Conv-AFVN Saigon Vehicles

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From: John Workman

Dated: July 21, 2016

Subject: AFVN Vehicles

Also Ford Econoline van which I wrecked when a GI ran in front of me after curfew coming back to station after hotel run. Was near the Caravelle just after the traffic circle.
Jim White doesn't recall it so we maybe only had it a short time before I wrecked it. But I remember it and that night like it was yesterday.

From: Ron Turner

Dated: July 21, 2016

Subject: AFVN Vehicles

During my stay Engineering had a van, I don't recall the brand, but I drove it about every day. Like the other assigned vehicles its resting place was the parking lot of the Kyson Annex (until the move to the Wall?)

Regards, Ron

Military (Army) Duty Rosters from the 1950s Through the Early 1970s

by Jim White

The following applies to the Army (and perhaps the Air Force) method of running a duty roster as they were run during the years I was in the Army. It therefore includes the years that AFVN was in existence. I can not vouch for what the Navy and the Marines might have done. However, since MACV was a joint headquarters headed by an Army General (and AFVN when I was there was a joint organization headed by a Army LTC), AFVN used the Army's method.

The basic principle of the duty roster is to be sure that extra duties such as kitchen police, guard, charge of quarters, drivers and/or staff duty NCO/officer were rotated and shared equitably. This meant (1) that everyone who was in a category eligible for a particular duty would be on the duty roster, and (2) that the person who had not had the duty for the past most number of days was the one to be selected for the next duty as required.

I think that the only duty that anyone was ever called upon to perform at AFVN was that of "night duty driver." When I first got to AFVN in August 1970, we had a permanently assigned night duty driver by the name of Joe Falconer. This lasted for a number of months and worked fairly well. Joe was reasonably dependable and I think happy to be in Saigon--however there were times that I would stay in the office until 2030 or so just waiting for him to show up. Later I learned that Joe was some $6,000 in debt so Capt Lamson and I tried to help him develop a financial planso he could get back above wate--I don't remember how well it worked. [NB: The AFVN Roster shows that Joe was at Pleiku for a while but I rather doubt that--unless it was before I got there.] Joe returned to the U.S. on February 13, 1971 in spite of the fact that it was difficul for him to get on board the plane with an experired ID card.

Joe's departure was a problem in that a number of AFVN people worked night shifts which made it dfficult to put "everyone" on a equitable roster. I had many a go-around with Tom Segel, MSgt, USMC (Broadcasting NCOIC) about getting his men "into the loop" and "to share the wealth (?)" But, somehow the system limped along fairly well until I left in June 1971.

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The jeeps that we used were very different from this model.

From: Ron Banks

Dated: July 22, 2016

Subject: AFVN Vehicles

Staff rotated as "duty driver" with this van. Another interesting note about this van, it had a bullet hole in the rear door. Don't know the story of how it got there, it was an entry wound.

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AFVN Saigon Vehicles and Duty Driver

July 2016

From: Jim White

Dated: July 21, 2016

Subject: AFVN Vehicles

COMMENTS ON AFVN VEHICLES

Those with better memories may correct me....

I was prompted to write this after reading a comment by Jim Anderson in a message dated January 27, 2015. He wrote: "One day a fellow employee and I saw Jack (Leigh) along the road and gave him a ride to the civilian airport. I don't recall if he was going on R&R or home. We only had a free minutes to talk. He seemed like one hell of a nice guy. I was very sorry to hear of his passing. With celebrity status in Saigon I've always wondered why AFVN lacked the resources to provide transportation for one of their own to the airport." I left AFVN some 45 years ago so memories fade, but as I recall, AFVN had the following vehicles:
OIC (Admin): A Ford Bronco exclusively for the OIC's use. Drive by an older Vietnamese woman.

Deputy OIC (Admin): A jeep driven by an older Vietnamese man.

(All the rest of the vehicles were "drive-it-yourself.")

Admin Officer (Admin): A jeep. Also used by the Admin NCO and clerks as necessary.

Mailman (Admin): A Dodge four-door pickup truck. Used primarily for mail runs but the mailman would also take people to MACV and Tan Son Nhut as requested/needed.

Admin: Mini-bus--but not really remembered? [NB: I just noticed a note in my dairy that we would sometimes get a mini-bus from the (USAHAC or MACV?) motor pool.]

Supply/Admin (shared?): A 3/4-ton truck. I remember using it fairly often.

Supply: A 2.5 ton truck which was also used for the Quick Reaction Force.
Broadcasting Ops: One or perhaps two jeeps (OIC and NCOIC) which were for their exclusive use-no one else touched them.
Engineering Section: Might have had a van of some kind but, again, I don't remember anymore.
So, overall, AFVN was relatively "vehicle affluent" in 1970/71 but also--because it was located rather away from everything else it was also relatively "vehicle poor." Normally anyone going to Tan Son Nhut for a flight could arrange to go with the mailman or otherwise get an Admin vehicle. The same was true for people coming in to Tan Son Nhut as well as newly assigned personnel.

According to my diary, February 16th, 1971 was a "Bad Day at Black Rock" as far as vehicles was concerned. During the morning I asked SP5 Paul Miano to gas the mini-bus and then to take someone to 8th Aerial Port for departure. When he got back, he was mad and accused me of degrading his rank and wanted to talk (report me?) to Captain Hasting, the Executive Officer. I finally got him calmed down, but then Captain Hasting suddenly showed up at 1400 and demanded a jeep. I didn't have one! I tried to get the 2.5 ton truck for him (the only vehicle that was still on the compound) but Supply couldn't release it. Oh well, what the heck! As an E-8, I got paid for letting s--- roll down my back!
Jim W

From: Craig Prosser

Dated: July 23, 2016

Subject: AFVN Vehicles

It appears AFVN got so big it had a virtual motor pool of vehicles in its compound. From the founding years of AFRS I submit this photo of of our station's wheels and driver, "Charlie Long." [NB: The photo is in Craig's slide show: Click here.] It was a Chevy or Ford wagon or maybe a Dodge, I don't remember, but no doubt somebody can tell by looking at the steering wheel and dash.
The vehicle, shown parked outside the front door to the studios in the Brink Hotel in 1964, was always available for a run to Tan Son Nhut or MAC-V or Hedsuppact..or to a news assignment. I remember riding with station manager Navy Chief Journalist Buck Arbuckle, who not so jokingly assigned at least one passenger to "bread watch." The aim was to be on the lookout for a bicycle riding Viet Cong who might try to toss a bomb-laden baguette through an open window.
Craig Proser

AFRS Saigon 1963-64

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