1st Battalion 39th Infantry Regiment

The Roster: Paddy's Gang - 1/39 Infantry

2020-02-17T20:59:00.015+11:00

If you tell me about your service with Paddy's Gang -- click here -- then I'll upload your details on the web beacon and forward any contacts I have on the roster I'm building.

Of course, I won't pass your details along to spammers or scammers. And I'm not selling anything myself, either.

If you're looking for anyone in particular, have any photos or perhaps a great story to share, please be sure to let me know. The general idea is to feed Google with names and keywords, which helps anyone who's searching for you or the fellows you served with.

Speaking of which, if you're still in touch with anyone from those days, I'd be grateful if you would let me know and cc them a copy of this email to tell them about the web beacon

I look forward to hearing back so I can get your correct details up on the Web Beacon. It can take a while -- I'm only able to get to this once every few weeks -- but we'll get there in the end.

AAAO!

p.s. if you were also with 4/12 Inf (M), be sure to visit that web beacon as well.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Check out the right hand column of this page and see if it's in "Previous Posts". Or you can use the "Search Blog" function at the top left of this page to search the whole site.

Thomas Stathes and the 39th Inf PR Staff, Rosenheim 1946

2012-01-08T15:36:00.000+11:00

Here is something very interesting from Thomas Stathes, via his son Peter. It's the Regiment's AAAO newspaper staff (ie 39th Infantry Public Relations Staff). This is from February 1946, taken in Rosenheim, Bavaria, Germany. By way of reference, that's about 30 clicks west of the old Chiemsee AFRC (Armed Forces Recreation Center), which will be remembered by those of us who served in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s!

Mr Stathes is on the bottom row second from the right. . . .

. . . and this is the sort of view these fellows would've had on weekends:

Peter, thanks for passing along that original photo. Amazing to think how far we've all come, and how times have changed, yet still these memories remain.

AAAO!

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.

Update from Eric Petersen, HHC Armorer 1977-1980

2012-01-06T18:00:00.000+11:00

We heard from Eric Petersen back in 2008, and he's asked me to update his request to catch up with other 1/39 Inf vets. Here are the fellows he's looking for:

Richard Lewing
Richard Barbor
Richard Stuth
Dan Beck
James Chudley
Daniel E T Wood
Bill Chandler

Thanks!

Eric Petersen, ex-Spec 4 -- Armorer

Eric left me an email contact, so drop me a line if you would like to catch up, or know how to reach one of these guys.

AAA-O!

Armistice Day 2011

2011-11-11T11:00:00.001+11:00

Lest we forget.

Paddy Flint: KIA, France, 25 July 1944

2011-07-25T04:30:00.004+10:00

Paddy's Gang remembers:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/haflint.htm

Army Birthday 2011

2011-06-14T00:01:00.001+10:00

Paddy's Gang remembers!

39th Infantry Regiment in WWI

2010-12-12T13:41:00.000+11:00

Here's a useful link for the history buffs among us:

http://www.archive.org/details/historyof39thusi00colerich

Before reading this, I had absolutely no idea that the 39th Infantry Regiment was also posted to the Moselle Region as part of the occupying forces after the First World War, as well as the Second World war.

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!

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Armistice Day: 11 November 2010

2010-11-11T11:00:00.001+11:00

Lest we forget.

Frank Giordano / 39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956 -- Part 5

2010-06-07T13:18:00.008+10:00

39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956

Photographs by Frank Giordano

AAAO!

I've posted some of Frank's photos in related posts:

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 1

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 2

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 3

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 4

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!

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Frank Giordano / 39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956 -- Part 4

2010-05-07T00:00:00.013+10:00

39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956

Photographs by Frank Giordano

AAAO!

I've posted some of Frank's photos in related posts:

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 1

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 2

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 3

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 5

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!

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Frank Giordano / 39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956 -- Part 3

2010-05-06T00:00:00.019+10:00

39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956

Photographs by Frank Giordano

AAAO!

========UPDATE!!!========

The former Americana Club was handed back not long after Frank took the photo above, and I stumbled across this photo of how it looks in 2010 as the Nürnberger Künstlerhaus.

================

I've posted some of Frank's photos in related posts:

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 1

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 2

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 4

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 5

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!

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Frank Giordano / 39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956 -- Part 2

2010-05-05T00:00:00.025+10:00

39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956

Photographs by Frank Giordano

AAAO!

I've posted some of Frank's photos in related posts:

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 1

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 3

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 4

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 5

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.

39th Infantry, Worms 1965 -- Who Remembers?!

2009-12-08T16:33:00.000+11:00

Team,

Herman Guy, who served with Paddy's Gang back in the '60s, asked me to pass this message along. If anyone can help, please send a message and I'll put you in touch via email:

I am interested in making contact with anyone that may have information pertaining to an incident that occurred between March-November 1965. We were on a training exercise at a mine field when one of the soldiers with us stepped on a anti-personnel mine and had his leg blown off. He was evacuated from the scene and was never seen again. If you remember this incident, please send me an email to let me know that you remember this incident taking place.

Thank You.

Herman Guy (former PFC)
Alpha Co, 1/39 Inf
1965-1966
Worms FRG

Again, grateful to anyone who can help.

AAAO!

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Tom McCauley, 1/39 Inf = Worms and Baumholder, 1964-1966

2009-11-24T00:01:00.001+11:00

Here's another gent who served with the 39th Infantry Regiment, both in Worms and Baumholder. That means he would've made that long, long drive up the hill from the Rhein to the Rock. Plus, it looks like he spent almost two years there but only got one summer! (Yeah, yeah, better than some, I know.)

I've sent Tom a few email addresses from fellows who served back then, and meanwhile if anyone else remembers him or was with Paddy's Gang in the mid-1960s, please be sure to drop a line.

SP/4 Thomas (Tom) J McCauley
Arrived in Worms in November 1964
Departed from Baumholder in May 1966

I have Tom's contact details, as well.

AAAO!

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H D Smith Barracks, Baumholder FRG 1979-1982

2009-11-08T16:03:00.000+11:00

Another beautiful pair of photos from Chuck Braziel, who really captured the light of a cold, late winter's day in Baumholder.

Many a member of Paddy's Gang will remember humping equipment up and down these hills.

Thanks, Chuck.

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!

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Wayne Harkness and CPL Joe Graham, 1/39 Inf (M) AT Platoon 1981 or 82

2009-10-08T17:36:00.000+11:00

Another classic photo from Chuck Braziel. Look at that frozen snow in the trees!

Here are Wayne Harkness and CPL Joe Graham next to an ITV. They were serving with the 1/39 Infantry AT Platoon (1981-82).

Chuck Braziel

If my eyes don't fool me, that's a training decon pack that Joe Graham has underneath his protective mask, a little flash of color in an otherwise grey-green-white landscape. Few things more fun than practicing chemical warfare in your MOPP gear in the depth of a German winter . . . sure am glad we never had to do it for real.

Gentlemen, could this photo really have been taken thirty years ago?

AAAO!

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Idar Oberstein 1979

2009-09-08T16:20:00.001+10:00

Also from Chuck Braziel, these two snaps were taken ten clicks down the road from where we were posted with the 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry:

Both shots are from Idar-Oberstein which was one of our favorite and closest towns to visit. We would walk/hitchhike, split a taxi or take the bus over. Generally a decent location to drink beer and meet girls. Had a couple of good discos (remember this was the end of the 70's...), restaurants and near the base of the church in the mountain, a good Gausthaus with liter beers.

Seem to recall Idar-Oberstein being referred to as the gem capitol of Germany, and the story of two princes. One was pushed and killed from the top of the mountain, and the other brother built a church in the mountain as an attempt to appease God. Also had a very good schwimmbad.

Shots of the church and castle.

Thanks again,

Chuck

Thank you, Chuck.

Readers may remember the US Army post just west of these photos, up in the suburb of Algenrodt. Strassburg Kaserne was occupied until August 2008 (I understand it was closed out by the 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery).

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!

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39th Infantry 'Returns' to Germany, September 1963

2009-09-01T00:00:00.011+10:00

Jack Falcone remembers:

At Taukkunnen Barracks, Worms FRG, we were re-flagged from the 1/48th ARB to 1st Battalion 39th Infantry in September 1963. Here we are, 2 squad, 2nd platoon. SFC Ford with SSGT Daniels behind the flag and me (Jack Falcone) 2nd row 3rd from the right.

Previous postings from Jack Falcone here and here.

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!

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SGT Greg A Smith, Alpha Co 1/39 Inf (M)

2009-08-24T21:38:00.008+10:00

Another late post, with apologies. I managed to smoke the computer and lose most of my database, so have been posting very slowly while rebuilding it.

Heard from Greg Smith, who's out in California. He served with Paddy's Gang from September 1973 through September 1975, in 3rd Platoon Alpha Co. My old platoon! Although he did get there a good ten years before I did.

Anyone trying to reach Greg, or any other fellows from the 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry back in the day, feel free to drop a line.

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!

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Steve Tierney, 1/39 Infantry Combat Support Company, 1981-1982

2009-08-01T18:14:00.000+10:00

Why are all of Chuck Braziel's Baumholder photos taken in the snow? Anyone? Bueller?

Steve Tierney along with an ITV, during our CSC AT Platoon days.

Chuck Braziel

I note that the hammerhead is up, and Steve is standing in a place reserved for special guests of honor. Reminds me of an incident out on the range on day in 1986 . . . a day Ray Nagy will never forget, or live down . . . but that'll have to wait for another post.

Always First!

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SGT Clifton J Elliott, HHC 1/39 Inf (M)

2009-07-20T20:45:00.009+10:00

Here's a late post, with news of Clifton J Elliott who served with Paddy's Gang back in the late 1970s. He was with HHC from February 1978 to May 1979, and is in Dayton Ohio these days. Drop a line if you want to get back in touch.

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!

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Jack Falcone, Paddy's Gang 1961-1964 Part II

2009-07-17T10:34:00.052+10:00

Following on from my previous post on Jack Falcone in January 2009, here are some more important details about the unit. (You'll recall that Jack served with 1/39 Inf back in the early/mid 1960s.)

My squad leader was SGT Daniels. Our track driver was Richard A. Warick. I was home on leave when my APC sank in the river. SGT Bickford, Newton and another fellow, all in my squad, died in there.

