Scope and Contents

Photograph of an OV-10 Bronco and A-1H Skyraider in Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in September or October 1970 and a letter written by Stephen McDaniel to the Vietnam Archive documenting McDaniel's service with the United States Air Force in Thailand in the early 1970s.

Biographical / Historical

Stephen McDaniel was born in 1951 in Peoria, Illinois. In 1969, he volunteered for the United States Air Force, beginning his total of four years of service in the military. He served with the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at George Air Force Base (AFB), California from 1969 to 1970 and was on the Tactical Air Command (TAC) alert team 'Prime Beef.' He then served with the 56th Special Operations Wing (SOW) in Nakhon Phanom (NKP), Thailand from 1970 to 1971 and then with the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Wing at Scott AFB, Illinois from 1971 through 1973. During this time, he served as Airman 1st Class, primarily refueling aircraft and performing civil engineering functions. During his time in Southeast Asia with the 56th Combat Support Group, McDaniel among many other airmen supported the Son Tay POW Raid in November 1970 and Task Force Alpha and other operations throughout his tour. McDaniel received the following awards for his service: Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the U.S. Vietnam Campaign Medal. In 1973, McDaniel was discharged from the Air Force as a sergeant and attended college. He is now a member of the Thailand, Laos, Cambodia Brotherhood.