Fulda Gap Former East, West German near Hersfeld

[@joachimwenz557]

When I read your comments it really strikes me that so many of you referred to your stay with the CAV in Bad Hersfeld as be best years of their lifes. I was a local studying to become a school teacher in 71-73 and I had quite many very close friends ranking from EMs to Captains and the Colonel. We rode motorcycles together and I serviced them. I was good at that. I too must say those were best best years of my life too, even though there were many good years to come. Until this day I am still in close contact with Spec 4 Joe McDonald from Rosenberg Tx. (I Trp) and a guy from the Wasserkuppe radar facility. We see each other almost every year (Corona sucks). Later on I became a very sucessful McDonad`s franchisee. It all started there in McPheeters Barrack. Thank you, you enriched my life.

[@stevehubler3024]

Stationed in Fulda with Combat Support Squadron, 11th ACR, 1989-90. One of the best years of my life, as a young lieutenant.

[@stevenbailey1293]

Wildflecken 76 to 79 54th combat engineers Dco Border Barons

[@Neon_Sandbox]

I was in Hersfeld in 76-77. We were B Btry 2Bn / 2ADA, occupied third and fourth floor of the building next to the headquarters building at the gate. Our missile site was a few miles northwest of Hersfeld. I never realized the how hot that area was when I was there. Had many bomb and attack threats on the hill from the Baader-Meinhoff Gang. Remember being scared shitless on listening post in the pitch black of night outside the perimeter.

[@fbjailburdjr2144]

I was there also 76 77 remember when the sirens went off you never knew. Flash to bang , count seconds , if not dead ... I was trying to remember name of that chicken place in town . had the best rotisery chicken there . stayed drunk most the time. my memory fading fast . I remember CO name was Capt. Hertzog HOW Battery 1/ 11 ACR Blackhorse .

[@CaptVanO]

I was in 3/11 ACR 79-82. Platoon leader 2d Plt I Trp, I Trp XO, then 3/11 S2 and Border Officer. Best 37 months of my Army service. WORKHORSE!!

[@TheTitaniumSkull]

OP Alpha is/was 1st Squadron area. I was there from 1987-1990, HHT 1/11 and HOW BTRY. And the life expectancy at the time was 3 minutes. The duty was 2 weeks long, I did 16 tours at OP Alpha in 3 years. My job there was Reaction Guard. A lot of things happened there that never made it to the news. East German excursions across the border to look at new vehicles happened now and then. I watched a East German rifle butt another and then cross the border(Defecting), All we did was call BGS

[@stevekoschak7111]

Was stationed at Fulda from 1974-1977 with 11th ACR. B-toop 3rd platoon. Lot of memories.

[@theDeitz]

steve koschak Steve this is a video with photos of East German troops on the border kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqialpx6bKaefsk

[@stevekoschak7111]

Recon One I had border patrol just in the Fulda area never went to Bad Hersfeld.

[@fbjailburdjr2144]

I was there 75 77 assigned 109 how. that spot light on top Barricks got me back a many a time being dunker than hell . my memory fading fast , but remember a Seargent Vazques. And Sgt. Munger . Cannot remember top Sgt name . My name is Burnett

[@mickhalltwo]

As a Brit that worked with you, I would say the Fulda Gap is still quite scary, good god we had the best tanks in the world but had a life expectancy of 12 hours

[@AGuyInFlorida]

I was in RS-2 11th ACR in Fulda from 84-90. Thanks for the video! Brings back many fond memories!

[@flyinbrianewing]

Set up here for REFORGER in 85, the cold one. The next summer me and 2 buddies all got motorcycles and came back to the rasdorf area on the weekend and went past the 1K sign. We sat on our bikes watching the East guards watch us. We could look into a village but it was deserted. It looked well kept though. We smoked a cigarette and then turned around and left. I wonder what the guards thought when they saw our plates and realized we were soldiers? Maybe it was a stupid thing to do but we were 19 and in the most dangerous theater of service in the 80's anyway. I think the life expectancy if the Soviets ever crossed the border offensively, was 10 minutes where we were stationed anyway.

[@theDeitz]

"Maybe it was a stupid thing to do" I've done a few stupid things and still do :-) "Life begins the moment you step out of your comfort zone"

[@creatifvision]

That wa a cold REFORGER! I spent it in an M-151 Jeep. The real danger on your trip was getting caught by the western border troops. The 1K marker was the limit for US personnel not on official duty. That must have made it even more fun!

[@audie1966]

Also in the "Cold One". Part of the 3/36 INF from the "Rock".

[@flyinbrianewing]

@@creatifvision after we got out of the 1K zone we stopped on the side of the road and yhey stopped and told us not to go beyond the signs. We said ok we won't. 😏

[@jgeur]

hi all, i was a dependent in fulda 62 to 65, father was with the 58th Eng Co. i recall a story of east germans parking a half-track at the border (near the wasserkuppe) and walking away. american soldiers went across, jumped in, and drove it across the border. a flat bed was dispatched out of fulda, picked up the machine, and carted it away. can anyone confirm or deny? thanks. sooie mooie y'all!

