During the era of the Vietnam War, American troops and facilities were neglected forcing Engineers to marshal their slender resources augmented by host nation contributions to keep American forces ready for war and take care of Army and Air Force personnel and their families. Maybe they didnt risk their lives but they risked risking their lives, said Meredith Lair, a Vietnam War historian at George Mason University and author of Armed with Abundance: Consumerism and Soldiering in the Vietnam War, which examines the non-combat experiences of American soldiers in Vietnam. Heavily guarded Pershing-II rockets were brought to the US base in Mutlangen in 1983. I didnt carry a gun, Lomperis said. [Today in History] Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the East of Underground was one such band a multiracial, seven-piece group stationed in Germany at the tail end of the Vietnam War. Most of his time was spent protecting government buildings from Vietnam War protesters. Morale was bad, and there were racial problems, Shkurti said. Germany During WebActivated during the Vietnam War, the Brigade oversaw all Military Police operations in the country for a large portion of the conflict, undertaking a wide variety of missions throughout the country and providing command and control for other military police groups in the region. In addition to meeting locals, walks off-base could provide valuable intelligence. People dont understand how consequential the decisions were that were being made at headquarters, he said. WebAs the threat of imminent invasion receded in the late 1950s, U.S. Army Engineers continued to build and maintain facilities that supported American and NATO combat power and housed and supported U.S. forces and their families, now permanently stationed in West Germany. Most of all, Army bands will strive to honor General George Washington's observation, "Nothing is more agreeable and ornamental than good music. After completing Field Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Shkurti was sent to Germany not Vietnam. Youth activity centers in Germany included this facility in Wiesbaden. If you call it wrong, thousands of people could end up being killed, he said. The Ramstein base is especially significant, since it is also headquarters of the United States Air Forces in Europe. In-depth strategy and insight into critical interconnection ecosystems, datacenter connectivity, product optimization, fiber route development, and more. We served honorably. For military intelligence officer Timothy Lomperis, the constant whup, whup, whup of helicopters flying overhead is one of many things that stand out in his mind about the time he spent helping make critical war decisions in Saigon serving under Gen. Creighton Abrams, commander of U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, from 1968 to 1972. You pull together under a common enemy, Shkurti said. It's there to boost morale, it's there to provide entertainment and comfort for soldiers, it's there to sort of represent what the U.S. is musically, culturally to the rest of the world.". Along with its allies, the US had liberated Germany from the Nazis. Since his older two brothers were already serving in Vietnam he was not allowed to go. He was friendly with street urchins who would badger him for chocolate and other small treats. At the end of the spraying campaign in 1971, the remaining C-123 planes were reassigned to reserve units in the U.S. for routine cargo and medical evacuation missions spanning the next 10 years. 3) Paris, France. He says it was completely random, some bodies had to go to 7th Army and his lucky number came up. When we got home, everybody was the same, said Lomperis, a Saigon warrior who served in a support capacity at MACV (U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam), also known as mafia HQ or Pentagon East.. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). Over the years the US Army has become firmly entrenched in the German landscape. They would tell him not to go down certain streets because it wasnt safe, so you would know something was brewing there, Lomperis said. An official website of the United States government, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website, About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website, Historical Vignette 105 - Engineers Played an Important Role in Europe During the Cold War, Deactivated Nuclear Power Plant Program (DNPPP), Regional Environmental and Energy Offices REEOs, Industry Information Re: COVID-19 Support, Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity, G-1 Reserve Component Augmentation, Office of Human Resources Directorate, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. WebIn An Army in Crisis Alexander Vazansky analyzes the social crisis that developed among the U.S. Army forces stationed in Germany between 1968 and 1975. Dotted around US bases are numerous residential districts for American soldiers and their families, such as this residential district in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim. During World War 2 Volunteering for the draft was a common term, that is that after a point enlistment in the Army was halted for the duration, only draftees where accepted (This is for the Army only, the Navy and Marine Corps still took enlistees), and if a 18 year old or in many cases older guys in their 20s/30s who have not yet received a notice, or had a deferment, and gave up their deferment could "Volunteer for the Draft", this also applied (within the Army) for those 17 year old's who wanted to go into the Army. I talked to many men who felt sheepish that they didnt have those (combat) stories to share, Lair said. The enemy was the Soviet Union and the other signatories of the Warsaw Pact, including the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany. After completing his enlistment, Shkurti returned to Ohio State University to earn a masters degree in public administration. The tensions between the two sides were demonstrated when US Army and Soviet Union tanks faced off in a divided Berlin. But that tradition was set on its ear back in the late 1960s and early '70s, when the PFCs stationed overseas formed their own pop bands. Is it just the guy with the gun? Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Army Staff Medal First Class and is the author of four books about Vietnam including The War Everyone Lost and Won.. Engineers and USACE remained in Europe, still proud of their contribution to defending Western Europe and ending the Cold War. Based on the HMD report, VA has decided to acknowledge exposure to Agent Orange for personnel whose military service involved regular contact with the contaminated C-123 aircraft. At the end of the spraying campaign in 1971, the remaining C-123 planes were reassigned to reserve units in the U.S. for routine cargo and medical evacuation missions spanning the next 10 years. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY They were also stationed in Germany, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Korea, Guam and the continental United States. Hollander says it isn't clear what the Army planned to do with these recordings, especially since so few copies of them have surfaced just three dozen in East of Underground's case. The history of US troops in Germany From sundries like razors and cigarettes, apple juice and chocolate milk to diamond jewelry and Rolex watches, stereos and kitchen appliances, servicepeople could buy just about anything even cars for their wives or girlfriends back home, said Lomperis. They also ate pretty well. German Chancellor Gerhard Schrder, knowing the majority of voters supported him, ruled out Germany's involvement. On leave, Thornton would head home to see family and friends, but the war changed things. Your message has not been sent. He was stationed in Gillenhausen, protecting a valley called Folda Gap. It was painful to even be around them. Reservists who were assigned to flight, ground, or medical crew duties at the following locations between 1969 and 1986, and who developed an Agent Orange related disability. Situated in a remote area with the enemy about 300 yards away over the border, Shkurtis unit was constantly in harms way. The fatigues were faded and had rips. Some Air Force Reservists who were crew members on C-123 Provider aircraft, formerly used to spray Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, have raised health concerns about exposure to residual amounts of herbicides on plane surfaces. Regardless of how we each served, part of our soul was left in that place with those who never came back alive, and with those who suffered and died after, and we should be honored for our collective loss if for no other reason. This is not about being negative or complaining, but simply having a balanced outlook for your transition. The guys with the gear in the rear. An Army in Crisis 5) Venice, Italy. I am focused on peace and conflict reduction on a global and local scale, he said. Six out of seven served on bases. The post exchanges, or PXs, rivaled todays big box outlets for variety and selection, Lair said. The Office of History, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Army Center of Military History jointly published this book,Building for Peace: U.S. Army Engineers in Europe, 1945-1991 written by Robert P. Grathwol and Donita Moorhus. Patches, In 1968 you could volunteer for the draft and serve 2 years active duty. It was a game of cat and mouse that almost turned deadly when he was nearly killed by some drunk Vietnamese soldiers, Lomperis said. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links. 9) Luxembourg He remembers his commanding officer Abrams as a political genius who turned the war around.. They were clerk typists, cooks, drivers. 8) Bruges, Belgium. The US soldiers also brought American culture to Germany. The cover of East of Underground's self-titled LP. One strong memory I have is how tough it was for the families, Thornton said. Youre in the hot seat. My close friend had a similar experience in 69-70. In response the Corps of Engineers drastically reduced the size of EUD and reconstituted it as the Europe District. Lomperis served two tours of duty in Vietnam in the Army and Defense Intelligence Agency. During the war, in-country combat and support troops could be identified on sight, said author Timothy Lomperis, who served two tours of duty in Vietnam in the Army and Defense Intelligence Agency. Thats not how the military works, though. Not enrolled in the VA health care system? 4) The Alps Swiss, German or French. After the defeat of Germany, the relatively small American force in Europe was preoccupied with the administration and reconstruction of their former foe. They were the rear echelon. With two sons already in the war, they felt I should not go. Hollander says it's not a mistake to read a hint of resistance into the band's repertoire. Expert architecture and design solutions for private carriers, next-generation metro and long-haul optical networks, ultra low-latency networks, and Internet backbones. For website corrections, write to hqwebmaster@usace.army.mil. As the threat of imminent invasion receded in the late 1950s, U.S. Army Engineers continued to build and maintain facilities that supported American and NATO combat power and housed and supported U.S. forces and their families, now permanently stationed in West Germany. The entire emphasis is on the narrow combat experience, Lair said. But as the confrontation between the Soviet Union, our former ally, intensified with the Berlin blockade and the outbreak of the Korean War, American leaders grew fearful that the next target of international communism was Western Europe, which contained our most important democratic allies and a rapidly rebuilding capitalist economy.
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