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New article name new article content ... LOGISTICAL SUPPORT ASSESSMENT & ORGANIZATION FOR U.S. MILITARY FORCES IN VIETNAM [1] As early as 1962, the need for centralized U.S. military forces logistical organization and support in Vietnam became apparent. On 21 December 1964, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara endorsed activation of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) plan. On 1 April 1965, with an initial strength of 350 U.S. Army personnel, under command of MACV, the 1st Logistical Command was activated in Saigon.

In April 1965, the Secretary of Defense approved an accelerated buildup of 33,000 U.S. Army combat troops. Subsequently, on 12 May 1965, MACV and the 1st Logistical Command staff approved plans for three major tactical troop depot support commands located at Qui Nhon, Nha Trang and Cam Ranh Bay. By March 1966 the 1st Logistical Command in coordination with MACV developed and implemented mission plans to assume responsibility for providing procurement, medical, construction, engineer, finance and accounting for all U.S Army forces in Vietnam. During this period, the logistical demands of increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam created an unprecedented buildup of materiel and personnel at U.S. Army Depots strategically located throughout the continental U.S.

SHARPE ARMY DEPOT TROOP FIELD ANNEX [2] In July and August 1966, the Headquarter and Headquarters Company 58th Field Depot, Sharpe Army Depot Troop Field Annex in Stockton California began receiving personnel from various U.S. Army posts from around the country. Most of these personnel arrived with basic Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) essential for overseas logistical operations urgently required in Southeast Asia. The main gate of the 71 acre Sharpe Army Depot Troop Field Annex, adjacent to the Stockton Municipal Airport, was located on South Airport Way and Lindberg Street. The close proximity to the main U.S. Army Sharpe General Depot in Lathrop California, just four miles south of the HHC 58th Field Depot main gate, aided in the rapid advancement, preparedness and deployment of critical logistical skills required for overseas depot operations.

Due to the prior deactivation of the Sharpe Army Troop Field Annex, many buildings required on-going update, renovation and repair performed by civil service contractors. The Troop Field Annex consisted of over 175 World War II era buildings including EM barracks, BOQ, EM and officer mess halls and clubs, general storage warehouses, aviation hangars, orderly rooms, EM recreation room and library, a theatre, a PX-Commissary-Barber Shop, and a chapel. Renovation activities continued throughout the months of July, August and September 1966.

Operating under the Sixth Army and U.S. Army Materiel Command, the Sharpe Army Depot Headquarters Commandant's responsibility included the supervision of all attached and tenant units, Special Services, Annex Services, Education Center, Officer Open Mess and Non-Commissioned Officers Club, including Reserve Support, National Guard and transient units. Training and Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) assignment of HHC 58th Field Depot personnel and previously arrived HHC 56th Quartermaster Depot personnel in April 1966, included logistical support of unit Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E), depot procurement, supply and administration, computer and telecommunications, food services, light vehicle maintenance and operation.

In September 1966, HHC personnel of both the 58th Field Depot and 56th Quartermaster Depot received TDY (Temporary Duty) orders to U.S. Army Ft. Ord for the purpose of small weapons and vehicle convoy security training. The vehicle training exercises were conducted in the remote mountainous eastern terrain of Ft. Ord. Vehicle convoys were assembled in staging areas and deployed onto remote tank trails and fire access roads. The purpose was to train in defensive vehicle convoy tactics against a concealed enemy. In early November 1966, both units began deployment preparations for Vietnam. Preparations included daily round-trip commutes to the main Sharpe Army General Depot in Lathrop, for the purpose of loading unit TO&E onto 2 1/2 ton vehicles.

DEPLOYMENT TO VIETNAM In the early morning hours of November 1966, elements of the 58th Field Depot departed the Sharpe Army Depot in a large convoy for the U.S. Army Oakland California Terminal. Upon arrival at the Oakland terminal, two troop transports, the USNS General John Pope and USNS General Daniel I. Sultan awaited the simultaneous arrival multiple U.S. Army units including the HHC 58th Field Depot. Both transports were loaded with U.S. Army troops and TO&E along with elements several U.S. Marine Corps units. The maximum capacity of each ship for the voyage is approximately 5000 troops.

On the morning of November 1966, both transports departed the Oakland Army Terminal passing through calm waters beneath the Golden Gate Bridge embarking on a 22-day voyage to the Republic of Vietnam. Between 17-26 November, the USNS General John Pope encountered moderate 40-45 knot winds accompanied by large swells which occasionally broke across the bow of the ship. The inclement weather was due to the effects of tropical storms Nancy and Olga. After 18 days at sea, only a brief 24-hour re-supply stop at White Beach in Naha Okinawa Japan interrupted the voyage. Upon arrival to the coastal waters of South Vietnam on 12 December 1966, the USNS General John Pope disembarked troops of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade at Vung Tau. [3]. Continuing along the South Vietnamese coast the Pope Cam Ranh Bay.

U.S. ARMY DEPOT QUI NHON [4] Qui Nhon Harbor was the final stop of the voyage for the Pope. On 15 December 1966, the HHC 58th Field Depot disembarked onto barges tied up alongside the Pope, then boarded U.S. Army LCU landing craft which ferried 58th Field Depot personnel to Qui Nhon Beach. From Qui Nhon Beach, U.S. Army 2 1/2 trucks transported the 58th Field Depot and its partial TO&E to its assigned compound within the Qui Nhon Depot complex, adjacent to the 85th Evacuation Hospital Compound.

