TAN SON NHUT --- Watching movies is probably the most popular pastime of Tan Son Nhut AB personnel despite their wide participation in a variety of other recreational activities also available on base.

Attendance figures from MSgt Tom Romer, manager, show that the Base Theather attracted 6,563 customers in March.  This was for 164 showings.

The free movies, shown outside five nights a week at the four main barracks areas at TSN, drew another 5,200 viewers.  This included 92 showings.

The Base Theater has a capacity of 242.
Some showings, usually in the evenings, often are sold out, especially for hit films.  It is not unusual for movie buffs at TSN to wait an hour and a half, or longer, in line to purchase a ticket.   Another half-hour wait faces them before the doors open.

Such was the case recently when "Murderers Row", starring Dean Martin, played here.   The same was true for "The Professionals", which featured Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster.

One ardent movie fan refused to be dismayed by the Sold Out Sign posted in the ticket window when "The Professionals" was playing.  He simply had to get in. He did.  He bought a ducat for $ 2.50 from someone waiting in line to enter the theater.

The TSN Theater is not air conditioned.
Movie goers do not seem to mind.   They come in droves anyway.  According to Sergeant Rober, a large air conditioning unit recently arrived, "But I don't know when it will be installed," he said.

The theater is to get new seats also.  The present wooden ones are old and badly worn.  "When they break," the sergeant reports, "they often can't be repaired." About 50 steel folding chairs are being used temporarily.

This too has its drawback.  Each Sunday afternoon the Personnel Services Office borrows the chairs to use at one of their recreational programs in a barracks area.

The free outdoor movies come from Armed Forces Motion Picture services, according to SSgt Billy Goodson who conducts the program.  Some of the films have been shown at the Base Theater.  The barracks areas usually get them two weeks later.

Licensed projectionists, who are paid for their services, show the films.  They are few break-downs.  They do a professional job.

None of the barracks areas have permanent seating.  Viewers bring their own chairs -- and mosquito repellent.

TSN Picks Top Junior Officer

TAN SON NHUT --- 1st Lt. Gary J. Pfleiger, an RF-4C pilot with the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, was recently selected the Tan Son Nhut AB Outstanding Junior Officer of the Month for March.

Lieutenant Pfleiger was cited for his contributions and devotion to duty as a pilot systems operator in Southeast Asia, and for his tactical competence.

Since September 1966, the lieutenant completed 160 combat missions. For this he was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross by Gen. John D. Ryan, Pacific Air Forces commander in chief.

Someone Else's
Grandpa Takes On
Weighty Problems

TAN SON NHUT --- A1C Edward Landau has faced some real knotty ... and weighty
... problems during his lifetime.

During his first career as a small businessman in civilian life, he encountered some of the normal small problems associated with business ... but, they were his problems.

Today in the Air Force, Airman Landau is, confronted with tons of problems -- someone else's problems.

Airman Landau tries to untangle nearly two tons of lost baggage each month.  He heads the lost and found section of the 8th Aerial Port Squadron, at Tan Son Nhut AB.

"Lost baggage is only a small percentage of the tons of baggage handled for American servicemen arriving and leaving Vietnam," said Airman Landau.  "Most of the baggage lost is due to illegible writing, loss of address tags and change in assignments.  It is a big challenge to find the owners quickly and cut down the inconvenience to these individuals to a minimum."

But, challenges are common place for Airman Landau.  He is a unique man who, during his 60 years, has led a full life.  He retired from operating a successful wholesale radio delivery service in his hometown of San Francisco, to re-enter the service.

This is his third war.  Airman Landau volunteered for Vietnam which required approval of a waiver because of his age.  He arrived in October of last year and will serve 18 months, having extended recently for another six months.

"I see baggage in my sleep," states Airman Landau.  "An average of 400 pieces of lost luggage are handled monthly. Our recovery rate is about 75 per cent.

"Addresses on letters and copies of orders found in luggage aid in finding the owners of lost baggage," says Airman Landau.  "We write letters to relatives and formet units ... usually we find the owners pretty fast."

Unknown baggage -- luggage with no identification whatsoever -- is more difficult to trace.  "Spot announcement over local radio stations is one way used to find owners," Airman Landau said.

Every effort is made to find the owner.
"We know this baggage is irreplaceable by the owner for sentimental reasons," said Airman Landau.  "When walking around the base or in Saigon, I find myself looking at name tags worn by military personnel, hoping to recognize a name on our lost baggage inventory list."

A grandfather (three grand-daughters in Novato, Calif.)  Airman Landau feels he is playing a vital role in vietnam.

