VIETNAM
Tan Son Nhut Air Base
Heavy Weapons, Page-2
37th SPS (c.1 Aug 1966 - 31 Mar 1970); 1041st CSPS(T) (Jan-Jul 1967); 12th SPS (31 Mar 1970 - 17 Nov 1971)
© 2009, by VSPA

HEAVY WEAPONS

1. Tan Son Nhut AB, Security Police Heavy Weapons, Tet 1968.
Photo composite by Don Poss.

3. Tan Son Nhut AB, 377th Security Police, engaging NVA/VC during Base Defense, Tet 1968.
Photo by unknown.

4. Tan Son Nhut AB, 377th Security Police, engaging NVA/VC during Base Defense, Tet 1968.
Photo by unknown.

5. Tan Son Nhut AB, 377th Security Police, engaging NVA/VC during Base Defense, Tet 1968.
Photo composite by Don Poss.

6. Tan Son Nhut AB, 377th Security Police, engaging NVA/VC during Base Defense, Tet 1968.
SPs view bodies of Communist forces killed at West end of Runway, TSN AB, during Tet 1968 Offensive.
Photo by unknown.

7. Tan Son Nhut AB, 377th SPS form blocking force, morning of Tet 1968 attack at TSN. Photo by unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Tan Son Nhut AB, 377th SPS QRT looking for trouble, morning of Tet 1968 attack at TSN. Photo by unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Tan Son Nhut AB, V100, SAT HW, searching for concealed NVA/VC, morning of Tet 1968. Photo by Randy Snyder, CRB, 483rd SPS; BH, 3rd SPS; TSN 377th SPS, 1972-1973.

11. Tan Son Nhut AB, US Army 25th Infantry armor arrive morning of Tet 1968.
Photo by unknown.

Courtesy of the Tan Son Nhut Association

Ernie Mitchell  (505th Tactical Control Group),  Apr 17, 2009

Comments: I was in the 505th Tactical Control Group.  Our barracks was right next to your chow hall --- in fact we shared the chow hall with the 377th.  I was in country from Sep 1967 to Apr 1969.

I remember Christmas of 1968 when our maintenance people put florescent bulbs on the side of the raydome in the shape of a star and a Christmas tree. Every 7 seconds, then the radar would sweep by the bulbs the radiation would cause them to light up.  I also seem to remember Charlie getting irate about that and sending in a few rounds.

Sorry, I don't have any pictures. I was the mess check at the chow hall during one of the worst days of Tet ---- the day one of our people was killed on the radar tower. I was the only one in the chow hall that was armed when a hell of a fire fight broke out out back behind the chow hall.  The ARVN pulled up with an automatic weapon and things got really weird.  We were told there was enemy in the compound but it may have been a case of nerves.

You boys of the 377th Security Police took a well deserved place in the history books during Tet.  I still carry the names of the boys of the 0-51 Bunker, in my wallet.  Had it not been for the 377th SPS holding the line (against all odds) long enough for the 25th Infantry to come in with armor Tan Son Nhut would have been lost.

"Thank You" and "Welcome Home"

Ernie Mitchell