From December 1966 through January 1967, the HHC 58th Field Depot erected large numbers of General Purpose tents placed on concrete slabs for troop living quarters, thus establishing daily operations in an area of the depot labeled "tent city" by Depot personnel. Under command of The United States Army Vietnam (USARV) and the 1st Logistical Command (1st Log), the HHC 58th Field Depot was officially designated 58th Field Depot Qui Nhon and later re-designated U.S. Army Depot Qui Nhon. During this period Depot personnel worked non-stop in concert with various U.S. Army engineer units within the Qui Nhon command, establishing basic command infrastructure and operational garrison essentials such as perimeter wire and fencing, bunkers, sandbag barriers, drainage ditches, diesel generator power, potable water towers, immersion heaters, mess facilities, showers and latrines.

On 24 December, HHC 58th Field Depot personnel were granted passes to attend the Bob Hope USO Christmas Show that was setup in an area at the Qui Nhon Airfield. Hundreds of U.S. military personnel from within the Qui Nhon Depot command and surrounding units attended the show featuring celebrities, Les Brown and His Band of Renown, The Reverend Billy Graham, Phyliss Diller, Joey Heatherton, Vic Damone, Jerry Colonna, Anita Bryant, Diane Shelton, The Korean Kittens, and Miss World 1966, Reita Faria. Although Mr. Hope's signature song entitled "Thanks for the Memories" is his trademark, closing the Christmas Show with "Silent Night" inspired troops to pause for reflection. In 1967, Bob Hope received the Emmy Award for his 1966 Southeast Asia Christmas Show Tour. [5].

The year of 1967 was a defining year for the HHC 58th Field Depot Qui Nhon.


Within the largest geographical area of responsibility in the Vietnam conflict, the II Corps Tactical Zone, the 58th Field Depot Qui Nhon later renamed U.S. Army Depot Qui Nhon, played a vital role in support of the United States military mission in the Republic of Vietnam earning several unit awards. On 8 October 1968, General Orders 54, The Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, U.S. Army Support Command Qui Nhon received a Valorous Unit Award during the period 1 August 1966 through 30 April 1967. [6]. On 8 August 1969, General Orders 54, awarded the HHC Detachment 58th Field Depot campaign contribution credits for participation in the TET Counteroffensive Campaign during the period 30 January 1968 through 1 April 1968. [7].


SHARPE ARMY DEPOT FIELD ANNEX HERITAGE [8] In August 1940, the U.S. Army entered into lease agreements with the city of Stockton California to construct and operate a training facility and airfield at the Stockton Municipal Airport. Between 1940 and 1945 Stockton Field served as a training installation center under the Western Flying Training Command garrisoned with the 68th Air Base Group (Special) and later consolidated into the 3033rd Army Air Forces Base Unit.

In October 1946 Stockton Field was declared surplus then leased to the U.S. Army's Stockton General Depot located to the south in Lathrop. In December 1946 the City of Stockton resumed operating the former Stockton Municipal Airport under a joint license which included over 1,000 acres, 175 Quartermaster structures consisting of 700-series and 800-series type construction with concrete foundations, wood floor, composition roof, and wood lap siding.

In January 1947, 71.36 acres of former Stockton Field retained by the U.S. Army was officially named the "Stockton General Deport Field Annex, then renamed "Sharpe General Depot Field Annex". During the Korean War, Sharpe General Depot Field Annex was operated by the U.S. Army as a separate, self-contained military post under Sharpe General Depot, Lathrop. To reflect its Korean War support mission, it was renamed Sharpe General Depot Troop Field Annex garrisoned by the 164th Field Artillery Battalion and the California National Guard.

Following the Korean War conflict, mission changes to the Sharpe General Depot Field Annex in 1958 resulted in receiving Fourth Echelon Air Maintenance Support of U.S. Army rotary and fixed wing liaison aircraft within the U.S. Sixth Army area. The site served as home to Detachment 3, 6932nd Service Unit, the 30th Engineer Group (Topographic), and the 521st Engineer Group (Topographic Aviation). In June 1961 the Aircraft Field Maintenance Activity was transferred to Ft. Ord California. By July 1962, the U.S. Army Material Command was established, renaming the Sharpe General Depot to the Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex. During the Vietnam conflict, the increased buildup of U.S. military forces in Southeast Asia expanded the role of Sharpe General Army Depot and the Sharpe Army Depot Troop Field Annex.

Beginning in the early 1970's, a decrease in U.S. Army military personnel stationed at the Sharpe Army Depot Troop Field Annex resulted in a transfer of military duties to Civil Service positions. Today only a few remnants of the original the Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex remain. Some original WWII aviation hangers remain along with scattered single story out-buildings. One such structure is building T-34, a former mess hall, now occupied by Stockton Post 52, Veteran's of Foreign Wars. [9]

For over thirty years, since its activation in August 1940 until its closure in 1973, the Sharpe Army Depot Troop Field Annex served an important military mission in times of peace and in times of conflict. The few surviving original structures of the Sharpe Army Depot Troop Field Annex serve as testament to the loyalty, dedication and achievements of those serving in the United States Army, past and present.


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