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WWW.46THSFCA.ORG46th Special Forces Company (Airborne) AssociationThailand.Newsletter November 2014.To all our Members and Friends around the World.Click here to find us on FacebookGREETINGS FROM THE DESK OF: REED F. (CADILLAC) JOHNSONReed F. (Cadillac) Johnson D2550L, USA SF MSG(R), CEO 46TH SFCALife Member VFW Post 9430 Skyway WA. Life Member SFA CH 3 Bangkok ThailandPast VFW Dpt. Cdr. Panama Canal 1980-81October 1stDean Meyers, member and long time supporter of the 46th’s Schools Programs hosted a birthday party for his housekeeperDao, at The Ninja Thai BBQ restaurant. There were a total of 24 guests with lots of food and a few cakes.Among the guests was Reed & Pranee Johnson with daughter, Eye, our favorite Taxi Driver and friend Chamnan, with hiswife Somboon. Dean from the US (in the white shirt) is retired and previously worked as a teacher in a Lao-speaking area. Helives near Pattaya in Thailand.

October 21stEye Johnson (in front) with friends(Ma, La and Bell) at a one dayseminar at Kasetsart University inBangkok on Oct. 21 2014 from8a.m. to 4p.m. 25000 studentsattended.UPCOMING EVENTSNov 1-2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 6Nov 22-23NovDec 5Dec 10June 5-10 2015Aug 9 2015Nov 7 2015Dragon long Boat races on the Moon River, Satuck, Buri Ram ProvinceMike Brock and Barry Peckham from Spokane WA arrive in ThailandBrian (our News Letter editor) & Nee Philipp arrive from the UKLoy Krathong (Thai Valentine’s Day)Surin Elephant FestivalDuring the month, visiting schools in Buri Ram & Chiang Mai ProvincesThe King’s Birthday also Father’s Day in Thailand.Thailand’s Constitution Day1st SFG (A) 2015 Reunion Washington DC (see below)Harley Davidson raffle drawWOUNDED WARRIOR CRUISE VFrom: hinthewoods@comcast.net Subject: 1st SFG(A) 2015 ReunionGreat News!!! The 2015 Reunion will be held in Washington DC. Patrick Kellener will be the Chairman and members ofChapter 11 will assist him. Pat will provide more information at a later date. VR, Harlow

WOUNDED WARRIOR CRUISE V Nov 8-15 2015For more information go to our web site or e-mail our travel agent LYNN DYE atLYNN@MARYSVILLETRAVEL.COM Tel: (844) 315-9941.

Members NewsNew MembersWelcome to Marty C Keef from San Diego CA. Marty served with the 46th in Thailand 1967-69 and1971-72.Jerry Nelson 46th Member & Supporter invites you to follow his blog. Jerry is a resident of the northern city of ChiangMai in Thailand. http://www.jerrycnx.blogspot.com http://www.jerrynelsonphoto.com/ http://www.cmirotary.org/From: Military.com newsltr@miltnews.com Date: October 2, 2014Subject: Pentagon Promises to Try to Cut Pay andBenefits AgainDeputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said Tuesday that the Pentagonwill continue pressing to trim military pay, pensions, and housingallowances despite rejections by Congress.The Pentagon will also try again to reform the Tricare health caresystem and kill the A-10 attack aircraft despite nearly universalopposition from veterans service organizations, Work said at a Councilon Foreign Relations forum."This whole idea of compensation is absolutely critical. Compensation(reform) is a really big deal" in DoD's efforts to maintain readiness, fightwars in Afghanistan and the Mideast and rebalance forces to the Pacificwhile working under the budgetary restrictions of the Congressionalsequester process, Work said.Matters will come to a head in February when DoD presents its next budget and the Military Compensation and RetirementModernization Commission presents its long-awaited reform recommendations, Work said.

