US Taiwan Defense Command: Mrs. Linder at Quarters A -- Then and Now

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Mrs. Linder at Quarters A -- Then and Now

As I wrote a few days ago, Patricia Linder, the wife of Rear Admiral James Linder recently returned to Taipei for a few days. While there, she visited what used to be "Quarters A," the official residence of the USTDC Commander.

Scott just sent me these photos that were taken more than 30 years apart at the front gate to the residence.

7 comments:

Sarj Bloom said...: That is an amazing photo. What are the chances of that still being so much the same? Wonderful and I wish I could see more of there type now and then photos.; 29 December, 2010 10:11
TraderDon said...: Having served in MAAG Taiwan from 1/56 till 5/57 it has been a walk down memory lane to say the least. I was there near the beginning and Mrs Linder along with her late husband at the end.
All the time I was there I worked at an ACAN RELAY site that was located on the ground floor of the "sugar building" in Taipai. If you and your readers would like I would be glad to share my experiences and memories of this great place.
I didn't realize there was so much history about our time there until I started trying to locate people I had served with. I need to find one or two of them to substantiate some medical claims I have pending. I am one of the millions of Army members who,s records were destroyed in a St. Louis fire. PS great photo.
Don Speirs; 29 December, 2010 15:14
Scott said...: Sarj,

Will do, you make the task a challenge. There are about 10 locations I can do the "then and now" photos shoots. Next stop, Taipei Air Station, then Club 63 (but there are a lot of trees in the way). Give me some time...

Vr, Scott; 31 December, 2010 02:10
Don said...: Okay, I've just got to point this out. Has anyone else noticed that the guard shack looks like it hasn't been painted since the Linders left?; 01 January, 2011 10:43
titojohn said...: Don, It looks to me like a whole different guard shack & gate.; 01 January, 2011 17:20
Don said...: John,

The gate is definitely different, but whether the guard shack is new or not, it could still use a coat of paint. ;-); 01 January, 2011 17:54
CU@UofChicago said...: Thanks for posting these two photos. My father used to work for MAAG, so I grew up with great appreciation for the fine US military personnel. I read about Mrs. Linders' recent visit to Taiwan with great interest.; 03 January, 2011 16:23

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, December 28, 2010

Mrs. Linder at Quarters A -- Then and Now

7 comments:

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