Jim Zuidema, 65th Inf Div Assn. member(Jim was a member of the 65th Infantry Division during WWII.) The 65th had just liberated Linz when the war ended. We stayed put until we were deactivated in Aug, I think.
Div Hq was in Linz and my unit, Hq Divarty, was in St. Florian when the war ended. Later Divarty moved to Bad Schallerbach were we had a POW camp. There were several in our territory. We sent them home as fast as possible if they were not SS. If you have read or saw "Schindler"s List" you might be interested to know that he turned himself over to us. However the location of his letter signed by all his Jewish workers is a mystery to us, we think it was lost in the St. Louis fire.
When the 65th was deactivated, I was sent to the 26th Div near Braunau. (Hitlers birth place) We had relieved the 26th on the line when we went into combat at Saarlautern. When the 26th went home I stayed put in the same town and house for a week and the 83rd (Inf Div) moved in.
When they went home, I was sent to Vienna were I became the chief clerk in Gen. Clarks office. My desk was just outside his private office. When anyone of fame came to see the Gen, he always introduced us all to them. Herbert Hoover was the main one, we also met many of royalty who were trying to get their estates, etc back. also Chancellor Figal and many other high officials. I truely believe that Clark was a fine man and got a bum rap down in Italy. He didn't like to wear ties and wore scarfs instead, so all his men did too.
While in Vienna our Sunday afternoon outing was in Hitler's car. This was the one from Bertchesgarten.
In 1987 I returned to Vienna on a singing tour. I went back to all the places I had been in '46. Our office was in the Bank of Austria building, this is something like our Treasury building. The office is now the office of the President of the bank. Security is very high so I could not get up to it. However, they sent a sec down to talk to me. I told him just where my desk sat and they took a Poloroid of it. They said it might look different since they had had a fire there several years before. I in turn gave them pictures of the Imperial Crown Jewels which we had in their valt when they were returned to Vienna from Nurenburg. They had no idea that they had been there. So I had filled them in on a little history. I saw all the jewels at the Palace where they had just been put back on display after many years. I talked to one of the officials and showed him the pictures and they were also happy to learn of that part of its history too. I was one of the youngest to see action in WWII. I am now just 78.
All in all, I was in Austria about 13 months, very good months at that. If I can answer any other questions, please ask. Thanks. God bless.
Jim Zuidema
John F.W. Koch, USFA Veterans Assn. memberYes I served in Co. D, 222nd (Inf Regt) in Vienna, lived on Cobenzl Gasse in the Hueringer, Spelling ?,section>up the street from the Grinzing Strassenbaum station. Was in Vienna from August '45 thru Thanksgiving Day '45, at which time Joe Juris, #1 gunner on our H2O cooled heavy Machine Gun, & I enrolled in Rainbow University in Zell am See, Austria. That was much better than pulling guard on General Mark Clark's L-5 airstrip on the West side of the Donau Kanal where every nite the Russians would fire at us with their sub-machine guns using live ammo naturally. We were not permitted to return fire--they were our " Allies".
I was originally with the 66th Black Panther Division, Co.D, 262 Inf. We landed at Cherbourg, France 12/24/44. The troop ship Leopoldville that was on our right side was torpedoed as we entered the harbor. The torpedo passed under our ship, H.M.S. Cheshire and struck the Leopoldville killing 800 men of the 262nd and 264th regiments. We were headed for the Bulge but the diaster knocked us out as a full strength unit. We were directed to the St. Nazaire and Lorient pockets on the west coast of France where the Germans ( 50,000 ) were holed up at their submarine pens.
After Zell am See we went to Linz and stood guard on the Heman Goering Tank Works which is now the Voest-Alpine Steel Co. I have returned to Europe and Austria (I think of Austria as my home away from home ) 6 times. The most recent in September '00. I still correspond with friends in Vienna, Linz, Zell am See, Rauris, Liezen & several other villages. Our Instrument Corporal Married a girl from Vienna and my Aunt came from there before WWI.
