TAC Party Tryout

By Ken DeHaas

2/1 H&S 70-71

After a brief tour as a radio humper with 1^st Force Recon, I found myself reporting for duty with 2^nd Bn 1^st Marines at Camp Lauer at the base of Marble Mountain. This would be the middle of August 1970. As my paper work was getting squared away, I saw an H&S unit roster posted on the wall of the hootch. Saw the name of Faris whom I graduated from radio telegraph school with at San Diego in January of 1970. MOS was 2533. The telegraph part of my MOS went obsolete not too long after graduation. So basically I was just your average everyday radio humper. Anyway Faris, from Texas, was listed as a TACP, 14 radio operator??? Got directions to the TACP hootch and had a much needed reunion with Faris. Never thought I’d ever see anyone that I knew or who knew me in the NAM!! Found out that TACP stands for Tactical Air Control Party, 14 operator for short. Primary duties were communication and direction for Medevacs, Re-Supplies, Air Strikes. CH-46’s, F-4’s, Hueys. There was an opening for a 14 operator and Burnell urged Me to “tryout for it”.

SO I DID!!!

TACP had Air Winger CO’s in charge of us for 3 months at a time. They came from MAG-16. I reported to the current CO and requested an “Audition”. He gave me a Medevac Request Procedure Card, stationed me in front of a radio at the Base Comm. Center and told me to take the next medevac request.

Most Rinky Dink the call came. I believe it was for 02 Emergency Medevac. I don’t know about others, but I could do 10,000 Medevacs and would always wonder if I could have been FASTER. Could have, would have, saved a brother. Anyway, I completed the Medevac. I thought I SUCKED. But I got the job. Can’t help but wonder whatever became of the 2 Marines whose lives were in my Rookie hands that day long ago, yesterday.

One more thought.

LONG LONG LIVE THE CORPSMAN!!

THANK GOD FOR THE HOSPITAL SHIPS: USS SANCTUARY AND USS REPOSE!!

Welcome home Nam brothers and sisters!!!!!

Semper Fi, Ken