GEEIA

I am looking for anyone and any information about my husband Stacy Ottis Barber, he served in the 485th GEEIA

hello again,

I AM HERE TO UPDATE SOME INFORMATION ON STACY OTTIS BARBOUR,HE WENT FROM THE 485TH TO THE 483RD GEEIA SQUADRON KORAT RTAFB, THAILAND (AFLC) HIS CURRENT DUTY : Telephone Switching Equipment Repairman, Electro/Mechanical. Installs XY Telephone Central Offices, 304 Key Systems, Fire and Crash Reporting Systems, Four-Wire Ect.......It says on his paper  "Reporting Official: Eugene Jordon, SSgt, 483rd Team Chief, Richard J. Eidson, MSgt. 483rd --NCOIC inside plant -- Louis P. Hanna, CWO W4, 483rd OIC Wire Branch. Stacy had a Commander 483rd GEEIA Squad Lt. Col. USAF Kenneth L. Jones, (NO LONGER WITH US) He signed a certificate stating that Stacy was in Vietnam but the VA wont accept it and it is an org. Stacy grade was A2C his order number was 2902. He was stationed in Vietnam in 1967 he was with the 483rd out of Korat, Thailand and was flown TDY with the 485th the papers say he was in Phang Ran and Way. Does anyone remember him or the others that I have put in this note???? I am scanning a picture and some papers to see if anyone can help me. Some of the papers also state he was with the Ground Electronic Engineering Installation Agency Does anyone know what medals that these initials go to "NDSM, VSM,RVCM,VSM w/1 BBS, AFM 900-3. His specialty number and title were 36251- Tele Swt Equip Specl His rank at time of discharge was A1c then he became A2C. Does anyone remember him being in Vietnam with them in the GEEIA squad???? Please help if you can.

thank you,
Janet

JTLOTT,

You may remember me as Robert Simmons or Tony Simmons. I was a team chief in the 485th at Cam Rahn Bay. Worked with Ray Peterson, TD Roof, Blacky Blackwelder and the rest. Are you the JT Lott that I remember?

janet2421,

I have posted or mailed you before about Stacy. I corrected your names on the photo from Utapao in Thailand. Al Bell, Larry Jolliffe(deceased) and I worked with him in Utapao at the telephone exchange installation. I do not remeber anything about him other than his name. Was his nickname "Skip"?
You mention he's been deceased for 11 years now. The only thing I suggest to you is to contact a VFW Post near you and ask if their Service Officer can help you with your claims. In an earlier post you say you cant prove he was in VietNam. You asked about the medals he was awarded that are shown on his DD 214? The one your interested in for proof of service in Nam is the the one with the initials "VSM"

That medal is the Vietnam Service Medal. If the DD 214 shows this award it is proof of service in Nam. The VA should not question if he was there as the DD 214 is proof of service.

Thats the best advice I can tell you.

Janet , This is Bob Evans again.  I sent you an e-mail earlier tonight.  I just wanted to tell you about the abbreviations.  NDSM stands for National Defense Service Medal, VSM stands for Vietnam Service Medal, RVCM stands for Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal, .  AFM 900-3 is the Air Force Manual authorizing the issues of these medals.  If the VSM and RVCM medals are listed on his DD Form 214, then this is proof that he served in Vietnam.  Since you have my e-mail address and telephone number please contact me for further information.  Bob.

jackkovalski wrote:

I always accompanied my Dad to his WW II reunions but never had any interest in seeking out anything that had to do with my time in Viet Nam.  After I lost Dad I decided that it was time to start looking for information about my squadron in Viet Nam.  I did a Google search and found this group.

On my 22nd birthday, October 12, 1970, I got orders to report to the 485th in Cam Rahn Bay before the end of the month.  At the time I was assigned to the 5th MOB in Warner Robins, GA.  I wasn't as concerned about going  Nam as I was about having to be there in less than three weeks.  All sorts of things went through my mind.

When I arrived and reported to the Colonel he said "What the hell am I going to do with you"?  As it turned out I was the first of 30 to arrive for a special project.  The only problem was that the project had been cancelled but not the personnel order.

For the first few weeks some of the other guys and myself who had nothing else to do  reported to the squadron motor pool to wash the vehicles.  There were a lot of unused trucks!

Eventually there were things found for us to do and I traveled all over the country.  I don't remember doing many construction jobs though.  I mostly did maintenance and training. By the time I arrived construction was winding down and the phone systems were being turned over to the VNAF. 

I took hundreds of slides while there and as soon as I figure out how to post them to this group I'll start sharing some of them.

Jack Kovalski

Nice you found the site and I would like to see some of your pics

I was in Nam TDY from the 2875th in 68" and we did two telephone central office expansions at Bien Hoa and Can Tho. 6 months worth of rocket and mortar ducking while there.

The pics can be posted from the GEEIA.org site  Using the gallery for your squadron. They don't show up here on the forum anywhere only on the main site

Jack,,,,,,,,,,many years pass and we forget things-------------GEEIA was pat of the AFLC at that time

Air Force Logistics Command

If you need more help read the last post in the Index  named "Photo Help" posted by Lt Fuzz

The password is case sensitive and you can only upload the photos one at a time so be prepared unless you have a really great connection

I've been able to upload a few more photos.  Instead of uploading the digitized slides all at once I've decided to clean them up before I post them.  As I get one finished I'll upload it. 

I posted a self portrait I took of myself while TDY in Ben Hoa in 1971.  At the time I was 100 pounds lighter and had lots of hair.  If anyone remembers me let me know.

There are also a couple of photos of the new housing we moved to in Cam Rahn Bay.  We liked the old hootches better and no wanted to move but we had no choice.  They weren't bad once we moved in and got used to them.

Finally, I posted a photo of the truck I was assigned.  I still think it was the favorite truck I ever had.  It was very fast, very powerful, and I made a lot of money pulling out lesser vehicles that got stuck at Tiger Lake. 

Jack

Janet,
I've done some research on some of my old units and the following info. might help.  You might have already contacted these units, if not they might be able to give you the info. that you need.

afpc.randolph.af.mil                        ph.  800 616 3775

afhra.maxwell.af.mil       (military records)

I hope these webs sites will be of assistance.  Good luck
                                                               
                                                              Best Regards,

                                                              Bill Miller   2874th. GEEIA

J. Telott

I don't remember you by name, but we had to cross paths. Went to crypto school Aug 68 - May 69. Was in 485th Jul 70 - Jul 71. Was part of the "rodeo" in the club house. Was on team with Blackie Blackburn, Steve Benjamin, and Ron Davis. Had a dog named Heinz and a pet monkey that used to ride him around Cam Rahn Bay. Hooch maid ended up killing and cooking the monkey. Had a small farm (goats, chickens, ducks) before leaving. The Navy guys stole and BBQed the goats. I worked in motor pool with Charlie Brown and Jerry Conger when we weren't on the road. Charlie, Jerry, Steve Theory and I had a wreck coming back from a run to Natrang. That might have been after you left.

The things that you do to maintain sanity.

Had some good times with the guys in 485th. Haven't heard from any of them in years.

Retired from AF in 1988. Now have a son and son-in-law in AF. Both doing good. Things sure have changed though.

Would like to hear from others that were there in 70 -71


Jim

Doyle, Michael

You are right..that was a bunch of great guys. Unfortunately, I cannot remember very many by name. Spent some time at Phan Rang. Celebrated my 21st birthday there with some guys from Aussie 2nd Sq. (Bomb dump Billy and others). Drank Aussie beer and ate Korean C rations that Sam Johnson had on hand. Still don't care for Kimshe.