One would fly overhead about every 60 seconds, remembers the professor emeritus of political science at Saint Louis University. "I initially was stationed in Korea. WebHere are our top 13 places to see while youre stationed in Germany: (click on any city name below to learn more) 1) Prague, Czech Republic. Country western music blared all over Saigon, Lomperis said. Vietnam has come to symbolize certain things that arent necessarily true. WebDuring the Vietnam War, the U.S. Air Force used C-123 aircraft to spray Agent Orange to clear jungles that provided enemy cover in Vietnam. The big problem was that Saigon was Sodom and Gomorrah. Some 20 years later, US President George W. Bush went to war with Iraq over its alleged program to develop weapons of mass destruction. They have rock climbing, paddle boarding, BBQ grills, a restaurant, hiking trails, and more. I think I never knew, or know even today, of any Vietnam-era vets I would not embrace as brothers. When I left Korea, the first thing I did when I got to Germany was to find Special Services, which happened to be right next to my barracks," Hitt recalls. 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. Troop Deployment, 1950-2003 With pressures on USAREUR in the mid-1970s to reduce the size of its headquarters and budget, the command asked the Corps of Engineers to take responsibility for military construction in the theater. 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. Like suburban sprawl, the largest American bases just kept getting bigger, Lair said. Vietnam War Over the years the US Army has become firmly entrenched in the German landscape. 2) Amsterdam, The Netherlands. So many servicemen came home and saw how the story (of the Vietnam War) was being told. The guys with the beer with hot food and hot showers, Appy said. 7) Cologne, Germany. Lomperis served two tours of duty in Vietnam in the Army and Defense Intelligence Agency. Another difference was the sense of solidarity he felt. The band formed while its members were stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. There are different degrees of experience. Combat veterans offered a truly unique and special contribution to the war, but that doesnt mean it wasnt a sacrifice for people who served as support, Lair said. 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. For guys drafted during Vietnam, what really were the odds they would be sent to Vietnam as opposed to remaining stateside, or sent to Germany or Korea? This lasted for 5 months, then we were told, Okanawa. The King of Rock 'n' Roll, as Elvis Presley would eventually become known, was drafted in as a soldier and began his military service in Germany in 1958. 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.. East of Underground was one such band a multiracial, seven-piece group stationed in Germany at the tail end of the Vietnam War. It was a game of cat and mouse that almost turned deadly when he was nearly killed by some drunk Vietnamese soldiers, Lomperis said. Adopting a variety of organizational arrangements, including an engineer command from 1966 to 1974, USAREUR and its engineers attempted to find the most efficient and effective means to use the scarce resources available for construction and maintenance. Ammunition storage facility, Heilbronn, West Germany (left); Sign up for a new account in our community. 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. You made a deal in Saigon, and the car arrived in Lawrence, Kansas, said Lomperis, who bought himself a $30 radio cassette player during the war, brought it home and kept it until about 2000. He remembers his commanding officer Abrams as a political genius who turned the war around.. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. After that, the search was on for as many of these Army bands as they could find. The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they have been for the past 40 years. 5) Venice, Italy. He says it was completely random, some bodies had to go to 7th Army and his lucky number came up. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Air Force used C-123 aircraft to spray Agent Orange to clear jungles that provided enemy cover in Vietnam. Boy, I thought I had it made, Shkurti said with a small laugh. Regardless of how we each served, part of our soul was left in that place with those who never came back alive, and with those who suffered and died after, and we should be honored for our collective loss if for no other reason. The rule was to always go out in groups of two or three, but I often went by myself unarmed. 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. Youre in the hot seat. I was in Boston when the Chelsea fire occurred in October 1973, received a meritorious unit citation for fighting the fire that consumed a large portion of Chelsea 18 blocks one way, 16 blocks another. 800-829-4833, Veterans Crisis Line: 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. Only about one out of seven were combat troops, said historian Chris Appy, history professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Being Stationed in Germany Heavily guarded Pershing-II rockets were brought to the US base in Mutlangen in 1983. With two sons already in the war, they felt I should not go. David Hollander produced the compilation. She served me milk and cookies, and we have been together now for 44 years, Thornton said. I assisted a medical officer suture up a Marine after a bar fight who was so drunk he didnt need an anesthetic. Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy urges more effective air defense, Ukraine: Russia continues to target civilian sites, Ukraine's counteroffensive: Goals, opportunities, risks. 