Sacrifice and recognition

Carl Karst received several honors from the Air Force for his service. Like many Americans who came before and after, he made the ultimate sacrifice.

I took pictures of Dad's various awards from the Air Force and want to share them here.

Carl Karst (second from right) at Pleiku Air Force Base in 1968.

I asked AI resource Claude about Pleiku in Vietnam. Thom Penberthy, (Vietnam veteran who worked with my Dad and has contributed to this substack), I would be interested to hear how this summary matches your recollections.

How did the airbase at Pleiku play into U.S. military operations in Vietnam during the war?

Claude: Pleiku Air Base in U.S. Military Operations in Vietnam

Pleiku Air Base was a strategically significant installation in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam that played several important roles throughout the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War:

Strategic Significance

Geographic Importance: Located in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam (Gia Lai Province), Pleiku sat near the junction of several important routes including Highway 14 and Highway 19, which connected to the coastal city of Qui Nhon.

Border Proximity: Positioned about 40 miles from the Cambodian border and 60 miles from the Laotian border, making it vital for monitoring infiltration routes from the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Population Center: Defended the provincial capital of Pleiku, an important population center in the highlands.

Key Events and Operations

Pleiku Attack (February 1965): A pivotal moment in the war when Viet Cong forces attacked the U.S. helicopter facility at Camp Holloway near Pleiku, killing 8 Americans and wounding 126. This attack, along with another at Qui Nhon shortly after, prompted President Johnson to authorize Operation Rolling Thunder, the sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam, marking significant escalation of U.S. involvement.

Base for Major Operations: Served as a launching point for operations in the Central Highlands, including:

Operations in the Ia Drang Valley

Defense of the Central Highlands during major North Vietnamese offensives

Support for border surveillance and interdiction missions

Air Operations Hub: Hosted multiple aviation units, including:

Army helicopter units

Forward air control aircraft

Tactical fighter and reconnaissance aircraft

Transport aircraft supporting regional operations

Military Units and Functions

Military Units: Home to elements of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), various helicopter units, and Air Force personnel.

Intelligence Gathering: Served as a base for reconnaissance flights and electronic surveillance of North Vietnamese movements along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Logistical Support: Functioned as a supply hub for U.S. and ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) forces operating in the highlands.

Command and Control: Housed command elements that coordinated military operations throughout the Central Highlands region.

Later War and Fall

Vietnamization: As U.S. forces began withdrawing under President Nixon's Vietnamization policy, Pleiku Air Base was gradually transferred to South Vietnamese control.

1972 Easter Offensive: The base played a critical role in defending against North Vietnamese advances during this major offensive.

Final Days: During the final North Vietnamese offensive in 1975, Pleiku became untenable. In March 1975, South Vietnamese forces abandoned the base during a hasty and chaotic retreat down Highway 7B (known as "the convoy of tears"), which contributed to the rapid collapse of South Vietnam's defenses.

The history of Pleiku Air Base reflects the broader arc of American involvement in Vietnam—from escalation after the 1965 attack, through the height of American military presence, to eventual withdrawal and the final collapse of South Vietnam.