Clif Caffall 

8/29/1945 - 02/25/2025

Place of Death: Central Peninsula Hospital; Soldotna, Alaska; 99669. Wife and daughter present.

Dates of Service:

Basic, INDOC, & PJ Pipeline — May 1965 to graduation as class 66-5 (photo taken under wing of HU-16 Albatross). Theirs was the first PJ class to graduate with maroon berets and bloused boots.

PJ on Guam at Andersen AFB, SAC — 1967 and 1968. Recovery of Corona spy satellite film canisters from ocean; trained to recover Apollo astronauts; along with PJ Tom Newman, boarded USS Barbel submarine at sea to treat ill submariner; he and PJ Allen Avery rode out a fierce typhoon for 4 days and 4 nights going after a film canister; and rescue missions PRN.

PJ stationed at Nakhon Phanom RTAB Thailand -- Worked mostly out of Long Tieng, Laos — early 1968 to March 1969 (arrived just after the Tet Offensive). PJs worked alone in low bird/high bird formations. Hydraulic hoist 100 to 200 feet to jungle floor for survivor.

Honorable Discharge 1969

TACP ROMAD stationed at Fort Bragg North Carolina -- May 1973 to November 1975. Worked some with troops out of Camp Lejeune.

TACP ROMAD out of Elmendorf AFB Anchorage, Ak and Eielsen AFB out of Fairbanks, Ak. Trained Air Force troops, Army troops, and Eskimo Scouts to call in air strikes.

OTHER INFO: Over 600 parachute jumps total in Air Force and as civilian contractor. 367 official AF jumps. 300 combat hours, not including time on the ground searching for a survivor. 3,000 hours in the back of a C-130 on Guam flying "Duckbutts."

Special Orders: "SPECIAL ORDER TB-4, 3 January 1969: "Each of the following named personnel, Det 1, 40 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Sq (MAC), APO 96310, will proceed at such time as may be necessary during the period 3 Jan 1969 to 31 March, 1969, both dates inclusive, from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand to places as may be necessary within Thailand, South Vietnam, and the Republic of the Philippines, on TDY for the purpose of aircraft duties, and upon completion of each mission will return to duty station. Travel by military aircraft, Government automobile, military and/or naval water carrier authorized. Travel by common carrier (rail or bus) is authorized. ... Area clearance will be obtained IAW PACAFR 30-5 prior to commencing travel to South Vietnam. ..."

"Personnel are cleared for access to classified material up to and including as indicated during the period of this TDY. ... "

"In the event of limited war or mobilization, contact your Hq to determine the necessity for continuance of travel. In the event of general war or if CONUS is attacked by a foreign military force while traveling, report to the nearest military installation as soon as possible. Authority: AFM 36-11 & 39-11, as amended."

Personnel included "SGT CLIFTON L CAFFALL, Security Clearance: SECRET; THOMAS A. NEWMAN, Security Clearance: SECRET." 

Clif said: These orders "covered you like a blanket" in getting to where you were most needed as quickly as possible.

NOTE: When Clif was diagnosed with incurable Agent Orange B-cell lymphoma cancer, Tom Newman wrote a required "Buddy Letter" for Clif's approval for 100% service-connected disability. Tom writes: "Please accept this testimony, and the attached eight (8) official USAF military orders, as evidence of combat duty in Laos and North Vietnam by then-Sgt. Clifton L. Caffall, AFI9849894, from approximately 22 Mar 1968 until after my own tour ended on 11 Feb 1969."

"1. ‎Special Order 16, 29 January 1968, assignment Det 1, 37th ARRSq

2. Special Order MT-20, 11 April 1968, Aircrew designation

3. Special Order T-1114, 1 July 1968, blanket TDY orders including Laos

4. Aeronautical Order 41, 5 Sep 68, Basic Aircrew Badge (Permanent) (combat)

5. Aeronautical Order 41, 5 Sep 68, change of orders

6. Special Order M-39, 5 Sep 68, Diving orders

7. Special Order G-30, 18 Sep 68, Basic Aircrew Badge (Permanent) (combat)

8. Special Order TB-4, 3 January 1969, blanket TDY orders"

NOTE: "Special Order T-1114, 19 July 1968, which specifies OUSAIRA, American Embassy APO 96352, the American Embassy in Vientiane, Laos. These missions were commonly performed by all assigned aircrew members."

Vientiane, Laos should never have been mentioned. Someone made a mistake — the mistake that would prove Clif was boots on the ground in Laos where Agent Orange was heavily sprayed. It was a mistake because LBJ denied we were in Laos. It was the secret theater of the War in Southeast Asia. Officially then, the US was never there!

Awards and Certificates:

Small Arms Marksmanship Certificate, November 2,1966

2 Helicopter Rescue Awards from Sikorsky Aircraft for 12/23/68 and 2/15/68

The Air Medal awarded November 7, 1968

The Air Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) awarded August 23, 1969. *He ended up with             The Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters*

The Vietnam Service Medal

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Clif also worked as: 

Computer Engineer for Wang Labs in San Francisco, CA and Anchorage, Ak

Stock Broker Anchorage, Ak

Financial Planner Anchorage, Ak

Tax Planners Anchorage, Ak

Loaded freight at Lowe's on night shift to get out from behind his Tax Planners desk and get some exercise! Anchorage, Ak and Kenai, Ak

Harvested Grandfather's fruit and nut orchards as a kid growing up

Clif's family: sister Ann Jud, husband Eugene, kids Marty and Monika; cousins Etta Mae Kibby, Sis Stepka; daughter Theresa Brock and her kids Skeyeler, Shara, Timmie, and Ari: wife Cathy Caffall.

Clif's quips: 

Regarding Laos, Clif would say, "It's such a beautiful country. If only people weren't trying to kill ya!"

Regarding Agent Orange cancer pain, he'd say, "It only hurts when I think or feel!"

When I'd say, "I love you," he'd say, "Me too you!"

Regarding tomorrow, "I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future."

When anyone would express admiration for him, he'd say "I'm just a little above average."

Regarding the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, he'd say, "I want to grab my rifle and head to Ukraine         or Israel, but I don't think I'm strong enough to lift it!

When asked, especially given his Agent Orange cancer, whether he'd do it all again, his answer was always, "In a heartbeat!"

Catherine (Cathy) Caffall

May 29, 2025