TACP History
Before I get started here I wanted to take a minute and thank those people who made all this possible. The 1C4X1 Tactical Air Command and Control Specialist is now a very integral part of the Air Land Doctrine. To “Shorty” Suarez for virtually giving his life to create this careerfield. Single handedly he overcame 30 years of Air Force doctrine on the role of the Enlisted FACs. Tragically, cancer took him away from us in 1989. To Harry Champy, the 1st CMSGT of the career field, for giving us a direction to go. To the guys at the “School House”, both past and present, we salute you. For no amount of teaching can prepare anyone for interaction with the Army but you give it a shot never-the-less.
And of course to my wife, for putting up with my nasty BDUs, long TDYs, Large but highly accurate watch, large and very sharp knife and some very strange habits such as jumping from airplanes in flight and rappelling off anything I can.
THE STRONG SHALL STAND
THE WEAK WILL FALL BY THE WAYSIDE
Brief Overview:
The Forward Air Controller mission profile and role has been rewritten several times across history to meet current combat needs. In short, the FAC, either on the ground, or in the air has the mission of application of firepower. In short the FAC handles Close Air Support. In Joint Publication 3-09.3 Joint Tactics Techniques and Procedures for Close Air Support, Close air support (CAS) is air action by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces and which require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces. During World War II detailed integration was tough due to the lack of voice communications from ground to air. If it existed it was never where it needed to be on the battlefield so significant prior planning was required to support the army ground commanders intent. Communications have been constantly improving since those time with significant technological leaps occuring in Korea and Vietnam. With these increases was the improvement of the Air Ground doctrine. FACs could be ground based or flying low over the tree tops in prop driven aircraft. The Airborne FACs have their own webpresence so I will not belabor their portion of this. This site is designed to fill in the historic gaps of those enlisted personnel operating from M-151 Jeeps, HMMWVs and a host of other vehicles, to include LPCs (Leather Personnel Carriers…Boots).
We will start this story during the opening portions of Vietnam, with Officers riding in FAC Jeeps. Those jeeps contained large communiations centrals that required nearly constant attention to continue operation. Called a ROMAD (Radio Operator, Maintenance and Driver), this enlisted man would act as a Radio man. The individual performing this mission was a 304X4 Radio Maintenance person (males only were selected for TACP Duty). 304s were used to man hard sites, communications centers and TACP vehicles. It occured on a rotational basis in most cases with personnel being at a comm center in the states, being sent to Vietnam for a year as a TACP and returning to the comm center. Due to this flipping back and forth, the 304s had promotion issues as they could not keep current in their “testable” task list because less than 33% of ROMAD duties involved radio maintenance. This, coupled with no formal training program for TACP raised the concern level even higher.
These growing issues promoted a proposal from the “Gang of 5″ (Shorty Suarez, Loren Thurman, Joe Wachs, Casey Fiscus and Bobby Mack) to Air Staff to create an AFSC that directly handled ROMAD Duties. Pulling for us inside the puzzle palace was Col “Rumbles” Ruhman, who at the time was Shorties boss. Capt Garrison was the Tactical Air Command (predecessor to Air Combat Command) and Maj Namlick the Air Ground Operations School at Hurlburt Field were pushing in their appropriate sectors. Effective 30 April 1977, AFSC 275X0 was established to perform ROMAD Duties exclusively. When the award of the AFSC took place the Air Force needed people to man the new positions. Who better than the people that had been doing it just prior to April? Most of the personnel “drafted” were either returning from overseas or were in overage slots in the 304 job. Over time, and the change from a “draft” military to an all volunteer force has greatly improved the moral and discipline of the TACP community. In 1990 the Air Force approved the ETAC (Enlisted Terminal Attack Controller) title and subsequent pays. These individuals were allowed to control air strikes without the presence of an officer. Up to that point it was not entirely legal for an unsupervised enlisted controller (although it was happening because of a lack of officers).
This should provide a basic primer to the TACP Community. The text below should flesh out more of the background
GO ROMAD!!
1946-08-02 FM 31-35 “Air-Ground Operations” The first “Doctrine” that established basic FAC/CAS procedures.
1950-06-28 Lts Oliver Duerksen and Frank Chermake deploy with their “ROMADS” to Forward locations using AN/ARC-1 Radio Jeeps. These men were part of a Mosquito unit. For information on “Mosquitos” visit http://www.mosquitokorea.org/index.htm.
1950-06-28
1950-07-23
1950-07-23 6132nd Tactical Air Control Group Activates. All TACPs in country (Korea) coordinate through this element. Existing doctrine specified no set number or allocation of TACPs, so their operations would depend on the need for CAS. In Korea, TACPs were allocated one to each US Infantry regiment and higher unit headquarters, and to each ROK division and corps. [NOTE: If anyone has a patch from this unit please scan it and send it over. I'll add it here]
1950-10-07 6132nd TACG disbanded. Reformed into the 6132nd Air Control and Warning Squadron (ACWS) of the 502nd Tactical Control Group.
1952-04-25 502nd TCG reorganized into the 6147th Tactical Control Group (Provisional). Two sub elements, 6148th and 6149th Tactical Control Squadron -Airborne and the 6150th Tactical Control Squadron-Ground. Losses from these units can be found at
1952-04-25
1961-01-01 Note from Jim Meade, (Tangerine 31 1965-1966) During the period 1961 to late 64 all of the personnel performing ROMAD type work were either CCT or TDY Radio Operators (293X0’s) from the 1st Mob Comm Sq/Gp in Japan and at Clark, or from TAC units in the U.S. In mid early to mid 64 the CSAF came up with the plan (”Project Packrat”) to replace all TDY Radio Operators with volunteers for PCS assignments to VN. The volunteers to be selected were to be CAFSC (Control Air Force Specialty Code) 29350/70, E4 or above, over 4 years service, single, no dependents. Assignment to VN was predicated on passing a class 3 flying physical and completion of Aircrew Survival Training School at Stead AFB Nevada. (Note: At this point in time, all 293X0 Radio Ops had, and still were receiving, both Basic Radio Maintenance and Morse Code training at Keesler - course duration 19 weeks + 1 week of academic kp. Most of the assignments in VN entailed flying as observers in O1’s as well as handling point - point radio operations).
