Allen Cates Collection
Note: This collection is physically located at The Vietnam Archive at TTU.
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Allen Cates joined the United States Marine Corps in the summer of 1961.
He completed the Marine Aviation Cadet program and, as a Naval
Aviator, was designated a Naval helicopter pilot.
In 1964, his squadron was sent to Okinawa and then to Vietnam,
where he completed his first tour in Vietnam in 1965.
He was sent to MAG 36 and then to Pensacola as a flight
instructor in the T-28 teaching formation flying. He
resigned his commission (rank of Captain) in 1966 and accepted
employment with Air America. From 1967 through May of 1969, he operated in Saigon.
For the first six months, he co-piloted C47s and then moved up to
Captain in the Pilatus Porter for the next two years.
Mr. Cates then transferred to the rotary wing division and was
transferred to Udorn, Thailand, where he remained flying primarily in
Laos, from June 1969 until the war in Laos ended in May 1974. During
that time he flew the H-34, Bell Huey, S-58T, and had a brief stint in
the H-500P where he received training at Edwards AFB with some
sophisticated night flying equipment. After leaving Air America he
accepted employment in Taiwan flying a S-58T. After returning to the
United States in May 1975, he accepted a position as a corporate pilot
with a oil field service company until 1981 and then started Setac
Chemical Corporation. This collection contain information from Mr. Cates military
career and information on Air America.
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Box
1 |
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Folder
1 |
“Voucher
for Reimbursement for Travel”, July 11, 1963 “Group
Special Order Number ….118-63”, June 18, 1963 Paper
showing “First Endorsement”, June 24, 1963; “Second Endorsement”,
June 28,1963; and “Third
Endorsement”, June 28, 1963. “Group
Special Order Number 139-63”, July 9, 1963 (4 Copies) “Wing
Special Order Number… 110-65”, June 21, 1965 “First
Endorsement on CG 1stMAW FMFPac SO#110-65”, Aug 24, 1965 “Memorandum
Endorsement”, Oct 1, 1965 “Memorandum
Endorsement: Permanent Change of Station Orders”, Sept 4, 1965 “Memo
Endorsement”, Oct 1, 1965 “Endorsement
on: Permanent Change of Station”, Oct 1, 1965 (2 Copies) “Memo
Endorsement”, Oct 1, 1965 “Group
Special Order Number … 229-63”, Oct 2, 1963 “Designation
as Naval Aviator, No. T-8173”, Dec 21, 1962 “Temporary
Promotion”, Dec 16, 1963 “Second
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DHA-ccb of 16 Dec 1963”, Dec 31, 1963 “First
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DHA-ccb of 16 Dec 1963”, Dec 24, 1963 “Third
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7A/rko of 10 March 1965”, April 8, 1965 “First
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7A/rko of 10 Mar 1965”, Mar 17, 1965; and
“Second Endorsement”, Mar 27, 1965 “Third
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7A/rko of 10 March 1965”, April 8, 1965. Has gold star attached in top left hand corner “First
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7A/rko of 10 Mar 1965”, Mar 22, 1965 and
“Second Endorsement”, Mar 30, 1965 “Award
of Gold Star in lieu of a second Award”, Mar 10, 1965 “Third
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7A/lko of Mar 30 1965”, May 4, 1965 “Award
of Gold Star in lieu of a third Award”, Mar 30, 1965 “First
Endorsement of CG, FMFPac 1tr 7A/rko 1650 of 30 Apr 1965”, May 12, 1965;
“Second Endorsement”, Man 30, 1965; “Third Endorsement”; Has gold
star attached in top left hand corner “Award
of Gold Star in lieu of a fourth Air Medal”, April 30, 1965 “First
Endorsement on CG, FMFPac 1tr of 19 Apr 1965”, May 21, 1965; “Second
