US Taiwan Defense Command: West Compound 1958

Monday, December 27, 2010

West Compound 1958

Here's another clip from 1958 showing the dispensary in the west compound. Click HERE to watch the short video. Notice the sign in this photo from the clip. It was straight ahead from the west compound entrance and near the back of the compound. It displayed different things over the years, but the sign itself remained, probably until the compounds were destroyed.

That brings up another question that I've had for some time. Does anyone happen to know when the east and west compounds, along with the USTDC building, were demolished?

5 comments:

Bill said...: No, but I do they were still there in 1984. I was there on business back in March 84 and they were still standing but closed.....; 27 December, 2010 08:07
Don said...: I did a little digging and found that the Taipei Fine Arts Museum opened in December 1983. (http://www.artinasia.com/institutionsDetail.php?catID=4&galleryID=344)

Of course that was well north of the east compound, but it was just to the west of USTDC. Bill, do you recall if the USTDC building was still there during March 1984?; 27 December, 2010 17:03
Scott said...: Hmmm,I thought this was the sign that had MAAG on it, I guess things change with time..

Scott; 27 December, 2010 23:37
Don said...: You're right, Scott; this is the same sign that had the MAAG symbol on it, probably shortly after the "Taiwan Base Command" sign. By the time I arrived in 1973-74, it was the emblem of the Navy's Headquarters Support Activity.; 28 December, 2010 06:24
Kent said...: I found this note regarding the discussion.

On 25 November 1955, "A Taiwan Base Command was established by MAAG to provide a centralized services on an island-wide basis for many services which had not been provided in the past."

During this period, things were changing in Taiwan.

On the 1st of November 1955, The Formosa Liaison Center was reorganized and renamed United States Taiwan Defense Command.

The sign changed names over time.

It started as MAAG, then Taiwan Base Command and finally HQ Support Activity.

It was seen by most, offered directions to many, and stood until it came down with the rest of the West Compound whenever that may have occurred.

We have at least 3 different photos of the sign with different names. Could there be more?

Kent; 28 December, 2010 12:13

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, December 27, 2010

West Compound 1958

5 comments:

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