Been reading the site for a while and saw a few folks that I served with, like Gordon Lamb. I was in 1/333 FA from 81-84 in SVC and Alpha Battery with some time at BN Staff when I made CPT. Got out after leaving West Germany in 84, but ended up back in the reserves, not in Artillery, for the next many years retiring in December of 2005.

I really like the saying at the bottom of the web site, you know it just fit so well, I used in a slide show for my retirement. Took out the names and such, but I really like it.

"As I look back now, a lot of years later, I realize my time in the Army was the happiest time of my life. God knows not because I liked the Army and there sure wasn't nothing to like about a war. I liked it for the most selfish reason of all: Because I was young. We all were. I really didn't like most of those guys then. But today, I love every damn one of them. Life is weird you know."

A lot of you guys have covered the barracks and assignments far better than I ever could after only 3 years, especially as an LT, but I thought I might throw out some names, a few funny things that happened to me and see what you think.

When I was at Camp Pieri, LTC Yarger, the boot, was on the hill. I ran pretty well, so that was fine. Later, LTC Wolf was the BN Commander. I guess I needed to do better, and either I did and/or LTC Wolf seemed to know I could figure stuff out, so the last year or so agreed with me a whole lot more. LTC Yarger had a lot of right ideas I think, somehow I think his ideas ended up into a bad delivery, but I could have done a lot better also earlier on - like most of us.

One of the funnier stories was with my platoon sergeant, Maurice Cadden. He had met two English girls, Linda and Michele. I forget where, I thought it might have been Crete, but then one year they were in his apartment when we returned, so I don't know. Anyway, they were really pretty funny. I remember them getting jobs up at the golf course and over time wondering where they were living. Well, it turns out they were living in tents, borrowing some electric, out back of the club. Well, I thought it was pretty funny. Michele worked as one of waitresses and if we gave her too hard of a time, she would get worried about her boss firing her. I want to say they or one of them went to a kibutz in Isreal for a while and then came back, but who knows.

I remember the first trip to Crete in 81. I was sold. We took one of the bus tours that went around the island. The movie "Ten" with Bo Derek had only come out a couple of years before. All I can remember is when we stopped at the far South end of the island at some resort, it had caves and a beach just like the movie. I was in shock.

Although not so funny, I think on the next trip, in 82 the day before we were leaving, and you know this was a long time ago, the guys had started or kept the celebration drinking going. So by around 9/10 in the morning a few guys were totally trashed. Well, the really bad part was that Hawkins was up on the flat roof doing this. So most of us are sleeping in some, and my platoon sergeant, SSG Goulet comes into my room saying I have to go now. I keep saying to him what's the big deal. Well the big deal was Hawkins was so drunk, he did a back flip off the roof into the walkway. After they carted him to the Greek Hospital in Souda, I thought I was done for, but in the end, the Germans who had just arrived, took me down and I guess Hawkins was so drunk, he was loose, he broke some teeth, but otherwise just needed a few days and some stitches to recover in the hospital. Well no more hanging out on the roof.

On another trip to Crete with SSG Cadden, the military guys, yes I mean our military guys, were cracking down and we were told that we couldn't take our M880 pickup truck to the beach, well where we wanted to go - the other way out of the gate. SSG Cadden hated no for dumb reasons. He kept at it and the permanent party guys said it was because the truck was painted camouflage. Well, the hunt was on. Later I found SSG Cadden hand painting the 880. He had found some of the Navy guys on the main base and they had given him green paint and well, the 880 wasn't camouflage painted anymore and we did go to the beach.

Yet another trip to Crete, I think we were with 63rd Ordnance, not 563rd across the street from us, but 63rd from Hanau, the organizational level missile maintenance guys I think. Anyway, they were trying to impress the English girls on a remote beach. So, yet again someone wakes me up, now late at night, turns out 63rd's 880 with the shelter on back is stuck at the surf line at the beach. So a couple of us get in our 880 and go on down. Sure enough right at the surf line. And we didn't have any tow chains. Well, we decided to start taking off the shelter tie down cables and must have found some other stuff and pulled them out, only took a few seconds, they weren't buried really. I could appreciate impressing the English girls, but we had to have a talk about the portable hotel room the next week. I think one of the guys or one of the guys from 563rd actually did marry one of the English girls the next year.

