Wow! Love this! Believe it or not, I was a 15 year old American girl living in Korat for 6 months during this exact time period. My father was a subcontractor for the Army. I took that Bus almost every day to the Camp Friendship pool after I did my correspondence school work. I returned to Korat in 1999. I didn't recognize it anymore. Thank you for the memories!!
You must have gotten lots of nice attention from the Thai people. Being so young, I suppose you picked up the Thai language rather easily, if you wanted too. If I had seen you I know I would have taken your picture and you'd now be in show. I did receive communication from a Thai woman who saw her mother in the video.
Oh my gosh I was about 7 or 8 years old. My sister married to an Air Force man. She and I used to ride the bus to the base, and she would buy me tomato juice, while she talk to her husband lol.
I was there in 1966 to 68 was your father with contractors that was building barracks.My hooch was close to the back gate to the road back to town and thru the airbase,front gate went to hy1,any way talk with a young lady on the bus and her father was with her
Thanks for posting this.👍 My father was stationed at Korat from August 1966 to August 1967; he had several friends there, and I heard many stories about them. He took many Super 8 home movies about his side trips to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the Gulf of Siam. There was also a short clip of that Japanese train (Korat's station?), left over from WWII. He was the crew chief named on #208 of the 34thy TFS, which was shot down 2 months after he returned to the States.
I believe your comment translates to "Thank you for posting this..for the benefit of the public." You are welcome. So happy to know you liked it. Best of luck to you always.
thank you for posting the old films from Korat. My wife is Thai and coming from Korat / Nakorn Ratchasima. We have been married for more than 35 year now - well the funny things is she has been quite a good basketball player both in secondary school and when she studied in university. Later on she also played on thailand women national team. Basketball became an important sport in Korat proberly because of you guys playing during your free time :)
Assigned to the 388th A & E TFW, enjoyed going to Korat on the bus on weekends. A nice small town then with a Foremost ice cream parlor. What a treat! Iwas introduced to a Klong too. What a smell! Lots of great shopping in Korat back then. Love it.
🇹🇭❤️💯My hometown ... My mothersland. 🙏 Thank you 4 sharing your impressive moments throughout this classically vids. I am really appreciate this much ❤️👍👏
I spent a few months at Korat in '72 with some KC-135s. Loved the F-105s. We were kept out in a reopened section of Camp Friendship. Many Baht bus rides back and forth to the flightline. Loved the Thai restaurant on base. Great food there!
Thank you for you informative and nice comment that is translated below with possible mistakes. I watched this clip again. several times to see what places it was I was born in Ratchaburi Province. But had the opportunity to work for the government in Korat between 1991-1993. At that time, the Vietnam War had only been over for about 20 years. There are still many remnants of buildings related to the war still remaining (now there are none), such as radar receivers. Visible from the side of the road, a jeep, a large American sedan, was parked in ruins. The people in the video are the true identity of Korat people. This clip is very useful for studying past societies. Last week I stopped by Korat again. It was very different from the 30 years I used to go to work. And comparing with this clip will show the evolution of Korat city. ....I miss Korat.
Thank you so much for posting this. My father was a GI at the same base and met my mother working at the family leather shop on base. My mother has not been back to Korat since leaving Thailand in 1973 and this video brought back many nice memories for her and it is so nice to see the city she live din at the time she was a university student there. Our family shop is still in Korat. We are planning on a trip in Feb 2024, will be nice to see the difference.
Thailand is a new world compared to when I was there shooting this film. I'm sure she's aware of that. The Thai nationals working on base, that I knew, where very nice and always willing to help me with learning to speak Thai. Thank you for your comment. I wish you a safe trip to Thailand and have lots of fun.
Thanks for posting this video. Seems so long ago and far away.... yet really not. I have always treasured being stationed in Thailand; especially the kind, generous and always friendly Thai people. The vast majority of Americans returned home changed in a positive way from that experience.
Fes: Thanks for the newest version of your film. I never get tired of seeing it. I ordered your CD many years ago (the one that also has the films of the Korat base and the Lowery AFB films). I have watched it so much that I think that I have just about worn them out. I was stationed at Udorn in 1969 and it appears to be very similar to Korat. Your CD brings back very pleasant memories. Bill O'Dell
Glad you enjoyed it! Things have changed a lot, I'm sure. You know what has not changed? Everyone still wants to have a good time. We did then and we do now. That's a constant.
