History

History
of the
_{7th COMSEC Logistic Support Unit}
in
Phu Bai, Vietnam

(Much of the following are bits and pieces taken directly from Max Cram's document - "History of the COMSEC Units in Vietnam". Click here to read it in it's entirety.)

The USA, stepped in politically, and later militarily, in the turmoil in South East Asia starting in 1950. The involvement became more direct with the defeat of the French in 1954. A Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) was established that set up in the Cholon area of Saigon in late 1950 with some 128 men from all branches of service. The number of personnel did increase over time and eventually rose to 217 for Army personnel in 1956, then up to about 685, and by February 1962 there were 2,394 est. total military personnel in country. The MAAG, in 1964, merged with the newly activated US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) The advisory mission remained until the very end of the war.

The 1st Signal Brigade was activated on April 1, 1966 and was headquarter at Long Binh until transferred out of country in November 1972.

The 706^th Signal Detachment was activated in 1966 to take over the command mission from the 39^th Signal Battalion for Comsec logistics. In 1967 the mission responsibility changed to that of a Communication Security Logistics Center, Vietnam (CSLC-V). They moved from the Cholon area of Saigon to Tan Son Nhut Air Base (TSN). They retained the crypto facility in Cholon and gained two addition storage areas plus a headquarter building (actually a Quanset hut with several additions) on the base. The one storage building was located at the helipad that permitted better service. It was also a change in mission responsibility again in 1967 to that of a Communication Security Logistics Center, Vietnam (CSLC-V). The headquarters and storage facilities remained on TSN until 1969 when the unit in its entirety moved to a newly constructed facility at the Long Binh Army Post. This new facility was alongside the 3^rd CLSU, but housed in separate compounds.

In early 1967 with the arrival of the 160^th Signal Group, they reorganized and molded into an effective operation the US Army countrywide communications security support activities”. The 706^th Signal Detachment was deactivated and passed control to the newly reactivated 57^th Signal Company in February 1969. (Click here to view an "Information Letter to Incoming Personnel" to the 57th Signal Company by Lieutenant Colonal William Blatti, Commander.)

It was during the time of the 706^th Signal Detachment era while at TSN that the arrival and placements of the newly arrived Comsec units came about. The 706^th Signal Detachment was the controlling command for all newly arrived Comsec support units. The unit at Phu Bai was formed up and emplaced in early 1968, just after the Tet Offensive. The first commanding officer and majority of its personnel were from the 80^th General Support Group’s Comsec component. Initially it was designated as Detachment A, 706^th Signal Detachment. Along with the other units it was re-designated as the 7^th Comsec Logistics Support Unit. It was de-activated March 1972. The unit was awarded the MUC for its service for the period 1 April71-February 72 cited in DA PAM 672-3, 29 January, 1988.

COMSEC is a US Army term that stands for Communications Security. Communications security has been an issue for armies for centuries. Ancient armies wrote messages in code to protect from an enemy learning their plans. Modern armies use crypto equipment to do the same thing.
COMSEC Logistics Support are those activities related to Control and Distribution of COMSEC materials. All COMSEC materials are classified to some level. Depending on their sensitivity, they could be Top Secret. We were all well aware of the classified nature of our mission and our security responsibilities.

During the Vietnam War, the US Army used equipment designed to encrypt either voice or teletype messages. Through networks of radios using crypto gear, whole divisions in Vietnam enjoyed secure communications to the battlefield level. This allowed ground, sea and air forces to better coordinate their activities. The major tactical equipment in use at the time was the TSEC/KW-7, the TSEC/8, 28 and 38..Standard for a unit was a Jeep, a couple 2-1/2 ton trucks, at least two vans of varying lengths, and types (again no common standards seemed to exist between units) and at least one ¾ ton truck. Electronics test equipment fell way short in having being the latest and best . Personnel equipment followed the same path such as M-1 carbines were authorized where at the time the M-14 was the standard for these type units. Staffing ran upward to 22 personnel comprising of at least one commissioned officer , 2 warrant officers (one being a 341A -crypto maintenance- and a 721A -communications operations) and the remainder being EM with the majority being crypto maintenance and the others communication center technicians. By 1970/71 all units were commanded by warrant officers.

An official roster of all personnel at the CLSU Phu Bai as of 1 August, 1968 as submitted to HQDA can be viewed by clicking here (Thanks to Tom Wittbrodt and Max Cram.)