Scope and Contents

The collection consists of artifacts; photographs and images; slides; pamphlets; moving images; articles and excerpts; guidebooks; flight checklists; flight information publications; maps; yearbooks; photo albums; training materials (study guides, workbooks, class notes); correspondence; audio; briefing notes; books; journals; electronic media; and academic papers documenting Captain Andy Swift's USAF service as a forward air controller with the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron and the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, as well as the USAF Tactical Air Control Party HHC, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Also included are excerpts from a thank you letter received by Capt. Swift and materials honoring the memory of Capt. Swift's friend and fellow FAC Stephen Scrivener, who was shot down over Laos on the night of March 17, 1971 while flying combat air support for the ARVN during Operation Lam Son 719. These materials include a Vietnam Memorial Wall etching, personal recollections, and a clipping. The materials are dated predominately 1964-1975 and 1989-1996.

Biographical / Historical

Captain Andrew Swift was born in 1946 in Troy, NY. He joined the Air Force ROTC program and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1968. He served for 6 years in the USAF, including 1 year in Southeast Asia. He served as a Forward Air Controller with the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron and the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron stationed at Camp Evans, Binh Thuy, and Quang Tri from 1970-1971. He provided air support to areas including Firebase Ripcord (July 1970), Cambodia, and Laos during Operation Lam Son 719 (March 1971). He flew 250 combat missions and received numerous awards including multiple Air Medals. He retired from the USAF in 1974 at the rank of Captain. After his military retirement, Captain Swift returned to graduate school to study engineering. He earned his Ph.D. and joined the faculty at Texas Tech University.