3) Paris, France. Their silence carried a message and concealed the fact that many veterans served in the rear echelon and not in combat capacity, Lair said. The Office of History, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Army Center of Military History jointly published this book,Building for Peace: U.S. Army Engineers in Europe, 1945-1991 written by Robert P. Grathwol and Donita Moorhus. That led to deep divisions between Washington and Berlin. 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. I volunteered for the draft and was sent to Ft. Lewis, Wa. I was going for many reasons, but the most important was to close a chapter of history I felt needed closing, Thornton said. Thornton returned to school later in life and is now finishing his doctorate in business administration in the field of cross-cultural competency and conflict management. I had surgery shortly after the fire, then spent convalescent leave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were the rear echelon. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. Tomorrow is too unpredictable, especially during deployment, he said. Germany They gave up their lives back home. If I am sad about anything Vietnam-war, it is how other global players view that period of history when compared to the American perspective. They were clerk typists, cooks, drivers. Most of his time was spent protecting government buildings from Vietnam War protesters. None would be here if Vietnam never happened, so it creates bittersweet feelings but no regrets, Thornton said. I was able to get into a band there. Youth activity centers in Germany included this facility in Wiesbaden. Soldiers bought goods with their ration cards, which were punched when purchases were made, Lair said. In-depth strategy and insight into critical interconnection ecosystems, datacenter connectivity, product optimization, fiber route development, and more. Napoleon said, An army marches on its stomach, and the U.S. military followed his advice. 7th Army in particular suffered heavily, especially with loses of combat arms NCOs Then To prop up sinking morale and keep soldiers safe on base rather than heading into Vietnamese towns, the U.S. military strove to make bases as home-like as possible, Appy said. Opposition to the war made military personnel band together. They wore fatigues and carried M16s. Eventually Shkurti was sent to Vietnam and served as an artillery officer with B Battery 2 / 35th Artillery at Fire Support Base Lanyard on the Cambodian border in 1970-71. However, their wartime ally, the Soviet Union, soon became an enemy. Six out of seven served on bases. WebThe United States Army has 40 military installations in Germany, two of which are scheduled to close. But that tradition was set on its ear back in the late 1960s and early '70s, when the PFCs stationed overseas formed their own pop bands. During the war, these men felt like they were part of the military endeavor, but its not what the public celebrates. The rockets, armed with nuclear warheads, became a political issue. They also ate pretty well. Since his older two brothers were already serving in Vietnam he was not allowed to go. Find out if you qualify for VA health care. People dont understand how consequential the decisions were that were being made at headquarters, he said. Brutal tactics were the norm during the Vietnam War, and no one suffered more than the Vietnamese themselves, both in the North and the South. One strong memory I have is how tough it was for the families, Thornton said. Its ironic because we were there to protect them. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY It's easy! I am focused on peace and conflict reduction on a global and local scale, he said. When we graduated we lined up in front of a building that you entered one at a time on one side and after getting your paper work you exited out the other side. 4) The Alps Swiss, German or French. was told," you are going to Germany, get your wives in german class". A rare photo of East of Underground in performance. This is the official public website of the Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Anyone who served in the military during the war faced the possibility of being sent to Vietnam, though. The American military presence in Germany began at the end of World War II. From the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991, Army Engineers played a key role in providing the facilities for arming, supplying, training, and housing American soldiers and airmen and their families in Europe. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis. Patches, In 1968 you could volunteer for the draft and serve 2 years active duty. There were Viet Cong all over the place, but if you were street-smart you stayed safe, Lomperis said. Supercharge your procurement process, with industry leading expertise in sourcing of network backbone, colocation, and packet/optical network infrastructure. I ask this because many guys of draft age enlisted, enlisted specifically for three years to chose their MOS, and in a great many cases avoid serving in South Vietnam. 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 Thanks, your message has been sent successfully. Once we got our orders, the guy Just below me went to Germany. 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. 