In 1964 another friend died in a river crossing. His name was Javier Alonzo, he drove the jeep for the Captain. He was crossing a river directly after me. I came out and he went down in a new scout APC. I was talking to him on the radio and yelling for him to get out. He got out but the wrong way and was pushed into the mud. His life vest came up but he didn't. Javier taught me to drive stick shift on the 3/4 ton in the motor pool in Graf. His famous call was 'KOREA'.

One night a soldier went berserk and was firing his M-14 all over the barracks. We finally got him down and placed him in a straight jacket . . . the captain told me to get my .45 and told me to guard him through the night. My orders were to shoot him if he got loose.

Got some great pictures. I posted them on the 48th Infantry web site.

Talk soon,

Jack

Well, those are certainly some sobering tales. Must say, I never had any great enthusiasm for floating the tracks, and this just tends to confirm my view.

Anyone from the unit in those days, be sure to drop me a line. I have an increasing number of contact details from fellows like Jack who served with the 1st Battalion 39th Infantry Regiment in Worms.

AAAO

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SSG Orville Simpson Smith, 39th Infantry Regiment, WWII

2009-07-12T10:04:00.000+10:00

Team,

This gent is looking for information on Paddy's Gang during North Africa days, back in WWII, particularly anything on SSG Orville Simpson Smith. I've passed along what I can, but if there are any amateur historians reading then please let me know and I'll send you his contact details.

Naturally I'd be interested in the research myself, because out here where I live it's pretty much impossible to lay hands on historical documents for primary research.

AAAO!

Hello,

I'm conducting research on my grandfather who was a member of the 39th during WW2. I don't have exact dates but I know he participated in a battle near the Kasserine Pass in North Africa, and continued with the unit until the Battle of Troina when he was wounded by a sniper sometime around July of 1943. My grandfather's name was Orville Simpson Swift and his rank was Staff Sergeant. Other than that, I don't have much more information. I am hoping to try and glean some information from any sources that could possibly detail his service during World War 2 and would be grateful if you have anything that could assist me.

Thanks for your time.

Jason Swift
Lexington Park, Maryland

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!

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SSG Ron Hoeltge - Charlie Co 1/39 Inf, 1983-1984

2009-07-10T07:43:00.000+10:00

Team,

Here's a report from Ron Hoeltge, who served with Paddy's Gang back in 1983-1984. I've had this for a long time, but a database crash has proved a real setback since 2009. Anyway, in the interest of getting this into print I've simply included a few words from Ron along with some photos that will definitely bring back some memories. He's left both email and snail mail addresses -- drop me a line and I'll make the connection.

SSG Ronald R. Hoeltge
Charlie Company 1/39 Inf (M), 2nd Platoon and HQ Platoon
Arrived 10/1983
Departed 12/1984

Here are a few words from Ron about his with 1/39th Inf.:
Arrived FRG as SGT E-5 (on the promotion list) in early October '83 - deployed from Ft. Carson B Co. 1/12th Inf, 4th Inf Div.
Assigned as 2nd Squad Leader, 2nd Platoon, C 1/39th Inf. in Baumholder, FRG.
Promoted to SSG - typical duties as Mech. Infantry squad.
Assigned to Border Guard duties in support of Alpha Co. 1/39 Inf to relieve Armored Cav. unit for training - Jan-Feb '84.
Assumed responsibilities as NBC NCO (54E30 - secondary MOS) and Unit Map NCO.
Awarded Army Achievement Medal for outstanding IG Inspection performance.
Went to Oktoberfest in Munich with other 1/39th troops - drank more beer than thought to be humanly possible.
Umpire Unit responsibilities (NBC)for REFORGER exercises, '84 - wettest Fall in history, many training maneuvers cancelled to reduce maneuver damage cost. Gave NBC briefing to foreign NATO officers/officials, including King of Norway.
Medically discharged in late Dec. 1984 for knee injuries related to service with 82nd Abn in the early '70s and 19th SF and 4th Inf Div in the '80s.

. . . and here are those photos:

Look familiar? Tell us about it!

Thanks, 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!

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Charlie Greenwald and Dan Knapp, 1/39 Inf Combat Support Company, 1981-1982

2009-07-07T03:15:00.000+10:00

This is what the FM was talking about, when it was talking about 'cold wet weather'. Note that it's either been raining, or is raining, or is going to be raining again soon, or all three . . . while there's still snow on the ground, and more snow to come later, and it's cold enough to wear a parka with a hood.

Oh *&^%$#@!

Back in Baumholder, on days / weeks / months / years like this I used to wonder if I'd ever be dry or warm again.

Charlie Greenwald and Dan Knapp in the field, from the CSC, AT Plt days, 1981 or 1982.

Chuck Braziel

Thanks once again, Chuck, for the great photos of Paddy's Gang during the late 70s and early 80s.

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!

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Army Birthday 2009

2009-06-15T13:40:00.000+10:00

Paddy's Gang remembers.

AAAO!

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

2009-06-14T12:50:00.003+10:00

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!

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

2009-06-14T12:30:00.000+10:00

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

Robert Walker, Charlie Co Maintenance Section 1972-1974

2009-06-12T09:03:00.000+10:00

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!

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!

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

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

2009-06-09T16:20:00.004+10:00

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

CPT Charlie Scheffel, 39th Infantry Regiment, WWII

2009-05-30T06:07:00.006+10:00

Gentlemen,

Here's a brief note on Captain Charles Scheffel, who served with the 39th Infantry Regiment (Charlie Company) during WWII. News from Dave Hardesty makes me think we will soon be hearing more from Charlie Scheffel.

I should say 'hearing from him once again', because Charlie's the co-author (along with Barry Basden / bbasden@verizon.net) of Crack and Thump!, about his days in uniform with the unit. And word has it that he's continuing to fill in the historical record even now. More on that as news comes in.

Captain Scheffel and Dale Hardesty went to Oklahoma A&M together before their assignment to Paddy's Gang.

AAAO!

(Photo from his days before the war -- if my eyes don't deceive me, that's an ROTC crest on the peaked cap.)

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Paddy's Gang: SGT Brian Baumgartner, 1983-1985

2009-05-16T08:26:00.003+10:00

Here's a brief note from Brian Baumgartner , who served with 1/39 Inf during the early-mid 1980s:

HQ, 1st/39th in 1983-1984

Thanks,

Brian Baumgartner (Sgt E-5 at the time)

I've replied with a request for a bit more info -- meanwhile, if you served with HHC in the 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry at that time, be sure to drop me a line.

Update: turns out Brian was in the S-3 shop, like me, although a bit earlier than my day. These days he's living in Illinois.

AAAO!

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SGT John Francis, 1/39 Inf, Charlie Company

2009-05-16T07:29:00.005+10:00

. . . and here's news of another fellow who served with 1/39 Infantry when we were down on the Rhine:

I was in Paddy's Gang from February 1965 until July 1967. I was in Charlie Company for the entire time I served. I was with the unit when we moved from Worms to Baumholder. I started out in the first platoon, was the company armorer for a while, did recon, and was also assigned to third platoon for a while.

John Francis

John's sent along his email address, so feel free to drop a line if you served with him in Paddy's Gang during the 1960s.

AAAO!

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Huellstrounk / Delta Co, 1/39 Inf, 1985-1988

2009-05-10T17:20:00.003+10:00

Here's news from someone who served with Paddy's Gang at much the same time I did, Edwin F. Huellstrounk:

I was in the 1/39th in 1985 to 1988. I am trying to find my friends. I was at Delta Co. 1/39th from Nov 85 to Jun 88, in Baumholder.

Turns out Edwin served with 1st Platoon, and later moved to Headquarters Platoon. Anyone who remembers him from those days, please be sure to send along your contact details. I've got Edwin's email address and can help make the link.

AAAO!

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link title here

email@ddress

Frank Giordano / 39th Infantry Regiment, Fürth FRG 1954-1956 -- Part 1

2009-05-10T16:02:00.022+10:00

One of the great pleasures of running the web beacon is the occasional chance to speak to veterans who served in the regiment long before I did. Frank Giordano has written in to shed light on a period in the unit's history of which I had known very little:

It's nice to see your interest in the 39th Infantry. During the cold war days in Germany I was with the 39th Inf, 9th Division from 2/55 to 10/56, stationed at Monteith Barracks (Atzenhof Kaserne). This was regimental headquarters under Col. William Rosson (I believe he became one of our youngest generals in history).

The 39th had gone inactive in 1946, and then reactivated in 1947 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The unit returned to Europe in 1954, replacing the 169th Inf at Fuerth, Germany. In October 1956 we were part of Operation Gyroscope and went to Ft Carson, Colorado. We were replaced in Fuerth by the 8th Infantry Division.

I was in B Company 1st Platoon, before being assigned to company headquarters as one of the drivers for Captain John Barrett and other officers.

Most of the time we were in the field training in Hohenfels. We also took part in airlifts and river crossings. We were the #1 company in the battalion during this time.

I have several pictures in b/w of buddies, Monteith Barracks,and area during this period. [note: these are posted on the web beacon here, here and here.]

The last 36 yrs I have been living in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Best Regards, Frank

SP4 FRANK J GIORDANO
B CO. 1/39TH INF 9TH DIV
FURTH,GERMANY 54-56

Well, guys, words fail me. I never imagined I'd catch up with someone who could tell us about those few years down in southern Germany, not so long after the war. Compared to all the fellows who served in Worms and Baumholder, there weren't ever very many from the mid-50s vintage!

As mentioned above, I've posted some of Frank's photos in follow-on posts:

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 2

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 3

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 4

39th Infantry Regiment, Part 5

Trust me, they're far different from what most of us saw with Paddy's Gang, living in the Germany of the 1960s, 70s and 80s -- check them out!

And many, many thanks to Frank Giordano for writing in. I hope to hear more, and share more, in the future. I have Frank's contact details if you want to catch up in person.

AAAO!

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SP/4 Thomas Lindsey, Alpha Co 1970-1971

2009-04-05T10:23:00.003+10:00

Due to a change of schedule, I've been even slower than usual to post to the Web Beacon. But the messages keep coming in -- this one from Tom Lindsey:

I was SP4 Thomas Lindsey and I served in A Co. from May, 1970 through Dec, 1971. I would like to hear from anyone from that era. People I remember:
LTC Marvin Rosenstein, Battalion CO
LT Rhody (HQ)
CPT Lalli (A Co. CO)
SSGT Canfield
SGT Bill (Pappy) McMahon
SGT Bill Durfrey
SGT Cady
Ed Sears (Company Clerk)
"Snoopy" (Maintenance Clerk)
Ernie Schloman
Donald Mathews
Barry Carnes (Atlanta area)
Jerry Rice
?? Menneffee (from Oklohoma)
?? Hayes (from Georgia)
Reach me at thomaslindsey@hotmail.com

AAAO

Right! If those names ring a bell to any Paddy's Gang vets from that era, please drop a line.

