Hill 272 was a microwave
communications site during the Vietnam War relaying info North to Si Racha.
1967-
Approximately 12 G.I's from USASTRATCOM LL Bn. Construction Engineers Camp Friendship, Korat went to Hill 272 Sattahip and
began construction on the main barracks. We lived in two large tents with a third tent as a group area. These arrangements
were for the better part of a year. We lived on the economy eating most meals down the hill at a local restaurant. Bathing
facilities where open air on the side of the hill overlooking the valley toward Sattahip. The latrine was a 2 seater for friendship
and convenience. Water for showers was extracted from a klong down the hill and transported to a tank above the living area.
The majority of building materials were brought down from Bangkok on the backs of the Hill's two deuce & 1/2's. It made
for a nice trip pushing a large deuce along that two lane highway to Bangkok with the one lane bridges. Upon return with a
load and because of the grade we had to back up the hill to maintain steering ability. One thing nice about Hill 272
in 1967 was when we went shopping at Utapao Air Base we didn't need ration cards. We just purchased as much as we wanted and
could afford.
While
still working on the barracks we built a mess hall and for a short period of time we had a cook. This didn't last long
because of our small numbers it wasn't cost effective so we returned to the economy. The mess hall became our open club. Sometime
after December 1967 this building was enlarged and turned into a full fledged club with movies etc.
Getting back to the main barracks, we mixed and poured over 100 cubic yds of cement using a 1/4 yd mixer. Talk about a lot
of work. Again after 1967 the Hill grew in personnel and buildings. I was gone but someone built another mess hall,
Thai barracks, Thai mess hall and other assorted outbuildings.
Somewhere along the way command changed our unit to 1st Signal Brigade 442. I left the hill in Nov 1967 and never slept
in the barracks as I was transferred to Camp Vayama.
Hill 272 was turned over to the Thai's in 1972 and sometime after that it was completely dismantled and returned to its natural
condition except for 2 empty towers.
