From: "ercgreen" ercgreen@yourinter.net
Subject: DAYS OF OUR LIVES #125
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2003 09:19:31 -0400

MAIL-call - PRESERVING FORGOTTEN MEMORIES
This newsletter is intended for the use of ASA TURKEY Veteran's. Comments or submissions to the DAYS OF OUR LIVES are most welcome. I will respond to all e-mails and will assist whenever needed, but reserve the right to edit for content and clarity and welcome any errors that may appear herein.

GREEN, Elder RC (gH), DOB: 1936, RA13513638, E7, 982/98C, Det 27, 1-15MY61, Det 120, MY-JL65, Det 27, JN66-OC67 & Det 4-4, OC67-NO68, (Patty), 3094 Warren Rd., Indiana, PA 15701, 724-349-7395,
ercgreen@yourinter.net

THE BELOW LISTED VET'S HAVE MADE THEIR RESERVATIONS FOR THE ASA TURKEY REUNION (29-31 August) AT SEVEN SPRINGS, PENNSYLVANIA

ANDERSON, Jerry, E3-E4, 341.10-Teletype repair, Det 27, JL56-JN58, (Sally), 5209, Lindermann Ave., Racine, WI 53406, 262-634-8509,
jsa@wi.net pd $70.

ANTONELLO, Tony, RA13576417, E6-E7, 059/05K, Det 27, AU65-MR68, Det 4, 69-70, (Val), 12257 Wye Oak Commons Cir., Burke, VA 22015, 703-239-1739,
tonyvalanton@aol.com Pd $70.

BALDERSON, Eric L., (Rick), 2LT-1LT, Fin O, Det 27, 62-63, (Ramona), 36 Florie Farm Rd., Mendham, NJ 07945, 973-543-2093,
ericramona@aol.com Pd $70.

BERLIN, Franz DOB: 1939 RA17534092 E5 98J Det 4, 4-1 & 4-4, 62, (Peg), 300 Arundel Beach Rd., Saverna Park, MD 21146, 410-544-4833,
warbi@mailstation.com Pd $40.

CARRICK, Ernie DOB: 1936 RA25358534 E3-E4 Personnel Det 4, NO57-OC58, (Betty), 6111 Fairfield Dr., Huntsville, AL 35811, 256-852- 6180,
eecarrick@hotmail.com

COMROE, Mike, E4, 059, Det 27, 61-62, (Jane), 205 Pinetown Rd., Audubon, PA 19403,610-666-7402, pennstateblue@enter.net. Pd $70.

CRAM, Gene W2 W2215309 OIC T/A Det 27, 66-67, (Phyllis), 5180 SW Gardenia Ct., Dunnellon, FL 34431, 352-489-9085,
superchief3@msn.com pd $70.

CRANE, Jim 01-02 05225154 FC Det 27, 65-66, (Lisa), 1490 Lago Mar Dr., Viera, FL 32940, 321-242-2404,
jcrane3@cs.com

DeLEO, Steve DOB 1945 RA11423895 E4 982 Det 27, JA64-AU65, (Agnes), 203 Cheney Pl., Castle Rock, CO 80104, 303-688-1520, casrokcomm@aol.com. Retired Col, USAR, 32y svc, 7 as EM E-6

ERICKSON, Ron DOB 1940 E4 059 Det 27, MY61-DE62, (Cathy), 17204 E 37th Terrace, Independence, MO 64055, 816-373-3349,
rke3349@cs.com

GOODMAN, Jay DOB: 1952 E4 MP Det 4, SE72-SE73, (Kathy), 3468 Izy Hill Ln., Finleyville, PA 15332, 724-348-0358, jaykathy@nb.net. (Motorhome)

GREEN, Elder RC (aka Al & Green Hornet) E7 Det 27, 1-15MY61, JN66-OC67(Buyuk Elgi & qtrs 225-E, eff 18JA67) & 4-4, OC67-NO68, (qtrs 914-4), (Patty), 3094 Warren Rd., Indiana, PA 15701, 724-349-7395,
ercgreen@yourinter.net pd $70.

HUNT, Carlos E DOB 1937 E3-E4 058 Det 4, MR58-MR59, (Frankie), 10215 Hwy 79E, Henderson, TX 75652, 903-889-2391,
cehunt79@aol.com Pd $70.

JONES, Ed, DOB: 1944, RA18664602, E5, 059, Det 27, OC62-MR65, (Florence), 30 Woodland Hills Dr., Bismarck, IL 61814, 217-759-7773,
hejones@escocorp.com

KJOLLER, Jon, DOB: 1938, RA15578113, E3, 058, Det 4, JL58-AU59,, (Darlene), 993 Rosemary Dr., New Braunfels, TX 78130, 830-625-1064, kjoller@the-cia.net. (Plans to drive)

LAMBETH, Henry (Hank) DOB: 1940 RA14750951 E4 283.1 Det 4, JN62-63, (Catherine), 1419 Marvin Dr., Vinton, VA 24179, 540-890-4508,
halambeth@cox.net (cable) Pd $70.

MAU, Norman R., E2-E4, Finance, Det 27, JA65-JN66, (Theresa), 11225 Broad Green Dr., Potomac, MD.20854, 301-983-8469,
maun@hotmail.com & maun@yahoo.com Pd $35.

McCLEVISH, Chas Jr E1-E3 RA13772572 711 S2 Det 27, 63-64, (Carolyn), 1908 Harrison Rd., Dundalk, MD 21222, 410-285-1416,
cmcclev@msn.com (Fri only)

McCULLOUGH, John T DOB: 1938 RA15560286 E3-E4 058 Det 4, 58, (Sue),1044 E. Smith Rd., Medina OH 44256 330-722-6490,
john38@zoominternet.net Pd $70.

MURPHY, Bob E3-E5 058 Det 27 and Det 4, AP61-AP62, (Peg), 7623 Turnbrook Dr., Glen Burnie, MD 21061, 410-255-0320,
murphy@annap.infi.net and robert_a_murphy@md.northgrum.com

NEARPASS, Robt D E3-E5 MP Det 27, DE64-DE66, (Lorraine), 111 Hope Crossing Rd., Belvidere, NJ 07823, 908-638-7625, nearpass@accessgate.net pd $70.

NEILL, Hank, PVT-2LT, Finance, Det 27, AU62-JA64, (Judy), 7417 Jenna Rd Springfield, VA 22153, 708-569-5163,
Hneill@erols.com - Retired Colonel Pd $70.

RODRIGUES, Charlie E4 Supply Det 4, 59-60, (Patricia), 210 Benham Ave., Syracuse, NY 13219, 315-487-1195,
pcrodrigues@webtv.net pd $70.

SCHWARTZ, Fred Det 4 58-60, (Rose), 321 Fain St., Morganton, GA 30560, 706-374-4302,
egotrip@ellijay.com or roses1939@ellijay.com pd $70.

SINOR, Walter E4 F&AO Det 27, 62-63, (Betty), 3049 County Road 239, Valley Head, AL 35989-4721, (256)635-6860, 877-453-5097 (toll free),
walter.sinor@stpaul.com

STEFFEN, Arnold DOB: 1937 RA16568829 E4 283 Det 4, JL58-JL59, (Janet), 1043 Old Humboldt Rd., Jackson, TN 38305, 731-664-5058, asteffen4@aol.com Pd $80.