I was 17 and should have went V.N. but the Army said not at 17,when I was the only one out of 200,that got orders For Bangkok.I really did not know what next,I was at MACV for 24 hrs,as soon as the bus left town I fell in love with it,Im from Panama,City,Fl so I was at home. I was with the 442 Sig, HQ drove jeep for Chaplain,we went all over,One time I messed up and drove into Venteen,Los.the border guard thought it was funny,they were cool. My T-lok's name was Noi,and I still think of her often.I would go back now,would not even pack,I miss it so much.At 17 the impression it had on me was,well I am still Impressed . When I did go to V.N. and come time for RR well I was afraid I would not come back (lol) I love the people,food,there culture,weather,just everything mok mok.I was in a truckstop in Nashville,Tn.in 1980 and a driver was rude to a lady that just happened to be Thai when I realized she was Thai I started to talk to her in Thai she stopped crying and turns out her family also worked at the Truckstop,I made it one for best stops on my route,NOT really I don't miss it, I know I must stop now or I'll go on and on
How very interesting and these have been on line for a long time! I wonder why I had never seen them as I had surfed “Korat”? Hmmmmm?! I was there in 1969-70. Worked Flight-line maintenance on the Connies (Crew chief of #483). Faircloth was my chief but he got rabies from his telok (girl friend) wild CAT…! They shipped him out… and that made 'them' make me crew chief. They weren't sure I could do it, but I proved them wrong--I wanted my own plane. Who am I? Gordon Tatro. I ended up with a 23-year career and miss the teamwork and responsibility and diversity. I did not see Lady Moe? Did I miss her (the historic statue) in the center of Korat? Sure, do remember the bhat (thia currency) busses. That red Bhat note could get you anything… LOL!! And I also think I missed seeing the rice bug Mhen dah. What a hideous creature and the Thais love them… suck the juice right out of the abdomen (YUCK…LOL!). It’s a bit sad to see so many smiling faces and know that many of them are now gone-they sure are a friendly people and the kids would run after the GIs laughing and giggling as they tried to sell the Airmen just about anything! Catch us right off the Bhat Bus from base. Do you remember when they put guards on the apple barrels at the chow hall? We used to take five or more down town and we could get nearly anything for the apples. Allowed us only two apples once the authorities caught onto that little trick! It was a busy time and when it rained everything got damp even my hootch girl could not get the combat boots dry (trick there is to get some extra boots-sure they got wet too but for a while it was nice). The town stunk they had open sewer ditches and although it was not that bad it was hard until ya got used to it…nice when it was windy. I got hit in the shoulder while peddling my bike to the flight-line one dark night, to do my preflight inspection on my Connie-I thought I had been shot. I got knocked enough to cause me to go off the road edge and into the ruff… that caused me to do a controlled crash. There in the road was one of those hideous bugs on its back Buzzzz Buzzzz. It was doing a dead-bug upsidedown. So I obliged it-squish! I gave my bike to the hootch boy when I left and I thought he was going to kiss me. If you put “korat batcat tatro” into google you will see me on the prop of my plane. Larry Westin has a great Korat Web. Sawasdee kaup Gordon
Gordon, thank you for that wonderful description of you time in the service and Korat. You are so right about many of the faces there are people that have now passed away. Sometimes I wonder if my house girl is still alive and if she would remember me.
My dad was stationed in Korat '66 or '67. I have a dollar signed by Petula Clark who was there with others who entertained the troops. Don't really know the backstory.
Thank you for you nice comment, Ixa. He probably stood in line to get her autograph after the show. Or, perhaps he was in some job-related position that allowed access to her.
Thank you so much. Camp Friendship Aug. 68 to Aug 69. This is how I remember Korat, and want it to stay that way in my mind. Is tghe Sripatana (spelling?) hotel still there? One of the first bus stops from the camp. I remember the bus being green (not army green). I turned 21 there.
