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From the Yearbook, 1966-68As a Captain, I was assigned as the first Commander, Det 2, 6994th at Pleiku in the summer of 1966. Unfortunately when I arrived at Pleiku, I was the sole member of the Det. Thanks to Jack Crook (The only member of 362nd TEWS), who also had no aircraft, I felt right at home. I have a book titled "The Longest Year" which has all of the 362nd TEWS personnel during the 66-68 time period. Ernest also has a list of all the original members of Det. 2
HistoryHistory -- A recorded account of past events. We cannot really write the history of the 362nd Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron, it is a way of life, a gathering of individuals and aircraft into a working, winniing team. In their small an unsung way ther have helped to write the success story of the Pacific Ari Forces in Southeast Asia in the defense of a free way of life in a troubled World. No history of the 362nd would be complete without mentioning the activation of Detachment One of the 361st Reconnaissance Squadron at Pleiku Air Base in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. That activation started in August of 1966 with the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Jack A. Crook, pluss twelve Airmen as the advanced cadre. Because of the hardships incountered and the ensuing grueling job of building a squadron, starting from scratch, under t he adverse conditions, they became affectionately known as the "Dirty Dozen". ** To those twelve fell the task of taking an area of four rundown, abandoned French buildings and converting them into a functional squadron operations, administrative, and support facitlities. In the process, the jungle brush, the weeds and varmints were disposed of, the snakes were routed from their lairs, ditches were dug for drainage, and finally much much dirty hard work and persistance made the area tenable. The 8th of September 1966 marked the arrival of the first aircraft, old Gooney Bird "254" flown in by Lieutenant Colonel Russ Harmon, aircraft commander, Major Larry Bonham, pilot, Captain Arnie Yuen, navigator, and Staff Sergeant Larry Bristow, flight mechanic. In the meantime, Chief Master Sergeant Glenn E. Eddy and his handfull of helpers were hastily constructing a maintenance quonset hut, while simultaneously preparing the old bird for its first combat mission. Before they could get "254" for it shakedown functional check flight, her sisters started to arrive, delivered by Major Roy Sherrett and crew and Major Loren Hauser and crew. It was beginning to look more like an operational outfit daily. The first combat mission was flown from Pleiku on the 15th of December, 1966, with Lieutenant Colonel Jack Crook, Detachment One commander, as aircraft commander, Major Larry Bonham, pilot, Captain Arnie Yuen, navigator, and S taff Sergeant Larry Bristow as flight mechanic. Their first successful mission paved the way for many more that were to follow. Numerous other crews, both flying and maintenance, arrived in late December '66 and early January of '67, leading to a squadron designation by 31 January of 1967. On that date, Colonel Robert G. Williams, commander of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Saigon, and Colonel D.J. Nelson, Deputy for Operations, were on hand to present the new squadron pennant to Lieutenant Colonel Jack Crook. At the same time, fourteen crew members were decorated by Colonel Williams; eleven had already recieved Air Medals for combat operations over hostile territory. The next few months brought other changes in the name of the Squadron; we changed from Detachment One, 361st Reconnaissance Squadron, to the 362nd Teconnaissance Squadron, to the present designation as the 362nd Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron. The changes seemed almost as frequent as the cross wind landings on the Pleiku airstrip. By this time all of the non commissioned officers and airmen were quartered in new two story billets which replaced "Tent City", and the officers were moved from the temporary hooches in the MACV area to the vacated contractors quarters on the main base. A steady influx of new crews and equipment kept the maintenance men working around the clock, seven days a week with the only break provided by R&R's and one seven day leave to such exotic spots as Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Taipei, Kula Lumpur, Bangkok and Hawaii. The 1st of May was a big day for the silver leaves of the Squadron as two of them hatched into full grown eagles -- Colonel John Allison and Colonel Joe Wheeler. That same day, Colonel Williams and Colonel Nelson of the parent wing, were on hand to present the new Squadron. Colonel John Allison accepted the salute as the 362nd TEWS commander. For some of the squadron members that magic day of the last wake up -- the time to rotate back to the States and the land of the big BX -- had finally arrived. All the marked days on the calendar finally added up to 365. For Lieutenant Colonel Jack Crook it was the end of his "Longest Year" and a fond farwell to the faithful old Gooney Bird which continues to serve so well. Others will follow Colonel Crook when their DEROS comes around, but for the Gooney Birds the Longest Year will continue until peace and freedom can be restored to South Vietnam, and its grateful people can say "Thanks for a job well done". ** Dirty Dozen Senior Master Sergeant Harold M. Snook Staff Sergeant Franklin Willis Staff Sergeant Merton R. Anderson Airman First Class Wendell B. Dudley Airman First Class Drury N. Helms Airman First Class Russell Steve Terry Technical Sergeant Harold E. Wires Staff Sergeant Joseph C. Allione Airman First Class Donald D. Akins Airman First Class Richard C. Harding Airman First Class Larry Osentowski Airman Second Class Wifford Lamarre
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