Our PBO, Chief Thomas was a great guy but a real card. I remember him up most of the time when we had created the S4 TOC. We had some old van body that slid into the back of one of the 2 1/2 tons. I guess by that time in his career, the Chief was over spending 2 weeks in the field at a whack. Actually it was a pretty good setup and not a bad idea.

I remember the era of the buildups and when the notice came to tear them down. Anything you built on a vehicle had to fit within the canvas. In the end worked out ok, but there were some masterpieces that were destroyed. Not to mention the "no hardtop" rule under LTC Yarger, I think that killed the maintenance guys, who had worked so hard over years to get those hardtops.

Some of the guys I knew, I know it will be different as an officer, but here goes. Bill Fagan kind of took me under his wing. Bill was pretty gruff, in some ways, but in the end a great friend and most important, you knew what he was thinking and he didn't BS you - he was a real person. My first platoon sergeant in SVC Battery was Joel Anderson, a Germany lifer, until he got orders to be part of one of the new MLRS units back in the States. Although I didn't serve with him, SSG Soloman was someone who helped me out, as well as - SFC X, well I can't remember his name now, but he hung out and ran with Soloman, used to be with ASA, Cadden bought his black Trans Am and I bought the Gold one. There was SFC Stewart, SGT Everton, LT Rich Longo, LT Alan Bork, LT John Deighan and LTC Yargers secretary, Diane, who married Rich Longo.

My first several staff duty assignments started me wondering if I had a curse. We either had an alert, a piss test or some other problem every time I had staff duty. In the end it helped, I had to know how to do more stuff. One of the best guys I served with, think he had suffered a heart attack a few years before I arrived and was still on limited duty, another blank on the name, but he worked in S2, E7 - not the guy who ran away. When we started the civilian guard force, he worked that non-stop and helped make it successful. Later, he had the chance to move on and he went over the 12th CAG at Lindsey Air Station to be a First Sergeant.

I remember the unit being out in the field for a big V Corps exercise and I got sent to Frankfurt to see what Corps was up to. For some reason I had met the guys in Maneuver Control, you know the ones that granted the convoy clearances. Well, the big guys were going out to observe the convoys and I already knew that we were taking some shortcuts. The NCO's treated me pretty good, and made sure we were left alone. A good thing as some other BN did end up in trouble, don't remember if a wrecker was going full speed or something, but I didn't need the grief. Well, I got the grief later. Prior to the exercise, I think some of you may remember the loose spare tire episodes, you know tires falling out of the holders into German traffic. Well, Corps was checking vehicles and don't you know, the commo rig that went with me to Corps had a loose spare - so I heard about that.

Some other names, a great motor sergeant, SFC Erlich. Our Motor Warrant, Mr. Kent, who got in a fair amount to trouble, but just really someone I liked, who knows why. Two other good motor sergeants that helped me out, SGT Olympia and SGT or SSG Rodney Button, I think I have that names right, by 84 he was the motor for Alpha Battery.

Who can forget SFC Ford from the Survey Team. SFC Ford was always at the Auto Shop helping everyone fix their car. How about SFC Tanner, also from survey, I think his family's house caught on fire in Crestview(?) and he was running around the street naked.

One of our female soldiers got caught with her boyfriend in the shower and I guess I just had a friendly face (Not always good for a LT.) and she called me at the Q. The Battery Commander was out, I think it was CPT Skulas, so I got with the First Sergeant and we ended up putting her on permanent extra duty as punishment - well she had a month or so before she got out and went home, so it seemed fair to me. Later, I think it was COL Yarger, "talked" to the First Sergeant, something to the effect that he should have known better than to let me decide the punishment. I thought scraping old wall paper was just about right. How upset was I going to get - the point got made.

Last for a while, SFC Rodendello the other Alpha firing platoon sergeant, had teeth problems. Well, he never told me how severe, but all I remember is him leaving for a dental appointment to have all his teeth pulled. I don't know, but still in your 30's, I would think you could keep some of your teeth. Still leery of military dentists to this day.

I tried to get the names right, hope you get a laugh over something.

Thanks

Mike Hall

Great story man, really stirs up the old memory. Camp Pieri was an awesome place, only those who were stationed there could understand.

