US Taiwan Defense Command: Club 63 Revisited

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Club 63 Revisited

Here are a few more of Kent's photos from a few weeks ago. These were taken at The American Club in China, where the Club 63 (aka "China Seas Club") was formerly located. Kent says the place has been completely remodeled, which I'd expect since we left there about 30 years ago.

You can see the Grand Hotel in the background.

Kent confirmed that the stag bar building that used to be across the parking lot from the club when I was there is now gone.

This lounge inside the club looks similar to one that was there in 1973-74, but I doubt if it's the same.

I'm looking forward to seeing more photos and comments from Kent and the others who were part of the "American GIs Returning to Taiwan" group. I'll post links to them as soon as they're available.

3 comments:

George said...: I have a question for Kent if you can see that he receives it. If I were to visit Taiwan, is there anyway I would be able to access the club for meals or drinks on a "guest" basis while visiting on vacation for a few weeks? Just wondering as it looks really nice. Also, what are their prices like?; 26 November, 2009 16:18
Don said...: You can contact Kent directly at the email address shown on his Taipei Air Station website:

taipeiairstation@hawaii.rr.com; 26 November, 2009 17:01
Misty said...: The only way you can get in the ACC is if a member signs you in as a guest. If you walk in on your own you will be turned away regardless of nationality. They are quite strict on this. The staff working the desk know most members by face so trying to bluff your way in won't work either ;-) It's actually quite an expensive club to join. You need to put down a large bond and then there's minimum monthly fees. Prices are ok but you have to sign for your meals, no cash. Once apon a time companies setting up foreign offices in Taiwan would pay for all their executives to join but that's history now.

Also any notion of it being an 'American' club, for Americans, is incorrect. It's very much an international club.

That bar is 2 or 3 years old. Internally, the floorplan has been changed many times in the last 30 years.

I've been in when it was Club 63 and many times since. I am not a member though.

Did Kent and the visitors get inside? It's a shame if they didn't.; 27 November, 2009 07:26

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, November 26, 2009

Club 63 Revisited

3 comments:

Taipei

US Central Time Zone