One colonel joked, If we ever really got attacked, the V.C. They were clerk typists, cooks, drivers. The tensions between the two sides were demonstrated when US Army and Soviet Union tanks faced off in a divided Berlin. Troop Deployment, 1950-2003 In Vietnam everyone knew everyone and what job they had. Heavily guarded Pershing-II rockets were brought to the US base in Mutlangen in 1983. He attributed it to where he happened to be standing in a formation. 7th Army in particular suffered heavily, especially with loses of combat arms NCOs Then May 31, 2017 in MILITARY HISTORY DISCUSSIONS. She was a USO (United Service Organizations) volunteer who entertained servicemen. They have rock climbing, paddle boarding, BBQ grills, a restaurant, hiking trails, and more. "All the branches of the armed services have always included music as part of their mission. Both Germany and Vietnam were on the front lines of the Cold War. I thought it would be easy, but it was actually tough, said Shkurti, who served as a fire direction officer and supervised a six-person team. The stress of military life was constant. Given the popular conception that being drafted during Vietnam was a guaranteed ticket to the combat zone, Ive always found it amazing how many of the people I know who served in the Army or USMC during the Vietnam War never actually went to Vietnam. Office of Accountability & Whistleblower Protection, Training - Exposure - Experience (TEE) Tournament, Military Exposure Related Health Concerns, War Related Illness & Injury Study Center, Clinical Trainees (Academic Affiliations), Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft, local VA Environmental Health Coordinator, Find out if you qualify for VA health care, diseases related to Agent Orange exposure, Call TTY if you The fatigues were faded and had rips. The question became: When will someone tell what my war was like? Lair said. Along with its allies, the US had liberated Germany from the Nazis. However, their wartime ally, the Soviet Union, soon became an enemy. Only about one out of seven were combat troops, said historian Chris Appy, history professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst. There are different degrees of experience. Men facing shipping out exhibited many types of behavior. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). Those recordings were lost for decades, until a collector discovered an East of Underground LP in 1997. I didnt carry a gun, Lomperis said. They left their families to fight in a war that wasnt popular. After that, the search was on for as many of these Army bands as they could find. In the early years, dances were held on the streets of Berlin in summer months and in winter, the US Army organized Christmas parties for local children. Ammunition storage facility, Heilbronn, West Germany (left); "The song selection includes songs that were playing in the States, and very much expressed the countercultural sentiments of political resistance in this country at that time," Hollander says. They were selected during something called "The U.S. Army's Original Magnificent Special Services Entertainment Showband Contest" let's just call it a battle of the bands. The book became the first volume in aCenter of Military History series, U.S. Army in the Cold War. would have to use the scheduled bus service to get around the base, Lair wrote in Armed with Abundance.. The guys with the gear in the rear. 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. The Federal Republic of Germany became an important strategic location during the Cold War. Its easy to forget how large a US military presence in West Germany and Korea was maintained during the late 60s and early 70s aside from the forces fighting in Vietnam. The post exchanges, or PXs, rivaled todays big box outlets for variety and selection, Lair said. Executing the construction program was a complex affair because American forces in West Germany had to use German construction offices and procedures to build facilities. WebThe United States Army has 40 military installations in Germany, two of which are scheduled to close. But in Vietnam, the Cold War became an inferno. Buddy C. Thornton learned from his military service was Always live for the day. We had each other, and we understood it takes so much honor to serve during the tough times. ". Another difference was the sense of solidarity he felt. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. Outdoor Recreation Center. As my husband likes to preach: expectation management.. The US soldiers also brought American culture to Germany. I had surgery shortly after the fire, then spent convalescent leave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If you call it wrong, thousands of people could end up being killed, he said. Thats not how the military works, though. Then, there was the shopping. Ukrainian soldiers find remains of German WWII soldiers, LGBTQ+ rights situation at home drives young Slovaks abroad, Remembering the horrors of Colonia Dignidad in Chile. Its kind of like playing goalie for a soccer team. The US Army employed 17,000 American civilians in Germany in 2019. The enemy was the Soviet Union and the other signatories of the Warsaw Pact, including the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany. Upon graduating, I was the only one in our Company sent to Ft. Knox Ky.. All of the other Draftees in our class stayed at Ft Lewis in Infantry. Historical Vignettes The songs East of Underground played weren't your run-of-the-mill patriotic marches in fact, some of them included controversial lyrics about race and politics. After graduating from Ohio State University in 1968, William Shkurti said, I knew I was going to be drafted so I enlisted. Of his entire graduating platoon, only he and one other trooper were sent to West Germany, all the others got orders to RVN. HMD released its report, Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft, Jan. 9, 2015. You would think (serving in Germany) would be a great duty, but it wasnt.. Despite separate residential districts, there has always been contact and exchange between German and American families. Those aircraft were used for military airlift, medical transport, and cargo transport operations in the United States and internationally. 7) Cologne, Germany. Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. 