Sigmund: You have a well-rounded group of photographs. Thank you for sharing them and your memories of our service days. I will be 70 next year, but via your Bindlach information I feel like a kid again and it is as if we were back there again and just shooting the bull while our C-rations warmed up on those little pellet stoves. Did you ever have a meal in the old church there at Grafenwöhr? From time to time someone would toss a can of jam into the fire we were sitting around. Of course, it was not long before everyone had a helping of jam to go with the other unpleasantness of war games.
Sigmund, thank goodness you are back. I appreciate the photographs that you have provided. It never occurred to me that there was such an appropriate monument to the efforts of Patton in preparing our young men to face the Germans. Even as I had passed the sign to Charaico Summit many times, I was never able to take my rig up there. Your experience has pushed me into doing further reading and examination about this training area. Thank you.
Hi Sigmund Remember the Allerts they use to call at 3and 4 oclock in the morning.Load up all equipment move out sit on thumbs then around 6am they would let us go back to the bks.one of the tanks hit a honey wagon one morning It sat in the field next to the fence for a month. The one thing i missed when we returned to the USA.was the good German beer. In 57 we went to Nurenburg for the 3rd Cav Birthday we marched in Hitlers Stadium I tell my Grandkids that I stood where Hitler made his speaches to the people..If you were lost in nurenburg looking fot Merral Bks the German People did not know it by that name.Ask where the SS bks was and they would give you the directions.
Sigmund: That’s it, Chiriaco Summit, CA. Thank you. Yes, there is some information on the internet, but if you have the personalized stuff that warriors look for, that would be nice. I hope you discovered that my map would enlarge so that you could read the details. I will nose around for some border pictures. I see you are a fisherman. I am not, but I do have “Big Mouth Billy Bass” and I would not trade for him. I enjoyed your rattlesnake story. As I have a large rattle and fang collection that I have personally gathered, I can imagine having one of those terrifying things having a “moment” with a fisherman.
There was the time when two B Company NCOs decided to take a couple of M-41 Walker Bulldogs out for a communication check one weekend. I was the TC in the lead tank and I had to watch out for both tanks. We churned up the countryside for an hour or so then headed back to the motor pool. There was a water crossing at “Old Forge Bridge” because the tanks could not use the bridge itself. As there was only room for single file, the tank behind decide to be first. When I told the sergeant that the corporal was coming around, I only had time to secure my hold as we accelerated to keep the lead. The corporal never wavered until we got to the crossing. He did slow down to fall behind, but the sergeant never let up. When the glacis plate entered the deep water I happened to look into the turret as it filled with water. As we gained the other bank we pulled over so the sergeant could open the escape hatch to drain the mess. The corporal had slowed to avoid a similar fate. Upon our return to the motor pool, it was I who got to hose the tank out. Remember those large pink hoses at the wash rack? That day they were worth every penny they had cost.
Sigmund: I noticed MSgt Cogar in one of your 1st Btn. photographs. I remember a time when I was latrine orderly at Ft. Meade during a Saturday inspection. The Exec. Officer was inspecting and MSgt. Cogar ran his own index finger around the urinal bowl and stuck it into his own mouth. He commented that his men kept the latrine clean enough that he could do that without worrying. I wish that he had asked me first.
Sigmund: I finally looked up where you live. As I used to truck freight to Fontana, CA I am reasonably familiar with the geography of your locale. I was a computer programmer for my career, but after my last layoff I went to truck driving school. I quit after a few years because the decent drivers were all retiring and their replacements were those types with foul mouths, short tempers, and were generally unpleasant to be around. I suppose you have been up to the are where General Patton trained his tankers. If you could tell me a little about it, it would be great. I only saw the road signs on I-10. Thank you.
Sigmund: Good day. Would you happen to have some photographs about the various border signs and poles and stones that usually marked the boundaries that we observed? Although I would not wish to raid your entire film library, it would please me to acquire more photographs of our area of responsibility. As I had no camera, most of my pictures are those on postcards. Thank you.