While doing research on another issue, the webmaster stumbled across a page
that described distinguished persons interred at the St. Peter's Churchyard
Cemetary in Salzburg. Among several well known Austrians such as the composer
Haydn and several immediate members of the Mozart family, is the grave of
Major
General Harry J. Collins, commander of the 42nd Infantry Division
(Rainbow) during WW II. He lays next to his wife, Irene (ne Gehmacher).
The headstone states that Gen Collins was an honorary citizen of both Salzburg
as well as Linz. The 42nd staid on in Austria as part of the Army of Occupation, with its headquarters located at Salzburg during most of that period.
Does anybody have any details on why Gen Collins is buried there?
Ralph A. George, USFA Veterans Assn member. My USFA service was in 1952-1955 in the Vienna Inter-Allied Command (VIAC) as Assistant Deputy Commander. VIAC was a quadripartite (four power) organization which occupied the Austrian Capital. The commanding Generals of US, British, French, and Soviet Forces rotated the chairmanship of VIAC on a monthly basis. Unlike Berlin, which has four occupation Sectors, Vienna also had an International Sector for which I was the United States Representative. Again, the chairmanship rotated on the same monthly basis. Each month there was a "changeover ceremony" at the Hofburg Palace with military bands and Honor Guard detachments.
In later 1955 the Soviet Government agreed to an Austrian State Treaty and all occupying military forces left Austria. I was then transferred to Berlin where I was the United States Governor for Spandau Allied Prison for the major Nazi war criminals who were not hanged after the Nurenburg Trials. Again this was a Four-Power operation with a monthly rotating chairmanship. Please advise me as to what specific information you are seeking.
Bert MudgettHi, I arrived in Austria in Oct. of 1952. At that time we (4th Armd Cav Recon Bn) no longer manned OP's on the Danube and the Weyer Rivers. Instead we did a jeep patrol to Passau, Germany and to Weyer next to the British zone. It was one day out and one day back. I can't remember many names. Capt. ED Marvel was my first CO followed by Capt. Rehfield. Lt. Horgan my company commander. Sgt. Billy Byrd of Kingsport TN was a friend. A Major Dwan or Duan was our Battalion Intelligence Officer. He was brilliant at setting up ambushes. Lt. Horgan was close to my own age {I am 66} so he is most likely to be still of this world. He was a West Pointer. We were stationed at Horshing outside of Linz in very nice barracks taken from the Luftwaffe. I returned to the States on Mar 8 of 1955. Up to then I had for some time had the most time in THE 4TH Rcn.
Shortly after I left, the allies left Austria and the 4th went to Triest. I have no knowledge of what happened to them after that. P.S. I believe one of the OP's was on the hill above Linz. They said it was good duty.
Wes MontgomeryAfter spending fourteen days on a troop ship (the General Hodges) we landed at the port of Leghorn, where we spent about three week in tents at Camp Darby. After being processed for our assignments in Austria, I along with two of my friends (Gray and Brady) who completed Tank school with me at Fort Knox, were assigned to the 4th Armored Cavalry Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp McCauley. We traveled by troop train to Linz. The trip took all night.
The next day we couldn't believe our good fortune. Camp McCauley was once a German Air Force Base, and it was beautiful. We had two men rooms with steam heat. The Maintenance Shops were in the airplane hangers and we road tested our tanks, and other vehicles on the air strips.
I think the 4th Armd Cav was a great outfit, a little on the spit and shine side though. The US and Russian Zones was separated by the Donau river which also split the city of Linz into both zones. We spent a lot of time on maneuvers and on field exercises, but had plenty time to visit Linz and Berchtesgarden.
