Incident at Waldeheid, Fort Red Leg 11 Jan 1985

[@dcalmond]

Thanks for posting this. I was an SP4 in HHSB and had just gone up for Redleg guard. I was laying on a cot in the front gate guard house waiting on my first shift when we heard the explosion. We knew you guys were back there assembling missiles and after the explosion someone said "what was that?" and someone else joked that Charlie Battery had exploded a missile. Several people laughed. No one had any idea it could be true. A couple of minutes later someone came in telling us the horrible news. We were all immediately sent out to the perimeter and pulled double shifts all night long. The snow was deep and it was really cold. One of my extra shifts was to guard the stage that had not exploded. It was late at night and the general was there doing a press conference. I was told that they weren't sure what had happened and this stage might explode at any moment so I was to challenge anyone who tried to come near. I remember questioning the sergeant who posted me about the dangers involved and he just looked at me and said "soldier, you are expendable." It's a lesson I never forgot. I didn't know the soldiers who were killed or injured but I still think about them from time to time. Thanks again for sharing your story and keeping their memory alive.

[@jamminjames9656]

I was stationed there ‘83-84’ and knew Sgt Leach really well. I just left there and saw this on the news when I got home. My prayers go out to all the families 🙏🏻. Thank you for telling the story.

[@goinloco1]

Thanks for sharing. I got to c55 early 87 and had heard but never got the full story. My gen shop was between the gate and the site where the accident happened.

[@jameshitchens9045]

Thank you for telling your story. I was assigned to B Co 55th Maintainance/ Support in May that year and heard of the tragedy that you speak of

[@jocazjoejo]

I was on guard duty(outside of our hanger-ish building) when I heard the boom. My platoon was the tech support for the missile system up at Redleg. C Co 55th Main Bat formerly I was short after extending another year, and this incident was very unfortunate. Im glad you made it out sir.

[@mitchellwise-mh8sq]

I was a subcontractor to Martin Marietta and went to Germany that summer to perform the modifications to the missile system after the accident. I helped build the Rupp Buildings at Red Leg where we performed the mods . I then spent the next year doing the mods to the missile sections there then spent some time in Frankfurt at EMC Hausen doing the Mods to the launchers. I had a great experience there and met some fantastic people. Too bad it was all because of this terrible accident. Thanks for sharing.

[@harrymallory7963]

Thanks for your story David. I was a SP4 with C 2/4 Infantry just returning to Badenerhof Kas from a site security tour on Waldheid when that happened. From the windows of my barracks I could look up and see various news helicopters circling the distant ridge line and for a couple of hours heard nothing more than this was a terrorist threat. Nobody down at BK knew what had happened and the phone lines to the SSCC were out. Hours later I found out from US civilian TV network thousands of miles away (via AFN) what had happened that day, when I was only 12 miles from the incident. Any way, thanks for posting your story.

[@calvinsherrod490]

Thank you for sharing. I was stationed there with C 2/4 Infantry in 1981. I wish you Wellness and Peace. RIP to the Brothers that Died that day!

[@jeffs2866]

I was at C 2/4 infantry from 1980 to 1982. I was in fourth platoon.

[@ugbroncosoccercoach]

David, thank you for this. That the first day in the unit for me and another Lieutenant. Charles Royce and I walked in that morning. Quite a time. I appreciate you recording your recollection.

[@dharstin]

Wow! You probably wondered what in the world you'd gotten yourself into. That was certainly a day we'll never forget. Which platoon were you and Lt. Royce assigned to? Have you ever visited the memorial? (I was about to invite you to join the Facebook group Pershing Missile Alumni that I co-founded with a couple of other 21Gs in 2009, but I see that you've been a member since 2014.)

[@ds8617]

Thank you so much for this. God bless you. I was there when it happened and was assigned to C Btry from 83 to 86. I new knew them very well. I was with Shirley when he passed. He was a great guy who had a great voice. He could really sing well. Sgt Zephier was always serious and had a soft spot when you got to know him. Ssgt. Leach was always fun to hangout with. His death hit me hard because he and and his wife just recently had a baby. I have a lot of stories, great stories about C btry and everyone. I will never forget that day.

[@dharstin]

D.S. If you knew Shirley, you probably knew me too. Are you a member of the Facebook group I co-founded in February 2009 Pershing Missile Alumni Group? If not, I encourage you to request to join. And I apologize for just now getting around to responding to your message. As you might expect, I always think about the events of that day and the people with whom I served this time of year. Grace & Peace!

[@sebastianperger1344]

For a fellow guy that was on 3rd 84th Charlie, is there any way I can get in touch with you? He is actively trying to get in touch with people from back then.

