Summer Camping Season - Taiwan and the World - UPDATED

This story first published on Taipei Air Station Blog in July 2012.

A family member posted this photo on Facebook today.  

 You have to read ALL of the words on the sign to appreciate the thought than went into it.

Hope you're summer days are warm and fun!

The web site of the Fort Steele Campground in British Columbia, Canada.

Taipei Air Station Motor Pool - 1957-1958

Richard Eisen, stationed at Taipei Air Station in 1957-58,  recently checked-in with some interesting photographs of the Motor Pool area. 

Richard's writes below:

I didn't work in the Motor Pool, but a good friend of mine was a dispatcher.   
I worked in the Joint Operations Center (JOC)

1969 Ariel view of Taipei Air Station with numbered buildings

 

1969 photo - close-up view of the land area where the Motor Pool was located in 1957-58.

There were two gates to the Taipei Air Station compound.  The gate near building #1 was for entry into the compound and was manned by a USAF Air Policeman.  

The gate to the rear of Club 13 (building 7) and close to the motor pool dispatch shack and vehicle parking area was for exiting the compound.  It was manned by a Chinese Military Policeman.

During my assignment at Taipei Air Station, we were a very small outfit. Everyone knew each other.  We were so small that in 1958 when I cleared the base to return to CONUS, I accomplished all clearing actions while sitting at a table in Club 13, drinking coffee.

 

Taipei Air Station Motor Pool vehicle parking area in 1957

You can see that the majority of our vehicles at that time were Jeeps.  

We also had a few weapon carriers, Duce and a half's, 5 ton tractors, all military type. 

We also had some buses assigned that were used as shuttle buses between the compound and the hostels.  Blocks of wood were added to the clutch and brake peddles so the CAF drivers could operate them.

 

There were also only a couple of sedans.  The only one I remember was a 1949 or 1950 Buick that was General Dean's staff car.  The Buick was painted as a standard USAF staff car.

At Randolph AFB, before I was assigned to Taipei Air Station, the Commanding General also had a Buick staff car.

The Air Force had ordered our Buick at Taipei AS to be retired.  Because of it's good condition, the motor pool kept it operating until they were ordered by our higher headquarters to retire it. 

(Editor note:  If you remember, it seemed the Taiwan Military utilized Jeep type vehicles everywhere.  Sometime after 1958, we changed from Jeeps to pickup trucks and sedans.)

The Dispatch Shack.  In the back ground, a weapons carrier parked at the rear of the Club 13 building. 
Does anyone know what's above this Sergeant's left pocket?  Possibly some type of unique Name Tag ?

The Motor Pool was located between building 19 and the fence.

 Buildings 20 and 43 were not there in 1957.  That was an open area.

I'm not sure where the Motor Pool Office was located.  It may have been outside of the compound.  Maybe over by our Vehicle Maintenance facility, across the street, by Hostel 6.

Building 7, Club 13, appears to have been enlarged since 1957.  I don't recall that section on the rear of the building being there.  Originally the only things on that side of the building was the air conditioner equipment and a couple of small sections that extended out.

Also, the roadway along the rear of Club 13 was much wider in those days.

Outside the Dispatch Shack,  you get a feel for the location of the Motor Pool vehicle parking area.

Parade passing the MND Building on the left of the photo. The three white sticks surrounding the officer in the Khaki uniform are the legs of a camera tripod. 

I received seating at the Double Ten Day celebration at the MND building in 1957.  You can see in this photo, the MND building in the back ground, our seats were about a half a block from the main parade route.  Not the best seat available. 

Very "sharp"  group of Taiwan Military Police marching in the 1957 Double 10 Parade.

We miss the life we had while being stationed in Taiwan for two tours.  We haven't been back there in years. 

Richard returned to Tainan Air Base in 1968, working in the Civil Engineering Office.

Thank you Richard for sharing your old photos and rememberances. 

If you have something to share of your time in Taiwan, please write to us.

The history of our days in Taiwan will disappear if we don't keep it alive.

What's all the Taiwan student uproar about?

There have been student demonstrations in Taipei for the past weeks.

In today's Taipei Times newspaper, Sunday, April 6, 2014, published in English, I read an article which explains, in simple terms, why, most of these students are demonstrating, for their lives!   

Of course there are other things involved, but one of the probable outcomes of the "Pact" is clearly described in Mr. Chang's article below..

