Army Birthday 2009

Paddy's Gang remembers.

AAAO!

PVT Ron Gulley, Paddy's Gang, Worms FRG 1961-64

Ron Gulley (who served with 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry during the early- to mid-1960s) left a very interesting message in the comments section, and since comments aren't searchable I reckoned I'd elevate it to a proper Web Beacon posting. Here you go:

PVT Ron Gulley
Co A 1st Bn 48th Inf
Co A 1st Bn 39th Inf

I was in Worms, Germany from 1961 to 1964.

I was a APC driver also 114 recon, last year I was there I drove the XO. Took basic and AIT training at Fort Leonard Wood Mo. Engineer training, but ended up in Germany, 48th mechanized infantry, which later became the 1/39th.

I was present when the APC went down in the Rhine. I was in line to swim, was maybe two vehicles back when the accident happened. I could see what was going on and sadly nothing could be done. It was a very sad day for our unit, we lost some very good soldiers that day. One of the guys went out before the divers arrived and tried to reach them but it was impossible, the weather was bad and cold as hell. We sat for quite a while before they decided to attempt the crossing.

When you are an APC driver you are responsible for a lot of other people, but sometimes things happen that are beyond anyone's control, and that was one of those times.

On the good side I had a lot of good times downtown at the Guesthouses, or bars which ever. Golden Lion one of my favorite, still have a picture of Utah and not the state. I dated a girl named Erica Peter most of my tour.

Sure like to hear from some of the guys I served with.

Ron Gulley
rgulley@woh.rr.com

Well, I've been hearing a bit lately from fellows who served during those days, so I hope this post will prompt some fresh messages. Feel free to write directly, post a comment or send in your details to me so I can put up a Web Beacon post of your own.

Thanks for writing, Ron!

AAAO!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

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LT Scott McMurtry, Paddy's Gang, 1983-1985

Ai-yi-yi! I'm setting new records for slow postings. Here's news from Scott McMurtry, who I just barely missed when I arrived in Baumholder. We bumped into each other years ago through the 1/39 Infantry Mortar Platoon mafia.

From Scott:

Matt--

I was going through your web beacon and noticed you were looking for information about SFC Rick Williams and SSG Danny Lee.

First of all, you ought to know that my hometown is Columbia, TN and SSG Lee's is Cookeville, TN. Columbia's about 50 miles south of Nashville, Cookeville's about 60 miles east. In May 1994, I ran into SSG Lee at a gas station outside of Knoxville. He was stationed in the New York City area as a recruiter. He had divorced the wife he had in Baumholder and remarried. Sadly, he was still a staff sergeant. 11C was a hard MOS to make rank in.

SFC Rick Williams is a police officer in Nashville. I think he was the oldest rookie cop in the history of law enforcement. Since I'm an Assistant District Attorney, I see him from time to time. I don't know if you knew Rick, but aside from some gray hair, he hasn't changed much. Actually, he has a lot of gray hair and reminds me of J. Jonah Jameson of the SpiderMan comics.

Go ahead and add me to the roster. I came to C Co in December 83. Was there until December 84 when I went to the S-3 shop as a liason officer for REFORGER. Got 4.2 about May of 1985, and stayed there until I went back to the States in November.

Keep up the good work.

AAAO,

Scott

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

You might also want to check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Robert Walker, Charlie Co Maintenance Section 1972-1974

Here's news from Robert Walker, one of the vets who helps keep the 8th ID group alive. In recent years, he's been making inquiries about the halftrack he and a few other fellows revived. I know that at least one of his tracks was still in working order back in the late '80s, because I saw them roll it out of the Brigade shed onto the parade field.

Robert served in Paddy's Gang as a SP/4 from March 1972 through September 1974 (later retiring as SSG). This is what he had to say about that track:

USA Number: US ARMY 1F9876
Unit: SP TRP 2-0
Bumper Number: EOD-8
Engine: WHITE, Straight 6, Flat head, Manufactured in 1951

This was the most complete one that was in the bone yard.

We loaded a 5/4 (M715) with all the tools we thought we would need and went to Graf. I drove and Krutzsch rode shot gun in the 5/4. Schaffer and Baldwin followed us in a POV. Upon arriving we were brought to a bone yard of old vehicles that were waiting to go down range to be hard targets. A lot of tanks, APCs, and a number of half-tracks.

We got as many spare parts as we could and they all came back with the half-track. It was painted and displayed at the Infantry Ball at the Officers Club in Baumholder. It was re-painted and some more work done to it and it went to Luxembourg for the Patton Remembrance Day. It was used in the parade to carry dignitaries.

Robert
AAA0

This photo above isn't the same track, but it's the same kind. It was parked outside the Wagonwheel Theater in the mid/late 1980s, and for all I know it may still be there.

Always First!

UPDATE: Ernie Krutzsch was there, and he dropped in to say hello.

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page. Barring that, check back later to see if it's been added.

You might also want to check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Stanley Scott and Mike Garcia, Alpha Co 1/39 Infantry (1979-1980)

Here's one of a series of photos that Chuck Braziel has graciously sent, and which I've (disgracefully) failed to post until now. Connoisseurs of anti-armor warfare will recognize that this set up is a bit more modest than the M-901 of later years . . . but I bet this early deal would let you pack up and run a lot faster once you'd unloaded on a T-72.

AAAO!

Stanley Scott manning the TOW with Mike Garcia serving as Assistant Gunner. These two are with Alpha Company (1979-80) on one of the local Baumholder training areas.

Chuck Braziel

p.s. if you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.


You might also want to check out the Frequently Asked Questions.