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11th
Air Defense Signal Battalion |
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| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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11th AD Signal
Battalion DI |
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| (Source: 11th Signal Battalion Unit History) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| HHC, 11th AD
Signal Bn was inactivated at Fort Gordon, Georgia 15 January 1993.
The unit's motto was "Sure and Ready". |
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| CORRECTIONS:
Some corrections submitted by Frederick Twombly. - The parts where the units were redesignated are transposed between C Co and D Co. I was in Delta Co. and was redesignated as the 413th Signal Company. At the time we lived on Kaupan Air Station in Kaiserslautern and then moved to Kleber Kaserne. |
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| Signal Sites Operated by the 11th AD Sig Bn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Webmaster Note: looking for anyone with more details on the radio relay and terminal sites operated by the 11th and its predecessor.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Over the course
of the years that the 11th Sig Bn (and its predecessor) operated
radio site, the sites were also given codenames such as: |
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| (Source: Email from Michael Rattler) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Your info is correct of the operation of radio sites. In the late 1980s, Alpha Company was moved to Kaiserslautern and assisted Delta. HHC continued to operate TAA. I serve with the tatical combat telecommunication center codename 'Cowboy'. The other names were  Cinnamon (Delta Company) Cocktail (Bravo Company) Curfew (Alpha Company) Cricket (Charlie Company) I saw mention of ' Strawbasket'. There were three others (the Four Horseman) . . . . one was 'Hardtire'. NOTE: Michael is referring to the Control and Reporting Center (USAFE & GAF) sites: Hardtire (CRC Börfink)Strawbasket (CRC Lauda) |
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| (Source: Email from Matt M., 11th AD Sig Bn, 1988-1991) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was stationed there (in HHC) from July of 1988 to April 1991. The website you've put together is pretty interesting, especially the detail of the different radio sites manned by the unit I was in. I spent many days on quite a few of the sites, some I remember, some I don't (it was dark and rainy), but of those, I spent the most time at Melibokus and Mönchberg. I did go to Eibensbach more than once, and a few others as well. I was on an FM Retrans team for quite some time, and visited these sites on a weekly basis, doing our regular Comex, setting up, operating for a day or so and tearing down, repeating the process every week. A lot of time was spent on the road, traveling around and operating the mobile radio relay, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. My section sergeant and I were untouchable to a certain extent, because we had a definite "mission" to accomplish. I remember the guard dogs ("Schotze" and I made friends!) at Eibensbach, and a guy showing me card tricks at 1:30am in the morning in his van. I remember Melibokus and climbing the concrete tower to watch F-16s scream by. I remember Wasserkuppe, and looking across the border and seeing the East Germans looking back, and the high state of readiness at that site. It all had a very strong impression on me at the time. Memories to last a lifetime, that's for sure. If my memory serves me correctly, Melibokus was X-ray/Sierra and Monchberg was X-ray/Tango. I really can't think of any of the others short of the fact that there were two additional radio sites in garrison on CFK. The NOC and the UHF rigs that ran 24/7. I don't remember the name of the site in the motorpool, but it was there. Each company had one Retrans Team. Teams were usually two people, the team chief and one lower enlisted, sometimes a backup. The team I was on was mixed in with the RATT riggers, the radio teletype guys. I think we were two squads of about 10 people. Anyway, the rig that I ran was a CUCV, a pickup, with a soft top in the back, and a set of four FM radios on a rack in the bed of the truck, two active and two backup. Our purpose was to go out and relay FM radio traffic from two distant sites that were too far apart, or that had geographic barriers in between. We would go out, set up, turn on the radios and they would relay the traffic automatically. From one radio on one frequency, the traffic would be transferred to the other radio and sent out on another freuqency. Of couse we had secure gear and power and antennas and generators and all that too. The equipment was Vietnam era vintage so it was always breaking down. I learned to troubleshoot electronics that way! |
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| (Source: Information - Rick Anders, Germany; Map - Walter Elkins) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Company "A" (Det "A") | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Signal Sites Operated by the Det A, 7th Army Sig Spt Unit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from Dan Manring, Co "A," 1975-77) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Bruce Scott, A Co, 1981-85) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I spent four and a half years with A Co 11th AD Sig. The majority of that time at Relay Site Mönchberg. The old name was RS Sunbeam. Our Engineering call sign was Relay VS (Victor Sierra). I'm probably wrong but all A Company sites were "Victor," another company was "Xray," etc.
