US Taiwan Defense Command: USTDC Main Gate

Friday, August 15, 2008

USTDC Main Gate

This was the main gate to USTDC. You're facing east (more or less) here and just across the road to your left was the river. I don't recall the name of the road, but perhaps some kind soul can provide that in Comments.

Because I normally walked to work from the hostel, I very rarely went in or out this gate.

If you were to look to your right from this spot today, you would see the Fine Arts Museum.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: According to a 1959 map of Taipei, the name of the road was Hsinsheng North Road.; 15 August, 2008 08:26
Don said...: Thanks, Stev.; 15 August, 2008 08:36
Sarj Bloom said...: I don't remember this gate , but most of the time I came in the back way with my car. We always called the road out front Canal Road??? but who knows.; 15 August, 2008 13:36
Anonymous said...: Hi Don,
My name is Mike Ortiz. I was stationed at USTDC from 1973 to 1975 as the Navy Lithographer at the Print Shop. I remember Al Choy at the Photo Shop and Mr Chew, the Barber. I had a great time in Taiwan and the pictures brought back many memories. I'm back in my home town,Tucson, Arizona, and would like to hear from anyone stationed at USTDC.

Thanks,

Mike Ortiz; 19 October, 2009 15:08

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

Friday, August 15, 2008

USTDC Main Gate

4 comments:

Taipei

US Central Time Zone