From 1967 to 1969, I was officer-in-charge of the Armed Forces Network in Taiwan. We had stations in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan. We had one of the first FM stations in the AFRTS system. The first year we had our studios in downtown Taipei and staffers loved to eat at the myriad of restaurants and food stands in the area. Once a month we organized a feast under the auspices of the "Chow Chow Club" and sampled menus from the many provinces of China. In 1968 we moved to new studios in Yangmingshan or “Grass Mountain.” Living in Taipei was a fantastic experience. I really enjoyed the wonderful people, the language, and the culture. We had a great air staff including Fred Friend, who coincidentally ended up in Tucson; Larry Fogel, who came from KXYZ in Houston, and Mark Bragg, who I later read had something to do with the Wedtech incident. And who could forget, Joe Brooks, our program director who was fluent in Chinese and was a walking encylopedia of all things Chinese? I visited Taiwan with my daughter Lara in 1986 in honor of her 18th birthday (she was born in Taipei). I returned in 1992 before visiting the mainland. The station had become
International Community Radio Taiwan and was still in the same building on Yangmingshan. I got together with Gordon Brooks, Joe's adopted son.
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studios.
I started out as morning show host, trained by Spc Fred Friend, and in time, became program director and host of other shows. I served from 1968-1973. I retired from gov't service in 1993 and reside in Seymour, TN just south of Knoxville. Taiwan Memories ...enough to last a lifetime
I was at AFNT from Nov. 1966 to Feb. 1968, so I was there when you took over from Lt. Jim Jacobson. I have many, many vivid memories of the time I served under you and have always considered you the best OIC I had during my 5.5 years in the military (there were several good ones, but you were the BEST!). I was basically a one-man news department, thanks to your encouragement and guidance. You might remember that Joe Brooks was deathly afraid that one of my interviews could stir up a controversy that, among other things, could cost him his pension and destroy his planned retirement. I imagine that you took quite a lot of heat for some of our news coverage, but in defending the freedom of the press you not only insisted that I not shy away from sensitive issues when interviewing VIPs coming through Taiwan (and there were many), you went out of your way to help set up many of those interviews. Not just with me, but I'm sure you stood up for the staff and shielded us in many ways that we never knew.
Do you remember the Navy Exchange fire coverage? I gathered the interviews and wrote the script, and you anchored the coverage. Great job!
I went back to AFNT in September, 1969, after a short tour at Lowry AFB in Denver and a year in Vietnam, but it wasn't nearly as much fun!
I went back for a THIRD time in Sept., 1979, (as a civilian, of course) to set up the news department at ICRT.
I read that your daughter lives in Pickerington. I've been in Columbus since 1971 (except for my time with ICRT). It would be great to see you when you are in this area!
Eric Loveman
ericlove@earthlink.net
(614) 475-2433
Dave Golden
Dave Redman
@Rico: Charlie Tuna used two instrumentals over the years to cap his syndicated AFRTS show. The first was "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band -- which included the bass solo segment you recall. The beats and rhythms of this 1971 tune have been used and sampled by hip-hop artists over the years.
The second tune he used was MFSB's "Sexy" from the "Philadelphia Freedom" LP. Charlie used this theme up until his last syndicated AFRTS show in the 1990s.
Charlie has his own website at this URL:
http://www.charlietuna.com/
BTW, we aired Dick Joslin's AFNT-produced "Time Machine" show on the Far East Network on weekends back in the late 70s and early 80s. Former AFNT staffer, Army SSG Bob Levy "rescued" many of the reels from Taiwan and transferred them to Tokyo. Bob retired from the Army as Network Sergeant Major from AFRTS at March Air Force Base, CA in 1997. He's currently a doting grandfather in Texas.
Jon Yim, JO1, USN (ret.)
FEN-Tokyo (1979-1982), FEN-Okinawa (1982-1984)
Please look at the Taipei Air Station blog, scroll down until you see the AFNT spot.
http://taipeiairstation.blogspot.com/
Scott Ellinger (stationed in Taiwan)
-- Jay Stone Shih
"The Voice of the Commander, this is AFNT CCK"
John Taylor, Former Sgt, USAF
St Louis
LEE MARABLE
John Taylor
Sgt Estridge then Sgt Wheatley were the NCO's-in-charge and between Estridge and Wheatley, I briefly served as NCO-in-charge. Have many fond memories of my time there. We had our share of talented local DJ's and lots of radio station war stories. Sent a bunch of photos of our team to Burt, but never heard back. Hope all is well. Best regards,
Bob Mercer, SSGT, USAF (1965 - 1969)
The other civilian radio production specialists were Bob Leibforth, Jack Bateson, Larry Fogel, Dick Levofsky, Dick Joslin, and Marty Bonderoff. The chief engineer also was a US civilian, Bob Henning, if I recall correctly.
