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Major Command Histories


U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND THAILAND/JOINT U.S. MILITARY ADVISORY GROUP THAILAND

(MACTHAI/JUSMAGTHAI)

1952-76

History:

JUSMAGTHAI established September 22, 1953, superseding the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) Thailand, established September 1950.

MACTHAI established May 15, 1962, with Gen. Paul D. Harkins, commanding MACV, given simultaneous command of MACTHAI.

Coordination of MACTHAI and JUSMAGTHAI activities effected through the appointment of Chief of JUSMAGTHAI as Deputy Commander, MACTHAI, October 31, 1962, with responsibility for operational control of U.S. logistical troops in Thailand.

Chief of JUSMAGTHAI named Commander, MACTHAI, July 10, 1965, with headquarters in Bangkok.

MACTHAI and JUSMAGTHAI formally combined to form new organization, MACTHAI/JUSMAGTHAI, April 21, 1975.

Abolished July 20, 1976.







USMACTHAI HISTORY

 

1961

In December 1961 as the first U.S. Army aviation units arrived in Vietnam it became apparent that logistical support had to be increased.

The 9th Logistic Command on Okinawa sent a logistic support team to South Vietnam on December 17, 1961.


This team would eventually become the headquarters of the U.S. Army, Vietnam, the Army component of the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.


1962

On 15 May 1962 the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Thailand (USMACTHAI) initially consisted of the following: A U.S. joint task force (JTF 116) in Thailand deployed as an element of the SEATO exercise and later held there because of Communist activity in Laos; the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group, Thailand (JUSMAG); and other U.S. Military elements deployed to Thailand, many from Okinawa. Army units in Thailand were placed directly under MACTHAI on October 30, 1962. The original designation of MACTHAI was U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Thailand and called the Military Assistance Group in Thailand (MAGTHAI). MACTHAI would have operational control over all U.S. forces in Thailand.

 

1965

By the end of 1965 USMACTHAI and MAGTHAI would be consolidated into a single command called MACTHAI.

 



 USARSUPTHAI HISTORY

 

   

1956

The history of the United States Army Support, Thailand (USARSUPTHAI) began as early as February 1956 as an element of IX Corps stationed in Okinawa. Known then as Headquarters IX Corps and assigned to Headquarters US Army Ryukyu Islands (USARYIS) as a planning group for Southeast Asia missions and exercises.

 

1966

When IX Corps reorganized, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company formed on April 25, 1966 began as the forerunner of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USARSUPTHAI.

The first commander of USARSUPTHAI was Colonel Francis W. O' Brien, then the Chief of Staff of IX Corps. The unit met its readiness date on June 15, 1966, before receiving its notification of impending deployment for late September 1966.

In October 1966, the first echelon of eleven officers and twenty-eight enlisted arrived in Korat. Subsequent air and sea movements followed on schedule and the headquarters closed at Korat on November 15, 1966.

Brigadier General Edwin F. Black assumed command of the headquarters on December 11, 1966 and shortly thereafter met with representatives of:

USARPAC,


USARYIS,

9th Logistical Command (B),

History:

(The 9th TAACOM, originally designated Headquarters 9th Logistical Command,

was constituted May 5, 1960 and was activated on the island of Okinawa, Japan.

The unit deployed to Thailand in May 1962 at the request of the Royal Thai government to provide assistance

in civil construction projects and later became the logistical support element for Joint Task Force 116

to counter the growing conflict in the Southeast Asia area.

When the joint task force was inactivated, the 9th Logistical Command remained in Thailand

with the mission of storing and maintaining pre-positioned stocks,

conducting people-to-people civic action programs,

and maintaining and in-country communications base.

The command was inactivated in Thailand June 12, 1970.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th TAACOM was reactivated

November 1,1994 at United States Army Japan headquarters, Camp Zama, Japan)


USARSUPTHAI,

and USMACTHAI

to formulate plans for the orderly transfer of functions. 


1967

On January 1, 1967 USARSUPTHAI formerly assumed command and/or operational control of all US Army units in Thailand.


1975

On (date to be confirmed) USARSUPTHAI was formerly deactivated at Camp Samae San, in Sattahip, Thailand.


Accession Number : AD0394097

Title :   Lessons Learned, Headquarters, United States Army Support, Thailand.

Descriptive Note : Operational rept. for quarterly period ending 31 Jan 67.

Corporate Author : ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE (ARMY) WASHINGTON D C

Report Date : 15 FEB 1967

Abstract : The missions of USARSUPTHAI are as follows: (1) Tactical: Provide the U. S. Army nucleus for a unilateral, bilateral or combined tactical headquarters to conduct ground combat operations in Thailand; (2) Training: Conduct continuing OJT (on-the-job training) of assigned Army units; (3) Planning: Conduct U. S. Army planning to support joint operational plans for current operations and contingency U. S. unilateral, bilateral and SEATO plans; (4) Management: Exercise command management supervision of U. S. Army construction programs, logistic operations, real property, facilities and project stocks; and (5) Logistical and Administrative: Provide (1) logistical support to U. S. Air Force operations in North Vietnam and Laos and (2) U. S. Army and joint service support as directed.

Descriptors :   THAILAND, LOGISTICS, ARMY TRAINING, MILITARY REQUIREMENTS, MILITARY MEDICINE, ARMY PERSONNEL, TREATIES, SOUTHEAST ASIA, MILITARY POLICE, HISTORY, DEPLOYMENT, LOGISTICS, LAOS, VIETNAM.

Subject Categories : MILITARY OPERATIONS, STRATEGY AND TACTICS

Distribution Statement : APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE