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Thousands of members of the 377th Air Base Wing have deployed to the combat theaters of operations since the wing was reactivated at Kirtland in January 1993. But the Tigers of the 377th were combat proven long before Iraq or Afghanistan. In 1966, the 377th Combat Support Group, including the 377th Security Police Squadron, activated in Vietnam. The combat exploits and courage under fire of these men while defending Ton Son Nhut Air Base earned the moniker “Fighting Tigers.”
These Airmen walked off the pages of history April 20 and onto Kirtland Air Force Base, to meet their modern-day counterparts, the Airmen of 377th Security Forces Group.
“This will be a day that we are not going to forget,” said Tim Clifford, a former member of the 377th SPS who did two tours in South Vietnam, from 1964-’65 and at Ton Son Nhut in 1968-’69. “I am so amazed and impressed with these [Airmen]. When I get around these guys and see what has happened since the time we were in Vietnam up to this day, it’s so emotional to be here with them.”
The 377th SPS is a social organization today, collecting and sharing historical material, conducting reunions and existing as a brotherhood. The visit has been in the works since September of 2017.
“We’ve been looking forward to this since we started put this together. It’s an honor for us, and it’s a privilege to be here with them,” Clifford said.
The visit marked the 50th anniversary of the unit, and provided an opportunity to formalize and ratify the bond that members of each organization already recognized. After sharing briefings on the Vietnam-era and modern 377th’s, gifts were exchanged and appreciation was expressed.
The inscription on a new plaque for the 377th SFG said it all: “On behalf of the 377 Security Police Squadron, Ton Son Nhut Air Base, Proven in Combat; and the 377th Security Forces Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base: Brothers Forever.”
“You have followed in our footsteps and we thank you for that,” Clifford told the assembled SFG. “What you do means everything—the security of the base and defending our country.”
The SFG responded with a coin rack which thanked the SPS for “paving the way for our career field.”
Chief Master Sgt. Chad Schulte, 377th ABW Command Chief, said the entire group of modern Tigers is honored by the legacy bestowed by the 377th SPS.
“When you talk about the history and the heritage of the 377th Air Base Wing, it was developed because of you guys in the 377th Combat Support Group. And on behalf of all the members of the 377th Air Base Wing, we just want to say thank you and congratulations on being here today. Fighting Tigers!,” Schulte said.
SrA Troy Van Houten, a 377th SFG member, said getting to know some of the SPS members was inspirational, including the 377 SPS air base ground defense during enemy attacks.
“Honestly it’s been really cool,” he said. “Our job can get very monotonous and boring, and this kind of brings it into perspective--how important our job can become in the blink of an eye.
“All these things that we preach, these guys are the epitome of it, these guys are what it’s all about. We are not just standing a post, we are backing up what these gentlemen did.”
| Date Taken: | 04.26.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2018 13:27 |
| Story ID: | 275237 |
| Location: | ALBUQUERQUE, NM, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 377 SFG Airmen Meet 'combat proven' Tigers from Ton Son Nhut, by James Fisher, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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