Thanx!! Awesome Best movies i've seen though 53 year old. I was the civilian engineer at 388th Base Civil Engineer Sqd. while i was 25 ... rewind amazing memory💞💞💞💞🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️
I was there in 69 the town was the same as shown on your vid. The bus ride then was 5 baht or .25 cents. Brings back good memories. Were you in the 553, College of the fighter wing
Wow, I was only thirteen years old when all this was going on. I'm almost 70 now and came home With some stress on my mind. I chanced upon this video and it was like therapy for me! Thank you and God bless you!
Thank you for that nice comment. I'm an old man now and still remember the great times in Korat. Hot summer nights in NC prepared me for the year around hot nights in Thailand.
Say when I was there, right down town I saw a charcoal color snake. I sidestepped left. It struck a Buddhist monk about 2 meters behind to my right. It was a King Cobra. I didn't regard it as one as I saw no hood. But that was about as close as I came to death for many years. On our camp we had a railroad crossing in miniture but marked as Cobra Crossing
My father was stationed there in the US Air Force during this time. He sue loved the people, I sure would like to visit but now with the world the way it is..... Sadly , It’s not going to happen.
@@fescan Nothing to it. Thailand and weekly TDY to Vietnam was a picnic. Ended up spending 32 years i the US Army and Reserves andd spent as much time outside the US as possible. In 2013 I retired toi Panama, then Ecuador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Seeing whatr the US has become I will nevewr again return there.
I'm Thai. Never saw old Korat before. Thanks for putting me in your time machine taking me back to the past.
My pleasure
Wow! Love this! Believe it or not, I was a 15 year old American girl living in Korat for 6 months during this exact time period. My father was a subcontractor for the Army. I took that Bus almost every day to the Camp Friendship pool after I did my correspondence school work. I returned to Korat in 1999. I didn't recognize it anymore. Thank you for the memories!!
You must have gotten lots of nice attention from the Thai people. Being so young, I suppose you picked up the Thai language rather easily, if you wanted too. If I had seen you I know I would have taken your picture and you'd now be in show. I did receive communication from a Thai woman who saw her mother in the video.
Oh my gosh I was about 7 or 8 years old. My sister married to an Air Force man. She and I used to ride the bus to the base, and she would buy me tomato juice, while she talk to her husband lol.
i was there for a year in 1983 now im living in bkk and Korat change alot❤❤
I was there in 1966 to 68 was your father with contractors that was building barracks.My hooch was close to the back gate to the road back to town and thru the airbase,front gate went to hy1,any way talk with a young lady on the bus and her father was with her
Thanks for posting this.👍
My father was stationed at Korat from August 1966 to August 1967; he had several friends there, and I heard many stories about them. He took many Super 8 home movies about his side trips to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the Gulf of Siam. There was also a short clip of that Japanese train (Korat's station?), left over from WWII. He was the crew chief named on #208 of the 34thy TFS, which was shot down 2 months after he returned to the States.
That is very interesting about your father. I hope you have some way to view the movies he took. Thank you for your nice comments.
ขอขอบคุณท่านที่นำโพสต์นี้มาลง..เพื่อประโยชน์แห่งสาธารณชน ครับ🙏🌹💜
I believe your comment translates to "Thank you for posting this..for the benefit of the public."
You are welcome. So happy to know you liked it. Best of luck to you always.
thank you for posting the old films from Korat. My wife is Thai and coming from Korat / Nakorn Ratchasima. We have been married for more than 35 year now - well the funny things is she has been quite a good basketball player both in secondary school and when she studied in university. Later on she also played on thailand women national team. Basketball became an important sport in Korat proberly because of you guys playing during your free time :)
That's a wonderful story. I'm so happy that you have been together all these years. My best wishes to you both.
Thank you so much for uploading. My mom was a Korat person and she used to work as a typist in the US army camp in Korat during that time.
I'll be she was good at her job. The Thai civil employees were always so nice and willing to get the job done.
Wonderful footage. Nice to observe everyday life in Korat at that time. Thanks for posting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Assigned to the 388th A & E TFW, enjoyed going to Korat on the bus on weekends. A nice small town then with a Foremost ice cream parlor. What a treat! Iwas introduced to a Klong too. What a smell! Lots of great shopping in Korat back then. Love it.
Thank you! I'm glad it brought back good memories. The klongs (canals) were used in many ways, mainly for transportation and drainage.
🇹🇭❤️💯My hometown ... My mothersland. 🙏 Thank you 4 sharing your impressive moments throughout this classically vids. I am really appreciate this much ❤️👍👏
Wish I could do more. Thank you for your kind comments.
@@fescan 🙏🤗💐 You done well. Thank you krab 💓👍😁
I spent a few months at Korat in '72 with some KC-135s. Loved the F-105s. We were kept out in a reopened section of Camp Friendship. Many Baht bus rides back and forth to the flightline. Loved the Thai restaurant on base. Great food there!
Thank you for the interesting comments. Always nice to here what others remembered about their time there.
ผมดูคลิปนี้ซ้ำ หลายครั้งเพื่อจะดูว่าเป็นสถานที่ใดบ้าง ผมเกิดที่จังหวัดราชบุรี แต่มีโอกาสไปทำงานราชการที่โคราชระหว่างปี 1991-1993
ช่วงนั้นสงครามเวียดนามเพิ่งสงบไปราว 20 ปี เศษซากสิ่งปลูกสร้างที่เกี่ยวของกับสงครามยังหลงเหลืออยู่มาก(ปัจจุบันไม่มีแล้ว) เช่น จอรับสัญญาณเรดาร์ มองเห็นได้จากข้างถนน รถจิ๊ป รถเก๋งอเมริกันคันใหญ่จอดเป็นซาก
ผู้คนใน video เป็นอัตลักษณ์โดยแท้ของคนโคราช คลิปนี้มีประโยชน์มากสำหรับศึกษาสังคมในอดีต
เมื่อสัปดาห์ที่ผ่านมาได้แวะที่โคราชอีกครั้งมันเปลี่ยนไปจากเมื่อ 30 ปี ที่เคยไปทำงานมาก และเมื่อเทียบกับคลิปนี้จะทำให้เห็นวิวัฒนาการของเมืองโคราช ....คิดถึงโคราชครับ
Thank you for you informative and nice comment that is translated below with possible mistakes.
I watched this clip again. several times to see what places it was I was born in Ratchaburi Province. But had the opportunity to work for the government in Korat between 1991-1993.
At that time, the Vietnam War had only been over for about 20 years. There are still many remnants of buildings related to the war still remaining (now there are none), such as radar receivers. Visible from the side of the road, a jeep, a large American sedan, was parked in ruins.
The people in the video are the true identity of Korat people. This clip is very useful for studying past societies.
Last week I stopped by Korat again. It was very different from the 30 years I used to go to work. And comparing with this clip will show the evolution of Korat city. ....I miss Korat.
Thank you so much for posting this. My father was a GI at the same base and met my mother working at the family leather shop on base. My mother has not been back to Korat since leaving Thailand in 1973 and this video brought back many nice memories for her and it is so nice to see the city she live din at the time she was a university student there. Our family shop is still in Korat. We are planning on a trip in Feb 2024, will be nice to see the difference.
Thailand is a new world compared to when I was there shooting this film. I'm sure she's aware of that. The Thai nationals working on base, that I knew, where very nice and always willing to help me with learning to speak Thai. Thank you for your comment. I wish you a safe trip to Thailand and have lots of fun.
Hello,
I was stationed at Karat in May to July 1973.
Would like to be in touch with anyone who was there then.
Joel Hoffman
NY
Hi Joel. Thank you for your comment.
Thank You. Nice history lesson. My Wife is from Korat.
Wonderful. I hope she liked the video.
Thanks for posting this video. Seems so long ago and far away.... yet really not. I have always treasured being stationed in Thailand; especially the kind, generous and always friendly Thai people. The vast majority of Americans returned home changed in a positive way from that experience.
