Kandahar Airport Designed by L.A. Firm

The pictures of the Kandahar Airport terminal building on Page A3 (Dec. 19) bring to my mind that the building was designed by a Los Angeles firm back in the late ‘60s for the U.S. Agency for International Development as part of our country’s efforts then to help Afghanistan. The design firm was Pacific Architects and Engineers (now PAE Government Services, Los Angeles). PAE is an international firm that has been performing services for the past 40-plus years for the U.S. and other governments and for the United Nations--in the Far East, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa and East Timor.

Until now, the only other picture of the terminal building I ever saw was an artist’s rendition, which I used to include in marketing proposals I submitted to U.S. government clients. It is nice to compare the actual building to my recollection. (I was assistant vice president, operations and maintenance marketing, PAE, 1968-1974.)

Fred “Friar” Tuck

Los Angeles