US Taiwan Defense Command: Trash Trucks in Taipei

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Trash Trucks in Taipei

I changed up some of the Taiwan blog links listed in the right hand column here, dropping those that were more focused on present day Taiwan politics. I spend enough time grumbling about my own government and decided that reading the daily criticisms of Taiwan's government by Americans who happen to live there was not particularly helpful.

One of the new blogs is called New Hampshire Bushman, which was rated as one of the best (English) Taiwan blogs last year. In a recent piece, the author (MJ Klein) included a short video of a Taiwan trash truck. Does anyone remember if they had these musical wonders when we were there?

7 comments:

MJ Klein said...: thanks Don!; 05 September, 2009 12:05
Don said...: You're quite welcome, MJ. I really enjoyed reading about the frustrating path to getting your Chinese drivers license. When I arrived in Taipei back in 1973, I just presented my American license and received a Chinese license. Quite different from today's rules!; 05 September, 2009 20:16
Anonymous said...: That's great, MJ. First day in the guest house in '77 and I thought the same thing (I imagine most American kids did). My new friend said, "Nah, that's just the garbage truck." Made absolutely no sense until it was explained.; 08 September, 2009 16:07
MJ Klein said...: forgot to mention Don, that isn't Taipei. we live in a small town in Hsinchu county called "Hukou."

yes, the rules have changed. everything is now linked to the ARC. you have to be a registered alien, which makes sense.

thanks; 10 September, 2009 00:05
Don said...: Yeah, my title was misleading. I had it in mind that I was asking others about the trash trucks in Taipei where we were, and that bled over into the title.

Thanks for clarifying that.; 10 September, 2009 08:12
beni said...: I served at USTDC in 1959-61, in J-5 (Communications) as a USN Radioman, and TDY (TAD) on Matsu for one combat tour in 1959-60 with the US Army's (MAAG's) Matsu Defense Command Advisory Team.

My younger brother, Doug Benadom, also served with me at USTDC in 1960-61,

I'm looking for online photographs of the massive garbage dump in Taipei as it looked anytime during the 1950s and 1960s, and for photographs of the concrete streetside garbage receptacles that were in use before Taipei had garbage trucks.

--Beni
email: unlisted@umich.edu; 24 September, 2009 09:46
ferrotaiwan said...: My name is David Ferro, my grandfather was Edward Ferro he was hired by Kennedy-Van Saun as a consultant, around 1960. He worked at the Frankford arsenal in Philadelphia for 40 years prior.

After being hired by KVS he spent 2 years in Formosa (Taiwan) where he over saw the development of a artillery factory. It approximately completed in the early 60’s.
The name of the project was the 61st.? I think…

I was looking for any information about this project and my grandfather.
My grandfather recently died at the 97. He shared many great stories and pictures with me of his time in Taiwan. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

THANK YOU,
David Ferro
E-mail mario33844@aol.com; 18 January, 2010 22:34

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

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Trash Trucks in Taipei

7 comments:

Taipei

US Central Time Zone