I volunteered for the first call but had to wait and finish 11 months of the assignment I was at and between O/S assignments. I had been TDY to Saigon from Clark in 62, working the PACAF HF Nightwatch Net, and was familiar with the area. I was among either the second or third group of radio ops assigned to Packrat (there were only four of us that succesfully passed the flying physical and survival training. One of us, the biggest, was assigned to the 1st ARVN Airborne Brigade, two went to DASC’s in I and II Corps and I was sent to a Special Forces at Song Be, in III Corp, to replace a CCT guy that had been there since the camp was overrun the month before.
It quickly became apparent that there were not going to be enough volunteers for Project Packrat that could meet both the personal and physical requirements and the USAF had to revert to normal assignment procedures. A problem developed at this point: The AF, showing little foresight, had decided that Radio Operators did not need to be trained in maintanenance or morse code any longer and had reduced the training to just six weeks of training in radio procedures. The replacement operators did a great job, for the most part, but needed increasing maintenance support from the DASC’s. That was when the USAF decided to start sending 304X0 Ground Radio Maintenance troops, particularly to the U.S. and allied Army units, in place of 293’s (it would be much easier and quicker to teach a maintenance troop radio operations procedures than it would be to reinvent the wheel and revert to teaching operators basic maintenance). This was in late 1966 and I think that’s about where Bobby Mack’s take on the subject picks up.”
Regards, Jim Meade (Tangerine 31 1965-66)
1964-05-01 In late 1963, a study of the TACS revealed one major deficiency, that being a slow reaction time. To correct this, a new system called the VNAF Air Request NET was implemented in May 1964 by 2AD/VNAF. This system to monitor these requests and stopping them in a five minute period if desired. The number of ALO/FAC’s were increased and the new system was implemented in all Corps areas. Tactical Air Control Parties, with ground radio equipment were sent into the field starting in June 1964 and by the end of 1964, TACP’s were in all four Corps areas.
1964-05-02
1964-05-03 Tom Branham works with the 173rd (1/503 and 2/503) in Vietnam. MRC-108 Pallet in use. While Jimmy Donaldson works with 101st Airborne Division.
1965-01-01 Jim Meade is tasked to field test a “new” piece of equipment. The PRC-71. Needless to say his findings were not positive and the program was scrapped. Makes man portable take on a whole new meaning….
There was an effort by the Air Force during the mid 60s to develop prototype FAC units that would operate on all three tactical bands plus VHF Air. Rather than being a single radio with four bands inside, they were actually four separate radios, each with its own battery, fastened together on a frame, but arranged so they could be separated and operated independently if desired. Sylvania developed the PRC-71, while Bendix developed the PRC-72. Some number of units were produced (my guess is about a hundred or so) and tested in Vietnam. They hit the surplus market in the very early 70s, so their short life indicates to me a certain lack of success (too big, too heavy?). Later, there was a definition of a better system, the PRC-82, with the four bands designated PRC-83 through 86. All four radios were to be synthesized (the PRC-72 HF section was the only synthesized unit in the previous efforts, all the others were channelized with 2 to 6 channels). It appears that the PRC-82 venture never proceeded too far either.
1965-06-01 The 505th TCMS had its original beginning in March 1964 when a section of the 2nd Air Division, then known as Contingency Communications Operations, began to undergo a drastic revision. Instead of merely providing a few radio operators at permanent locations, and occasional deployment of Mobil Radio Communications teams to provide for recovery operations, rescue work and some Air Force participation in Vietnamese Army operations, a Direct Air Request NET was established. Radio operators and equipment were provided at various Vietnamese military echelons to establish a Direct Air Request NET in support of USAF Air Liaison Officers (ALO’s) and Forward Air Controllers (FAC’s) who provide tactical air request support for the Vietnamese Army. Twenty-nine AN/PRC-47 HF SSB radio sets, fifty (50) AN/PRC-41 UHF radio sets, forty-two (42) AN/PRC-25 FM radio sets, forty (40) KWM-2! HF SSB radio sets and an initial group of TDY radio operators constituted the beginning of the Direct Air Request NET.
1965-10-01
Robin Michaels in front of the Korean Operations Tent, Republic Of Korea Tiger
Division Compound, Vietnam, just after his 21st birthday in October 1965.
1966-01-01 Loren Thurman works with the 6th Direct Air Support Flight, Misawa Japan. Howard Cutter, Bill Fargo and Wayne Lineberger deploy with elements of the 11th CAV.
1966-01-01 Rudy Bishop assigned to Detachment B-52, Project Delta as a ROMAD in support of 5th Special Forces Group. Callsign “Heavy Drop”
1966-02-27 Sgt Gagnon assists in airstrikes on a village north of Phu Cat near highway 1 using MRC-108 pallet. (First Enlisted control unsupervised?)
1966-03-25 ROMADs control Flare missions during Campaign Tiger V. More enlisted controlling unsupervised.
1966-12-01 Bobby Mack works as ROMAD with 1st Cav in the Central Highlands until Dec 1967. Chief Barker working issues for the TACPS at the 505th Tactical Control Group at Tan Son Nhut
Some personal recollections by Bobby Mack
1967-01-01 Chris Spears works with Project B-56 Project Sigma supporting 5th Special Forces Group out of Camp Ho Nok Toa.