Hey man ... interesting story. I know a Dianne Longo. Met her at Sill with her hubby, think he was a LTC if not mistaken. Is this the couple you were talking about? By the way, Giessen 3-79 (83-86)

wow,what memories.I was in a-btry in 83-84 with gordon lamb and sfc rodendello.What about my good friend terry baldwin or tim hoda? those were the days.There was also a guy we called punk rocker,I don't remember his name but he was lamb's room mate.There was also Horner,Gil Cowen,Fujimoto,walter green.I can go on and on.these are all good things to bring up at the reunion next month,but i can't attend this year.

The punk rocker you were referring to is the one and only "Dumpster Diver" John Kinick.

To CPT Hall,

I remember you vaguely. I worked for SFC Rodandello. He was my Platoon Sergeant and I was the section chief. I think you were the tall skinny lieutenant at that time. I pulled SDNCO with you a couple of times.

ken,all these names being thrown out there,they all bring back memories.what ever happened to ssg green? i know where terry baldwin and tim hoda are but what about the rest? we need to come up with a database to get all the names and addresses.i'm just not smart enough to figure out how to do it.did you know about the lance reunion they just had? i could not attend but you can bet i will be at the next one.i think ed jackson stired up something in us to renew our interest in our freindships.one more name to jog your memory,jerry derk,we were all good freinds at sill but i have not heard from him in years.i'll call you in a few days

hi
anybody know what happen to mark brodesser, david ward, candido torres, timothy woodcock, tony belushi, ? weaver,lt brian martin, wilbert white, keoni hatchie.i been in contact with david stafford and had for a while contact with jose pulido they were supply in 86-87.its funny how you can see the faces but just can't put the name with it.i was there from 84-feb.87. married a german woman so i had to extend. a lot of my photos and my souveniers from the crete trips and many other things were lost when the army shipped them. the army paid me for them but you guys know they couldn't replace the memories. if anyone has pictures from that time frame i would be grateful if you can e-mail me some. i'm still looking for people as i find them i will point them to the site. ed PS lost the photos still have the german woman HAHAHAHAHA

Mike,

The memories are there but with age goes the memory. I see a lot of faces but can't recall the names. I do recall SSG Dickerson from first fire. Has anyone heard from him? I last heard that he was at Fort Hood and retired from there. How do I get in touch with Terry Baldwin and Tim Hoda? I do remember these 2 guys. SFC Rodandello got assigned to Alaska with MLRS as a first sergeant and retired at Lawton. He was driving trucks the last time I located him. He also got divorced from his wife. He should have taken better care of her. She was a good and loyal lady. Email me with information on Terry and Tim.

ken,i just got your message.terry's address is 302 bus.37 butterfeild,mo.his phone # is 1-417-442-7848.he lives about 4 hrs. away from me.tim's address is 10836 old fort bayou rd. vancleave,ms. his phone # is 1-228-826-1624.i tryed to contact him after katrina hit but i didn't find him until recently,i just have not had a chance to call him yet.i go through spells when i have crs syndrone,but there are some that left a lasting mark on my life.that is how i can remember the names and faces that i do.maybe now we can keep this going and have a mini reunion at some point.

"He also got divorced from his wife. He should have taken better care of her"

Who the hell are you to judge...dick.

Got it Mike. I think I will try to contact them this week and find out what's been up with them. I didn't realize that Tim was so close to me. I'll have to arrange a get together and go out for a few drinks.

ken,tim lived in biloxi before katrina hit.he installs x-ray equipment for g.e. or some big company like that.do you remember dwayne cranmer?he had just made e-4 when i left.

Yeah Mike I do remember Dwayne. As a matter of fact, I kind of remembered him when Hoda came to mind. They used to hang out together.

ken wasnt it dwayne cranmer that got severly sun burned in crete,ended up getting realy sick with sun poisoning.my memory is telling me he ended up staying in crete in the hospital and flew back later?

No Jack,

It was Larry Walls that got sun burned in Crete.

guess my memory was messing with me . getting old ha ha

yea, htose were the good ole days.on my second trip to crete,i was in aschaffenburg,i was in a-btry,1/80 th,a&t toby smith and i feel asleep on the beach in chania and we were bad blistered.we were so bad we didn't think we were going to make it to pop's for the party.

