USARSUPTHAI ASSOCIATION

   United States of America                                          Kingdom of Thailand

USARSUPTHAI FB ASSOCIATION

US Department of Labor categorizes ALL who served during the Vietnam War years are Vietnam Era Veterans,. 

We are Thailand Veterans of the Vietnam War

www.usarsupthaiassociation.com 

You have reached the United States Army Support, Thailand Association website, dedicated to working with our fellow Veterans seeking fair and equal treatment and compensation with the Department of Veterans Affairs for suffering the ailments and symptoms of herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) used on ALL U.S. military bases during the War in Southeast Asia.

While information on the internet is plentiful, it's hard to find a starting point. Let us be that starting point! This site is intended to be a place where online organizations and Veterans groups will find information concerning Army units stationed in Thailand under the command and/or operational control of the United States Army Support, Thailand (USARSUPTHAI).

ADMIN NOTE: The site member portion of this website is a good place to make yourself know to our group, but in order to have real time interaction (one on one) I suggest that you join us on Facebook or on our Yahoo Groups email server.

The USARSUPTHAI Association is an organization about Thailand based Army units for personnel, online organizations and veterans groups.

Created 4/22/2009 

President, Co-Founder & Webmaster: Joseph J. Wilson, Jr. (jjwilsonjr@yahoo.com)

Vice President and Admin Officer: Barry P. Meyer (usarsupthai@outlook.com)

An Overview US Army in Thailand

During Vietnam War Era

1962 - 1976

SEATO

After WWII, the occupation of Japan and the Korean War armistice the United States was instrumental in putting together an Asian equivalent of NATO with the signing of the Manila Pact signed on 8 September 1954 leading to the creation of the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) and headquartered in Bangkok in 1955. SEATO was considered a concept of anti-communist collective defence to Southeast Asia whereby the military forces of each member were intended to be coordinated to provide for the collective defense of the member states.

US ARMY IX CORPS

The US Army?s IX Corps located at Fort Buckner on Okinawa was the parent organization for US Army Special Forces units operating throughout Southeast Asia from early 1960?s throughout the mid 1970?s and for the 9^th Logistical Command (B) and would later become the 9^th Regional Support Command and ultimately the 9^th Theater Army Area Command at Camp Zama, Japan in 1994.

Exercise Air Cobra

In 1962 the escalation of hostilities in Laos led to SEATO Exercise Air Cobra taking place in Thailand with United States and Australian military forces as a show of force and solidarity with Thailand. As the hostilities began to subside and at the request of the Thai Government the 809^th Engineer Battalion (Construction) prepared to begin construction of the Bangkok By-Pass Road from Chachoengsao to Kabin Buri.

JTF 116

In May 1962 Joint Task Force 116 (Army, Air Force and Marines) was created to conduct military operations along the Laotian border areas in support of Royal Thai military forces. Beginning in November the task force was dissolved and by December many of the military forces had departed Thailand.

9^th Logistical Command (B)

Except elements of the 9^th Logistical Command (B) which remained in Thailand as an administrative and logistical support headquarters overseeing Communications Electronics Base, Thailand, Korat Army Depot and various construction projects, including the Sattahip Port Complex and the extension of the Bangkok By-Pass Road from Sattahip to Korat. All other 9^th Logistical Command units moved from Okinawa to join the headquarters in Thailand. The 9^th Logistical Command (B) was inactivated on 12 June 1970 at Camp Samae San, Sattahip.

USARSUPTHAI

On 25 April 1966 the United States Army Support Command, Thailand was activated on Okinawa and elements began deploying to Thailand on 17 October with the rear detachment closing on Camp Friendship on 15 November 1966. On 1 January 1967 USARSUPTHAI officially assumed command and/or operational control over all Army units in Thailand. The USARSUPTHAI was inactivated on 1 July 1974 at Camp Samae San, Sattahip.

The missions of USARSUPTHAI are as follows: (1) Tactical: Provide the U. S. Army nucleus for a unilateral, bilateral or combined tactical headquarters to conduct ground combat operations in Thailand; (2) Training: Conduct continuing OJT (on-the-job training) of assigned Army units; (3) Planning: Conduct U. S. Army planning to support joint operational plans for current operations and contingency U. S. unilateral, bilateral and SEATO plans; (4) Management: Exercise command management supervision of U. S. Army construction programs, logistic operations, real property, facilities and project stocks; and (5) Logistical and Administrative: Provide (1) logistical support to U. S. Air Force operations in North Vietnam and Laos and (2) U. S. Army and joint service support as directed.