TAVERNETTI, Dave & Sue, DOB: 1940, 2LT-1LT, Watch Officer TK#4, Det 27, MR62-SE63, 238 Rio Vista Dr., King City, CA 93930, 831-385-4458,
tavernetti@redshift.com pd $70.

VAN BROCKLIN, Jim DOB: 1929 SP3 (E4) US51337026 Det 4, FE56-SE56, (Marcia), 39 Therin Dr., Hamburg, NY 14705, 716-649-9232,
jandmvanb@adelphia.net Pd $70.

VAN ORDER, Roy DOB: 1936 E4-E5 283 Det 4, 27SE60-MY61, (Toni), 8186 Kneeskern Rd., Bridgeport, NY 13030, 315-633-0418,
rvanorder@aol.com and roy.p.vanorder@lmco.com Pd $70.

WILLINGHAM, Ted YOB: 1944, RA18737230 E5 33C (Sugar Tree), Det 27, SE66-JN68 (Susan), 3 Chestnut St., Easthampton, MA 01027 413-527-9687
tedw@the-spa.com. Pd $70.

WYLIE, Jim (Sick Call), DOB: 1941 RA13774855 E3-E5 993 Det 4, 64-65, (Sharon), 322 Crossfire Ln., Ligonier, PA 15658, 724-238-6457, no email. Pd $70.

ZIMMERMAN, John W. (Bear) DOB: 1941 RA13774858 Det 4, 64-65, (Sherry), RD#4 Latrobe, PA 2nd in MSC Hvy Wt class in 1965 per Mauler. Pd $70.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2003 ASA TURKEY REUNION

THE 2003 ASA TURKEY REUNION WILL BE HELD AT SEVEN SPRINGS, PENNSYLVANIA ON LABOR DAY WEEK-END, 29-31 AUGUST 2003.

The 7 SPRINGS resort is near Champion, Pennsylvania. The resort is accessible from either the Donegal or Somerset exits of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Pittsburgh International Airport is the nearest metropolitan terminal.

What other things should I know?

1. The cost per room is $85.00 + tax for each room.

2. For reservations call 1-800-452-2223 or 1-866-437-1300 and inform the receptionist that you are with the ASA Turkey reunion group

3. Request a room on the 6th floor or above that faces the ski slopes. Each room has a balcony and the view is breathtaking!

4. The crash site of Flight 93 is nearby as is the rescue hole for the 9 trapped miners. Both sites held the nation in suspense. Also nearby is Frank Lloyd Wright's best architecture work "FALLINGWATER" and Fort Ligonier.

5. No Pets permitted.

6. The cost for the Saturday nite banquet, etc is $35. per person payable ASAP to me, Elder RC Green.

7. For additional information, contact Elder RC Green, 3094 Warren Rd., Indiana, PA 15701, 724-349-7395,
ercgreen@yourinter.net

NOTICE- THE CUTOFF FOR BIO'S AND PHOTO'S INTO THE 2003 ASA TURKEY MEMORY BOOK IS 1 AUGUST 2003.

MAIL CALL

ANYONE REMEMBER A RONALD L. FULLER AT DET 27 IN 1966-67 OR IN RVN?? I received the following email from Claudia Hinton James,
jemscaj@aol.com. "Recently I began a search for a Ronald L. Fuller, a former TUSLOG Det 27 member during 1966 to 1967. My search lead me to your e-mail address, so I am writing to you to see if you remember him and if you can tell me what happened to him - I want to believe he came back from Viet Nam (his assignment after Turkey) and had a wonderful life. I met Ron in 1966 when my father was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. My father served our country for 30 years until the Army discharged him for health reasons. (His unit was deployed to Vietnam just one month after he suffered a massive heart attack, it saddened him greatly to see his men go over without him.) During Dad's time at Ft. Wood he, as well as mother and myself, befriended Pfc. Fuller. Ron was several years older than myself and being an only child I welcomed the opportunity to have a "big brother" in my life. We corresponded for two years until I got married and my husband, just having returned from Vietnam himself, discouraged the correspondence. My parents last saw Ron shortly before his deployment to Vietnam - they were saddened by his obvious concern about whether or not he would return home.

My interest in finding out what happened to him was rekindled when I recently came across all the letters he had written to me. Some of the letters were written when he was stationed at Ft. Devens (after Ft. Leonard Wood) - where he was attached to Co. D, 2nd Bn. USASATR. At that time (8/66) he was completing a new course with top secret code and he had been reassigned to Turkey. Sometime later (10/67) he sent me a wedding gift and card with return address of: Pfc. Ronald L. Fuller, RA17720193, Co. A, Box 633, TUSLOG Det 27, APO New York.

Why am I looking for him after all these years? I am just curious about whether or not all the plans he had for himself after the war came true. And primarily I just want to know he did come back and he had a great life.

Thank you for your time and commitment to our country, especially during those war years. Claudia Hinton James,
jemscaj@aol.com


ARENA, Richard J., DOB: 1942, RA15638677, E4, 059.18, Det 27 & 4, JA62-MR63, (Maxine), 830 Jones Rd., Roswell, GA 30075, 770-992-3263, rjaims@earthlink.net.
President, Impact Media Services, Inc., Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2400 Atlanta, Georgia 30328 Ph: 770 390-9032,
www.impactmediaservices.com
Enlisted Louisville, Kentucky 27 December 1960, separated 10 December 1963. Basic training Fort Jackson, SC. After receiving clearance underwent 058/059 training at the USASATC&S, Fort Devens, Massachusettes March 1961 - September 1961 (Charging Charlie Student Company). Received cross-training 056/057 September-October during Berlin crisis while all troop movements were "frozen". Casual status (morning cook) November-December 1961. Transit to Frankfort, Germany 31 December 1961. Arrived Det 27 as an E3 in January 1962.

MY REMEMBRANCE OF MANZARALI STATION, Det 27
For those who can relate, here's a remembrance from the winter and early spring of 1962 at Det 27. A small group of us arrived on a cold snowy night in the dead of winter. We were shipped out of Devens in a block allocation to Turkey so the RFA's that were called up during the Berlin crisis could move into the student barracks. Since everyone was "frozen", there was no place to bunk when we got to the site. Some guys were housed temporarily in the unfinished bowling alley, while a few of us "bunked" in the baggage room. We were all eventually moved in and stacked three high in a day room. As winter gave way to spring and unremitting rain came pouring in and the landscape went from frozen tundra to a sea of mud.