I believe you will have a better understanding of the situation after reading the article:

Pact would trigger a scurry to the bottom    by Chang Kuo-tsai


There are number of other articles in today's Taipei Times Newspaper discussing the situation.

Taipei Times Newspaper - Editorial Page - in English

Taipei Times Newspaper - Front Page - in English


HERE - Video of last Sunday's Demonstrations (30 March 2014)

 

Taiwan Honors LTC Frank W Lynn on Kinmen **UPDATED**

"On Sept. 3, 1954, 5,000 shells descended on Quemoy.

MAAG Taiwan  Lt. Cols. Frank Lynn and Alfred Medendorp were among the dead that day.

The shelling grew heavier; during the campaign, an average of 10,000 Red rounds were fired daily.

Part of a article from "The Cold War in Asia" by Michael Haydock, from the VFW Magazine.  

This week, the Kinmen Defense Command unveiled a monument recognizing LTC Frank Lynn who perished on September 3, 1954,  while under shelling attack from China.

You can read about the ceremony in  today's Taipei Times Newspaper  HERE .
and in today's China Post Newspaper  HERE

Way back in 1992, the other MAAG officer killed on 3 September 1954,  LTC Alfred Medendorp was honored:



In 1992, a plaque was unveiled in honor of LTC Alfred Medendorp. The Medenhorp family was transported to the very spot where LTC Medendorp was killed.  There, they witnessed the dedication of a monument erected in his honor.

Chinese epitaphs

US military Lt. Col. Alfred Medendorp, a former member of the U. S. Army Military Assistance Group was killed in combat at the Kinmen Shuitou Wharf during the Artillery Bombardment of September 3rd (September 1954). He died in action under the fire of the Communist China’s artillery. He was 47 years old (1907-1954).

In the fall of 1954, on the eve of the Southeast Asia Convention, Communist China attempt to exert pressure over the nations attending the convention to influence the agenda of the convention. Driven by a desire to pound the Kinmen area in a surprise offensive, China bombarded a navy vessel docked at Shuitou Wharf to strengthen its international clout, thus bringing to reality its political blackmail scheme. Since Communist China dared not launch a direct offensive, it resorted to the violent bombardment of Kinmen.

September 3, 3:00 p.m. Communist Chinese artillery began pounding the islands of Kinmen (Greater Quemoy and Lesser Quemoy), and sending surprise attacks on Shuitou Wharf. Kinmen Defense Commander Gen. Liu Yu-Chang immediately ordered the artillery troops to launch counter strikes to suppress the Chinese attacks. Communist China pounded Kinmen for two straight hours that day, and continued to launch fragment cannon attacks until 8 in the evening. None of the villages along the coasts of the Kinmen Islands had been spared. The military accounted over 5,000 rounds had been fired to Kinmen. The offensive was a prologue of the cross-strait artillery battles between Communist China and Taiwan.

(Artillery Bombardment of September 3rd) In the fifteen-day period that followed September 3rd, Communist Chinese fired 8,767 cannon rounds towards the Kinmen area. The attacks damaged the Shuitou Wharf and several civilian housings, as well as killed over 10 military personnel; Lt. Col. Alfred Medendorp of the United States Military was among those killed in action. The heroic fighting spirit of the front defense line awed the Communist Chinese troops and earned the respect and admiration of the ROC and foreign nationals.

In memory of the unselfish and heroic sacrifice of Lt. Col. Medendorp, the R.O.C. Government issued a “Cloud and Banner Medal” of honor award to him. In 1992, upon the request of the National Guard Association of the United States, the government erected a monument at the spot where Lt. Col. Medendorp was killed. The monument was designed and constructed under the supervision of the contemporary Lieh-Yu Division Commander - Army Major General Kao Hua-Chu and the incumbent Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Commission. Following the completion of the stone, the Chief of the General Staff, General First Class Liu Ho-Chien inscribed the memorial epitaph. The stone (Lt. Col. Alfred Medendorp monument) was erected on August 7, 1992.

The monument inscription:

In Commemoration

ALFRED MEDENDORP

(1907-54)

Lieutenant Colonel, Army of the United States 

U. S. Army Military Assistance Group

first U. S. soldier killed in action 

at this location during hostile artillery bombardment

3 September 1954

Colonel Medendorp, a National Guard officer from the

State of Michigan, volunteered to help defend freedom

After distinguished combat service in WWII.