USMACTHAI, SG

On 1 July 1974 USARSUPTHAI was inactivated at Camp Samae San, Sattahip and all of its functions were assumed by the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Thailand, Support Group (USMACTHAI, SG) and all U.S. forces were requested to be out of the country by March 1976.

The United States Army Support, Thailand Association

The USARSUPTHAI Association was created to highlight and explore, the brotherhood of airmen, coast guardsman, seaman, marines, soldiers and civilians whose job it was to monitor and expedite the war effort from military bases throughout Southeast Asia.

During the 1950’s the civil war in the Kingdom of Laos grew and by the early 1960’s the Kingdom of Thailand requested and received assistance when it seemed that this internal war would spill over and into its borders.

The first US combat troops were stationed at Bangkok’s Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, and consisted of 4 combat aircraft stationed on alert beginning April 1961. As communist aggression increased in the region by 1962 priority for US intervention to Thailand was favored over that in Vietnam. It wasn’t until the “Gulf of Tonkin” incident that President Johnson committed US forces to Vietnam, while bolstering US troop strength in Thailand as well.

Due to the nature of the “Gentleman’s Agreement” between Thailand and the United States that prevented other nations from knowing the full extent of the US involvement to protect its ally, all communications and/or news “officially” proclaiming the extent of this involvement was banned by the Thai government.

Officially all bases were “Royal Thai Bases” and were commanded by Thai commanders, yet command of US troops was retained by the United States. News and news organizations were not permitted to name actions originating from Thailand and US personnel were not given official recognition for injuries received in actions in Thailand. *

This became a “Secret War” and still today said recognition is being sought by personnel who were there “unofficially”.

The most noticeable were the air crews who flew combat missions into North and South Vietnam, Laos and even Cambodia.

What were not seen were the US Coast Guardsmen manning LORAN stations in not so noticeable locations throughout central and northern Thailand, or the US Army Engineers carving bases and roadways out of virtual jungle in even the most demanding weather conditions?

Also unseen were the huge number of support troops who manned radio stations, field hospital and aid stations, motor pool dispatch offices and unit orderly rooms.

There were the military police and “top secret” recon patrols keeping an eye on things on “both” sides of the Mekong River.

It has been said that an army moves on its stomach. Well that stomach has to be fed. That is the job of the cooks and food preparation specialists. Before they can begin preparing their meals those rations and supplies have to be transported and disbursed to the respective bases and organizational mess or dining halls.

Another thing that fuels an army is funds. Everyone loves payday. Monies are received and paid out to various businesses and injected into the local economy through employment of local nationals at every level of the military. Military bases must be protected and defended in the event of subversive attacks.

Each of these unique functions is the specific responsibility of a host of military units of the various services within the US Department of Defense.

It is next to impossible to do justice to the virtually hundreds of military commands and organizations who made up this backbone within Thailand, yet each one is vitally important to the success and survival of the others.

I want to focus on facts that helped keep the Kingdom of Thailand from almost certain domination by the increasing communist threat in the region of Southeast Asia.

In May 1962, the Military Assistance Command, Thailand was formed and a Joint US Task Force (JTF 116) was sent to the Kingdom of Thailand. Combat troops were deployed in an exercise along the border region of the Mekong River to bolster the defensive forces and prevent the fighting to spill over from nearby Laos. Many of the units comprising the joint task force were stationed in Korea, Okinawa and Hawaii. This task force comprised of a Marine Battalion Landing Team (BLT), the 1^st Battle Group, 27^th Infantry (25^th Infantry Division) and supporting elements under a detachment of the 9^th Logistical Command. In August 1962, they were joined by an army aviation company composed of Caribou aircraft and the 1^st Battle Group, 35^th Infantry (25^th Infantry Division) replaced the 27^th Infantry. The task force was withdrawn in November 1962 after the situation in Laos stabilized.

