Major Carl Karst was the (well deserved) recipient of a great number of Military awards & honors. I was privileged to work alongside the good Major (in Pleiku, South Viet Nam) for approximately two months. In that brief period I developed a great respect for Major Karst. By the way, "Claude", with AI ,offered a deep, thorough description of the history of Pleiku AFB. However AI failed to mention the almost daily "H & I" attacks. Everyone assigned to and/or living at Pleiku AFB and the adjacent MACV Compound were subjected to daily, nightly mortar, rocket, RPG, and/or satchel charge attacks. I, along with Major Karst, and the rest of the MACV Compound FAC's worked under a myriad of continuous, never ending disparate situations". Nightly mortar, rocket, RPG's, & satchel charges were the rule, rather than the exception. The continuous cacophony of "Harassment and Interdiction" (H&I) shelling; was meant to keep us off guard, on edge and greatly sleep deprived. Nonetheless Major Karst, and the other FAC Pilots were always perceptive, pragmatic, and prepared. Always ready at a moments notice to lift off in their Cessna FAC Spotter aircraft to locate, identify, & target enemy troop locations, ultimately directing fighter air support to neutralize the threat. I was proud to serve with Major Karst and the other FAC Pilots of the 21 Tactical Air Support Squadron. Pleiku AFB "MACV Compound" FAC's. Thom D. Penberthy
Major Carl Karst was the (well deserved) recipient of a great number of Military awards & honors. I was privileged to work alongside the good Major (in Pleiku, South Viet Nam) for approximately two months. In that brief period I developed a great respect for Major Karst. By the way, "Claude", with AI ,offered a deep, thorough description of the history of Pleiku AFB. However AI failed to mention the almost daily "H & I" attacks. Everyone assigned to and/or living at Pleiku AFB and the adjacent MACV Compound were subjected to daily, nightly mortar, rocket, RPG, and/or satchel charge attacks. I, along with Major Karst, and the rest of the MACV Compound FAC's worked under a myriad of continuous, never ending disparate situations". Nightly mortar, rocket, RPG's, & satchel charges were the rule, rather than the exception. The continuous cacophony of "Harassment and Interdiction" (H&I) shelling; was meant to keep us off guard, on edge and greatly sleep deprived. Nonetheless Major Karst, and the other FAC Pilots were always perceptive, pragmatic, and prepared. Always ready at a moments notice to lift off in their Cessna FAC Spotter aircraft to locate, identify, & target enemy troop locations, ultimately directing fighter air support to neutralize the threat. I was proud to serve with Major Karst and the other FAC Pilots of the 21 Tactical Air Support Squadron. Pleiku AFB "MACV Compound" FAC's. Thom D. Penberthy