MY DAY LONG MUD TREK TO THE NEARBY HILLS OF SITE 23 WITH JOE SULLIVAN.
On the first day of a two-day break, Joe Sullivan and I got up on the barracks with a pair of high-powered binoculars to scout the landscape. As far as we could see it was mud. We counted twenty-one objects that we reckoned were plants. The mountains that almost rung the base sat far off in the distance except on one side where a range of hills seemed to be maybe a half hour's hike. We decided that the next morning we'd get up early, hike up there and see what there was on the other side. The morning of our trek blew in on a cold northwest wind. Wearing field jackets with liners
and winter hats, we headed out with little more than the binoculars and a canteen of water. No compass, no food, no brains. Out the Det 27 gate, through the antenna field and off to the hills we slogged. The mud was thick and ankle deep, making the going slow and difficult. After an hour we began to realize that the "nearby" hills were a lot further than they appeared. We slogged on for another hour, finally reaching the base of the hills. The going got better because the mud wasn't so deep on the hill side. Up we went, further and further. My God it was long way to what looked like the top. When we finally got to what we thought was going to be a ridge that would give us a view to the other side, we found a swale and another ridge. Down and up we went only to find another swale and ridge beyond. We hiked on this way all day. I don't know about Joe, but when I started, I imagined a nice walk in natural surroundings; something good for the soul. It was turning out to be a cold, miserable, meaningless meander into the unknown. As daylight began to fade, we came over a ridge and there before us was the panoramic view we sought. It was a large expansive valley. There was no sign of life; just more mud. Joseph Parker Sullivan was possessed with Irish humor. As we looked out on that valley, my spirits flagging, but Joe began to laugh. He's a big man and he had a big Oklahoma laugh. He pounded me on the back, wiped tears from his eyes and said, "Well, Mr. Columbus, here's your new world." I couldn't help but laugh too. We drank a bit of water and turned to head back to the base. As daylight fell into darkness, the night air penetrated our clothes, chilling us to our tired and hungry bones. The one relief was that the ground started to freeze so we didn't sink into the mud. We walked and walked as a billion stars rode overhead in a crystal clear night sky. Since we didn't have our bearings, we weren't sure if we weren't just going in circles. Our previous light mood turned serious as we began to realize that we might be in deep trouble. After a few hours of walking up and down hills in the moonless night, we saw the glow of manmade light beyond a hill to our left. That could only be Manzarelli. It gave us hope and renewed energy.

HEY ABIE!! WE'RE AMERICAN'S - YOKE BANG, BANG
We finally came up a ridge and saw Manzarali Station on the other side. I started to head toward it when Joe grabbed me by the jacket. "Where do you think you're going?" He said in an uncharacteristically hard tone. He then reminded me that we would have to pass through the antenna field and he reckoned there were Turkish guards out there prepared to shoot trespassers. That was a sobering thought. I stared at the base and thought about stories we'd heard about the Turkish guards shooting locals who went in the antenna field to steal copper. We lay flat on our bellies looking for guards through the binoculars. We didn't see any -- which was worrisome. After fifteen minutes of agonizing we headed down the slope shouting, "Hey Abie! GI's. Yoke bang, bang." The Turks were probably laughing their butts off. The MP's at the gate said something about yeni's and took us to the
infirmary for a once over by the night crew. Looking back at that time, it is now a fond memory because of Joe. He had a great joyful spirit. Sure it was a stupid thing to do, but Joe Sullivan was such a positive individual that he actually made the experience fun. I don't know where he is or what he's doing, but I know wherever he is he's having a great time. Transferred to Det 4 in August 1962. PCS to FT Devens MAR63 as E4. Underwent instructor training and instructed on night shift from June 1963 until Separation as E5 in December 1963.

FORTY MILES FROM BOSTON BAY
After mustering out in 1963 I've returned to the Boston area numerous times, but it was not until after 9/11 that I felt motivated to go out to Devens. Realizing that the war on terrorism is far from over, I suppose I was subconsciously beginning a search for some way I could put my old cold warrior instincts to good use. Arriving in Ayer on a bright clear day, I found the years have been very kind to the old place. It looks prosperous and the town center is a restored historic area now. There were lots of visitors and the merchants are hospitable. Devens is quite another matter. It has been decommissioned -- if that's the term -- and it's a mere shadow of the way it was when last I saw it in December 1963. Driving up the old AYER gate road it was hard to reconcile my memories with what I was seeing. I swung into the ASA school quadrangle. It was like discovering the dying body of an old friend. USASATC&S is abandoned and in a sad state of disrepair. Allen Hall, where I spent many hours as a student and later as an 059 instructor, gave no hint of the secrets it once held. Closing my eyes I could almost hear echoes from the boots and cadence calls of all the students who ever marched to school "Forty miles from Boston Bay". Scanning the pealing paint and rusting gutters, I recalled the faces of old buddies and imagined the ditty dah's and clickity clack from the classrooms where I waited for my TOP SECRET CLEARANCE back in 1961. Returning to town, I found an Army surplus store where I searched in vain for ASA patches and pins from the early 60's era. At the time I didn't know that ASA no longer exists. It was there and then that I decided to find my old outfit. All who served with ASA know there was something special about the organization and its people. Isn't that why we visit this site? We were front line troops in the cold war. We made a difference. I don't know why the ASA was dismantled. Maybe it was because of technology advancements, or maybe it's because of service politics. It really doesn't matter now. What matters is finding this site and you. Yes, we are old soldiers, but I'll bet you are like me -- your antenna is up and you're on alert. There is a very dangerous and clever enemy among us planning to kill our families and friends. I can't help but wonder if there isn't a way people like us, trained "observers", can make a difference in this war.

After ASA I returned to live at home in Lexington where I attended the University of Kentucky. Working my way through school I did various jobs including four years with the Kentucky State Police -- last assigned to the Organized Crime Bureau - Vice and Violent Crimes Desk. In 1971 I was invited to join the Kentucky Crime Commission, which was an appointment to the Governor's staff. The Commission was charged with overhauling the state's archaic criminal justice system. We codified the criminal law, unified the court system, set standards for all criminal justice positions at the state and local levels and funded numerous projects modernizing Kentucky's Criminal Justice System. After serving two Governors, I left state government to become Director of Law Enforcement Planning on the Louisville and Jefferson County Crime Commission and ended my career in the criminal justice field as the Executive Director of the Lexington/Fayette County Crime Council.

In the meantime I married, had one child and was divorced. In 1975 I married Maxine Dial, the widow of an old school chum who had died five years earlier at age twenty-eight, leaving her with two children. Moving to Atlanta in 1977 I went to work in sales for Warner-Lambert, a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods manufacturer. By 1981 I was bored with sales and decided to strike out on my own. I took classes and joined professional associations related to television and film production, and then in 1982 I took a great leap and started an independent commercial film and video production company. Over the next two years I produced numerous local and one national television commercial. I also produced a number of instructional and promotional videos plus a special for PBS. During that time I found that many of my clients had no real marketing plan, and I was soon doing as much consulting on strategic planning as I was producing commercials. In 1984 one of my clients, Kleen-Tex Industries, an international textile and rubber manufacturing company, offered to bring me inside to develop a national distribution network for a new product line.
By 1987 I was promoted to Director of Marketing. From 87 to '01 I spent much of my time traveling the US and the world in support of the company's far flung operations. During those years I became active in trade associations and was known in the industry through numerous articles in trade publications and speeches at industry events from Tokyo to Rome.

