United States. Army Support, Thailand

During 1965 the scope of U.S. Army activity in Thailand increased to the point where a clear need existed to improve the U.S. Army's command control structure in that country. In early 1966 the Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Thailand, proposed that an austere headquarters be established at Korat to become the senior U.S. Army Control headquarters. This new headquarters would relieve the 9th Logistical Command of many of its nonlogistical functions, serve as in-country point of contact for the steadily increasing U.S. Army mission load, constitute the nucleus of an Army component headquarters for expanded U.S. military operations, and provide a suitable headquarters for contingency expansion into a combined ground force command.

Initially designated Headquarters, U.S. Army Control, Thailand, the new command, with the approval of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was organized in Okinawa in April 1966 from personnel of the skeletonized Headquarters IX Corps. The newly-organized headquarters was ready for deployment in June 1966, but did not receive country clearance until late September. By then, the name of the organization had been changed to Headquarters, U.S. Army Support, Thailand (USASUPTHAI). The advance party arrived at Korat in mid-October.

The command was established directly subordinate to Headquarters, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), while the Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Thailand exercised operational control. USASUPTHAI commanded the 9th Logistical Command and its assigned units, operationally controlled the 29th Signal Group, and exercised command less operational control over Company D, 1st Special Forces Group, and the 316th Military Intelligence Detachment.

U.S. Army Support, Thailand became fully operational on January 1, 1967, the effective date of the USARPAC letter of instruction ouitlining command relationships, roles, and missions of the new headquarters. Its mission was to provide the the U. S. Army nucleus for a unilateral, bilateral or combined tactical headquarters to conduct ground combat operations in Thailand; conduct continuing OJT (on-the-job training) of assigned Army units; conduct U. S. Army planning to support joint operational plans for current operations and contingency U. S. unilateral, bilateral and SEATO plans; exercise command management supervision of U. S. Army construction programs, logistic operations, real property, facilities and project stocks; and provide logistical support to U. S. Air Force operations in North Vietnam and Laos and U. S. Army and joint service support as directed.

USARSUPTHAI was formerly deactivated at Camp Samae San, in Sattahip, Thailand in 1975