US Taiwan Defense Command: Top of the Ambassador -- Continued

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Top of the Ambassador -- Continued

Here are a few more of the photos that Les shot from the roof of the Ambassador Hotel during the 1960s. I'll post the rest of them tomorrow.

3 comments:

Bill said...: Great pictures, and many thanks to Les for sharing.
I arrived in early 73 and rememer the landscape was very similiar to the 1965 pictures. I also was in Taipei in 1970 on R&R and stayed at the Kings Hotel and went to a club saw the Sea Dragon....Does anyone know how when these places ceased to exist?
I also remember the Empress Hotel, but don't remember when it left us?
Pretty neat to see the Old Grand Hotel too.
I appreciatethe picures and hope more of them are submitted from time to time. I have visited a Shu Linkou site was has added much too info, I think people should check them. I think there are the 6987 Group?

Regards; 27 January, 2010 10:04
Don said...: Bill, I've listed links to three sites related to Shu Linkou in the right hand column of this blog. There are also links to The Taipei Air Station blog and website. Lots of great photos and stories at all of them.

Don; 27 January, 2010 10:22
titojohn said...: Several people have mentioned the Empress Hotel. It's still in operation at the same location.

I went by the Empress last September while looking for an old friend that used to have a jewelry shop concession there. The hotel looked about the same as always. Here's a link to it's website:
Empress Hotel

John; 27 January, 2010 13:36

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, January 26, 2010

Top of the Ambassador -- Continued

3 comments:

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