Sigmund: No need to EMail the pictures. The site allows them to be enlarged for comfortable viewing. Thank you . They are a good remembrance. I added an old map that I used to mark on. It does not reflect every stop, but I think you can see, as you enlarge it, that we covered the same ground over there. Remember, when you were playing war games, we were watching your back and vice versa. My MOS did not call for me to be out in the danger zone, but on many occasions I got to go out. It was always thrilling. I usually drove and the corporal I was usually with was a stickler for map details. I did not like him because I was just the opposite. I do remember a snowy day when we both realized that the border stones seemed to be on the wrong side of the jeep. Even if the East Zone soldiers had opened fire, I think that our hasty retreat would have spared us injury. I wonder if it was in the area you wrote about? Sigmund, I have never responded to “Bob” because my uncle Robert J chose that moniker, if one spelled it with only one “o.” The army addressed me as Private Wadley and I always thought that was pretty neat. Robert is good too. I do not remember a specific warning about the border crossing, but it seems like there was always something going on. We had a Choctaw helicopter and fighting team who were always on the alert to effect a rescue.
Sigmund: It escaped me to remember to tell you that I was originally in HOW Company at Ft. Meade, MD. However, after a drag racing incident in the motor pool, I was transferred to B Company. I do not remember if my jeep won, but I do remember when the motor officer stepped out into our path and ended the race. While I was learning to handle the M-52, another fellow left the roadway in his and the instructor was injured when his head struck the edge of the hatch opening. Remember that thin “foam” padding placed there for protection against such things? I never trusted it after that.
Sigmund: I cannot completely express my feelings when I get your messages. You are a link to a past that I treasure dearly. I can see that you have information at your fingertips that I can only wish for. I would imagine that as we served together we bolstered one another without realizing it. I was 16 when I joined the Texas National Guard. I took basic at Ft. Bliss, TX, advanced Infantry at Ft. Ord, CA. When I got back to Amarillo, I joined the U.S. Army. I was an “old soldier” at Ft. Meade as the others were taking basic. As I could not keep my mouth shut, I never advanced in rank, but I dearly loved the service. I was 18 when we crossed the Atlantic. As I was a small town yokel, everything was an adventure to me. In my memories, I savor those storms we went through, and I thrill at the majesty and power of the sea. For your information, here is something about “our” ships:
USNS General Alexander M. Patch (T-AP-122)
Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 4 June 2001, to Esco Marine Inc., Brownsville, TX.
USNS General Maurice Rose (T-AP-126)
The General Rose was scrapped in Texas during the year 2000."
USNS General Simon Bolivar Butler (T-AP-123)
Final Disposition, dismantled in May 1999 at International Shipbreaking Co., Brownsville, TX.
Have you heard of any other ships that transported our units to Europe?
Hello Sigmund: Thank you for your message. I deduce from your remarks trhat we traveled together in February 1958, however on the trip over we were on the Simon Bolivar Buckner. I returned in 1960 on her sister ship the Maurice B. Rose. I will post a photograph or two. From reading some of your other comments it is clear that you can reveal information that I have long ago forgotten. Please let us write things for a while until we get closure.
Hi Sigmund: What a small world...I was in Fox Co at Ft Meade...the barracks was in the first building just off Mapes Road...It was not a bad basic...I was on the USNS Rose for the trip over seas...what a ride..I spent most of my time up on deck...no matter how cold it was in Feb..I had to have that clean air...Bamberg was great..I was in Fox Co and Hq Co 2d BN...most of my work was done in teh Bn Hq that was just next door to HOW Co...Do you by chance remember John Oleon? Some great memories..talk to you soon. Joe Finch
THANKS FOR THE WELCOME SIGMUND. i DON'T REMEMBER WHAT MY MOS WAS WHILE STATIONED AT CHRISTIAN BARRACKS. I DROVE AN OPEN AIR JEEP AND LATER A FORD {NO TOP, NO SIDE COVERS AND NO HEATERS}. THERE IS PROBABLY ANOTHER BORDER PATROL DRIVER THAT CAN TELL ME WHAT MY MOS WAS? MY MILITARY PAPERS ARE IN THE USA AND I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THEM RIGHT NOW.
