US Taiwan Defense Command: Christmas Greetings

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas Greetings

6 comments:

George said...: Just like that song of old: "I'm Dreaming of a Christmas in Taipei."

Best wishes and Happy Holidays to all.; 23 December, 2009 17:03
Don said...: Can't say that I've ever heard that one, George. Couldn't find anything on the web with that title either. Do you remember any of the lyrics?; 23 December, 2009 19:15
George said...: Don,

I can't remember all of the lyrics but I seem to remember that it starts with

"I'm dreaming of a Taipei Christmas, Just like the ones at TDC. Where the boys were merry, back then celebrating at Club 63."

I think that's how it goes.; 23 December, 2009 20:21
Anonymous said...: I remember being in Taipei Xmas of 73, waiting in line for the Toy shop to open to buy some of the fews available toys (located across from the the HSA rental motor pool).
Still there during XMAS of 77, 78 and seeing many less military on island fighting for many more toys than we had in 73.

Merry XMAS TO ALL.; 27 December, 2009 08:40
Victor said...: Dec 25 didn't become a national holiday in Taiwan until 1963, in the name of Constitution Day(the establishment of the ROC Constitution was proclaimed on Dec 25, 1947). A story says the head officers of MAAG made this suggestion to Madam CKS, who was a pious Christian, and she asked her husband to find out a way to make Dec 25 a holiday without any religious reason.
Dec 25 is no longer a holiday in Taiwan ever since 2001.; 30 December, 2009 23:43
Anonymous said...: Wow...so late on seeing this. I remember Dad upped my allowance so I could shuttle down the mountain and buy gifts at the exchange. Felt so independent. Wait...I was a dependent. Never mind. :); 15 January, 2010 16:02

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

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas Greetings

6 comments:

Taipei

US Central Time Zone