Here it was the end of September 1964. I was all of 17 years old, fresh out of Basic Training and Clerk-typist school. I wouldn't turn 18 years old for about another two and a half weeks. It was hard to imagine what had happened to me in the last few months, especially the last couple of weeks.
I had to leave my Mom at home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She didn't want to come to the airport, because it would be too rough on her. She didn't even know what foreign destination her oldest son was going into. His orders said "APO 96233", but it was just another number to her. Nobody could tell her where it was located, not even the people at the US Post Office. Though, the 17 year old, young soldier and his Mom would soon find out that there is a place on this earth called 'Korat, Thailand'.
How Did I Get Here?
As a matter of fact, I left Kalamazoo, MI on a DC10 headed to Chicago, IL. From Chicago, I rode in one of those fancy Boeing 707 all the way to San Francisco, CA. WHOOPS! I forget to tell Mom that I had left three days early. I didn't want to report in late, and besides, I'd never been to the Golden Gate State. Within two hours of landing at the airport, I found a room and a girl to play with, but not in that order. I got to see Napa Valley, Presidio of Monterey, Palisades Park, the zoo and the Golden Gate bridge. I even made a trip to San Bernadino to meet her Mom before having to report into Oakland Army Base, the next morning.
For the next few days, I would have been doing chores around the base while I was waiting for my movement orders; but this girl came to the processing company and took me on visitor's pass for the next three days.
The morning of the fourth day, I was moving out and couldn't go play with my little friend. So, she got my class ring and I got her address. Next stop 'APO 96233', wherever that is....
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I Don't Like Flying Backwards, and No Window Seats Too!
Twenty-two hours of flying backwards and eating box lunches is not my idea of fun. Though, here I was in Bangkok, Thailand. This wasn't where I was going, but at least I knew what country I was in. I didn't even get to see the city. Back then, Don Muang Int'l Airport was on the outskirts of the city. They loaded us on Thai buses and we headed north. About three hours later, the bus pulled in front of a military base gate. The sign said "HQ, 9th Logistical Command (B), Camp USARTHAI. I finally found out where I was going, but I had no idea where it was at.....
"WELCOME TO KORAT, THAILAND"
Army Commands and Units
This site is dedicated to those that have not returned.
If you served in a Army unit that was stationed in or commanded from Korat, Thailand, we are looking for you. Without you and many others, this site would be for my pleasure. Please join me to help locate and find those people that we served with. We might be able to find a lost husband, uncle, brother or sister. We could even remember a few names of those that were on the Duty Roster not long ago. Send us a memory, a story, a picture and a name. We're looking forward to recalling the journey that brought so many of us together. Remember the Company Roster? Whose name was under yours? Can't recall, drop a line and we'll find out together.
JACK COOK
Send me an email.......
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