[@matthiasmaxx4158]

I can still remember well that January 11, 1985. I also was there at Waldheide as a German paramedic. Thank you for telling your story of that unlucky day.

[@richardchristian3380]

This operation had been scheduled for 4 Jan, the week prior, but the weather was just too snowy. I was invited there to watch by MMSO CWO Joe Truman, as our units at 1/81 FA were following 3/84 through all the PII issue and fielding operations, and I was MMSO at 1/81. I left one of our units at the Equipment Maintenance Center, Hausen in Frankfurt and went to meet Joe Truman at Waldheide. We walked through and visually inspected all the equipment, much of which was under tent cover. After a couple hours, Joe said Charlie Battery had cancelled training; they decided not to come up on Waldheide that day and that I should come back later in the week to watch the operations. Well, history was just as David has described. Weather was almost as bad the following week and I decided to stay in Neu Ulm. I got the word later that day from Joe Truman about the incident and it was not long until all our PII ELs and missile sections and those of 1/41 FA which were parked online behind our Battery HQ were placed off-limits to soldiers. Martin Marietta techs came later with ESD Electrostatic Detection Meters and anti-static solutions to spray on everything to conduct charges to ground immediately before anything was touched. The world of PII ops was changed forever.

[@mervinbrokke2495]

David, I am sorry that I didn't see your video when you posted it. I arrived in West Germany on 11 Jan 1985 and was assigned to 1-81 FA in Neu Ulm. I would like to talk to you about the accident and my platoon's firing of the 100th Operational Test Round at the Cape in May 1987. I can't imagine how you, your fellow Soldiers and their family members felt then and how they feel now.

[@dharstin]

Look me up on Facebook at facebook.com/dharstin/ Also, I invite you to join the private Facebook group Pershing Missile Alumni. Just be sure to answer all of the automated questions. I along with two of my BT and 21G AIT classmates, we founded the group in 2009. I see that you responded to my post five months ago, but I just now noticed it.

[@christiananderson2067]

I was in Delta 1/81 2nd Plt at the time that happened and remember all the wild scuttlebutt that was flying around at the time. Even seeing the official report many years later didn't give it the same stamp of reality that I got from you in the last 6 minutes by reliving it with you; I can now see it clearly in my minds eye. Thank you for your sacrifice, thank you for your service, and thank you for documenting your eye witness account for posterity my Pershing brother.

[@dharstin]

I'm proud to have served. Thank you for your service as well!

[@OpusBuddly]

15E30 B 3/9 Ft Sill and Green River. 2 good launches. Thanks for the upload David.

[@billcross805]

I never knew of this incident. Thanks for sharing. May you find peace. And RIP to the fallen soldiers.

[@davet3947]

David thank you I was in hhsb and recovered the vehicles with sp4 Seibel the next day I knew them all Shirley the best and Murphy who was injured I have tears in my eyes as I watch this I’ll never forget them. I married a German and we are still married today . I hope will be heading over next year GOD willing I want to go back and say goodbye properly.

[@dharstin]

I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to go back, and hope to go back in the next few years. Thanks for responding to my post. If you're not a member of the Pershing Missile Alumni Group on Facebook, I encourage you to look us up and request to join. I'm one of the three founders of the group, which we established in 2009. Our focus is on reconnecting and sharing memories.

[@davet3947]

@@dharstin David thanks I do not do facebook or social media sorry but Ill watch the youtube stuff;)

[@matthewrobl9659]

David, thank you for the story. I was in Charlie Battery as well.I was fortunate to be on guard duty that day at the front gate. I remember when the motor ignited and the white steam/exhaust rising from the area where the missiles were being assembled. Had no idea what happened initially and remember flagging the sergeant of the guard out of the barracks to out to see what was going on. I remember all three members who were killed in the accident. I also remember visiting Andre, I fail remember his last name, in the hospital. He had burns to the face and remember him covered with silvadene cream. I am sorry that I am having a hard time placing your face as I didn't get to know some of the battery members as I spent my last 3 months at BK on UP gate guard duty. Thanks again for posting this video.

[@dharstin]

Was Andre a black guy? If so, I believe was holding one of the guide ropes. His MOS was not Pershing either. I think he was a truck driver. I think he asked to be moved out of Pershing.

[@matthewrobl9659]

@@dharstin I remember him, but that was not the Andre I was talking about. We were under Sergeant Glover.

[@FedralBI]

Thanks for posting this up. I joined Pershing in '87 as a 15E, and this story was running around as a cautionary tale, but no one explained this clearly. I'm glad that this is up as a testament to those brothers that we lost.

