434th/71st SOS Guestbook

Welcome to the new 434th/71st SOS Guestbook. Unfortunately, others began posting inappropriate messages recently. To avoid this in the future, please submit a message you would like to have posted in the guestbook to the webmaster. The webmaster will review it for appropriateness and post to the Guestbook for the benefit of the website visitors. Include your contact information if you wish. (23 Jan 06)

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To Whom It May Concern:

My Grandfather is the late retired Lt. Colonel Herbert Zumhingst, I type this three days after his passing(March 7, 2008). I am looking for more information on my late Grandfather. I have heard a hundred stories about his time in the Air Force and his love for flying and camaraderie with the others in which he flew. If anyone has any photos or fond stories to share about my Grandfather, I would greatly appreciate if you would share them with our family. Thank you for your time and effort.

Sincerely,

Chad Hageman
chageman@broadreach.net
March 12, 2008

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It was with great sadness I received word from Col Borey Chaleff and Bart Dye, on the death of Col Jim Pyle. I knew Jim quite well. For 13 years Jim and Capt George Lutz would periodically go up early for the weekend training and would fly back down to Evansville to pick me and others up to fly us to Bakalar for training.

Jim was Commander of the 72nd until the activation in '68 when he took command of the 71st SOS. He was always an upbeat guy and a d--n fine commander, and I counted him amongst my friends. If they have airplanes in the next life, you can bet Jim will be flying them.

Sadly,
R L (Bob) Tate, 1st Sgt 71st
January 25, 2008

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Hello 71st SOS neighboring unit at Nha Trang Airbase. I transferred into the 21st Signal Group's Aviation Detachment on December 29, 1968, just about the same time that your unit arrived. The 21st Signal Group Aviation was a small unit with 3 airplanes (1 Otter and 2 Beavers, and six Hueys). We operated out of the same NW quadrant of the Nha Trang Airbase that you occupied in 1969. I was our unit's Aviation Parts Supply SGT. By the time I went home in August of 1969, we had 8 Hueys and 4 Bell Rangers after "trading in" our fixed wings to become an all helicopter unit. Our mission was to ferry supplies, equipment and men to all the mountaintop Signal Corp cites in the II Corp area, from Hon Tre Island to Tropo Hill Pleiku, from Qui Nhon to Pang Rang. You're welcome to visit our website at www.21signal.org/.

Bill Comrey of Harrisburg, PA
August 7, 2007

PS... Until reading your website I didn't realize your unit was from Indiana. I lived in Indiana as a 4 year old kid in the spring and summer of 1952, when my dad and grandfather were called up for the Korean War and their 28th Division unit trained at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Before their training was complete the war was over and the unit returned to Pennsylvania. Welcome Home.

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Message from M/Sgt R L (Bob) Tate, former 71st First Sergeant:

I go back 52 years with the 71st, but I guess most of the guys I served with are now gone.

I was stationed in Japan when Korean war broke; also hit the mudflats at the Inchon Landing, with the 7th Infantry Div (G-3) Operations. Spent 13 months going up and down that peninsula as a 17 year old. Also at Chosen, but not caught in the trap, made it down the MSR before the Chinese cut it. My Division was the only unit to make it to the Manchurian Border (Yalu River) at Hysanjin.

After being discharged in December 1952, I got married and started having kids (seven of them). Then in 1955, I joined the Air Force Reserve and was First Sergeant of the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron for 13 years. We were activated during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but as things turned out okay, I was only on active duty for a short period. We were again activated in 1968 for the Vietnam War. The 71st TCS was converted to gunships and redesignated as the 71st Special Operations Squadron. Because of my situation at home (seven kids, etc.), I was discharged for hardship reasons. To let my squadron that I was First Sergeant of for 13 years go to Vietnam without me was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. For a long time I felt like I let the squadron down by not being able to go, I wanted to go in the worst way, but I had no choice.  

I made that trip from Evansville to Bakalar AFB every month from Jun 1955 to Jul 1968, and it was one of the best times of my life, and I still find myself missing the camaraderie, and most of the guys I served with. I think of them often. I served under 4 squadron commanders while First Sergeant of the 71st, everyone one of them were fine officers and CO's. I remember a great many of the men in the squadron too many to mention by name, but they were, almost to a man, great guys and damn good Americans.

