I was assigned to the 355 FMS Sheetmetal Shop from Mar-Dec 1970. I went through the Security Police Augmentee Training in June 1970 and my first assignment was perimeter duty. This first augmentee assignment always stuck in my mind because of the events that occurred at my first Guard Mount meeting. The meeting consisted of Security Police, Augmentees and Thai Guards. The Watch Commander mentioned that there was a threat of Thai Communist striking the base and he asked all personnel assigned perimeter to be watchful. After going through other assignments the watch Commander excused the Thai Guards and again asked all personnel assigned to perimeter duty to raise their hands. He than stated, "If you hear any hostile fire coiming into the base, I want you to chamber a round, turn to your Thai Guard and kill him." This raised the hairs on the back of my neck so I raise my hand to ask a question. The Watch Commander asked me to identify myself and I told him Airman Mack, Augmentee. He asked what is your question. I replied that if the Thai Guard is on our side why would you want me to kill him. He stated, in Thai language, and I'll never forget, "Do you speak Thai?" I asked, "What did you say?" and he replied, "My point exactly. You don't speak Thai or look Thai. All the Thai Guard has to do is rip off his uniform, tie a rag around his head and he's one of the bad guys. He'll kill you to save his ass. So you lock and load and blow the motherf'er's head off!" Being a 19 year old from the streets of Baltimore, I was never involved in any altercations, now I have a person commanding me to blow somebody's head off. In addition to perimeter guard duty I rode shotgun on a jeep equipped with an M-60 and we drove all over the base to include the perimeter area and I was assigned to Sierra 9 post in the Bomb Storage Bunker area. I have experienced heart issues and have been to cardiology twice in the last year, have tingling in my right arm and leg (finfer tips and toes), and been diagnosed with diabetes. Again, as you, there was nothing annotated in my records indicating I pulled Augmentee duty; however, I have pictures of the training me and my buddies went through in June 1970. My DAV representative prepared my documents to be submitted to the VA. I'm currently at 60 percent. I'll keep you informed of the outcome, but you know as well as I do that the VA system takes its sweet time in assessing claims.
CMSgt Ron Mack, USAF Ret.
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