He was lauded recently by Colonel Robert J. Sunde, director of traffic in the office of the deptuy chief of staff for operations, Headquarters 22nd Air Force, Travis AFB, Calif. The colonel said, "Airman Landau seems to worry about people's baggage more that I do.   And ... I am a worrying son-of-a-gun."
It is a challenging task ... Airman Landau and the 8th Aerial Port Squadron's "can do" attitudes has proven successful in doing the job.

Unclaimed Bags Pile Up at TSN

TAN SON NHUT --- Unclaimed and lost baggage continues to pile up at the 8th Aerial Port Squadron here.

Lack of accompanying documentation in the form of tags, labels or orders has hindered efforts to trace ownership.

To help alleviate this condition personnel destined for South Vietnam are being asked to augment visible baggage markings with a copy of travel orders inside each piece.

Airmen Organize
1st U.S. Soccer
Squad In RVN

TAN SON NHUT --- Tan Son Nhut AB boasts the first organized American soccer squad ever to play in Vietnam.

When MSgt. Bill Collins, a Scotsman who has played the game for 17 years, arrived at Tan Son Nhut AB in September 1966 he immediately obtained permission from the Personnel Services Office to form a base team.  He was appointed coach.

There were many obstacles in the beginning.  Some of these were:  1. - signing up enough experienced and talented personnel to field an 11-man team; 2. - locating a place to practice and a field where regulation games could be played; 3. - finding opponents to play and 4. - getting an OK from the players' supervisors allowing them to practice and play on duty time.

All of these problems have been solved.  As the result the TSN booters, who opened their '67 season in April, now have a 1-won, 2-lost, 1-tied record and are looking forward to a successful campaing in their first year.

There were 27 men who signed up for soccer tryouts.  This number has dwindled to 14.

"We've lost several due to rotation," Coach Collins reports, "and a few were injured and had to quit.  Others just can't get off work to play."  Some of the original 27 were not good enough players to make the team.

The USAF has no soccer field at TSN.
The VNAF;s 33rd Wing was glad to make their on-base field available.  As a relult the base squad has played numerous practice and regular games against teams representing the Vietnamese Air Force, Army and Marine units.

The TSN club has been unable to date to schedule any games with U.S. armed forces teams.   Installations in Vientm or SEA with soccer teams have been invited to contact the TSN athletic office to arrange a home and home series.

The TSN booters are now using the spacious ARVN Stadium, located off-base a mile away, for their regular games.  The well-maintained facility is lighted and its covered grandstands can accommodate several thousand spectators.

The base team's schedule is crammed with various vietnam military squads from Tan Son Nhut and Saigon.

Some of these clubs boast players who were talented enough to have played with the Vietnam national soccer team in the recent Asian Games.

Since TSN is the first American soccer squad ever to play in this area, the Vietnamese are anxious to see how they stack up against them.

The base booters are paced by a handful of foreigh-born and foreign-trained players. Collins, 34, who doubles as player-coach played in Scotland and England prior to joining the USAF.

He played with the Bitburn AB, Germany, team in 1959-60-61.  In '61, he coached them to a third-place finish in the tough 15-team USAFE league.

Glen Briggs, originally from the U.S., played semi-pro soccer in Scotland and with the USAF squad in England.

Lima, Peru, is represented on the team by two players:  Vic guitterez and Guillermo Ortiz.  This is their first year of USAF soccer.

Recon Hoopsters Capture
Tourney Laurels At TSN

TAN SON NHUT --- The 13th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron hoopsters are the 1966-1967 intramural champions of Tan Son Nhut AB.  They won, 46-43, over the 377th Transportation Squadron to cop the title.

Eight teams, the top four finishers in the National and American loops, competed in the 14-game, double-elimination playoffs which ended April 28.

The 13th, owners of an overall 17-won, 5-lost record for the season, were the Cindarella team of the playoffs.

Transportation Squadron (21-3 overall), the American loop winners, and the 377th Supply Sq (13-9), fourth-place finishers, were
co-favorites.  The 13th placed second in the circuit.

The 13th, with a 4-0 playoff mark, upset Trans, 45-38 in their opener.  They won
35-29 over the 616th Military Airlift Support Sq and 38-23 over Supply to reach the finals.

Transportation, 4-2 for the playoffs, won four straight losers bracket games to gain the finals against the 13th.

They downed the 377th USAF Dispensary, 33-14, romped 45-32 over the 619th Tactical Control Sq, grabbed a 30-29 squeeker from the 616th and edged Supply, 35-33.

The 13th, ahead 25-21 at the half, never trailed in whipping Trans for the championship.

Team captain Carl White, a guard, paced the 13th's attack with 13 points.  Bob Neeley had 12, Earl Catchings 10 and Warren Moye 7.

Forward Ernie Austin topped Trans with 14 tallies while Harold Johnson had 12.   Ken Wright added 9 and Fred Wells had 8.