In the meantime, several US Army units had been sent to Thailand on a permanent basis under the 9^th Logistical Command and by November 1966 the US Army Support Command had been established. **

The United States Army Support, Thailand

All Army units in Thailand came under the operational control of USARSUPTHAI and played a vital part of the war in Vietnam and early on:

Detachments of the 46^th Special Forces Company operated with and trained Thai Army personnel and providing medical support to a number of remote villages throughout northern Thailand.

The 428^th Medical Battalion had responsibility for 2 field hospitals, the 5^th Field Hospital in Bangkok and the 31^st Field Hospital in Korat, plus a number of dental and medical detachments.

The 44^th Engineer Group had overall responsibility of building infrastructures and roadway nets that would link each military base together, providing better access in an area primarily consisting of jungle growth utilizing units of the 809^th Engineer Battalion and other engineer assets brought in for that specific purpose (quite a huge undertaking, even by today’s standards). The 697^th Engineer Company (Pipeline) had the responsibility for constructing buildings, huge “Tank Farms” for fuel storage facilities, all the buildings and even the plumbing for every base in Thailand.

The 596^th Quartermaster Company arriving in Thailand as part of the US Strike Command had the responsibility of operating those massive “Tank Farms” for each of the airbases to be used by United States Air Force personnel and coming under the 9^th Logistical Command (B).

The USA STRATCOM Signal Battalion, Provisional had the responsibility of building and maintaining critical communications networks and links that would tie these military bases to the rest of the US Army forces in Southeast Asia and beyond.

The transportation needs of US forces would be met by two transportation battalions, the 499^th Transportation Battalion (Terminal) and the 519^th Transportation Battalion (Motor Transport).

The 499^th was responsible for receiving cargo in country at the Deep Water Port in Sattahip, the Ammunition Piers at Vayama and the Peers in Bangkok.

The 519^th was responsible for transporting much of this cargo (in concert with the local ETO Company) from the ports all the way to destination (more than 1066 highway miles) utilizing Trailer Transfer Points strategically placed enroute at critical points (Sattahip, Korat, Khon Kaen).

The lifeblood of the entire US military operations depended upon their success.

These are the major commands that controlled much of the Army’s assets in Thailand:

Joint US Military Assistance, Thailand

Joint US Military Advisory Group, Thailand

Joint US Military Advisory Group, Thailand, Support Group, Provisional

Joint US Military Advisory Group, Thailand, Support Group A

US Army Bangkok Area Command, Provisional

US Army Depot, Thailand, Provisional (later 501^st Field Depot)

US Army Sattahip Area Command, Provisional

US Army Special Troops, Bangkok

US Army Special Troops, Korat

US Army Special Troops, Sattahip

US Army Support Command, Thailand

9^th Logistical Command (63 – 70)**

References:

* United States Air Force in Thailand - http://wapedia.mobi/en/United_States_Air_Force_in_Thailand

**Appendix B - The US Army in Thailand during the Vietnam Conflict (Vietnam Order of Battle – Shelby L. Stanton)

105^th SIG DET (SVCS SPT)

125^th SIG BN, 25^th INF DIV (JTF 116)

128^th MED BN (Korat)

133^rd MED GRP, HHD (MED SPT) 1 Jan 68 - 10 Nov 70 (Korat)

138^th TR DET (TTPO) (Vayama)

13^th MP CO (SEP) 24 Jan 69 - 29 Mar 73  (Korat)

142^nd EN CO (Samae San)

145^th EN CO (Samae San)

162^nd MED DET (Vayama)

165^th MED DET (Vayama)

165^th TR CO (LT AMPH VEH - LARC) 26 Apr 67 - 1 Nov 68 (Sattahip)

167^th SIG CO (RR VHF) May 62 - 6 May 63 (Bangkok)

16^th EN CO (DT) 2 Aug 67 - 20 Feb 71 (Sakhon Nakhon)

16^th INF (Samae San)

17^th MI DET (Bangkok)

172^nd TR DET (Friendship)

1^st BG, 27^th INF (JTF 116)

1^st BG, 35^th INF (JTF 116)

1^st BN, 35^th INF, 25^th INF DIV (JTF 116)

1^st SFG, 3^rd BN

1^st SIG BDE

1^st SIG BN

201^st SIG DET (RB)