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. I expected it would be worse in Vietnam, but it was a more satisfying experience, Shkurti said. At the end of the spraying campaign in 1971, the remaining C-123 planes were reassigned to reserve units in the U.S. for routine cargo and medical evacuation missions spanning the next 10 years. Active duty personnel who served in a regular USAF unit location where a contaminated C-123 was assigned who had regular contact with the aircraft through flight, ground, or medical duties between 1969 and 1986, and who developed an Agent Orange related disability. Stationed Still, a ration card would allow personnel to buy $2,000 to $3,000 worth of goods, she said. After the defeat of Germany, the relatively small American force in Europe was preoccupied with the administration and reconstruction of their former foe. They were touted as filling an important gap in NATO's deterrent shield against the Warsaw Pact. One of the biggest lessons Dr. But as the confrontation between the Soviet Union, our former ally, intensified with the Berlin blockade and the outbreak of the Korean War, American leaders grew fearful that the next target of international communism was Western Europe, which contained our most important democratic allies and a rapidly rebuilding capitalist economy. He served as budget director for the state of Ohio from 1985 to 1987. ". Its important for people to know they exist. They were also stationed in Germany, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Korea, Guam and the continental United States. He is seen here waving to his fans at Bremerhaven train station. Reservists who were assigned to flight, ground, or medical crew duties at the following locations between 1969 and 1986, and who developed an Agent Orange related disability. Engineers and USACE remained in Europe, still proud of their contribution to defending Western Europe and ending the Cold War. The cover of East of Underground's self-titled LP. 7th Army in particular suffered heavily, especially with loses of combat arms NCOs Then there was the two infantry brigades in Alaska, the 171st and 172nd, both gave up one battalion each for transfer to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii before it left there for South Vietnam, two full battalions had to be raised to replace the ones sent away. Many veterans struggled with feeling that their experience didnt measure up. 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. In 1972 Thornton enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 17 and trained to be a hospital corpsman. In November Thornton journeyed to Da-Nang, Vietnam, with his wife as a keynote presenter at the Asia Pacific Mediation Forum. The enemy was the Soviet Union and the other signatories of the Warsaw Pact, including the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany. Its kind of like playing goalie for a soccer team. Vietnam War 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. You could watch The Beverly Hillbillies, Appy said. It was a huge fire. An Army in Crisis He attributed it to where he happened to be standing in a formation. Their lot was really rugged, Lomperis said. We had an Infantry MOS Soldiers on one of our Sheridan Tanks. Because he was one of the last there in that formation and those three went to the ROK. 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. 6) Berlin, Germany. Responding to these concerns, VA asked the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) (formally known as the Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study possible exposure and increase in adverse health effects in C-123 crew members. There werent enough NCOs (non-commissioned officers), not enough support or spare parts. Even before Erhard succeeded Konrad Adenauer as West Germany's second chancellor, the conflict in Vietnam had Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. 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. In addition to meeting locals, walks off-base could provide valuable intelligence. Pew Research Center No matter where veterans served in Vietnam, they were a close witness to danger. 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. Don't forget Panama and Alaska, Alaska itself in that time period had two Infantry Brigades separate stationed there. They worked in intelligence. The high rate may have been attributed to our being an Infantry MOS, but the only way you didn't go to Vietnam was because of the above reasons. 1. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). File a claim online. East of Underground was one such band a multiracial, seven-piece group stationed in Germany at the tail end of the Vietnam War. You had no say in what your MOS would be. Not enrolled in the VA health care system? During the war, in-country combat and support troops could be identified on sight, said author Timothy Lomperis, who served two tours of duty in Vietnam in the Army and Defense Intelligence Agency. "I met the singers and the other players and we got together and played, and it just kind of all meshed together.". There were more prostitutes than bureaucrats, and every kind of club and bar from high-class to low-class. Everyone else went directly to Vietnam, or a few were sent to Ft. Benning to attend the NCO School or Airborne Training. Well, one. 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. Im also more respectful of what servicepeople endure. He never carried a gun because if he was shot, the enemy soldier could have claimed it was self-defense, he said. 3. Home was tough because my parents did not agree with my volunteering. WebAs 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. They would tell him not to go down certain streets because it wasnt safe, so you would know something was brewing there, Lomperis said. American expenditures on construction in Europe declined sharply. At the end of his service, Shkurti was an executive officer with the 6th Armored Cavalry at Fort Meade, Maryland. I talked to many men who felt sheepish that they didnt have those (combat) stories to share, Lair said. Our AIT class in 1971 at A.P.G. WebThe Vietnam War exposed this problematic dimension in the U.S.