I was stationed at Camp McCauley for about a year when the treaty was signed. My two friends (Gray and Brady) because they were drafted, rotated back to the US as they had less than six months left on their tour. I was reassigned to the 350th Infantry Regt at Camp Roeder in Salzburg with the Hq and Service Company. I was with the 350th for about six months, when the unit was moved to Taylor Barracks, Mannheim, Germany. We took all our equipment with us, and went by convoy. Living conditions weren't the best, because of the shortage of space. Some had to bunk three high. We stayed in Mannheim for about a year while new camps were being built in Italy for us. After about a year, the unit was relocated to Italy. I was reassigned to the Tank company of the 350th and our company was sent to Camp Darby, Italy until they had a place for us in Northern Italy. This time around, Camp Darby was a nice duty station, we had permanent billets, and could not use our tanks. So, every afternoon we were allowed to go to the beach. We were at Camp Darby for only a couple of months when the company was deactivated and we were reassigned to an Armor Infantry Battalion and went north. I was only with that outfit for a few months, I rotated back to the States in December 1956.
I was very lucky on my first overseas tour. I was stationed in three different countries (Austria, Germany, and Italy). I ended up staying in the Army for over 21 years . Austria was without a doubt, my best duty station.
Wes Montgomery
John W. PritchettFor additional information on John's tour, see his two entries in the USFA Guestbook, dated March 1, 2002.
I was assigned to Co. C of the 63rd Sig. Bn. My duty station in Salzburg was behind the Winkler Hotel. There was a small building there that received both radio and land line signals. The fixed station transmitter station and a very large antenna field was located near Camp Roeder.
The Camp at Castenova di Verona was about 16 miles outside of Verona and the way to Lake Garda. It was a German Army base and storage point during the Second World War. Alot of the buildings had war damage and had not been repaired.
When I was assigned I believe they were using transmitters with a nomenclature of 64B. I understand the transmitters we installed were large Naval Units off a battleship. The idea was to skip VHF/UHF off the ionosphere (over the Brenner Pass). We were told there was another test sight in Alaska near Mt. McKinley. We also built and installed four towers and a long line antenna system. We were just a small unit; two officers and five Sgts. Out of 25 to 30 enlisted about 15 of us were with the 63rd . When I left Verona in 1955, the system was working very well.
John W. Pritchett
Stan KolmanI arrived at McCauley in August of 1951 and was assigned to the 516th Signal Company. We were housed in the former Luftwaffe Billets. It would have been unkind to refer to them as barracks. Going there from a stateside camp was something like going from Purgatory to Heaven. Captain Thomas Turley was Company C/O who reported to Colonel Holmgren who was at Signal Headquarters in Salzburg.
Camp Roeder did not exist at that time, but I believe it must have been under construction because we had several delays in 1952 until our barracks were finished.
By the time we moved to Roeder I made Staff Sgt., but spent most of my time at Gaisberg. We had a mobile AN/TRC station next to the billets to provide secure communications from McCauley to Salzburg. The station at the Salzburg end was located at the Zistelalm Gasthaus up on Gaisberg. We took turns manning each location. I have pictures of both operations which I can either email to you or send you a disk. They are all in .jpg format.
Section Chief at the time I arrived at McCauley was Sgt. Herb Lang (now diseased). The officer in charge of Radio Relay Section at that time was Lt. Verblyi. One never forgets one of the nicest officers I've known. He was later replaced by a Lt. Fox. I wasn't too familiar with the other elements of USFA other than those which were at McCauley. The 516th only had elements at McCauley, Gaisberg and Col. Holmgren's office. General Fry was commanding general of USFA at that time. Another prince of a fellow.
Radio Relay Section, at that time, consisted of six teams. Each consisted of a Sgt., two Corporals and a PFC. The Sgt. was the "radio man", the Corporals were "Carrier Technicians" and the PFC. took care of the power supply units and the truck. He also did the driving.
John HankinsMy entry to Europe was thru Bremerhaven, then the repo depot at Marburg, with a final assignment at Linz, Austria, via all the connections to Munich, then on to Austria in what I considered to be a cattle car.
