Request for help from:  Faydra Watson

Do you remember this Airman Robert Watson?

To make a long story short, I'm searching for information about my father's military service. I came across your website (www.afdasf.org) while doing a search for the 604th DASS. I think you may have been referring to my father in your list of "some members of the 7th DASF." His name was Robert Watson, and when he left Wheeler (AFB) in 1973 he was an SSGT. I have an Air Force photo taken of him installing an antenna onto an Army personnel carrier.

My father passed away on 4/14/98, as a result of cancer. I was 18 and pregnant with my daughter at the time. I guess I was a typical child/teenager in the sense that I thought that we all lived forever. Therefore, I never asked my father about his military career or listened to any stories. I really would like to hear those stories now, that's for sure! Anyway, I'm coming to you for some help. If you or anyone of your contacts remembers my father, would you please pass on my request. I know that people are busy, but if anyone could spare a few minutes to send me something, anything, in an email I would be so grateful.

He was stationed at Wheeler from 1968 - 1972

He was the 604th's NCO of the Quarter in 1969, (The third quarter) I have the letter signed by Lt Col. John Kane.

He was a 30454, had Jump Status, was a Sr. Parachutist, and was a parachute rigger.

When he was "promoted" to Sr. Parachutist on 9-22-69, another member of the 604th was "promoted" to Master Parachutist. His name is SSGT Antoine A Kristol, Jr.

My father was with the 604th until 7-71 when he was transferred to the 5th TAC, 22nd TASS and then in 12-71 to the 15th ABW, 22nd TASS.

**I have no idea what any of this really means... I only know what's on paper and what I've found during my research. Any explanations would also be welcome.

I've attached a picture of him when he was 18 (the closest one I have to that time period), I hope someone recognizes him... Thank you so much for your time and consideration of my request.

Additional information

First of all, thank you for your quick response. I do not know if he was ever in Korea or Vietnam. The only thing I ever heard regarding Vietnam was that he was "hours away from a jump in and the location where he was supposed to jump into had been bombed..." ???  However, he always said that he had done over 100 jumps but only 86 are on record. He did admit to being in Special Forces/Special Ops to my step-mother. His DD214 says "PCS ASGMT TO: INDOCHINA:NO  RVN: NO  KOREA: NO"  For some reason I don't believe, or maybe I don't want to believe, that this is the end all say all w/regards to whether he served out of country. When a person, even a person like myself with no personal military experience, looks at the information I do have about him, it begs the question: "Why would a person of such caliber not be utilized during war time?" Two additional questions I have are: Do you know what "R&S Pollan" means?  Why would he have a "Uniformed Personnel .

I have, what I believe to be, almost his complete file (at least what he was able to take with him). My step-mother admitted that she took a couple things out of it, but didn't say what and I didn't want to press the issue. I have requested my own copy of his file from the National Archives already. I have also spoke to a friend at the VA, he's actually an AMVETS rep and he said that even if I find any proof I would have a fight on my hands. I have also been working with a veteran who was a chief at Dyess, around the time my father was there. His DD214's don't seem "right" to me, but I've never served. 

**Here is a little timeline I put together, and hopefully this will help you, and thus help me. **.

He enlisted on Jul 11, 1966. He attended Army Airborne School at Fort Benning (Completion Certificate dated 11-4-66) and was part of the 3396th School Squadron (where he was on the Honor Roll) at Keesler AFB. (As stated in a letter dated 8-2-67.)

His initial duty assignment was given on 9-3-67, to 10th Aero Port @ Dyess. He completed Combat Control School in Dec 1967, I'm assuming at Dyess (although the certificate doesn't say where). It was signed by Lt.Col. Adam Heller. By this time he was an A2C.

On 10-1-67 he was placed on Jump Status @ 516th TAW, TAC, 10th APOSQ @ Dyess.

On 11-29-67 he was authorized to make live personnel jumps with the AP28S-10 & -11 parachutes, which named him as part of Det. 1, 2nd APSQ.

In a letter dated 3-14-68 he was named the 516th TAW Outstanding Airman of the Month, @ Dyess. The letter was signed by Col. Charles Borders.

On 6-4-68 he completed Survival Training Course S-v80-A as part of the 3636 Combat Crew Training Group @ Fairchild AFB, WA.

On 7-22-68 he was named as a Jumpmaster, while with the 516th. On Special Order 23, he and two other airmen were named. These other airmen were: Bobby J. Whitney and Douglas Foster Jr. **Hopefully they are still around and remember my father**

On 11-13-68 a Security Action Request for Secret Clearance was filed. It was approved on 3-20-69.