In 2000 I became president of the British American Business Group of Atlanta, which is the second largest chapter of the British American Business Council. One of the directors was a senior marketing executive with The Coca-Cola Company, and through our relationship on the board an unusual opportunity arose. Coke was preparing a global promotion associated with the 2002 World Cup and my company was positioned to participate; however that would have created conflicts in our primary distribution channel, so I left Kleen-Tex to set up my present business with Kleen-Tex as the primary supplier.

Today, my business is primarily licensing a patented product that was developed in conjunction with the Coca-Cola global promotion.

In my personal life, Maxine and I have four wonderful children and five beautiful granddaughters. Our son, Graham is general manager of Alstom's Turbine Generator operations in Baden, Switzerland. Our daughter Kimberly, who spent several years in a remote mountainous region of Japan teaching English in public schools, is now raising three daughters while her husband develops hotels for the Hilton Corporation. Our daughter Paige is a psychotherapist and administers women's mental health care services in a region of North Carolina. Our youngest daughter, Allison travels extensively in Latin America and is in development with a charitable foundation out of Atlanta. She is married to an English professor. Today while many former intelligence people are telling their Cold War stories to the world ASA people are still silent sentinels. What we contributed to our country during those years may never come to public light, but it never was about glory, was it?

Of the many roads I've traveled, I have never met better people than I did during those incredible three years with the ASA. I am proud to have served with you in defense of our great nation. I found and have corresponded with Larry Bynum and Ray Carroll. Those are two great guys There's another person I'd really like to find. His name is Phillip Mitchell. We were at Devens together, but he left the Agency and went to OCS. I saw him once after he received his commission. As I remember he became a helicopter pilot and later saw duty in Nam. Phil was from Berkley, CA. Extremely brilliant and equally outspoken, he wasn't well liked by many of our classmates, but I found him to be a man of honor and loyal friend. I would dearly love to know what's happened to him.

More ASA buddies. This is great. Here's another ASA buddy: Ron Luther. He is from Warren, Rhode Island. He served at Det 4 when I was there. I can't remember his MOS. I think he was a 286. Here are some people I remember: Larry Hinkle - SP5 Det 27 '62; Kenneth Barlow - SGT Det 27 '62, from Mississippi; *Joseph Parker Sullivan, E4, 'Det 27 '62 from Sand Springs, OK. Last known to be in Conway, TX; *Trent (Yancy) Eubank, E-3, Det 27 from MS. Also has family in Danville, KY; *Larry Bynum, Sp4, Det 4. '63 from Western, KY; George Myrick, SP4, Det 27, '62 from MS; *Raymond Carroll, SP5, Det 4, '62 from NH; David Davies, SP4, Det 4, '62; Vernon LaDue, SP4, Det 4, '62; Charles Bierbauer, SP5,Det 4, '62. Now a senior correspondent with CNN. Lives near DC; *Ronald K. (Rick) Tarr, SP4, Det 4, '62 from Oil City PA The * indicates guys I'd really like see again. I've talked with Charlie Bierbauer a couple of times over the years. He's accessible through CNN.
God bless America.

BALES, Roger R., DOB 1948, RA15958996, E4, 05H/98C Tk#4, TUSLOG Det 4, AU68-AU69, (Ida Lee), 8547 Quail Tree, San Antonio, TX 78250, 210-521-6179,
rbales@texas.net. Elder - still looking for the pictures, hopefully will find them this weekend and mail them.
My BIO
I graduated from 05H school in June 1968. Took two weeks leave and went home and got married. Yep, married Ida Lee - been married ever since (don't know how she puts up with me but she does). Went back to Devens and then to Sinop in August. I guess I must have been one of the few that had the privledge of traveling to Sinop by way of the Sea Kamal. ASA's "Navy" a 98 foot cabin cruiser, powered by deisel, no cooking capabilities but we had our choice of C rations to chose from for the full 3-day cruise. Best time of my life. I even went swimming with dolphins during the trip. I was originally assigned to trick two when I first got there and we worked 12 hours on and 12 hours off for about a month before we got enough manning to go to four tricks. Unfortunately most of the guys in Sinop were "old-timers" on their last tour before getting out so with the exception of a couple of guys I never saw any of them again in the remaining 19 years I spent bouncing all over the world. Sinop was an enjoyable tour even for a guy that had only been married two weeks. I too still have the meershaum pipes I bought my dad (I reclaimed them after he passed away 10 years ago). I was at SINOP when Mildred delivered one of her many litters and even helped with the delivery. Most of my time was spent working - in the club or on the beach. However, we did make a point of going to NATO's barbershop
whenever we could get away so we could sit outside, drink chi, and eat the bread. I also remember the two army officers charged with "assaulting" women down town - It happened at the Yeni hotel. They asked two women, just arriving off the Black Sea steamer if they were European. Both women ignored them and continued on their way. The next thing we all knew they were being charged with defamation of character and were hauled off to the local prison. We high tailed it to NATO's and he hid us until a truck could come get us. The base commander put the entire town off limits until the local military governor relented and released both officers (who, as I remember being told, were promptly sent home). One of our fellows also got sent home early during the big Ramadan celebration. At the end of Ramadan everyone went to the tea garden to enjoy the celebration. We were told we could go, enjoy the festivities, drink the booze but DON'T dance with the women. Well, this fellow did and the next thing he knew he was engaged to a rather handsome young lady. That might not have been so bad except he was already married. Doc Savage got him back up to the hill and the next day he went home in the mail plane. Never saw him again. Lots of memories coming back, many of them mirror those I've already read. Wish I could make the reunion but maybe next time. I left Sinop in 1969 and my following assignments were:
Torii Station Okinawa 69-71
USASAFS Homestead 71-72
175th RRFS Bien Hoa Vietnam Aug 72 - Feb 73
Fort Devens (O5H Instructor) Mar 73 - April 74
USASAFS San Antonio 74-77
USASAFS Augsburg Ge 77-80
15th MI Bn Ft Bliss Tx 80-81
Torii Station Okinawa 81-84
Fort Devens (O5H Instructor) 84-89
Retired January 1989.
If anyone makes it to San Antonio give me a call.

GRITIS, Peter, DOB: 1921, 03-04, Ops O, Det 27, 59-62, (Helen- deceased, 2/W Betty), 5236 Inverchapel Rd., Springfield, VA 22151, 703-321-7258,
betpetg@juno.com.

