The sky swarmed with helicopters. Life athome goes on without them, and it must have been difficult to navigate when they returned, she said. The U.S. has had personnel stationed in Germany and South Korea, two of its military allies, for several decades, yet the number of active-duty troops in each country is at a modern low. Why is Netflix pouring billions into South Korean shows? 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. Lomperis served two tours of duty in Vietnam in the Army and Defense Intelligence Agency. We had an Infantry MOS Soldiers on one of our Sheridan Tanks. He wasn't wealthy or connected in anyway and he also had an Infantry MOS and he was one of three soldiers out of his basic training platoon that went to the ROK. So there was a great need for personnel outside South Vietnam through out the entire period, and the refusal to mobilize the Reserves and National Guard only exacerbated the problem. Out of our entire class I believe two, maybe three guys got orders for Korea. Veterans must show on a factual basis that they were exposed in order to receive disability compensation for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure. But in Vietnam, the Cold War became an inferno. "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. The fatigues were faded and had rips. Grafenwoehr is a tiny base compared to almost anywhere youve been stationed in the US. Over 220 others have already been closed, mostly following the end of the Cold War in the 1990s. Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Army Staff Medal First Class and is the author of four books about Vietnam including The War Everyone Lost and Won.. Hollander says it's not a mistake to read a hint of resistance into the band's repertoire. Executing the construction program was a complex affair because American forces in West Germany had to use German construction offices and procedures to build facilities. I didnt carry a gun, Lomperis said. 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. There were Viet Cong all over the place, but if you were street-smart you stayed safe, Lomperis said. 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. We served honorably. The winners toured other military bases and made records. If you have health concerns about Agent Orange, talk to your health care provider or contact yourlocal VA Environmental Health Coordinatorto help you get more information from a health care provider. The thought of army music evokes a certain tradition say, trumpets and drums in the style of "Pershing's Own." 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. 8) Bruges, Belgium. The songs East of Underground played weren't your run-of-the-mill patriotic marches in fact, some of them included controversial lyrics about race and politics. Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy urges more effective air defense, Ukraine: Russia continues to target civilian sites, Ukraine's counteroffensive: Goals, opportunities, risks. The post exchanges, or PXs, rivaled todays big box outlets for variety and selection, Lair said. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, It's there to boost morale, it's there to provide entertainment and comfort for soldiers, it's there to sort of represent what the U.S. is musically, culturally to the rest of the world.". He also wrote the liner notes, which reveal a surprising fact: The U.S. Army spends an estimated $200 million a year on music, and is the largest single employer of musicians in the country. Find out if you qualify for VA health care. 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. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links. "Bear in mind that these bands were all engaged in a show band contest in 1971 and 1972, and the winners of the that contest would then be able to tour Europe, and would also record an LP in the Armed Forces Network studios in Frankfurt. 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. 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. Still, a ration card would allow personnel to buy $2,000 to $3,000 worth of goods, she said. Expert architecture and design solutions for private carriers, next-generation metro and long-haul optical networks, ultra low-latency networks, and Internet backbones. From sundries like razors and cigarettes, apple juice and chocolate milk to diamond jewelry and Rolex watches, stereos and kitchen appliances, servicepeople could buy just about anything even cars for their wives or girlfriends back home, said Lomperis. 1. Arriving in West Germany, was a shocking experience for the new Army recruit. 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. Thats not how the military works, though. That led to deep divisions between Washington and Berlin. 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. Outdoor Recreation Center. I know that was very dependent upon where you called home, but that was my reality, Thornton said. He never carried a gun because if he was shot, the enemy soldier could have claimed it was self-defense, he said. 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. You had no say in what your MOS would be. Huge streams of paperwork came through military intelligence offices that allowed Lomperis a birds eye view of the war and how it functioned. Engineers and USACE remained in Europe, still proud of their contribution to defending Western Europe and ending the Cold War. WebThe entirety of Germany was occupied and administered by the Allies of World War II from the Berlin Declaration on 5 June 1945 to the establishment of West Germany on 23 May 1949. 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. In-depth strategy and insight into critical interconnection ecosystems, datacenter connectivity, product optimization, fiber route development, and more. You could watch The Beverly Hillbillies, Appy said. Opposition to the war made military personnel band together. Along with its allies, the US had liberated Germany from the Nazis. They were clerk typists, cooks, drivers. Their lot was really rugged, Lomperis said. Its ironic because we were there to protect them. When we got home, everybody was the same, said Lomperis, a Saigon warrior who served in a support capacity at MACV (U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam), also known as mafia HQ or Pentagon East.. "I'm just amazed that [the band's] three singers didn't have hit records after they left the Army. The guys with the gear in the rear. He was with the 3rd Infantry Division in Schweinfurt. They also ate pretty well. He remembers his commanding officer Abrams as a political genius who turned the war around.. No matter where veterans served in Vietnam, they were a close witness to danger. Health Care I am focused on peace and conflict reduction on a global and local scale, he said. Knowing that the threat is so close by is an incentive for people to work together. Buddy C. Thornton learned from his military service was Always live for the day. 2) Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its kind of like playing goalie for a soccer team. 