I reminisce quite often and think about all of them. After I came back from the Korean War (infantry) the proudest part of my life (next to my family), was serving as First Sergeant of the 71st for 13 years. There was a sense of doing something useful for the country and the camaraderie was great.

I want to thank you, Jim and Gordon Lake, and all the others for trying to preserve the history of the 71st in particular and the 434th in general; you guys are doing a great job. I know a lot of guys who served in the units would also be proud and grateful.

M/Sgt R L (Bob) Tate  

Check out my Homepage:  http://tinyurl.com/6rg3z

One more reason to be proud of our Troops in Iraq. A must visit site. http://www.beaniesforbaghdad.com/

March 13, 2007

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To all 434th TCG Veterans,

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To all AC-119'ers,

My wife sent me the updated link from the website and I just want to say again how much fun I had. I guess the camera does add a few pounds! They say 10 but looked more like 15 in my case....Probably had something to do with Col. Mac making sure I had a good plate of food and a tasty cold beverage in my hand when we were at the Hooch....LOL. Thanks againand looking forward to the next reunion.

SSgt Darrin Kast
71 SOS/DOVM
January 26, 2007

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Hello "Neighbors",

From 1965 to 1970, the 281st Assault Helicopter Company (AHC), was privileged to share a corner of Nha Trang Air Base with you gentlemen. On behalf of the 281st "Intruders," I salute your efforts, both past and present! Come visit our website at http://www.281stahc-assn.org/.

SP/5 Jack Interstein
Intruders Operations, 69-71
August 25, 2006

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Hello,
My name is Mike Eddelman. I was in the 930th Cmbt Spt Sqdrn from Oct 1969 to Sept 1972. Any old members still around besides me? =) Post a message and sound off !!

Mike
michael.eddelman@us.labinal.com
August 22, 2006

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Pictorial History for Lockbourne AFB

I am working to assemble a first-ever pictorial history of Lockbourne/Rickenbacker AFB/ANGB in Columbus, OH. I have lived in Columbus since 1982 and have always been intrigued by the historical significance of this base. Two years ago I attempted to locate a book about the base history for purchase and could not find one. I talked with several individuals locally who were well versed on the history of the base and they informed me that to their recollection no book had ever been done. I decided to pick up this challenge and run with it last April 2005.

I located a retired fighter jet crew chief from the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing (Ohio Air Guard). Don Porter spent 20 years at the base (1965-1985) and considers himself a resident historian when it comes to Rickenbacker and aircraft history. Don is the lead adviser for the project. The Ohio Air National Guard is custodian to many base photographs including the base newspaper. They have graciously agreed to assist us on this project when and where they can.

We are putting together a complete pictorial history for the base from 1942 until today (2006). The book is a pictorial history. It will be first-rate!! We have planned a "coffee table" caliber piece that will be 8 1/2 by 11", be hardback with a jacket and be landscape in form. It will feature 160 pages with many full page pictures. The book will be full color where available. The book will likely sell for 30 or 35 dollars. We hope and I say hope to have it ready by fall of this year. It will feature the glider pilots, B-17 training, WASP pilots, Tuskegee Airmen. SAC B-47 jet bombers, Ohio Air Guard activations for Korea twice and Etaine, France 1962. It will also feature the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing with the C-130. AC-119 gunship training. The 302nd Tactical Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve). And it will include the Navy Seebees, Naval Air Reserve, 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and the Voodoo supersonic jet fighter.

The base history lives on today. The US Army Reserve, US Marine Reserve, US Naval Reserve, Ohio Army and Air National Guard units are all involved in the war on terrorism. We will feature their commitment as well.

For this project, we are in need of information and photos relating to activity at Lockbourne and or on deployment from Lockbourne. We have no photos pertaining to AC-119 activity including gunship training. We welcome photos from the base and those with any connection to the base such as Southeast Asia. We're also looking for a basic understanding of what took place in the training program here and abroad. We welcome your stories and accounts.

I can tell you that we already have requests from libraries and institutions around the country for this book when it is completed including the Smithsonian Institute and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It will preserve the history of this base. As you may be aware only a few buildings remain from the 1970s. Your help is greatly needed.

Thanks,

Rob Stroup
Author, Crossroads of Liberty
Columbus, OH
(614) 286-5723
RStroupII@aol.com
February 7, 2006

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