayed there until normal posting
change at 1900 hours. Back to the barracks we dragged ourselves for
some much needed sleep.
Four days, later I moved into the barracks until I returned
to The Land of the Big BX. After Christmas, the Flight moved upstairs, and
it was then the guys in my bunk area told me the bunk I'd had downstairs
belonged to Airman Cole, who was killed the first night of the attack.
This had a somewhat unsettling reaction to this recipient. Bad luck
was top most in my mind, with one month of my tour left to go. After
a hour or so I was able to get the blues and poor me attitude
out of the system.