My arrival for duty in the 124th Sta Hosp was as a patient, with acute pharynngitis, bilaterial tonsilitis. Boy was I sick. The 124th Station Hospital was orginally designated the 124th General Hospital. It had its orgin in England. Records of personal property losses by casualties involved in various battles that the hospital took care of as it moved across the contintent was still part of its inventory when I got there. I was given the difficult task of trying to sort out a bunch of mixed up records.
We occupied what had formerly be called a "Frauenklinik", Women's hospital, that might very well still be there from what I can tell after studying a recent map of the city. It was quite old, still had the body of women preserved in formaldehyde or something like that in its basement. Enlisted personnel and officers occupied some part of the hospital as a barracks, with the rest occupying former civilian apartments (which made life more pleasant). Denton Cooley and I served in the same hospital about the same time, except I got there about a year before he did. Col Thom was the Hospital commander at that time. Lt Williams, Capt Scanlon, Lt. Samuel L. Crook, and a number of other names comes to mind as being there when I was still going up through the enlisted ranks.
Our location was a few block away from the Danube, and we served U.S. civilian and military personnel (including dependents) assigned to Linz and various outpost. I won a jeep in a private lottery while there and managed to travel extensively through our Zone. How long the hospital stayed in operation I do not know because I was transfered out of town to Hoersching (later Camp McCauley), to the Medical Det, 4th Const. An incident on the Danube took place while I was there, wherein once of our excursion paddle-wheel boats had engine trouble and the boat drifted to the Russian side. They attempted to board, asked my Sergeant friend to take down the flag, and when he refused to do so, the Russian Lt decided to do it himself, our battle decorated sergeant (Anzio) pushed a 45 against his head with words to the fact that he did that, he'd have his damn head blown off. The young Lt and his small cadre of troops quickly retreated and thus began a standoff. It gained international attention at that time, then without fan fare the Americans were suddenly allowed to throw a line and pull it back to Linz. Sgt. Druschel (the man referred to) just died recently and I wrote a testimonial for his daughter to use before the American Legion gave him a gun salute and played taps. I was honored to do so.
A lot of interesting things happened while I was there, from the landing of a Russian aircraft with three souls on board (two of which were defecting, which left their Sergeant confused). I was there moments after it overran the end of the field, and finally came to a rest after one of its landing gears broke after hitting railroad track at the end of the field. Most interesting. Days later, we let the Russians disassemble their plane and truck it back across the Danube. Of interest is the fact that Russian officers forbade their troops from recieving cigareets from the G.I.'s., yet they didn't mind participating in American luxury hospitality for themselves.
One thing I am particulary proud of, is the fact that just before I left in Jan of 1949, sometime after taking over a pretty unmilitary and solvenly group of medic enlisted personnel as their first sergeant, I was to whip them into shape so that when it came time for an all unit inspection by the commanding General, the MEDIC's (out of thousands of men), to everyone's shock were the proud winners and were given the honor of being the first to march off the frozen winter airfield, followed by all the other units! I left Horesching and my friend with a heavy heart, but with the satisfaction of knowing that a once slovenly unit was proud of themselves and did not hesitate thanking me for caring so much. While at Hoersching, we did go out on a number of maneuvers through the snow-bound mountains, over hills and dales, under treacherous conditions. I still remember being cold and getting a slight touch of frost bite because we did not have sufficient winter clothing (like shoe packds); had to double as ambulance driver, sleep in snow, and a host of other things. I'm still bothered by the cold. Another incident I recall, is the unexpected explosion of an ammo destruction dump some miles away (in one of Austria's many districts--Bezirks?). A number of miliary and civilians were killed and/or seriusly burned. Ammunition was still going off when we arrived. It was crazy, but I did manage to pull a body back after crawling on the ground to where the unknown person lay, burned beyond recognition. The badly burned American (though he didn't appear so) died days later at the 124th, from kidney failure, a complication of burns.
For your information, I have submitted a number of photos to Irene Moore (webmaster of the US Constabulary web site) for inclusion in her site, but she's had a lot to do so I don't know when they will be posted. Also, under the TomBowerman@Armed Guard web site, there are number of other photo's representing my Merchant Marine days before I was old enough to join the army. You might want to check them out either through those sites directly, or though the list provided in www.wbcoa.com, my personal site for the books I've written, etc.