207^th SIG CO (TROPO) 15 Apr 63 - 1 Jul 69 (Korat)

219^th MP CO (PHY SEC) 20 Nov 66 - 25 Jun 71 (Korat)

21^st MED DEP (MED DEP) 15 Mar 67 - 15 May 70 (Korat)

229^th TR CO (TERM SVC) 30 Apr 67 - 20 Dec 68 (Sattahip)

233^rd TR CO (TERM SVC) 11 Nov 66 - 20 Dec 68 (Sattahip)

234^th EN CO (Vayama)

254^th TR DET (Friendship)

256^th AG CO (PS) 28 Dec 67 - 25 June 71 (Korat)

258^th TR DET (Friendship)

260^th TR CO (PETRO) 15 Dec 66 - 31 Oct 75 (Sattahip)

270^th ORD DET (Friendship)

270^th TR DET (AVN) Korat RTAFB 69 – 71 (NEW)

281^st MP CO (SEC GRD) 11 Nov 66 - 31 Oct 75 (Sattahip)

28^th SIG CO (Friendship)

291^st TR CO (CGO) 28 Feb 67 - 20 Feb 71 (Korat)

29^th SIG CO

29^th SIG GRP, HHD (SIG SPT) 12 Sep 66 - 30 Jun 71 (Bangkok)

302^nd SIG BN, HHD (SPT) 14 Jul 69 - 30 Jun 71 (Bangkok)

302^nd SIG CO (Bangkok)

305^th S & S Co (DS) 3/12/68 - 4/15/69) (Sat SATTAHIP

313^th TR CO (REFER) 24 Nov 66 - 31 Mar 72 (Bangkok)

31^st MED HOSP (FLD HOSP) 1 Jun 62 - 15 May 70  (Korat)

324^th SIG CO (TROPO) 30 Jun 71 - 1 Feb 72 (Sattahip)

325^th SIG BN, HHD (SPT) 14 Jul 69 - 31 Dec 70 (Bangkok)

331^st S & S CO (FWD REP PARTS) 15 Jul 65 - 20 Dec 68 (Korat)

334^th SIG CO (SPT) 6 Nov 67 - 1 Jul 69 (Bangkok)

33^rd TR PLT (REFER) 10 May 67 - 1 Apr 70 (Korat)

347^th SIG CO (SPT) 6 Nov 67 - 1 Jul 69 (Bangkok)

35^th FIN & DISB CO (Korat)

379^th SIG BN, HHD (SPT) 25 Aug 63 - 30 Jun 71 (Sattahip)

40^th MP BN (MP SPT) 18 Mar 67 - 30 Dec 70  (Korat)

41^st ORD CO (DIR AMMO SPT) 6 Mar 66 - 1 Sep 66 (Korat)

428^th MED BN, HHD (MED SPT) 1 Jun 66 - 1 Jan 68  (Korat)

442^nd SIGL BN (SPT - LL) 6 Nov 67 - 30 Jun 71 (Korat)

449^th TR BN (TERM) 25 Oct 66 - 20 Dec 68 (Sattahip)

44^th EN GRP, HHD (CON) May 62 - 1 Jan 70 (Korat)

46^th SF CO (SPEC WAR) Oct 66 - Apr 74 (Lopburi)

47^th F & A CO

488^th MED AMB DET

499^th TR BN, HQ GRP (Vayama)

501^st USA DEPOT (FLD DEPOT) 18 Mar 67 - 20 Dec 68 (Korat)

503^rd MED BN

505^th TR CO (CGO) 12 Nov 66 - 30 Dec 70 (Sattahip)

509^th ASA UNIT (Ramasun)

511^th SUP CO (GEN SPT) 5 Jan 67 - 20 Dec 68 (Korat)

513^th MP DET (Friendship)

519^th TR BN, HHD (TRK) 16 Dec 66 - 20 Feb 71 (Korat)

523^rd MED AMB DET 67 - 68 (Korat)

528^th EN CO

537^th EN BN (Samae San)

538^th EN BN (CON) CO 14 Jul 65 - 15 Jun 70 (Korat)

538^th EN BN, C CO (Vayama)

538^th EN BN, D PLT (Samae San)

53^rd TR CO (CGO) 10 Apr 67 - 30 Dec 70 (Sattahip)

