My tour of duty with AFVN was from July 1966 until August 1967. As a Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9), I was the senior enlisted man at AFVN and, in fact, the senior enlisted Marine for all of Saigon.

My duties with AFVN were that of Network Sergeant Major as well as NCOIC of the Saigon Station. In addition, Lt. Col. DeForest Ballou made me his Assistant. Being Sergeant Major covered many areas. I learned to be a good listener. Also, I was never too busy to sit down and listen to any and all problems coming from the enlisted crew. My duty was mostly Administrative. However, Navy Chief Ed Gosnell, who was an Engineer, and I traveled throughout Vietnam in search for sites for the Radio towers and Detachment locations -- such as Monkey Mountain at Da Nang, Pleiku, NaTrang and QuiNhon.

This was my only tour with AFRTS. What broadcast experience I had was with KVOD in Denver where I had a weekly 30-minute live recruiting show featuring Guy Lombardo music. This was during a two-year tour with the Marine Air Reserve Training Command in 1952-1954. My Marine Corps career was from Sep 8, 1940 until Dec 12, 1969.

AFVN was the American Forces Vietnam Network. The soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of AFVN provided news, music, sports and other entertainment via radio and television during the Vietnam War. Earlier in the war AFVN was called AFRS, that is, the American Forces Radio Service. [At that time television was not available.]

Caption for Photo at above and right: Master Gunnery Sergeant William Sutphin receives the Joint Service Commendation Medal from the station commander. Marine Gunnery Sergeant awaits his award of the Bronze Star. [If anyone can identify the Station Commander CLICK HERE and let the webmaster know.]

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