Hey Mike and ED,

You know that nobody missed the party at pop's for any reason. And Ed, I think I got a few years on you. I am getting old....lol

ken,i know what you mean.but i do remember some guys passing out in the ditch on the way back to the compound.

ken&mike i recall someone throwing up violently all over the back of a brand new taxi in crete. im talking nothing left for the driver to do but head to a car wash and hose the puppy out it was so bad . iwish i could recall who it was? i remember laughing so hard i almost hurled the driver was going to call the police so we got out of dodge. we could still hear him screaming you @#$$^^@##$americans when we were a half mile away. my god what fun if we could only go back in time and do it again.

ed,i don't know who it was but i could see that happening to a number of peaple that were with us.mike

crs syndrome?i had never heard of such.sounds like myself too.i just called it brain farts.very frustating too.

So how is Camp Pieri now days? 16 years ago it was the time of my life. Had lots of friends in Wiesbaden. Talked to the released hostages at the hospital next to the A.A. Hotel and was there during a visit from Jimmy Carter at the airbase. I think I still have a bottle of Asbach in the basement from down the hill. The Visit to Crete was the best. Hope you have as good of a time as I had. Good luck to you all at Pieri.
Eli

Sorry for the typo...It was 26years ago not 16............

camp pieri is now just a great memory that most of us share.the barracks are now used for dorm rooms or something.the usaf hospital is closed,which i thought was a shame considering it's history and what else can be said about ansbach and crete those were the days mike

It has been 20 years since I left Wiesbaden. Camp Pierre is a great memory that will always be there to reflect on. I had a great military career and "The Hill" was a big part of it. I remember the Amelia Earhart on Friday nights (country night). Spent a great time with all of my friends and even got into a few brawls outside when the Jack Daniels made me 10 feet tall and bulletproof. I can proudly say I never lost a fight. I had a great time in Wiesbaden and a lot of great friends. Too bad it has all been closed down. The people of today would have enjoyed it.

I have been reading all of these blogs about Camp Pierre and not once have I seen the term "Triple Threat". How many of you remember that when we saluted an officer the greeting was "Triple Threat"? As I look back on the times, I salute all who were assigned to "The Hill" and a very loud and boisterous "Triple Threat"......Ken

yea ken,i still refer to the triple threat to people on the street when we talk about where we have been.but when there is someone out there that knows what it feels like to wake up and look out those windows at the end of hall and what a view of that valley.you feel like you are on top of the world.i seem to remember several times when the jack had nothing to do with you feeling 10 feet tall and bullet proof.that must have been just for the best of friends because you were like that at sill also. mike

ken as for the amelia earhart on friday nights im thinking it might have been you that got me drinking screwdrivers?.and if you remember i got really good at it. that stuff will not only make you bullet proof you might even leave the place thinking your superman.been there thought that ha ha. as you know my wife is from wiesbaden so i still go back.camp pierre is now temporary housing for people immigrating to germany from other countrys is what i was told by the wifes cousins.wiesbaden has really changed since we all left sad to say there is a group that the germans call white russians they are actually having drive by shooting in the housing area my wifes cousin lives in right in dotzheim. which is just down the hill from camp pierre. remember when the area around wiesbaden was so clean not anymore last time i was back there was litter everyware. my wife even said she would not want to live there anymore and she grew up there. O well! YA STILL GOT TO REMEMBER ALL THE REALLY GREAT TIMES AND ALL THE REAL GREAT PEOPLE YOU HAD THE PRIVILAGE TO SPEND TIME WITH BOTH AT WORK AND PLAY.

ed,i have to agree,it was a pleasure to work with everyone on the hill.i have a fairly new picture of the area someone sent me from the reunion website,i will forward it to you and ken.

Hey Mike,

I would like to see pictures of "The Hill" as it stands today.

Ken

I'll email you a Google earth pic of Camp Pieri

Hey travis,

Got the picture. I could name every building for who was there. It brought back some memories. It to have remained pretty much the same as it was when we were there...

Hey I was at the Hill this summer some of the old Building still there yes The old Maint barricks with the SS Eagle Still out front all buildings turned into apts. Now they are slowly tearing them down to build new apartments But when we drove around HHQ Btry, A, B, & C Battery buildings still up and the NCO Club still up but like I said all apartments now. Send me some e-mail address and I will send pics I took

Robert, send all that you have and i will forward them.My e-mail address is gajeskim@yahoo.com

Hey Howell, I'd love to see the pics you have. I was on The Hill from 82-85.

Thanks man.

jonhiram@yahoo.com

John,

Sent you all that I have hope you enjoy let me know if you do not get them I will re-send to you!

Robert Howell