1968-09-30 Personal note from Mike “Harpo01″ Humphrey
“This story is dedicated to those brave airmen who have given their lives in defense of freedom so that we, the living, may pursue our lives according to the Constitution of the United States of America. We will never forget you and your bravery. The individuals named on this special order were ROMADS assigned to the Tiger ROK(Republic of Korea) Division, Binh Dinh Provence,South Viet Nam, Dec 1967-1968 and beyond and before. Here is the list of Pack Rats/ROMADS I told you about. My name is last on the list. A little history, everyone on this list was pulling ROMAD duties of some description. Bans, Brass, Humphrey,McNichol(Piliton, and White, not on list)were assigned to the 1st CAV Regiment, at Thunderbolt airfield, Phu Phong, VN. about 20 miles SW of Phu Cat AB on Hwy QL 19, the road to Pleiku from Qui Nhon. All six of us pulled field duty as a ROMAD/Foward Air Controller. FACs became extremely scarce during this time period, however requirements for air support continued at an ever increasing rate, the ROMADS had to take up the slack. Which, they did, and did well. At any given time there were only three ROMADS assigned to this Regiment. We were further assigned to a particular brigade, one man per.We had a rotating FAC/ALO who would train us, and see to it that we didn’t stray too far off course. We did all kinds of air support including but not limited to: CAS, Artillary Fire Support, Naval Gun Fire Support, Night time CAS, Spectre Gun Ship control, Puff the Magic Dragon Missions, Spooky Mission, Moon Glow( flare ships) Dust off Medivac We also performed Air Assualt missions. And of course we had our routine chicken shit stuff. And oh yes, we were allowed to fly the mighty O1-E Bird Dog. It was “Shit Hot”, especially if you have never had the oportunity to do so. Depending on the FAC, the backseat ride was about as wild as it gets. Our living conditions, especially while in the field were as austere as it can get. I imagine like in Afghanistan and IRAQ, so take heart young airman, a lot of brave men have gone before you under similar circumstances. You will serve your country well and we will be proud of you. Okay, Frank Siebold was our First Sergeant,Post was the Div NCOIC, Bans,Humphrey, NCOIC Cav Reg, Cooper,Haynes, Addleman, Collins, Carroll and possibly Burns were ROMADS at Div. The rest on this list were probably assigned to the Tiger ROK Regiment that defended Phu Cat AB or assigned to the Regiment at Thuy Hoa AB. May God Bless you all.
Special Order T-4059 30 September 1968
1970-01-01 Pleiku, TSgt Robinson, A1C Rouse and Clay Peacock run TACP Ops
1973-01-23 Peace accords signed in France concerning fighting in Vietnam
1975-01-01 Kim Allen, last P304/275 to leave Vietnam, assisted in destroying remaining MRC pallets left in country.
1976-01-01 Notes from Capt John Garrison on 1976-77-78 and the creation of the careerfield. Document
1977-01-01 Some Personal Recollections from Al Mayott on the creation of the Careerfield.
1977-01-01 ROMADs are still swinging back and forth between CCT and TACP duties.
1977-04-29 304’s filling ROMAD mission are awarded the AFSC identifier 275X0 Tactical Air Command and Control Specialist to be effective 30 April 1977. Some are not as happy as others.
“School House” started. Course consisted of:
9 weeks with 3410 Technical Training Group. at Keesler AFB MS for Ground Radio Theory
2 Weeks at Fairchild AFB WA for Survival Training
4 Weeks at Hurlburt Field Fl for Field training
Optional : Ft Benning GA for Parachute Training
1977-04-30 Careerfield is formally recognized by Tactical Air Command. The Creation proposal that was finally approved
1977-05-01 SMSgt Calderson is placed in charge of School. Known Cadre at Keesler AFB for first couple of classes is: Art Fowler , Archie Brown , Al Mayott .
The first Class to graduate from the formalized school was : Cecil Howser , Gene Chan , Charles Macgill , Kyle Melton , HR Williams , William Norris and Erin Bullman . Note: The class started with 7 but one was a conscience objector.
1977-10-01 OL AA Detachment 1, 507th Tactical Air Control Wing is flagged. Their Mission is to provide Close Air Support to the Army.
1979-01-01 CCT cuts 304 slots. Those ROMADs are flipped to 272s
Black Berets authorized for wear by TACP members. Guidelines for the crest was the Major Command symbol. Of course everything from Jump wings to scuba bubbles were worn.
ETAC program being looked at. Personnel were sent to Hurlburt Field for AGOS (Air Ground Operations School) training to see how they stacked up academically. They passed. Later that year the same personnel were sent through a 507th wing sponsored class at the 21st TASS. Alternating between flying right seat in the O-1 (Pictured Below)and controlling CAS on the ground.
School house 1st NCOIC was Bobby Mack . The Cadre at AGOS consisted of the “Nasty Nine” Bobby Mack , Loren Thurman , Lance Heaton , Ricardo Soria , Lacey Foley , Walden, Norm Moss , Humphries, Donny Tomlinson and John O’Rourke .
1979-05-09 Keesler section of school moved to Hurlburt Field to consolidate. Air Training Command decides that the school at Hurlburt is capable of teaching survival skills. Pipeline to Fairchild is closed. School House NCOIC is MSgt James Nothstein
1981-05-01 Mount St Helens Disaster
[Notes from Ben Johnson]
Det 6, 602nd TAIRCW, Ft. Lewis. activated (volunteers only) to the Mt St Helens disaster on May 24 1981 to aid in the rescue effort and provide communications throughout the area. 1 cubic mile of earth disappeared. Three times over national television it was reported that there had been a lava flow. Fact is there never was! One report was triggered by an unnamed airman. It happened just outside the Sherrifs Rasmussen Sherrif office/Realty office. SrA Alan Brogan was monitoring the radios and someone else transmitted the code words “Hot Flash”. This airman assigned the wrong meaning and came out running and yelling “Lava flow, Lava flow!” At which point the press ran for the only phone booth in town to call it in. It turned out that the transmission initiator, another unidentified SSgt type person saw the sun rising over the hole on top of the mountain. Unit stayed deployed for 13 days. Until 59 bodies were recovered. Myself and A1C/SrA John Stierl went back for 3 days about two weeks after returning to sift thru a traier for body parts. Is true that the unit got an AFOUA. Tis also true that at the time we were the smallest unit in AF history to have received one. I believe the unit manning was 26 at the time. CMSgt Kemper would know better. Name of people I remember being there/working with:
myself, URA
John Stierl
Alan Brogan
Robert Hill
Schultz
Kemper
Tim Bonge
Glen Galati
1981-09-23 Russel McFall wounded in the Honduras story
1983-10-24 2100 Rangers take off from Hunter AAF
1983-10-25 0536 Ranger TOC jumps into DZ Fury
October 25 0630 A and B Companys Jump into DZ Fury.