Peter Gritis Memoirs of his TURKEY Tour of Duty,1959-62

I was the Operations Officer of Det 27 (in fact I was there when the station was being built) during 1959-62; went to Bad Aibling, Germany 1962-64; went to HQ ASA Europe, 1964-65; returned to HQ ASA in 1965 as an assistant Inspector General for almost 2 years and the last 6 months as Chief SIGINT Division. I retired in October 1968 as a Lt Col. Went to work for the Army Materiel Command in 1969 as a civilian and retired again in 1986. Been goofing off since !!!!!
One of the key aspects of life in Turkey in this period was its poverty compared with the US or Western Europe. A consequence of this was the high import duties which the government put on imported goods, the temptations this led to smuggling, and the countermeasures which a government with bureaucratic inclinations imposed to try to prevent smuggling. We learned about the controls on imported goods before leaving Virginia since we had to declare to Turkish Customs all household goods which we were bringing into Turkey, including specific counts on silverware, plates, etc. Under the Status of Forces Agreement, US Armed Forces personnel were allowed to bring such household goods into Turkey free of tax as long as the goods were later exported from Turkey when the soldier left the country. Every one of the items imported into Turkey free of tax under this agreement needed to be produced upon demand of the customs inspectors when leaving Turkey, or it was assumed that the item in question had been sold, and at that point the duty, usually 100%, would be owed. Sometimes items were broken, and they had to be kept until departure, so that they could still be showed to the Customs officials. Someone at Arlington Hall Station gave me a set of 144 bar glasses. During the 3 years we were in Turkey, every one of these glasses was broken, and the broken pieces were all stored in a box until we left. Under the Status of Forces Agreement, I was entitled to bring in one car into Turkey tax free, and I brought a 1953 Mercury which we had driven in Japan. We had continuous problems with the voltage regulator on this car, and it died 4 times in Japan. When I arrived in Japan, there was a real shortage of cars there, and prices were very high. I had therefore hoped to sell my car at these high prices upon leaving Japan, but in the meantime some entrepreneur had brought a shipload of used American cars into Japan and had depressed the market. We therefore brought the car back to America at the end of my tour in Japan and took it with us to Turkey, but then I decided I needed a larger and more reliable car, and so I decided to sell the Mercury and buy a 1960 model Volkswagen minibus from Germany. Both selling the old car and buying the new car were experiences. I sold the Mercury to a Turk, who took a long time to actually deliver the agreed price for the car. In the meantime, consistent with Turkish practice, I kept the car on blocks until the money was received. As the time was approaching when I would need the cash from the old car to pay for the new car, I had to go to the buyer's uncle, who owned a winery, and asked him for the money on behalf of his nephew. I finally got paid only 2 weeks before taking delivery of the new car in 1961. I bought the Volkswagen from a dealer in Ankara who had brochures, but no cars actually in stock. The price offered was very attractive since this could be a tax-free import. The price delivered to Turkey was $1800, compared to $2000 in Germany (including taxes), and $2400 in the US (with taxes and shipping). I wanted to buy a blue car, but the dealer said I could only buy a red car, the same as in the brochure. I also asked for an optional gas gauge and for a larger mirror, and was told no. Ultimately, I got exactly the car that was shown in the brochure - the same color and the same features. I had to drive from Ankara to Istanbul to pick up the car at the port. When I got there, the car was really dull and dirty looking since it had been covered with a preservative while being transported on the deck of a ship and exposed to the elements and sea spray. The preservative was removed by brushing the car with gasoline and then it looked fine. Later back in Ankara, I took the car to a garage for routine maintenance. A German instructor was there teaching Turkish mechanics how to service Volkswagens. A rear end assembly was spread out on a floor and was being put back together. I remember the instructor went into a tirade when one of the Turkish mechanics picked up a part with greasy hands. If entering Turkey was an adventure, it was no surprise that leaving Turkey would be the same. My next assignment was to Bad Aibling, Germany, and we decided to drive there during the school holidays in the summer of 1962. We spent a night in Istanbul, which was memorable for the rancid butter in which our breakfast eggs were cooked. We then passed through Edirne (former name Adrianople) on our way to the frontier with Greece, which was always tense because of the traditional hostility between Turkey and Greece. It ended up taking over 6 hours to go through the Turkish border post. I had arrived in Turkey 3 years before as a Captain and driving a Mercury. I was leaving Turkey as a Major and driving a Volkswagen. This created doubts about whether I was the same person who entered 3 years previously, and also whether I had paid duty on the sale of the Mercury, and so we sat at the border post while phone calls went back and forth with Ankara to resolve these questions. During all this time, my wife was very anxious and took some tran- quilizers. While I was engaged with the customs officials and my wife was sitting tranquilized on the front porch of the border post, my daughter Gail, then 4 years old, fell into a well in front of the building. She flailed around for some time while her older sisters, Patricia (then 10) and Carol (then 8), argued over who was going to get her clothes wet pulling Gail out of the water. Fortunately, Patricia finally jumped in and pulled Gail out before she drowned. It was good that Patricia jumped in, since the well was over 10 feet deep and Carol did not really know how to swim yet. After we finally were cleared to leave Turkey, and had passed through the border gates to the Greek side, I discovered that I had left my briefcase with my orders and other important papers on the Turkish side of the border. I did not want to reenter Turkey to get them, thereby risking going through the departure process all over again, and one of the Turkish officials threw my briefcase across the border to me. Patricia had left a new pair of shoes on the Turkish side, and they were not tossed over. Presumably, they went to one of the daughters of the border officials. Our house in Ankara had marble floors, which was typical in Turkish houses because it was inexpensive. In contrast, wood was very expensive and in short supply. Turks who had contact with the US military liked to scavenge wood from the packing cases in which our household goods were shipped. A Turkish carpenter made a bar for me out of wood from packing cases which was rounded and cut to look like bamboo. Water was also scarce and was only available for our house a few times a day. We would all take baths in a single tub of water which would then be kept and used for flushing the toilet. We got drinking water from a military clinic and brought it to the house in 7-1/2 gallon carboys. We shared both a janitor and a maid with some other military families. The janitor once tried to carry a lawnmower across the street while it was on, and the blade cut off the tips of his fingers. The janitor and maid used to fight over who got the empty bottles and cans from our family. These could be sold for scrap and also used to make things. At this time, the Turkish army made a big point of serving recruits canned foods in order to introduce them to the Turkish population. There was an attempted coup in Ankara during our stay. One of the ringleaders of the coup was the son of the owners of an apartment rented by Americans which was behind our house on the other side of a ravine. Paratroopers were dropped from the sky around us and there was a tank down the street pointing toward our house because of this connection with the coup ringleader. We stayed in the house for 2-3 days until everything settled down. During the coup, the Turkish army commandeered the Cadillac owned by one of the US Army colonels. The colonel's wife could not stop them from taking their car, but she insisted on going with them and driving the car herself. The Turks did not like American women driving since they thought that as a man's job. One way that they tried to keep American women from driving was to require that they get a certificate of a physical exam received from a Turkish doctor, who of course would be male. They did not think that American women would take a physical exam from a Turkish doctor. It was common for Turks to use Coca Cola syrup as a medicine, especially to soothe upset stomachs. The US government gave a lot of US food to the Turkish government as foreign aid, but the products and sizes were not really suitable. The US provided frozen chickens, which the Turkish government had trouble selling to the public since Turks expected chickens to come with a neck and feet and US chickens are sold without them. Also, butter and cheese were provided in 5 lb. tins, which was very wasteful since the typical person did not have any refrigeration.

Friends, effective immediately our email address is: betpetg@juno.com. We look forward to hearing from you :) Peter & Betty Gritis

HARBER, Jim E3-E5 058-Tk 1, Det 27, 19MY62-27OC63, (Becky), 110 Sable Trace Trail, Acworth, GA 30102, 770-975-0706,
jimharber@juno.com. Hello Elder & Patty,....I have been out of circulation for a while... Unfortunately, with the unexpected vacation time off for the home build and move, I have ran out of time off and will not be able to attend the reunion as Becky & I had planned...


