Carl
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Posts: 125
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Post by Carl on Jul 16, 2011 7:59:34 GMT -6
Captain Fred invited me to share.
I was in the US Army from Jun 1948 to Sep 1954, in Germany from Dec 1949 to Aug 1954. I then served in the Iowa National Guard until my retirement in 1968. I graduated from the last class of the US Constabulary NCO Academy in Oct 1951, prior to its designation as the Seventh Army NCO Academy.
In July 1950, our training intensified. 85 percent of personnel had to be present for duty. The 15 percent included those on leave, hospital, TDY. Alert exercises were instituted, where the unit had to be in a designated rendezvous area within 2 hours of being alterted, equipment fully loaded. A half hour of PT each day was begun. Several weeks a year were spent in Baumholder or Grafenwohr, as well as time spent in positions near the Czech border.
My principal memory is of the men I served with. The unit was 100 percent Regular Army, and in 1950 everyone had their enlistment extended 1 year. This resulted in a low turnover and lasting friendships developed. This past year I have communicated, either by phone, email, or letter with 7 men I served with 60 years ago. That includes 2 or the other 3 I shared a room with in 1951 (the other passed away in 2007).
Carl
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Post by fred on Jul 16, 2011 9:39:23 GMT -6
Carl,
I think that is utterly fascinating. Until you mentioned it, I had never even heard of anything called the U. S. Constabulary. It's amazing to me. I mentioned your presence on these boards to my wife and the first thing she said was, "There's a book!" She is probably right and if you have ever given any thought to pursue it-- and are interested-- let me know.
I know an elderly lady-- 91 years old-- whose parents were from Berlin. The father worked for Siemens and was transferred to Vienna. They had two children, both of whom were born in Austria. The son has subsequently died, but the daughter is this lady we know.
The family was vehemently anti-Hitler (wasn't everybody?!) and I actually believe her because she draws one of those "slavery" pensions awarded to Austrian and German nationals who were incarcerated by the Nazis-- the family was Lutheran, not even Jewish. Anyway, her stories are legion and fascinating and when she came over here, she married into one of America's famous families; incredible stuff she has! Oh, and by the way, she just hopped a plane for her annual two-month stint at a spa in Austria. Ninety-one...!
In addition, my best friend-- who died in 2008-- came from a Hollywood family... minor players... his father produced or directed a couple of B movies, then went on to do some TV work... "Rat Patrol" and a couple of Westerns, names of which escape me... Clint Eastwood's first TV role was one of them, I believe.
Anyway, Geoff's father got this offer from the U. S. government to do some documentary film work in post-war Germany and moved his whole family there in the early fifties. Geoff and one of his younger brothers were sent to a German boarding school in Bavaria: Neubeuern. It was about the same time you were there... early-fifties. Geoff went on to make the army his career and served three tours in Vietnam, two of them back-to-back.
Every one of these stories is fascinating to me. You have lived history, a history that is gone forever in a highly changed world, a history that can never come back. It is sort of like taking a tramp steamer to Shanghai, cocktails on deck, white dinner jackets, jasmine tea... adventures awaiting in a land of mystery.... Even youngsters like montrose, quincannon, and Dark Cloud have so much to tell.
In Vietnam, I caught the final whiff of colonialism as I watched reporters, soldiers, and diplomats in hotels like the Majestic and the Continental; as I walked the streets and looked the iron-gated French mansions. Man-o-man, fascinating stuff... gone.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Carl
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Posts: 125
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Post by Carl on Jul 16, 2011 10:22:34 GMT -6
I participated in another significant event.
In Oct 1952 there were 2 remaining FA Bns in Europe that were all African-American. They were integrated at that time.
Each unit could retain (by name) 15 percent of its strength. I assume this had to be distributed by rank, as the Battery I was sent to had 3 lst 3 graders.
To fill out the unit, EUCOM hq selected, (from maybe 20 different units), the corresponding men by grade and MOS that were being transferred. The unit sending these men had no options to alter the transfer.
I was informed one afternoon by a Personnel man that I was selected. Our S3, a Major, told me he would try to get the order changed, but I replied I would just as soon go. The next morning, those of us transferred, went by truck to our new unit.
Men with less than 6 months to go on their overseas tour were not sent, and the unit was at about 80 percent strenth until filled out by December with mostly draftees. My recollection is that it took until March or so to shake down and become combat effective.
The Battalion in 1954, at Grafenwohr, had the highest score ever recorded until that time in Europe on a FA Battalion test. This was the 597th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. The Commanding Officer during this period was a great soldier, the best Officer I ever served under, James G Kalergis - (look up him on Google). and to his leadership the success of the unit was mostly due.
When I left to get my discharge, I was an E6 (before E8/9 days) and the Battalion Operations Sergeant.
Carl
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Post by quincannon on Jul 16, 2011 10:46:47 GMT -6
Carl: Somewhere in what I laughingly call my files I have a complete order of battle of the U S Constabulary, including the units former designation, by squadron. As I am sure you know most of the units were created out of WWII cavalry groups, although not all. As an example the 4th Constabulary Squadron was a redesignation of the 4th Cavalry Reconnissance Squadron (itself a redesignation of 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment).
