Paddy's Gang / Warriors: Baumholder 1989

Any of you who were with 1/39 Inf (M) during the redesignation to 4/12 Inf (M) in Baumholder, FRG, 1989 may be able to help me remember a couple of names that I'm struggling to remember.

Thanks for the help.

AAAO!

Before I forget -- please add your name to the roster if you haven't already.

1/39 Inf (M), Worms and Baumholder FRG: Gerald Connor

Well, here's a blast from the past.

I recently received a message from Gerald Connor who was with Paddy's Gang during the 1960s, first in Worms and then in Baumholder. He's the only fellow I've spoken to who was there for the move from Taukkunen Barracks down by the Rhein. I visited Taukkunen during the days when 5th Signal Command was posted in Worms and it was a splendid spot -- not to take anything away from dear old Baumholder, of course.

Jer's sent an old Stars and Stripes article ("1/39th says farewell to Worms", November 1966) with some of the details, and if anyone is keen to see it then let me know and I'll try to post it alongside this web beacon.

He was regular Army, a 36K20 field wireman with the Headquarters Company Commo Platoon, and has managed to catch back up with a few other fellows from those days:

I have hooked up with Lawrence Wilson (West Virginia), Larry Duncan (Lubbock Tx), both from my platoon in 67. A third, Alen Marles (N.J.) passed away from a heart attack in 04'. He left commo and went to Hdqs. Recon in 68.

After Army days Jer returned to his home town, Rochester, New York, which is pretty close to where my own family comes from.

I'd be delighted to pass along any news from other members of 1/39 Inf (M) who were with the unit in those days, so don't hesitate to email me with the names of anyone you're still hunting for.

AAAO! -- and thanks again, Jer.

UPDATE: see also http://1-39inf.blogspot.com/2025/10/don-williams-and-willy-brown-alpha-co.html

Baumholder FRG 1989: Paddy's Gang

Just posted a few lines over at the 4/12 Inf (M) web beacon about four Lieutenants who were also with 1/39 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG, in 1989:

LT Harris Clarke
LT Jim Lee
LT Mike Munoz
LT Steve Winterfeld

AAAO!

THIRD PLATOON ALPHA COMPANY 1/39 INF (M), 1987 – NCOs

Turning now to some of the NCOs, I remember SSG Arvin Eck, SSG Birk and SGT Mitchell. SSG Birk and SGT Mitchell both lived there in H D Smith Barracks. I don't know where they ended up, although I'm pretty sure SSG Birk decided to leave the Army and go back to The World. For some reason I think his home was in Kentucky.

SSG Eck and I once had the unpleasant task of visiting one of the junior platoon members down in the Mannheim lockup. It was hard to feel sorry for the guy in question since he'd deserted more than once and brought it entirely upon himself, but, still, prison is a pretty miserable place. I hope that the military runs them better than the civilians, that's for sure. Everybody ought to get a good close look at a prison before he's old enough to get himself locked up in one.

1SGT Henderson -- Top was a thin, keen runner. We'd wrap up PT in the morning and he'd tear-ass out of the Company AO and go run another five or ten clicks. Like most First Sergeants he wasn't an easy guy to please, but I still remember how happy he was when we nailed all those EIBs in 1987. Alpha Company had something like seven out of the eleven EIBs that the battalion earned that year, and everybody knows that it takes a strong set of NCOs to turn out that kind of result. Now that I think of it, I've got my EIB right here at my desk. CIBs were another story, since the Vietnam vets were starting to retire in big numbers by the late 1980s. We never imagined there'd be so many young guys with CIBs now. I haven't read the figures but it would have to be something like 90% of the MOS.

I do remember a lot of other NCOs from Baumholder, especially in 3rd Platoon Alpha Company 1/39 Inf (M), but I can't recall all their names right now.

Before I forget -- please add your name to the roster if you haven't already.