KNIPPER, Bill 09J Det 4, MR74-MR75, 1 Petersburg Ct., Oak Ridge, NJ 07438, 973-208-1177,
willyk@att.net. Elder, Just discovered your site. I am attempting to refigure my schedule to attend reunion. I was at Det.4, MAR74-MAR75. Where do I send a bio? Good luck.

OBRIEN, John S (Jack) DOB: 1939 RA15663403 E4-E5 988.1663 Det 4, 64-65, (Kathleen), 3801 Lujon Dr., Beaver Creek, OH 45431, 937-426-4433, no e-mail. John and Kathleen visited SINOP in May 2003 and guess what. The harbor was FOGGED in when the cruise ship docked and they couldn't see where the next step would put them. Later they WALKED up the HILL, but were not allowed access to the post which is now occupied by the Turk Air Force. On the way up the HILL there is a motel called the Villa Rose which is owned by a ex-Det 4 vet. The cruise took them to Sochi, Yalta, Sevastapol, Odessa and to Romania and Bulgaria. The Obriens regret that they will not be able to attend the 2003 reunion.

SCHWARTZ, Fred, E3, Det 4 NO59-DE60, (Rose), 321 Fain St., Morganton, GA 30560, 706-374-4302,
roses1939@ellijay.com Just a quick note to let you know that I only have the one e-mail address which is roses1939@hotmail.com. Also I was in Sinop from November 59 to December 60, not 58-60 as it says with my name. Have I given you enough BIO information for the the Reunion book? While in the Army I remained a lowly PFC as my MOS did not allow for much advancement. I did receive an early out due to being keep extra time in Sinop. Any other info you feel would be helpful please let me know and I will be glad to share it with you. Looking forward to seeing you at the reunion.

AN E-MAIL FROM THE DAUGHTER OF JAMES M. BOYTE: "Sorry, it has taken so long. I do not get on the internet very often. Thank you for taking the time to email me back. I will do my best to get some photos for you in time for the reunion. I had no idea that anyone had gotten in touch with any of my fathers' friends from Sinop, until I read your letter. I guess my brother forgot to mention it to us. Ernest Carrick emailed me as well and was wondering how to get a copy of "Look Homeward" I believe that Barnes and Nobles carries the book. The ORC PRESS publishing company went out of buisness shortly after the book was published so we have no contact with who publishes it now. My mom has a few extra copies if anyone is looking for one. I know my dad had lots of slides from Sinop especially of them working on the chapel. I will get up with my mom and see what we can send you. Thanks. I was only 17 when my dad died and it feels nice to talk with someone who knew him. Tammy

VAN ORDER, Roy DOB: 1936 E4-E5 283 Det 4, 27SE60-MY61, (Antoinette-Toni), 8186 Kneeskern Rd., Bridgeport, NY 13030, 315-633-0418,
rvanorder@aol.com and roy.p.vanorder@lmco.com

ASA bio of Roy Van Order

I found out about ASA in a strange, at least to me, way. After high school graduation I went to our local recruiting office in Albany NY, to see what was available. I was already in the Active Coast Guard Reserve but none of the schools I was interested in were open, so I thought I would try my luck with one of the other services. After a battery of tests I was called in by the Air Force and asked if I would be interested in a commission as a Navigator/Bombardier. Until that time, I thought you had to be a college grad or at least have a couple of years of college to be considered for flight school. I asked the recruiter about this and he said that I did well on my scores so I could take it the next step and go to Westover Field AFB for a series of further testing and a flight physical. I had already taken my induction physical and met the basic requirements for flight training. With lots of reservations, I agreed to go to Westover Field. A few days later I was on a train from my hometown of Albany NY to Westover Field in Chicopee MA. With two other guys who were several years older than me. During the several hour train ride I learned that one was a college graduate, in fact an ex seminarian, and the other had two years of college. Boy, was I concerned then. We arrived at the station and were met by an airman with a station wagon, and drove to the BOQ on base. There we were given two man rooms and told we were on Cadet status so we had officer privileges. We were given our schedules for the next three days and then our rooms. The ex-seminarian and I were given a room together. After settling in my roommate suggested that we go into town for a few drinks. I said great, but how would we get there? He went to the front desk of the BOQ and asked the airman on duty how we could get to town. Was I surprised when he said he would get us a staff car to take us there and bring us back. I learned years later that even field grade officers were seldom given staff cars. I guess they wanted to impress us; and they did. The next morning with a very large head, we started our battery of exams, which lasted over a two-day period. At the end of the second day, our names were posted indicating who would remain for the third and final day for the physical. To my utter surprise we all made the physical list. Many more made the "return home" list. After another night on the town, we took or physicals. My two train mates made list for flight school, while I missed out because my eyes were 20 30. I was pretty upset about this, since I had already taken a physical and was told that my eyes made the limit. When asked about this, I was told that they had their quota for the next class so they would not take any marginal people. But, try again and I might make it. I won't tell you what I thought at that time. Feeling a little down, I called home to tell my mom I would be there sometime that evening. When she answered she was really upset, and wanted to know what I had done on the base to have two government agents come to the house asking to see me. When they found out I had not returned yet they said they would be back. Now I was nervous because I had no idea what this was all about. After I returned home two young men showed up and told me they had my scores from the tests I took and thought I would be a good candidate for a special outfit that prided itself on recruiting individuals with high test scores. In fact, I was told, that most of the members of this outfit had two years of college. So far they had my attention, but I still had no idea who they were, or what this well education organization was. I was then told that the organization was called the Army Security Agency and that their mission was highly classified. They could tell me that it was involved in intelligence gathering and that the work would not only be interesting but very rewarding. How could a 19 year old say no to that. Of course my mother listened to all of this and went ballistic saying, "My God he is going to be a spy" They assured her that would not happen. The next thing I knew I was at Fort Dix going through basic training and cursing those recruiters for talking me into the Army. Toward the end of basic, and in the middle of the night, several of us were called to the day room where we were welcomed to the Agency and given orders for Ft Devens MA. This was the beginning of the two sets of orders when traveling through non-ASA organizations. At Devens, I believe we were tested again and then given a choice of schools. I had a choice of Refrigeration and Air conditioning Repair or Cryptography. Once again, I asked what Cryptography was, and was told that it had to do with code, cut that was all they could tell me. Naturally I took it. It was October now and I headed out to Camp Gordon GA aboard a chartered airline in the middle of the night out of, I believe, Fitchburg MA I remember showing up at the post in the middle of the night which seemed to be standard when being moved by the Army. A few days later the name of the post changed to Ft Gordon and I was to be there until around Feb of 1957. I was in the process of completing the course in December, and going to Germany, when a real cold snap hit GA. The commandant of the school liked regimental PT performed every morning with the troops shirts removed. This practice along with cold barracks and no liners in the field jackets resulted in so many cases of pneumonia that the IG came to the Fort to investigate. I was among the unlucky ones who filled the hospital to overflowing. There were even beds in the halls to start. When I got out of the hospital, I missed completing school, and my port call to Europe. Since it was close to Christmas, I got a two-week leave to go home for the holidays. It is amazing how fate plays its hand. After returning home, I got together with the girl who I dated steady since my sophomore year in high school. When I knew I was leaving for GA and knew also I would probably go overseas, I told her not to wait for me, but to date other guys. I did not feel it would be right to as a young girl to sit at home for three years, or feel guilty about dating. It wasn't long before we were going out every night. The last week at home we decided to get married before I returned to base. After a lot of string pulling by my family we got the paper work squared away and were married on the 30th of December 1957. She was 19 and did not need her parent's approval, I was 20 and need my parents to sign for me because I was under age. HAHAHAH.I always told everyone that Toni (my wife) robbed the cradle and married an underage
soldier. New Years day I was an E2 on a train to Augusta GA with a duffel bag and a bride. We got to spend a few weeks together before she had to return to Albany and I had to prepare to ship out this time to the Far East. Once again I left a post in the middle of the night on a charter flight to Ft Lewis WA. What is with these night trips?? There were about six of us who got to be really good friends at Gordon, and we all traveled together. After a few weeks at Ft Lewis we boarded a troop ship (In the middle of the night) well, very early on a cold wet morning in March. What amazed me that at around 4am or so there were red cross volunteers standing on the dock passing out coffee and donuts to a bunch of freezing but grateful GI's waiting to board the USS Mann for the crossing of the big pond. We sailed at light of day with 3200 troops and dependents out of Puget Sound in a mild sea. Within a couple of days the sea was so rough that no hot meals were served to the few that could eat. The quarters got so bad from guys throwing up that you hated to go below deck. However, 14 days later and ten pounds lighter I smelled Yokahama Japan. I say smelled because the aroma hit us before we could see land. After we docked, got our laundry done, and got our flying twenty we took off for the fabled Ginza in downtown Tokyo. We partied hard and had some great experiences. The first was using a communal bathroom. I will always remember how I felt when two very attractive young Japanese girls came in while I was at a very low urinal. They could tell I was embarrassed and made the most of it. The second great experience was going to the "Rocker Four Club" As I recall it was a very large colonial style building with a great circular drive and a pillared entrance that had multiple bars and entertainment on different floors. As my buddies and I exited a cab in front of the club several little boys encircled us and took one of the guy's wallet from his back pocket and then split. Did not make his day. Anyway, we had a great time at the club, and went back almost every night. During that time we partied with Aussies, Kiwis (New Zealanders) Brits, and Turks, we also saw soldiers from a number of other countries. During our stay in Tokyo we were billeted at Oji Camp. One night after a particularly heavy evening drinking with the Kiwis, I was stopped at the main gate by an MP who told me I was out of uniform. I had no idea what he was talking about until he pointed out that I had on a New Zealand Ike Jacket complete with crown patch. This was not an American Ike jacket so I had better change. Boy was my buddies and I surprised. I had that jacket for years, and always wondered if the guy I traded with got into trouble.

