Comments on: Tet Offensive: Inside MACV Headquarters http://www.historynet.com/tet-offensive-inside-macv-headquarters.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:31:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: C. Phillips http://www.historynet.com/tet-offensive-inside-macv-headquarters.htm/comment-page-1#comment-140869 C. Phillips Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:17:19 +0000 #comment-140869 I worked for the Command Group (1969-1971) and enjoyed it very much. I ran the Commander's conference room. We had VIP types visit the general from time to time (for example, Secretary of Defense Laird, George Wallace, Bob Hope, General Wheeler, etc.). E-9 (retired) I worked for the Command Group (1969-1971) and enjoyed it very much.
I ran the Commander’s conference room.
We had VIP types visit the general from time to time (for example, Secretary of Defense Laird, George Wallace, Bob Hope, General Wheeler, etc.).
E-9 (retired)

]]> By: JOE CUSIMANO http://www.historynet.com/tet-offensive-inside-macv-headquarters.htm/comment-page-1#comment-43071 JOE CUSIMANO Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:41:25 +0000 #comment-43071 TRYING TO FIND OUT ANY INFO ON USAF 821ST COMBAT SE CURITY POLICE SQUADRON STATIONED AT PHAN RANG R.V.N. 1968 APR-AUGUST ATTACKS OR INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THIS TIME PLEASE HELP TRYING TO FIND OUT ANY INFO ON USAF 821ST COMBAT SE CURITY POLICE SQUADRON STATIONED AT PHAN RANG R.V.N.
1968 APR-AUGUST ATTACKS OR INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THIS TIME PLEASE HELP

]]> By: John Schmidt http://www.historynet.com/tet-offensive-inside-macv-headquarters.htm/comment-page-1#comment-27385 John Schmidt Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:10:25 +0000 #comment-27385 I am a retired Chief Master Sergeant, USAF, Served in Vietman from Sept 67-68 at MACV/J-2. I worked in CIIED and Col Sam Roberts , USAF was the deputy under Col ..................USArmy My job was to run the J-2 conference room and provide for the visuals in the intel briefings. I had three other enlisted men working for me in this assignment. One specific event involved General Kerwin. During one of the Saturday morning whole staff conferences/briefings, something came up that General Westmorland wanted to discuss a slide that had already been shown. There was some delay and confusion since the system was a "rear projection" facility and the "slide handler" did not know of the situation since he was unable to hear. After some discussion - the Commander was able to "see" the slide in question. At the conclusion of the meeting, General Kerwin came into the projection room and disucssed with me (I was in charge) although there were certainly officers of the Division there who I worked for. He asked if I could come up with a better projection system where the previous problems could be solved. I told him I was very knowledgable of how to solve it but I did not have any of the equipment. He told me then that he would direct the Signal Officer over at Tan San Nhut to provide me with what I needed. This direction was also given to the Armed Forces Radio/TV in Saigon. I was able to provide a communication system that could be used for monitoring the briefings, and if directed, make a sound recording of the what was directed. All of this sound system was of course vetted by the Army Security group there at MACV. There were a number of times, I was directed by General Kerwin to "record" a particular session taking place in the conference room. And, the audio tape given to the General when completed. I also recall on a few occasions that General Kerwin came into the "back room" and directed it be cleared of all personnel except me to run and monitor the recording that he wanted done. Interesting to recall that on most Saturday morning briefing that there was little room in our projection room due to the high number of officer's who were not privy to a seat in the theater - but would attend in "my room" After this was accomplished , a number of times I was called to the General's conference room to provide audio visual support for some high level VIP visit. My tour at MACV was a highlight of my 30 year career in the Air Force. John E Schmidt Jr CMSgt, USAF (Retired) Tallahassee, Florida Jan 2009 I am a retired Chief Master Sergeant, USAF, Served in Vietman from Sept 67-68 at MACV/J-2. I worked in CIIED and Col Sam Roberts , USAF was the deputy under Col ………………USArmy

My job was to run the J-2 conference room and provide for the visuals in the intel briefings. I had three other enlisted men working for me in this assignment.

One specific event involved General Kerwin. During one of the Saturday morning whole staff conferences/briefings, something came up that General Westmorland wanted to discuss a slide that had already been shown. There was some delay and confusion since the system was a “rear projection” facility and the “slide handler” did not know of the situation since he was unable to hear. After some discussion – the Commander was able to “see” the slide in question.

At the conclusion of the meeting, General Kerwin came into the projection room and disucssed with me (I was in charge) although there were certainly officers of the Division there who I worked for.

He asked if I could come up with a better projection system where the previous problems could be solved. I told him I was very knowledgable of how to solve it but I did not have any of the equipment. He told me then that he would direct the Signal Officer over at Tan San Nhut to provide me with what I needed. This direction was also given to the Armed Forces Radio/TV in Saigon.

I was able to provide a communication system that could be used for monitoring the briefings, and if directed, make a sound recording of the what was directed.

All of this sound system was of course vetted by the Army Security group there at MACV.

There were a number of times, I was directed by General Kerwin to “record” a particular session taking place in the conference room. And, the audio tape given to the General when completed.

I also recall on a few occasions that General Kerwin came into the “back room” and directed it be cleared of all personnel except me to run and monitor the recording that he wanted done.

Interesting to recall that on most Saturday morning briefing that there was little room in our projection room due to the high number of officer’s who were not privy to a seat in the theater – but would attend in “my room”

After this was accomplished , a number of times I was called to the General’s conference room to provide audio visual support for some high level VIP visit.

My tour at MACV was a highlight of my 30 year career in the Air Force.

John E Schmidt Jr
CMSgt, USAF (Retired)

Tallahassee, Florida
Jan 2009

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