Glad you enjoyed it
Fes: Thanks for the newest version of your film. I never get tired of seeing it. I ordered your CD many years ago (the one that also has the films of the Korat base and the Lowery AFB films). I have watched it so much that I think that I have just about worn them out. I was stationed at Udorn in 1969 and it appears to be very similar to Korat. Your CD brings back very pleasant memories. Bill O'Dell
Wow, thank you!
im from bangkok. my tears are come.... because i miss the past so much. the good memory is gone from me. 😢😭
I'll admit that I had watery eyes when I boarded the plane to leave Thailand. I had the time of my life.
What a great video 📹 ❤🇹🇭 so I can see what my country looks like at this time.
Glad you enjoyed it! Things have changed a lot, I'm sure. You know what has not changed? Everyone still wants to have a good time. We did then and we do now. That's a constant.
I was 17 and should have went V.N. but the Army said not at 17,when I was the only one out of 200,that got orders For Bangkok.I really did not know what next,I was at MACV for 24 hrs,as soon as the bus left town I fell in love with it,Im from Panama,City,Fl so I was at home.
I was with the 442 Sig, HQ drove jeep for Chaplain,we went all over,One time I messed up and drove into Venteen,Los.the border guard thought it was funny,they were cool.
My T-lok's name was Noi,and I still think of her often.I would go back now,would not even pack,I miss it so much.At 17 the impression it had on me was,well I am still Impressed .
When I did go to V.N. and come time for RR well I was afraid I would not come back (lol)
I love the people,food,there culture,weather,just everything mok mok.I was in a truckstop in Nashville,Tn.in 1980 and a driver was rude to a lady that just happened to be Thai when I realized she was Thai I started to talk to her in Thai she stopped crying and turns out her family also worked at the Truckstop,I made it one for best stops on my route,NOT really I don't miss it,
I know I must stop now or I'll go on and on
Thank you for sharing those good times in Thailand. It reflects the feelings of many others as well.
How very interesting and these have been on line for a long time! I wonder why I had never seen them as I had surfed “Korat”? Hmmmmm?!
I was there in 1969-70. Worked Flight-line maintenance on the Connies (Crew chief of #483). Faircloth was my chief but he got rabies from his telok (girl friend) wild CAT…! They shipped him out… and that made 'them' make me crew chief. They weren't sure I could do it, but I proved them wrong--I wanted my own plane. Who am I? Gordon Tatro. I ended up with a 23-year career and miss the teamwork and responsibility and diversity.
I did not see Lady Moe? Did I miss her (the historic statue) in the center of Korat? Sure, do remember the bhat (thia currency) busses. That red Bhat note could get you anything… LOL!! And I also think I missed seeing the rice bug Mhen dah. What a hideous creature and the Thais love them… suck the juice right out of the abdomen (YUCK…LOL!).
It’s a bit sad to see so many smiling faces and know that many of them are now gone-they sure are a friendly people and the kids would run after the GIs laughing and giggling as they tried to sell the Airmen just about anything! Catch us right off the Bhat Bus from base. Do you remember when they put guards on the apple barrels at the chow hall? We used to take five or more down town and we could get nearly anything for the apples. Allowed us only two apples once the authorities caught onto that little trick!
It was a busy time and when it rained everything got damp even my hootch girl could not get the combat boots dry (trick there is to get some extra boots-sure they got wet too but for a while it was nice). The town stunk they had open sewer ditches and although it was not that bad it was hard until ya got used to it…nice when it was windy.
I got hit in the shoulder while peddling my bike to the flight-line one dark night, to do my preflight inspection on my Connie-I thought I had been shot. I got knocked enough to cause me to go off the road edge and into the ruff… that caused me to do a controlled crash. There in the road was one of those hideous bugs on its back Buzzzz Buzzzz. It was doing a dead-bug upsidedown. So I obliged it-squish!
I gave my bike to the hootch boy when I left and I thought he was going to kiss me. If you put “korat batcat tatro” into google you will see me on the prop of my plane. Larry Westin has a great Korat Web.
Sawasdee kaup
Gordon
Gordon, thank you for that wonderful description of you time in the service and Korat. You are so right about many of the faces there are people that have now passed away. Sometimes I wonder if my house girl is still alive and if she would remember me.
Hello..have you ever known the name of Kaijae building..the highest one in that period which had fired accident
So sorry, but I have not. Some of this video was shot from the top of a hotel that taller than most buildings around it. Thank you for your comment.
