Operation Millpond: U.S. Marines in Thailand, 1961 - Air America Covert Operations, Udorn Airfield, Pathet Lao, President John F. Kennedy, MABS-16

Nonfiction, History, Military, Vietnam War, Asian
Cover of the book Operation Millpond: U.S. Marines in Thailand, 1961 - Air America Covert Operations, Udorn Airfield, Pathet Lao, President John F. Kennedy, MABS-16 by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781301622559
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: December 20, 2012
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781301622559
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: December 20, 2012
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

This operation highlights the role that the small country of Laos played in the foreign policy calculations of the newly elected U.S. president, John F. Kennedy. Gravely concerned that the Laotian government was in danger of being overwhelmed by a growing Communist insurgency known as the Pathet Lao, President Kennedy took the bold step of deploying Marine Air Base Squadron-16 (MABS-16) to nearby Thailand for the purpose of supporting a collection of helicopters piloted by an organization called Air America. Hollywood later made a movie about Air America, and it is now widely known that it was linked to the Central Intelligence Agency. The Marines of MABS-16 received no such fanfare. Working behind the scenes in austere conditions, MABS-16 gave new meaning to the phrase "in any clime and place." While Operation Millpond may seem like a small thing in comparison with much larger operations that were soon to be conducted by Marines in the Republic of South Vietnam, it nonetheless represents a clear beginning to a growing U.S. military commitment to the region as a whole, one that did not end until the last Marine left the roof of the American embassy in Saigon in 1975.

In early 1961, Communist Pathet Lao military forces were coming dangerously close to taking control of the Southeast Asian country of Laos. A Pathet Lao victory over the Royal Laotian government not only would have lost a pro-Western nation to the Communist Bloc but would have put its neighbors—particularly pro-Western Thailand—at risk. To forestall this possibility, newly elected President John F. Kennedy and his administration decided to measurably increase U.S. support to the Royal Laotian government.

This increased support came in part in the form of a 20-helicopter fleet, flown by civilian pilots and crews employed by Air America. This helicopter force covertly flew Royal Laotian troops, weapons, supplies, and other war materiel in support of the Royal Laotian government's anti-Communist military operations. A major operational deficiency—Air America lacked any aircraft maintenance and flight-line operational and maintenance capability—was resolved by assigning a military organization with the required skills to play a supporting role. Marine Air Base Squadron-16 (MABS-16), located at Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) Futema, Okinawa, was assigned the mission. Operations were conducted from a bare-bones airfield located outside of Udorn, a town in northeast Thailand approximately 40 miles south of the Laotian capital of Vientiane.

Introduction * Laos in the Years Following World War II * The Situation in Laos Deteriorates, 1960-61 * President Kennedy Commits U.S. Forces * The Order to Deploy Marine Corps Forces is Issued * MABS-16 is Task Organized for its Mission * The Execute Order * The MABS-16 Mission * The Early Days of Operation Millpond * Your Only Comment Will Be "No Comment" * Aircraft Maintenance and Line Maintenance Operations—The First Weeks * Camp Construction * Logistics * Medical Support * Communications * Morale, Welfare, and People-to-People Programs * Aircraft and Line Maintenance Operations * Epilogue

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This operation highlights the role that the small country of Laos played in the foreign policy calculations of the newly elected U.S. president, John F. Kennedy. Gravely concerned that the Laotian government was in danger of being overwhelmed by a growing Communist insurgency known as the Pathet Lao, President Kennedy took the bold step of deploying Marine Air Base Squadron-16 (MABS-16) to nearby Thailand for the purpose of supporting a collection of helicopters piloted by an organization called Air America. Hollywood later made a movie about Air America, and it is now widely known that it was linked to the Central Intelligence Agency. The Marines of MABS-16 received no such fanfare. Working behind the scenes in austere conditions, MABS-16 gave new meaning to the phrase "in any clime and place." While Operation Millpond may seem like a small thing in comparison with much larger operations that were soon to be conducted by Marines in the Republic of South Vietnam, it nonetheless represents a clear beginning to a growing U.S. military commitment to the region as a whole, one that did not end until the last Marine left the roof of the American embassy in Saigon in 1975.

