US Taiwan Defense Command: Probably the Last Posting

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Probably the Last Posting

This blog has not been active for several years but you're welcome to look back through the many posts I've written. You'll find lots of old photos and personal accounts relating to the period 1955 to 1979 when the US Taiwan Defense Command was operational in Taiwan.

The US Taiwan Defense Command Veterans Facebook group has been removed.

Best of luck to you all.

8 comments:

titojohn said...: I'm sad to read this my friend, but I understand. You have done an amazing job over the years to keep the memories of USTDC alive. Well Done & Thank You!; 07 January, 2014 00:29
Rory O'Neil said...: Well, if you're taking a vote... NOOOOO!!! Thank you Don for all you have done and continue to do. Glad to know your blog will continue to exist even if in a more dormant state - it is a very important library! (I'm here right now looking up an explanation of the fence on McCauley Beach for a friend.); 07 January, 2014 08:42
Anonymous said...: BOT Yangmingshan rules!; 10 January, 2014 20:39
Anonymous said...: oh my! Just discovered you! I hope you will leave this blog here for a while. We were stationed at Taipei in '59-60.Dad was CPT Ira S Godwin and we lived behind the telephone company. I was 5 and 6 years old and it remains one of the best memories of my life :); 11 January, 2014 08:55
titojohn said...: Don,

It's ironic that your previous post was about the final flag ceremony at USTDC, and then comes this post. Let's just hope that this isn't taps for this blog.

You have done what no other has done in consolidating and preserving USTDC history. Through this blog we became friends. Thank you my friend!

John; 19 January, 2014 03:11
Cobrawaltz said...: Like others, I just discovered this blog about 6 months ago. I was stationed on Taiwan from Feb. 1973 to Feb. 1975. I was stationed at DCS Autovon on Grass Mt. but lived in Tien Mou with my family. In all these years it never dawned on me there might be internet sites this. Thank you for your effort and that goes to the other related sites linked here. They bring back great memories and I am only sorry I didn't get here sooner

SP/5 Scott Kring; 28 January, 2014 10:11
Jonathan said...: This is a wonderful blog and I hope it never closes.; 01 August, 2014 12:05
Single Vegas Guy said...: Hi Everyone -

Love this blog... What memories!

Looking for old photos of the HSA West non-denominational chapel and the Mormon chapel in Tien Mou during the 1968-1978 time frame.

If you have any, please email to: martymayo@gmail.com

Also looking for any dependant photos from those years for those kids in Boy Scouts or who hung out at either the Tien Mou or Grass Mountain Teen Clubs.

Thanks a lot!; 07 November, 2014 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

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Probably the Last Posting

8 comments:

Taipei

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