Conv-AdminSgt

From: Ron Turner

Date: January 16, 2014

Subject: Senior Occupant Walling BEQs

I am somewhat befuddled as to the time of [MSG] Logsdon's departure. It was after CWO Seger and MSG Elliot departed for sure. I tend to think he left before Christmas of 71, but am not sure of that.... His DEROS was Feb 72, but I am pretty confident that he left earlier. I have absolutely to recollection of a visible Admin NCO after his departure.

From: Jim White

Date: September 30, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

Since I served nearly 100% of my tour in Saigon (I did have two inspection tours during which I visited all of the detachments, but together they totaled only 10 or 11 days), I may have been the "object of affliction (?)" mentioned above. But, believe me, I would have been just as happy with a Joint Service Commendation Medal because I felt I had deserved one after five years (1960-65) with Hqs, U.S. Forces Japan in Tokyo but nothing happened! Also, I had no inkling that I was going to get anything at all until a Bronze Star (for Metourious Service) showed up at my next assignment in Taiwan a full month or more after I had left Vietnam. There undoubtedly were a number of times that people left with no medal at all, but one of the Admin Office's major jobs was typing up commendations for medals--so from my perspective it seemed like nearly everyone must have gotten something. I do remember that several people got a JSCM for doing a good (but only a five-day) job on a TV show--and I must admit that seemed a bit much to me.

PS: At my next--and last military assignment I received the Meritorious Service Medal--something that I had always thought was reserved for field-grade officers--but I don't remember complaining. In summary, awards and medals can be very fickle things.

From: John Thomas

Date: September 30, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...? Was this in late '71?

I recall they were going to give some NCO a Bronze Star and he had never left the station. Several of the fellows I knew had gone up-country to work on stuff and had been shot at, they were not getting anything. We really pitched a fit, don't know if it did any good.

From: Jean LeRoy

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

He added Cigars in Nam, we kept beer in the bidet, had a fridge with freezer and had steak and lobster at 1 am. I won't tell you how we got the steaks and lobster but it was with the help of the engineers.

From: Joe Ciokon

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

Wow! Chuck Renner broke me into broadcasting my first tour in Panama 1959-63. Very patient with this young punk Sailor. Did he still have that “Sherlock Holmes” pipe? Great natural pipes. Other Panama CFN/SCN broadcasters who also served in Vietnam: SP5 Pete Richards, SP5 Randy McClain, SSgt Dick Homer, MSgt Ray Felix, SP5/1Lt Bob Hoernecker. Any of you ever meet them? I wish I could remember the name of the SSgt who ran the Corozal Motor Pool and saved my bacon. He was sent to Fort Rucker, trained to fly Hueys, commissioned Warrant Officer and sent to Vietnam. He picked me up at Tan Son Nhut to fly out to an LST off the coast for a news story. He could barely read a map and I had to guide him to the ship based on my familiarity with the coastline and approximate location of the ship from my MACOI brief. He got us aboard safely and returned me back to MACV. Never saw him again.

Joe

From: Jean LeRoy

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

Jack, you guys must have come back in late December cause that is when I left. I remember Herb well from Nam and from Japan, he loved the news..... Cal must have come in after I left, because a character with a reputation like his I could never forget. My room mate was Chuck Renner, who was one of the best news voices ever, I also was stationed with him in Japan.

From: Jack Holsomback

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

I arrived in country March or April in 1966. Armed Forces Vietnam Network offices (I believe were in the Brinks Hotel with a little walk way or balcony down the outside. The broadcast studio was in the small one story building along the street next to the Brinks. As I mentioned before, that's when I first saw Cramer Haas. He and I had worked for a small 250 watt station, WVIM in Vicksburg. We waited for our van to arrive, and after a time, we went to Da Nang where we had to find a place to stay, (later moved up on Monkey Mountain and lived in a couple tents) had the van moved to location, then set it up. Lots of story behind that trip, both in Saigon and in Da Nang, like the time that PFC Beal burned down our "head." I believe he was the "least informed" individual in the Army. I told him to get off his a.., get outside and burn the shi..er. only problem, he didn't pull out the half-cut 55 gallon drum. He simply poured the kerosene down in the hole and threw in a match. The army made very special PFC's. Then it was back to Saigon for three or so months where I was night news director, indirectly under Herb Manchester. Darn good man, but hated Marines. My last duties was the six a.m. newscast. At that time Cramer would open the Dawn Buster. Cal Lamartaniere, Cramer and I would later go out to breakfast, an adventure in itself. Sometime I will go into detail about a breakfast on the roof of the hotel (Caravel, I think where he screamed then threw all our dishes over the side. When it was time to leave, Bill Sutphin and the Colonel gave me a Bronze Star. Somewhere along the line, it was lost. Wish I could find the Army AFVN records which would show that citation. Any suggestions? How about you Paul? I've yacked enough.

Jack H

From: Jim White

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

On September 25th, some said his name was "Greenwood" but it was before my time so I really have no idea. The picture was from the bombing on May 3, 1968. There must have been at least one other Admin NCO between him and me, because I didn't arrive until August 1970. Jerry Nelson knew my predecessor and from what he has told me the guy was about as dumb as they come. From how fondly some of you seem to remember the Admin NCO / 1st Sgt, and because I also got a Bronze Star when I left, perhaps I should buy a helmet and some body armor before I show up [at the 2012 Reunion].

Jim W

From: Joe Ciokon

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

When you scraped away all the hard ass and BS, you discovered he had a heart of gold. Nick and I got his number right away. His favorite bark to us was: “Screw!” That meant end of shift, hit the bricks. We always barked back. He loved it. But boy did he make life miserable on the young PFCs, SP4s, FNGs, and a couple of LTs and Captains (Army).

From: John Holsomback

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

Dirty Dan was a legend in his time. In a Marine photo lab, he took a 4x5 negative and blew up each segment to about 20x24. Had the photos in the back of cabinets in the dark room of a lab. It was sometimes after he left, that some guy discovered the photos--feet at one end and by opening all the doors you got the full photo.

Jack H

From: Joe Ciokon

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

Greenaugh! That’s it! I need it was Green something. Yeah, his end of tour award was the Bronze Star. Unbelievable. I wonder what the Colonel and the other officers got. Dirty Dan threw his JSCM medal against the wall, filled his service cap with shaving cream, plopped it on his head, and hopped in the jeep for his ride to Tan Son Nhut. My kind of Marine.

From: fivegems@pacbell.net [no further identification]

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt...?

Hey - That sure looks like good old Sergeant Greenaugh (sp) at the door.

AFVN after the car bomb attack on May 3, 1968.

From: DIck Ellis

Date: September 29, 2012

Subject: Admin Sgt......

Admin Sergeant / 1st Sergeant

September 2012

With a few references to MSgt "Dirty Dan" Doherty, USMC

AFVN Group Conversations