Work said he expected that Congress will still be working under a continuing resolution on DoD's budget in February. "This istruly the last chance for us to make any moves in this space" on pay, pensions and other cost-cutting measures, said Work, aretired Marine colonel and former Navy undersecretary.Without the proposed cuts, the Pentagon will be left with a 70 billion hole in its budget, Work said, but Congress hasopposed "what we consider to be reasonable approaches. It's been no, no, no, no, no, no, no" to nearly every suggestion. "Thisis la-la land," Work said.The Military Officers Association of America and other veterans groups were bracing for the upcoming fight with DoD onpay and benefits. "I don't expect that the Department is going to ease off on any of these next year," said retired Col. MikeHayden, MOAA's director of government relations.Hayden said that DoD was "looking at any way to try to offset readiness costs by shifting them onto servicemembers and theirfamilies and retirees."Over the Labor Day weekend, President Obama sent notice to Congress limiting pay increases for the military and federalcivilian workers to one percent. The House has passed a bill for a military pay increase of 1.8 percent while the Senate has yetto act on an amendment offered by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Tex., for a similar 1.8 percent military pay raise.Work made the comments on pay and benefits in response to questions at the CFR forum. His main topic was the Obamaadministration's push to rebalance forces to the Asia-Pacific region, with 60 percent of military assets and personnel focusedon Asia and 40 percent elsewhere.Work said that Asian allies constantly point to the turmoil in the Mideast and Russian aggression in eastern Europe to ask himabout the Pacific pivot: "Is this rebalance really real?"However, the U.S. had the resources to "stay committed to Europe and the Mideast" while carrying out the rebalance, Worksaid, but budget constraints could mean that "we might not be able to go as fast as we like."To underline the administration's commitment to the rebalance, Work said that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, when theycome on line, would go first to the Pacific along with the new P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft. Work said that there alsowere plans to have the new Zumwalt class destroyer go first to the Pacific – "we hope." -- Richard Sisk can be reached atrichard.sisk@monster.comForward From: Radford Mays rmays999@yahoo.com Date: Oct 18 2014 Subject: Nationwide Telephone ScamAffecting TRICARE Beneficiaries. Original message from: TRICARE RE beneficiaries need to be aware of a telephone scam affecting beneficiaries over 65 and on Medicare nationwide. Acaller will usually identify themselves as being an official Medicare vendor, and will then offer to sell you back braces. Thecaller may have specific information that makes the call seem official, typically your address, phone numbers and doctor’sname. The caller is hoping this will convince you they are a legitimate vendor and that you will give them your social securitynumber and additional personal information. See tricare.mil/Health ScamAlertTAPS, LOST SOULS and SICK & DISTRESSED CALLS this month. (More info on our Web Site) and via Rev. RoyF. Hill searoy@nc.rr.comTAPSFrom: Leamon Ratterree notification ak2xwqaa@facebookmail.com Date: October 3, 2014 px?releaseid 16965&source GovDeliveryThe Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.Sgt. 1st Class Andrew T. Weathers, 30, of DeRidder, Louisiana, died Sept. 30, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center,Germany, from wounds sustained when the enemy attacked his unit with small arms fire Sept. 28, in Helmand Province,Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), EglinMEMORY LANE.THE C-130 ON DISPLAY AT THE FRONT GATE OF LITTLE ROCK AFB, ARKANSASInteresting Short History

This C-130A Hercules was the 126th built by Lockheed Aircraft corp. of Marietta, Georgia. It was accepted into theAir Force inventory on 23 August 1957.On 2 November 1972, it was given to the South Vietnamese Air Force as part of the Military Assistance Program. Afew years later, the aircraft would be involved in a historic flight.On 29 April 1975, this Herk was the last out of Vietnam during the fall of Saigon. With over 100 aircraft destroyed onthe flight line at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, some of them still burning, it was the last flyable C-130 remaining. In a verypanicked state, hundreds of people were rushing to get aboard, as the aircraft represented a final ticket to freedom.People hurriedly crowded into the Herk, packing in tighter and tighter. Eventually, the loadmaster informed the pilot,Major Phuong, a South Vietnamese instructor pilot, that he could not get the rear ramp closed due to the number ofpeople standing on it. In a moment of inspiration, Major Phuong slowly taxied forward, then hit the brakes. Theloadmaster called forward again stating he had successfully got the doors closed.In all, 452 people were on board, including a staggering 32 in the cockpit alone. Using a conservative estimate of 100pounds per person, it translated into an overload of at least 10,000 pounds. Consequently, the Herk used every bit ofthe runway and overrun before it was able to get airborne.The target was Thailand, which should have been 1:20 in flight time, but after an hour and a half, the aircraft was overthe Gulf of Siam, and they were clearly lost. Finally, a map was located, they identified some terrain features, and theywere able to navigate. They landed at Utapao, Thailand after a three and a half hour flight.Ground personnel were shocked at what "fell out" as they opened the doors. It was clear that a longer flight wouldalmost certainly have resulted in a loss of life. In the end, however, all 452 people made it to freedom aboard thishistoric C-130. 452 very happy passengers and I'll wager there wasn't one complaint about the service!Upon landing, the aircraft was reclaimed by the United States Air Force and assigned to two different Air NationalGuard units for the next 14 years.On 28 June 1989, it made its final flight to Little Rock Air Force Base and placed on permanent display.From; John Aiello johnaiellob36sf@hotmail.com Date: October 18, 2014 Subject: FAG, Former Action Guy’s:John Podlaski posted in VIETNAM VETERANS of AMERICA35 yrs later, Vietnam family reunites with Navy rescuers. View here ed-them/Links to Patriot Post:Daily Digest for Friday Oct 17 http://patriotpost.us/digests/30107Daily Digest for Thursday Oct 16 http://patriotpost.us/digests/30058From: Keoni Ronald May notification ak2xwqaa@facebookmail.com Sent: October 25 Subject: Ho Chi Minh trailpast and presentBombs, Craters, Tanks Guns, Remote tribal villages, lost roads of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Incredible .View here Ho Chi Minh trail past and present, hundreds of present day photos of the Ho ChiMinh TrailFrom: Ron Thomas rt18bf@gmail.com Date: September 17, 2014 Subject: FOR ALL WHO WERE IN VIETNAMAND THOSE CURIOUS ABOUT IT.Follow this link to view. Great pictures, lot of effort to put this /sets/72157625615256098/ Note: There are several "pages" of photos. The linksare at the bottom.If you have input for this section please contact us at sfca46thassoc@yahoo.com we will be pleased to include yourphotos, memories, stories and past recollections of your time in Thailand. We will also help you contact old or lostfriends, comrades and brothers through our “Lost Souls Section”Other SF links and NewslettersSFA Chapter 60SFA Chapter 90SFC Chapter 55SFA Chapter IXSFA Chapter 78 The September 2014 Chapter 78 SENTINEL may be viewed here. chapter-78-newsletter-september2014 This issue has the first part of a four part story on the formation and operations of D Company, 1st SFG(A) to the 46th SFCompany by SGM John Martin.