Details of Urgent Fury The 1st Battalion (Ranger) Mission was to seize the airfield at Point Salinas on the southwest tip of the island. They departed in a string of Seven C-130s. 1st Bn TACP personnel were assigned as follows : Tsgt Robert Scott was the FAC for Alpha Company and was aboard aircraft number two. Maj Jim Roper (ALO), was with the Tactical Operation Center (TOC) on aircraft number three along with MSgt Bob Kelly (CCT). TSgt Lance Heaton (A last minute replacement for Bo Kibler ) was on another aircraft (Which One?) was the Bravo Company FAC. Maj Marshall Applegate was on Aircraft Number 5 with the Backup TOC. He was usually assigned to Charlie Company, but they did not participate in this operation. Somewhere during the trip, and more than an hour before the jump time of 0500L, the Lead (number one) aircraft had an electrical problem such that he could not find the DZ in the dark. He could not access his radar and inertial navigation system sufficiently to insure a safe jump. To keep the mission intact, lead was told to take number two with him and go to the back of the string. That made aircraft number three the first one in…which contained the TOC staff and not the shooters.
Aircraft number three jumped at 0536. Due to heavy antiaircraft fire, other jumps were delayed. One aircraft dropped at 0548 and the rest began to get into the dropzone at 0630. Sunrise was at 0610. The number three aircraft was piloted by Then Lt Col Hobson (Now with two stars on his shoulders) which won the McKay Trophy for the most memorable flight of ‘83.
There was a delay of about one hour immediately after hitting the ground, before the TOC was assembled and running. Meanwhile the cubans were firing at Airplanes and troops. Alot of red (Quad fifty) and Green (AK-47) tracers were visible before the sun came up. The Enemy was obvious on the ridge along the length of the runway on the north side. The AC-130 Spectre suppressed the ZU-23 then came over to the runway and worked more SEAD under the control of Maj Roper.
1st Ranger Bn. 90mm gunners claim one BTR kill. 2nd Ranger Bn. 90mm gunners claim one BTR kill.82nd ABN Dragon gunners claim one BTR kill. Spectre crews claim three BTR kills. ALO’s (both Ranger Bn’s) claim two kills.
Research shows that 2nd Ranger Bn 90mm gunners shot and destroyed the first BTR. 1st Ranger Bn 90mm gunners shot and destroyed the second BTR. The third BTR tried to run and the Spectre guided by TSgt Scott destroyed the third. The sequence of events and my interviews all point to the Rangers getting their shots off well before Spectre joined in the attack. Scotty himself told me that he only guided the AC-130 in after he heard the ruckus at the east end of the Salines runway. The ruckus being the Rangers engaging the BTR’s with every available weapon (including the 90’s). Almost every eyewitness stated the Ranger recoilless crews engaged first. My point is credit for the kills should be 1x BTR to 1st Ranger Bn (Sgt Dave Bazemore, 90mm Gunner), 1x BTR to 2nd Ranger Bn (SP4 Jimmie Pickering, 90mm Gunner) and 1x BTR to AC130/TSgt Robert Scott (A/1/75th Rangers ALO).
Aftermath: Bob Scott receives the Bronze star with V device (for valor) Jeff Staha also receives the Bronze star.
James Felton , Bob Scott are just two of the individuals involved. More names are in the works. I have a copy of the deployment orders here somewhere.
NOTE: If you have further information on Combat Operations in Grenada, please leave me e-mail. I’m trying to confirm details such as jump altitude, number type if aircraft and where the players were.
1984-07-01 July Tactical Air Command/Director of Operations approves the new Flash and Crest combo but it is disapproved by the Uniform Board.
1985-01-01 Flash and Crest paperwork resubmitted.
1985-07-01 Flash and Crest approved for wear by TACP members on standard Black beret. Read the Heraldry
1987-01-01 Members from Detachment 1, 507th TAIRCW are selected to stand up a section to support the Joint Communications Unit (JCU). Those personnel are detached from the Normal TACP chain of command and operate on the “dark side”.
1988-09-01 Fairchild does a survey of the Hurlburt Field Survival Class and determined that training was not adequate. Pipeline reopened to Fairchild Survival School.
1989-12-20 Details of Operations In Panama
After trying to get the problems in Panama fixed using political measures George Bush instead decided to use Military force to correct the situation. The buildup of forces on Howard Air Force Base did not go un-noticed however and Noreaga was somewhat prepared for what happened next. Early in the morning, 2 F-117 Stealth fighters dropped 2000lb bombs near the barracks at Rio Hauto. Awakening every soldier within 5 miles. A few minutes later 13 C-130s carrying 2nd Battalion 75 Rangers crossed over the leading edge of Rio Hauto at 490 feet. Bill Pollack , Blaine Brost , James Felton and John Lowry put their knees into the breeze in support of the Rangers. Now that everyone was awake, the Rangers were greeted with ZPU-4 and heavy small arms fire. Exiting that low means that you don’t have alot of “hang” time and are on the ground pretty quick. As soon as they were on the ground, they were on the radios to Specter to get some of the small arms cleared. Strewn all over the place was tons of equipment and ordnance. During the flight to the DZ, the rangers were issued every lethal object they could get to their soldiers. Once on the ground, they quickly realized that the Ding Bats (Dignitary Brigades) were no match for US firepower and started dumping equipment to catch up to the fleeing enemy. {more to come. Ran out of available information}
1990-02-09 Special Duty Pay authorized for TACP members
1990-08-02 Iraq Invades Kuwait
1990-08-08 82nd Airborne Division Ready Brigade is launched with attached TACP members.
1990-08-09 0300 82nd Advance Party lands in Saudi Arabia
1990-08-15 197th Infantry (Ft Benning) starts deploying
1990-08-18 101st Division (Ft Campbell) start Deploying
1990-08-27 24th Mechanized Division (Ft Stewart) deploys
1990-08-29 1st CAV (Ft Hood) Deploys
1990-09-02 3rd Armor (Ft Bliss) deploys
1990-09-07 Last elements of 24th Mech. arrive in Saudi
1990-11-01 1st Inf DIV DTAC arrives
1990-12-20 2AD FWD Heavy Armored Brigade Advance Party arrive in Saudi 2AD (Stationed in Garlstade Germany) is attached to 24th ID Mechanized. Sent out in front because of the Armor centric make up of the unit
1990-12-28 Rest of 1st Inf Div Arrives in country
1991-01-03 Last elements of 3rd Armor arrive in Saudi
1991-01-05 Rest of 2AD (FWD) arrives in country
1991-01-15 Air War Starts. Operation Desert Sheild renamed to Desert Storm
1991-01-16
{Photo shows what happens to enemy equipment when it is exposed to Air Power)
1991-02-24 Rudy Perez wounded in action. HMMMV hit a land mine. Ripped the entire front end off. Anyone with photos, please forward and I’ll add them here.
