Phu Lam AUTODIN 1968

This is my little "War Story". It is from 1968 Saigon, Vietnam, that found our six man Western Union test team working during the Tet holiday and ensuing Viet Cong Tet Offensive. We were contractors for the Army performing Acceptance Tests on the newly installed AUTODIN (Automatic Digital Network) message switch at the Phu Lam communications base. I shot some S-8mm movie film around Saigon and at the base. The Tet Offensive extended the testing beyond the normal few weeks to almost two months.

Our experience was a very small part of a much bigger piece of history. Many others did far, far more.

This 5 min. mini-documentary contains highlights from a more complete (14 min.) Saigon chapter of our time in Vietnam. We also ran Acceptance Tests in Nha Trang in April 1968. For all "alumni" of these two installations, I will have a DVD available, at cost, in April 2012. To request a copy, follow the Email contact in the link below.

[jeffreyamartin]

Cboris. My father in law was part of this group and appears briefly in the video. Would you be willing to share this video of line via email directly to him? If so, I can provide em contact, etc. thanks! Jeff

[SLACKPLAN]

When I was in the Air Force, in the 90s, I was an AUTODIN Operator at both Misawa AB and Yokota AB, in Japan.

[tjrepasy]

Great piece of history. I started with WU in 1967 at "WQ" Washington DC. After the riots of '68, I transferred to Andrews AFB AUTODIN site. Spent the rest of my career in AUTODIN, retiring 2 years ago. I was a computer tech, site supervisor, maintenance supervisor, modem/tech control supervisor, assistant site manager, site manager, eventually making up to program manager.
Again, thank you for the history lesson.

[johnanderson]

Interesting footage and commentary. It surprises me that DOD would put an ASC in Vietnam since the entire country was essentially a war zone. I would have thought they'd have serviced in-country end users with ASCs in adjacent countries (Thailand, Philippines). I guess the judgment was made that traffic load and connectivity issues required an in-county switch.

[VinceDavidaf]

This picture is of myself David Bellagamba on a bench repairing equipment at the AUTODIN building just before the 68 TEToffensive. Thanks for the video. I was pinned in at the race track (Phu Ta) for a few days watching the attacks on the ARVN BOQ across the race track from our villa. I think Lee Honeycut was on that duce and a half coming out to the base from the hotel. I was with Reg Orth and Jim Pierce.

[robertsullivan]

I believe they could not keep5thendust out and the switch was plagued with operating problems.
I.used totake part in new autodin testing at fort detrick Md..

[sgorick]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

[ACJ]

If anyone knew my father, Lt. Jones, comment back.

[Mika]

A peaceful land became a dead zone after the red rats' surprised attack. Tet 1968