US Taiwan Defense Command: COMUSTDC

Monday, April 7, 2008

COMUSTDC

********UPDATED - 22 Apr 2008********

I mentioned earlier that I couldn't find much of a record for the Navy admirals that commanded USTDC. I still don't have much, but I thought I'd post a few tidbits that I've gathered from around the internet. None of these are from official sources, so I can't swear to their accuracy, but I've included links to my sources.

Vice Admiral Roland N. Smoot: 1958

Vice Adm. Charles L. Melson 1962 to 1964

Vice Adm. William E. Gentner Jr. 1964 to 1967

Vice Adm. John L. Chew 1967 to 1969

Vice Admiral Walter H. Baumberger: 1971-1972

Vice Admiral Philip A. Beshany:  Sep 1973 – Sep 1974

Vice Admiral Edwin K. Snyder:  Aug 1974 – Aug 1977

Rear Admiral James Linder:  1978 – 1979

Vice Admiral Doyle: ????

If anyone can fill in some blanks here, please let me know.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...: In 1972 the commander was Admiral Buamberger.; 08 April, 2008 17:01
Don said...: Thanks!; 08 April, 2008 19:47
titojohn said...: Here's a list of the admirals I remember:

Vice Adm. Roland N. Smoot 1958
Vice Adm. Charles L. Melson 1962 to 1964
Vice Adm. William E. Gentner Jr. 1964 to 1967
Vice Adm. John L. Chew 1967 to 1969

I could be off on the dates a bit, as memory isn't what it used to be.

John Quinn
Radioman J-6
USTDC 62-63, 65-68; 22 April, 2008 20:50
Don said...: Thanks a bunch, John. I updated the list.

Don; 22 April, 2008 21:36
Anonymous said...: I served during VADM Smoot and Melson's time under YNC Vordenbaum (VADM Smoot's Writer) and then YNCS Marvin Childers (VADM Melson's Writer). VADM Smoot's AIDE was a mustang LCDR Hollingsworth while VADM Melson's was LCDR Carl Thor Hanson - later VADM Hanson. During those days my job as YNSN / YN3 was currier duty between TDC, the American Embassy and the Ministry of National Defence Republic of China on Taiwan. I was 18 in 1961 when I reported and with the exception of a couple of Marine's in the Embassy Guard the youngest enlised one on the Island. So now at 66 yrs. I doubt if anyone is still alive from those days.; 05 January, 2009 14:55
Don said...: Very impressive memory, Tom. I imagine that most of the senior staff is gone now, but there are a lot of guys who are our age (I just turned 65) still alive and kicking. Many of them post here.

Don; 05 January, 2009 15:24
Jim Sutton said...: Don--I was in Taipei as a dependent from '59 to '62 and then again from '69 to '72. My father was an AF O-3/4 in TDC J-6 during the first tour, then in the MAAG on the second tour as an O-5. I remember VADM Smoot well...even after these many years. Another group who might have vivd recollections from this time are folks in the Taipei American School Alumni Association. We are having a reunion in October...see the TAS website for more information. Thanks for the great site...and memories.; 27 May, 2012 12:52

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 (Ret), USAF
Arkansas, USA
USTDC, J-12

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.

USTDC

Monday, April 7, 2008

COMUSTDC

7 comments:

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