1991-02-24 Brian Reed wounded in action. Artillery barrage.(Details Pending)
1991-02-25 101st Abn Div. Air Assaults 90 miles into Iraq establishing FOB Cobra.
1991-02-25 Highway of Death: Destroyed Iraqi tanks, trucks and cars lie everywhere. This road runs from Kuwait to Safwan at the Iraqi border and on to Basra. The American soldiers called it the “Highway of Death.”
1991-02-27 101st Division’s 3rd Bde Air Assaults into Iraq to AO Eagle. This was the most northern (excluding the SOF forces) element during the conflict.
1991-02-28 Dave Ford proves where Elvis went
1991-02-28 Dave Fords Home away from Home
1991-02-28 David Jones takes a few photos of the Highway of Death on the way north
David Jones and his Army element setting up. Note heavy oil fires in the background. Iraqi forces blew up all the oil heads they could find
Day becomes dusk due to oil smoke
FOR SALE: Slightly used Soviet tank. Low mileage. Driven by little old lady from minsk
Moving north to engage the enemy
1991-02-28 Cease Fire Called
1992-06-01 Joint Task Force Full accounting JTFFA kicks off operations in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to recover remains. Personnel attached to several units such as the 25ASOS out of Hawaii, participate in rotations into Laos, Cambodia(Last Tiger) and Vietnam attempting to recover the remains of our fallen comrades. Staged out of Phnom Phen, Cambodia with an FOL on the Mekong at a town called Kratie. From there H-60s flew the search teams into the tri-border area that Cambodia shares with Laos and Vietnam. The Romads provided flight following for the helos, some comms for the search teams and SATCOM for sitreps to Bangkok and JTF HQ in Hawaii. Basically, if it was done on a radio, we did it…
1992-07-01 Operation Provide Promise Support to the United Nations in Yugoslavia.
Mission was completed in March 1996
Below are listed some of the personnel that participated in Operation Provide Promise : (in Alphabetical Order)
Phil Bell
James Burt
Russ Carpenter
Kris Engel (August - November)
Terry Headen
Phil Gaudette
Aaron Gibbs
Juan Hernandez
Joe McGuire
Kyle Neal
Chris Morgan
Waymon Perry
Charles Tacy
Tony Washington
{ NOTE: Anyone remember anyone else? Also I need operational date’s if you remember them. How about some of what you did}
The mission consisted of supporting the C-130 Airland and Airdrops into the BiH operational theater. Supplying required food and supplies to civilian and UN military units. The Airdrops originated out of Rhein Main Airbase (Multiple C-130 squadrons participated) and Flew into Sarajevo Airport for the Airland missions and other locations for the Airdrops. The primary mission of the TACP members was TACSAT communications. We would hand carry an LST-5, KY-57, power supply and Hatch Mount SATCOM Antenna to the aircraft and Install it prior to departure. We would then monitor and be the vital Air to Ground link for specific mission info, Wheels Up, Feet Wet, Feet Dry, And other calls. The TACSATs were also there to provide reception of any last minute Abort mission calls.
1992-11-29 Jody Dice and Mike Karkek deploy to Cambodia in support of Joint Task Force Full Accounting. Returning on Dec 20 1992. SITREP from Mike “We logged over 60 hours of flight in a hostile undeveloped country seeking repatriation of POWs lost in the Vietnam conflict. We were also fired upon by Khmer Rouge forces (that’s a whole nuther story) We also were the first Americans to revisit Koh Tang island (site of the Mayaguez hostage rescue attempt where over 30 US Marines were killed) The CH-53 helicopters that were shot down are still in place just meters from the beach. We recovered human remains from the island in the vicinity of the helicopters.”
1992-12-05 US Operation Restore Hope executes to assist Somali people in getting food. This was in support of United Nations resolution 794. To create a protected environment for conducting humanitarian operations in the southern half of the Republic of Somalia.
10th Mountain Division from Ft Drum is selected as one of the units supporting and deploys a Battalion. Bill Staab , John McCabe , Greg Shaffer and Tim Maynard . These personnel trained 10th Mountain Division personnel, Seals and several other units in the coordination and implementation of close air support. Most of the personnel returned during the following months.
1993-08-08 2/75 Ranger jumps into Somalia to assist UN PeaceKeeping forces by joining Task Force Ranger
1993-09-03 General J.T. Scott, LT Gen, USA, CMDR USASOC sends a letter to Gen John M. Loh, CMDR ACC, requesting TACP support for the 5 Special Forces Groups. This is the precursor event for setting up the SF TACP Positions at Bragg, Cambell, Ft Lewis and Ft Carson.
1993-10-03 Task Force Ranger executes a mission that is turned into a movie “Black Hawk Down”. [There are plenty of articles on this action. Google: Task Force Ranger
1993-10-03 10th Mountain Division ready company deployed to Somalia. Bill Staab , Zeke Menke and Bruce Lowry are on the mission.
1993-10-08 General Loh, sends a nice letter back to Gen Scott saying that its a great idea “Based on the results of the working group and as force structure drawdowns become more clear, the manpower may become available to build and field TACPs for USASOCs operational units.” I.E. Stand-by, we are looking at it
1993-10-13 By Brian Brock
” Spencer Albin , Tom Savage , John Hansen , Capt Dave Dressel and myself (Brian Brock) were alerted and sent to support Task Force 1-64 (Heavy Mech) out of Fort Stewart. This was the response to the rangers being killed in Mogadishu. We arrived approximately 13 Oct 93. We stayed in the same hanger the rangers had previously stayed in. We then convoyed out of local mortar range and occupied a former frog missile site. We practiced with Navy air and very little with the AC-130s (there were some very strange looking characters to do this). Mostly what we did, was train everyone (!) we could in close air and AC-130 tactics. We did a lot of volunteer work with radios, armed escort, etc. There were several instances where we were fired upon and one where we were mortared, but no really close calls. Four of the five personnel recieved bronze stars; Savage had subsequently gotten out. We recieved these a great deal after we returned. I originally drafted packages for four achievement and one commendation. The squadron and group commanders changed this. I believe the real reason for the medals was that when we got there, there was no AFFOR in place. The JSOTF wanted nothing to do with conventional forces. We were it and we had to create everything from scratch. We did meet with some 10th Mountain fellas who said “hi, how are you?” and then told their amry counterparts that we were their replacements. When we came back to see them, we were told that the CAS POC for the op was a Capt Dressel. They couldn’t see our names. We asked where he could be found. The answer “oh, he’s around here somewhere” What this all meant, was that we were it for the whole thing. Our BALO was the highest ranking USAF official in the TACS/AAGS chain. We were shit on because we weren’t on the original Joint Rolls. In the end, we made it all work. And someone in the air force really appreciated it.”