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. Call: 988 (Press 1), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. Their story got eliminated. Vietnam War I was in Infantry AIT at Ft. Polk Nov. 68-Jan 69. Especially from the minority groups, our black comrades, because they bore the brunt of the draft, were very unappreciated, and made the ultimate sacrifice above and beyond other groups, and for what? Thornton said. After Nazi Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945, four countries representing the Allies (the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and France) asserted joint authority Even today, many see otherwise, but only at home., One place the guys in the rear and combat soldiers would cross paths was at rearward bases, which ranged from isolated fire bases less than a city block in size to major bases like Long Binh Post that resembled an American city, said Chris Appy, author of three books about the American war in Vietnam: American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity, Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered from All Sides and Working- Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam.. There were swimming pools, bars, cheap booze, entertainment, dancers and strippers, American TV. 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. Abook describes and analyzes the important Engineer effort in Europe. His unit lost more men to overdose and traffic accidents in Germany than to combat in Vietnam. He wasn't wealthy or connected in anyway and he also had an Infantry MOS and he was one of three soldiers out of his basic training platoon that went to the ROK. Reflecting back, Im more skeptical whether a war of choice can help defend a country in the long run. Powered by Invision Community, Vietnam Era Draftees Stationed in W.Germany, South Korea, and CONUS, US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY. Army's Rock 'N' Roll Past Over 220 others have already been closed, mostly following the end of the Cold War in the 1990s. The experience that most people likely associate with Vietnam is the horror and deprivation of war, so its ironic that that wasnt the real experience of most Vietnam veterans, Lair said. "I'm just amazed that [the band's] three singers didn't have hit records after they left the Army. Built over time for more than $130 million, Long Binh eventually had 3,500 buildings and 180 miles of road covering an area bigger than Cleveland. The big problem was that Saigon was Sodom and Gomorrah. Out of our entire class I believe two, maybe three guys got orders for Korea. They were the rear echelon. At the height of the Vietnam War, Ali refused induction into the United States Army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the conflict. 4) The Alps Swiss, German or French. For the government ofLudwig Erhard (October 1963-November 1966) it was ultimately fatal. So there was a great need for personnel outside South Vietnam through out the entire period, and the refusal to mobilize the Reserves and National Guard only exacerbated the problem. While older Germans were friendly, younger ones were hostile and aloof, Shkurti said. The following individuals may qualify for benefits related to Agent Orange exposure: Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to exposure to Agent Orange residue on post-Vietnam C-123 airplanes. 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. They worked in intelligence. He says it was completely random, some bodies had to go to 7th Army and his lucky number came up. 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.. This massive program to improve American weaponry and conditions for troops and their families, supported by the commitment of huge resources to building the facilities required, was one factor in shaking the resolve of Soviet leaders and exposing the hidden weaknesses of the Soviet military and political systems. That led to deep divisions between Washington and Berlin. A new compilation pulls together some of those old records it's called East of Underground: Hell Below. Supercharge your procurement process, with industry leading expertise in sourcing of network backbone, colocation, and packet/optical network infrastructure. Everyone else went directly to Vietnam, or a few were sent to Ft. Benning to attend the NCO School or Airborne Training. We would take orders from Washington and from the five information streams (personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics and political implications) and use all that information to create an order of the day, Lomperis said. Like all the other members, he was a draftee, and had come from a tiny town in Mississippi. So many servicemen came home and saw how the story (of the Vietnam War) was being told. visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for more resources. The Ramstein base is especially significant, since it is also headquarters of the United States Air Forces in Europe. In the late 65 through 1966, the Army Divisions outside of Vietnam, specifically CONUS and West Germany were hemorrhaging personnel for service in South Vietnam, these being primarily if not exclusively volunteers, these numbers had to be made good. GRAFENWOEHR, Germany More than 30 veterans of the Vietnam War living in Germany were awarded pins Tuesday by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post in recognition of their service. [Today in History] Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the Vietnam 2. I was thinking I would have a better chance of determining where I would be sent.. The American military presence in Germany began at the end of World War II. Youre in the hot seat. Many veterans struggled with feeling that their experience didnt measure up. Hollander says it's not a mistake to read a hint of resistance into the band's repertoire. You pull together under a common enemy, Shkurti said. 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. Boy, I thought I had it made, Shkurti said with a small laugh. The liner notes of East of Underground: Hell Below conclude with a sort of benediction, lifted wholesale from the U.S. Army Field Manual: Because of the unique ability of music to communicate, bands will serve in different capacities of publicity and recruiting, and in the support of civil affairs. Its important for people to know they exist. 