Endorsement”, June 3, 1965; “Third Endorsement” “Award
of Gold Star in lieu of a fifty Award” “First
Endorsement on CG, FMFPac 1tr of 22 Apr 1965”, May 21, 1965; “Second
Endorsement”, June 3, 1965; “Third Endorsement” “Award
of Silver Star in Lieu of a sixth Award”, April 22, 1965 “Award
of the gold star in lieu of a seventh Air Medal”, June 5, 1965 “Third
Endorsement on CG, Headquarters, US Army Combat Developments
Experimentation Center, Fort Ord, California 1tr of 21May63”, June 21,
1963 and “Fourth Endorsement”, July 11, 1963 “First
Endorsement on CG, FMFPac 1tr of 5 Jun 1965”, June 15, 1965; “Second
Endorsement”; and “Third Endorsement” “First
Endorsement on CG, FMFPac 1tr of 3 Jul 1965”, Jul 20, 1965; “Second
Endorsement”, July 27, 1965; and “Third Endorsement”, July 29, 1965 “Award
of the gold star in lieu of an eighth Air Medal”, July 3, 1965 “Second
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7D/MTST 1650 of 26Oct65”, Nov 19, 1965 “Third
Endorsement on CG, FMFPac1tr 7D/mtst 1650 of 26Oct65”, Nov 29, 1965 and
“Fourth Endorsement” “Second
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7D/mtst 1650 of 26Oct65”, Nov 19, 1965 “Award
of the gold star in lieu of a ninth Air Medal”, Oct 26, 1965 “Second
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7D/mtst 1650 of 26Oct65”, Nov 19, 1965 “Award
of the gold star in lieu of a tenth Air Medal”, Oct 26, 1965 “Third
Endorsement on CG, FMFPac 1tr 7D/mtst 1650 of 26Oct65”, Nov 29, 1965 and
“Fourth Endorsement” (2 Copies) “Second
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7D/mtst 1650 of 26Oct65”, 19 Nov 1965 “Award
of Silver star in lieu of a eleventh Air Medal”, Oct 26, 1965 “First
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7D/mtstof 14Jan66”, January 18, 1966 and
“Second Endorsement”, Feb 1, 1966 “Award
of a gold star in lieu of the twelfth Air Medal”, Jan 1, 1966 “Award
of a gold star in lieu of the thirteenth Air Medal”, Jan 14, 1966 “First
Endorsement on CG FMFPac 1tr 7D/mtst 1650 of 14Jan66”, Jan 18, 1966; and
“Second Endorsement”, Feb 1, 1966 “Award
of Distinguished Flying Cross”, Dec 13, 1965 “Presentation
of award(s); case of Capt Allen E. Cates 086090 USMC”, Apr 21, 1966 “First
Endorsement on CG, FMFPac 1tr 7D/all 1650 of 13Dec65”, April 25, 1966
and “Second Endorsement”, May 2, 1966 “Group
Special Order Number … 92-63”, May 13, 1963 (5 Copies) Correspondence
to A.E. Cates from Lee S. Johnson “Officer
Leadership Training Course(Part B); completion of”, Jan 27, 1966 and
“First Endorsement”, Jan 31, 1966 “Second
Endorsement on CMC1tr DMA-ssd of 25 Aug 1965”, 31 Aug 1965; “Third
Endorsement”, Oct 14, 1965; “Fourth Endorsement”, Oct 20, 1965;
“Fifth Endorsement”, Oct 21, 1965 “Discharge
from the Marine Corps Reserve”, Aug 25, 1965; “First Endorsement”,
Aug 30, 1965 “Second
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DMA-ssd of 25 Aug 1965”, Aug 31, 1965; “Third
Endorsement”, Oct 20, 1965; “Fifth Endorsement”, Oct 21, 1965 “Discharge
from the Marine Corps Reserve”, Aug 25, 1965 and “First
Endorsement”, Aug 30, 1965 “Second
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DHA-elc of 13 July 1965”, Oct 4, 1965 and
“Third Endorsement”, Oct 4, 1965 (2 Copies) “First
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DHA-elc dtd 13Jul65”, Oct 1, 1965 “Honorable
Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States of America”, July
6, 1965 Subject:
Legal Handbook, July 23, 1967 Form
Letter Draft “Appendix
I: Full Disclosure and Standards of Fairness, Part I – Standards of
Fairness” “Part
II – Full Disclosure” “Part
III – Certificate of Compliance” “Second
Endorsement on CMC 1tr AUG-Perm DPH: jec of 21 June 1965”, July 5, 1965 “First