1993-11-06 Ron Myers, Lon Hopson, Joe Dzuiban and Phil Dorosch deploy with Joint Task Force Full Accounting to recover remains in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Return date was 21 December 1993
1994-02-01 Trevor Sok, Dennis Delay, Lon Hopson, Robert Harper and Ron Myers deploy with Joint Task Force Full Accounting to recover remains in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Return date was 15 May 1994
1994-07-01 Personnel from Washington Air National Guard TACP are mobilized to give radio support to the fire fighters battling a 300,000 acre fire that is burning out of control. Last personnel returned on 1 September 1994.
1994-09-01 Operation Vigilent Warrior By SSgt Szczepaniak
Iraq starts to marshal its troops. I believe the first week of October, Iraq moves four armored divisions South towards Kuwait. The American response: The IRC from 1st BDE 24th Mech( later to be changed in 1996 to 3rd ID), Ft Stewart GA is alerted and is given its movement orders. Two TACP’s are to go with them ( I think it was Ssgt Tom Savage and Sra Jim Harnish ). Within the hour the entire 15th ASOS and the 24th Mech is recalled. 1st BDE is the DRF and is told it will deploy to Kuwait. MSgt Bruce Voight is the 1st BDE TACP NCOIC. He is told that a small BDE HQ element will deploy with the DRB within the next 24 hours. Meanwhile the IRC and its TACP’s are on on their way to Hunter AAF to catch an inbound plane that is due to land in about 3 hours and ferry them off to Kuwait immediately. The rest of the 1st BDE is mobilizing, to include its TACP’s ( A1C Chris Gries , A1C Chris Novits , Sgt Brett Gorder , Ssgt Barry Lewis , Maj Terry Stepp I think there may have been one more ). The whole division is told to prepare for deployment within the next 96 hours. About two days later the DTAC is told it will be going as a command element and the rest of the division is put on standby. The DTAC flies out about 5 days later with its TACP’s (MSgt Nate Dingus , Sgt Greg Szczepaniak and MAj Terry Hogan). ACTIONS IN COUNTRY: IRC hits country and is rolling North towards the Iraqi border within 3 hours, 1st BDE follows within 48 hours, DTAC (in the rear with the gear) stuck on Camp Doha. About two weeks later Radio MX from Ft Stewart (Tsgt Inge and SSgt Leavit) arrive along with Radio MX guy from Ft Bragg (RAT BOY) and SSgt “MO” Morgan of supply fame show up. Big Bill “DA PREZ” Clinton him self shows up to say hi, TACP’s don’t go, too many grunts. Diplomats work things out. By the end of November 94′ troops are told to prepare for re-deployment to states. TACP’s spend about 5 days washing and cleaning gear and getting rejected by customs. Finally at about 1900 we are cleared and start to convoy MRC-144’s to customs holding area, Mo in lead vehicle gets a cell phone call and convoy stops. Col Modica (18th ASOG CC) just called and says hold everything he will be arriving within a day or two, Vehicles are put in storage. Col Modica arrives and tells us that we are staying and that we are to set up an ASOS. We are to leave the six vehicles and all the gear and start to scrounge for everything needed to start a unit to include a building. ROMADS can do many thing good but they can steal err I mean scrounge like no others. Within a few days we have the makings of a squadron (half a warehouse, TV, VCR, coffee maker and two soft chairs). The unit is to be called the 4412th (Provisional) ASOS. It has gone thru a few name changes and has relocated to various buildings on Camp Doha since then.
1995-12-03 Bosnia. All SOF TACPs are notified to go into isolation to support a mission. Each SF group is sending 3 teams. 5th SFG is taking Charlie Heidal, Christopher Brewer and Donnie Pugh. Mission cancelled at the mast moment.
1996-06-01 Ft Bragg NC Members of the 5th SFG(A) TACP and the TF 160 TACP join up and take third at the 96 Jump Fest. The TOP placing TACP team of 44 teams of Air Force and Army elements. The winners were
1st Place 18th ABN Corps G-3 Section
2nd Place USAF Survival School Demo Jump Team
3rd Place MSgt Kleber, MSgt Brewer, TSG Ellis and SSG Pugh
1996-09-02 ODB 590 Activated in support of Operation Desert Strike. Promotion Party thrown in Iraq. We Launch TLAMS at Iraq for failing to comply with UN Directives. Move No fly Up 1 minute to the 33 Parallel. Saddam states that he will no longer honor no fly zone. Charlie Heidal is on 590 supporting Iris Gold Rotation with 5th Special Forces Group.
1998-02-01 Desert Thunder By SSgt Szczepaniak
The annual “DESERT FALL FLING” starts once again, by January 1998 heated words are exchanged. Late January 98′ 5th Special Forces Group is alerted for deployment to Kuwait. 5th SFG SOF TACP (SSgt James Price at Ft Campbell / MSgt Chris Brewer is already in country) is told to prepare for deployment, 22nd ASOF (Ft Bragg) receives request from US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) for additional SOF TACP support. MSgt Mark Lutz (3rd SFG) and SSgt Greg Szczepaniak (7th SFG) are told they will leave in the morning to link up with SSgt Price at Ft Campbell. The SOF TACP’s are assigned to an A-TEAM making them unlucky man #13. Team training and integration is conducted over the next week and a half. Three A-TEAMS (with SOF TACP’s) and a Command and Control element deploy from Ft Campbell. Link up with MSgt Brewer in country. Told that Teams will move out to Ali Al Salem AB. SOF TACP’s are asked to be advance team since USAF elements are running the still being built tent city. SOF TACP’s arrange tent space and chow and acquire very scarce building supplies along with providing the Sat-Link back to the main force on Camp Doha. Over the next few months SOF TACP’s do several missions with the A-TEAM’s they are assigned to while advising and living amongst the locals. The 3rd ID and its TACP’s from Ft Stewart arrive sometime at the end of Feb or beginning of March and that leg errr I mean Mech thing. AIRBORNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1999-03-27 The US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center dedicates the new Military Free-Fall terminal to SSgt Brain Daly “The Daly Special Operations Forces Airborne Terminal” A bronze plaque is mounted on about a 1000lb rock outside the terminal and a shadow box with photo of Brian, all of his awards, patches, and a TACP beret are mounted inside the terminal for permanent display.
