2004 Reunion
AFTN Documentary
Network History
AFTN Radio
air checks # 1
air checks #2
Outstanding Unit Award w/ Combat "V" Device 1971 -l973
The American Forces Thailand Network (AFTN), military radio and television, provided music, news and entertainment to the American Fighting Man and Woman in Thailand for more than ten years during the Vietnam War.
This web site is dedicated to the nine broadcasters and engineers who gave their lives when a battle damaged F-4 Phantom Recon Jet crashed into the Udorn AFTN station on April 10, l970. This is an unofficial web site.
AFTN Webmaster is Bob Wertz , then A1C USAF, AFTN Radio/TV Udorn, 71-72. Email comments, etc. to BobWertz in Baton Rouge, LA.
AFTN Web Templates design & photo albums compiled/edited by Norm Corley, then Sgt. USAF, AFTN Radio/TV NKP 72-73. Norm is retired and living in Athens, Greece.
AFTN Air Chex edited & remastered by Dick Storck, then Sgt. USAF, AFTN Radio/TV Udorn/Korat 68-69. Dick is still broadcasting at WCPE, Raleigh, NC.
Since January 19, 2003, there have been
Home page audio montage [WINDOWS Media file]: Sgt. Phil Favreau, AFTN News, Fall, l972, Charlie Tuna AFRTS program and AFTN jingle (spliced in 1972 from AFRTS master)
Last updated on 1 / 1 / 2010
The night before Christmas 1972.
It was definitely not a fluffy white Christmas eve in Udorn, Thailand that year. I worked for the American Forces Radio and Television Network. About three of us were Army troops assigned to the Air Force’s Thailand network. We helped man a 24 hour a day radio station and 17 hour a day TV station for the Royal Thai Air Base and secret points in Laos.
Every year as the holidays approach my mind always goes back to that night when a couple of fellow GI’s and I sat along the flight line watching the fighter jets take off on their missions. Most were riding shotgun for B 52’s bombing Hanoi. The bright yellow exhaust fire and the roar of the jets brought home the idea that “Peace on Earth” wasn’t in the offing that night. In fact, the very spot we were sitting was hit by a battle damaged F4 about a year previously. All of the staff in the station were killed. Two that weren’t there became the only survivors of one the worst information disasters in AFRTS history. Surprisingly very little of this was lost on us as we shared the canned ham sent over by my Mom.
We were the lucky ones in the unpopular war that wasn’t. I (as well as many of my age) have friends who came home in a coffin, or were never right again. So many years later, it is easy to say we were never welcomed home from a situation that most were drafted into.
That’s when my mind goes back to that flight line and I want to remember all the military men and women today. In today’s high tech world, cell phones and computers make the world much smaller. We couldn’t call our families but somehow maybe that was better. It is better not to tease a person with a voice? You still can’t reach out and touch someone with a cell phone.
I know no one who hasn’t served or has known someone who did. We get bombarded with reminders of remembrance. It’s a simple deal. Ask them to remember their Christmas Eve and give them a simple thanks. It’s popular now to do that. It always wasn’t that way and some never got that affirmation. Make it their turn this holiday season.
12/23/09 www.thespringfieldpaper.com
October 8-11, 2009 ( click here )
AFTN Insight -- Summer l967
Petula Clark - Sgt Tom McDonald
Mel Torme - AIC Bryant Michaud
click here for scoped airchecks
Sgt Tom McDonald(seated) at Korat - 1967
Mekong River Valley Feb 09
NKP circa late l968
[ t to
r: TSgt Jim Ewing, SSgt Dean Pennington, SSgt Jim Smith, AIC Steve
Sills,
bottom row: AIC Karpiaic, AIC Dick Tomberlin, SSgt Bob (Speedy)
Spivacke
more pics coming from Speedy
Click here for other AFTN updates recently posted
- AFTN- American Forces Thailand Network is a member of the
- Want to join the ring? Get info here!
- [
Previous ] [
Random ] [
Next ] [
List Sites ]