Awarded the Republic of China 

Order of the Cloud and Banner 

November, 1954

Dedicated. 1992 Republic of China

in coordination with 

National Guard Association of the United States




I am not aware of the reasoning behind why both soldiers were not honored together in 1992.  

According to the New York Times newspaper, " Friday's [Sept. 3] Communist shelling of Quemoy where two U.S. Army officers were killed when the shelter in which they took refuge was hit."

I would suggest one was a combat arms officer and one was a physician.

Could it have been one of those turf things?

No matter, they both were honored, which is an honor in itself.

Thank you Taiwan.....

UPDATE - 8 January 2012 

I received an e-mail this morning from Bruce Swander:  

"I’m a Vietnam researcher working a project – and by coincidence you did an article about 2 Officers killed at the station back in 1954 that intertwined with my project.  Thought you might find this interesting.

 

In July 1954, a group of Viet Cong attacked a MAAG Advisory team just outside of Saigon – killing two and wounding a third American.  The incident is historical in that these two soldiers were the first US casualties of the war.  While documenting this incident, I noticed that the Army had coded the death of one of them – Major Dale Buis – as ‘Accidental’….most likely to keep the attack out of the press at the time.  That coding would have prevented him from being awarded a posthumous Purple Heart.

 

However – after further research – I found that in 1954 DoD had no authorization to award a PH to anyone worldwide, regardless of the situation.  It wasn’t until April/1962 that Pres Kennedy signed Executive Order 11016 – allowing the medal to be awarded retroactively.

 

Within days, the Army issued General Order #24 (attached) – issuing the 3 soldiers in the incident…along with 2 from Kinman Island.  Ironically, I had started to look into this in mid-Dec/2011 – and when I did a search on your 2 to see what was going on – it quickly brought me to your article.  Quite fortuitous."

Below, the General Order awarding the Purple Heart to both officers.  Their names are in Section II. which contains the names of individuals awarded the metal posthumously.

Click on the General Orders below, they will open in a larger size for easy reading.

UPDATE - 22 March 2014

I received note from David Medendorp, son of LTC Medendorp, who was killed during a Chinese Shelling of Quemoy on September 3, 1954, while on-duty with US MAAG Taiwan.

David included two photographs of the 1992 ceremony dedicating a monument located at the site where LTC Medendorp and LTC Flynn were killed 1954.

 Thank you to David Medendorp for sharing these photographs.

David added this note in his mail:

  "An interesting event that occurred in the spring of 1962 while I was serving there.

 President Chiang Kai-shek began to mobilize his military forces for one last effort before his death, to retake the mainland. 

Between his military leaders and the American command, his invasion plans were never allowed to take place. 

However, for about three months all his military, including all American forces on the island, were in full readiness for an attack. 

We can only speculate on what the outcome would have been had he been allowed to proceed."

A Short Visit to Green Lake (Bitan) Late 1960s

Our visit to Green Lake today, courtesy of Jack Hornbeck, Taipei Air Station - 1966-1969

You may want to view previous posts of Jack's Photographs,  HERE and  HERE

The Chinese characters on the wall announce deep water area.

This large stone outcropping is the top of the stone that warns of deep water.

 

A family out for a day of fun on Green Lake.

 The photos above were all taken from this bridge.

This photo was taken in May 2011. 

Refurbished and updated, the bridge is still in use today.

 

Move back and forth between the 2 photos above.  Lots of changes in 45 years!

A few minutes after I took this photo, I biked to the left up the river, where I got caught in a summer thunder and lightning gully washer storm.  The only cover I could find was under a large tree where a group of retired school teachers were also standing.  We waited out the storm and were all soaking wet because of the wind driven rain, our umbrellas were useless that afternoon.  The storm went on for what seemed to be an hour before before the heavy rain slowed.  I jumped on my bicycle and headed for my apartment which was a few miles away.  My visit to Green Lake that afternoon was a day to remember

Another photo taken from the bridge, looking upriver in the 1960s.

Lots more color photos from John soon.

Visiting Taipei's HSA East Compound

Today, more photographs from Jack Hornbeck,Taipei Air Station, 1966-1969.

Jack's previous photos were featured - HERE. 

This aerial photo of the HSA East Compound, taken in the late 1950s or very early 1960s,  provides a nice clear view of the area.

 The Navy Exchange, the square building toward the center right of the photo, building 802 on the map below.
The Navy Commissary Store, the long rectangle building to the left center of the photo, building 808 on the map below.