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Dennis Paul, Part II: AAAO!

2009-04-05T09:38:00.002+10:00

Just a quick update from Dennis Paul, who served with Paddy's Gang in the mid-1980s. He's looking for four fellow 1/39 Infantry veterans:

I was wondering if you have heard from the following: Sp4. Jack McDermitt, Pvt. Raymond Lewis, Bryan Kinder or Bryan McDonald. We served in Alpha Co. 3rd Plt. May 84 thru Jan. 86.

You can contact Dennis direction (dpaul943@yahoo.com) or send a note my way.

AAAO!

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Clarence Franklin (Frank) Prigmore, Delta Co 1987-1989

2009-03-28T11:01:00.002+11:00

I served with this gent back in the day -- drop me a line if you'd like to get back in contact:

Hello My name is Clarence Franklin Prigmore. I was assigned to D Co 1-39th Inf Regt from Dec 1987 through the transition to D Co 4-12th Inf Regt. CSM Reed had me assigned to S-3 so I was also Major Bhatta's Track Commander and Asst Ops Sergeant in HHC 4-12th BN. Towards the end sometime like September 90, I was reassigned to A Co 4-12th until I ets'd on April 1st 1991.

LT Van Hoozen was my PLDR while in D Dco. I was the SGT from D Co that had the camo net set up in the parking lot of the EIB site that everyone came by to RTR on before they went to test. I also ran the entire course in the first day so I could be done and at my RTR site. I got an ARCOM for that little stunt plus every member of my squad got their EIB as well.

It was also that little act that got me put in S3 as the Asst S-3 Ops Sgt under MSG Kelly. LT Quintana was in the S-3 shop at that time. Then there was Lt. Sampson.

Frank Prigmore, Campbell, Texas

I've cross-posted this one to the 4/12 Inf web beacon, too.

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PFC Mike Smith, 1/39 Infantry, Worms 1961-1963

2009-03-22T09:24:00.000+11:00

Not long back, I heard from PFC Mike Smith, one of only two guys we know of who were with 1/39 Inf when it was redesignated (in Worms FRG) from 1/48 Inf. Needless to say, that goes back a day or two before my time, and I'm downright excited to hear from guys who were there for that part of the unit's history.

For the record, the other vet who was in both the 48th and Paddy's Gang was Jack Falcone (known as Jack LaPiana back then) .

Here's Mike Smith's message:

PFC Michael Smith
Jan 1 1961 - June 1963
H/Q: S4 supply
D Co: 2nd PLT
C CO: 1ST PLT

I arrived in Worms Jan 1 1961 and rotated back to the land of sliding windows and round door knobs June of 1963. When I arrived it was the 1/48 Inf and then redesignated 1/39 Inf.

I was first assigned to HQ Company S-4 supply. At the time they had more people in S-4 than they needed so I was transferred to D Company, 2nd platoon as a B.A.R. man. I later found out that all the new guys were given that magnificent weapon.

My buddy Joe Delahunt (with whom I went from basic training, then to supply school in Ft Leonard Wood, and finally to Worms) was transferred to C Company as an APC driver in the third platoon. Robert Wildish, who also went to supply school with us, remained in HQ Company S-4 .

I was also in the river crossing when the track sank. The exercise was canceled for that day, and I don't believe that we made any battalion-size crossing after that date. What I was told was the bilge pumps froze up half way across the river, and the track started filling with water, by the time it got across the river it couldn't pull itself out on the muddy steep bank, and then it slid back under the water with three of the men drowning - it was a sad day, and made you think of your own mortality. At the time I was in C Company 1st platoon, serving as commo man.

We had several cold war casualties in the 1/48 and 1/39 during the period 61-63. PVT Tyrone Keys drowned in the Rhine River on a Sunday swimming outing on the river beaches on the other side of the Rhine Bridge. A buck Sergeant tried to save him and also drowned when caught in the under current of the river. I don't remember the sergeant's name -- it's been a lot of years.

We also have a Staff Sergeant run over by an APC in Graf. He was in his sleeping bag, asleep, and they were moving a track after dark with only one ground guide, and the track backed over him. There was a battalion directive to govern the procedures at night. I don't know whatever happened to the driver and guide.

I don't want you to think that all I remember is the back thing and gloom. I have a lot of fond memories of the good time down town at Lily Marlene, Golden Lion, Atlantic bar, sports central [flat top] bakery bar even when you went up to see the queen at the Bambi Bar. Worms had a lot of history and great architecture dating back to Roman times, if you could pull yourself out of the aforementioned establishments.

I'm trying to collect and put in photos from the this time frame to post on the unit web site. Also the 3rd Armour has a web site where you can add your name and memories from the 1/48th.

Would be glad to hear from any one from this time period, and you can contact me at smithbdwc@aol.com.

Mike Smith

Wow.

I really don't like the sound of swimming those APCs. I think, but can't swear, that Charlie Co swam the Rhein during the 1987 (?) REFORGER, and back in Baumholder we all had our fingers crossed for them.

As for 'real' swimming in that big, wide river, my heart goes out to all those guys who drowned. I can definitely empathize. After I took a European Out, I had friends in Worms, and one night some GI friends from Taukkenen invited us to a barbecue on the near side of the Rhein. After much drinking, one of the guys -- a huge, tremendously fit but not especially smart LT -- decided to go for a swim. He jumped in fifty meters upstream, and by the time he struggled back out he was already well downriver. Walking back through unfamiliar woods after dark, drunk, barefoot and in his underwear . . . I don't think that was part of the original plan.

Anyway, unless a fellow looked close, he wouldn't really notice just how fast and strong that river went -- it gives me chills to think about falling in there during an exercise wearing cold weather gear.

OK. Mike, thanks again for writing. Most interesting.

AAAO!

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Chuck Braziel, Alpha Co & CSC 1/39 Inf: 1979-1982

2009-02-28T09:09:00.015+11:00

A few months back I got some news from Chuck Braziel -- lots of news! and more than I can handle in my usual Saturday morning rush to catch up -- anyway, this is my attempt to capture the main parts. Thanks, Chuck, for the splendid set of memories, photos and names.

First, a memory jogger, this photo of Chuck in front of Alpha Co. Somewhere, there's a shot of me next to the same sign in the same pose. I can tell you, this really brings it back . . . not least because as I write I am freezing my butt off here in the 'home office', enjoying some Baumholder weather, up at zero-dark-thirty, on my fifth coffee, looking a fool in my OD beanie, and wondering whether I can finish this post before my numb toes drive me back to the living room and the fire. All that's missing is the rain and snow.

From Chuck:

I retired from AD in 2007, but was assigned to A Co/CSC, 1-39 INF from 1979-82. Actually, remember Johnny Wireman (previous entry) from the old days. . . .

. . . the late 70's were a rough time for our Army. We were kind of sandwiched between Vietnam and the Reagan era build-up. Saw many a soldier sent home early for various infringements. A long story for another day....

Our BC at the time was LTC Ken Date (pronounced Da - tey) who hailed from Hawaii; LTC Date's forefathers were Japanese Samurai as he told us during our in-brief to the battalion.

Then-CPT Bob Maginnis -- well known defense commentator for the history channel as well as the major news networks -- was either the CO for A Co or CSC at the time.

[Note from MG: sounds like CPT Maginnis may have shared some common TOW experiences with CPT Ray Nagy.]

More from Chuck:

I was in the tow section then with Stanley Scott, Scott Baker, Mike Garcia, Jim Clark, William Brooks, SSG Thompson, SGT Cason and SGT Sitig.

Also knew SGT Bill Chandler while serving with AT Platoon, CSC.

[That's Chuck on the TOW, withDave Boardman standing in shades and SSG Gene Limbaugh in the background]

During its day, AT Plt was very large, but we had a shortage of 11H ITV qualified NCO's in the battalion. The answer was the "Acting Jack" CPL (not hard stripe) system. I was one of these "Acting Jacks" for a period, but reverted back to SPC prior to ETS. It was tough and interesting going from one of the boys to their supervisor the next day.

After Baumholder, took some time away from the military and joined the reserves in 83-90. Retired in Aug 07 As an O-4 and working for L-3 at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Living in Alabama.

Have only exchanged e-mail with Martin Conde.

Also built an enlisted profile on military.com to see if I may get any "hits" from old service buds.

Chuck Braziel
brazielc_50@yahoo.com

In addition to these memories, Chuck also put a lot of work into typing up a giant list of the soldiers from Alpha Co (Weapons Platoon) and CSC.

A Co 79-80
CO CPT Eric Scott
1SG 1SG Meadows
XO 1LT Brown

Plt SGT SFC Rudy Ford
SSG Graham
Driver SPC Dillard
SPC Jimenez
SPC McDonald

Weapons Plt
Plt SGT MSG Gilley
Plt Leaders LT Cannon/LT Mcallister

4.2 mortar sect
SFC Conner
SGT Nyguck
SPC Margritz
PFC Taylor
PFC Campbell
PFC Lindley
SPC Cooper
SPC Torres

Tow Sect. M-113s with Tow Caps

Sect Sgt SSG Thompson
SSG Limbaugh
Squad Ldr SGT Chuck Sitig
Squad Ldr SGT Cason

SPC Jim Clark
SPC Stanley Scott
PFC Scott Baker
PFC William Brooks
PFC Chuck Braziel
PFC Mike Garcia
PV2 Dave Boardman

CSC, 1SG 1SG Rudy Ford
CSC, AT PLT 1/39 INF 81-82 M901 ITV equipped…

PLT Ldr LT Dehan/LT Anderson
PLT SGT SFC White

SSG Kevin Overman
SSG Welsh
SGT Thomas
SGT Wood
SGT Kurt Chipman
SSG Woodrow "T" Longmire
SGT Chandler
CPL Turner
CPL Charlie Greenwald
CPL Wharton
CPL Truitt
CPL Joe Graham
SPC Chuck Braziel
SPC Mike Garcia
SPC Glenn Boege
SPC Dan Knapp
PFC Tierney
SPC Leonard "Sly" Glover
PFC Harkness
PFC Marrow
PV2 Greg Freidman
SPC Chris Delawder
PFC Mike Wood
SPC Scott Davidson
PFC Lee McHaney
PFC Marty Conde
PV2 Schrimsher
PFC Buchanen
SPC Kimmich
PFC Gilmore
PFC Riveria
PFC Handy
PV2 Ron Westhoff
SPC William Brooks

Well, there we have it. Thanks once again to Chuck for stepping forward with all this info. If you served with Paddy's Gang during that period (1979-1982), be sure to drop a line.