Jim WrightJust returned from our European vacation. It was a "River Cruise" which started in Amsterdam. Went down the Rhine, Main, Danube to Passau, then spent four days in Munich and three days in Salzburg. The guide we had depended if you were making the three day extension to Salzburg, about thirty of the group did go on to Salzburg. The guide, Rene Hartlieb, was born, raised and lives just outside of Salzburg. He indicated to me that the size and costs of the Austrian Military is frequently discussed in Austria and there has been discussions of closing military bases. He knew of no definitive proposals to shut down Camp Roeder, now called the Schwarzenberg Kaserne.
My tour of the camp occurred this last Saturday, August 18, 2001. A Major Steiglecker, who works in the Commander's office spent the afternoon taking me all around the camp. We even had coffee and a snack in the officer's club. He indicated that there have been discussions about giving up a portion of the camp. The camp is just several blocks away from the Salzburg Airport and there is a lot of industrial development thereabouts. He said that could very well happen. They have compulsory service. Young men must serve eight months. In fact, our guide had served his eight months there.
I took some pictures and assuming they turn out I will send them to you. The main difference I noted was that there were trees everywhere. I was able to look out the window of my barracks and see all of Untersberg. Now the trees block the view. The Major indicated that when they took over the camp they planted thousands of trees. They have been growing for forty six years! I told the Major that we had practiced our rifle shooting at a range outside Grodig and he indicated that they still use it.
I had a wonderful trip and I really enjoyed visiting Camp Roeder.
Jim Wright
Dick BaughmanAs you indicated there isn't any info about Camp Darby on the website as yet. Let me offer some of my reflectings regarding the time I spent there. Arrived in Livorno, (Leghorn) on Dec 15, 1953 after spending 14 days on-board the USNS General H. F. Hodges troop ship. We were taken to Camp Darby, 7617th USFA Support Command, outside Livorno, not far from Pisa. It was there that the 588th Replacement Co. processed all new arrivals for assignment to "field forces" in Austria.
Some of us were selected to remain at Darby. I was assigned to the 68th MP Co. as their communications chief, maintaining the radios installed in patrol jeeps and sedans. Duties of the 68th included camp security, guarding supply and ammo warehouses, as well as patrolling Leghorn and Pisa. Since we were considered "guests" of the Italian government, all MP's had to be accompanied by a member of the Italian Carabinieri (police). Some of my more vivid memories are of the "carnival" at Via Reggio. This is a week long celebration similar to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The horse race in Siena and the battle of the bridge in Pisa, where one side of the city has a team that attempts to push a team from the other side off the bridge that connects the two sides of Pisa. The losing side has their electricity turned off for one hour that night. New years eve when the custom in Pisa is to discard all chipped or broken china and old pots and pans onto the streets at mid-night. We had to warn our patrols to stay off the streets at that time. The 1954 melli millia went by our front gate. Something to see those cars going by at 150 mph!
Another memory was the time that the US pulled all our troops out of Trieste which was, at that time, another 4 power city. We, in Camp Darby had over 5000 troops, including the 350th Inf Bat descend on our small camp with its 3 barbers, small PX, and 1 movie. There were tents set up on all the baseball, football and soccer fields. They went on a 24 hour training schedule, with troops marching about the camp at all times. That was the time I took a leave to get away from all that soldier activity.
For Ron Homer, I have to mention the Thanksgiving Day football game between Camp Darby and the 11th AAA. I don't remember who won?
Well, that should do it for now. If there is anyone out there that was at Darby and would like to compare experiences, shoot me an e-mail.
7617th Support Command-
APO 19
21st Signal Co
28th Station Hospital
550th Eng Co (Depot)
68th MP Co
There was also a WAC Co.