Hello Sigmund,
Thanks so much for the reply. I feel pretty much the same. There were many good days spent down town with my buddies. It was a great experience for a young man. Now that I'm a little older I can look back and really appreciate my unit and fellow soldiers.
Hello Sigmund,
thanks for answering...I had no idea there were so many veterans getting together from 2 ACR. I'ts been a long time since I've heard from anyone from 2 ACR.
Hello Sigmund. Sorry I did not answer sooner, was at a reunion in Oklahoma City with the 45th Inf Div, which I was with in Korea in 53-54. The wife and I took a extra couple of days for our anniversary, we have been married 55 years. Yes, I would love to have a copy, you can send it to one of my net addresses. Send it to ( wedtx@aol.com ), Thanks. Wayne
Sigmund,
Thanks for responding. My dad was with Tank Co., 2d Battalion, 2d AC, this from a service history I have researched and compiled for my kids. I was between 1-6 years old while in Bamberg, my sister being born in 1960 in Wurzburg. Mom is German service bride, so we spent about 8 years total over in Germany. 66-67 my dad went to Korea and we stayed with relatives in Landshut, went to base school. Many fond memories of life as an army "brat".
It's funny how some folks have no clue what life is like for service families when mom or dad is a soldier. Remember not seeing my dad for weeks at a time during Berlin Crisis, Cuban Missile Crisis, and Czech Revolt(1968)- pretty hairy times during Cold War. Still, wouldn't change a thing.
Ed
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There was the time when two B Company NCOs decided to take a couple of M-41 Walker Bulldogs out for a communication check one weekend. I was the TC in the lead tank and I had to watch out for both tanks. We churned up the countryside for an hour or so then headed back to the motor pool. There was a water crossing at “Old Forge Bridge” because the tanks could not use the bridge itself. As there was only room for single file, the tank behind decide to be first. When I told the sergeant that the corporal was coming around, I only had time to secure my hold as we accelerated to keep the lead. The corporal never wavered until we got to the crossing. He did slow down to fall behind, but the sergeant never let up. When the glacis plate entered the deep water I happened to look into the turret as it filled with water. As we gained the other bank we pulled over so the sergeant could open the escape hatch to drain the mess. The corporal had slowed to avoid a similar fate. Upon our return to the motor pool, it was I who got to hose the tank out. Remember those large pink hoses at the wash rack? That day they were worth every penny they had cost.
USNS General Alexander M. Patch (T-AP-122)
Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 4 June 2001, to Esco Marine Inc., Brownsville, TX.
USNS General Maurice Rose (T-AP-126)
The General Rose was scrapped in Texas during the year 2000."
USNS General Simon Bolivar Butler (T-AP-123)
Final Disposition, dismantled in May 1999 at International Shipbreaking Co., Brownsville, TX.
Have you heard of any other ships that transported our units to Europe?
Thanks so much for the reply. I feel pretty much the same. There were many good days spent down town with my buddies. It was a great experience for a young man. Now that I'm a little older I can look back and really appreciate my unit and fellow soldiers.
Thanks,
David
thanks for answering...I had no idea there were so many veterans getting together from 2 ACR. I'ts been a long time since I've heard from anyone from 2 ACR.
thanks
Sent via my hotmail account. If you need a higher res image let me know.
John
Thanks for responding. My dad was with Tank Co., 2d Battalion, 2d AC, this from a service history I have researched and compiled for my kids. I was between 1-6 years old while in Bamberg, my sister being born in 1960 in Wurzburg. Mom is German service bride, so we spent about 8 years total over in Germany. 66-67 my dad went to Korea and we stayed with relatives in Landshut, went to base school. Many fond memories of life as an army "brat".
It's funny how some folks have no clue what life is like for service families when mom or dad is a soldier. Remember not seeing my dad for weeks at a time during Berlin Crisis, Cuban Missile Crisis, and Czech Revolt(1968)- pretty hairy times during Cold War. Still, wouldn't change a thing.
Ed
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