I will try to find this stuff and post it on this thread.
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Post by fred on Jul 16, 2011 13:07:43 GMT -6
Okay... continuing from "... Dead Horses," here are a couple of real oldies. The "tans" are on graduation day, June 4, 1962. That's me on the left and my old friend, Geoff, on the right. This one in greens was taken in Heidelberg, a little less than two years later. I was a first lieutenant at the time. I also weighed more there than at any other time in my life... maybe 162 or so. The uniforms are really nice... at least I thought so. No pictures in blues, however. Too bad. Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by quincannon on Jul 16, 2011 13:42:33 GMT -6
And who said there were no Rocks in the Marne?
PS: I almost forgot Hoya Saxa --- Hoya Saxa. Is that a swagger stick? Say it ain't so Fred.
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Post by fred on Jul 16, 2011 15:06:49 GMT -6
I saved the best part for last. Your Big Red One combat patch is now a metal pin on for the right breast pocket of your blues. I thought I read that someplace. Thanks for confirming it; you ruined my day! Hoya Saxa. Is that a swagger stick? Say it ain't so Fred. Yes, can you believe it? Geoff and I were RA; Mike-- the fellow in the middle-- was USAR-TC. Mike was always pulling that stuff and our ROTC colonel ripped his butt when he tried walking around with it during the school year. Once we were commissioned, old Mike pulled it out... the swagger stick that is. That's probably why he has that s**t-eating grin on his face. And those grounds haven't changed, except the flowers are nicer. The weird part about it was that West Point-- usually graduating before any of the ROTC colleges-- graduated that year on July 5. That meant we out-ranked those dog-eared soldiers. In jest, I used to demand the WPers, my contemporaries, in the 1/30 salute me. Uh-huh! Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by fred on Jul 16, 2011 15:16:12 GMT -6
By the way, Carl, that is an unbelievable story. Boy, you really did see it, didn't you? Did you travel much when you were there? One of the places that fascinated me was Nuernberg. I went to what we called Soldiers' Field, the "forum" where Hitler held his big Nazi shindigs. Boy, you talk about hate-filled stupidity; you could just visualize it, standing there. I also went around a few of the kasernes in the area and the buildings downtown, still riddled with bullet holes, chipped stone and brick.
It is amazing when you think about it. The war has been over for 66 years. When I was first there, it had been over only 17 years. Hell, until I decided to go back to work, I had been retired for 17 years. Odd feeling.
Put up more if you want, Carl.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Carl
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Posts: 125
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Post by Carl on Jul 16, 2011 16:27:33 GMT -6
www.3ad.org/kasernen/area_budingen/armstrong_barracks.htmThis is the barracks where I lived for over a year. I also did guard duty at the front gate a couple of times. Our Bn went to Budigen in March 1951. The Barracks had not been occupied for maybe 5 years. While the buildings were being repaired, we had quarters in squad tents on the parade field. Later that year an Infantry Bn of the 4th Division also occupied the barracks. Carl
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Carl
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Posts: 125
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Post by Carl on Jul 17, 2011 15:07:20 GMT -6
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Post by quincannon on Jul 17, 2011 17:40:55 GMT -6
CarL: Open the first file you posted above, go to the Tables (Constabulary Unit) and scroll down to the third photo in the text showing twenty of so guys in a column of twos. Look at the helmets on the first two guys. Don't think that is a photo of the Constabulary, looks more like something from one of the horse regiment in early 42. Tell me what you think.
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Carl
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Posts: 125
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Post by Carl on Jul 17, 2011 19:40:06 GMT -6
I think you are right. Note the picture before the one of column of 2s. The troopers are wearing yellow scarves as well as the Constab helmet liner. No sign of scarves on the column.
I scanned the writeup again and I found no mention of field artillery operations near the border.
In 1952, our entire Bn (the 517th) occupied positions about 5 or so miles from Czech border. I cant recall how long or how often, but during that year and 1951 it was common for one of the Firing batteries to always be absent from garrison on duty near the border.
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Post by quincannon on Jul 17, 2011 20:17:18 GMT -6
Carl: Those first two guys look like they are wearing a WWI dishpan, and maybe a few others. Some seen to be wearing the later steel pot.
What weapon was he 517th equiped with? Having a battery up on the border makes all kinds of sense, just as having one in an ACR squadron, if for nothing more than a means to break contact.
What unit in the Iowa ARNG?
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Post by Rabble on Jul 17, 2011 20:44:38 GMT -6
Hi Carl We must be getting REALLY old on this board! I was also in Gemany in 1952 at Kaserne Scharnhorst in Luneburg. It was renamed Worcester Barracks when I was there in the British Army (Essex Regiment), and is now part of the University there. Regards
Ron
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Post by lew on Jul 17, 2011 22:33:19 GMT -6
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