Dick Baughman
(Bill served in the 7360th Base Complement Squadron at Tulln Air Base from 1949-1951. He was the Base Courier and had a close rapport with the 796th MP Bn, the 58th Army Postal Unit and Hq Vienna Military Post.)
I recall that my 4 Power Pistol Permit was issued by the VMP Provost Marshal. My duties were pretty routine. At approximately 13:30 I would go to the Tulln AB Service Club and pick up any issues of the Stars & Stripes dated the previous day. At the Base Theater, I picked up Movie Film in route to the Yank Theater. At Base Hq. I would pickup messages and correspondence bound for VMP Headquarters. Then I picked up the Army Mail Clerk along with his stock of stamps, money orders and outgoing mail and head for Vienna.
I dropped off the Mail Clerk and mail at the APO 777 Office in the Allianz Bldg. Next, just across the way at the VMP Hq., I dropped off the correspondence and messages. I recall Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Keys was the Military Governor of Austria prior to the appointment of Walter J. Donnelley. Next I went to the Stars & Stripes Office and dumped off the Newspapers. I then went to the Yank Theater and dumped off the Film. Sometimes I had paperwork for the Provost Marshals Office.
I was usually finished before 16:00 and then I would head for the Clam Gallas where I would relax for a while and from there I would plan my evenings activities. I sort of had it knocked as I had the use of the Air Force Jeep at my disposal. In fact I had a run in with the Army's S.I.S. in front of the Main PX in Vienna over my personal use of the vehicle. In fact they wrote me up. But that's another story.
I slept at the Transient Barracks located at the 7691 Hq and Service Co. on Philgasse (spl). The CQ would see that my Pistol was secure and give me a wake up the next morning.
I would start out at the Provost Marshal's Office where I would pick up any delinquent reports issued to troops at Tulln, including my own. Next I went to the Stars & Stripes and picked up the days papers; on to Hq VMP for messages and correspondence and lastly to the APO to pickup the Mail Clerk and incoming mail.
We would arrive at the Base around 0900 where I would then deliver everything. Then I would change clothes, go to the Motor Pool, wash and gas the jeep and obtain a new Trip Ticket. Then it was time for chow and shinning my shoes, preparing my uniform, shower and shave and then it began all over again.
When I delivered my own DR I explained what happened to the Base Executive Officer. He told me he would have a letter read for me that afternoon before I made my next run. The letter was addressed to whom it may concern and authorized me to use the jeep as I saw fit. I only got to use it once, and at the same place and by the same S.I.S. Agent. He asked me if I was ever going to learn. I told I guess I would not and handed him the letter. He just shook his head. There were times when I had to deviate from the routine and pick up other items. Usually they would leave a note for me at the APO if they wanted something special.
Bill Pastor
George F. Rodts,
Sgt, 7689 Hq/Hq Co USFA
Thanks for the photo - it brings back many good memories.
My experience: I spent Xmas 1953 on a troop ship in the Atlantic. After
processing at Livorno (Leghorn), I boarded a train bound for Austria.
We got stuck in the Brenner Pass because of an avalanche and were without
heat or food for 3 days. Arriving late at night in Salzburg, the mess
hall was opened for us, and I was assigned to 7689 HQ at Camp Truscott.
My duty was at G-2 with an MOS Intelligence Analyst and rank of Sergeant,
but since I was filling a Major's position, I ate in the General's Mess
and had a staff car available. The G-2 was Colonel Chandler (a survivor
of the Bataan Death March) and he kept me busy with frequent assignments
to Vienna, and incidents on the Czech & Hungarian borders.
In July 1955, I took an Overseas Separation from active duty and was immediately
hired as a civilian in the 430th CIC unit until the Austrian Peace Treaty.
Then I went to USAREUR G-2 in Heidelberg and as a civilian worked with
the 10th Military Intelligence Group until half of the staff was eliminated
under the Eisenhower military cut-backs. I came home in June 1956.
I hope this is of interest to you, and the other USFA Vets, of which I
am proud to be a member.
George Rodts
I have very little in the way of records of my service in USFA and can go only on my memory.