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. The cover of East of Underground's self-titled LP. Morale was bad, and there were racial problems, Shkurti said. It's also a mystery what happened to the bands apart from Lewis Hitt, none of the members have come forward. 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. You guessed it, my last name started with a T. Got a question 11Cav, during the Vietnam era/60s early 70s period, was there a difference between volunteering for the draft and outright enlisting? The report determined that it is possible that this exposure contributed to some adverse health effects. File a claim online. In response to this fear, the United States deployed large forces to West Germany. A rare photo of East of Underground in performance. The American military presence in Germany began at the end of World War II. 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. I was in Infantry AIT at Ft. Polk Nov. 68-Jan 69. have hearing loss. 5) Venice, Italy. Anyone who served in the military during the war faced the possibility of being sent to Vietnam, though. Instead of breaking them up, Army brass sent them on tour. David Hollander produced the compilation. Even before Erhard succeeded Konrad Adenauer as West Germany's second chancellor, the conflict in Vietnam had Vietnam has come to symbolize certain things that arent necessarily true. We wore different uniforms. As my husband likes to preach: expectation management.. During the era of the Vietnam War, American troops and facilities were neglected forcing Engineers to marshal their slender resources augmented by host nation contributions to keep American forces ready for war and take care of Army and Air Force personnel and their families. Only about one out of seven were combat troops, said historian Chris Appy, history professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Upon graduating, I was the only one in our Company sent to Ft. Knox Ky.. All of the other Draftees in our class stayed at Ft Lewis in Infantry. To make it even more complicated, just what is a combat veteran? They were the rear echelon. 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. Some people feel the term Vietnam veteran should refer only to those who served in Vietnam, but the U.S. government defines them all as Vietnam-era veterans according to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 any veteran who served on active duty during the official time frame of the Vietnam War (1961-1975). 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. Reflecting back, Im more skeptical whether a war of choice can help defend a country in the long run. WebThe United States Army has 40 military installations in Germany, two of which are scheduled to close. It was still no guarantee you wouldn't be sent to Vietnam and in some cases even be sent to do something else besides what you trained for. Especially from the minority groups, our black comrades, because they bore the brunt of the draft, were very unappreciated, and made the ultimate sacrifice above and beyond other groups, and for what? Thornton said. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis. Like all the other members, he was a draftee, and had come from a tiny town in Mississippi. 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. The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they have been for the past 40 years. Being a noncombatant doesnt mean they didnt feel scared, that there wasnt a looming sense of danger even onthe biggest bases that were considered safer areas, Lair said. In retirement he wrote Soldiering On in a Dying War focusing on the Vietnam drawdown and The Ohio State University in the Sixties.. This was because they had relatives (brothers) already serving in Vietnam. At least we all went to the same unit, one guy and I went through basic together. HMD found that Reservists who served as flight crew (pilot, navigator, flight engineer, and loadmaster), ground maintenance crew, and aero-medical personnel had regular contact with the aircraft, and would have experienced some exposure to chemicals from herbicide residue. You pull together under a common enemy, Shkurti said. 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. This large and rapid buildup required a tremendous amount of construction, carried out by Army Engineers and largely financed by occupied Germany. They were so talented, I just assumed they would have a contract with the first studio they walked into.". 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. Over the years the US Army has become firmly entrenched in the German landscape. 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. HMD released its report, Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft, Jan. 9, 2015. I served at the naval hospital in Chelsea, Massachusetts, for 18 months. 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.. His unit in Germany lacked the leadership and necessities to get their job done, he said. 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. Most of all, Army bands will strive to honor General George Washington's observation, "Nothing is more agreeable and ornamental than good music. In Germany the U.S. military was protecting West Germany against the threat of Russian invasion, but it wasnt imminent, Shkurti said. The big problem was that Saigon was Sodom and Gomorrah. It's kind of both complicated and disjointed, it was a struggle to be sure. Call: 988 (Press 1), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. Sign up for a new account in our community. They wore dirty boots and dog tags hanging around their necks. My close friend had a similar experience in 69-70. These facilities supported the large American and NATO forces stationed for almost fifty years on the front lines of the conflict between East and West, ready to confront a Soviet invasion. 800-829-4833, Veterans Crisis Line: Both Germany and Vietnam were on the front lines of the Cold War. My middle brother died five years ago from extended PTSD and the ravages of the drug addiction he endured while trying to cope with his memories from Vietnam. He could take that information back to the base. visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for more resources. 