Happy Thanksgiving!

And to my friends in Taiwan and elsewhere around the world,  感恩節快樂

T - Turkeys, tablespreads, being together,
H - Happiness and homes to protect us from all weather,
A - Aunts and uncles, a reunion in Fall,
N - Nieces and nephews, family members all!
K - Kind-hearted kin coming over for dinner,
S - Surely you'll have fun, but you won't get thinner!
G - Gourds and pumpkins, mouths open wide.
I - Indians and Pilgrims we remember with pride.
V - Very special times-there could even be snow.
I - Imagine what it was like at Plymouth long ago.
N - Never forget how the settlers led the way,
G - Giving thanks and blessing this special day.
       - Author Unknown

I hope that you can enjoy Thanksgiving in the warm company of family and friends.  Despite all of life's ups and downs, we all have much to be thankful for.

New Photos of Admirals

Sarj Bloom, who was one of the USTDC photographers, has provided many great photos for the blog during the past couple of years or so.  He recently sent me these three, which were probably taken during May of 1962.

Major General Sanborn, USTDC Chief of Staff (left) and Vice Admiral Melson, USTDC Commander (second from right).  I don't know who the ROC officers are.

Vice Admiral and Mrs. Smoot departing Taiwan

 (l to r) Vice Admiral Smoot, probably the Chief of MAAG Taiwan, and Vice Admiral Melson

USTDC Chiefs of Staff

I recently posted the complete list of all the admirals who served as USTDC Commander.   Historically, the Air Force assigned a brigadier general as Chief of Staff to each of the USTDC Commanders.  However, the very first Chief of Staff under the first USTDC Commander was Navy Rear Admiral Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick.   RADM Frank W. Fenno had been Commander of the Formosa Liaison Center in 1955 until it was renamed USTDC .

RADM Frank W. Fenno

1955 - 1956

 RADM Charles Cochran Kirkpatrick

1956 - 1957

Major General Harold Huntley Bassett
1957 - 1958

Major General Neil D. Van Sickle
Oct 1958 - 1959



Brigadier General William G. Lee Jr.
 1959 - 1960

 Major General Robert Francis Worden
Aug 1960 - Aug 1962

Brigadier General Frederick J. Sutterlin
23 Aug 1962 - Aug 1964

Major General Kenneth O. Sanborn
1964-1967

 Lieutenant General Carlos M. Talbott
May 1967 - Jul 1968

Brigadier General John A. Des Portes
Jul 1968 - Sep 1970

Brigadier General Clarence J. Douglas Jr.
Sep 1970 - Aug 1972

Major General William C. Burrows
Aug 1972 - Jul 1974

Brigadier General David O. Williams Jr.
Jun 1974 - Apr 1976

Brigadier General Dan A. Brooksher
Apr 1976 - Jul 1978

A Taiwanese Memory After World War II

In my memory while I was the student of the elementary school, some of my classmates, girls or boys, had no shoes to protect their feet when they went to school in the summer or in the winter, no matter rainy day or sunny day. But, I was lucky although my shoes were not new and they were my aunt's old shoes.

After WWII in Taiwan, not only US Aid from US government but also many aid items from American people that I could see in the church, including clothes, medicines, food ( milk powder, wheat groats), etc. In elementary schools, all the students could enjoy the milk about 500 cc every week. The younger girls and boys in nursery school of the church could enjoy the hot and sweet food of wheat groats. Some of the students in elementary school who had eyes illness could accept medicine treatment ( kind of ointment in tube) every day.

My grandfather who passed away about 20 years ago was a grower of pine trees in the mountains of the middle Taiwan when I was a little girl.
 

In my memory, he sent US Army a lot of pine trees before Christmas was coming in December every year and US Army gave my grandfather some bags of flour and wheat groats as gifts. At that time, my grandmother and mom used the flour to make many steamed buns and delicious dumplings for meals, sometimes, I could take some at home and shared with my friends happily when we were hungry after school. I knew the flour was from USA because I saw the US flag printed on the outside of the bag.

In my heart and feeling, the friendship between Taiwanese people and USA was warm and so kind. USA government was really friendly helping Taiwanese people to restore their living since WWII was over.

However, I hope that USA would never forget the relationship with Taiwan and the people of Taiwan island.


Written by a Taiwanese

RADM Linder Photos and Items

Rear Admiral James B. Linder was the last Commander of the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command.  He served in that position from August 1977 until April 1979.

