The Vietnam War Years of

Korat Royal Thai Air Base

The Vietnam War Years of

Korat Royal Thai Air Base

This info via Col. Bill Koch and from Otto Uebel via the YahooGroup. The excerpt is from Otto's email to Bill about Roscoe (2004):

While a member of 388th Hospital Group in 1971, I talked to the base veterinarian who had just been ordered by the base commander to eliminate all dogs on base including Roscoe. The vet told me that in doing this he would incur the anger of every fighter jock on the base and his own physical health could be in jeopardy. However he did follow his orders, and asked me to witness the following: He laced some hamburger meat with enough lethal drugs to kill several large dogs, and gave it to Roscoe out on a field. Roscoe ate it all and left the area. Roscoe was not seen the rest of that day. Nor was he seen the next day. But on the third day Roscoe reappeared at KABOOM a little wobbly on his legs. It was like watching the return of the dead--the second resurrection. The base vet had followed his orders, but it seems that Roscoe was meant to remain on the base, which he did until his death in 1975. No other attempt was made to remove Roscoe. Indeed the vet said he would not do it again even if ordered. This euthenasia order was the most insane order that I could imagine to demoralize the troops, right up there with taking away the Aussie type hats which was ordered about the same time.
(Name withheld by request)

Roscoe used to bum rides. He would stand in the middle of the street. Cars would stop and open the door and Roscoe would get in for a free ride. I have seen him riding in the staff car with the Wing Commander many times. He knew he owned the air base.
--Bob "Rocky" Wall, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.)

Roscoe made multiple round trips daily between the KABOOM and Fort Apache. I would often see him in the parking lots of those places, waiting for guys in green goatskins to get into a vehicle, knowing they were most probably headed for his destination. (Even if that wasn't the case, the driver would always make a detour to drop Roscoe at his stop!) Sometimes you would see him wait for a time, pace impatiently, then decide to "hoof it" because no riding opportunity developed, and take off trotting down the road.

-- Terry Guyton

Bicycles were used by almost everyone on the base. Cyclists were a common sight, and Roscoe paid no attention to Americans on bikes. But let him catch sight of a Thai on a bike and he would give chase, nipping at their feet and barking. And the poor victim knew better than to kick out at Roscoe in defense!

-- Terry Guyton

Hey! Why isn't my table ready?
(photo courtesy of Bill Koch)

I was at Korat in the 34th TFS from 30 May 74 to approximately 30 May 75 (after the war). Roscoe was kind of old and fat when I arrived at Korat. He used to sleep under the pool table at the O'club. Also, once he slept in the Wing Commander's chair in the main briefing room. The Wing Commander, Col. Russell I believe, moved over and sat in the next chair. He said, " I know when I am out ranked."

-- Bob "Rocky" Wall Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.)

The club officer tried to have him thrown out of the club. There was a lot of hell raised over that. So the squadron paid his club dues and Roscoe had his own club card from then on.

-- Bob "Rocky" Wall Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.)

Another thing I recall is seeing pictures of Roscoe and his "teelok", a stray bitch that wandered around the base, posted at various places on the base with text in English and Thai saying "do not shoot this dog" - a warning to the cops that he and his girl were under the protection of the commander.

-- Terry Guyton

Roscoe had a teelock too. Her name was "Pave Dog". She was a black Labrador and about two years old. She could run rings around Roscoe. I don't think anyone ever saw the two ever getting it on together though. At his age Roscoe cared more about the kitchen at the O'club and stayed close by. Pave Dog on the other hand was a bar fly. She stayed mainly at the CTF, short for Crew Training Facility. Guys would give her beer and she would really get plastered. I have seen her too drunk to walk on several occasions.

-- Bob "Rocky" Wall - Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.)

Roscoe with his patches.
(photo courtesy of Bane Lyle)

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Go to Roscoe page 3

"I arrived at KRTAFB in May of 68 as a member of the 44TFS.  Some time that summer or fall Admiral U S Grant Sharp, PACOM Commander, came through Korat on a farewell tour as he was retiring.  All of us who were available assembled in Richter Hall and the admiral gave some kind of talk.  The room was crowded and many of us including me sat on the floor to hear the great mans words.  I don’t remember a thing he said but I remember Roscoe like it was yesterday.  He took up a position IN one of the front row seats and then proceeded to sleep through the admirals talk.  I was a mere captain but we had several colonels in the room.  Nobody bothered Roscoe.  I knew right then that Roscoe outranked me and was not to be trifled with.  I used to have some stills with Roscoe in them but alas I lost them during a move. "

Jim Logan, a WW EWO from May 68 – May 69 (Received August 29, 2009)

Roscoe
(page 2)