Thursday, March 10, 2022
Taiwan Personnel Listing - Updated - 10 March 2022
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Please Review our latest Taiwan Listing
I believe I may have 'lost' some Email(s) from folks who wrote-in to ask to be added to our Taiwan Listing...
I don't want to leave anyone off of the Listing.
The latest update Posting is just below this story, in this blog; check to see if your information is listed.
If you don't find your name or are having a problem, please Email us at: taipeiairstation@yahoo.com
Thank you.....
May God Bless Taiwan....
Taiwan Personnel Listing - Updated - 12 Dec 2021
Friday, October 8, 2021
Taipei's Double 10 雙十節 Military Parade 1953-1956
As we begin, I want to acknowledge and thank, Scott Clark, the Grandson of a man who served in Taiwan
in the early-mid 1950s, whose photographs are being presented today to remember and look back at one of the early year's Double Ten Celebration Parades in Taipei.
I hope you find the photos interesting. Take time, look closely at the photos.
These photographs were taken during the Double 10 Parade, in one of these years: 1953 -> 1956. No date markings on original photo slides to identify the exact year, perhaps someone will recognize the year.
There were thousands of men in this parade; many Republic of China Military units, "Passed in Review" before President Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1995).
You can look at this Celebration event as a display of Taiwan's Military strength..
If you've visited or walked by the Presidential Office Building in Taipei, you will probably recognize where the photographer of the Parade photos was sitting and standing when he took his photos.
Over the years beginning in the 1950s, the frontal area of the building has been remodeled and changed from what it was during this parade period.
Our photographer was seated in a VIP area, on the south end of the Reviewing Stand. Only individuals with seating invitations could sit in President Chiang's reviewing area.
On the right side in most of the Parade photos, you will notice the (Armed Forces Stadium 三軍球場) A very large building in itself.
People are standing all over the upper reaches of the stadium, attempting to get a good view of the parade, lots of cameras.. The Stadium was removed in 1960. I'm wondering if the road running from the Presidential Palace to the East Gate was being widened? You will see the East Gate in some of the Parade Photos below.
The Presidential building was always a popular destination point. In the early years of US MAAG, some of the MAAG Offices were located inside the Presidential Office Building. US Military jargon of the building during the early years of MAAG was, MND Building (Ministry of National Defense).. MAAG did maintain offices inside the building.
During these early years, (beginning officially in 1951) MAAG moved quickly and began full operation all over Taiwan and, a few off-shore islands, helping train President Chiang's Military in the use of US Military weapons and equipment.
In the book, "All My Love, Moe, Letters from Formosa", the author's husband, a US Army Officer writes about arriving in Taipei on a flight from Tokyo on 12 May 1951, to begin establishment of US MAAG Operations following General Chase's arrival on 1 May 1951.
The US MAAG Headquarters Building was just North West of the reviewing stand, seem below.
As you review the color photos of the this parade, look to the upper left side of a couple of the Parade photos, and you will see President Chiang standing in his Reviewing area. You'll have to look closely to find him, he blends into the surroundings and cannot be seen in every photo, as camera angels change.
Strike up the Band, let's get this 1950's, Double 10 Day Parade moving down street. The soldiers are tired of standing around, they are lined up waiting down the left side of the street. If you've ever marched in one of these "Pass in Review Parades" anywhere, you will understand how long you stand out there, in the sun, before you finally move out.... Exhausting for sure!
This appears to be another old Double 10 Photo. No date or ID. Some of the people on the lower left side appear to be standing on the road leading eastward to the East Gate. Last time I looked around the area, a few years ago, a couple of days before the actual Ceremony, there were quite a few seats on the road leading back to the East Gate, in some of that street area in the photo below. Dates of photos vary! 
The sousaphone.. The band has 3 silver instruments delivering those very deep loud sounds to help the marchers know when their left heel should be striking the ground.. Hummm....
Notice the US Air Force Master Sergeant standing, just in front, believe he is holding a microphone, the whole ceremony is being filmed from probably on the Gymnasium on the right side of this photo.
Here come the Vehicles...
Monday, May 31, 2021
Taiwan Personnel Listing - Memorial Day - 31 May 2021
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Our Navy Enlisted Club in Kaohsiung Updated 24 April 2021
Here's an update to our Navy Club in Kaohsiung story and photographs.
I spoke with a Manager of the Sea Dragon Club in it's earlier days.
I sent photos of the Menu Cover and prices and he said that the "Prices" of the Menu items, were prior to his arrival.
So, these were probably from sometime in the later 1950s.
The 3 photos below, are courtesy of Scott Ellinger.
The Menu Cover reminds me of the Menu Cover from the Navy Club in Taipei after Club 63 closed and the Navy took over the Club.
And, one more note, the 2 Menu pages look different, BUT, back in those days, the Office had to TYPE each Menu, No Xerox in those early days.
Today, another look back at our Navy Club in Kaohsiung.
I'm not aware of exactly when the Kaohsiung Navy Club first opened it's doors to visiting Naval vessels.
There were also a number of US MAAG personnel in the Kaohsiung area during those early years of the 1950s. Some non-MAAG US personnel were also assigned in the Kaohsiung/Tsyong area.
During the US MAAG years in the Southern area of Taiwan, there were 2 additional US Military Clubs in the Kaohsiung area, which were initially operated by US MAAG Taiwan.
Chances area, many Sailors on visiting ships also found their way to these MAAG Clubs in the Kaohsiung area, for the most part, Officer's and Senior Enlisted.
The Navy Club was probably a "Little Loud" as the evenings progressed.
Those MAAG Clubs were later transferred to the Navy Exchange as MAAG personnel completed their assignments and were reassigned as their positions were eliminated.
In later years the MAAG Personnel numbers were very low.
The "Mission" of MAAG was to train Taiwan Military Personnel to use and maintain Military Equipment, provided to the Taiwan Government by the United States, as thousands of Chiang Kai shek's military personnel flooded into Taiwan as World War II came to an end in Asia.
When we talk about MAAG, you cannot imagine how many places our MAAG personnel were working with Taiwan Military Personnel throughout Taiwan proper, and the outlying islands. They were everywhere. If you look on the right hand margin of this Blog, I have linked to a number of films about Taiwan, at least one on MAAG I believe.
Taiwan, for those of you were fortunate enough to be assigned there, was probably the Best Assignment in Asia.
A friend, Scott Ellinger, ran across these old photos that were taken in Kaohsiung.
These center around the Navy Club, a few blocks up the street from Fleet Landing. Many Sailors and Marines walked that street back-in-the-day. You will probably recall the street when seeing these photos.
You folks who visited Kaohsiung or were assigned in the area will probably recognize the Club Building which changed a little thru the years. What went on at the Club depended on who the Manager was.
At one time, there was an Officer's Lounge, and a Top 3 Lounge and an E6 Lounge. One year, the club sponsored a "boat" in the Kaohsiung Dragon Boat Races. I will include that Dragon Boat story in links below.
You'd walk straight up the street from Fleet Landing.
Could not get much easier.
The red color, Hotel Kennedy, which must have had this business card size map drawn, hoping you might decide to spend the night in their hotel.
What can we see in this photo?
The sign hanging down in front of the club appears to display in both English and Chinese, but I can't make it out. Anyone figure out what lights-up at night?
There's a Navy Bus sitting at the front door of the EM Club.
There's a Marine in Uniform, walking in front of 2 boys of left side of photo.
Also, looks like another Marine walking into the Front Door of the club.
Notice the Hotel in the rear of the EM Club in this photo. It's not named the Kennedy Hotel, it had a Chinese name when this photo was taken.
We're not cheap, we have COLOR 😀
This photo taken years after the black and white photo above.
The club has a new name: "Sea Dragon Club" hanging in front door.
Building looks to have been painted, re-modeled and more air conditioning.
Take a look at the Color photo again.
Look at the Sea Dragon sign, it looks to have Neon piping surrounding it.
Look at this Black and White photo just above.
This window can be seen in the previous color photo.
Same time-frame as black and white photo above.
Later in the evening, after a number of cocktails, it's time to take a walk down the street to see what else is going on.