1999-04-17 MSgt Dave Devine , SSgt Jerry Campbell , SrA Tom McIntosh , and A1C Kirk Snyder from Det 2, 1 ASOS deploy in support of TASK FORCE HAWK, Tirane, Albania, during Kosovo conflict. They support the 1-6 Infantry Bat, 2 BDE, 1 Armored Division, for the security of Tirana airfield. Campbell and McIntosh participate in numerous RECONs throughout Albania with elements of 1-6 Inf while Devine functions as BALO at the Battalion TOC.
1999-04-27 Maj Rich Catano (ALO), SSgt John Chapman , SSgt Angel Magallanez , and SrA Mat Richmond deploy in support of TASK FORCE HAWK. They deploy to man the 2 Brigade Combat Team (BCT) TOC at Tirana Air Base, Albania. 17 May, Maj Catano and SSgt Chapman deploy to a forward observation position (OP) on Albania/Kosovo border. This is the most forward TACP in Albania well within Serbian artillery range. From their position they visually observe NATO bombing, Serb artillery/AAA, and numerous small arms tracer rounds. Their mission is to observe Serbian artillery and direct air strikes. On 20 May Serb artillery firing is observed and called-in by Catano and Chapman. This is the first call-in by TACP personnel in Albania during air bombing campaign. Between 20 May and 6 June, Chapman and Magallanez call-in approximately 27 enemy artillery and mortar fires. Based on pilot reports, their call-ins result in numerous Serbian artillery and mortars destroyed or seriously damaged. Efforts contribute directly to timely target data to Combined Air Operations Center.
2000-02-27 Billy Bergum , and Stu Blaisdel control the air over the Jets vs. Broncos Game today. Buckley tower does all airspace, TACPs coordinate with the Jets (Planes) and the Army Helos for space deconfliction and timing. TTT is the National Anthem.
2001-03-12 Navy FA-18s Drop 3xMK-82s on OP10 in Kuwait killing Jason Faley and seriously injuring Timothy Crusing.
2001-09-11 Islamic terrorist hijack 4 commercial airliners. Two, they drive into the Twin towers in New York, the third they ram the Pentagon with and the fourth crashes into a field in Penn. It is believed that the passengers took back the 4th aircraft before it could hit its intended target. Over 4000+ personnel are listed as missing or dead.
Osama Bin Laden has been linked to the terrorist action. The Hunt has begun
2001-10-01 US Forces, in cooperation with British and other nations have started combat operations in Afghanistan. Ground troops will mostly be Special Operations Personnel. Check your classified email for specific unit listings.
2001-10-19 3/75 Ranger executes jump operations into Afghanistan in support of SOF mission
2002-03-04 Roberts Ridge 0115Z. Kevin “Scrappy” Vances official
2002-04-05 
SOF TACP members performing overwatch. Preparing to call in an airstrike.
2003-02-19 On Wednesday, February 19th, 2003, TSgt. Jackson, SRA Venable, and their Special Force Team, were enroute to their base camp returning from a combat mission. A SOF Team member AND SRA VENABLE were IN THE SECOND VEHICLE. Two other team members were IN THE THIRD VEHICLE. TSgt Jackson and a Team member were in the fourth vehicle. THE ROAD WAS COVERED in SNOW. When the trail they were on ended, THEY FOLLOWED A CUT THROUGH path, in order to RETURN TO THE PRIMARY road. THE FIRST TWO VEHICLES PASSED THROUGH WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE THIRD VEHICLE STRAYED SLIGHTLY OFF OF THE PREVIOUS VEHICLES TRACKS. A LARGE EXPLOSION ROCKED THE SURROUNDING area AND TSgt. JACKSON WITNESSED THE third VEHICLE JUMP INTO THE AIR AND RESETTLE in ruins. IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAD SUSTAINED most OF THE DAMAGE. TSgt Jackson made an IMMEDIATE CALL FOR MEDEVAC support and took cover. Once he could not reach his primary contact, HE EXECUTED the alternate requesting method and sent the request. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EXPLOSION, TWO SOF Team GUNNERS WENT INTO THE TURRETS AND DID A SWEEP, LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL PERSONNEL WHO COULD HAVE INITIATED THE MINE. HOWEVER, NO PERSONNEL or TRACKS WERE SEEN AND THIS PART OF THE ROAD IS NOT TRAVELLED OFTEN. The Team then REALIZED they WERE IN A MINEFIELD. Although he was already clear of the minefield, SRA VENABLE went back into the area, and was among THE FIRST personnel TO reach the injured. He assisted the other team members in rendering first aid. IT was CLEAR THAT MEDEVAC was necessary, AND a medical professional was needed ON SITE IMMEDIATELY. The injured personnel’s RIGHT FOOT WAS TRAUMATICALLY AMPUTATED and A DEEP GASH WAS evident just under HIS RIGHT EYE. When the patient BECAME COLD, they WRAPPED HIM IN A SLEEPING SYSTEM, and moved him into a vehicle WHERE IT WAS WARMER. This helped in preventing the patient from going into shock. THE MEDEVAC ARRIVED AND TRANSPORTED the injured to a medical facility. The immediate actions of TSgt. Jackson and SRA Venable led to the survival and evacuation of injured military personnel. While SRA Venable sacrificed his own safety, and went back into the minefield in order to rescue another member of his Team, TSgt. Jackson stayed in the danger area and called for the Medevac until he and the rest of his Team could exit the area safely. The selfless actions of TSgt. Jackson and SRA Venable reflect great credit on themselves, the Louisiana National Guard, and the United States Air Force.
