history

*"It was a dark and stormy time"... those years dating from the late 1940's to the early 1990's -- better known as the "Cold War" years. But, history has shown the year, 1962, and the years just before and just after, were an especially important time in American history (and, by the way -- it was especially important in my history, too!)

As you may know (if you don't, you certainly should), beginning in the spring of 1961, the Bay of Pigs Invasion, an invasion of Cuba had been attempted. It failed -- terribly! Diplomacy between the US and Russia, which had been ‘chilly’ to begin with, now deteriorated even further. Over the intervening months, diplomacy between the two countries now unraveled into a ‘reality game’ of Russian Roulette. In August, 1961, the East Germans, at the direction of Russia, built the now famous 'Berlin Wall' - over-night! Like the majority of Americans, I was becoming concerned about what might come next.

In the months that followed this 'sabre rattling', I had taken my Army Aptitude Tests in Albany, NY. (This was done prior to enlisting.) Therefore, before I was ready to enlist, I could ‘negotiate’ where I would go for Basic Training, what work assignment I would be given and where I would be stationed. My aptitude scores also allowed me to have the right to request attendance at an Officer Candidate School (OCS) and after that, Army Flight School, at any point in my Army career.

On February 20, 1962, I enlisted in the US Army -- and John Glenn, Jr. went into space.

Basic Training:

Normally, I would have been sent to Fort Dix, NJ. As It was February, and very cold, I requested a warmer location. The Army flew me from Albany to Fort Jackson, SC. for my Basic Training.

Advanced Basic Training:

Since I had requested an assignment related to Fixed or Rotary Wing aviation, after Basic, I was sent to Fort Rucker, AL (another warm location). There I received training as a Flight Operations Specialist, (MOS 907.10).

The Fall of 1962 was approaching and America would soon be dealing with the “Cuban Missile Crisis”. This was also the year that American involvement in Vietnam was escalated by the President inserting “Military Advisors” (Army Special Forces) into that country.

8th Transportation Battalion Patch

Duty Assignments:

As mentioned, I had requested being assigned to a European Base. Germany was selected. So, from Fort Rucker, I boarded the USS Patch, an Army Transport (Passenger) ship. I was headed for Bremerhaven, Germany. After several days at sea, I arrived at the port of Bremerhaven. I then traveled by train and then bus to my newly assigned unit, the 90^th Transportation Co., 8^th Battalion, 7^th Army, located at Storck Barracks in Illesheim, Germany (Bavaria). This was a Heavy Helicopter company located on an Army airfield that had been occupied by the German Air Force, during WWII.

It is said, General Patton passed within a few miles of this base, without knowing of its' existence. This may very well have been the case, as I personally saw evidence that the airfield had been heavily camouflaged by the Germans during the war. (i.e., walls still showed painted silhouettes of shrubs and trees, artificial trees mounted on wheeled platforms were rolled in and out of the area, in a random pattern, to hide paved taxiways and a paved runway when not in use and more.

This is just one of the 90th Transportation Company's Sikorsky CH-37-B "Mojaves" (Note the unit's markings)

( http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/sik_s-56.php)

The 90^th Trans. Co. was assigned anywhere from 16 to 18 Sikorsky ‘Mojave’ CH-37-B’s and 1 Bell OH-13.

I worked in the Base’s "Flight Operations" office. The function of a Flight Operations Specialist was to:

1.    Communicate with other Amy units on a daily basis, with regard to all flight activities and military missions that affected the unit,

2.    Receive, open or close, record and communicate all activity on flight plans filed for flights leaving or arriving at our facility,

3.    Receive the initial notification of military missions assigned, aid in allocating, tracking and recording resources (aircraft, pilots and anything else required to complete the currently assigned missions,

4.    Maintain a “library” of aviation charts and maps of the operational area which are constantly filed, re-filed and updated,

5.    Aid and assist the individual unit pilots to ensure their personal charts and maps are current and correct, as well.

At one point, I was sent on temporary assignment, to assist in “Operation Big Lift”.

This was during the period when the “Cold War” with Russia was really heating up! It was after the “Bay of Pigs” fiasco and then the erection of the “Berlin Wall” by the Russians.

