Location

Gilroy, CA

Birthday:

December 10

What unit(s) did you serve in with the 2d Cavalry?

2/2 ACR G-Troop

Where were you stationed?

Bamberg

What MOS or job description did you have?

11B, 11C, Armorer

What was your rank/title?

SP4

What years were you assigned to the 2nd Cavalry?

1973 to 1975

Tell us a little about your cav days.

I spent quite a while on the UP's when I first arrived in Germany because G-Troop was at the border. The first couple of nights I bedded down in E-Troop. I was then taken to Hof and introduced to border life. At that time the Airforce was still at the billets. Breakfasts were awesome!!! You could eat as much as you wanted, come back for seconds AND the food had flavor. They even ahd a bowling alley there. Then, there was the flip side of having to burn the waste cans at the OP site in the morning before replacements arrived. Who could forget railheading to Graf in the middle of February? Cinching down the tracks onto the rail cars while it's snowing and you can't feel your hands because they're numb. Taking a shower at Graf was fun too. By the time you got back to your tent you were just as dirty as when you went to the shower. Remember the first time you saw all of the trees and they looked like they had snow on them, only to find out it was that "extra fine dirt"? Back in Bamberg, did you ever pull track park guard? In the summer you could watch the weasels fly out and grab rabbits. How about Reforger? Now that was a fun time!! 16 days in the field and only 3 showers. PEW!! lol Well, I could go on and on but if you were there I'm sure you remember. Like I said, I was on the UP's for about 6 months I believe until they realized how long I had been on there. If you were in Bamberg at the same time, I am sure we would have crossed paths. I worked gate guard duty a LOT! 12 hours on and 12 hours off. I started off as a grunt and then they gave me a secondary MOS of mortars. On our first field exercise, a 15 mile march, they gave me the M60 to carry (being the new "crute")and I was NOT happy by the end of the day! I served as the Armorer for the last year I was there. (much better duty) Not everything was bad though and I have to admit to meeting some of the best friends I have ever known. Regarding Hof, remember the Jim Beam club and the Butterfly? Of course you do. Remember the Weinerwald? A great place to eat broiled chicken after a night of heavy drinking. I don't rememeber the bars name across from the kaserne there in Hof but I remember the blonde girls working there. There were two sisters that worked there. I think their family owned the place. Did you ever go on a Learn to Ski Week in Garmisch? I did 2X and it was great.

Tell us a little about you now.

I'm a lab manager in a high tech electronics company in the Silicon Valley.

Name a few buddies you served with that you would like to find.

Tom Riley, Dennis Winn