I was the first man into Bangkok with the 5th RRU (Prov.) in September 1959. To me, it all happened by accident. My tour of duty was from July 1957 to July 1960. Having just come back from Tuslog Det. 4, Sinop, Turkey, I was assigned to Camp Walters, Mineral Wells, Texas about 75 miles west of Ft. Worth/Dallas. I was assigned to the 316th USASA.
My MOS was that of a cryptographer, and I thought I was going to stay at Camp Walters, Texas until my tour was up. After all, they can’t send you overseas twice during a three-year tour. Want to bet?
They sent me to Bangkok on TDY, and that’s how they got around it.
37 men were transferred from various ASA bases in the states to Two Rock Ranch Station, Petaluma, California and on the the Philippine Islands under special orders dated September 15, 1959. From this group, a handful went on to Bangkok. Included in this group were the following men:
Vernon S. McGee MSGT
John W. Robinson SFC
William L. Batchelor SFC
Edward H. Jacksonn SFC
William H. Arrington SGT
James F. Keenann SGT
Kenneth W. Canton SP4
Walter H. ("Mike">) Tipert, SP4
Samuel J. Parker, SP4
and myself,
Paul P. Codinha, PFC.
We were the ones who went over to Bangkok from the PI during the first wave. As I recall, we went over in about two groups, one group arriving about a day or so before the other.
We were met in Bangkok by U. S. Ambassador U. Alix Johnson, who came to our house to greet us. The people were very gracious to us, and you could walk down the streets of Bangkok without worrying. Major Ladd from Hawaii was the OIC.
We traveled to work by VW buses with Thai drivers while the compound was being built. We really had an enjoyable stay there, even though we worked out of two-and-one-half ton trucks. The enlisted men were housed together; the NCOs were lodged in another house; and the OIC had his own house. We wore civilian clothes and received per diem in addition to our regular pay. We had special Thai badges in addition to our own, which provided diplomatic immunity. All in all, it was a wonder tour of duty which I will always remember.
I would be interested in hearing from any of the fellows who may have served with me at the 5th RRU in Bangkok. My address and telephone numbers are listed below.
Paul P. Codinha
70 Friend Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
978/532-7700 (Work)
978/283-8886 (Home)