549^th EN DET (CA)

549^th QM CO

54^th EN CO (CON SPT) 20 Dec 68 - 15 Jun 70 (Sakhon Nakhon)

556^th MAINT CO (LT DS) 7 Feb 68 - 1 Jul 69 (Kanchanaburi)

558^th S & S BN (GS) 17 Mar 66 - 1 Jul 69 (Kanchanaburi)

558^th S & S CO (HVY MS) 15 Jul 65 - 20 Dec 68 (Korat)

55^th SIG CO (SPT) 1 Jul 65 - 1 Jul 69 (Korat)

561^st EN CO (CON) 10 Aug 63 - 15 Jun 70 (Kanchanaburi)

562^nd MAINT CO (LT DS) 13 Jan 67 - 25 Jun 71(Sattahip)

569^th TR CO (CGO) 1 Dec 67 - 1 Apr 70 (Khon Kaen)

579^th QM CO

57^th MAINT CO (DS) 1 Apr 63 - 20 Feb 71 (Korat)

590^th S & S CO (DS) 30 Sep 63 - 20 Dec 68 (Korat)

593^rd EN CO (CON) 6 Jun 63 - 1 Aug 63 (Korat)

596^th QM CO (PETRO DEPOT) 27 Jun 66 - 20 Dec 66 (Sattahip)

597^th EN CO (Essayons)

597^th MAINT CO (DS) 9 May 66 - 1 Sep 69 (Korat)

597^th TR CO (Vayama)

599^th ORD CO (AMMO DS/GS) 7 May 67 - 25 Jun 71 (Sattahip)

5^th MED HOSP (FLD HOSP) 9 May 66  - 10 Nov 70 (Bangkok)

5^th RRU – Bangkok – Became 83^rd RRSOU in 9/66 – 20/70

5^th RRU, DET "D" 1965  (Ramasun)

640^th TR DET (TUGBOAT) (Samae San)

6924^th SECURITY SQUADRON – 1/8/70 – 24/4/71

697^th EN CO (PL CON SPT) 29 Aug 65 - 1 Dec 69

70^th AVN FLT DET (Friendship)

712^th PMU (USARTHAI & Friendship)

720^th MP BN (Friendship)

738^th EN CO (SP) 2 Mar 63 - 15 Jul 65 (Korat)

7^th AIR PLT (Friendship)

7^th ASA UNIT (FLD STN) 15 May 62 - 30 Jun 71 (Bangkok)

7^th AVN DET – Udorn 68-74

7^th AVN DET – Utapoe 6/74-5/75

7^th MAINT BN (DS) 15 Jul 65 - 25 Jun 71  (Korat)

7^th RRFS, B CO (Khao Khieo) (Ramasun)

809^th EN B, D CO (Ku Su Mon) (Sakhon Nakhon)

809^th EN BN (CON) 24 Mar 62 - 3 Feb 71 (Phanom Sarakham)

809^th EN BN, B CO (NKP)

809^th EN BN, B CO (Vayama)

809^th EN BN, C CO (Raum Chit Chi) (Sakhon Nakhon)

83^rd RRSOU – Bangkok – 1959-9/66

89^th MP DET

91^st EN CO (DT) 7 Aug 67 - 15 Jun 70 (Kanchanaburi)

93^rd PSY OPN CO (SPC WAR) 23 Jun 67 - 30 Jun 74 (Bangkok)

972^nd SIG BN

999^th EN BN (Friendship)

999^th SIG BN 1961-62  (Ramasun)

9^th LOG CMD, HHD (LOG SPT) Apr 63 - 12 Jun 70 (Korat, Sattahip)

9^th LOG CMD, PAD 55/56  (Friendship)

9^th LOG CMD, PBO, Sattahip (9^th Log)

9^th TERM CMD (Samae San)

After closing the 83^rd RRSOU, all detachments were re-designated to 7^th RRFS.

