US Taiwan Defense Command: Do You Know Connie?

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Do You Know Connie?

Connie is the daughter of an American serviceman and a woman from Taiwan. Here is her story:

"I was doing some research and found your USTDC website. I was hoping that you may be able to shed some light as to how I can go about finding my biological father who was stationed in Taiwan from 1966-67 (?). I am trying anything I can to get some answers. Would you know of any way that I can [find the names of people] deployed in Taiwan during that time?

It is extremely difficult since I do not have his name, nor do I know if he was in the Navy or Air force, but I am guessing Navy. The only thing I have is a photograph of him. He knew of my existence and he was the one that gave me my name, but that's all I know about him.

This story just breaks my heart. My own father died when I was a child and I know how hard that was. How much harder it must be to not even know your own father's name nor much of anything else about him. I've read about American servicemen who returned to the States with the intention of returning to Taiwan, but circumstances made that impossible. I recall at least one case where an individual did return but, despite his best effort, he was unable to locate his Taiwan family ever again. Perhaps her father was like one of those.

I'm not posting this story to create problems for anyone, but rather in the hope that Connie's dad has always wondered about her and would like to make contact with her while there is still time. Many years have passed since she was born and I think that reaching out to her is something that I personally would want to do, though I know that some might not feel that way.

These photographs show Connie as a child. I also have photos of her mother and father but will not post them here for privacy reasons. I can tell you that they lived well south of Taipei. If you think you may be her dad, and if you would like to open a dialogue with her, please send me an email and we can discuss it further.

1 comment:

rick slater said...: Don, I can give Connie some informationals on the many and diverse people-search engines that my fellow expats( Thomas Kopp, Alan Auld and myself) used, to find 55+ (alive) and 14 (deceased) guys from our old 6214th SPS Group at Tainan. She needs some basic pointers,and alot of time, checking, cross checking, writing notes, on almost endless reams of paper scraps etc. Kent Mathieu's Shout-Out on that William H. Brown was a wash out. Unless, one of the 7 guys, that I talked to was that guy, but he denied involvement.; 24 October, 2011 19:55

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, October 18, 2011

Do You Know Connie?

1 comment:

Taipei

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