-German relationship most dramatically. 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. 2. 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. I was in Infantry AIT at Ft. Polk Nov. 68-Jan 69. It's also a mystery what happened to the bands apart from Lewis Hitt, none of the members have come forward. The tensions between the two sides were demonstrated when US Army and Soviet Union tanks faced off in a divided Berlin. After discharge in 1976, Thornton took his 4-year-old daughter and pregnant wife home to her family and used the GI Bill to earn an a degree in allied health sciences from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. At least in our case. oakleaf777, The goal of keeping soldiers well-fed was that they would be happy, stay out of trouble and avoid vices like drugs or prostitution, she said. I would have been called a coward by others from the small town I grew up in, so I never considered not volunteering. The mood around the country was not good for the military, not like today with cheers and applause for returning members. "All the branches of the armed services have always included music as part of their mission. My close friend had a similar experience in 69-70. Abook describes and analyzes the important Engineer effort in Europe. C-123 Airplanes and Agent Orange Residue - Public Health have hearing loss. This is not about being negative or complaining, but simply having a balanced outlook for your transition. He now is an adjunct professor in the John Glenn College of Public Service. 2018 Petabit Scale, All Rights Reserved. I had an uncle that was drafted out of Brooklyn, NY. Based on the HMD report, VA has decided to acknowledge exposure to Agent Orange for personnel whose military service involved regular contact with the contaminated C-123 aircraft. We wore different uniforms. Even as the war drew down in 1975 and early 1976, the pressure was intense as huge numbers of men came home with addictions and injuries too horrible to really describe, Thornton said. Along with its allies, the US had liberated Germany from the Nazis. The Ramstein base is especially significant, since it is also headquarters of the United States Air Forces in Europe. This was because they had relatives (brothers) already serving in Vietnam. 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. Grafenwoehr is a tiny base compared to almost anywhere youve been stationed in the US. Hollander says it's not a mistake to read a hint of resistance into the band's repertoire. She was a USO (United Service Organizations) volunteer who entertained servicemen. Expert architecture and design solutions for private carriers, next-generation metro and long-haul optical networks, ultra low-latency networks, and Internet backbones. Lockbourne/Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Ohio (906th and 907th Tactical Air Groups or 355th and 356th Tactical Airlift Squadron), Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts (731st Tactical Air Squadron and 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, International Airport (758th Airlift Squadron). Your message has not been sent. Of his entire graduating platoon, only he and one other trooper were sent to West Germany, all the others got orders to RVN. 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. Germany "I've done my own searches on Google and so forth, but I cannot find anything," Hitt says. Today, he cautions people not to draw quick lessons from the war. 877-222-8387, TDD (Hearing Impaired) The stress of military life was constant. Veterans must show on a factual basis that they were exposed in order to receive disability compensation for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure. 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. I thought, hot dog, going to go relic hunting. One of the toughest parts of service was seeing people whose lives were ruined or lost because of the war, he said. The post exchanges, or PXs, rivaled todays big box outlets for variety and selection, Lair said. His unit in Germany lacked the leadership and necessities to get their job done, he said. Out of our entire class I believe two, maybe three guys got orders for Korea. He was stationed in Gillenhausen, protecting a valley called Folda Gap. Like all the other members, he was a draftee, and had come from a tiny town in Mississippi. For military intelligence officer Timothy Lomperis, the constant whup, whup, whup of helicopters flying overhead is one of many things that stand out in his mind about the time he spent helping make critical war decisions in Saigon serving under Gen. Creighton Abrams, commander of U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, from 1968 to 1972. I worked in an air-conditioned office and wore khakis, starched shirts, spit-shined shoes and a belt with a shiny brass buckle. I personally met over the years quite a few guys in my neighborhood that enlisted in the Army, 3 years like you said, interesting thing was that not one served in South Vietnam, even up to two duty station changes, in example serving in CONUS then Panama, etc, I recall one guy I met in a bar who enlisted for 3 1967-70, an Ordnance guy, said he served his whole three years after Basic (Bliss) and AIT (Aberdeen) as wheeled vehicle mechanic at West Point, you know in the regular army component at the academy. At the height of the Vietnam War, Ali refused induction into the United States Army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the conflict. Dave. "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.
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