AAAO!

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H D Smith Barracks, Baumholder FRG c. 1982

2009-02-28T08:24:00.006+11:00

And now for something completely different: a snapshot of H D Smith Barracks.

This photo is from a collection sent to me by Alfred Powell, who served with the 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry from 1981-1984. Paddy's Gang was located at H D Smith Barracks from late 1966 until 1/39 Infantry was redesignated to 4/12 Inf (M) in 1989. That's a fairly long time to spend in one overseas location.

If you look closely, you'll see our famous 'AAAO' spelled out in rocks; somewhere in the Kremlin archives, there's a satellite photo of that.

This will also look familiar to anyone who served in Baumholder during those years.

Thanks, Alfred! More to follow, in time.

And, yes, I do have Alfred's contact details for anyone trying to get back in touch.

AAA-O!

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Paddy's Gang 1946: PFC Thomas Stathes Part 2

2009-02-24T13:28:00.001+11:00

Just following up on the earlier posting re Thomas Stathes, here's some of his work from Paddy's Gang back in 1946.

AAAO!

Hi

I'm sending you some cartoons from my father's collection. He was there in 1946, 39th Infantry Regiment. We have portions of the 39th Infantry Regiment newspapers also.

Regards

Peter Stathes

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SGT Robert Krause, Paddy's Gang

2009-02-22T17:43:00.004+11:00

Fresh news from Robert Krause, one of Billy Joel's old neighbors:

Hello, I was in the 1/39 Inf Mech, attached to the 8th ID in Baumholder Germany. At discharge I was Sergeant Krause. I am from the Allentown, PA area.

Am waiting to hear back from Robert about when he served, but didn't want to delay posting this any longer. Got his contact details when you want to get in touch.

AAAO!

UPDATE

I was there from 1968-1970.

I am not in touch with any of the people from back then. There was a Sergeant Young, he was from Florida I think, and Spec 4 Watson from Texas, and Private Fred Rizzo from Philly. It's been a long time, so I forgot so many of them . . . OK hope this helps. . . .

Dale Hardesty, Cannon Co, 39th Infantry Regiment, WWII

2009-02-22T11:21:00.006+11:00

Re: LT Dale Hardesty, Cannon Co, 39th Infantry Regiment, WWII

I've corresponded with R. D. (Dave) Hardesty III on a number of occasions, and have been awed by the dedication he's shown to searching for information about his father's service and the history of the 39th Infantry. To be sure, I have been very little help, and I can only hope that other vets and interested parties may be able to provide some further insights. That said, the evidence in his emails makes me suspect that Dave is already better placed to advise than most others. Anyway, I have his email address and am sure he'd be keen to hear from anyone who can answer specific unit questions or just share insights about military records research.

Now, having sat on this far, far longer than I should have, I've taken the liberty of combining a couple of Dave's messages in the interest of getting the information into a single posting (in other words, the parts that don't flow well are down to my own editing). So, without further fanfare:

Hello!

Having taken up active service, my nephew has rekindled an interest in his grandfather’s war record. He’s interested in having my father’s medals replaced: I am interested in documenting this part of our family history. My father passed away in 1977.

I am researching Lt. Raymond Dale Hardesty, who was with Cannon Company, 39th Infantry from 21 Feb 43 through 6 Oct 44. I’d like to know more of the functions of Cannon Company in any regiment … if I cannot discover the actions of his particular outfit.

. . . I decided to draft an account of his wartime experience. I’ve been stymied by the loss of his records in a fire at the Nat’l Personnel Records center, but am always looking for sources. Any suggestions would be appreciated. It is quite frustrating that, in demobilization, the DD 214 discharge papers contained typos and I don’t believe they were even complete. I’ll bet Dad just wanted out, he didn’t care what the paper said. I think the clerk typing the papers was probably overwhelmed. I have had some help decoding Dad’s separation papers, and am left with a few questions.

Was he in the first battalion?

I realize I need to read a few General Orders, as there are omissions on the separation papers. Do you know how to go about obtaining them?

In box 26, ‘Battles and Campaigns,’ I see GO 33 WD 45 for Normandy, GO 46 WD 45 for Northern France, and GO 40 WD 45 for Rhineland. There are no GO indications for Tunisia or Sicily. And I assume there is a typo: ‘Air Offensive Europe’ that should read ‘Ardennes Offensive Europe.’

In Box 29, Decorations and Citations I see the following General Orders:

GO 34 Hq 9th Inf Div 3 Mar 45 (referring to a Unit Citation)

GO 89 9ID 44 (referring, I assume, to a Bronze Star with 1 Oak Leaf Clusters)

GO 35 101 GH 44 (referring to Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Clusters)

I see no V beside the BSM (Bronze Star Medal). What are some of the reasons one might receive a Bronze Star for merit? Do you know why the Unit received the citation? What is a unit, exactly?

Does one have to be wounded to receive a Bronze Star? I may have made incorrect assumptions when trying to link up the dates of his four wounds with decorations. In trying to piece together newspaper accounts with the separation papers I think I’ve discovered there may be a lag time between an incident and when he was decorated. Is it possible that two medals caught up with him in one hospitalization?

Where can I learn more about these specific decorations? Are ‘After Combat’ or ‘Morning’ reports available somewhere?

Are you aware that the University of TN is holding documents pertaining to the 39th? After finishing his book Victory at Mortain, Mark Reardon deposited memoirs, interviews, and copies of orders in Hoskins Library. Though his book dealt with the 30th, some folders are designated as follows:

Box 1

Folder 64-Interviews-39th Infantry Regiment

Box 2

Folder 18-Memoirs 39th Infantry Regiment

Folder 30-Misc-Notes 39th Infantry Regiment

Folder 46-Record of Events 39th Infantry Regiment

Box 3

Folder 11-Reports-39th Infantry Regiment

Folder 27-Reports-Company Morning Reports-39th Infantry Regiment

Folder 42-Reports-Record of Events 39th Infantry 1st Battalion

Folder 48-Roster-Battle Honors

Also, I have a substantial collection of Government Issued photographs that I would be willing to part with. They are heavily curled, and I believe were issued to help identify German gun emplacements and such, in connection with Box 31, ‘Service Schools Attended:’ G 2 Photo Inter NAPRW Tunisia Africa.

I’d appreciate any help you can provide. I can provide an image of the separation papers if someone is interested in helping further.

Best regards,

Dave Hardesty
Portland, OR

Congratulations to Dave for his work so far, and I do hope that some other researchers may be able to fill in some of those gaps in this part of Paddy's Gang history. This is clearly the project of a lifetime.

But wait -- there's more. Dave has also provided a bibliography of useful sources on the 39th Infantry Regiment in WWII. I expect to post this separately, but until I re-type and format it to avoid HTML bugs, you can get a copy by sending me an email. Thanks again to Dave Hardesty for the research.

AAAO!

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SSG Orlo Roy Jensen, 1/39 Infantry, WWII

2009-02-22T10:41:00.002+11:00

I just received a message from Roy Jensen, whose father Orlo Jensen had a very impressive service record with the 39th Infantry Regiment during the Second World War. SSG Jensen saw action with Paddy's Gang throughout the whole of the US participation in the 'European' war, from start to finish, all the way from North Africa to Germany.

We know Orlo Jensen began (and almost certainly finished) as an Infantryman; his Combat Infantryman's Badge proves that. And, being in Company Mike, he would very likely have been a heavy weapons team leader, either on 81mm mortars or the .30 cal machine guns.

Further details of his campaigns are included in the excerpt from Roy's email, below. I note that SSG Jensen was awarded three (three!) Bronze Stars.

I certainly encourage anyone who knows more to write in, whether they have further news of Orlo Jensen, or Mike Company, or who can just tell more about the regiment's campaigns during WWII.

Obviously, there aren't a lot of WWII vets left, but from time to time I hear from some and I will keep you all posted if I do.

Roy, thanks again for writing -- this is fascinating.

AAAO!

+++++++++++++

I'm trying to find any information on my father during WWII:

ORLO ROY JENSEN SSG
3 BRONZE STARS
39th INFANTRY

He was part of the unit when it was stationed at Fort Lewis . . . stayed with the unit until he went home at the end of the war.

Can you suggest where I could find unit histories from WWII?

////////////////

Military Records indicate:

Company M, 39th Infantry

S/Sgt O.R. Jensen ASN 39675754

Letter to his mother identified him in the following places

1 Oct 1942 Pvt, Co H, 15th Inf, Camp Pickett, Virginia

17 Dec 1942 Africa - Algeria, French Morocco

1 Jan 1943 CIB, Normandy, Tunisia

12 July 1943, PFC, South Africa

Sep 1943, Sicily

12 Oct 1943, Sicily

1 Nov 1943, Sicily

1 Dec 1943, England

7 Jan 1944, England

10 Jan 1944, England

8 Feb 1944, PFC England

19 Oct 1944, Germany

20 July 1945, Travelled on SS Santa Cecilia

31 July 1945, Arrived at New York, Fort Douglas

3 Aug 1945, Separation from the Army

8 Aug 1945, Recorded his discharge papers at Logan County Court House

Participated in the following Campaigns

Algeria

Morocco

Tunisia

Sicily

Campaign Stars For

Africa

Tunisia

Sicily

Normandy

Northern France and Belgium

Rhineland

Awards:

3 Bronze Stars

Contact details

Roy Jensen
yor191919@sbcglobal.net

All in all, that's a mighty long way to travel, and the list of locations and campaigns neatly sums up the story of the 39th Infantry Regiment in WWII. Again, if you have anything to add, drop me a line or contact Roy Jensen directly.

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.

Billy D Kennedy, CSC GSR, 1/39 Infantry, 1976-1979

2009-02-08T14:02:00.005+11:00

News from Bill Kennedy, who sounds like he's presently got a pretty cool job:

I am Billy D Kennedy, MSG (RET). I was a Section Sergeant CSC GSR Section, and TOW Platoon. In Alpha Co I was the Platoon Sergeant of the Third Platoon, August 1976 to July 1979.

The First Sergeant of Alpha Co was E. Meadows.