I arrived in August 1981 and left in January 1985. The concrete "NATO" tower was already there, the tactical Army tower having been replaced a year or so previously.
It was a very small site with six to eight soldiers there at any one time. The NCOIC had a single room, and all the other soldiers shared a single bay. One latrine served everyone. I brought my wife overseas after a few months and lived in Hobbach, 10 to 15 minutes down the road.
Three line of sight tactical radio systems were in place. The S-250 shelters were on the ground and powered commercially. The Dodge M 880s were parked and driven occasionally. The tactical 3kw (mogas) generators were a constant source of maintenance.
I don't want to give inaccurate information, but I'll try to recollect the three different "shots" (links). At least one (& maybe two) relayed via XS to TAA (Darmstadt) on one end, and to Wurzburg on the terminating end (I do not recall the terminal call sign). One link relayed through us from Wurzburg to Babenhausen. Wertheim may have been the terminal site for the other Darmstadt link.
 1. Darmstadt to Wurzburg (via XS & VS).2. Darmstadt to Wertheim (via XS & VS)?3. Wurzburg to Babenhausen (TBB?) (via VS).As for the name change from Sunbeam to VS, I do not know the exact reason for the change. The site was referred to as Relay VS (Romeo Victor Sierra) when I arrived in 1981. Old timers (& many German locals) continued to call the site "Sunbeam."
A TMP (transportation motor pool) VW vanagon from Aschaffenburg military community was our main source of transportation.
In the dark days before VHS and AFN TV, our prime source of entertainment was 16 mm movies the went traveled through the mail from Wertheim to us and on to a site I cannot recall. If no movies came in a week or so, we would call the folks at Wertheim, and pick them up directly if they had any. I was fortunate enough to see the site be vastly improved over the years. A prefab day room was installed in 1982, and in late 1983 another prefab bldg. separated into three or four bed rooms was installed, greatly improving living conditions. During that time a remodel took place and the kitchen, dining room, latrine and "operations area" was improved/updated.
In 1984 a system of ramps were built to place the S-250 shelters on, so the site soldiers could load them on to the M 880s without wrecker support. We did deploy to the field once or twice in my final 12 months using that system.
Another signal unit operated a LOS microwave system (the reason for the concrete tower) that was remotely monitored. Maint crews showed up occasionally and opened their shelters and back up generators.
Seeing your website has brought back some great memories. Unfortunately, I won't have much time to dig anything up, or send you pictures. Tomorrow I deploy to Ft Lewis, WA for KFOR deployment.
With any luck I may get to visit the FRG in 2005 and will attempt to visit old "hangouts." |
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| (Source: Email from Thomas Schulz, Germany) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Click here to see comments on the site and additional information on Utah Relay (26th Sig Bn). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from Dan Bertucci) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I arrived at 21st Replacement on the 14th December 1981, first time in another country and just after completing basic and AIT at Ft. Dix NJ (home of the infantry and also closed now I understand). From there I was assigned to A Co. 11th Air Defense Signal Bn. in Darmstadt. I only spent 2-3 days in Darmstadt at A. Co. (even met the cook I was replacing, him going home, I just arriving). The drive to Eibensbach was very long, about 3 hours from Darmstadt if I remember correctly, needless to say the first thing I saw was the tower on a site approximately 120 ft x 120 ft. square, fenced and barbed wired site with a very small building just to one side of the lot. The building had three sections, the day room where we watched AAFES movies (always first run on mail days, right out of the theatres, usually three reels that we all took turns setting up) and played card games such as Uno or Spades. The next room as you walked thru the building was the perpetually hot radio room with a fairly good sized rack of microwave equipment, very impressive and very secret (we were told to guard and/or smash all equipment and log/code books upon any kind of take over or such if possible). and then the largest of the three sections incorporated the kitchen area and two dorm type rooms, one quite larger than the other. One sleeping area (the small one) slept two people and the larger slept from 5 to 7 (manpower came and went as tours ended). and the restroom/showers just behind that. The yard was fair sized with a large tin building that held a ping pong table and foosball table, and a few other activity style things. Next to that was a small basketball court where we spent much of our time, summer and winter. In winter we would put on our cold weather