What a lovely video. I have now retired to Khorat, and am loving it. I particularly enjoyed the rural scenes
Thailand was a life changing experience for me. I learned a lot of things while there.
I was stationed there in the 70s. Beautiful video.
Hi, I was TDY to Karat in 73, let's get in touch
Glad to hear it.
My dad was stationed in Korat '66 or '67. I have a dollar signed by Petula Clark who was there with others who entertained the troops. Don't really know the backstory.
Thank you for you nice comment, Ixa. He probably stood in line to get her autograph after the show. Or, perhaps he was in some job-related position that allowed access to her.
Thank you for the information
ตามรอยเส้นทางเก่าสร้างนิคมอุตสาหกรรมชาวบ้านประเทศเพื่อนบ้านก็ได้ดีไปด้วย
I think your comments reads "Following the old route to build industrial estates for villagers in neighboring countries is also good."
Thank you.
Does anyone remember a young Air Force man name Charles Robert Freeman?
It would be nice if someone contacts you with knowledge of Charles. Thank you for viewing the video.
คิดถึงสมัยโบราณ
Yes
Thank you so much. Camp Friendship Aug. 68 to Aug 69. This is how I remember Korat, and want it to stay that way in my mind. Is tghe Sripatana (spelling?) hotel still there? One of the first bus stops from the camp. I remember the bus being green (not army green). I turned 21 there.
The bus rides were bumpy and sometimes standing room only.
I was at Camp Friendship too. Worked Microw and Tropo at Jones Park. nut 2 years before you.
Good job, Fes. We had some good times there, then, in spite of why we were there. 👍🙏
Glen, so happy to hear from you. I'm proud to have known you. You are a very nice man in so many ways.
Thanx!! Awesome Best movies i've seen though 53 year old. I was the civilian engineer at 388th Base Civil Engineer Sqd. while i was 25 ... rewind amazing memory💞💞💞💞🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️
Love those comments where it brings back good memories.
I was there in 69 the town was the same as shown on your vid. The bus ride then was 5 baht or .25 cents. Brings back good memories. Were you in the 553, College of the fighter wing
I was in MMS, working the flight line on the F-105.
Wow, I was only thirteen years old when all this was going on. I'm almost 70 now and came home With some stress on my mind. I chanced upon this video and it was like therapy for me! Thank you and God bless you!
Thank you for that nice comment. I'm an old man now and still remember the great times in Korat. Hot summer nights in NC prepared me for the year around hot nights in Thailand.
Say when I was there, right down town I saw a charcoal color snake. I sidestepped left. It struck a Buddhist monk about 2 meters behind to my right. It was a King Cobra. I didn't regard it as one as I saw no hood. But that was about as close as I came to death for many years. On our camp we had a railroad crossing in miniture but marked as Cobra Crossing
Glad you made it back!!!
My father was stationed there in the US Air Force during this time. He sue loved the people, I sure would like to visit but now with the world the way it is..... Sadly , It’s not going to happen.
It is not like it used to be, (what is?) but I"m sure it's still a great place to visit or live.
Just have to come back and watch again🙏🙏😍😍💗💯
So happy to read that nice comment from you. Thank you.
Very cool,
Thank you.
I was born in korat. Thank you very much for watching korat atmosphere in the past.
You are most welcome
We had a Thai Honey Bear as a mascot. Named tropo. He would do anything for a Coca Cola.
I'll bet that was fun!
@@fescan Nothing to it. Thailand and weekly TDY to Vietnam was a picnic. Ended up spending 32 years i the US Army and Reserves andd spent as much time outside the US as possible. In 2013 I retired toi Panama, then Ecuador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Seeing whatr the US has become I will nevewr again return there.
Many Thanks for share your films!
My pleasure!
🙏This brings back good memories as a child living in Thailand 👍😍🙏
So nice of you to comment about those good memories. I remember the children there being very well behaved.
Good
So young and stupid. Thanks for taking m,e back
552 awacks
Stupid as in naive, perhaps. But we were sharp on the line. Glad to take you back.
Nice images. You took a real interest in Thailand. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching