"HEY, all you swing-shift pukes GET THE FBLEEPK UP!!!"...
One of our planes and my "partner in crime" - Sgt. Bill Reed. We were both assigned as photographers (84G) even though we'd both spent 10 goddam months at Ft. Monmouth (32D - Fixed Station Technical Controller). The 7th didn't really need any 32D's - so Col. McFadden decided we should be what he called "The official pornographers". Our best assignment was to spend several days photographing "every bar, massage parlor, whore house, and other hangout within 30 miles" to be used as part of a briefing for the Secretary of the Army. What a tough assignment - sheesh!
I really liked shopping in Udorn - but the parking was a bitch! 8-).
I took a lot of portrait-type shots of the local Thais. This is one of a whole series.
Some of our "QRF" - Quick Reaction Force boys playing with their new toys.
I would have joined but they wouldn't let me play with the really BIG guns...
Do you think the local sappers were scared?
This is leaving the main gate. So is this a warning or an advertisement?!!! 8-).
This plane is an RU21D "Laffing Eagle" - Serial #67-18105 - one of 18 such models used for COMINT.
Today it's being converted for civilian use by Turbine Power Inc. in Virginia and is registered as N7139Z.
The elephant cage with some Thai Army tanks.
Sgt. Myron Husband from California, one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet.
He ran the mailroom at the 7th so all of us owe the guy for the great service.
He wasn't an ASA'r officially - came over from Vietnam where
he was a crew chief on choppers - just wanted to stay in Asia.
The local Thai Army garrison ran some joint maneuvers on the post.
I guess they figured they were better equipped than our own QRF.
Not surprising - they had tanks, we had jeeps...
Everywhere you went there were small shrines to keep the Gods happy.
The 7th had it's own shrine in front of HQ - a bow to local custom and our Thai hosts.
Just outside the main gate there were lots of small concession stands like this.
Tired of what's in the mess hall? How about some dried squid for a change?
(Did anyone actually try this stuff)? If so, E-mail me - I want to have your head preserved for later study... 8-)
Looking directly down "Main Street Ramasun" from the Huey cockpit.
If you look closely you can see all the way down the front road to Nonsoong in the background.
Sorry about the haze - couldn't do much about it.
All of our aerial photo was done from Hueys based at Udorn.
This one is parked behind the HQ building (near Finance - they also delivered the payroll).
Operations and the Cage from the air. Main job-site for most personnel.
Another shot of Ops from down lower.
Not all of our "aerial" work had much air between us and the ground. We did a very low, high speed run past the HQ building (well, okay, we buzzed them if you insist! 8-)... We would have gone lower except for the streetlights. About 10 seconds later a lot of freaked out people were coming out that front door! (Warning - you need a Helicopter to do this. If tried in a U-21 it will probably involve some time in the stockade - or Leavenworth 8-).
Christmas 1972. The Bob Hope show came to Udorn and some of us got to go. This was during the infamous "Christmas Bombings" and the F4's were taking off around the clock. They didn't slow down for the Bob Hope show, either - they'd just freeze the show about every two minutes when a Phantom took off. Here's Bob getting the 7th RRFS "cobra swagger stick"...
Bob Hope with his "Cobra 7" hat and the famous golf club. Col. McFadden tried very hard to get Bob to come out to Ramasun Station, but it just wasn't possible. Still, I'm sure all of us appreciate the many years that Bob Hope spent with the troops - he probably had better things to do, but spent the time with us to show he cared about the effort. Great guy!
Another shot from the air - central area of "home sweet home", with most of the important stuff (e.g. the pool, tennis courts, NCO club, theater, etc.). Skip Forcier and I spent a day at a Marine detachment just south of Ramasun. It really, REALLY sucked... They were living in tents, outdoor latrines, 2 inches of dust/mud (depending on the weather), water trucks with little mirrors attached so you could shave and brush your teeth. If we'd had this picture with us to show them - they would have killed us for sure... Semper Fi.
The headquarters zoo.
In front of HQ there was a small duck pond and a cage that held various assortments of animals - mostly birds. I say "various" because I think most of them died and needed to be regularly replaced 8-
(... Oh well, variety at least...
In the lobby of the HQ building the "official" cobra (of Cobra 7 fame) lived.
Here, Bill Reed is trying to determine if it's ticklish (at least I hope that's all he was doing). I wonder what happened to this wooden mascot when the base shut down - I'd pay some serious money to have the thing. Anybody know?
The sunsets (especially during the monsoon season) were often spectacular - made even the "elephant cage" look attractive..
The main gate to Ramasun - circa 1973.
Okay, so I was just starting to go through "the box" of photos this afternoon and I came across the following mystery photo! It's guaranteed that I did NOT take this photo - 'cause no such thing existed when I was there. Looks like it belongs in your collection of really early history shots - back when things were all in tents. I'm really freaked about this because I simply cannot imagine how or why I have this, or where in the hell it came from!
Me (Bill Shields) as the original Forrest Gump - hey, I had the idea first...
The Thai people were genuinely courteous, friendly and (most of all) tolerant of us during the war.
As a result, many good friendships developed. A picture of a truly good friend, and a personal note -
Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing - I hope you are well and happy...
First light at dawn coming up over Ramasun HQ building.
What was I doing out there at dawn? Well, coming "home", of course. Don't give me any flak about this - there were usually a whole group of guys "crawling along the pavement", taking this same route every morning...
Ramasun's indoor (and air-conditioned!) theater.
At this resolution you can't see that the advertisement in the window is for Bruce Lee - starring in "The Chinese Connection". Two flicks I remember from that year were "Silent Running" and "The Godfather".
Okay, here's the trivia quiz!
This is a drawing made by one of our guys (sorry, don't have the name - please let me know if you do) of McFadden and his staff. The first 10 people who can name 2 or more in this poster can have a really cool 8"x10" print of the thing! Notice McFadden is holding a stuffed monkey. If you were the "Screwed-up Officer of the Month" - you got the thing to keep for the next month - NOT a great honor...
The Ramasun base chapel. In good weather services were held under this canopy in the outdoors.
The panel on the right has two messages: "God is dead" - Jack. and right underneath that "Jack is dead" - God.
Guess the chaplain, Capt. Johnson had a sense of humor.
Education Center.
There was an education center at Ramasun so that personnel, having recognized the error of their previous ways,
could endeavor to "get smarter". If you took enough courses and *really* got smart you could figure out how
to get OUT of ASA 8-)...
Entertainment. Basically, there were two options - either you could use the facilities on post -or-
you could head downtown to Udorn to see what was happening there.
On post - there was the special services game room pictured here - pool, ping-pong, shuffleboard.
In Udorn... well you know... Here's the game room at "rush hour" - take a number?!
Ramasun's Mess Hall.
Operated at all hours of the day and home of the world's greatest Western Omelet. Period.
A parting shot.
Despite all the fun and games, and the good times we shared, it should not be forgotten
that the 7th, and all who served there, played an important part in reducing the number
of names on this wall. Best wishes to all of you - and "KTF"... Bill Shields