gear and have small football games on the basketball court in 2-3 ft of snow. Germans were always walking the road up to the site and looked in with curiosity at the locked gate. There was some sort of rule that the person in charge of the gate key had to jump to alert at the moment someone showed at the gate, german or military. Germans were denied any entry to this secure site but to be very honest there were locals on a couple of occasions that we allowed in to the yard (the radios were never seen but that room was asked about more than once). We had a fantastic time and the locals that we knew seemed to like us. Remembering the times, there were many terrorist alerts when we would actually unlock weapons (had to leave them in the rack but...) just to be ready. Many times we could hear automatic gun fire somewhwere in the distance and were told to be on guard as there were terrorist groups practicing near by. We never had a problem. We had a pretty ethnic mix, couple of 3 white guys, 3 black guys and a puerto rican guy for most of my tour and we all got along great with an occasional rough moment. We went down the hill to Heilbronn once every two weeks if memory serves, did any grocery shopping and took care of any personal needs too. we went in too stuttgart for stereo equipment or when there were enough of us that we could warrant a trip because Stuttgart had far better stores. Everyone had a top of the line stereo at the time. Like Henderson says in the 'Eibensbach 9' article, Sheba, the german sheppherd guard dog/mascott, was awesome, too. She was ok around a uniform but was weary around the germans and always stood her ground. Two or three of us had personal vehicles which we had to go to Heilbronn german driving class to be able to drive. Clarence Henderson and myself bought an Audi 90 for about 1200 marks, if I remember correctly. Wasn't long before Henderson smashed it on the very windy mountain road leading to Site Eibensbach. I think we both laughed it off but it wasn't driveable anymore as Germany had a very strict law about banged up vehicles on the road. The site was always manned, never vaccant. In fact I think atleast two had to stay while the rest took the hour or so trip into Heilbronn. We had three deuce and halfs with radio equipment on the back; 2-3 Dodge 880's and three large generators on trailers parked. We had to drive the trucks once every week as I remember and we would convoy them down to Heilbronn on that day. I personally left at least three letters of commendation hanging on the wall, the others also left they're mark. In the kitchen was a room ringed with awards for radio operations as well as food service and I look back on that time proudly. Anyway, most of the stuff I have read from the 11th Sig guys pertained to operating radios and I hope I gave you a little different perspective. It was only a year and a half for me in Eibensbach and I'll remember that time for the rest of my life with a smile. There's probably a lot more I can tell you. It seems to come back the more I think about it. Would sure love to hear from some of the guys... Michael Brodie, Bob Etheridge (who I tought to play guitar during our stay), SSgt Zaghaschtoko, Clarence Henderson a.k.a. "Dino" (we used to box when we had an argument (with gloves of course)... |
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| (Source: Email from Daniel W. Efirt, Jr. -- photos from Frank Monaco) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Also, B Co had
a relay site across the river in Wurzburg I think its name was Opel. A 412-L was at Giebelstadt. It was a joint Missile Control Center, manned by US Air Force & US Army personel. The 69th GP had a section at Giebelstadt out of HQ & HQ of 69th GP. I was told that the MCC at Giebelstadt moved to Lauda, west of Giebelstadt and closer to Relay 32 (Falcon). T-4 was located at the MCC 412-L at Giebelstadt. At Terminal 4, we had the MRC 69s and PU 685 water cool 5KW generators and the CE 106 water cooled 10 KWs. We made our own frame until we got a small patch panel. We also had an extra 69 that 3 of us would go out on test shots. Our site NCOIC was W. E. Raines Sgt (E5). T-6 was by itself. Cocktail Alpha was at Landshut Cat 21 was within the Btry at Giebelstadt Charcoal 24 ?? Challenge 19 was located at the HQ 4/57 Arty, at the BCC just outside of Katterbach (Ansbach) Cocktail 1, 2 & 3 were on the hill behind Emery Barracks, Wurzburg Terminal 3 had systems going to C Co. Daniel W Efird Jr. 1SG (Ret) |
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| (Source: Email from James Nelson, 1965-67) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from Mike Thomas, Co B, 1967-69) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The best I can remember, Company B had sites that were called: Mercury, Chrysler, Buick, T-61 (major relay site in Wurzburg), plus another 7 or 8 sites with American car names -- as far south as the Bad Tolz area. I served in the company from June 1967-April 1969. Unfortunately, I can't remember the other names.