I got to Camp Roeder in October, 1953. I was assigned to the 66th Ord. Co. as a mechanic in the wheeled vehicle repair shop. Our unit also handled tracked vehicle repair, the vehicles being tanks and halftracks.
Sometime after my arrival (I can't remember when) we were redesignated as the 832nd Ord Bn. We were divided into two Companies (A & B) on paper but our mission, manpower, shops, equipment and barracks remained unchanged. I have no idea why the change in unit designation was made. When I rotated home in June, 1955, the unit was still known as the 832nd.
During my time at the 66th/832nd I quickly found that I didn't care for life in the shops and talked my way into a job as company cook. My career as a cook was cut short by an emergency leave to the States; when I returned I found the slot filled so I became ! an armorer.
So much for army career planning. Anyway, I had fun, made some good friends and grew up. During my stay, the U.S. occupation of Trieste, Italy ended and our unit received a number of guys from there. They were all good men and fun to be with. I fell in with a couple of them who were from South Philadelphia (Philly). Being from New Jersey, I had something incommon with them, namely the Jersey shore (particularly Wildwood). You'd have to be from these parts to appreciate that.
Jim Halsey
I will give you my recollections for the move to Vicenza, as well as my memory allows.
The arrival was duly noted by the Communist daily "L' [or La] Unitá." It described the "discheveled and unshaven Americans" who entered their city after alighting from the special train which brought us from Salzburg. Referenace was made to WWII GI's entering the city. In fairness, I guess we were pretty grubby after a day on the rails. [Not 1st class as you might well imagine.]
I recall the prices in town doubled or tripled by the time it came for me to return to the US in Sep 56. Training was cobbled together for the year I was there. The post started with two flush toilets. Being in the commo platoon of Hq Co, we quickly found and used one until the barracks were so equipped. The users were sworn to secrecy which was never broken, as the room was down the hall from the Bn Cmdr's office, Col Hawke. I cannot recall his first name but from my vantage point [E-4] he was well liked by all.
There was some field training at Asiago, and I well remember communicating by radio with an L-5 light aircraft, while looking down at it, while traversing the 11 hairpin turns to get to the area. My buddy drove the ammo truck which meant 11 turns requiring him to back the 2 1/2 to the edge of the road, in order to complete each turn. For some reason he would not be in the beer hall with us the night before the trip to Asiago. [I still enjoy the mountains whenever I find myself in those surroundings.]
We stood a formal retreat at least once a week along with Italian troops, in order to retire the colors of both countries. This meant learning each other's commands. I was in the minority in that I enjoyed the pomp and ceremony. Maybe that explains the fact I retired with almost 37 yrs of service. My first 3 primarily with USFA and then 11 yrs USAR [12th SF Grp], beginning in 66, and then 18 in the Illinois Air National Guard, in the 217th EI Squadron. [Communications-retired E-8 in 95]. I know my USFA platoon sergeant [Bernie Smith] is probably rolling in his grave at the thought. Looking back I would have felt the same if I were in his shoes, but we all grow up, given plenty of time.
During warm weather we usually found our way to Venice for the week-end. Tough duty. During my trip back there last fall I was confused at first by the relocation of the main gate from the front of the post, to what I call the rear, where an Italian Interstate seems to have grown. I got my bearings when I spotted the mess hall, which is still in the same place. The two primary units now there are the recently reactivated 173rd Abn Bigade, and part of the 508th Abn. The young soldiers I saw were a credit to our country. I also saw some warrants that I think I might still be able to at least keep up with. Enough for now, and if you need some more details on this message, I'll be happy to do the best I can.
I have noticed that we do not have too many from 1st Bn, from 55-56.
Frank Krus
I contacted Paul when I found out that he had a copy of "5TH TANK DESTROYER GROUP HISTORY, VE DAY 9TH MAY 1945 TO VJ DAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 1945.", a unit history published in Europe at the end of World War II. The publication was printed in 1945 at Salzburg, Austria, where the unit was stationed, and contains historical information along with Silver Star, Bronze Star and Legion d'Honneur citations for officers, NCOs and enlisted personnel. Booklet prepared by group historian Capt. Albert W. Wolfe.