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. 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 Right, I got you, very interested to know that fine point. "So this was a very viable way to avoid active duty in Southeast Asia.". 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. This often creates barriers to their full integration into German society. Country western music blared all over Saigon, Lomperis said. The tensions between the two sides were demonstrated when US Army and Soviet Union tanks faced off in a divided Berlin. 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. 3) Paris, France. Well, one. When support servicemen crossed paths with combat troops, We felt guilty. One strong memory I have is how tough it was for the families, Thornton said. If youre stuck on the base for days on end, visit the Wild B.O.A.R. After that, the search was on for as many of these Army bands as they could find. There were more prostitutes than bureaucrats, and every kind of club and bar from high-class to low-class. The NATO maneuver Reforger I (Return of Forces to Germany) in Vilseck/Grafenwhr in 1969 was one of many joint war games held by the US Army and the Bundeswehr. Attention A T users. 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. Boy, I thought I had it made, Shkurti said with a small laugh. "I was shocked when I found that out myself, but it kind of makes sense," Hollander tells Guy Raz, host of weekends on All Things Considered. 3. Abook describes and analyzes the important Engineer effort in Europe. German Chancellor Gerhard Schrder, knowing the majority of voters supported him, ruled out Germany's involvement. You would think (serving in Germany) would be a great duty, but it wasnt.. 7) Cologne, Germany. They lived in an apprehensive state. Thanks, your message has been sent successfully. I worked in an air-conditioned office and wore khakis, starched shirts, spit-shined shoes and a belt with a shiny brass buckle. 2 weeks before we graduated they told us, " Class 17, RVN". 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. Additionally, not all Vietnam-era veterans served in-country. I think I never knew, or know even today, of any Vietnam-era vets I would not embrace as brothers. The book became the first volume in aCenter of Military History series, U.S. Army in the Cold War. Dave. A new compilation pulls together some of those old records it's called East of Underground: Hell Below. By Our AIT class in 1971 at A.P.G. 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. There werent enough NCOs (non-commissioned officers), not enough support or spare parts. It's from here that controversial drone missions are flown against targets in Africa and Asia. In Vietnam everyone knew everyone and what job they had. The stress of military life was constant. Most of his time was spent protecting government buildings from Vietnam War protesters. It was painful to even be around them. 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. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. 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. 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 volunteered for the draft and was sent to Ft. Lewis, Wa. Is it just the guy with the gun? 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. They deserve our respect. We have four children, plenty of grandchildren, both biological and through marriages, and five great-grandchildren. Not enrolled in the VA health care system? One of the toughest parts of service was seeing people whose lives were ruined or lost because of the war, he said. 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. So many popular movies feature the combat side of war ground combat or maybe the air war. He says it was completely random, some bodies had to go to 7th Army and his lucky number came up. If you dig into it, it becomes a very grey war, he said. 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. May 31, 2017 in MILITARY HISTORY DISCUSSIONS. 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. Along with its allies, the US had liberated Germany from the Nazis. He was awarded the U.S. Situated in a remote area with the enemy about 300 yards away over the border, Shkurtis unit was constantly in harms way. GRAFENWOEHR, Germany More than 30 veterans of the Vietnam War living in Germany were awarded pins Tuesday by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post in recognition of their service. They were touted as filling an important gap in NATO's deterrent shield against the Warsaw Pact. At the end of the Vietnam War, the United States adopted a volunteer Army, but declining military expenditures made it difficult to keep the American forces combat ready and maintain the quality of life for soldiers and their families. After the defeat of Germany, the relatively small American force in Europe was preoccupied with the administration and reconstruction of their former foe. The American military presence in Germany began at the end of World War II. I was thinking I would have a better chance of determining where I would be sent.. Youth activity centers in Germany included this facility in Wiesbaden. 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. 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. Powered by Invision Community, Vietnam Era Draftees Stationed in W.Germany, South Korea, and CONUS, US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY. Here are a few of their stories. Upon graduating they lined us and announced that if your last name started with A through J your orders were Germany and K through Z your orders were Vietnam. In their spare time, servicepeople could go to the library, join a service club or take a spin on the go-kart track. Even today, many see otherwise, but only at home., One place the guys in the rear and combat soldiers would cross paths was at rearward bases, which ranged from isolated fire bases less than a city block in size to major bases like Long Binh Post that resembled an American city, said Chris Appy, author of three books about the American war in Vietnam: American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity, Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered from All Sides and Working- Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam..
Efleetsuite Driver Login,
Bst Hyde Park 2023 Rumours,
Portugal Public Transport Masks,
Articles S