Bill Kennedy
MATERIAL CONTROL ADMINISTRATOR
DERRICK BARGE 16

E-Mail: bdkennedy@bayou.com

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.

Jack Falcone, Paddy's Gang 1961-1964

2009-01-21T07:39:00.000+11:00

In late '08 and early '09, I spoke with Jack (LaPiana) Falcone. Here are some extracts from his memories of 1/39 Infantry's days down in Worms, on the Rhine -- which, as I know from first-hand experience, was a splendid place to have been posted:

I served with the 1/39th when they took over the 48th ID, the old Dragoons. I was in Worms from 1961 until 1964. I was in Company B for 1 year then in A Company. At first we had the Seven Steps to Hell patch [7th Army] and then the 8th patch. We trained as LRRPs for a year because our battalion was chosen to participate in that new program that the Army decided to start up. We went from APCs to helicopters in 1963. There were several buddies who died in training while I was there. Three buddies in my squad died in the APC while doing a river crossing and my last week there my pal Javier Alonzo died in a crossing.

I received an email from a buddy at Worms and he was talking about our times in river crossings in Oppenheim, that's where we did most crossings. . . . We had the old 113's gas operated twin Chrysler engines (one on each track) and when the water went in the engine you sank. There was a grate on top of the track where we stood to keep warm on winter nights at Graf.

The other guys were Frank Seeley, Glen Haney, Richard Warick, Ronald Testa, Thomas Howard, Sgt's. Savage, Dooley, Evans, Daniels and Ford. They were the greatest men I had ever met. Real soldiers from WWII, Korea and going to Vietnam.

I know Seeley, Howard and Glen Haney can tell you more.

Jack (Sp/4 Jack LaPiana) Falcone.

Jack, thanks for sharing those fascinating memories of Paddy's Gang, from a remarkable time in the unit's history. Thanks too for that giant list of names.

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

Sgt Dennis J Paul, Alpha Co 1/39 Inf 1984-1985

2009-01-05T09:03:00.000+11:00

Just briefly, a message from Dennis Paul, another 1/39 Infantry vet:

I was with Alpha Co. 6/84 to 12/85. I can be reached at dpaul943@yahoo.com

AAAO!

p.s. You can add your name to the Paddy's Gang 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.

Lane Watson, 1/39 Inf S-3 Shop 1967-1969

2009-01-05T08:30:00.000+11:00

Here's belated news from Lane Watson, with whom I've shared a few emails over the years. This one got lost during the much-blogged computer nightmare of 2008. Anyway, I was very interested to learn that 1/39th Infantry was already engaged in Patton Day during the 1960s, but also had a gig with the British War College (which had stopped by the time I arrived in the mid-1980s).

I was drafted during the peak of the Vietnam era. I loved my tour in Germany, but reenlistment would have been a sure tour in Nam. As an 11B40 that wasn't very appealing. I went through my entire Army stint alongside a fellow from Indianapolis named Dale Snodgrass Jr. Although we traded Xmas cards for a decade or so, we finally lost contact. I've Googled his name to death, with no success. I'd be thrilled to find him again.

During my 1/39 tour, S-3 supported two major activities: an annual mechanized infantry field demonstration for the British War College, and the annual Patton Memorial Day celebration in Luxembourg. Each summer we'd spend a week with the people of Luxembourg, which provided us with an appreciation of how grateful western Europe was to the US for its participation in their liberation during WWII.

Lane Watson, SGT
S3, HHC, 1/39 Infantry
1967 - 1969

Thanks to Lane for writing in, and be sure to send in a message if you know him or his old pal Dale Snodgrass. I've got Lane's contact details here in 'the office'.

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

Chuck Norton, Maintenance Platoon 1988-1991

2008-12-21T08:15:00.002+11:00

News of Chuck Norton, who served with me both in Paddy's Gang and, after that, with the 4th Battalion 12th Infantry:

My name is Chuck Norton. I was a Specialist stationed in Baumholder Germany from 1988-1991. I was in HQ company.

I was in the maintenance platoon who was run by SFC Deihl at the time. SFC Deihl became my section sergeant after MSG Elce came and took over the maintenance platoon. I worked with Sgt Dan Rogers, SSG Dan Young, one of the Vorhis brothers and Trey Herdon (my room mate at the time). I remember both COs but can't remember the name of the tall slender 1SGT that we had -- just remember that he was a nice guy (Jones I think).

I do recall Major McAllister. I can see him running around in his Shelver-flage now!

There is no one in particular that I am looking for. I would be interested in getting in touch with anyone from the maintenance platoon just to say hello.

Happy holidays!

Chuck Norton

Thanks, Chuck, for writing in -- everyone else, don't be shy about sending an email to get back in touch.

p.s. 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.

Dennis Murray, 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry, 1968-1970

2008-12-21T07:54:00.000+11:00

A short note from Dennis Murray, another Paddy's Gang alumnus:

I was stationed in Baumholder from Sept. 1968 to January 1970. I was in Co. C, 2nd squad, 1/39th Inf. I would like to know if anyone on your roster might have served during this period? My name is Dennis Murray. Hope this info will help.

Thank you

Dennis Murray

I've responded separately to Dennis with contact details, and can also put you in touch if you served with him during those days.

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

Will Pettit, Delta Co, 1st Battalion 39th Infantry, 1985-1987

2008-12-15T15:08:00.000+11:00

Have swapped a few emails recently with Will Pettit, who served with Paddy's Gang at the same time I did:

I was with D 1/39 from 1985-1987, same company as the boxer Ray Mercer. I was The XO's jeep and track driver for a while. I started out in SFC Donovan's platoon. I was there from Dec.1985-Nov.87. I did two more years at Ft. Benning in the 197th. And that was the end of my Army career. I wish I would have finished out in Germany, but wanted to see the Army state side.

I wasn't looking for anyone in particular. Don't know if you heard from Hurlbert. He was in Delta with me then went to HHQ.

Thanks,

Will

Turns out Will and I knew a few of the same people, and were neighbors when I was up in Echo Co. He's left contact details so let me know if you'd like to get back in touch.

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

Eric Petersen, HHC Armorer, 1979

2008-12-03T06:54:00.002+11:00

Just a quick post to catch up with previous Paddy's Gang correspondence -- here's news of Eric Petersen, in his own words:

Was with 1/39 Infantry in Baumholder from November 1977 until June 1980, first CSC then HHQ.

In particular, am looking for Bill Chandler. I'm in touch with a couple others.

I had one of those jobs you might remember if you were there when I was, I was Armorer in CSC into 1979, then Armorer in HHC until I left. I don't remember any correspondence, but a few concussions does a job on the memory....

Thanks!

Eric Petersen, ex-Spec 4 -- Armorer

Thanks to you, Eric.

He's left me an email contact, so drop me a line if you would like to catch up.

AAA-O!

p.s. 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.

Victory In Iraq

2008-11-22T01:00:00.000+11:00

I'm calling it: 22nd November 2008 -- Victory in Iraq.

AAAO!

Tom Marsh, Alpha Co 1/39 Infantry 1968-1969

2008-10-26T08:13:00.004+11:00

Tom Marsh and I have shared a few emails, and this one was too good to keep to myself. Over to Tom:

-------------

What do I remember? Oh, Lord!

I got there [to the 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry] in April of 1968. I had done a tour in Korea in the 2ID and those of us with any time left were sent to Germany. I got to A Company and got to meet 1st Sgt. Manfredi, and that was worth the trip. He was a WW II vet that had come back in the later 1940's and stayed. Several of the NCO's were of the WW II era, and although that sounds like a long time ago, at that time these guys were in their middle to late 40's. A lot of them were going into their third war.

The Battalion Commander was a Lt. Col. Campbell ( I think), and he was the type that would show up at the motor pool to help work on the tracks. He was well liked and, even more, trusted by us. He was promoted to full Col. and we got a Lt. Col. Black. He was another good officer and got along well with the other officers and NCO's. The Sgt. Maj. was a hard core type by the name of Tracy.

A Company commander was Capt. John A. Bondinilla (not sure of the spelling) an ROTC officer from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. He was waiting for an assignment to Military Intelligence, so was not there that long. He was replaced by a Capt. Jano. When he left the CO was 1st Lt. John Brownfield. Other Company officer I remember are 1st Lt. Mike Milo (sent to the 87th) and Jerry Bunn (KIA in Nam).

As I said, Manfredi was 1st Sgt. He got promoted and went to a Battalion that was in Nam (I think the 18th Inf.): I don't remember the name of his replacement, but in the end we got SFC Bob Morris, another WW II vet.

Other NCO's were SFC Sheehan, SSgt. Jackson (Big Jack), SSgt. Apo, SSgt. Barthlow, Sgt. Jackson (little Jack), Sgt. John A. (Woo-Woo) Gonzalas, Sgt. Fred Dodenhoffer, Sgt. Ronnie Kitchens and Sgt. Marty Pena. The Motor Sgt. was SSgt. Olivera. And there was Sgt. James C. Justice and SSgt. Ed Dodge.

The Company Clerk was 'Hap" Haygood, the armorer was Herald Rutledge, the commo Sgt. was SSgt. Jim Williams.

As you can guess, most of the NCO's and a number of EM's had been to Nam already. Some of us came from Korea and so were not new to the Army. The officers were pretty much just out of OCS's or ROTC, and we did have one West Pointer. It was an interesting mix.

All in all, Baumholder was a pretty boring place when I was there. We were too far away from a big town to get into to too much trouble and not many had cars to travel. We pretty much stuck around the company "rec room"(read bar). The NCO club was quite a walk away, and was not really worth the trip. I was only there a couple of times.

We did have some NCO's from a British outfit with us for a while (cannot remember which) and they were a decent bunch.

I can only remember going into the field a couple of times. We had alerts, but they were always called off.

The only real excitement was going on CP. That was grabbing the drunks in town before the MP's did. I was there just about the time that race relations were breaking down, but I insisted on walking into the Golden Angel (an all black bar), but never after 8PM. I was not that brave.

While I was there the Battalion went to Luxembourg for Patton Day and Graf for the "usual" training. The train trips were actually a lot of fun. One time one of the guys got drunk and they found him in the train engine. He was trying to get back to Amsterdam!

The truth of the matter was that FRG at the time was a holding area. Some just back from Nam, some with time in the Army, but not enough to do a tour in Nam, and those that were running out the clock. Don't get the wrong idea, I did have a good time there and I have fond memories of the men I served with it is just that after Korea, it did not seem like the Army.

If there is anything else I can help with, let me know.

