I was a civilian employed at Herzo Base from approx Nov 1984 until July 28, 1990. I started as a Guidance Counselor at the Army Education Center, then located on the perimeter of the second floor of the old hangar building. The Education Specialist in charge of the Ed Center at that time was Bob Pinion, one of the best bosses I have ever had.

We had three retired First Sergeants employed as managers of our Learning Center; Norman Dupree, Ron Evans and Joe Jaramillo. These guys were absolutely First Rate'!!!

In 1986, I became the Education Specialist in charge of the Ed Center, which had, after the 1985 REFORGER, relocated into what had been the old NCO Club/SBEQ. This building had been remodeled to serve as the 'Press Center' during REFORGER 85. The Officers and Civilians Club at Herzo had likewise been refurbished as a result of REFORGER 85, and was a beautiful little club, with a great manager, and marvelous Sunday brunch and periodic Mongolian Barbecue programs.

In the Ed Center, Rose Guimares was the contract Test Administrator and May Mason the Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP) instructor. Christine Shepard, an Australian national, was also a Test Administrator for probably at least a couple of years.  

We also had field registrars for the University of Maryland (Lori Rose and Madison Campbell) and City Colleges of Chicago (Ginny Athey and Rae Leffman.) There was another City Colleges of Chicago registrar at the Herzo Ed Center in 1984/85. He was a young guy from North Carolina, with a law degree, who took the job temporarily, to finance a 'round-the-world' trek. I'm sorry I don't remember his name, he was a brilliant guy, and did an excellent job at the Education Center representing the City Colleges of Chicago.  

The Euducation Technician at the Ed Ctr from 84/85 was a family member, Jae Cleveland. She was a really bright, and extremely efficient lady. She kept the boss and myself from screwing up too often or too badly. (I'm sorry but I have a temporary memory block, and can't remember the last name of Ms. Cleveland's successor. Her first name was Mae, she was married to a Staff Sergeant, and was likewise a wonderful employee.)  

I also had a very talented Guidance Counselor working for me from about 1987-1990. His name was Paul Hughes. He was also a computer genius(self-taught). He still works for the Army, as of this writing, at Fort Riley Kansas.  

The military units at Herzo at the time were the 210th FA BDE HQs, 3-37th FA, 2-377th FA (Lance), and a small maintenance detachment -- headed by a WO-1, if my memory serves me correctly.  

I have quite a few photos from my time at Herzo Base, although the overwhelming majority are directly related to the Education Center. Lots of shots of soldiers in classes (Headstart to German, UMD, MOS training,drivers training), for example.  

There is another site (www.nbg-mil-com.de), which I just visited again today, with 125 photo images, belonging to a soldier who was at Herzo from 1986-88. Several of those images deal with the unearthing of some WW II-era German 'bazookas'. Approximately six hundred were dug up, right across the street from the Ed Center. In fact, we grabbed the 'pick-of-the litter' (surreptitiously) from the huge pile of rusted-through, crushed and partially crushed weapons, semi-restored it, and had it displayed in the foyer of the Ed Center for about 3.5 years. That item (actual German name is "Panzerschreck") is now on display in the Fort Drum Historical Collection (a member of the U.S. Army Museum System).

I used to ride a bike to work at Herzo from our house on the economy in Erlangen during the Spring and Summer. The Herzo Child Care Center was the building directly behind the old Hangar, which at that time housed a small PX, a barber shop, and a bank annex. Periodically I would take my son or daughter in with me to the Child Care Center, in a kid's seat on the bicycle. During good weather, I used to go running around the outer base perimeter during my lunch hour, changing and showering in the gym. I didn't play golf, but the course adjacent to the base was very popular, and they served lunch there, as well. I still have a couple of polo shirts with the 'Herzo Base Country Club' logo.  

One of the highlights of my 'tour' at Herzo, was being invited by the 2-377th Bn Cdr to observe the annual qualification firing of the Lance missile to Crete. It was about an eight-hour flight (one-way) by C-130.  

We had three Brigade Commanders while I worked there. The last was Col Vernon; his predecessor was Col Potter, and the Bde Cdr when I arrived was Col Charles B. Hood. They all had distinctive personalities, but I like all of them. (Col Hood was summoned out of retirement, and promoted to Major General, do coordinate emergency efforts in the Caribbean after a hurricane swept through there. At least, that's the story I heard.)  

I have run into several former Herzo Base alumni here at Fort Drum, mostly in the early to mid-90's. One married couple, former Lieutenants at Herzo, the Grafs, live here in Jefferson County. I occasionally see them at the annual Oktoberfest held in nearby Sackets Harbor each year. A former Battery First Sergeant from 3-37th at Herzo was the DIVARTY SGM here at Fort Drum, and subsequently the Garrison SGM (I believe). A lieutenant, who I in-processed through the Herzo Ed Center, is now a retired LTC, and our Resource Manager here at Fort Drum. One other officer (LTC Bentley) who was a Lieutenant at Herzo during my tenure there, just left Fort Drum after a successful artillery battalion command here with the 10th Mountain Division.  

In 1990, construction of several brand-new Army housing units was completed. I, by virtue of being the only person on hand with a camera, recorded the ceremony. When the post closed down, a couple of years later, I think the housing was used to provide shelter for 'volksdeutsche' refugees from the former 'Ostblock' countries. A Herzo Veteran ['8608 ASA (?)-circa 1951] I spoke with this morning had re-visited Herzo in 1997. He said the old 'EM Club" and the new housing had been torn down.  

Well that's enough rattling on. I've really enjoyed reading about the early history of Herzo Base.  

In closing, I'd just like to say that my six years living with my family in Erlangen, and working with some really great people at Herzo Artillery Base, were the best six years of my life .