16th Public Information Detachment
The 16th Public Information Detachment (PID), Vietnam was attached to the Headquarters of Second Field Force, Vietnam. It was based in Long Binh, Vietnam. Members were comprised of print journalists, broadcast specialists serving as correspondents throughout Vietnam.
Weekly press conferences included attendance with such notables as Ted Koppel, Lew Allison, Liz Trotter, Tony Sergeant, Frank Mariano, Horst Faas, Peter Arnett, and others working for the civilian media and covering the war.
Their news releases were disseminated throughout the world and within the country on Armed Forces Vietnam Radio and TV. "The Hurricane" was a "Time" style magazine produced in color and distributed through the US Army command. In 1968-1969, it was commanded by Brigadier General Huffman. The detachment was operationally led by Colonel Abbott R. Morgan with his adjutant Major Powell (who died in-country). Command Sergeants Major included Ernest Bradley and Lacy. Captain George Cox was responsible for travel to Japan to produce the printing of the magazine.
Cliff Houser (E5) was the Senior Broadcast Correspondent (1969/1970). Houser produced a weekly program on AFVN, Saigon, entitled "Dateline Three Corps." It highlighted a variety of reports from combat encounters across the largest tactical fighting area in Vietnam. Houser flew the skies of Vietnam to hundreds of destinations and received the Bronze Star, among other awards. Its format was similar to 20/20. Other broadcast correspondents included Paul Dunn, Jim Puckett, Frank Gottlieb, Alan Goldberg, Peter Bliss, and others.
The unit operated from two Quonset huts, one of which included a radio broadcast studio and editing room in the duty section.
Correspondents of the detachment had standing travel orders allowing them priority transportation anywhere within the Republic of Vietnam. Thousands of stories and hometown broadcasts emanated from this unit.
Some of the print correspondents received the Bronze Star as well for their field coverage of encounters with the enemy.
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