Donald Peters, 11H, 1/39 Infantry, Baumholder Germany 1986

When I first got to Echo Company in 1986, one of the great characters there was Donald Peters. I think he'd been in Baumholder two or three years at that point. Long enough to have benefitted from the huge exchange rate moves that came when the Reagan administration was having issues with the trade deficit with Japan.

Around 1984, from memory, the US dollar was getting four or so Deutschmarks. This was a huge improvement and it meant a lot of junior EMs were temporarily awash in cash. A fair few guys ended up renting downtown, and Peters was one of them.

Then the exchange rate crashed by about 50%, and suddenly everyone had to adjust.

Anyway, Pete was a source of endless funny stories and shenanigans. I regret losing track of him when I left. 

If any of you old hands know where to find him, let him know he's still remembered. (David Silva dropped into the comments way back in 2014 and mentioned Pete, too.)

Always First!

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Ted Thomas, Medic Platoon, Paddy's Gang 1979-1982

Here are two comments from Ted Thomas that I've pulled together into one post. 

Bill [billy.estay@yahoo.com], I was a medic on the rock from 79 til 82, I remember your accident, we [Sgt Crocker] did dressing changes for you at the aid station. . . name is Ted Thomas email flabella@neo.rr.com

I was a medic in HHC and from 79-82, Lt. Flanagan ["CPT Tim Flanagan, 1978 - 1981] took over after Capt. Van Dyne left..Flanagan was a big guy, I think he played football for Army. . . . 

AAAO!

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SP/4 William A. Barbosa, Paddy's Gang, 1/39 Inf (M) 1972-1975

Here are some memories from 1/39 Infantry back in 1972-1975, from SP/4 William A. Barbosa.

We seldom hear from the battalion's Viet Nam era veterans. It turns out the stories we heard about USARER back in those days were at least partly true. 

Served at HQ, Communications Unit, spent most of my time at the motor pool at the commo shop. Spent a lot of time in Idar Oberstein drinking beer, dancing disco with a random bar fight here and there. Those were some rough years but, still, to this day I remember a lot of very good times I had there.

And, talking about the post 'Andrés A. Rolón Rodríguez, Bravo Co, 1973 - 1975':

I remember all those guys, Otero, Negron, Rivera. We were always together listening music and drinking beer. Drugs and fights were rampant. Lot of good and bad memories mixed together.

William A. Barbosa

wbarbosa0652@gmail.com

Hard to believe this was all only about ten years before my own time there.

(First posted 05 November 2020)

AAAO

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Clay Alexander, 1/39 Inf (M), Baumholder 1983-1984

News today from Clay Alexander who, if I understand correctly, was with Bravo Company in 1983-1984.

Clay Alexander here. Was there 83 to 84. I was one of a group that came from the 82nd Aiborne. Reach me at peytoncalexander64@gmail.com

(First posted on 05 November 2017)

AAAO!

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Sp/4 Stevens, 3rd Squad 2nd Platoon Bravo Co

SP/4 Stevens posted a reply to SFC Stuart Norman, one of our most outstanding NCOs back in Baumholder days. Stevens has left his contact details below - reach out if you remember him, or were there in the unit back in the day.

Hello SFC Norman I don't know if you remember me I am spc4 Stevens 3 squad 2nd platoon B co when you were plt ssg of 1st platoon I hung around couple of your boys cpl ken Haines, PFC hoops.I remember you only use to sleep like 4hrs a night.you can contact me at my wife's e mail

donnaestevens62@yahoo.com

(First posted on 04 November 2016)

AAAO!

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