Top Gun and Best Platoon, H D Smith Barracks 1989

LT Bruce Van Hoozen, 1989, holding his platoon awards for Top Gun and Best Platoon -- although it's pity I can't see well enough to read that eye test poster over his left shoulder:













Bruce has sent me a couple of dozen photos (with more to follow) and they've been the highlight of 2007 for me. I've been slow to upload them -- even slower than my dial-up ISP -- but it looks like I should now be able to use the web beacon to put names to faces and vice versa.

Thanks, Bruce!

Meanwhile, for the first time in a long time we're getting some full-on Baumholder weather here in Canberra, with skies down to the ground and rain just a'bucketing.

I'll be cross-posting related photos to the 4/12 Inf (M) blog as well.

AAAO!

Rock Griffin, 1/39 Inf, Baumholder FRG 1966-1968

Folks,

In lieu of a normal post, here's an email from Rock Griffin (SGM Retired), who's looking for people who were with the unit back in 1966-1968. Here's his message:

I was with Company A 1/39 IN 1966 while assigned to Worms. After we moved to Baumholder, I was promoted to Sgt-E5 and reassigned to Co-B 1/39. I was promoted on 30 June 1967. Our Bn. Commander was LTC Ted Crozier. Captain William Katsarsky was Commander in company-A (Worns). I think 1st Lt Wise was commander in company -B at Baumholder. Our sergeant major was name Anthony Manfredi. My platoon sergeant's name was SSGT Grandy. My platoon leader was 2nd Lt Turner. I played basketball in the evening with the pathfinder marching team: 1st Lt Derhan, SSGT Light, SGT Nair, PFC Hurs ,1st Lt Collins , SSGT Grover, SGT Coleman PFC Carr, 1st Lt Wise, SGT Williams, and PFC David Thorne. Also, I pulled my share of duty at Hyde Guard Site, UP Gate Guard, Ashy Trash, and Laundry Run.

I served in Germany from January 1966 to January 1968. During the winter of 1966 I was a rifleman in company A, 1BN, 39th Inf. The company commander was Captain J. Katsarky, service number 04031078.

My squad was in an APC 113 accident that killed Sgt. Ford RA 53363776 and injured several others and me. We had been training near the border between East and West Germany when our APC track went out of control and overturned at Grafenwoehr Gun Range.

I was injured in a second accident in 1967 at Baumholder Training area. My APC 113 driver lost control and drove off a 70-foot drop on the tank trail leading to the wash rack in Baumholder. We were returning home from a 15 day training exercise. Every one on board was injured. I need to locate someone who recalls those accidents and request them to e-mail me a comment if they remember the events. Please help if you can! Thank you in advance, AAAO-Bar None.

Robert L. Griffin SGM E9 Ret.

I've discussed this off-line with Rock but wanted to post his message and see if anyone's in a position to help. It's been a while since those days, but the internet is an amazing thing.

AAAO!

UPDATE: LT Ron Turner dropped in to say hello as well, and Tom Marsh also remembers 1SG (later SGM) Manfredi.

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

1/39 Inf (M) -- Two Guys In Oregon

I just want to read two names into the record here:

LT Dan Reedy
LT Rich McKim

Dan spent time in Echo Co (as an anti-armor platoon leader) as well as being part of the airmobile mission in Alpha Co. If I recall correctly he ended up the XO there, then eventually went back to California.

Rich was the battalion medical officer, and later went over to the support battalion there in Baumholder. He spent several more years in the regulars before heading home to Baker.

I got to see an awful lot of Germany and surrounding countries with these fellows over the six years I spent in-country, and the stories we could tell would fill a book. These days, both of them are living in Oregon -- let me know if you're trying to find out how to reach them.

AAAO!

8th ID Long Range Surveillance Detachment

Just a quick post today: here are two fellows who were with Paddy's Gang in H D Smith Barracks, Baumholder, but who moved down to Wildflecken c. 1987-1988 to join the 8th ID LRSD:

CPT Randy Ruhl
SGT Jim Wheeler

Last time I heard of Randy was four or five years back (2002?). He had retired as an LTC and was working as a defence contractor / civilian down in Texas, Fort Hood if I got that straight.

Jim and family are out West these days, living in San Francisco where he works in the IT sector.

AAAO!