I'll try to answer the questions you asked about the 5th TD Grp and units now that I received the history. I think you'll find, like I did, not much. The history is only 40 pages and of that only 2 are devoted to history, the rest award citations.
The 5th TD Grp was located on the southwest edge of Salzburg, Austria. They were ordered by the XV Corps commander to operate the Hotel Gablerbrau for transient officers. They later operated Hotel Munchnerhof and Hotel Hofwirt and for a short time Hotel Bristol and Hotel Stein.
They aided various tank destroyer battalions of XV Corps and later II Corps in redeployment (601st, 692nd, 705th, 776th, and 813th). Like I said not much!
XV Corps ordered them to operate the Hotel Gablerbrau on 17 May. The Command Post along with the S1, S2, S3, guard, mess, and hotel clerical personnel lived in the hotel at 9 Linzer Gasse (Is this the Hotel Galberbrau?).
The remainder of the 5th TD Grp was at 16 - 18 Imberstrasse. Military personnel from many countries stayed at the Gablerbau: Russia, France, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Belguim, Czechoslovakia, Italy, South Africa, Switzerland, and Holland. Also looks like civilians stayed there too: many technical experts, war correspondents, dignataries, nurses, Red Cross personnel, USO and road show personnel (Bob Hope and show).
During this time the 5th TD Grp was classified Category II in the redeployment program for the Pacific Theater. Reclassified Category IV on 1 Sep. Hope this gives you more information.
Paul Stevens
Regarding the 437th (Ordnance) Detachment (in Bolzano, Italy - see Gordon's Guestbook entry on April 24, 2002), I spent about 6 weeks with them - probably in the early fall of 1954 - until I came down with amoebic dysentery and was medically evacuated to the military hospital in Salzburg. I spent the rest of my tour in Lofer until the peace treaty was signed.
I was assigned to USFA in July 1954 as a brand new second lieutenant right out of the Ordnance School at Aberdeen Proving Ground. During home leave before leaving for Austria, I got married and my new bride and I got concurrent travel to Lofer through Salzburg.
We lived in Saalfelden (just down the road from Lofer) and I commuted to work, so to speak. It was about a 15 mile trip one way as I recall. The countryside was just lovely and, coming from California, I had never seen so much greenery in my life. I was amazed and dazzled.
I was only in Lofer a couple of months, as I recall, when I was reassigned to the detachment in Bolzano. I did a lot of traveling around the area, visiting some of the earlier sites where the ammo was stored - Dobbiaco (Toblach), Brunico (Bruneck) and Cortina d'Ampezzo (yes, the same place the winter Olympics were held a few years later) - over toward Austria.
From Bolzano, driving north toward the Brenner Pass, I recall names like Bressanone (Brixen), Fortezza (Franzensfeste), Campo di Trens (Freienfeld), and Vipiteno (Sterzing). I spent a couple of weeks in Vipiteno, a very colorful Alpine village, supervising the platoon unloading ammo from railroad cars and storing it in temporary bunkers.
Another group was working up toward the Swiss border. I can remember driving up through Merano (Meran) to reach Spondigna (Spondinig). I may not have all the names right. It's amazing how all this comes back to me while looking at an atlas.
The people in the area didn't care much for Americans. I can remember walking along in Bolzano, and being spit upon by a young man. I couldn't understand what he said. There was a detachment of Italian Alpine troops in the area (Alpini's??), and they were the sorriest looking soldiers - they looked like they slept in their uniforms and needed haircuts and shaves.
Anyhow, I really felt fortunate to have spent my army tour in that part of the world. Almost all of my Aberdeen class were sent to Korea as Ordnance Ammunition Officers. One other guy, as I recall, was assigned to USAREUR and I was assigned to USFA. That's about it for the moment.