On 9-22-69 he was named a Sr. Parachutist with the 604th DASS, PACAF, APO, SF 96515. On 10-1-69 he was promoted to SGT. The 604th was with the 5th Tactical Control Group, which listed it's HQ as APO SF 96515.

On 11-5-69 he was named the 604th DASS NCO of the (3rd) Qtr. The letter was signed by Lt. Col. John Kane.

October 1969 is the 1st dated piece of paper with Wheeler AFB on it. However, his sqdn did not change, it was still the 604th. Although now the HQ said 6486th ABW, APO 96553

There are several other training certificates in his file...  Southeast Asia Tactical Orientation Course, Sea Survival School, PACAF Jungle Survival School, etc. The awards on his DD214 were very few, which I consider odd considering all of the other honors he received (Not to mention, I have found errors on both of them - his first and then the one from reenlisting.) The awards noted are the SAEMR, NDSM, AFGCM w/1OLC, & AFLSA; all of which I have researched.

Two other squadrons were named on his jump records: In July 1971 - 5th TAC Group, 22nd TASS.  In Dec. 1971 - 15th ABW, 22nd TASS.

**End of Established Timeline**

I am having a very hard time finding information on the 10 APOSQ. I even made contact with Gene Adcock (author of "The Eye of the Storm," I'm sure you've heard of him. You probably even know him.). The paperwork I read said that he was part of Detachment 1, Mr. Adcock didn't know much about that detachment. Another thing I noticed, that I found odd, was that he was assigned to Dyess on Sep 5, 1967 (according to a Personnel Action Request) However, in a Personnel Action Request order dated Nov 29, 1968, check other, and noted "See Remarks" it states:

"1. Present date of entry into training is 8 September 1967. Reason for readjustment is due to A1C Watson being sent TDY numerous times to locations with no training capabilities. Total TDY and leave time combined equals 6 months.

2. New adjusted training date - 8 March 1968."

Under "Organization and Location" is: 604 Dir Air Spt Sqdn, APO SF 96515.  What does this mean, if anything?

Attached is a picture, which I do not have the rights to, I pulled it off another website (Sgt Mac's Bar http://www.sgtmacsbar.com/CCTPhotos/Gallery24/Warrior.html). I believe this to be my father's Combat Control Class. On the original page there is an A3C Watson listed in the caption... I have a list of Marines, Soldiers and Airmen that he attended Airborne School with; "Special Order No. 256." I can scan this and email it to you if you can utilize it in any way. I don't mean to sound naive, but is there any other reason why, besides environmental damage, that people keep telling me to make a digital copy of his file and lock the paper one away. 

With regards to the VFW & American Legion, they haven't been of any help other than to direct me to go to the VA clinic/hospital in Loma Linda. I don't really want to go there, because I doubt anyone will be able to answer my questions, and am tight on money - hence I don't really want to go on a wild goose chase. I really hope that I'm not making mountains out of molehills, it's just that I don't really know what information is important and what is not. Often times, I listen to my intuition when I feel that things just "aren't right." Thank you, once again, for your help. 

Also, there seems to be some family secrecy (for lack of a better word) when it comes to this matter. A little family history. My grandfather was a Pearl Harbor Survivor, he was a CPO in the Navy. Both of my uncles served in the Army, one of whom was shot in Vietnam - although I don't have details on that. He claims that he went to Vietnam so that my dad didn't have to. I don't believe half of what that man says though, as he is one of the people that told me (@ 18) that I wasn't eligible for my dad's educational benefits when I started college. I believed him and others, thus I didn't pursue it. That's a different matter though...

Something else, on a more personal note, that might jog someone's memory... My dad was married (to his first wife, Betty) and in late 1972 they adopted a baby boy. 

*I hope you can find a tactful way to say this, if you put this online that is:  His career/personal life may have taken a turn for the worse shortly after this. I've been told that Betty's "behavior" or "disposition" (to put it gently) was the reason my father didn't reenlist for a third term. I'll simply state this fact: When my dad and Betty got divorced, my father was awarded custody of my brother.

I just saw the page and. . .  it's beautiful. It was hard to hold back the tears.  Thank you, again, so very much!

Faydra Watson
Daughter

Any help on this please email to romad@charter.net.  ALL information and pictures will be welcomed.  If you have personal information that you would like to relay to Faydra, please contact me for her phone number and mailing address  (On File DASF DBF).