2) Amsterdam, The Netherlands. They also ate pretty well. They proudly served their country, but were derided by combat troops as REMFs or rear echelon mother (insert expletive here), Appy said. East of Underground was one such band a multiracial, seven-piece group stationed in Germany at the tail end of the Vietnam War. Don't forget Panama and Alaska, Alaska itself in that time period had two Infantry Brigades separate stationed there. The thought of army music evokes a certain tradition say, trumpets and drums in the style of "Pershing's Own." "I initially was stationed in Korea. and child care facility in Bad Kreuznach, West Germany (right). Some people feel the term Vietnam veteran should refer only to those who served in Vietnam, but the U.S. government defines them all as Vietnam-era veterans according to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 any veteran who served on active duty during the official time frame of the Vietnam War (1961-1975). To make it even more complicated, just what is a combat veteran? He remembers his commanding officer Abrams as a political genius who turned the war around.. I think I never knew, or know even today, of any Vietnam-era vets I would not embrace as brothers. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Anyone who served in the military during the war faced the possibility of being sent to Vietnam, though. David Hollander produced the compilation. In their spare time, servicepeople could go to the library, join a service club or take a spin on the go-kart track. This is the official public website of the Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The mood around the country was not good for the military, not like today with cheers and applause for returning members. Situated in a remote area with the enemy about 300 yards away over the border, Shkurtis unit was constantly in harms way. Back at home over the decades, veterans themselves may have helped camouflage the roles they played during the war. The rockets, armed with nuclear warheads, became a political issue. Being a noncombatant doesnt mean they didnt feel scared, that there wasnt a looming sense of danger even onthe biggest bases that were considered safer areas, Lair said. I was going for many reasons, but the most important was to close a chapter of history I felt needed closing, Thornton said. WebThe entirety of Germany was occupied and administered by the Allies of World War II from the Berlin Declaration on 5 June 1945 to the establishment of West Germany on 23 May 1949. I say 16 months because his orders were involuntarily extended because he was in the ROK when the USS Pueblo was taken. As opposed to the goldbug society, or service personnel who were not interested in meeting locals and learning about Vietnam, Lomperis sought out opportunities to get off the base and interact with the Vietnamese. Over the years the US Army has become firmly entrenched in the German landscape. The winners toured other military bases and made records. The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they have been for the past 40 years. Vietnam War Mastering these complicated and delicate international arrangements, EUD accomplished a large and complex construction program, especially during the 1980s. 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. WebThe Vietnam War exposed this problematic dimension in the U.S.-German relationship most dramatically. After Boston, Thornton served at Marines Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Why is Netflix pouring billions into South Korean shows? TCDD, the toxic substance in Agent Orange, may be inhaled as an aerosol or ingested by contaminated food or water or from hand-to-mouth transfer. The report determined that it is possible that this exposure contributed to some adverse health effects. 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. Your message has not been sent. Peace activists, however, saw them as a threat and held massive demonstrations. Im also more respectful of what servicepeople endure. Long Binh was not a standard base, but it was home to the Armys Vietnam headquarters and showed the abundance and consumerism that was possible to create. East of Underground was one such band a multiracial, seven-piece group stationed in Germany at the tail end of the Vietnam War. He served as budget director for the state of Ohio from 1985 to 1987. After graduating AIT at Fort Knox I was sent to their NCO Armor School. It was painful to even be around them. Please switch auto forms mode to off. I had an uncle that was drafted out of Brooklyn, NY. Today, he cautions people not to draw quick lessons from the war. He was awarded the U.S. He was friendly with street urchins who would badger him for chocolate and other small treats. I assisted a medical officer suture up a Marine after a bar fight who was so drunk he didnt need an anesthetic. It was a game of cat and mouse that almost turned deadly when he was nearly killed by some drunk Vietnamese soldiers, Lomperis said. He could take that information back to the base. So he was off to Camp Casey and the 9th Infantry Manchu's for 16 months, I was in the same unit a couple of decades after him. The war changed and dealt cruelty to many families, not just mine, but I have seen the sadness in my fathers eyes, and we both know what is there, and what is missing.. Instead of breaking them up, Army brass sent them on tour. The band formed while its members were stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. have hearing loss. Germany Dotted around US bases are numerous residential districts for American soldiers and their families, such as this residential district in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim. In response the Corps of Engineers drastically reduced the size of EUD and reconstituted it as the Europe District. I worked in an air-conditioned office and wore khakis, starched shirts, spit-shined shoes and a belt with a shiny brass buckle. No matter where veterans served in Vietnam, they were a close witness to danger. From the end of World War II until the end of the war in Southeast Asia, the Army component command in Germany, the U.S. Army, Europe (USAREUR), managed military construction in the theater with its own Engineer organizations. Our AIT class in 1971 at A.P.G. This is not about being negative or complaining, but simply having a balanced outlook for your transition. They would tell him not to go down certain streets because it wasnt safe, so you would know something was brewing there, Lomperis said. Patches, In 1968 you could volunteer for the draft and serve 2 years active duty. Many celebrities joined in the protests. I can only speak from my own experiences. We served honorably. Involved in the Vietnam War According to the report, from 1972 to 1982, approximately 1,500 to 2,100 Air Force Reserve personnel trained and worked on C-123 aircraft that previously had been used to spray herbicides, including Agent Orange, in Vietnam. Youth activity centers in Germany included this facility in Wiesbaden.

What Happened To Coach Rock Ilovebasketballtv, Here's To The Great Bald Eagle Toast, Articles S