<p>Aerial photo of Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. In June 1972 it became a base of operations for United States Marine Corps air operations by Marine Aircraft Group 15, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.<br>
Elements of squadrons that had previously been located in Da Nang, South Vietnam were moved to Namphong starting in June 1972. The advance party that first arrived landed to find basically an airfield in the middle of the jungle. At that time the base consisted of a runway, parking apron and a few wooden buildings. A United States Navy Seabee battalion was soon clearing the jungle and some 10 man tents were hastily erected to sleep and work in. Since the conditions were rugged, the base soon came to be called "The Rose Garden" after the song by Lynn Anderson and the Marine recruiting campaign based on it saying "We never promised you a Rose Garden", depicting a scary Marine Drill Instructor addressing a mortified recruit.<br>
The squadrons soon in residence included H&amp;MS-15, MABS-15, VMFA-115 and VMFA-232 with F-4J <i>Phantom II</i>s, VMA(AW)-533 with A-6A <i>Intruder</i>s, VMGR-152 with KC-130F <i>Hercules</i>, and H&amp;MS-36, Det "D" with CH-46 <i>Sea Knight</i>s.<br></p>
This group soon was joined by 3rd Battalion 9th Marines who served as the security element. Marine Air Traffic Control Unit 62 (MATCU 62) handled the airport traffic control operations including the airport tower and GCA radar(Ground Controlled Approach). The force occupying "The Rose Garden" was designated <b>Task Force Delta</b>. The base was made up of Marines, Sailors (Medical and Construction staff), Air Force (mostly cargo handing), and Thai military elements. The base was in existence until September 1973 when all the units returned to their home bases.
USMC
Official U.S. Marine Corps photograph A26873 in: <i>U.S. Marines in Vietnam. The War that Would not End 1973-1975</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/U.S.%20Marines%20in%20Vietnam%20The%20war%20that%20would%20not%20end%201971-1973%20PCN%2019000311200_2.pdf">(part 2)</a>, p. 23.