Rich Falerni also was an AFNT OinC during those years, as was Owen Resweber.
My previous tour was 1962-64, when it was AFRT, with studios in the Sugar Building, downtown. We had a mixed staff of Navy, Air Force, and a few Army guys, including Dave Hess. I was a Navy Journalist.
Some of the Navy guys were Bert Madere, Bill Wilson, Dale Pitman, Pete Gresham, Ron Garland, and Phil Hagley. Bill Wilson was killed by a mine June 8, 1969, while serving in Vietnam.
The Air Force guys I recall best are Bob Smith, "Burnie" Burnstein, and Jack Hickey.
A big event during that tour was Typhoon Gloria (1963). Height of the floodwaters was above the doors of the Navy Exchange and Commissary, and to the ceilings in the HQ Support Activity compound across the street. We single guys lived in a hostel downtown; during Gloria we were camped in the AFRT studios for a couple-three days.
In those days our hourly newscasts were produced by some of our Navy Journalists' usual duty editing and re-writing newspaper-style AP and UPI wirecopy into radio format. The big 15-minute 'cast at 1800 was read by a radio-experienced Seventh-Day Adventist missionary (Bill-something), and he was good at it. He didn't get paid, but was allowed to shop in the Navy commissary.
Occasionally, our teletype wire service was interrupted, then the Chinese engineers (there were nine, I recall) would tune AFRTS or VOA news via shortwave, for rebroadcast. I think the network stations at Tainan and Taichung carried our Taipei news broadcasts.
Lin Arison, an Army warrant officer, was the OinC during some of my '62-'64 tour. He was a classically trained musician, and I think had served in the Army Band. It was said that he had a hand in writing the national anthem of the Republic of China. His tastes and training definitely held firm sway over AFRT program content; rock'n'roll was seldom heard.
As mentioned by others, Joe Brooks was a unique personality. He was outgoing and generous, and in love with Chinese culture, especially the cuisine. I knew him only from my second tour, though he had been Program Director in Taipei previously. I think he held comparable positions in both the Philippines and Okinawa.
It's a treat to see this blog, but sad to learn of the passing of some who've shared in the journey.
Cheers to all.
I will acknowledge your mail. Thank you. Kent Mathieu
I loved reading this piece! Well written! :)
jason
Student pods
Well one day my curiosity got the best of me and I asked a woman leaving the building what the building WAS. "AFNT" she replied, and she offered to give me a tour after school one afternoon "just ring the bell" she told me. So the NEXT day I am ringing that bell and getting the tour and getting to know Dick Joslin, Bob Levy, Marty Bonderoff, Rebecca Belvin and a slew of others and they actually let me learn my way around a studio.
Next thing you know I am hosting the Saturday morning show for TAS "Tigerbeat" and eventually filling in for the other full time staff when they are away and I ended up staying on Taiwan after graduation and working at AFNT until January of 1978 when I headed back to the U.S. and fairly quickly landed a job in D.C. at WPGC.
I'm in L.A. now and believe it or not have been back working for AFN for a number of years now. I will be headed back to Taiwan on March 24th(for the first time since I left in '78) for a HUGE worldwide reunion attended by hundreds of former Taipei American School classmates.
We will all be staying at The Grand Hotel and that will be home base for a week of daytrips and memories and gatherings like a big banquet one evening at what used to be "The China Seas"(it's now "The American Club of Taipei). There will be speeches and a slide show on a huge screen AND thanks to the AFN archives...an audio collage of AFNT through the years, so if any of you have any old audio you would like to contribute please let me know and send it to me and I will work it in.
Reach out to me at TS7th@aol.com and the sooner the better! Thank you for putting up with my very long "walk down memory lane". Scott Jenkins(Tony Scott)
Best regards, Burt
I still remember the "commercial" they played on the radio. It was for food!
Because you missed actual advertising. It went something like "Do you have a pain in your tummy? You need food. Food is good.It went on and on. Good memories.
Ron Crowley
Elkridge, MD
Rick Monday
Taipei, Taiwan