Endorsement on CMC 1tr AUG-PERM DPH-jec of 21 Jun 1965”, June 26, 1965 “Permanent
appointment to commissioned grade in the US Marine Corps; case of 1stLT
Allen E. Cates 086090 USMCR”, June 21, 1965 |
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Folder
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Correspondence
to J. H. Minet and Co. LTD from A.E. Cates, June 19, 1974 Correspondence
to Capt. A.E. Cates from J.H. Minet and Co. LTD, July 17, 1974 Correspondence
to American International Life Assurance Co. of New York from A.E. Cates,
June 29, 1974 Correspondence
to J. H. Minet and Co. Ltd from James S.Y. Cheng, Oct 18, 1974 “Loss
of Flying Licence Insurance Certificate No. 39/4255”, July 16, 1973 Memorandum
“Loss of License Insurance Policy”, Jan 17, 1974 Correspondence
to Captain Allen E. Cates from James S.Y. Cheng, Nov 7, 1974 Correspondence
to Air Asia Company Ltd. from J. H. Minet and Co. Ltd. “Loss
of Flying Licence Insurance, Certificate No. /4255”, May 1, 1974 “Third Endorsement on Hq MCRDep SDIEGO DSO 2150-60 of
3Oct60”, Nov 7, 1960. “First
Endorsement on Hq MCRDep SDIEGO DSO indicated opposite your name”, Oct
29, 1960 “Depot
Special Order Transfer Number ….2150-60”, Oct 3, 1960 (9 Copies) “First
Endorsement on Hq MCRDep SDIEGO DSC indicated opposite your name”, Oct
29, 1960 (8 Copies) “Third
Endorsement on Hq MCRDep SDIEGO DSO 2150-60 of 3Oct60”, Nov 7, 1960 (6
Copies) “Second
Endorsement on Investigative Report of First Lieutenant Allen E. Cates,
USMC of 20 Jan 1966” “Voucher
for Reimbursement For Travel”, Apr 24, 1964 Envelope
with Disbursing Officer stamped on front “Third
Endorsement on Hq MCRDep SDIEGO DSO 2150-60 of 3Oct60”, Nov 7, 1960 “Temporary
additional duty; orders to”, Sept 3, 1964 (8 Copies) “Voucher
for Reimbursement for Travel”, Sept 19, 1963 “Group
Special Order Number ….188-63”, Aug 30, 1963 “Memorandum
Endorsement”, Sept 6, 1963 and “Second Endorsement”, Sept 7, 1963 “First
Endorsement”, Sept 3, 1963 “Instrument
Rating Request”, April 5, 1965 |
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Folder
3 |
“Hughes
Model 500P Transition Handout” |
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Folder
4 |
Certificate
appointing Allen Edward Cates a Private First Class, Oct 1, 1960 Certificate
“US Naval School, Pre-Flight”, Sept 29, 1961 Certificate
for first unassisted take off and return to US NAAS Saufley Field,
Pensacola, FL, Dec 5, 1961 “Armed
Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge”July 7, 1960 Document
certifying Allen Edward Cates as a naval Aviator, Dec 21, 1962 “Designation
as Navy Helicopter Pilot”, Dec 21, 1962 “Honorable
Discharge” Certificate, Dec 20, 1962 “Letter
of Appreciation”, May 21, 1963 Certificate
for course completion for Introduction to Personnel Administration, 01.1,
Nov 4, 1963 “Temporary
Appointment”, Dec 16, 1963 Certificate
for completion in Military Justice and Administrative Matters, April 10,
1964 Document
citing the presentation of the Air Medal to Allen E. Cates Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a second Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a third Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a fourth Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a fifth Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Silver Star in lieu of a sixth Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a seventh Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of an eighth Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a ninth Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a tenth Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Silver Star in lieu of an eleventh Air
Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a twelfth Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Gold Star in lieu of a thirteenth Air Medal Document
citing the presentation of the Distinguished Flying Cross “Helicopter
Rescue Award”, Nov 11, 1964 “Flight
Instructor’s Indoctrination Group”, Dec 17, 1965 “Vietnam
Helicopter Pilots Association” Photo
with caption “Cheyenne Pilot Transition School” and pictured left to
right are Don R. Lilly, Marland Johnson, William Nikkel, Keith Weems, Ken
E. Hoffman, Allen E. Cates, Alice Fuchs, Donald Bundy Correspondence
to Allen E. Cates from D. Stevenson, Aug 3, 1977 Document
citing the presentation of the Air Medal (First through Thirteenth
Strike/Flight Awards) Correspondence
to Capt H.R. Casterlin; Capt F.N. Smith; Capt A.E. Cates; Capt T. Woozley;
First Officer M. Disoum; First Officer K. Vogprasert; Flight Mechanic S.D.
Waite via MTS, CFM; Flight Mechanic M.A. Leveriza via MTS, CFM; Flight
Mechanic F.O. Ortillo via MTS, CFM Memorandum
to Capt. A.E.Cates from VPFO J.W. Walker, Jr., June 29,1971 Correspondence
to Captain Timothy N. Castle from Allen E. Cates, March 16, 1988 Correspondence
to Captain Allen E. Cates from Captain Timothy N. Castle, March 23, 1988 Memorandum
about Captain A.E. Cates, June 2, 1969 Office
Memorandum about Use of H-34s on VIP trip, Jan 25, 1971 Inner-Office
Routing Slip to Capt. Cates, A.E. from John D. Ford, Jan 28, 1971 Correspondence
to C. Abadle from John W. MacQueen, January 26, 1971 “Honorable
Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States of America”, Oct
23, 1973 (2 Copies) “First
Endorsement on CMC 1tr MMSR-5-IVS1/gbr dtd 23Oct73 “Discharge
from the Marine Corps Reserve”, Oct 23, 1973 (2 Copies) Envelope
addressed to “Commanding Officer” “Reserve
Retirement Credit Report (Reservist/CMC Copy)”, July 7, 1960 |
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Folder
5 |
“Marine
Corps Liaison Unit Memorandum Endorsement” (2 Copies) “Wing
Special Order Number …..110-65”, June 21, 1965 (17 Copies) “First
Endorsement on CG 1st MAW FMFPac So # 110-65”, Aug 24,
1965(27 Copies) “Memorandum
Endorsement”, Oct 1, 1965 “Memo
Endorsement”, Oct 1, 1965 “Temporary
Additional Duty; Orders to; Confirmation of”, Sept 14, 1964 (9 Copies) “First
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DFH-ibs-5 of 16 Oct 62”, Dec 21, 1962 (11 Copies) “Permanent
Change of Station”, Oct 16, 1962” (11 Copies) Permanent
change of Station papers “Voucher
for Reimbursement for Travel”, Jan 25, 1963 “Permanent
Change Of Station”, Oct 16, 1962 Permanent
Change of Station Orders”, Dec 21, 1962 “Third
Endorsement”, Jan 18, 1963 “Fourth
Endorsement”, Jan 18, 1963 “Fifth
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DFH-ibs-5 of 160ct62”, Jan 18, 1963 “Third
Endorsement”, Jan 18, 1963 (3 Copies) “Temporary
Additional Duty; Group travel orders”, Apr 26, 1963 (3 Copies) “Third
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DPH:cjr of 20 Feb 1963”, March 7, 63 and
“Fourth Endorsement”, April 2, 1963 “Second
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DPH:cjr of 20 Feb 1963”, Mar 6, 1963 “Correction
of date of Rank assigned”, Feb 20, 1963 “First
Endorsement on CMC 1tr DPH;cjr dtd 20 Feb 63”, Feb 26, 1963 “Wing
Special Order Number ….. 235-65”, Oct 18, 1965 (5 Copies) “First
Endorsement on HQ 3dMAW SO 235-65 of 18Oct65”, Oct 21, 1965 (9 Copies) “Assignment
Instruction”, Nov 9, 1965 “The
Picture that Touches the World |
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Folder
6 |
Blue
book with “HMM 365, 1964-65” written on the front |
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Folder
7 |
Black
“Senior Pilot Log” April 4, 1971 to December 30, 1979 |