In early 1961, Communist Pathet Lao military forces were coming dangerously close to taking control of the Southeast Asian country of Laos. A Pathet Lao victory over the Royal Laotian government not only would have lost a pro-Western nation to the Communist Bloc but would have put its neighbors—particularly pro-Western Thailand—at risk. To forestall this possibility, newly elected President John F. Kennedy and his administration decided to measurably increase U.S. support to the Royal Laotian government.

This increased support came in part in the form of a 20-helicopter fleet, flown by civilian pilots and crews employed by Air America. This helicopter force covertly flew Royal Laotian troops, weapons, supplies, and other war materiel in support of the Royal Laotian government's anti-Communist military operations. A major operational deficiency—Air America lacked any aircraft maintenance and flight-line operational and maintenance capability—was resolved by assigning a military organization with the required skills to play a supporting role. Marine Air Base Squadron-16 (MABS-16), located at Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) Futema, Okinawa, was assigned the mission. Operations were conducted from a bare-bones airfield located outside of Udorn, a town in northeast Thailand approximately 40 miles south of the Laotian capital of Vientiane.

Introduction * Laos in the Years Following World War II * The Situation in Laos Deteriorates, 1960-61 * President Kennedy Commits U.S. Forces * The Order to Deploy Marine Corps Forces is Issued * MABS-16 is Task Organized for its Mission * The Execute Order * The MABS-16 Mission * The Early Days of Operation Millpond * Your Only Comment Will Be "No Comment" * Aircraft Maintenance and Line Maintenance Operations—The First Weeks * Camp Construction * Logistics * Medical Support * Communications * Morale, Welfare, and People-to-People Programs * Aircraft and Line Maintenance Operations * Epilogue

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book 21st Century Complete Guide to Biogas and Methane: Agricultural Recovery, Manure Digesters, AgSTAR, Landfill Methane, Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Global Methane Initiative by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Manufacturing the Horns of Dilemma: A Theory of Operational Initiative – Case Studies of Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign, Eighth Army in Korean War, Israeli-Hezbollah War of 2006 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Would the U.S. Benefit from a Unified National Strategy to Combat Violent Salafi Jihadism (VSJ)? Foundational Understanding of Islam, Sunni and Shia, Terrorism Insufficient to Describe Threat by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Navy Planning - Navy Warfare Publication NWP 5-01 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Air Supply in the Burma Campaigns: World War II, Orde Wingate, Arakan Campaign, Siege of Myitkyina, Japanese Attack, Chindwin Drive, Demands of China Theater, Air Superiority, Air-Ground Coordination by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Guide to American Military and Defense Strategy: The Grand Strategy of the United States, Army War College Guide to Strategy, Resources Mismatch, National Interests, History from 1787, War Strategy by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Military Sexual Trauma (MST) - Defense Department Task Force Report on Care for Victims of Sexual Assault by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Iran's Post-9/11 Grand Bargain: Missed Opportunity for Strategic Rapprochement Between Iran and the United States - History from the 1953 Coup, Hostage Crisis, Iran-Iraq War, Khomeini to Khamenei by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Jordan in Perspective: Orientation Guide and Jordanian Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Security, Customs, Rural and Urban Life, Aqaba, Amman, Muslim Conquest, Hussein and 1967 War by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Defense Is From Mars, State Is From Venus: Improving Communications and Promoting National Security - Covering Peacekeeping, Foreign Policy, and the Character Traits of Military Officers and Diplomats by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Air Force Leadership Study: The Need for Deliberate Development - Leadership Concepts for Air Force Officers, Changes in Personnel and Education Policy by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Climate Change and Global Warming Encyclopedia: Sweeping Coverage of All Aspects of Carbon Dioxide and Greenhouse Gases, Sea Levels, Ecosystems, Computer Models, Extreme Weather, Energy and Carbon by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Demise of Osama bin Laden (Usama Bin Ladin, UBL): U.S. Assault in Abbottabad, Pakistan to Kill the al Qaeda Leader, Intelligence, Implications for the Future, Legal and Military Considerations by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Documents: Civil Engineer Guide to Expeditionary Force Protection (Air Force Handbook 10-222, Volume 3) - Barriers, Bollards, Barricades by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Nuclear Matters Handbook, Expanded Edition: Guide to American Nuclear Weapons, History, Testing, Safety and Security, Plans, Delivery Systems, Physics and Bomb Designs, Effects, Accident Response by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy