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Project Jenny KLIK - 1st Inf Di v Women in Vietnam RELATED-- To AFVN To Saigon To Vietnam Further Afield Index
From: Rick Fredericksen
Date: October 28, 2015
Subject: Unknown Newscaster
Does anyone remember this cool promo, or the "Soul 70" show itself? It is part of the Paul Starnes' collection of recordings that he made at Dong Ba Thin, the AM studio that served as a sub detachment of Nha Trang (on Hon Tre Island). Paul dropped this promo into his June 17th, 1970 show. I included a little bit of Paul's voice as the promo ended and he introduced the next song. The bigger question: does anyone remember Sgt. Bob Anderson, the host of Soul 70? This sounds like it was a Vietnam-produced program, perhaps right there at Dong Ba Thin, or in Saigon. But I suppose it could have originated in LA. Anderson is not listed on our roster, and if he was one of us, his name deserves to be there with ours. If Jim White wants to post on our site, I don't believe there are any clearances required; the music is a series of brief excerpts. Thanks to Paul Starnes son, Steven, for providing this clip to AFVN.
This page is in reference to an audiotape titled Soul 70 posted on the Audio Archive page.
Individual Photo Albums & Stories
Bruce Blackburn, SP4, USA
Announcer, Nha Trang (70-71)
From: Jim White
Date: November 25, 2015
Subject: Bruce Blackburn
Towards the end of October, Rick and others were wondering what happened to Bruce Blackburn. I think I know why he is staying away. On January 2, 1971 I paid his bill (500 Piaster) at the KySon BEQ so he could check out and return to the U.S. He never paid me back. If you find him--LET ME KNOW!
Jim W
From: Jim White
Date: November 25, 2015
Subject: Bruce Blackburn
Billy,
It may be that Bruce was on his way to a detachment or something and not going to the states when I "loaned" the gift. Either way, I knew that he had to get moved out of the KySon and the KySon wasn't going to clear him until they got their 500P.
Thanks for the correction.
Jim W
From: Tim Eatman
Date: October 31, 2015
Subject: AFVN Memory
In 1970 at AFVN Saigon, I was directing the 6 o'clock and 10 o'clock nightly newscasts. My good friend and roommate Bruce Blackburn was the news anchor. I heard rumors the NCO's at AFVN were complaining that Bruce was not "warm" enough on the air. He never smiled. One night during his newscast he started smiling. He kept it up for a week and they got off his case. They said he got with the program and started doing his job. As his director, I inserted pictures of naked women into every three or four pages of his script. We had to laugh sometimes to keep from crying.
From: Tim Eatman
Date: October 31, 2015
Subject: AFVN Memory
That sir, has got to be one of the best "Gotcha" military stories I have ever heard...I shall be retelling this one in the future I am sure...maybe even repeating it for some unsuspecting speakers going forward.
From: Rick Fredericksen
Date: October 31, 2015
Subject: Unknown Newscaster
Not sure who this email came from suggesting Bruce Blackburn (no name on the email address). Does anyone know Blackburn's whereabouts? It would be nice to confirm with him, and get a copy to him. Meanwhile, based on Steven Starnes documentation, it seems certain that Soul 70 was produced in Dong Ba Thin by Staff Sgt. Bob L. Anderson, who was also NCOIC of Detachment 4B. I wonder if he was African American? Anyone know his whereabouts?
From: HolyFun
Date: October 31, 2015
Subject: Unknown Newscaster
I was TV director in Saigon in June of 1970....that sounds like it could have been Bruce Blackburn?
From: Billy Williams
Date: November 26, 2015
Subject: Bruce Blackburn
I remember Blackburn still being at AFVN in late 1971, Jim. When I got back to AFVN Saigon from Da Nang in 1972, he wasn't there.
Billy