The time for Far East assignment came around, and we were all called into a room where we were each given an assignment, and the opportunity to change with anyone else that had the same rank and MOS. It was at this time that I lost my friends. All the guys that I had spent so much time with from GA to Tokyo were really close now. And we all had the same orders for Korea. However, another guy in the room who had the same rank and MOS as me got orders for Chitose on the Island of Hokkaido Japan. He was also recently married and was hoping for a Korean assignment so he could return home in a year. The Japan assignment meant he had to spend the remainder of his enlistment on the Island. Well, I had some college money left so I thought it would be great to stay in Japan and bring my bride over. Even though I had no idea where Hokkaido was. I traded with the guy and thought he was going to kiss me. However, my buddies were pretty upset and wouldn't even talk to me. The next day I was taken to Tachikawa and put on a C-118 headed for Misawa and then to Chitose AFB. The plan was a bucket of bolts filled to the roof with crates of toilets and other things. I remember it had a hard time lifting off from a very long runway. I also remember that it dropped like a rock coming into Misawa. To make a long story shorter, I settled in to my role at the 12th USASA Field Station, found a small apartment that was somewhat Westernized in an alley in Chitose and brought Toni over in July of 1957, about four months after I arrived. BIt was quite an experience for both of us. We had to build a coal fire in a converted 55 gal drum that was on the next floor above us if we wanted hot water to bath in. It took a long time to build a coal fire, and we only got about twenty-five gallons of hot water after the effort. Our Japanese neighbors upstairs would also take advantage of the hot water, so we had to shower really fast and together. You see the hot water pipe went to all the apartments. We spent a lot of time taking in the sights and experiencing the people and activities. Sapporo was always a treat. Unlike Chitose, which had one paved street, Sapporo was a modern city with a great brewery, a renowned winter festival, and large department stores. The other aspect of the island that was fascinating was the Ainu Indians who lived there. In fact, a whole house full lived across from us. Some of the major events while in Chitose were experiencing our first earthquake, celebrating my 21st birthday, celebrating the birth of our first child, a daughter we named Karen, and celebrating Toni's 21st birthday in 1958. After the birth of our daughter at the field hospital on the air base, we moved into housing, a Quonset hut, on the Air Base. Later the 12th built new housing on the base, and we lived in until we returned to the U.S. in June of 1959. We flew to Tachikawa and stayed at Rotation Ranch until we flew aboard a contract airline called "Slick"! Always made me wonder...It was a four-engine prop job that traveled very slowly across the ocean. Our first and second stops were Wake Island, again in the middle of the night. After we left Wake and were close to our point of no return we returned because of engine trouble. After several hours in the ungodly heat with a little baby, we headed out again. This time when I woke up it seemed like we were 10 feet above the Pacific on three engines heading for Oahu. Just before we went over the island the pilot started the engine and we landed. Again, several hours later we boarded a plane and finally landed at Travis AFB in CA. By this time we were in bad shape. Finally got a cab to Oakland Army terminal and quarters for the night. The following morning I processed out and we caught an off the wall airline to NY and then one to our hometown of Albany. After 89 days I reenlisted and was back in ASA again at Devens after a short stay at Ft Dix. Retested and was offered a 283 school at Ft Monmouth NJ. Moved into some pretty shabby housing outside of the main gate, and lived there from Oct 59 until June of 60 when I graduated as an Electronic Warfare Equipment Repair man. After a thirty-day leave I headed McGuire AFB in NJ for a flight to Frankfurt Germany. After about a week in Frankfurt three of us were given 1st class tickets on Olympic Airlines (Greek) and flew to Athens stayed over, and on to Ankara Turkey. After a week at a shabby hotel on Atta Turk Blvd we flew via L19 to the "Hill" Sinop. Actually, we tried two times to get over or through the Kastamonu Mountains before we made it on the third attempt. The wings kept icing up and we would have to return to Ankara. That was one of the scariest flights I have taken. The little plane was flying in canyons with the walls so close sometimes you felt you could touch them, all the while bouncing all over the place. When we finally saw the "hill" and the landing strip on the beach, it looked like heaven.

