JAMES P. TARAZON

Tarazon, James P.  USAF 1/66-5/69 12th FMS, 12 TFW (POW, BS, AM.  Division "confidential") San Gabriel, CA

Thu, 08 Mar 2001  15:12:00 -600

Hi Chuck,

The first thing I'm going to ask you is have you seen my Zippo? Ha,HA! I was in the Air Force From 1/66 till 5/69. I got out early because in 1969 The USAF was letting a lot of guys out early for a  "reduction in force". I
was really let go for other reasons.

I am not an official POW. I made a mistake putting that in the directory. I did receive the POW Medal from one of two government agencies I worked for in Southeast Asia. I spent more than 3 years in Nam and Laos. My DD 214 didn't reflect all the medals I earned over there and my total time in service. They also didn't mention my prior service with the Australian Army. Like most of us there were things missing on my DD214,but I just wanted out. They said in 25 or so years I would get a DD215 listing what was missing. (had to do with we weren't really in Laos when I was there.

Things in chronological order.

1. 1964 graduated High School. Had over 200 hours of time (pilot) in a Bell 47 Helicopter. Spoke almost fluent Malay and some Chinese.

2. Same month graduated from High School entered in the Australian Army under special 18 month contract. Wanted to fly. Eyes were on the wrong side of border line for the U.S.Army and needed two years of college for Air Force. I joined under a Canadian Passport with a new I.D. (condition of contract - was going to fly for them in Malaysia).

3. Trained in Australia,Went to Jungle Warfare Center,Cunnugra Queens land. 1/2 month with Royal Australia Air force learning formation flying and other stuff.

4. First Duty Station, Butterworth AAB,Malaysia. Combat duty in Borneo with the Australian & Pommy SAS.
Sent to Vietnam, Central Highlands, with the Australian Training Team Vietnam. Worked with 5th Special Forces and CIA (Ban Me Thout).

5. Discharged two weeks early and, per agreement had a spot waiting for me in the U.S. Air Force. The day I went in my draft notice arrived.

6. Basic Training,I wanted to work on Jets,They wanted me to be a Combat Controller. (similar to what I did for the AATTV. Tech School, Pneudraulic and eventually I got to Nam. Home of record Cam Rhan Bay, Air Patch. ended up TDY (unofficial as usual) To the First Australian Task Force and the Christians In Action Club.

7. That led to an unofficial tour in Laos. I worked in Military Region II and my home base was Long Tieng or as we called it, Lima 20 Alternate. Since we couldn't be there I went back to my Australian Identity, since I had a passport.

8. Was flying a low and slow (Air America Bell 47 D helicopter) Over I high speed trail at 20 feet AWL and flew over a remote controlled mine. Boom, I was down and my Mong observer was injured. I got snatch by the Pathet Lao and the NVA. I was held about six and a half weeks (was the only caucasian) and when they moved me they ran into one of oared watch teams. Who got me loose. I was hospitalized in Ban Ban in a
civilian clinic. 4 weeks more or less I got back to Vietnam.

9. Sending me the POW Medal was a mistake. Technically almost 7 weeks doesn't count to get the medal. I also wasn't there according to the real world. It was our AO but we all didn't know real names except for
the Air America Pilots and crews and people from the different agencies and the Embassy Assholes. I=B9m in contact with the publishers of Directory and when they do a little investigating for me I'm going to have them
delete me from the Directory.

I also had of trouble with my VA claim. All I got was 0% for a gunshot wound and nothing for PTSD. They have been treating me for it as an outpatient since 1992 and I'm on S.S.Disability for it.(a real miracle) I
have PTSD but there is no paperwork,or records available. When the Directory came out I was feeling sorry for myself and put down the POW Medal. I've since sent it back to my "caretakers". What really makes me
angry is that the paper work never came to the States for all the Medals I earned over there. The Vietnamse gave us (Australians) quite a few decorations and the 5th special forces gave me and another guy a purple
heart.(Chopper Crash) and 9 of us got the CIB from the, I think some of them were given the George Medal?

Anyway this is my past and it's time to let it go.
God Bless,
Jim