I do remember some of the officers and NCO's:
1LT. Ron Turner2nd LT. Ron Edwards1LT. Ron KinneySFC James RussellSFC Danny O'dellSGT Stan BaileySGT. MacDonaldSP4 Dan EuellAt the time, the commander of the 69th ADA Brigade was Col. Babers. We were collocated with the HQ's of the 69th at Emery Kaserne; most of the married Soldiers lived at Leighton Barracks, a few miles away from Emery.
I remember we played hard and we worked hard. I learned how to be an officer from SFC's Russell and O'Dell.... they were old time NCO's, who knew how to lead and how to train young lieutenants.
At any rate, I enjoyed my time, learned a lot -- that helped immensely when I went to RVN in 1969/70. I recall many trips visiting the Soldiers who lived in tents, Gasthaus's, and in host family houses on the isolated mountain tops in the area. |
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| (Source: Bill Caloia, B Co, 1970-72) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was stationed at Co B, 11th AD Sig Bn from Sep 1970 until April 1972. I was the PLL Clerk, MOS 76U20 , Communications-Electronics Repair Parts Specialist, even though I was assigned at first to work on the TRC-129A Troposcatter Radio System (MOS 26L10) made by Collins Electronics.
We were stationed in Wurzburg at Emery Kaserne. I supported all sites with Electron Tubes and related electronic repair parts. I was a better parts clerk than I ever was a tech. When I first got to Wurzburg, I was assigned as a Tropo Scatter radio operator in MOS 26L20 which was what I was trained in at Ft. Monmouth in 1967-68. I never worked in that MOS unti I got to Germany in Aug 70. Since I had already worked as a Tech Supply Specialist at a HAWK Missile Battery in Korea, when out clerk was rotating back to the States, I took over the job. I had a list of regulations and manuals to post changes in, and I had a Cardex bin. This was the record of all transactions involving the issuance of Prescribed Load List (PLL) items. It stated the NSN, Description, Classification Code and location. The card had fields for manual entries of all in and out transactions. I also had a running log book for the Site Chiefs to sign out everything they took. I maintained a group of parts referred to as "running spares" which were commonly used, low value electron tubes and other components not requiring formal documentation. Of course, I had to keep the place clean and neat and First Sgt Bob Warford was anal about neat and tidy. Once I learned his system, I had no trouble from him and we got along fine. I even got to pick my days pulling CQ (I was a SP4 at the time). |
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| (Source: Email from Herbert Hept who served with a German Bundeswehr engineer unit) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There was a radio
site from 1st Platoon, Company B, 11th AD Signal
Battalion near my hometown (about 4 miles away) on the
top of the hill named Zabelstein
in the Steigerwald. The designation of the site during the 1970's
was "RELAY BUICK" , in the early 1980s it was "RADIO SITE FALKENSTEIN"
and during the last years (about 1985-91) it was called "RADIO SITE
ZABELSTEIN". I have a lot of photos from the years 1973-1988. During many CPX`s, Company D, 34th Signal Battalion (VII Corps) was at the site with radio shelters on 2-½ ton trucks . I'm especially interested in any information about this specific "RADIO SITE", because I had some friends up there. (I guess this was the "kick-off" for my interest in "army-stuff"). Viele Grüsse aus Germany Herbert Hept |
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| (Source: Email from Randall "Randy" Leigher, 1972-75) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I have a lot of photographs of my 3 years in B Co. My wife put them away someplace safe. As soon as she locates them I can prove some of my corrections.
