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Birthday:
May 24
What unit(s) did you serve in with the 2d Cavalry?
B Company, 1st Battalion
Where were you stationed?
Christensen Barracks, Bindlach, Germany
What MOS or job description did you have?
630.00 - Wheel and Track Vehicle Mechanic
What was your rank/title?
Private First Class
What years were you assigned to the 2nd Cavalry?
1957 - 1960
Tell us a little about your cav days.
Some of my buddies are listed below. Before I went to mechanic’s school in Murnau, I was generally a driver for the CO or the 1st Sgt. On occasion I was privileged to go out on border patrols. Of course, there were the war games in Grafenwöhr and other areas of Bavaria. Border Duty: 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. On another occasion, it was a windy, rainy night as we approached the 50 meter zone. Thinking we were alone out there, we were speeding towards the border without lights. In the darkness, a single red light came on and began to wave frantically. We slowed immediately and turned on our lights to reveal a West German patrolman and his dog. As professionals, we were embarrassed to the max. I think he was just grateful to be alive. On a hot summer day we were winding our way downhill in a wooded area along the Czeck border. The road was paved and the situation had allowed my favorite corporal to doze off. I decided to have a little fun and switched off the ignition. After sufficient gases had accumulated in the muffler I switched the ignition back on. I was not prepared for the terrified reaction from the corporal when that muffler backfired. Nor was I aware of the danger of drawing attention to ourselves along that stretch of the border. At any rate, responding to his frantic urging, the two jeeps immediately evacuated that piece of terrain. Of course, he was under the impression that we had been fired upon. The only reason I was not dealt with properly was because he would have been in trouble for napping. Ft. Meade, MD: 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. I told the fellow I was racing not to worry about a thing. While the old man was presenting us with our Article 15s, I passed out cold. 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. 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.
Tell us a little about you now.
Retired computer programmer/analyst, OTR Truck Driver
Phone number (Optional).
(806) 376-4259
Name a few buddies you served with that you would like to find.
Captain Richard McMahon 2nd Lieutenant Rockwell 1st Sergeant Beamish SFC Phillip Q. Frisco SP4 Robert D. Talyor, Dixon, IL Earl Trimmer Larry K. Putnam, Minneapolis, MN Jack L. West, Snyder, TX
Comments
Comment by harold goldstein on June 24, 2020 at 10:10am
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THE COLD WAR 1958: A YEAR IN A 19 YEAR OLD G. I.’s LIFE
We were searching through the woods until we finally found him; a big guy by the name of Elliott. I don’t remember if that was his first or last name. He was crying like a baby while reading a roll of toilet paper his fiancée had sent him. It started with “Dear John”. We were on alert and although he was very depressed, Elliott knew he had to work, so his team put him in their jeep and off they went.
I’ll never forget a night I was outside the barracks and I heard the Sergeant screaming my name. There is an emergency at the border because nine of our guys crossed the border into E. Germany or Czechoslovakia and were captured. The company needs me and my team to rush there to open direct communications to D.C. and Ft. Meade on an Embassy Net. We stayed at the Air Force base in Hof, a border town, for over 2 weeks. The Top Brass decided they did not want non commissioned soldiers on this Embassy Net and brought in an Officer Radio Operator and his team. My group and I returned to HQ home base in Nuremberg.
Some days later a Messenger came to Nuremburg to drop off a classified document. Security put him up in the Transient Billets for the night. He was free to walk around our compound. The following morning someone found him dead, shot himself through his mouth and blew his head off with his own 45. He was found in the underground tunnels which Hitler had constructed.
A couple of weeks after, we went on alert again. Rumor had it that we are going into Lebanon as a peacekeeping force. All Vehicles; Weapons, Tanks, Personnel Carriers, 2 1/2 ton Trucks, 3/4s and Jeeps, Radios, and all Personal Weaponry were all cleaned, maintenance performed, and inspected. I burned all my personal letters in fear of other people reading them if I didn’t come back.
In the field, a buddy of mine, name of Avery, was banging his head against a tree. He was teary eyed and holding a diamond ring his girl sent back in the mail with a Dear John Letter.
We (The 2nd ACR) are gearing up for combat. Elliott was on his radio (Morse code) cursing, angry and trying to reach the field troops. I knew it was him as my training was to read handwriting signals. Unwillingly, I reported him and he was relieved of radio duty.
Some days later we found out we were not going to Lebanon. They were sending in the Marines from a troop ship that was already in that area. Almost simultaneously, a U.S. Convoy from one part of W. Germany loaded with provisions and supplies heading to Berlin through E. Germany were stopped by the E. Germans. This was supposed to be an agreed upon safe open route for the Allies. They were stopped and it became a ‘Lock and Load” situation. All three of our Battalions were assembled on the border ready to move in. The E. Germans finally let the convoy continue through. Our troops stood their ground and never let the enemy search their vehicles.
March, 1959 I was Honorably Discharged with a Good Conduct Medal and upon entering the Army Reserves, achieved the rank of Sergeant (E-5)
A close Army buddy from Versailles Kentucky named Sam Alves came to Brooklyn from Germany. He stayed with me in Brooklyn for about a week and then went on to his home in Kentucky. I guess he did not tell his wife he was coming home. He committed suicide there the following week.
Avery on the other hand, met and married a German girl and wanted me to meet her. They stopped by Brooklyn on their way home, so went out to celebrate. I still keep in touch with my roomie, Owen Tussing who lives in Ohio. He became a great grandpa twice now. I speak with another buddy, Chuck Dixon, who lives in Atlanta. We talk every few weeks to make sure we’re both still alive and kicking.
To the best of my recollection, all names, places, incidents, and dates are true and
Wadley, I remember when we were in basic trng at Ft. Meade, you faked being out cold or dead or something of that nature, you freaked everyone out incl the NCO's, you got lucky getting transferred to Bravo Company, I moved there after my Summary in 1960!
Good morning Robert and " HAPPY BIRTHDAY " hope your special day if full of fun and good things, tried calling you around 10AM your time. Take care old friend, hope all is well !
Hi Robert,your pal from Ca.just wishing you the best birthday ever. May it consist of good things. Blessings !
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT
Wishing you many more, from all of us at DragoonBase!!!
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