AMSF-T (Bangkok)

AREA MAT SUP FAC (Samae San)

BKK SIG BN (PROV) (SPT) Unknown - 14 Jul 69 (Bangkok)

Cobra-7 (Ramasun)

DCA (Friendship)

DCA-SAM

DCSSPO (Friendship)

DEPCHJUSMAGTHAI (PROJ 404)                        

DET 4, 6922^nd SECURITY WING – 4/65-1/8/70

DET 4, 6922^nd SECURITY WING – Inception 4/65 – 1970/71

DET 4, 6922^nd SECURITY WING – Inception Apr 65 – 1970/71

DET A, 7^th RRFS – Minburi-DF 65-76

DET A, 83^rd RRSOU – Minburi-DF 65-76

DET A, 83^rd RRSOU – Miniburi-DF 65-76

DET B, 7^th RRFS – Chiang Mai-DF 62-76

DET B, 83^rd RRSOU – Ubon-DF 62-76

DET B, 83^rd RRSOU – Ubon-DF 62-76

DET C, 7^th RRFS – Ubon-DF 62-76

DET C, 83^rd RRSOU – Chiang Mai-DF 62-76

DET C, 83^rd RRSOU – Chiang Mai-DF 62-76

DET D, 7^th RRFS – Phanom Sarakham-DF 70-76

DET D, 83^rd RRSOU – Udorn-DF 14/4/65-25/9/66

DET D, 83^rd RRSOU – Udorn-DF/Intercept 14 Apr 65 – 25 Sep 66

DET D, 83^rd RRSOU became 7^th RRFS 25/9/66-20/6/76

DET J, 7^th RRFS – Ubon-Intercept 9/68-6/74

DET J, 83^rd RRSOU – Ubon-Intercept 9/68-6/74

H & S CO (Ramasun)

HQ DET, 7^th RRFS – Udorn after 10/70

HQ DET, 83^rd RRSOU – Bangkok

I & S DIV

JOINT US MILITARY AGENCY GROUP (JUSMAG) (Friendship)

JTF116 (Friendship)

MARS (Friendship)

MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND THAILAND (MACTHAI)

MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND THAILAND (MACTHAI), HHC (Samae San)

MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND THAILAND SUPPORT GROUP (Samae San)

NAVY SECURITY DET – Udorn 1/71-5/5/76

STRATCOM SIG BN (PROV) (LL COMMO) (Unknown - 7/14/69) (Udorn - Ubon)

TFA

TR MVMT OFC I (Sattahip)

TR MVMT OFC II (Korat)

TR MVMT OFC III (Udorn)

US EMBASSY ATTACHE OFFICE (Friendship)

USA AMMUNITION ACTIVITY THAILAND, UDORN DETACHMENT (PEPPERGRINDER)

USA BANGKOK AREA COMMAND (PROVISIONAL)

USA CENTRAL IDENTIFICATION LABORATORY THAILAND (CILTHAI) (Samae San)

USA DEPOT THAILAND (PROVISIONAL)

USA MATERIAL COMMAND, B COMPANY

USA SATTAHIP AREA COMMAND (PROVISIONAL)

USA SPECIAL TROOPS BANGKOK

USA SPECIAL TROOPS KORAT

USA SPECIAL TROOPS SATTAHIP

USA SUPPORT COMMAND, THAILAND

USA TERMINAL COMMAND

USA TERMINAL COMMAND, DEEP WATER PORT (Samae San)

USA TRANSPORTATION ACTIVITY, SSO BKK

USACC-THAILAND

USACC-THAILAND-I&S (U.S. Army Communications Command-Thailand)

USARSUPTHAI (Friendship)

USARSUPTHAI (Samae San)

USARSUPTHAI CE Division (Friendship)

USARSUPTHAI DCSSPO (Samae San)

USARSUPTHAI G-3 Section (Friendship)

USARSUPTHAI HHD Liaison (Friendship)

USARSUPTHAI, CE DIV

USARSUPTHAI, HHD (Friendship)

USASCCCCA (Friendship)

USASDT

USASTRATCOM FAC (Samae San) (Warin)

USASTRATCOM SIG Bn. Long Lines Communications Unknown - 7/14/69 UBON

USASTRATCOM SIG Bn., Provisional- Long Lines Communications Unknown - 7/14/69

USASTRATCOM UDORN

USASTRATCOM-I&S (INTELLIGENCE & SECURITY DIVISION) (Phu Mu)

USASTRATCOM-Thailand (Phu Mu)

USATA (Samae San)

USMAAG

USMAGTHAI

USMAGTHAI, SUP GRP A