Chuck Wagner at Tan Son Nhut Airbase.
Chuck Wagner
Omaha
Sgt., Air Force
Memory: Enlisted in August 1969, served in Vietnam in 1972 and 1973 at Tan Son Nhut Airbase just outside of Saigon. Was an aircraft maintenance crew chief in the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron and the 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron. Discharged in August 1973.
Memory: “I was in Vietnam towards the end of the war. American forces in country were pretty low at the time, with many American bases closed. During Tet of 1972, the 310th TAS was singled out for commendation when C-123 crews evacuated personnel and equipment from besieged Bu Doc on April 8, 1972. These brave crews were helped along by an exceptional maintenance team back at Tan Son Nhut Airbase working 24 hours a day during terrible monsoon weather to keep the airplanes flying. Many of our aircraft were shot up, with many injured. We would patch the aircraft up, fix what was broken and turn them around and put them in the sky again. It was 24 hours a day work for several days; we grabbed sleep whenever we could.”
