SP/5 Mark E Voegele, 1/39th Infantry Recovery & Evacuation 1969-1972

Here's an interesting message from Mark E Voegele, who was a participant in one of the heavy metal wrecks we occasionally saw:

I was the recovery/evacuation specialist. I remember shortly after getting there we were training when a tank slid down an embankment and flipped over killing the tank commander. We were called to assist in the recovery along with 4 other track recovery units. When we got on site I was informed by the Warrant Officer that I was second in charge because of my MOS and training. This scared me because there was a lot of brass and other on-lookers that were in the way and I had to tell them to move. Getting the tank uprighted enough to get the Sarg. out without letting it slide down any more was very stressful for me. All this in the winter of '69/'70. I saw no need for the loss of this life while practicing in the winter in Baumholder, STUPID ! I still dream about it. I wish I could find someone like SP5 Jim Messerschmidt or our motorpool Sarg. Richards  that was there that I could talk with about it. [VA are] saying what I told them never happened.

SP/5Mark E. Voegele
HHC / motorpool
1/39 Inf (M)
August 1969 - January 1972

If anyone else was there, or if you know where to reach SP/5 Jim Messerschmidt or SGT Richards, please be sure to drop a line so I can get your details to Mark.

AAAO!


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