Tom Marsh
tmarsh4@rochester.rr.com

-------------

Thanks, Tom, for permission to reprint that. Clearly the late '60s were a lot different than the late '80s . . . it kind of goes without saying, but still.

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

David Briggs, Paddys Gang 1972-1974

2008-10-26T07:16:00.002+11:00

Interesting news from David Briggs, who saw a fair bit of 1/39 Infantry during the early/mid 1970s:

I served with the Medical Platoon of HHC, 2nd Platoon of Charlie, and with the TOW Platoon of CSC from January of 1972 until July of 1974. I started out with Charlie, transferred over to the Medical Platoon for most of the summer of 1972, went back to Charlie in the fall of 1972, and then transferred over to the TOW Platoon in the Spring of 1973.

David

I also have David's email address, so if you remember him from Army days in Germany then send me a note and I'll put you in touch.

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

Johnny Wireman, CSC 1/39 Infantry 1977-1979

2008-10-26T06:56:00.004+11:00

Brief news from John Wireman:

I was in the 1/39 Infantry CSC from 77 thru 79

Johnny Wireman
Middletown Ohio

Johnny's sent along his email address, so if you remember him from your days in Paddy's Gang then please drop me a line.

AAA-O!

p.s. 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.

Back On-line

2008-10-26T06:56:00.001+11:00

Well, here we are back on-line again. Have reworked this system all the way from the keyboard to the nearest telephone post, hired a new ISP and burned up a lifetime's worth of patience in the process. While my system's been down, I've heard from a few fellows and I'll start posting again soon . . . at about the usual pace, though.

AAAO!

AAAO: Medic Platoon / Gonzalo "Gonzo" Garcia

2008-09-13T06:25:00.002+10:00

Just heard from Gonzo Garcia, who served with 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry during the mid-1980s -- drop us a line if you remember him!

I was a medic from June 1986 to December 1986, rank was E4

Gonzalo Garcia
"Gonzo" or "doc"
gargonz@gmail.com

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

SSG Kirk Wiltsie, Alpha Co 1/39 Infantry 1981-1983

2008-09-13T06:05:00.002+10:00

Here's a request from Kent Carter, who's looking for then-SSG Kirk Wiltsie:

I have been looking for SSG Kirk Wiltsie for some time now. We served in Germany from 81-83. He left Baumholder a little after I did in '83. He went to the 82nd at Ft. Bragg, and I went to the 24th at Ft. Stewart. We both ETSed in 1984.

The last time I heard from Kirk he was living in Jacksonville FL.

If anyone can help, please contact me at;
_FD909@aol.com_ (mailto:FD909@aol.com)

Please put his name in the subject line so I won't trash it.

Thanks....AAA-O Bar None.

PS

Kirk was with the second platoon, I was in the first. "A" co. 1/39 1981-1983.

Kent Carter

If anyone from Paddy's Gang can help Kent, please leave a note in the comments for the record and drop a line.

p.s. 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.

LT Bill Howard, Baumholder FRG

2008-08-30T06:43:00.002+10:00

I can't remember with 100% certainty whether LT Bill Howard and his wife LT Joy Howard arrived in Baumholder before Paddy's Gang redesignated to 4/12 Infantry, so I'm covering my bets with this short post. More info on him over at the 4/12 Inf web beacon.

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

SP5 Donald Overland, 1/39 Infantry: Worms and Baumholder 1966-1968

2008-08-17T09:00:00.006+10:00

Don Overland recently dropped us a line about his days in Paddy's Gang:

I was first in Worms for about a month, then moved to Baumholder from around May 1966 to March 1968. I was in 1st of the 39th, Company C headquarters platoon. I worked in the Radio room keeping all the radios up and running.

Have kept in touch with Richard Semour. He was the driver of our APC.

I have some pictures if there is anyone out there who was there between 1966 to 1968?

SP5 Donald Overland
doverland@tcinternet.net

If anyone out there remembers Don, or any of the fellows he mentioned from the 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry, please drop a line! And feel free to send in digitalized photos -- I'm happy to publish them.

By the way, here's a first and a second Web Beacon post about other fellows who served with Paddy's Gang in the mid-1960s.

AAA-O!

p.s. 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.

SFC Stuart Norman and SGT Rick Wagner, S-3 Shop, 1/39 Infantry

2008-06-09T08:09:00.002+10:00

I've posted some brief news of two S-3 shop stalwarts over at the 4/12 Inf web beacon. Also made brief mention of SFC Norman here on the web beacon in 2006.

Both Rick and SFC Norman who served with 1/39 Inf (M) through 1989, and stayed at H D Smith barracks after the redesignation to 4/12 Inf (M).

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

Richard Gabriele, Paddy's Gang 1970-1973

2008-05-24T06:27:00.003+10:00

It's all happening now! Just heard from Rick Gabriele:

My name is Richard Gabriele and I was the company weapons specialist, I ran the arms room and the mail for the company from 1970-1973.I was the one who built the arms room with the one door no windows and all the cabinets.I have a lot of memories of my time there and was glad to see someone was trying to get some history of the unit.

There's more to follow but I wanted to get this up while I was online.

Meanwhile, you know what to do -- send an email, leave a note in the comments, get back in touch!

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

AAAO! Roy Amatore, Bravo Co 1/39 Infantry, 1978-1980

2008-05-24T06:03:00.006+10:00

Cutting straight to the chase, here's news from Roy Amatore:

My name is Roy P. Amatore. I served in the 1/39th from 1978 to 1980 in Baumholder. I was in Bravo company, weapons platoon and a line platoon.

My email is [roypamatore-at-comcast.net]

I would love to find Jose Gonzalez, Perry Queener, Mike Leonard or anyone else from Bravo company.

If you served with Roy and Paddy's Gang, please drop a line!

AAAO!

p.s. 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.

AAAO! Scott Bond, Medic Platoon, 1987-1990

2008-04-27T08:04:00.006+10:00

Like Santa Claus, Scott Bond always knew whether we had been good or bad -- more exactly, he always knew exactly how bad we had been. The 1/39 Inf medics saw it all!

Here are a few medics' names that Scott remembered to me when we corresponded a while back:

SGT Esquerto
SP/4 Jednorski
"Top" Reynolds

I remember Jednorski too, because one day he disappeared with my firestick and it took a good half hour of frantic searching for it (and him) before we found them both up a tree playing sniper.

If you know where to find these fellows, drop me a line.

AAAO!

Before I forget -- please add your name to the roster if you haven't already. And if you served with 4/12 Inf (M) you might want to check out that site, too.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1/39 Inf (M) 1989

2008-04-20T08:39:00.004+10:00

Fellows who served with 1/39 Inf (M) immediately prior to the redesignation may find some familiar names over at the 4/12 Inf (M) web beacon, where SFC Ronald Vance has sent in a list of HHC veterans from the early- to mid-1990s.

AAAO!

Before you go, please add your name to the Paddy's Gang roster now!

Paddy's Gang 1946: PFC Thomas Stathes

2008-04-20T07:40:00.005+10:00

Here's a blast from the past!

News just in from former PFC Thomas Stathes, who served with the 39th Infantry at the end of WWII when the unit was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division during the occupation of Germany.

According to his daughter Diane, Mr Stathes trained at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, for the invasion of Japan but the surrender in August 1945 put an end to that. Instead, he was assigned to the Paddy's Gang in Bavaria where he served with Service Company from December 1945 - December 1946. On my understanding, he served a form of detached duty at the regimental newspaper where he worked for Lieutenant Idle.

I know it's a long reach, but if anyone knows (or has ideas about) where to find copies of the AAAO newspaper from those days, and in particular copies of the cartoons Mr Stathes published, please contact me or go direct to Diane States at mychevy56@verizon.net. Likewise, if anyone has any tips about finding the photo of Mr Stathes sitting in the cockpit of a Messerschmidt ME109, your advice would be much appreciated. Naturally, we'd all appreciate news from anyone who served with Paddy's Gang during 1945-1946.

You can also visit Mr Stathes' page at http://www.wwiimemorial.com (use the search tool).

Needless to say, I'm delighted to hear from the Stathes family; thanks, Diane, for writing in.

AAAO!

Visitors -- please add your name to the roster now!

Paddy's Gang: Darren Moore, Bravo Company 1986

2008-04-13T08:48:00.005+10:00

I was just going through some correspondence and realised that I still needed to post Darren Moore's details. He was with 1/39 Inf (M), Bravo Company, back in 1986. Darren PCS'd in mid-November of that year.

Got his contact details for anyone trying to catch up.

AAAO!

Add your name to the roster now!

Paddy's Gang Roster

2008-02-17T21:27:00.002+11:00

I've been slowly building up a unit roster from the details of veterans who've emailed me over the past few years. Often, guys just contact each other directly, but to help me reunite people who served together in 1/39th Infantry I'd be grateful if you would add your name to the roster so I can share your details with other fellows from your time in service.

Same for those of us who also served in Baumholder with 4/12th Infantry.

Drop a line with your details and if I know of any contacts I'll pass them along.

AAAO!

PVT Daniel W. Ross, Alpha Company 1/39th Infantry 1985

2008-02-17T10:08:00.002+11:00

Here's a request from someone looking for a former member of Paddy's Gang -- let me cut to the chase:

Hi, I’m trying to locate a lost friend.

Pvt. Daniel W. Ross (he was PVT in 1985). A company 1st-39th (m) inf. In Nov 1985 he was stationed in Baumholder Germany.

Thank you!

Michelle Bryant

I have Michelle's contact details but haven't yet received permission to post them. If anyone has news of Daniel Ross, please send an email or drop a message in the comments and I'll pass it along to Michelle.

AAAO!

Baumholder FRG 1989-1991: Herb Zamar

2008-01-20T07:12:00.000+11:00

Here we are again, back from a system crash. Better luck in 2008!

This message is cross-posted from the 4/12 Inf (M) web beacon, where Herb Zamar is hunting for some fellows who served with Bravo company:

I was with B 4/12 from 89 to 91 at Baumholder . . . I'm trying to find some of my old buddies; William Judge, Tricky Thompson, Curtis Cobb.

If you know how to get in touch with any of them please let me know.

Thanks,

Herb

You can reach Herb here: hzamar@yahoo.com

AAAO!

Cold War Victory Medal

2007-11-11T22:53:00.000+11:00

The point of a Cold War Victory Medal would be to publicly, formally and irrevocably recognize the Cold War as a real war ending with a real victory.

