Manfred Beth, 39th Infantry Regiment, 1963-1966

Some time back, I received a remarkable bit of personal history from Manfred (Fred) Beth, 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.

AAAO!

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

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