Also please understand 1972-75 was a long time ago, it is possible my memory went along with my hair. In your list of Kasernes located in Wurzburg, when I was there the military had 4 plus a hospital. You do not list Faulenberg Kaserne. My spelling of it might not be correct. (Webmaster Notes: Randy is correct. Faulenberg Kaserne has been added to the Kasernes list.) In the list of relay stations it shows Relay Sunbeam as being run by C Company. I suppose it is possible that C Company had it's own relay Sunbeam, but I doubt it. While I was in Germany, Relay Sunbeam was part of B Company. My job made me travel a lot in Germany and I was sent to Relay Sunbeam a bunch of times. If it matters all of B Companies Relay sites were named after Automobiles. I remember questioning why Relay Sunbeam was different. I seem to remember being told that Relay Sunbeam used to be called Relay Ford? And I think they mentioned something about a fire? But do not hold me to the fire and the name Ford as I have no proof. In your list of B Company relays I do not see Relay Cadillac? Since it is not on your list it has me wondering if I am confuseing Cadillac with the name Chrysler. But I looked at some maps last night and Chrysler is right where I remember it being located, near Regensburg. Cadillac I seem to remember was the furthest relay from B Company's location in Wurzburg. I seem to remember that due to it's distance from Wurzburg that they sent generator and vehicle mechanics to permanently stay at the site to ease the repair situation. You show a list of Terminals. Here is where I need my pictures to really help my memory. B Company was located at Emery Kaserne and behind the Kaserne on top of a big hill was our main Terminal which I am pretty sure was named Terminal 62. It was inside of a Hawk Missile Battery. This may not matter and it is just my opinion based on what I saw. Emery Kaserne had a main gate that had pillars made of granite. I remember staring at a section on the pillars while waiting for taxis. The rock at one time had a name chiseled in it. Even though it had been ruined apparently on purpose, to me you could still make out what looked like the word Hitler Kaserne. So I have wondered if in the past before it was Emery Kaserne if it had the name Hitler Kaserne.
Also on the hill behind Emery Kaserne next to the missile battery and Terminal 62 was an air field with buildings. I used to ride dirtbikes down the runway. Anyways I do not remember the name of the runway but there were Army Helicopters there when I first arrived at Wurzburg. I would go to the airfield and watch them working on them. I did not see any reference to this on your Germany site although I might have missed it.
I keep in touch with some people who were stationed with me at B Company and even 1 person who was at 11Sig HQ Company in Kaiserslautern. When I next talk to them I will bring your site to thier attention and I will bug them about my memory on certain things.
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| (Source: Email from Gary Standridge) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Radio Site Reinwarzhofen was operated by B Co, 11th Signal Battalion out of Wurzburg during my stay from 1983 til 1986. I was stationed there for an extended tour and loved every minute of it. I was there again in June of 2005. A town I never thought would grow has grown from 4 houses to aproximately 40 houses. Our barracks, or guest house that the government supplied for us, is now a privately owned home. It is a different town now. |
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| Company "C" (Det "C") | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Bob Wilkinson, 1972-75) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I'm going over
to Europe next week (first time in 28 years) and wanted to revisit
my "Charlie" Company HQ in Darmstadt. In reading your site I have some knowledge on some of the "C" Company Terminal Sites as I was the Terminal Officer for the Company. Terminal 52 was just outside Darmstadt (Webmaster Note: could this have been Griesheim?). Terminal 50 was in the Ernst Ludwig Kaserne in the basement of the "C" Company barracks. Terminal 51 was on a hill near the East German border called Wasserkuppe, not too far from Fulda. It overlooked the East German bordeer and at times we could see East German maneuvers going on. Wasserkuppe was the old home of the German Glider School from WW2. When I was there (1972-5), they gave(sold) rides on gliders of which I did partake. While in the air I realized that I could cause an international incident if we landed on the wrong side of the border. Fortunately, we landed on the West German side, but that was the last time I did that. Terminal 51, though a couple of hours drive in my Fiat Special from Darmstadt, was the most exciting of the Terminal sites because of it's location and the beauty that went with a country mountain far from anywhere. In the hotel that I frequented when I spent the nights there, there was a room that had an autographed picture of Neil Armstrong. It was a lovely place back in the 70's. There were many radar under the domes (I think there were three huge domes) so as not to give away what was on the hill/mountain. I enjoyed my time in Germany and am looking forward to seeing the Kaserne even from the street. |
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| (Source: Email from Robert Ortloff, C Co, 11th AD Sig Bn, 1973-74) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was drafted 24-Aug-72 and did my basic with E-5-2 at Fort Polk, La.
