US Taiwan Defense Command: Chinese New Year 1966

Monday, September 7, 2009

Chinese New Year 1966

I found this British Pathe' film footage from 1966. The scenes were apparently never used in any of their newsreels and there is no sound, but it contains footage of a number of private and public Chinese new year celebrations that I thought you might find interesting.

4 comments:

Misty said...: You should hopefully recognise the location where the dragon dance is taking place. It's right next to the President Hotel on De Hui St and the corner of Lin Sen Bei Lu.

The little temple in the film was rebuilt on the same spot and is now quite impressive.

Google maps link: http://tinyurl.com/loyhcs

Notice all the Tailors are still in this area.; 08 September, 2009 05:49
George said...: Well, well. Amazing to see myself on film after all these years. We had an American Team made up of volunteers. I was one of the three tall skinny guys on the front end of the dragon, but I can't quite see myself clearly in the clip. I do recognize some of the others who were my buddies at the time. Quite a surprise and remember it well.; 08 September, 2009 15:20
George said...: Here's a USTDC tie-in for this film. Following the New Year Celebrations in 65 - 66 our Sino-American Dragon Dance Team was invited to Vice Admiral Gentner's YangMingShan House for afternoon Tea and Sandwiches. I think we felt somewhat out of place, but it was just another experience back in the day.; 08 October, 2009 11:41
Don said...: Very cool, George. That must have been quite a treat.

Don; 08 October, 2009 15:34

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, September 7, 2009

Chinese New Year 1966

4 comments:

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