7th DASF

604th Direct Air Support Squadron was activated on
15 September 1968 at Wheeler AFB, Hawaii;
receiving most of its personnel from the
7th Direct Air Support Flight that was
Deactivated September 15, 1968.

The 604th DASS deployed Direct Air Support Center and Tactical Air Control Party
Elements of the Tactical Air Control System as directed by CINC-PACAF.

Ssgt. Gary Hauge
Tsgt. Herman Daggett
A2C. Roger Medlock
A1c. Jack Jenkins
Ssgt. Robert Weaver (not sure about that name)
A1c. Miller
Ssgt. Murrey
Ssgt. Bob Crawford
Ssgt. Bob Taylor
Tsgt. Robert Sullivan
Ssgt. Everett Winkler
A1c. Thomas Stear

I am retired from the AF in 1979. I have a little history and some memories of the 7 DASF at Wheeler AB , Hawaii.

I was stationed there in 1966 thu 1969. The commander was Ltc. Douglas D. Stewart and his assistant was Ltc. William I. MacLachlan. There were three other officers; two Captains and Major which I don't recall the names. The 7th mainly supported the US Army 25th Division and later the 11th Brigade which went to RVN in 1968 assigned to the Americal Division at Chu Lie.

Other training was accomplished alongside with a group of security police part of project Safe Side. I later ran into some of them at Pleiku AB on my second trip to beautiful RVN. We also supported the Hawaiian Air National Guard and the Ohio Air National Guard in route to Viet Nam.

There were 27 members of that unit 5 officers and 22 enlisted. We had MRC 108's, PRC 71, PRC 25, and PRC 41 for radio gear and the memorable M141A1 jeep. Much of our training was done on the Big Island and on the north shore of Oahu.

I remember one time I was sent out to support one company on the north shore and the rain was a mess. The roads were like ice in that red clay. My jeep ran off the road into a ditch and I was stuck. I radioed for assistance and out of the jungle came a group of men and they literally picked up the jeep and put me back on the road. The commander was a young captain by the name of Schwarzkopf (later became a 4 Star General). I never put the two together until years later.

LT. Col. MacLachlan , Ssgt. Robert Sullivan, Ssgt. Everett Winkler, A1c. Thomas Stear and I went to Duc Pho arriving on the first night of TET 1968. We were supposed to land at Da Nang but were diverted to Cam Rahn Bay due to the fireworks all over Viet Nam. The next morning two of us went to Da Nang, myself and I can't remember who went with me to Duc Pho on my C-130. We made a what was called a combat assault landing which seemed to me to be more like a touch and go anyway, some place in between we were exited, jeep, trailer and all onto the runway. (I will put that against any roller coaster ride in the US) The C-130 never slowed down or looked back. The other two folks traveled by road from Da Nang arriving several days later.

Another occasion while supporting the 11th Bde in Duc Pho. I was on radio watch one night and the hot line to Chu Lie (we tried to stay off the radio as Charlie was listening), The Major on the other end said that Puff The Magic Dragon was on his way to support us. I questioned that request as it was very quiet and I was told that an immediate request for a gun ship was made due to a mortar attack. I checked with the TOC and was told no request was made from the 11 or any of it units. I called the major back and cancelled the request and he said that someone had put a note on his desk that we were under heavy mortar fire. I said nope. And hung up. I took two steps from the phone and all hell broke loose. I called him back and said to send the gun ship which he did. We took over 115 rounds that night the first 18 rounds got our first 17 new helicopters in the revetments.

Our first trip to Viet Nam was cut short by the Navy when North Korea captured the USS Pueblo. Some of us were sent to Korea and I spent 96 days north of the Freedom Bridge across the Im Jin River with one of the Army units. After that I went back to Viet Nam and was part of Det 2620th TCS.

Years later I saw Col. MacLachlan when he was the Commander of Kelly AFB, in San Antonio. I sat in his office for nearly an hour and we talked over old times. I found out that Ltc. Douglas D. Stewart finally got his wish to go back to a University in charge of the ROTC unit. That he did and shortly after he was given a choice to retire or face some charges. He retired.

That's about all I can recall at the moment but maybe it will stir up someone's memory to add to the above.

As an added note: I was working with the Air Force Special Operations Command a few years ago and I was able to talk to one of the Historians for the TACP training squadron. These new guys get a lot more training and are all volunteers now.

They are a sharp hard fighting group. The historian told me that the original DASF units were to original foundation for the modern day TACP's. AFSOC is now responsible for all TACP training.

I don't really have much info for you, but I was in the 7th DASF out of Wheeler AFB, Hawaii. I think Leroy Shepherd was there also, the name is very familiar but I'm not certain. I don't really know much more, but I'd be interested to hear anything you know about the old outfit. I transferred out in 1965 to 507 DASS, Shaw AFB.

Gerry Geddings

Hi Robin,

I just had a chance to read all of your site. Previously I was looking at the output of a search engine that had much less info.

I was part of the Yokota AFB 1 SHORAN from late 1962 until it was disbanded and we formed the DASF's in 1963 or 1964. I recall being offered the option of Clarke or Hawaii so apparently there was a DASF in Clarke. I took Hawaii and was among the startup group at Wheeler AFB. I was a B30454T A2c at the time. (I wouldn't have remembered that except on your site someone mentioned the old designator which rang a bell.)

I recall there was a LTCol. in charge, but I don't seem to remember any of the names. Wait, there was a SSgt. Kerry who was probably the senior enlisted man. He was the only married one anyway. I don't remember too many details about our missions, partly by choice. We were assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, the 1st Air Cavalry and at one point the 1st Armored. We often worked with a marine similar type unit called I believe 1st ANGLICO or something similar.

After being discharged in 1966, I went back into the navy in 1973 (NAVAIR) and retired in 1989. I held a security clearance for all those years, and for different reasons later until 2004. For that reason I always found it best to forget most of the Viet Nam years.

I do have a photo somewhere of me with a MRC 108 which I will scan and send to you. I'm very interested in any info you turn up about my old group.

Gerry

I stumbled on this website reminiscing about my early AF experiences. I do remember Gerry Geddings. The 7th originally started out with 4 radio maint personnel, 3 came from Japan (SSgt Donald Kerry, SSgt Alcala, A1c ??? or was it A2c Geddings). I myself came from Mt. Hebo AFS, Oregon. We had a Col. Fowler who got in about a month after we did, and then we all got assigned to Wheeler AFB. Our mission were to support the 25 Inf Div with close air support (training in the Kahuku's, and Pohakuloa training areas). Our TACP consisted of 1 FAC, 1 Radio Operator, and 1 Radio Maintenance personnel. During Vietnam, I got deployed (4 TACP teams) to Pleiku with the 3rd Brigade, 25th ID from Dec 1965 to June 1966. The rest of the unit got deployed to Chu Chi from Feb 1966 to ???. I got discharged in Aug 1966 and lost all contacts with the 7th personnel. I enlisted in the Hawaii Air National Guard in 1982 and I was surprised to see that they had the MRC-108, which they were using as a backup for their mobile control tower. I retired in 2004 as a CMSgt. Why I stayed so long I don't know.

That picture that Gerry posted, the bottom right is of A2c Johnny Tolbert, power production. I don't know if I have any pictures but will check (got to dig it out) and send it to you.

Owen