The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
CCK: The Largest U.S. Military Base in Taiwan During the Vietnam War – S5-E27
Sep 4, 2025
Explore the fascinating history of CCK Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in Taiwan during the Vietnam War. Discover gripping tales of troops navigating personal struggles and cultural dynamics, including romantic entanglements and racial tensions. Delve into the base's vital role in airlift missions and the challenges soldiers faced amid a turbulent backdrop. Uncover the harsh realities of drug use among servicemen, from marijuana to heroin, revealing the complexities of military life during a pivotal era.
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Pilot’s Vietnam Flights And Taichung Romance
- David Kirk Vaughan recounts flying C-130 missions from CCK to Vietnam and Southeast Asia, including dangerous resupply and pack-run flights.
- He alternates combat sorties with off-base life in Taichung, notably a recurring relationship with a bar girl named Carla.
Young MP’s Bar-District Life
- T.C. Brown describes arriving as an 18-year-old military policeman and patrolling Taichung's bar district while off-duty socializing there.
- He develops two bar-girl romances and frames base life around youthful partying and local relationships.
Train-Topping Accident And Body Recovery
- Brown investigates a gruesome death of an American found in a rice paddy and describes handling the bloated corpse and body bag.
- The death resulted from two airmen riding atop a train where one hit his head in a tunnel and was ejected into a field.
