Phu Lam AUTODIN 1968

This is my little "War Story". It is from 1968 Saigon, Vietnam, that found our six man Western Union test team working during the Tet holiday and ensuing Viet Cong Tet Offensive. We were contractors for the Army performing Acceptance Tests on the newly installed AUTODIN (Automatic Digital Network) message switch at the Phu Lam communications base. I shot some S-8mm movie film around Saigon and at the base. The Tet Offensive extended the testing beyond the normal few weeks to almost two months.

Our experience was a very small part of a much bigger piece of history. Many others did far, far more.

This 5 min. mini-documentary contains highlights from a more complete (14 min.) Saigon chapter of our time in Vietnam. We also ran Acceptance Tests in Nha Trang in April 1968. For all "alumni" of these two installations, I will have a DVD available, at cost, in April 2012. To request a copy, follow the Email contact in the link below.

TECHNICAL: S-8mm film Transfer & Processing via my DIY system. For details: vimeo.com/4930152. Many thanks for the AFVN audio clips to Chuck Kenney, Sergeant First Class, E-7, U.S Army (Ret), Vietnam vet & AFN Radio-TV broadcaster for his large collection. Contact: chuckkenney@webtv.net

• Category

  • Education

• License

  • Standard YouTube License