A.I.T. was at Fort Belvoir, where I was trained as a 52-B-30, Mobile Generator Mechanic.
All but two of my classmates either went to Vietnam or Korea. The other two went to Germany and I was to stay as an instructor at the Engineering School. After PO'ing an E-6 in personnel, on 07-Apr-73, I found I was Fort Dix bound and heading across the Atlantic instead of going to Fort Lee and Instructor school. At Dix I was given a list of units I could volunteer for duty with. I requested a Field Artillery unit located near Stuttgart where one of my classmates was assigned. I was assigned to HHC, 11th ADA Signal. First stop was Rhine-Main AB, Frankfurt a.M. After in-country orientation I left for K-town, where they already had sixteen too many of my MOS and did not want another. (The unit my friend was with in Stuttgart was hurting for my MOS.) I was asked what I did before I was drafted, I told them I was a policeman. Immediately I was assigned to C Company and was heading back toward in the general direction that I had just come from. Arriving at ELK, I was attached to HHC, 10th ADA Group and assigned to the Unit Police. C Company was required to assign one person to the Unit Police and this played havoc with their work assignments. They looked at me as a gift and as one less headache. We worked twenty-four on, forty-eight off everyday until I left on 14-Aug-74 to go back to Fort Dix and home two days later. It was a very uneventful assignment. Both 11th Signal and 10th Artillery were very professional units and had some of the best personnel in Europe. The 94th Construction Engineers left a lot to be desired, but with out them the UP's would have died of boredom. Other posts in the area were Kelly Barracks which was about a click down the road toward Darmstadt. I remember the 5?? Combat Engineers were there. I do not recall if there was any other units at Kelly. Both Kelly and ELK were very small posts. I believe we had five building and a motor pool area. The 10th had one, the 11th had one and 94th had the rest. The motor pool was shared. The main post in the area was Cambri-Fritsch (I am not sure of the spelling.) Kaserne (CFK) in Darmstadt. I remember that the Dispensary, Commissary and PX were all at CFK, but I do not remember any of the units that were stationed there.
I lived off post with my wife and my first daughter was born at the 97th General Hospital at Frankfurt. Living off post and having the duty schedule that we had, I really was not part of either 11th Signal or 10th Artillery. I reported directly to the Group commander and the Sergeant Major and no one else. I was assigned as one of two Second Shift watch commanders and was given the rank of acting Sgt. Officially, I was an Spc/4. So other than being called back to duty twice after active duty discharge that is my entire military history. I did read your page about the 11th Signal. Very informative. I had always wondered what we did. I was sorry to hear that the unit stood down in 1992. |
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| (Source: Email from Iram Betancourt, Co C, 1979-1982) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was there from July 1979 till July 1982, we were in ELK at that time, where I worked in the Tech-Con Section (Operations). It was great duty at first, working out of Bravo-Bravo in Terminal Site 52 in Griesheim; 12 hour shifts either
0800-2000 or 2000-0800, troubleshooting faulty systems or circuits. I had
to worry about the ADL, IRR, Maint,or TACOPS lines going to the Q-73. This
is where I learned the meat and potatoes of MOS 31N and 31M. We'd be in
deep doo-doo if anything went out past 15 minutes.
My Bn Commander (great guy) is LTC Dewitt Hathcock, who was the S-4 at that time. I hear CPT Melita McCully is now a COL for a Signal BDE Commander. I made Soldier of the Year for 11th Sig back in 1982, and won the 31N portion of the Signal Rodeo in 1981, and became a judge in 1982. One of my companions then was PFC Oliver Forbes.. I hear he became CSM. Chip Bremer retired and is living in Korea, Edgar Heyer got out and is living with his mom in Brooklyn. Don't know much about SSG Jose Cerda, SGT Darryl Washington, SGT RB Lyons, SP4 Lawrence Sheffield, or SGT Michael Bracey. I do remember having fun running over gigantic jack rabbits at night going to Griesheim, or getting stuck for 45 days in a prolonged field problem at Friedberg because some knucklehead lost his M16. And the best time was when the company sponsored a trip to Lloret de Mar, Spain for 3 days! Everyone got drunk! Those were the days! |
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