, which I've included below. He served with Paddy's Gang when the regiment was down at Worms, at Taukkunen Barracks down on the Rhine. Read this through to the end . . . you'll be surprised at how it comes full circle.
[From Fred Beth]
Thanks for writing back. It's nice to be in touch with someone who has shared some of my experiences, albeit in a different time frame.
I do not recognize anyone on the list of names you sent. However I didn't know anyone other than the people in my platoon. I kept in touch with one of them until 3 years ago when he died. His name was Rudy Herman.I wrote a poem and gave it to his mother after the funeral:
We were soldiers once upon a fray
listening to the bugle play
our chests were puffed with pride
as we stood there side by side
in the early morning light
so many years ago,
so many miles away
We had come from different places
you and I, my friend
You, from Kansas’ open spaces
Me, I hailed from La la land
as we shook each others hands
we became the best of friends.
We served our time as best we could
and then went on our way
you tried your hand at fatherhood
and I heard, that you were so damn good.
Me, I tried the neighborhood
back home in sunny hot L.A.
We did not meet for forty years
till we were old and fat
gray wisps of hair around our ears
beneath the faded soldier’s hat.
But Boy, the stories we could tell,
everything used to be so swell
when we were young like that.
I heard the bugle play once more
just the other day
to guide you to that distant shore
where God has wondrous things in store
for those of us who pray.
Farewell to Rudy, my good buddy
try not to get your boots too muddy
before you walk those golden stairs.
Be sure to slick those gray old hairs.
I’ll see you on the other side
Where we will stand once more with pride.
I left the Army in June of 1966. They were cobbling together the 9th Inf. Div. with people from various units. They took everyone with more than a year to go, luckily I had 11 months left and so avoided Vietnam.
All said and done, my time in the Army was the best time of my life, however I suspect it has more to do with being young and in shape and in love.
I did not know that the 39th had moved to Baumholder, we did spend many a week there on maneuvers living in tents.
I loved Worms very much and I went back several times but alas was never able to recapture the feeling I had when I was stationed there.
My father was in the German Army in WW2 and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken prisoner by the US Army in the area around Baumholder. He spent some time in Idar-Oberstein. He kept a diary which I translated, fascinating reading. If you're interested, I could send you a copy. {note: yes, it does make fascinating reading.}
Manfred (Fred) Beth
PFC Manfred Beth
Headquarters Co.
Maintenance Platoon
December 1963 to May 1966
Fred, thanks very much for writing in. This gives a fellow a lot to think about.