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Folder
8 |
Black
“Steele’s Pilot Log” March 7, 1973 to April 11, 1973 |
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Folder
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Navy
Blue “Aviators Flight Log Book”, Oct 25, 1961 to Feb 28, 1966 |
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Folder
10 |
Navy
Blue “Aviators Flight Log Book”, March 1, 1966 to March 31, 1971 |
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Folder
11 |
Green
Flight Log, March 1971 – February 1974 |
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Folder
12 |
Air
America Club Yearbook 1984 |
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Folder
13 |
Periodical
Articles 1985-1999 |
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Folder
14 |
Minutes
of Board Meetings Air America Club 1985-1994 |
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Folder
15 |
Minutes
of Board Meetings Air America Club 1994-1998 |
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Folder
16 |
Minutes
of Board Meetings Air America Club 1998-2001 |
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Folder
17 |
Oral
History Allen Cates Perpetual Motion Air America June 9, 1999 |
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Folder
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Assorted
Manuscripts
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Folder
19 |
Manuscript
Terry Love “Air America” |
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Folder
20 |
Correspondence
undated and 1986-Oct 1996 |
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Folder
21 |
Correspondence
Nov 1996-May 1997 |
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Folder
22 |
Correspondence
June 1997-1999 |
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Folder
23 |
Correspondence
2000-2001 |
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Folder
24 |
Misc. |
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Folder
25 |
Newsletters
Air America Log 1970, 1996 |
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Folder
26 |
Manuscript
“Air America Myth and Reality” The George W. Jalonick III and Dorothy
Cockerell Jalonick Memorial Distinguished Lecture at The University of
Texas at Dallas 1 February 1992 by Dr. William M. Leary University of
Georgia. With Southeast Asia Briefing Map indicating Place Names referred
to in lecture. |
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Oversized |
The
Whiting Tower, Vol. 22, No. 45, May 13, 1966 Stars
and Stripes, Vol. 31, No. 120, May 1, 1975.
Headline “IT’S OVER” Stars
and Stripes, Vol. 31, No. 119, April 30, 1975.
Headline “VC Launch Attack on Tan Son Nhut” Certificate
as First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, June 16, 1965 Certificate
appointing Allen E. Cates a First Lieutenant in the Reserve of the United
States Marine Corps, Oct 26, 1966 Certificate
appointing Allen E. Cates as Second Lieutenant in the Reserve of the
United States Marine Corps, Feb 21, 1963 “Bang
Hoa Tieu Quan Su”, Jan 9, 1965 |
Artifacts
Two pins, one silver inscribed “Air America” and one gold (Naval Aviation
Wings), both in a navy blue
box.
Currency
10 Dong Note
Photograph Collection
Picture with inscription on back “2/LT. Allen E. Cates USMCR, receiving his
wings from CAPT. W.G.
Stearns
Jr. Commanding Officer of HT-8 Ellyson Field”, Jan 1, 1963
Picture of Platoon 163 US Marine Corps, San Diego 1960
Picture of 16 planes in a diamond formation
3 photos, Lima Site 20A
Video Collection
#406 - “Air America Interviews, Allen Cates, May 1999”, VHS
#407 - “Air America: The CIA’s Secret Airline”, VHS
#408 - “Birds of a Feather: Air America, TRT=51:59”, VHS