An Air Force Times article, dated July
6, 1960, "Candidates Due Training for 'Bars'," lists A/1C
Reginald V. Maisey as one selected for OCS. In December, OC Capt. Maisey
became Wing Asst. Director, Ops and Training. He graduated in the top
25 of class 61-C. According to classmate Art Chambers, Reggie was a
former Sky Cop (Air Police) prior to OCS and reentered that field upon
graduation assigned to Scott AFB, IL.
The Security Police business was surely in Reggie's
blood - his brother was a security policeman and father was a Warrant
Officer in that field.
In 1968, Captain Maisey was assigned to the 3rd Security
Police Squadron at Bien Hoa AB, near Saigon. His heroic tale began early
in the morning of January 31, 1968 - the Tet offensive.
Air Force Magazine (Feb.'93) describes our classmate's
valor in an article entitled, "Hero of Bien Hoa" by John L.
Frisbee.
A brief synopsis: A major objective of the (Tet) offensive
was to capture Saigon...though a cease-fire had been negotiated for
Tet holidays, US forces were wary of the promise and were on alert when
the countrywide offensive started early January 31.
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One of the obstacles standing in the
way on the road to Saigon was Bien Hoa. At 3 a.m., two specially-trained
enemy infantry battalions and a reinforced company struck Bien Hoa to
shut down that flight line's operation. First they had to get by Bunker
Hill 10 on the east border of the base. The French-built concrete-reinforced
bunker was lightly manned (by 3rd SPSq) when the 10-minute rocket bombardment
of the position began. This was followed by the advancement of large
numbers of communist troops, blasting away with rockets and automatic
weapons.
Captain Maisey was at the opposite end of the base
at the onset: he realized that holding Bunker Hill 10 was critical to
air base ground defense. "Maisey moved immediately to Central Security
Command Post and volunteered to lead the defense of the bunker, occupied
by a handful of men who were firing furiously through the gun ports
of octagonal structure." This required Maisey to drive through
the barrage of enemy fire and he did -- miraculously getting there unhurt.
Once inside the bunker, Reggie found he could not
communicate with the command post; to do so, he'd have to leave the
bunker, exposing himself to enemy fire -- and he did so many times.
His bravery and skill inspired that small security police force, vastly
outnumbered and with many injured.
During one of the sorties out of the bunker, Capt.
Maisey was hit by enemy fire but continued to report to his command
post and encourage his men. Now, even with helicopter gunship and AC-47
support, they were still in danger of being overrun.
"About 4:30 am, Capt. Maisey...left the bunker
to contact command post. He was hit by an enemy rocket and killed instantly,
but the men he led so brilliantly...contain(ed) the enemy until reinforcements
arrived."
Reggie became the first non-rated AF officer to receive the Air Force
Cross. An imposing building at Bolling AFB bears the name of this gallant
warrior.
Capt. Reg Maisey is also honored by his fellow Air
Force Security Police at the Air Force Security Police Museum, Lackland
AFB, TX . He is remembered in a special section of the museum named
the Hall of Honor.
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Museum
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The
Maisey Family
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Air
Force Cross
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Bunker
10
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Honor
Wall
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