This operation ran from October to December of 1963. It required the movement of an entire Army division from Texas to Germany – in 24 hours! The purpose of this, was to show the Russians that we intended to retain a presence in Berlin – by going through their occupied sector. (I worked as an “Air Traffic Controller”) at a field being used by all the high-ranking officers (and their personal helicopters) to gather and critique “Operation Big Lift”. http://www.army.mil/article/28749/



The Air Traffic Control Tower at Storck Barracks, Illesheim, Germany

On the Internet, I found the following comments made by two former collogues (in their very own words) from the 90th Transportation Co., 8^th Battalion, 7^th Army, stationed at Storck Barracks (Kaserne) in Illesheim, Germany .

"Walter, lawkeeper1@netzero.com, 01.02.2010

I spent two and half years at Illeshiem Army Airfield, Germany in the 90th Transportation Company, H-37 Mojave. June of 1962 thru December 1964 as the company clerk. We had 16 H-37 and 1 small bell. Major Fredrick Dawson was in command.”

"francis j oconnor, oconnor237@live.com, 20.03.2011

I served with the 90th transportation co. from 1961 to 1964 in Illeshiem germany willy permansu was the company cleark Billy mynahan was in the motor pool sargant bantugun was the 1st sargent they called me shorty if anyone remembers contact me at oconnor237@live.com “

Note: Walter is the "Willy" referred to by "Shorty" O'conner in his piece above.

OCS Field Artillery-- Robinson Barracks at Fort Sill, OK.

In 1964, I requested attendance at an Officer Candidate School (OCS). (Graduation would be required before I could request training at an Army Flight Training facility.) I was sent home to visit my family (with a 9 day “Delay Enroute”) and then on to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

I took the normal training provided to Officer Candidates, both class and field work. We took turns holding the various positions that a Line Officer would fill in real life. There were days firing the guns (105s and 155s) and other days when we were the Forward Observer, calling in adjustments to the fire impact coordinates. We all went up through the ranks. First, Lower Classmen then, Middle Classmen and finally, Upper Classmen.

Of course, we all discovered the “Jark”!

A photo taken during a typical 'Jark'.

“Jark” was the name for the way candidates worked off any demerits they collected – and they did collect demerits! A Jark was about 4 ½ mile “march/jog” out to and back from “MB-4” (Medicine Bluff 4), a well known hill at Fort Sill. This was always done with a full canteen and a rifle. Two “Jarks” a day was not at all uncommon.

The last week of OCS is called “Zero-Week”. This is the week following all training. It is at this time that the Army issues the future Second Lieutenants their officer’s serial number, officer’s uniform and new assignment orders.

It was at this time that I was first informed that the air field, and the flight training school located on it, would not be funded by Congress. Therefore, the base and the flight training school I had been expecting to attend, was not going to be available! The Army then offered me the choice of several temporary assignments until a seat opened up – if, one did. Supposedly, this would just be until they could find an open seat and re-assign me to that flight school. I had four choices; but none of them were very inviting!

Now I had a dilemma! if I graduated with my OCS class, I would become a Second Lieutenant, but -- I would have to re enlist for three more years! However, if I chose not to graduate, my enlistment would run out in three days!

That seat at a different flight school was just too much of a gamble for me! So, a day or so before the class graduated, I wrote a letter resigning my commission. Since I chose not to graduate with my OCS class, my Army enlistment would now expire in only three days! I used those three days to “Clear Post” (i.e., turn in uniforms/gear, collect my laundry, pay any outstanding bills etc.) On February 19, 1965, I became a civilian again (even though, technically, I was still in the Inactive Reserve for 6 more years).

Interestingly, as it turned out much later, 1965 was the year the US greatly increased the deployment of troops to Vietnam. The troop count reached 200,000.

One of those “temporary” assignments mentioned earlier was: “Artillery Forward Observer” in Vietnam! (I was told that a FO’s life expectance was estimated, at that time, to be approximately 30 to 45 minutes.)

If you should care to, you can read about the experiences of other former OCS candidates, as told in their own words, here: http://www.faocsalumni.org/documents/ocsmemories.pdf

"When I die I'll go to Heaven because I've served my time in Hell"