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A rough draft of the spiritual autobiography of Joseph B Wilson. The history that lead to Toteg Tribe.
Copyright 2003 by Joseph B Wilson
I made arrangements for The Waxing Moon to be taken over by Bill and Helen Mohs while I was
gone. We moved Daisy and the children to a small house in the country near St. Johns, where my
father and mother could help her out with transportation and such, and on December 7th, 1966 I
arrived at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base.
Ubon is located in north-east, Thailand, about 8 miles from the Cambodian and 5 miles from the
Laotian borders. The language spoken there is a Laotian dialect, written the same as, but
pronounced differently from the "pure" Thai language spoken in Bangkok. The physical boundary
separating those countries from Thailand is a river which flows through the jungle. One side of the
base was occupied by the Australian Air Force, the other side by the United States Air Force.
Colonel Robin Olds was the commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. The Vice Commander
was Colonel Chappie James. Both men were later promoted to general due to their
accomplishments in their assignment at Ubon. If I remember right Colonel James later became the
first black four star general in the United States Air Force. Together they were known as the team
of "Blackman and Robin."
I was assigned to work as an Administrative Specialist (also known as clerk typist) in the Wing
Commander's office. My duties were routine and boring. We worked 12 hours per day six days
per week, and were authorized two 5-day (including two days of travel time) R&R (Rest and
Recuperation) vacations during our 12 month tour.
I was an Airman First Class (three stripes, pay grade E-4). I arranged for the Air Force to send all
of my pay except for $10.00 per month back to Daisy and the children. On what I kept I was able to
buy my cigarettes (11 cents per package), have my laundry done so I could have clean uniforms,
and go off base to the local clubs for some local beer once or twice per week.
Just outside the main gate, known as Checkpoint Charley, several Samlo (a three-wheeled pedal-
powered cycle with a two person seat in the back) drivers could always be found waiting to peddle
a GI nearly anywhere in town for 1 or 2 baht (five or ten cents, US).
One night a couple of months after I got there I went with three friends to a bar called the Playboy
Club. This establishment was located just one city block away from what we called VC Village,
inhabited by Vietnamese refugees many of whom were either Viet Cong or sympathizers. Believe
me this was nothing like the night clubs started by Mr. Heffner! It was in what could only be
described as a large shack, had a dance floor surrounded by round tables and chairs for the
customers, and a live band of Thai musicians who tried to play and sing American rock and roll.
The customers were all Australian and American GIs -- the only Thai Nationals who frequented the
club were the local girls who "work same same Suzy Wong."
In order to stay in the establishment one had to be a paying customer. The drinks were expensive
-- one Singhi beer cost 20-baht ($1) and was about a half liter. When I had to I could make one
Singhi last from the time I got to a club until closing at 2 AM. That night, although I was short of
money as usual, I didn't have to since a couple of my buddies bought me one.
By the time the bar was almost ready to close my buddies had left, each to his own business. I sat
at the table alone, nursing the last of my beer. An attractive woman came to my table and in Pidgin
English asked if I wanted to dance. I'd seen her in the club talking to other GIs at various tables for
the past couple of hours. I said I didn't know how to dance, but she took my hand and pulled me to
the dance floor anyway and I moved to the music in some semblance of a dance. When the music
stopped we went back to my table and tried to talk. She didn't speak much English and I didn't
speak more than a dozen words in Thai. By the time I learned that her name was Som the band
started playing the Thai National Anthem and the club closed.
Outside in the parking lot she smiled and said "You want pom pom?". I asked her how much and
she said the equivalent of $2 short time and $5 all night. I told her, then showed her, that I didn't
have enough money to do either and still get back to the base in time for work. She looked at me
then said, "you come stay all night anyway." I gave her what little money I had, keeping only 5-baht
(25 cents) for transportation and went with her to her bungalow in VC village. In the morning she
woke me up and paid a Samlo to drive me back to Checkpoint Charley in time for me to shower,
shave, get into uniform and get to my assignment. I was exhausted all day and decided that if I was
going to be out late I'd better do it the night before a day off.
My day off work was Friday. The next week I managed to scrape together transportation money
and $1 more for a beer and left for town Thursday night. I went to the Playboy Club at about 10 PM,
sat and ordered my beer. Within minutes Som came and sat down at my table. I told her that I
couldn't go with her because I didn't have any money. She bought me another beer, and told me to
come home with her anyway. I did. The next day she showed me around town. She asked me,
"You have wife States?" and I told her yes. She didn't understand why most GIs wearing wedding
rings lied and said they were not married. In her culture it was accepted that long separations from
a spouse would result in fulfillment of sexual needs by someone else.