I remember moving into a James way and having a packing crate as a table, a diesel fueled tent stove in the center of the James way, and liquor bottles filled with water on a table. None of the bottles had tops. I was told this was our drinking water and water for coffee. I shared the James way with three other troops. Phil Price from Valdosta GA, Harry Abraham ("the crazy Arab") from Detroit, and a quiet guy we called the "corporal" I can't remember his name. I was really lucky these were a great bunch of guys. Phil and I were in the same section so we saw a lot of each other. Since I was an E-4 I didn't have to pull "Yeni" guard, so I was immediately assigned to the ELINT side of operations. I was to replace an E-6 283 who was getting ready to rotate home. He was an older guy who got religion and gave up drinking on the hill and would not allow any swearing. He also wore a wedding band, but would tell anyone who asked, that "although I am divorced I am still married in the eyes of God". I found out about the swearing bit when I did something and let out s string of XXXX. I spent the next five minutes getting my butt chewed out. After as I looked around the maintenance shop there were a number of guys breaking up. Outside of his strong vocal beliefs he was a nice guy to work with. Prior to the E-6's departure we had an inspection by some general and his staff. As he came through our shop with the old man and his staff trailing, the general started to shake hands with each member of the team while telling them that their sacrifices were appreciated. The E-6 and I were the last two in the row of maintenance men so we got to witness the glad-handing before he got to us. One of the men in the row was an E-5 named Gardner who had a glass eye. However, the night before the inspection he got a little wasted and dropped his eye on the concrete floor and broke it. So during the inspection he was wearing an eye patch. As the general approached Gardner he shook his hand and asked "Sergeant, what happened to your eye?" Gardner in his deep booming voice said very seriously "Sir, I dropped it and it broke" I damn near wet my pants seeing the look on the generals face. As he continued down the row whenever he saw a troop wearing a wedding band he would do his "as a married soldier you are making the greatest sacrifice" speech. Well, he finally came to the E-6. Grabbed his hand and made the mistake of saying "Sergeant I see that you are married" That did it for me I knew what the general just let himself in for. And sure enough the ole sarge grabs the general's hand in both of his and started his "In the eyes of God" speech. The general was trying to pull his hand away while looking really trapped. While I was biting my lip and trying not to listen. When the general, by now wondering what the hell he was doing there, came to me he just shook my hand and said "good job Specialist" as he was heading for the door as fast as he could. The old man was staring daggers at the sergeant as they left.
A week later the E-6 was departing for Ankara on the convoy at around 5 am and I was fast asleep in my hut. All of a sudden a yelling cursing figure awakened while pouring liquor down my throat, all the time telling me the year will pass quickly. I damn near had a heart attack, as did the others in my hut. As I came to my senses, I realized my ole E-6 buddy let loose. He was a loud, drunken, cussing GI again. He came back to the real world before returning to it. We all wished him well as we poured him onto the rear of the duce-and-a-half.
Life settled into the normal "hill" routine consisting of "hate sessions" at the club, yells in the middle of the night as troops fell into the new ditches constantly being dug as new facilities were being built. It got to be a habit to check your path during daylight so you could miss any new ditches that were dug that day.
Some of the more exciting times included the take over of the hill by the Turks after the shooting of a Turk at the main gate, and the locking of the, I believe, field first sergeant in the outhouse several times a week as he came from the shower room. Each outhouse had a hasp to secure the door when it was moved. Some enterprising troops bought a bunch of paddle locks, and as the serge entered the outhouse they would put a lock on it. After much yelling and banging someone would have to cut the lock off. This continued until they posted a guard on the sergeant as he left the shower room went to the outhouse and then to his tent. The guard had to walk a post not just stand waiting for the sergeant, so the troops timed his rounds and locked the ole boy in again. They then left a note the effect that they had ten more locks. It was pretty funny.
The other prank they pulled was to sneak up to the NCO tent and pull off the rubber tube that ran from the barrel of diesel fuel to the tent stove. This put out the stove but leaked fuel all over the tent. This prank stopped when someone tried to pull the tube off, but instead moved the stove close to the tent wall and burned down the tent. No one was injured.
I left Turkey around the June time frame on emergency leave because my dad had a serious heart attack. I was at Samsun at the time and the first sergeant flew up to Samsun on an L-19 to pick me up. I had just finished a night of partying and was asleep in the club when he woke me and gave me the news. By the time we returned to the hill my buddies had my bags packed and our Lt lent me two hundred bucks for the trip home. I never forgot that. I repaid him as soon as a got home. Also while I was in Ankara waiting to fly out a Red Cross worker came by and asked if I needed any money. I thought that was great as well.
After flying THY To Frankfurt I was put on a flight to McGuire AFB NJ with a bunch of dependents and other troops on emergency leave. After a stopover at Plattsburg AFB NY because of weather we finally arrived in NJ. Oh yes, when we landed in Plattsburg we were surrounded by air police because it was a SAC base. They put us in a bus with no windows and drove us into a hanger and closed the door so we couldn't see anything. We stayed there till we left.
Prior to returning to Albany on leave, I had orders for Ft Bragg. These were changed to Ft Devens MA because it was closer to my home.
My dad recovered and I reported to Devens around July of 1961. It wasn't long before a buddy from the "hill" Mel Wilcox and his family showed up. We were both assigned to the same maintenance group. My enlistment was up in Sept of 1962 and an E-6 buddy of mine thinking about putting in for Warrant. At this time I was an E-5. I had been talking to an E-6 buddy of mine about this and he said he would do the same. Unfortunately I never did because I was assigned as a primary to a reaction team, which when I was an alternate was told it never got activated. Did get activated in December of 1961. The next thing I know I was at Arlington Hall getting orders and shots before heading for the Brooklyn Army Terminal (I think that's what it was called) to setup an old victory ship originally called the "Czechoslovakia Victory" now named the "Lt JG Robinson" for a trip to Africa. After four or so months in the sunshine continent I was flown home via KLM Airlines, reporting back to Devens. This again was an emergency return because of an emergency operation my wife had.
All was well and I finished my hitch in September of 1962 after six years with ASA. I did not reup because my wife was stricken in the March time frame and the only way I found out about it was a packet of mail from the American Embassy in Cape Town South Africa got to me in May. I had to request a departure from my team leader. My family contacted Devens a number of times and was told since she survived the operation there was no reason to return me.. OK. That's pretty much the story of my ASA days. Everyone of us in the group at Devens was deployed to one country or another during this time frame. Even Nam.
After leaving the service I stayed in the spook world working for a number of electronics firms. Even spent time with some of my old ASA buddies on their sites. During this time my family grew to two girls and a boy, and I used my GI bill to go to college and advance to a PhD. I know have three grown children, two with families and one at home with us. I have two grown grandsons; one with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq, the other just graduated Syracuse U and is looking for work. I also have three little grandchildren (two girls and a boy )in tenn where my son lives.
I spent my career working for various companies from NH to CA over my career. I have been on consulting contracts to most DOD and non-DOD agencies and services. I even spent a few years as a consultant in the telecommunications field. Today I am finishing out my career by returning to my home state after a life time and working for Lockheed Martin in their Radar Division in Syracuse NY. Where we realized a life time dream to have a house on the water. Thank You ASA for some exciting and educational years. And thank you for providing me with the opportunity to have an exciting and varied civilian career.

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