I was assigned to the 2nd Platoon upon arriving. My jobs included building trusses for the new billets, installing door frames, windows, etc. In November 1968, I was chosen to drive CPT. Thurman E. Dawson, D Company Commander, and moved to HQ Platoon.
Upon his PCS, I requested and was assigned to the EM (earth moving) Platoon where I drove a 10 ton tractor and trailer rig hauling heavy equipment until my departure. I also got to operate the D7 & D8 dozers, 290 Scraper and other equipment.
I PCS'ed back to the states on orders to Germany. Wanting to return to Thailand, I drove to the Pentagon and got my orders changed and returned to Thailand assigned. I was assigned to the 809th Engineer Battalion, based at Camp Ruam Chit Chai, with further assigment to D Company located near a small town called Ku Su Mon, half way between Sakon Nakon and Nakhon Phanom (see my 809th Home Pages).
I remained with D Company, 809th for about four months and worked as a road grader operator. We were building a highway from Sakon Nakhon to Nakhon Phanom (NKP). I had requested a transfer back to the 538th when I first arrived at the 809th. I was finally reassigned in November 1969 back to D Company, 538th Engineer Battalion at Camp Samae San. I again I drove a 10 ton tractor trailer and operated other heavy equipment.
When the battalion started it's deactivation around February 1970, I was reassigned to the 260th Transportation Company located on Camp Samae San. I remained there working as a dispatcher for about five months before I PCS'ed back to Ft. Knox, Kentucky in July 1970.
I returned to Camp Samae San in March 1972 on orders to the 313th Transportation Company but soon learned it had been deactivated. I was assigned to the 9th AG Army Postal Detachment located on Camp Samae San. I worked there until about January 1973. I requested, and was reassigned again to the 260th Transportation Company, 3rd Platoon.
The following is some of my adventure as a 17 year kid off to see the world. If it interests you, and you can relate to it, let me know and there will be more. If not, send me your story and I'll post it up here.
Updated: 8 March 2001Camp Samae San, Thailand.