After the allies won both WWI and WWII, we struck Victory Medals.

Didn't matter what else a fellow did in uniform, he got a medal to commemorate the victory. So back in 1918 and 1945 there wasn't anything notable in having a Victory Medal.

But now, on 11 November 2007 -- Remembrance Day -- when you see an old-timer at a service wearing a Victory Medal, you don't think about him as a younger fellow like us who would rather have been chasing girls and drinking beer and doing pretty much anything except patrolling, digging holes and cleaning a rifle. Instead, when you see those medals you think about the war he went to, the country he stood for, and the millions of guys who are no longer with us that he and his medals have come to represent.

Of course, when it comes to the Cold War, a Victory Medal wouldn't be politically correct, would it? Because if we won the war . . . then the Soviets and their allies (several of which are now our own allies, and all of which are now our trading partners) must have lost the war. And if the Cold War was a real war . . . what the devil happened to years of peace that were supposed to follow? And if we acknowledge that we had a real enemy . . . what does that say about the people who spent their time undermining us?

Meanwhile, every time some smirking cretin tells me that there was no real threat, that we had no real enemy, and that the Cold War was just a big waste of money over a misunderstanding born out of our own pigheadedness, well, I have to wonder if successive US administrations are inclined to agree. Cold War? WHAT war? Who, me?! Nobody here but us chickens!

So I expect that politicians will continue to approach this softly, softly, not wanting to raise awkward issues that might alienate friends abroad or upset voters at home. After all, the Cold War was a victory for those of us in uniform but there are plenty of others who are still upset about getting their noses rubbed in it.

Like most of you, I've already got a couple rows of ribbons and it would be an expensive nuisance to add another at this point. But of course it's not about 'me'. And it's certainly not about another two-dollar piece of hardware. Instead, it's about the government finally acknowledging, in the traditional way, one of the greatest political and military victories in US history: a victory that took decades, billions of dollars and, of course, the service of millions.

The Cold War didn't end by coincidence. It certainly didn't end just because Gorbachev was a nice guy who finally helped us realise the error of our ways. It ended because guys like us at all levels of the government and military were determined to put an end to one of the most vicious dictatorships in modern history, and free the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe.

So that's what we went and did. And that's what justifies a Cold War Victory Medal.

Written 11 November 2007.

Lest we forget.

Armistice Day: November 11, 2007

2007-11-11T08:50:00.001+11:00

Lest we forget.

AAAO

.

Paddy's Gang, 1/39 Inf (M) 1987: SP/4 William Mauk

2007-10-07T10:36:00.000+10:00

For a short while in 1987, SP/4 William Mauk was in the same platoon as me. He'd been on active duty once before, and if I recall correctly he was also in 1/39 Inf (M) back during the late 1970s. Wish I'd thought to ask him more about the differences in the unit across that decade.

As it was, back then the 1970s seemed like ancient history, and for some reason after twenty years it still does. Maybe that's because the Army of 1975 was a completely different than the Army of 1985?

I also got the strong impression that the Germany of 1975 (that I visited while in school) was utterly different than the Germany of 1985 (which I lived in for six years). Baumholder itself seemed to travel a few years behind the cities . . . anyway, other people are better placed than me to judge that.

AAAO!

Tim Arvizu: Paddy's Gang 1966-1967, Worms and Baumholder FRG

2007-08-28T19:34:00.001+10:00

Folks,

Recent news in the comments from Tim Arvizu, whose message was pretty much as follows:

My name is Tim Arvizu, timvanarv@cs.com, and I served in Hq Company 1st Battalion 39th Infantry as CO's tango and company mail clerk. I served from Oct 1965 to Oct 1967.

In October 1965 I was assigned to Hq Company, 1st Battalion 39th Infantry, 8th Infantry Division. The 39th at that time was located at Taukkunen Kaserne in Worms Germany on the Rhine.

Shortly after my arrival, I was assigned to drive for Capt. Jasper Williams, the Hq.Co. Commandant. After Capt Williams was reassigned my new CO was Capt Charles Lowe. I must say, I believe these to be among the best COs a soldier could ever serve under.

As a member of Paddy's Gang I also had the pleasure of serving with great guys like L. Murphy, Mike Uchida, L. Marquess, L. Brown, C. Pruit, D. Samluk, J. Willoughby, J. Robinson, Byrnes and Joe Branson and many more.

By the way, it was in mid or late 1966 that the 1st of the 39th relocated to Baumholder.

Thanks, Tim, for that update. I've forwarded your contact details to some of the fellows who served with 1/39 Inf (M) back in the mid-to-late 1960s, and with luck you'll run into some guys you knew back at H D Smith Barracks or perhaps even Taukkunen Kaserne.

If you've got any other names to post, or people you recall, send us a quick email (matthewginn@gmail.com) and I'll get it up here on the Web Beacon.

AAAO!

Wheeler, Birk, Boyer: A-1/39 Inf (M), 1987.

2007-08-08T21:12:00.000+10:00

Desperate times call for desperate measures . . . and it doesn't get any more desperate than this. Here are Jim Wheeler, SGT Birk and SP/4 Boyer putting their .45s to the test in Alpha Company 1/39 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG 1987.

I took the photo but Jim's the one who scanned it and sent it in.

Small world!

AAAO!

The Mother of All Posts: Alpha Company 1/39 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG 1988

2007-08-07T18:44:00.001+10:00

UPDATE: UNIT ROSTER

Send your name, company and dates of service with Paddy's Gang -- click here! -- and I'll upload your details on the web beacon and forward any contacts I have on the roster I'm building.

If you were also with 4/12 Inf (M), be sure to check here as well.

++++++++++

Courtesy of Sean Carpenter, I present to you the greatest single list of names yet seen on the 1/39 Inf (M) web beacon. This is drawn from a company photo that would have been taken at some point twelve to eighteen months after I left Alpha Company in mid-late 1987. I estimate that some 75% of the unit I knew had rotated out by then -- but that still leaves plenty of familiar faces.

Will do my best to source a .jpeg so I can get the original photo online.

Well, we all spent time in the same dirt: sound off if you remember! And, once again, thanks Sean.

AAAO!

Alpha Company 1/39 Inf (M) 1988

CPT Perry, Commander
1LT Lee, XO
1SG Srader, First Sergeant
2LT Reyes, 2nd Platoon Leader
2LT Quintana, 3rd Platoon Leader
SSG Walker, 3rd PSG
SSG Ervin, Commo
SSG Denison, Supply SGT
SSG Branesky
SSG Rosewicz
SGT Alston
SGT Dryman
SGT Glenn
SGT Garza
SGT Heard
SGT Cuthbertson
SGT Miles
SGT Miller
SGT Parker
SGT Pereira
SGT Sander
SGT Teal
CPL Cooke
CPL Jones
CPL Lieber
CPL Lilly
CPL Warren
SPC Blank
SPC Berggren
SPC Bridges
SPC Clark, F.
SPC Carter
SPC Daine (spelling?)
SPC Greene
SPC Hernandez
SPC Hansen
SPC Kroeger
SPC Keller
SPC Lillard (spelling?)
SPC Lawrence
SPC Lynch
SPC Morgan
SPC Miller
SPC Merritt
SPC Metzger
SPC Nelson
SPC Porter (two of 'em)
SPC Rosum
SPC Riggs
SPC Sprenkle
SPC Sander
SPC Torregrossa
SPC Turner
SPC Yeater
SPC Sean Carpenter, of course
PFC Dale
PFC Darley
PFC Funk
PFC Gutierrez
PFC Johnson
PFC Messman
PFC Moncur
PFC Smith
PFC Williams
PV2 Clark
PV2 Graham
PV2 Harrington
PV2 Hayes
PV2 Hays
PV2 Meinhart
PV2 Strandberg
PV2 Whiddon
PV1 Brown
PV1 Burley
PV1 Labares
PV1 Peña

Sean Carpenter, Alpha Company 1/39 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG

2007-08-06T09:21:00.001+10:00

In late July I got a number of great emails from Sean Carpenter, who served with Paddy's Gang in Baumholder during the late 1980s. Carpenter's got a memory like a rat trap and he's remembered a huge number of guys from those days, so here's a rough list that I've thrown together from his emails. (I've promised a few people that I'll get a user-friendly roster together, too, but for the moment I'll have to just keep posting them as I find them.)

Thanks, Sean!

AAAO!

Alpha Company 1/39 Inf (M), c. 1989

HQ

1SGT Dennis Schrader
SSG Ervin (Commo)
SSG Denson (Supply)
CPT William B Cooper (after CPT Perry)

1st Platoon

CPL Lily
CPL Lieber
SSG Branesky

2nd Platoon

LT David Reyes
SSG Roswitz
SGT Miller
SFC Roderic Williams
SP/4 Sean P. Carpenter
CPL Gray
SGT Mclain
SGT Parker
SGT Teal
SGT Glenn
SGT Miller
SP/4 Dave Deluca
SP/4 Miller
SP/4 Butac
SP/4 Nguyen
SP/4 Timothy York
SP/4 Darren Frazier
SP/4 V Morgan
Pvt R Williams
SP/4 Gutierrez
SP/4 Nelson
SP/4 Whiddon (sp)
SP/4 Darryl Stratton

3rd platoon

SGT Spradlin
SGT Riggs

Also

Arrell Moncur
SSG Williams
Messmann
Yeager
Tony Torregrossa (?)
Pvt Gurley
Merritt
SSG Berkowitz

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

SP/4 Dave DeLuca, A-1/39 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG 1987-1989

2007-08-06T09:08:00.001+10:00

I recently heard from Specialist Dave DeLuca, who was with Paddy's Gang from October 1987 and then with 4/12 Inf (M) through October 1990:

Hi
this is Dave Deluca
seen the picture of the APCs in the winter
brought back some memories
talked with Carpenter and Stratton
if you can put my name and e-mail up with the others, see who pays me a visit
looking for SGT William McDaniel (Macdaniel ?) A-1/39 - later he went to Ft Polk
thank you
Dave
delucaleedave@aol.com

AAAO!

Paddy's Gang in Winter: Baumholder FRG

2007-07-23T19:04:00.000+10:00

Well, I've been having some Baumholder weather lately and although it hasn't gone quite as far as this photo, I figured the snapshot would bring back some memories (fond or otherwise). Wish I could identify the photographer but I just don't know -- let me know if it's you who shot this frozen row of M-113s parked up at the 1/39 Inf (M) motor pool. I do know that this one goes waaaaaay back, perhaps not long after the unit first arrived after moving up from the city of Worms on the Rhine down near Mannheim.