This map was published many years after the aerial view photo above.

A lot of construction took place after the photo was taken.

Min Tse (East) Road, which is seen on the bottom of the map above, was not completed and opened until the late 1960s.

Photo courtesy of Tom Montelbano, circa 1968

 Let's cross the street (Chung Shan North Road) and walk into the compound.  

APO 96263, straight ahead, inside the gate.

Remember how the Taiwan Military Police would just wave you inside the gate.

I saw some remarks from an American civilian not employed by the US in any capicity, saying he would sneak into the West Compound and have a nice meal at the Navy Cafeteria (building 400) once or twice a month, He missed his American food.   He was never asked for an ID, always walked in along-side some American.

Looking for a traffic light, don't see one. Looks like there was a light, who remembers?

Notice the civilian airliner taking-off from Sung Shan International Airport.

He'll probably climb-up right over the Taiwan Government Military Hostel, (the gray building) seen in the left of this photo.  Many US Military stayed in this hostel one time or another during their tours.

.

                    Navy Commissary Store Taipei under construction 1957.  
Photo courtesy Tom Jones, USASTRATCOM

Many parking stalls available today. Maybe the Commissary Store is closed for inventory or something.  Remember, years ago, the Commissary Store closed a couple of days each week for one reason or another.

The Taipei Navy Exchange.

You've heard the stories, supplier of goods to the US Military community, and foreign embassy communities, not counting the local community who purchased everything legally obtainable, including a host of items not authorized to be sold to the local economy.

This photo is probably one of the best color photos of the Taipei Navy Exchange that's ever been published.

A nice sunny day in Taipei.  Shopping over, heading for the car.

Can someone make out the sign on that shop straight ahead.

It was a pack and crate shop once, a small mini-mart at one time.  
What was it the day this photo was taken?

We're back outside the East Compound Gate, looking across the street toward the West Compound Gate.

Lot's of traffic blocking our view.

Here's a great photo the HSA West Compound Gate.
Where's the traffic light?

Nice blue Chevy across the street.

Photo courtesy of Donald Patrick, taken while in Taipei on R&R in 1967.

We're walking south on Chung Shan North Road.  Everyone remembers the shops on the east side of street which are seen here.

The Linkou Club and Hotel were across the street and down the walkway seen just behind the tree on the left side of this photo.

Photo courtesy Ben Hilmes 1962-1963

Nap time in the cool shade along Chung Shan North Road just down the street from the HSA Compounds.

Notice the CAT Airline Advertising signage along the far side of the road.

Ben returned to Chung Shan North Road after a typhoon blew through.

Looks like about half of the CAT sign was blown away.

We're on the west side of Chung Shan North Road, looking south.

Just a few feet in back, an alley way off to our right would take us the the Fleet Reserve Assn Club, used during the R&R period as the R&R Center for Taiwan.  In later years, the building was taken over by the Navy Exchange

On the next corner,  straight ahead, to the left is the Florida Bakery.

On the right ahead is the gas station.

Looking off into the haze ahead, on the corner on Min Quan is the King's Hotel, a well known establishment.

Here's the next cross street.  To the left, the Florida Bakery, AND, the American Bakery Company.

If you look closely, it appears that the American Bakery is closed and the windows have been removed.

How many readers remember the American Bakery?

I didn't remember it, can't say I even knew it existed.

Here is an interesting piece of history.  From the "History of the US Air Force in Taiwan."  the unofficial document describing much of what went on in the US Air Force throughout Taiwan, from 1950 until 1969. 
If you'd like to read the documents, they are in this blog.  Go to the search box on the right side of this blog and search for "history"  All of the posts should appear.  There are quite a few different posts and it will take some time to comb through them.

Here's the story about the Florida and American Bakery:

From:  History of the US Air Force in Taiwan 1956.

 21 May 1956.  The first bread prepared on Taiwan was delivered by the “American” bakery in Taipei.  This replaced bread shipments from Kadena AB, Okinawa.

Did anyone notice that blue Chevrolet in this photo.  Nice

 Photo courtesy Taipei Signal Army blog.

This photo was taken some time before the color photo above.

We've arrived on the corner of Chung Shan North Road and Min Quan road.

Everyone remembers the King's Hotel.

We'll stop here today.

In our next post we'll make our way up to Shihmen on the north coast and visit John's Hostel and duty station.

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