[@theDeitz]

Mark it was great hearing from you. Thanks for sharing your information. Stay in touch, Deitz out ;-)

[@smokeylake6732]

Was stationed there with 14 th and 11 th Cav

[@theDeitz]

Dick were you there during the reflagging? Some were there when it was the 14th, they were reassigned and later received orders to return when it was the 11th. kzbin.info/www/bejne/javbXnZ5l7Z9n5I

[@robjackson1273]

I was stationed in Wiesbaden but spent a lot of time in funda ,graf.bomholder,,wild chicken,,even spent time with the 12 panzer bgd. Earning my gold shoots a shesen in koblence a part of my life I would never forget I would like to go back to see what has changed ish Luba doich land.

[@theDeitz]

What year(s) were you there? 14th ACR Bad Hersfeld thedeitz.com

[@robjackson1273]

Got to Wiesbaden. 1978 left 1983

[@danmonahan6087]

I was a cavalry scout on a ITV then volunteered to be a M60A3 tank driver, In A troop /11ACR when the tank section of our platoon didn't have enough drivers with German drivers license. Jan1982 -June 1983

[@armyvet6010]

I was stationed in Fulda 62-65. C troop, 1st recon squadron 14 Armored Cavalry. 2nd platoon, mortar squad.

[@fatratz2012]

76-77 fulda v corps attached to the 11th ACR

[@mSiddall777]

I too was there; I was assigned as a 64C with Charlie Co. 94th Engineers and TDY in "Wild Chicken" during that time frame. I also trained for this Fulda Gap invasion that never came (Thank the LORD). My job was to transport a Cat D7 and its operator (MOSC 62E) to the battlefield where they will be engaged in tank ditching operations. I was then to man a crew served weapon with another 64C to provide cover fire for the dozer operators.

[@GregInEastTennessee]

I served at OP Alpha for many times in the 70s. I guess there's so much eastern Germany shown because it was unknown to us until the walls came down. I think you could have shown a little more of the western side. And why is it that the 3rd Squadron gets recognized on the plaque and titles, but the 1st Squadron of the 11th ACR does not? The 1/11th was OP Alpha. The other two squadrons had their own OPs.

[@theDeitz]

Thanks for reporting in. Dale Reitz was assigned to B Btry in 1979. I'll have to ask him if he has ever hear the name Neon Sandbox ;-)

[@theDeitz]

You are not alone brother. Thanks for reporting in, we thought you were AWOL :-)

[@jeffreygoodhall7342]

Hello, Does anyone know an Arthur William Goodhall?

[@evanmcdonald5075]

The problem is, they are starting that s*** again...

[@jakem1tanker]

God i miss germany when i was ther those where the best times in my life :)

[@theDeitz]

Great story, as you know we were recon, a speed bump. If they crossed the border life expectancy was 20 minuets for us. All larger units were located farther into Germany, this would give them time to mobilize and to get NATO units on the move. BTY: we had nukes back at the base in Hersfeld ;)

[@robjackson1273]

And wee would have kicked as much. A-- as we could or went down swinging with the last defiance!

[@robjackson1273]

This from hhc 4 th bgd 4th inf div hhc company

[@genegennusa196]

That's what Hawk Type nuclear wh where for ? 175 mile range

[@jgeur]

had'em in fulda too. it's probably why they never came across...crazy americans, they'll touch them things off too!!!

[@theDeitz]

Great to hear from a Brit ! You didn't state what year you served. Just the same check out my Graf video "Graf = Grafenwoehr Germany NATO 14th Armored Cavalry" and you will see some Brits I met while there. It was and still is super having you guy next to us. BTW I am still in touch via email and facebook with a English band that played at our EM club in 1966. Ref the 12 hours, we were just a speed bump for the Russians ...

[@steveo7767]

Philipstahl?

[@joachimwenz557]

Philippsthal is on the former western side right adjacent to Vacha just separated by the Werra river.

[@steveo7767]

@@joachimwenz557 Ja richtig. Ich erinnere mich an einen ausflug nach Phillpstahl. Ich liebte es, in Deutschland zu sein und hatte sogar eine deutsche freundin, fur die ich gerne in Deutschland geblieben ware.

[@joecanedo9413]

126 trans co 1966 to may 1968

[@theDeitz]

@wlh1usa Goosebumps I understand ;-} Do you know about wildfleckenveterans com web page? So many GI that were there did not know about the less than 20 minutes part. Guess they didn't want to spook us ... lol now, not then. Thanks for sharing your story thedeitz com

[@stevebrown4985]

72-73 I troop

[@fbjailburdjr2144]

How Battery 1/11 ACR

[@sebastianrosner772]

Hi Neon, which missile site was that? Meet us on our homepage at Point Alpha Stiftung (google it) Regds Volker Bausch,Director Point Alpha Foundation

[@theDeitz]

Sebastian is this you link: pointalpha (dot)com

[@theDeitz]

Some New Photos via kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqialpx6bKaefsk