US Taiwan Defense Command: American Club in China

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

American Club in China

As I've mentioned several times, the building that used to house the Club 63, the largest enlisted club in the Taipei area, is now home to The American Club in China, an upscale private club that caters to the international business community.

Some of you may remember that The American Club used to be located right next to the HSA east compound, just to the left of the hostels. I received some photographs from Les Duffin that he took from the roof of the hostel closest to Chung Shang (ZhongShan) North Road. The first photo shows the back of the American Club and its tennis courts. I lived in the second hostel (which you can see the corner of here) and I remember looking down on those courts just about every day.

The second photo is what Les believes was the main Entrance to the club.

By the way, since my room in the hostel faced west toward Chung Shan North Road, the only way I could have seen those tennis courts from above (short of climbing up on the roof) would be from the back of the hostel. It seems to me that there was a window on the landing of the stairway that faced east (the back side). Does anyone remember if that was the case?

3 comments:

Misty said...: Wow rare photos indeed. These are the first photos I have seen of the old club. I was begining to think it was something I had imagined.

You are correct that is the entrance to the club.

The top picture would place the entrance to the left. You can just see the covered walkway leading up the stairs.; 10 February, 2010 11:18
BILL-USACC said...: I got to Taiwan in early 73 and the 63 club was in a different location. Any idea when the club moved down by the Grand Hotel?

Thanks
Bill; 10 February, 2010 17:26
Don said...: Bill, if you're talking about the enlisted club and not some local watering hole, the 63 Club was always located over by the Grand Hotel as far as I know. Its official name was the Club 63, which came from the APO (postal) address, which was APO 263, San Francisco. That was later changed to APO San Francisco 96263 to conform to ZIP code standards.

The Club 63 became the China Seas Club when the Navy took over its operation, I believe during 1973 or 1974.

After President Carter pulled US military forces out of Taiwan in 1979, The American Club, which was a private club unaffiliated with the military, moved from its facility by the east compound to the former China Seas Club building.

I think I have my facts straight here, but if anyone disagrees, please feel free to contradict me.; 10 February, 2010 17:52

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

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

American Club in China

3 comments:

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