AAAO!

1/39 Inf (M), 8th Infantry Division, Winter 1989

2007-06-23T08:14:00.001+10:00

Yet another splendid image from the Bruce Van Hoozen archives, this one of Captain John Farmer and Charles Stoner on maneuver somewhere in Germany. Note, if you will, the snow; the clouds touching the low ridge behind them about two clicks out; and the fact that they and the driver are the only living things you can see in appears to be at least a five square kilometer patch of central Europe.

Don't see too many 8th ID patches these days!

AAAO!

And there's a photo of a couple more fellows from 1/39 Infantry days here.

But before you go, be sure to add your name to the roster!

AAAO Best Caption Competition -- Photo of the Week

2007-05-12T13:52:00.000+10:00

I couldn't resist posting this gem of Ed Marsh and a close friend, hanging at Grafenwoehr in 1986.

Source: Paul Butcher archive

Later on, Ed Marsh was with the Mortar Platoon during 4/12 Inf (M) days at H D Smith Barracks, Baumholder FRG.

Where'd you end up, Ed?

AAAO!

p.s. that 4.2" mortar you see in the foreground was made by Westinghouse during the Korean War, and although I never went back through the logs I wouldn't be surprised if they'd seen some real action between 1950 and 1989.

LT Jim Lee, Grafenwoehr 1989

2007-05-12T13:49:00.000+10:00

Just posted a photo of Jim Lee over at the 4/12 Inf (M) web beacon. Jim was with us in 1/39 Inf (M), and there's a chance that the photo was actually taken before the change of colours.

AAAO!

AAAO! Paddy's Gang, Baumholder FRG 1988

2007-05-06T09:01:00.000+10:00

Over at the 4/12 Inf (M) web beacon I just posted a photo and brief note on three fellows who were with us, if memory serves, from 1988 through the redesignation in 1989: 4/12 Inf (M): Torbert, Whitmore, Keller .

Roger Cole, 1/39 Inf (M) Baumholder FRG

2007-05-06T07:58:00.000+10:00

In an earlier post, I asked for help in remembering the name of "Roger the BICC", who served with us in Paddy's Gang. And here it is!

Roger was with us for the redesignation to 4/12 Inf (M).

AAAO!

Top Gun and Best Platoon, H D Smith Barracks 1989

2007-04-28T09:38:00.000+10:00

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

2007-04-28T08:38:00.001+10:00

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!

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

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

2007-04-09T15:50:00.000+10:00

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

2007-04-01T09:04:00.000+10:00

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!

LT Anderson & LT Crane, H D Smith Barracks, Baumholder 1986

2007-03-19T15:16:00.000+11:00

At risk of repeating myself, since I can't seem to find records of two gentlemen I thought I'd previously posted, here are a couple of fellows who were there with 1/39 Inf (M) in Baumholder when I arrived in 1986:

LT Rick Anderson
LT Ken Crane

Last thing I heard of Rick, he'd left the Army (circa 1988) and gone back to work for the government out on the east coast.

Ken (and wife Julie) left around the same time and moved home to Phoenix. I've been in touch with Ken over the past six months or so and he and his tribe are busy and well.

AAAO!

LT Mark Barnes: The 1/39 Inf (M) Chemo

2007-03-10T15:05:00.000+11:00

LT Mark Barnes arrived in Baumholder pretty much the same day I did back in 1986. He had some time in service by then and was already a 1LT.

Mark and his wife were the best of folks and kept an eye out for a lot of us junior single guys. They had a lovely apartment (that they'd helped renovate) in a farmhouse down in Niederalben, at the far end of the south tank trail. They didn't live far from SGT James Farrell.

'Round about 1988, the Barnes family moved up to a Division level slot at Bad Kreuznach where they had an immense Bavarian-style house overlooking the fields set just around the corner from where the spy Conrad had lived and been arrested.

Last time I heard from Mark he was an LTC up at Rheindahlen (circa 2005), with many, many kids and expecting to retire not too long after he hit twenty years.

Twenty years! Well, those were good days and perhaps with time I'll write more about them here. Meanwhile, I hope he and his tribe are doing well and I would be very happy to find a current email address for them if anyone's got one.

AAAO!

Paddy's Gang: SSG Russ Nehmer (2006)

2007-03-10T14:51:00.000+11:00

I've belatedly posted news from Russ Nehmer over at the 4/12 Inf (M) web beacon, in which he's listed a number of fellows who may have also served with Paddy's Gang before the redesignation from 1/39 Inf (M) to 4/12 Inf (M).

Russ is up in Darmstadt right now and looking to get in touch with anyone who served with him back in Baumholder. His contact details are available through the link above.

AAAO!

Bruce Van Hoozen, Paddy's Gang, Baumholder FRG

2007-03-05T15:41:00.000+11:00

Bruce Van Hoozen just sent me news of several fellows who started in Paddy's Gang and ended up with 4/12 Inf (M). Bruce himself was at Delta for 18 months (both as platoon leader and acting XO), then he spent 10 months as mortar platoon leader followed by some time in the S-3 shop. He left the Army in June of '91. These days Bruce is up in northern Wisconsin, running his own electrical business: you can contact him at bvh71@frontiernet.net

I've posted a more complete message here at the 4/12 Inf web beacon, but also note the names of a few fellows below:

LT Ken Sampson

LT John Hill

CPT John Farmer (formerly of the S-3 shop, went up to Bad Kreuznach in 1991 and later left the Army)

CPT Burnsworth (briefly Delta Company CO)

CPT McKinny (Delta Company CO after CPT Burnsworth)

Thanks to Bruce for the info.

AAAO!

Joe Howells, Bravo Company 1/39 Inf 1983-1985

2007-02-11T08:46:00.000+11:00

Joe Howells and I have swapped a few emails this week, and he's looking for some soldiers he knew back in Baumholder with Paddy's Gang. Joe was an 11B and, as a SP/4, drove an M-113. Here's his message:

My name is Joe Howells, originally from Riverside California. I was stationed in Baumholder from 1983-1985. I was with B 1/39 Infantry. I'm looking for Rusty Sammons (from North Carolina?), James Thorton (from Bath Maine), Berry Johnson (from Minnesota),Steve Johnson (from North Carolina?), and John LeBeau (from San Bernardino, California). All were stationed at the same time in Baumholder. Any information would be very much appreciated.

Joe Howells
78875 Wakefield Circle
La Quinta, CA 92253

If anyone can help Joe, please either contact him by snail mail or send me a message and I'll post (and forward) the news.

AAAO!

Lieutenant Hill, 1/39 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG 1989

2007-01-14T10:08:00.004+11:00

A month or so ago I posted a request for a memory-jogger to help me recall a few gentlemen whose names had temporarily slipped away from me, including fellows who served both with 1/39 Inf (M) and 4/12 Inf (M) in Baumholder.

SFC Richard Ito and I think are pretty sure that one of the guys from Paddy's Gang was Lieutenant Hill from Bravo Company.

If you can tell me more, I'd be grateful if you'd follow that link and get in touch.

AAAO!

SFC Richard Ito, US Army (Retired)

2007-01-14T09:40:00.000+11:00

I've just had a very interesting set of emails from SFC Richard Ito. He was with 1/39 Inf (M) in Baumholder at the same time I was, including the redesignation to 4/12th Inf (M).

So, in the original spirit of this web beacon (which is to post names in the hope that people will be able to find themselves and former colleagues online), here's a super list of former members of Charlie Company 1/39 Inf (M), including a few "extras" and several guys who would also have been with 4/12 Inf (M).

1SG Joe ‘Smoking Joe’ McBride (who came to C Co from A Co)

LT Albert

LT Reyes (XO B Co)

LT Boice

SFC Kann

SFC Johnson

SFC Donovan

SSG Colvin

SSG Foster

SGT Chong

SPC Rosario

SPC Madarish

SPC Walema

SPC Chalepah

SPC Louis

Needless to say, I'm grateful to Richard for digging into his memory for this list, and I've got his email address for anyone trying to reach him.

AAAO!

Kevin Alstrop, 1976-1978: AAAO!

2007-01-14T09:34:00.000+11:00

Folks, over the holidays (during the switch to the new Google platform for Blogger, which has taken a bit of doing) I received an email from Kevin Alstrop who served with 1/39 Inf (M). As he said in the comments:

I was a member from 1976 to 1978. Looking for members of Headquarters Company and any line Company.

Anyone from Paddy's Gang in Baumholder during those days -- please drop a note in the comments. Unfortunately the comments system doesn't forward a direct email address.

Kevin, I also recommend that you try the link to the 8th ID Yahoo group and the 8th Infantry Division Association for names in general, and if there's anyone in particular you hope to reach send along the name and I'll post it.

AAAO!

Paddy's Gang / Warriors: Baumholder 1989

2006-12-17T10:06:00.001+11:00

Any of you who were with 1/39 Inf (M) during the redesignation to 4/12 Inf (M) in Baumholder, FRG, 1989 may be able to help me remember a couple of names that I'm struggling to remember.

Thanks for the help.

AAAO!

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

1/39 Inf (M), Worms and Baumholder FRG: Gerald Connor

2006-12-17T09:07:00.000+11:00

Well, here's a blast from the past.

I recently received a message from Gerald Connor who was with Paddy's Gang during the 1960s, first in Worms and then in Baumholder. He's the only fellow I've spoken to who was there for the move from Taukkunen Barracks down by the Rhein. I visited Taukkunen during the days when 5th Signal Command was posted in Worms and it was a splendid spot -- not to take anything away from dear old Baumholder, of course.

Jer's sent an old Stars and Stripes article ("1/39th says farewell to Worms", November 1966) with some of the details, and if anyone is keen to see it then let me know and I'll try to post it alongside this web beacon.

He was regular Army, a 36K20 field wireman with the Headquarters Company Commo Platoon, and has managed to catch back up with a few other fellows from those days:

I have hooked up with Lawrence Wilson (West Virginia), Larry Duncan (Lubbock Tx), both from my platoon in 67. A third, Alen Marles (N.J.) passed away from a heart attack in 04'. He left commo and went to Hdqs. Recon in 68".

After Army days Jer returned to his home town, Rochester, New York, which is pretty close to where my own family comes from.

I'd be delighted to pass along any news from other members of 1/39 Inf (M) who were with the unit in those days, so don't hesitate to email me with the names of anyone you're still hunting for.

AAAO! -- and thanks again, Jer.