RADM Linder accomplished one of the most difficult missions bestowed upon any commander -- to terminate an official command and close down all subordinate commands as well.  He accomplished this mission under the most difficult and contentious circumstances imaginable.  The switching of diplomatic relations from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China evoked great anger and sadness from the people of Taiwan.  Despite major challenges from numerous sources, he accomplished his tasks skillfully and professionally and departed on the best of terms with his Taiwan counterparts and colleagues.

Official photo

RADM Linder receiving award from ADM Soong (MND CGS)
(NOTE:  This plaque and photo will be displayed at the American
Footsteps in Taiwan exhibition in December 2010 and January 2011)

(left to right) RADM Linder, Queenie Yao and

General Yao (Taiwan Air Force Commander)

Citation to accompany the award of RADM Linder's
Defense Superior Service Medal

RADM Linder's press release biography
prepared by the USTDC Public Affairs Office

Admiral Linder and his wife retired in the Southwestern United States.  He passed away on 23 April, 2009.

Quarters "A" Interior Photos

Last September I wrote about Quarters A, the official residence of the admirals who commanded the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command.   Patricia Linder's husband, RADM James Linder, was the last USTDC Commander and she wrote extensively about the place in her excellent book, "The Lady and the Tiger."

Mrs. Linder has kindly provided these great photographs showing the interior of the house as it appeared during the late 1970s.  She wrote, "As the wife of the TDC Commander, I was privileged to live in Quarters A on Yangmingshan Mountain.  Not only was it architecturally beautiful, it provided the warmth of a real home.  Good friendships were formed during the many dinners that characterized the social aspect of my husband's command of TDC.  We left with cherished memories."

This last photo shows Hogo (the quarters houseboy) and a guard standing at the entrance gate to the residence.

Sergeant Major Veasey

Christy Veasey, daughter of SGM Ronald E. Veasey, provided several items for the American Footsteps in Taiwan exhibition and has graciously consented to let me show them here as well.

SGM Ronald E. Veasey was assigned to the US MAAG with the Southern Advisory Team in Kaohsiung from 1968 to 1970.  SGM Veasey was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served at the US Military Assistance Advisory Group in Saigon.  He and his family lived in the Kaohsiung HSA housing area located just outside Tsoying Naval Base.

SGM Veasey is seen in the photos below going through the final Jump Master Personnel Inspection (JMPI) prior to a jump with a Taiwan Airborne unit.  Taiwan Army LTC Chang is performing the JMPI.

SGM Veasey's certificate of appreciation from the Taiwan 2nd Field Army, both in English and Chinese, signed by LTG Hou Cheng-ta.

SGM Veasey's certificate of appreciation from the US MAAG Army Section Chief, COL Clifford.

SGM Veasey is seen in the lower left-hand corner and in the OH-6 chopper seat in the "Taiwan Loyalty Newspaper," Fengshan Edition.  Fengshan is located east of Kaohsiung and home of the Taiwan Airborne Training Center.

After Taiwan, SGM Veasey was reassigned to Germany, where he was promoted to Command Sergeant Major.  He retired at Fort Benning, Georgia after 27 years of service.  He passed away in 1994 and he and his wife are interred at the Main Post Cemetery at Fort Benning.

List of USTDC Commanders

Many thanks to LTC Scott Ellinger for his research into the identities of all ten admirals who served as Commander, U.S. Taiwan Defense Command (COMUSTDC).  Following this list is a photograph of each admiral.

(殷格索中將) VADM Stuart H. Ingersoll: Nov 1955 - Jul 1957

(竇亦樂中將) VADM Austin K. Doyle: Jul 1957 - Jul 1958

(史慕德中將) VADM Roland N. Smoot: Jul 1958 - May 1962

(梅爾遜中將) VADM Charles L. Melson: May 1962 - Jul 1964

(耿特納中將) VADM William E. Gentner Jr.: Jul 1964 - Jul 1967

(邱約翰中將) VADM John L. Chew: Jul 1967 - Aug 1970

(包柏格中將) VADM Walter H. Baumberger: Aug 1970 - Sep 1972

(貝善誼中將) VADM Philip A. Beshany: Sep 1972 - Aug 1974

(史奈德中將) VADM Edwin K. Snyder: Aug 1974 - Aug 1977

(林德少將) RADM James B. Linder: Aug 1977 - Apr 1979

Click on the image below to view the full-sized version.

American Footsteps in Taiwan

Another find by TitoJohn:  This is a small portion of the American Footsteps in Taiwan exhibit being displayed this year in Taiwan.

Slides of Taiwan 1968-69

Titojohn found this YouTube presentation that was put together by a former Air Force guy who was stationed in Taipei during 1968-69.