"Back at the Gap" Major General Frank H. Smoker, Jr. (USAF, Retired) Resettlement camp I  “…no proper words enough”   27th in a series Although many various and important events occurred at the Gap over the years, two are especially notable. Fort Indiantown Gap was chosen on two separate occasions as a Refugee Resettlement Camp. In 1975, over 22,000 Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees were housed at the Fort until they were processed for sponsorship in the local area and elsewhere within the United States. Then five years later, in 1980, the Fort again became a refugee camp when over 19,000 Cuban aliens were brought to the Gap for processing and sponsorship. When Vietnam fell to the Communists, many Vietnamese fled from that country to save their lives. The Department of State set up refugee camps for the fleeing Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees at different military installations in California, Arkansas, Florida and Pennsylvania. Thus, in addition to the regular intensive summer training, Fort Indiantown Gap overnight became a resettlement camp. The following is the history of this remarkable event at Fort Indiantown Gap. On May 14, 1975 the Commanding Officer of Fort Indiantown Gap, Colonel Ervin Johnson, was alerted by the Office of Secretary Defense that the Gap was under consideration to become a Southeast Asian Refugee Center. At 4 p.m. the same day, Eric von Marbod, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) who had been appointed by Secretary Defense to head the Task Force for Support of Vietnamese Refugees, arrived at the Gap to initially survey its facilities and capabilities to receive and process an estimated 15,000 Southeast Asia refugees. As a result of von Marbod’s visit, a team was dispatched from US Army Forces Command to make a complete survey of the Gap’s capabilities on 16 May. The Garrison staff then completed an operational plan on May 19 expecting a task order in the immediate future. At midnight on May 19, the order was received from US Forces Command to execute the operational plan. The next day, Brigadier General James W. Cannon and an advance party from the 46th General Support Group arrived, followed two days later by all elements of his group, and General Cannon assumed control of Fort Indiantown Gap Refugee Center on May 24. Ten troop billeting areas were available comprising 314 barracks housing 60 men apiece at 72 square feet per person. Eighty-four messes could feed 12,480 people at a time. It was decided that two troop billeting areas would be needed to support annual and weekend training. Four billeting areas were available to house refugees. Because these areas had been scheduled for use by several schools, the Army Forces Command instructed First US Army to reschedule those elements to other installations. The Gap’s capacity for housing the refugees at 40 square feet per person (96 persons per building) was established at 16,512. The configuration of the installation allowed for separation of the refugee camp and officers and men of the Active Army and the Reserve Components. Major problems to be resolved were the hire of civilian employees, sewage, renovation of barracks, administrative buildings and messes, fire protection and hospital care. By June 4, 300 temporary employees had been hired. The sewage system was designed to handle 2.1 million gallons per day. However, because the system was old and not used to capacity, serious problem could occur due to water infiltration during heavy rains. A contract was awarded for a complete survey and repair of the sewage system, but in the interim, five chemical toilets were provided per barracks to meet acceptable needs. The barracks, messes and administrative buildings were of World War II construction and in many cases required extensive renovation. All barracks required partitions; most barracks had coal furnaces with obsolete furnaces and replacement parts were no longer manufactured. Messes had inadequate equipment. Administrative buildings required partitioning, light fixtures and minor repairs. Warehousing was critical and most required new roofing. Civilian contractors would be needed, and in the interest of haste, it was decided to forego bidding, normally required for procurements of $10,000 or more. Fire protection was inadequate. The installation had a fire company of only 13 men and three fire vehicles. That force was bolstered with civilian and military firefighters, and two fire stations were opened. Communications were inadequate to sustain a refugee center, but when Bell Telephone was given the job, they had the necessary commercial and military telephone systems installed within 72 hours.. Telephones were completely installed prior to the arrival of the first increment of refugees and ancillary communications requirements were fulfilled within the first two weeks. The World War II cantonment type hospital (1,000 beds) had not been used since the Korean War. Health Services Command fully equipped three wards (71 beds) for emergency or mobilization use and more than 450 additional beds. The hospital was prepared to receive patients by May 25. After intense preparation, the Task Force New Arrivals assumed control of the Fort Indiantown Gap Southeast Asia Refugees Center by May 24 and the first increment of refugees arrived on May 28, 1975. From that date to December 15, 1975, a total of 22,228 Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees were housed at Fort Indiantown Gap until being processed for resettlement in this country. The Task Force New Arrival mission had been handled in an extraordinary and outstanding by 1, 900 members of the active Army and 450 civilians, in addition to the US Army Garrison. Because of the proximity, numerous Asian families were sponsored by churches and individuals in Lebanon, Lancaster and Dauphin Counties. All of the Asian refugees were grateful to be in the United States in a land of freedom. They were very orderly and complied with all of the Department of State regulations set forth to insure smooth processing. White tape surrounded the areas in which the Vietnamese were housed. They were told that they were not allowed outside that boundary and they scrupulously observed that rule. As an example of the gratitude expressed by these refugees, a greeting from one of the Cambodian refugees and his friends was found written on the outside wall of Barracks 5-18 on December 11, 1975:  “We'll leave this beautiful camp with too much sadness and sorrowness that have never faced before. We shall dispose behind us all souvenirs, such as unbreakable and impossible to clear up from our best memories forever. They'll bear in our good mind up to the last breath of our lives even though the warm welcome and much helpful from our new friends in this lovely country. Of course, the majority of American's people were refugee since the previous days, not different from our case that we are the latest refugee came from Cambodia. Only the refugee knows better how difficulties, miserables, and suffering and sorrow in life that the refugee have faced. That's why we found no proper words enough to express our true heart to the American who is kind enough and try their best to help too too much. We are grateful to you and pray a lot for Lord Jesus Christ help you to succeed everything in life. We still have a strongly expect to see you again. Good bye. AMERICA NOT TOO BIG.”  It was signed “Thiem Tech Kong and friends.” Published in the Wednesday edition of the Lebanon Daily News, November 17, 2004 © 2004 Frank H. Smoker, Jr. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of the author. Go "Back at the Gap" Index