US Taiwan Defense Command: Tien Mou and Taipei American School

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Tien Mou and Taipei American School

Kent Mathieu alerted me to this video of a scooter ride through Tien Mou including the new Taipei American School.

I also spotted this short video of the old Taipei American School.

[Added]

And if that first scoot ride wasn't unnerving enough for you, here's the return trip video.

7 comments:

Bill said...: Great videos! I really enjoyed seeing "The Tien Mou Tree". Most of us know that as a major landmark just past the Tien Mou Rd3 intersection.

I also recognized the area where the new TAS is located, as I lived in the first new BOT house on the corner.; 05 February, 2008 13:02
George said...: I look at those videos with amazement. That whole area between USTDC and Tien Mou has changed so much over the years and now is part of the city. I remember dirt roads and single story buildings from back in 65 - 66, between ShihLin and Tien Mou. Change is good?; 06 February, 2008 11:11
Anonymous said...: I didn't live too far from the Tien Mou tree. We lived just a little ways over in what was then a new Apt. building near the river. Tien Mou has changed so much from when we were there in '76-'78; 14 February, 2008 13:24
Anonymous said...: hi
just looking around the web and found this place...I use to live there in the mid 80's and went to TAS for 3 1/2 years. It was really cool to see the videos, brought things back I thought I had forgotten. You were talking about the tree, and recently I heard there was some commotion about it... it was being moved or something?

Jason Chappell
A shout out to Robby Signer where ever you are...chappell_jason@yahoo.com; 11 April, 2008 18:02
Harvey said...: Here's another short TAS video. I wish I recognized those people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JgGWyReBnE&NR=1; 27 April, 2010 20:11
Anonymous said...: I lived there from 1963-1968, it was a fantastic experience. Tien Mou tree was on my way home. Glad to see others enjoyed this great spot.; 05 November, 2011 21:54
Anonymous said...: I lived in very close to the tree from 1963-1968. What a great land with great people.; 05 November, 2011 21:56

Overview

The United States Taiwan Defense Command was a sub-unified command which reported directly to the Commander-in-Chief Pacific (CINCPAC). The command was composed of personnel from all branches of the U.S. armed forces and had its headquarters in Taipei.

Operational since November 1, 1955, USTDC was a planning headquarters for the defense of Taiwan and the Pescadores. In the event of hostilities, the Commander, USTDC, would have assumed an operational role and coordinated with the Government of the Republic of China in the defense of Taiwan and the Pescadores. In the event of such a contingency, three existing service commanders would have reported to the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command commander. The 327th Air Division commander would be the air component commander, the Taiwan Patrol Force commander would be the naval component commander, and the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) would be the Army component commander.

In addition to planning and peacetime responsibilities, the Commander of USTDC was assigned as the Single Senior Military Representative of Commander-in-Chief Pacific (CINCPAC). As such, he served as CINCPAC's single military spokesman on Taiwan -- exclusive of the miliitary assistance program -- and assumed responsibility for coordinating administrative and other policy matters for all U.S. armed forces on Taiwan on behalf of CINCPAC.

After twenty-three years, five months and twenty-six days of operation, the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command held its final flag retreat ceremony during the afternoon of April 26, 1979. Marine SSG D. J. Gemmecke lowered the colors for the last time.

Rear Admiral James P. Linder, the last USTDC Commander, departed Taiwan on April 28, 1979, accompanied by his wife Patricia.

Today there is no trace of the large American military compound on Chung Shan North Road in which USTDC was located. The area now contains a modern art museum, a park and a large sports stadium.

I am not a historian, but I do recognize that history unrecorded is history lost. My objective here is simply to record some of my own experiences as an Air Force enlisted man during my assignment to USTDC from 10 June 1973 until 4 September 1974, and to provide a platform for others to do the same.

Feel free to comment on any of these entries or to e-mail me with your own experiences and photographs. My e-mail address is displayed at the top and bottom of this column, or you can comment on any of my entries by clicking on "Comments" directly under each one.

Don Wiggins
SMSgt, USAF (Ret)
Illinois, USA
USTDC, J-1

Regarding Photographs

To the best of my knowledge, all photographs on this blog are either in the public domain or are displayed with the permission of their owners.

Owned photographs remain the sole property of the individuals who provided them. They are not to be downloaded, copied or reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of their owners.

Send all requests for consent to me, through the email link at the bottom of this column, and I will pass them along to the owner of the photographs.

If you see any photographs here, past or present, which you believe have been inappropriately posted, contact me at the email address shown at the bottom of this column and they will be removed.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Tien Mou and Taipei American School

7 comments:

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