Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Dennis Kaliser who obtained account from Military.Com. The account was written by Tom Majors:
As the strategic PSYOP base of the 7th PSYOP Group, the 15th Psychological Operations Detachment (Strategic), performed psychological operations as directed by the Commanding Officer, 7th Psychological Operations Group. The detachment was reorganized on 28 November 1967 by GO #295, HQ, USARPAC and MTOE 33-500F.
The operations of the 15th PSYOP Detachment were conducted by an authorized strength of 111 military and 107 civilian personnel spaces. Under a new DA authorization received in November 1968, the number of civilian and military spaces was increased by 113 personnel (57 military and 56 civilian) to a total of 168 military and 163 civilian spaces.
The detachment headquarters, as the command and control element, was responsible for implementing and supervising the PSYOP programs with which the 15th PSYOP Detachment had been tasked. The Detachment was organized in 1968 into the following branches to conduct its activities:
In 1968 the following commanded the 15th PSYOP Detachment:
The 15th PSYOP Detachment Printing Branch operated fixed printing and processing equipment to produce printed media in support of the mission requirements in support of CINCPAC, CINCUSARPAC, and HICOMRY. During 1968, the Printing Branch produced 2,360,919,825 leaflets. During 1968, the number of personnel spaces in the Printing Branch was increased to 113. The Branch, regularly operated three shifts, 24 hours per day, for six days per week. When required, the branch operated seven days per week.
Under the new MTOE, the need was recognized and the Printing Branch received its first Reproduction Officer, CW3 Stanley W. Payne.
The Printing Branch had three roll-fed presses, two 23 x 36 sheet-fed presses, two 17 x 22 sheet-fed presses, and two Multilith presses.
The Bindery Section was equipped with three 42 inch paper cutters. New equipment on order included three roll-fed presses and two more 42 inch Harris Seybold Paper Cutters. The Bindery Section packed the majority of the leaflets in a specail high altitude box used in the dessemination of leaflets. The Section also did an outstanding job in cutting the leaflets so that the designed aerodynamic capabilities of the leaflets are achieved.
TDY was performed by CW3 Payne, who went to the Pinting and Publications Center , Japan , 21-23 October, to familiarize himself with PPC's operations. The personnel who were TDY to the Group from Fort Bragg , returned to the United States on 16 November. These personnel helped in vacancies in the Press Section which took some time to fill.
The TDY personnel had to be trained on the job to operate the presses. Tranining took approximately 2-3 months. At the end of this OJT period, they were well trained and the presses produced more than ever before.
During the summer of 1968 a Youth Summer Hire program was initiated. The program was a big help in alleviating small problems and filling in the vacancies created by working on special jobs which the Printing Branch had been tasked to perform. The six summer personnel did an outstanding job for this Branch.
Posted by Tom Majors Jun 17 2003 01:51:21:000AM Military.com