2003-02-25 Significant unit movement in build up to Gulf War II. Charlie Heidal deploys to Kuwait to deliver much needed equipment and provide training on it. Stays for the fight.
2003-03-20 Gulf War part Deux By Charlie Heidal
Near Midnight on the morning of the 20th I was standing on the Iraq/Kuwait border with the CSM of the Corps Jump TAC. As far as the eye could see to the south under Nods was chem sticks attached to vehicle bumpers. Vast columns of combat power stretching to the southern horizon. To the North was completely black. If anyone was there, they were keeping a very low profile…who could blame them. Crews mostly asleep, minor maintenance going on….and tom brokaw with a powerful spotlight on him providing a bit of voice over to his “…The war has started…” news report. 2 hours later, that report was published as 24th Mech jumped the border. M1 Abrams doing “track stands” as they applied max power and launched across the border. My comment to the SGM was “…Someone is about to have their ass handed to them…”.
2003-03-22 TACP Combat Loss A disgruntled Army soldier tosses grenades into the 101st TOC and unloads his weapon through the tent killing two. One, was Major Gregory L. Stone. Major Gregory “Linus” Stone died of wounds received during a grenade attack on the 22nd of March, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, which he was assigned to as an Air Liaison Officer (ALO) at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait, Monday March 24th, 2003. Major Stone was a member of the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS), 124th Wing, Idaho Air National Guard, located at Gowen Field. Maj Stone was mobilized and deployed in support of 19 ASOS. He was a true professional, who lead from the front, volunteered for this assignment and died preparing to support and defend the constitution of the United States, as he had vowed to do over 20 years ago. Maj Stone leaves behind family members, loved ones and many friends. Maj. Stone was born February 6, 1963 , in Weiser, Idaho.
2003-03-26 The Largest jump since World War II into Bashur Airfield Iraq. Over 1100 jumpers + pallets in 19 C-17s put knees in the breeze in the dark of the night. Jumpers landed between 2 kilometers short of, and 3.5 kilometers long of the Drop zone. With the mud and the muck, it took over 12 hours to assemble the unit.
The following TACP’s jumped in to Iraq with the 173rd Airborne:
Blaine Anderson
Conan Higgins
Matthew Foote
Ryan Knight
Juan Valentin
Alejandro Castillo
Faustino Martinez
Mitchell Yang
Leo Ortiz
Todd Brooks, Col Vicenza TACP CC
Brad O’Neil (AMLO)
Bryan Shelton (BDE ALO)
James Maunz (BN ALO)
Photos of pre-jump are available inside the secure area of the site.
2003-03-31 TACP Combat Loss FOX News, API: BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Rebel fighters fired more than a dozen rockets and mortars at U.S. military positions in eastern Afghanistan, prompting an air strike that left at least two attackers dead, an Army spokesman said Monday. The mortar and rocket fire missed their marks, and no U.S. soldiers were injured, Col. Roger King told reporters at Bagram Air Base, the headquarters of the U.S.-led coalition north of Kabul. The attacks Sunday came a day after an ambush in southern Helmand province killed two U.S. servicemen, the first American combat deaths in Afghanistan since December and a sign rebel activity is increasing after the start of the war in Iraq. A U.S base near the town of Shkin, in the eastern Paktika province, came under fire by about a dozen 82 mm mortar rounds, King said. Soldiers spotted three vehicles leaving the area and called in air support from a Marine AV-8 Harrier jet and two Apache helicopter gunships. The Harrier dropped a 1,000-pound, laser-guided bomb into the cluster of vehicles, King said. The Apaches did not fire any weapons. “The initial battle damage assessment was that we killed two individuals associated with these vehicles,” King said. Separately, assailants fired two rockets at a U.S. post in the eastern town of Gardez, in neighboring Paktia province. No one was injured. In addition, a rocket was fired at the Kabul Military Training Center late Sunday in the capital, King said. The attack came about the same time as a rocket hit the headquarters of the international peacekeeping force that patrols Kabul. No injuries were reported. “It was a busy night,” King said. Afghan authorities say Taliban, their Al Qaeda allies and forces loyal to a renegade rebel commander are behind the attacks. Saturday’s attack in the southern province of Helmand was the first fatal encounter for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since December. A Special Forces soldier and an airman were killed and another Special Forces trooper wounded when their four-vehicle convoy was ambushed on a reconnaissance patrol. Three Afghan soldiers also were wounded. The Americans killed were identified by U.S. authorities and family members as Army Special Forces Sgt. Orlando Morales, 33, of Manati, Puerto Rico and Staff Sgt. Jacob L. Frazier, 24, a member of the Illinois Air National Guard from St. Charles, Ill. The ambush took place two days after an international Red Cross worker was killed in neighboring Kandahar province. The region is the birthplace of the hardline Taliban regime driven from power by U.S.-led forces in late 2001. U.S. forces and Afghan militia have been conducting sweeps in Kandahar province — and such offensives often spur more rebel activity. Hundreds of coalition forces swept into the Helmand Valley last month for Operation Viper, and patrols of the perilous area continue. The ambush was part of an “uptick” in rebel activity following the start of the Iraq war about 10 days ago, he said. Posters supposedly written by the Taliban’s elusive leader Mullah Mohammed Omar have recently appeared in eastern Afghanistan renewing his call for a holy war against U.S. troops and Afghans who work with them. “Whenever the non-Muslims attack a Muslim land it is the duty of everyone to raise against the aggressor,” said the posters, which carried the signatures of 600 Islamic clerics. “We were blamed for Usama bin Laden because they said he was a terrorist and he was taking shelter with us. But what is the fault of Iraq? Iraq has no Usama bin Laden in his country,” it said
2003-04-25 TACP Combat Loss Airman 1st Class Raymond Losano, 24, of Del Rio, Texas, died of wounds received April 25 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Losano was a tactical air command and control specialist assigned to the 14th Air Support Operation Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
2005-09-01 Laughin Air Force Base dedicates a Gym to Raymond Losano
2009-04-01 Officer Careerfield approved for Beta 1 evaluation with 10 selectees. These individuals would begin to replace the existing officer cadre with Enlisted personnel trainined as ROMADs.
2009-06-01 Officer Careerfield approved for Beta 2 evaluation.
2009-06-26 The TACP Memorial was dedicated today at Hurlburt Field Florida. Link to Photos