[@dharstin]

My German cousin was with me and my wife when we visited there in August 2018. He put me on the spot to give this off the cuff account of the incident. It was my first time back to Germany since ETS'ing in 1986 and my first time to visit the memorial. It was moving to have been there again, and I hope to go again with my whole family. Waldheide is a beautiful recreational park today, a place of peace.

[@DavidLee-rx6uo]

I arrived in C Co 55th Support Bn Nov 86-July 89. The times I spent at Red Leg I never got to see the spot. Thank You for sharing .

[@MEDICGDP]

D Battery 3/84 56FA Brigade I was at AK in commo platoon from 83-85 Remember this day well. Guard duty at the back gate.

[@NexxuSix]

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. I was with the last of the P1-A’s at Von Stuebon CAS when this incident occurred. We were stunned by the news... and knew that our mission had changed that day.

[@trishorb]

Bless You Brother! And Bless the three soldiers we lost that day.I was at AK from 87-90 D 4/9 Pershing. I remember being on guard duty and looking at the memorial plaque for these soldiers when we did our rotations at Red Leg. I always wondered what had transpired that dreadful day.

[@dharstin]

Glad you found it.

[@MudlangenTango]

Sorry for your loss. D Btry 1/41st. I remember standing where you are now after the incident before the moved the MAN truck and the other equipment. I remember the fence line and trees being in direct line of sight.

[@toddrathier9977]

Hi David, Thank you for posting this. Wow! that airfield has filled in. I was 1st platoon 21G at the time in the PTS right next to the missile. I was friends with all 3 that died. SSG Leach was at my house the night before having a brew. I worked on Shirley that day as he was closest, I'm surprised to hear that he died of a head injury. When I got to him he couldn't breathe right and had taken the impact to the chest which I was pretty sure broke all his ribs so his lungs weren't compressing right. All this time I thought I could have done something more for him, when it turned out to be a head injury that got him. I'm still feeling all the emotion. Does anyone know what happened to PFC Johnson? I worked on him too, up until liftoff with the German paramedics. He was burned over most of his body, initially my platoon leader said he died, but word came down that he didn't and was on his way to Sam Houston. I just wondered how his recovery went. Rest in peace my brothers.

[@dharstin]

Thanks for your response, Todd. I did not know Johnson, only that a soldier had been taken back to the states. If memory serves me correctly, I don't believe he was a part of 3rd PLT or even with C BTRY. I have no recollection of the details of Shirley's injuries, only that I was told that his cause of death was a head injury. As you suggest, other injuries may have contributed to his death, as well. My late friend Keith Hardin, the medic I refer to in the video, found the remains of Todd Zephier. He told me that his body was under the launcher and the top part of his body from mid chest "was just gone." I hope to return to the memorial in 2022. I'd really like for my daughters to visit it and meet our newfound German cousins. That's another story and the one that afforded me the trip in 2018: www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/6525-view-the-match-solving-the-mystery-of-a-doughboy-grandfather-and-celebrating-a-family-reunion.html

[@georgekahler2618]

Thank you for doing this David, it is important for history.

[@jeffs2866]

I was stationed at Charlie Company 2/4 Infantry from 1980 to 1982. If anybody is interested, a book was written about Charlie Company. It’s called SAT and BAF memories of a tower rat.

[@markgwinn2383]

Good evening David, I was with C Battery 3/84 56FA Brigade during that time. Sgt Leach was a friend of mine. Kinda surreal seeing this. I’ll try to make contact. Mark Gwinn

[@dharstin]

Did you and I know each other?

[@mikthom57]

I was on AK when this happened, remember this well,.

[@jmarlow2153]

I always wondered if the round was binding in the can...can't tell you how many times we did that operation in B Battery 2/9th Schwabish-Gmund. We accepted our PIIs a year ahead of you.

[@dharstin]

Binding or catching was common. It simply meant that the crane was not quite centered on the motor. The crane operator would simply lower the motor and adjust. This particular motor had an internal defect. I believe I said in my video that we noticed a bind, lowered the motor, and began to make the lift again. That's when it ignited. We had already assemble two missiles that day.

[@davidfarmer9816]

I was there securing the area the following day,never forget

[@gadget850]

For more details see the article I wrote on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pershing_II#1985_explosion

[@dharstin]

Hey Ed. Sorry I just noticed your reply to my video. I've read your Wikipedia article. I also posted the official report as a Facebook note and pinned it to the top of the discussion in the Pershing Missile Alumni Group. facebook.com/notes/david-harstin/pershing-ii-motor-fire/10156803856603317/