Book Reviews & Comments

Submitted by
Name: Bill Warriner
From: Tucson, Arizona
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Larry, I hope this finds you well and want to thanks for your work. I just discovered you via SOBs Facebook page, plan to read all 5 volumes as soon as I can. In my ignorance I thought no USAFSS history existed and though I'm a writer, can't imagine doing the monumental work you've done.

If it's of any interest,FYI about me: my IFEL class was July 1954; stationed on Paengnyong-Do Korea 1955-56(Detachment 2, 6922nd RSM); transferred to HQ 6920th Scty Wing at Shiroi, Japan 1956-57. Did TDY at Shulinkou Taiwan + Okinawa (Kadena, Onna Point) + Clark AFB + Army Security Agency in Tokyo with Washington Wong. Ended up in D.C. for a short stay at NSA but opted out after 1957, got B.A. State Univ of NY 1960, M.A. in Chinese Studies at Harvard in 1962, then went into filmmaking, founded Polaroid's audiovisual dept, then ran Warriner Productions Inc. I produce videos, write websites etc.

Bob Tharp hired me at IFEL in 1958-59 to design an audiovisual course to teach written Chinese. I learned written Chinese from Washington Wong at ASA Tokyo and then taught it at Shiroi AFB in 1957. I kept studying written Chinese through Confucius at Harvard then quit to earn a living.

Added: February 26, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Dave (Britt) Brittingham
From: Xenia, Ohio
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Served 6931SS Crete Oct 67 to April 69 then went to NhaTrang Vietnam 6994 Det 1 July4,1969 to Sept 69 then to PhuCat until July 1970 ( also die 2months NKP Thailand (Nov & Dec 1969 TDY). I am proud of the work I did and accomplished during this time, always wondered where many of the men I served with are what they do today.

Added: February 25, 2014

Submitted by
Name: JOSEPH SUNSERI
From: KENNER,LA 70065
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
ARRIVED IN DARMSTADT GERMANY NOV 1950 MOS 709 ARRIVED AS A PFC AND LEFT FOR 6910TH IN 1952 AS A S/SGT. DURING MY STAY IN DARMSTADT I WAS IN CHARGE OF A GROUP THAT WENT TO TRIPOLI LIBYA. QUITE A TRIP. ALL GONE NOW.I ENJOYED MY AIRFORCE YEARS.GLAD WHAT WE DID CAN NOW BE TOLD.WHEN I COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE SAYING AT THE TABLE IN A RESTAURANT IN GERMANY I KNEW IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME. AMEN

Added: February 22, 2014

Submitted by
Name: Steve Downs
From: LaGrange, GA
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Larry,

The timing of your Christmas letter couldn't have been more perfect. I have been wanting to write to you about the impact that your history of USAFSS has had on me.

I am a retired Chinese and German linguist (1971-1991). Served at Shu Lin Kou AS, Taiwan, Offutt (OLEA, 6948th), Mildenhall (6954th/6988th), Davis Monthan (Det 2 EST/Compass Call), Lindsey Air Station - Berlin for Lunch Bunch and V Corp Guardrail (Det 1, 691st ESW/Det 1 6910ESW). I know our paths probably crossed several times. I just wanted to let you know that over the last couple of months I read all five volumes. In addition to bringing back great memories of people and places, the books gave me a strong appreciation for the incredible sacrifices and experiences what those that came before me endured. They were also a great education from the standpoint that I learned so much about places and missions that I had just heard about but knew very little details about. One story, in particular, that comes to mind was the recruiting of operators to go to NKP. I remember that while at Shu Lin Kou, I went to a briefing and was interviewed for that but, since I was newly married, was not allowed to go. I often wondered what that was all about. While on active duty I, like many others I'm sure, only saw the part of the overall picture that our missions supported. Your books helped me see the part that I, and those I served with, played in the big picture and, in doing so, gave me a sense of roots, so to speak, to my military career, that had been missing for many years. Your series of books helped me realize that the small part that I played in the entire history of USAFSS/ESC was important!

I just wanted to thank you for the tremendous effort you went through in writing those books and for your service.

Steve Downs, MSgt, USAF, Retired.

Added: December 12, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Jim Stone
From: Eagle, Idaho
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Graduated from Radio Intercept Ops Training at Keesler Mar 1958. Assignments: 6938th RSM, Wheelus AB Lybia 1958-1959, 6950th RGM (TRANSEC) Chicksands RAF Sta England 1959-1960, 6950th RGM (TRANSEC)Chicksands RAF Sta England 1961-1964, 6945TH RSM (Wideband) Goodfellow AB Texas 1964-1966, 6924th RSM Danang AB Vietnam 1966-1967, 6993rd RSM (RIRAK) Medina AB Texas 1967-1968, 6917th RGM (MSD) 1968-1972 San Vito AB Italy, 6920th SW Misawa Japan 1972-1975, 6950th SW Chicksands England 1976-1979, 6993CSOC 1979-1980, RETIRED 1980.
A USAFSS NCO all the way.

Added: November 4, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Gary S. Hance
From: Rolla, MO
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I served in the 6922nd in the Philippine Islands as a 292x1 (1965 until June 1967) after graduating Tech school at Keesler AFB, Biloxi,MS) and then Vietnam at Tan Son Nhut, Pleiku and Hue Phu-Bai. Vietnam (67-Aug 68). was all airborne I was also a 292x1 there, and I flew nearly everyday. My flying records were lost in a fire at home in 1971.

Added: November 1, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Charles Russell Hardesty,Col USAF (Ret)
From: Huntingyown, MD 20639
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
I attended basic the Russian course at Syracuse in 1963/64. Was later assigned to the 6988th Yokota, Japan. Left the USAF in January 1968 as a SSGT. Returned home to Louisville,Ky where I completed a degree in Russian Language in 1970 and was commissioned a 2LT through the AFROTC program. I was then trained as a Navigator, flew over 4000 hours in B-52a and a 1000 hours in FB-111As. Served in various positions in SAC and retired as a Colonel in 1998. I then worked at the Dept of State first as the Director For Humanitarian Programs to the Newly Independent States (Former Soviet Union), retiring again in 2006. Would be interested in being a member of the Propwash Gang. Tried to reach Larry Tart but without success.

Added: October 25, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Thomas A. Hutchings
From: Fort Wayne, IN
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Was a 292x1 at Darmstadt from May 68 to Nov 69. Worked on Dog Flight. Loved the tour of duty and the travel. Left in Nov 69 for the 6994th at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, Vietnam. I was supposed to stay in Germany, but a fellow Dog Flight 292x1 who was married and his wife became pregnant, switched orders with me. The order change was approved by Col. Davidson, wing Commander. I'd like to find Randy. I think his name was Randy White, or some other last name. Anyone know?

Added: October 20, 2013

Submitted by
Name: Pat Hanrahan Casullo
From: Syracuse,NY
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Reading the article in the Syracuse Post Standard about the airmen who were killed in the fire on hilltop I think of my father who was a Syracuse City Fireman stationed at engine 8 on the corner of Colvin and Salina St. He was at that fire and every time we drove by those barracks when I was a kid he would always say how sad it was that those young men lost their lives in that fire. It deeply affected him. How glad I was to see that they will always be remembered because I still say a little prayer every time I drive by. It may look different but for some the memory remains.

Added: October 6, 2013