Here's an interesting post from one of our Viet Nam era vets, Vaughn O'Laughlin.
I arrived in C Co in Baumholder in June of 1968. We had a new Company Commander named Roy C Morrow. Since I had college and could type, I was made the new Company Clerk.
When I got there, Co C was just beginning to get replacements. In fact, the Battalion got 40 some men, all artillery trained. The Battalion Sgt Major Tracy and First Sgt Holsopple, along with Spec5 Waghorn from Battalion, were instrumental in my learning the job, as well as making the job fulfilling, and, dare I say, fun. Those were good times.
The Battalion had just returned from Luxembourg not long before I got there. I was married so lived in a German home, had a beat up VW,and had a son born there.
I can relate to the shortage of Officers, as at one time we had the CO and a 2nd lt, who of course was made XO as well. He got his own jeep, and that pleased him to no end lol.
The "old hands" all talked about Worms, but I never got to experience anything other than the Rock. The very first day I was in Baumholder I walked downtown, and saw a high school classmate of mine walking up the sidewalk toward me.
I left Baumholder in December of 1969, and have always meant to go back, but haven't.
Must say, Baumholder in 1968 had to have been a lot more pleasant than the Mekong Delta, where the rest of the 39th Regiment were situated at the time.
AAAO!
note: PLEASE include an email when you post a comment - it can be next to impossible to track down contact details online.
UPDATE: turns out Tom Marsh remembers CSM Tracy, too.
UPDATE II (February 2026): somehow I missed another email from Vaughn - here it is:
I was in Co C, 1st Bn, 39th Inf, 2nd Bgde, 8th Inf Div stationed in Baumholder from June 1968 to December 1969. I came in as 11B10, but because I could type and had college, they made me a Company Clerk (72H20). My Company Commander was Roy C Morrow, and my First Sergeant was Ronald Holsopple for the bulk of my time there. I was married, and when my wife came over, I lived off post in an apartment at Im Bruhl #6, Baumholder. My son was born at Neubrucke in May, 1969. Great memories, and I enjoyed the experiance in Germany. I was promoted to Spec. 5 in March, 1969, and was back in the States on December, 1969. I was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, and was entered as a member of Paddy's Gang. Good luck with your website.
Vaughn O'Laughlin
delta47@charter.net
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