Subject: DAYS OF OUR LIVES #91
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 19:35:36 -0600
MAIL-bag - PRESERVING FORGOTTEN MEMORIES
I welcome articles, BIO's, stories, etc and certainly hope that all ASA Turkey Vet's will contribute and make the newsletter worthwhile. You can write whatever message you would like, and it will show up right here for you to share with the ASA Turkey group! 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. Thank you, Elder RC Green, aka gH (ercgreen@yourinter.net)
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NOTICE
The DAYS OF OUR LIVES newsletter is now posted on Bill Simons SINOP website at: http://dool-1.tripod.com
If anyone wants deleted from the weekly transmittal to your in-box, please send e-mail to your relayer with Cc to me (ercgreen@yourinter.net ) so that a smooth transition can be accomplished.
VETERAN'S DAY MARCH - 11 November 2002
Vietnam Veterans of America is sponsoring a veterans March to Remember in Washington on Veterans Day, November 11, 2002. All veterans are invited to join the march, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the memorial veterans built after America's longest war. Participants will assemble at 7th Street and Constitution Avenues, N.W at 8:00 A.M. on Monday, November 11. The assembly point is located between Jefferson and Madison Drives on the Mall. The march will form up by state, unit, or organization and will be guided by marshals. At approximately 9:00 A.M., the march will proceed west on Constitution Avenue to 17th Street, where participants will disperse and continue along through the Reflecting Pool area to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial well in advance of the ceremonies there. For updated information on the march, places to stay, and Veterans Day weekend activities in Washington, see this Website or contact Pam Turner at pturner@vva.org.
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DOES ANYONE KNOW THE ORIGIN OF THE DET 27 PATCH?
COMROE, Mike E4 059 Det 27, 61-62, (Jane), 205 Pinetown Rd., Audubon, PA 19403,610-666-7402, pennstateblue@enter.net - Merahaba Elder: I have a question that I've wanted to ask you for a long time. So here goes...what is the story behind the Det 27 patch with the Turk riding backwards? This must have been designed after my time in Turkey, and since no one ever asked about it, I assumed everyone knew but me. Say hello to Patty for me. Mike [I'm not sure, but I believe that it was designed from a Turkish postcard. Does anyone know who originated it? If so, tell us the story. Thanks- - -gH
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The Glubka's visit Beijing
GLUBKA, Roger A E1-E3-E1 72B Det 27, FE64-JL65, (CW3 Michelle), PSC 303, BX 25 APO AP 96204-0025 (Korea), glubkar@kornet.net [edited] Elder, - Don't worry about the Det 27 and 4-4 patches that I had made here in Korea! I'm sure they'll sale this year or at the next reunion. I'm not worried about it. Take your time on the Memory book, what's the rush, we aren't going no where. If I can help you with anything else let me know. Went to Beijing a couple of weeks ago. I think I may be going back next week by myself, just to shop. Looking into a trip to Bangkok during the school Christmas break. Attached is a photo of us on the wall. [The photo will be in the Memory Book. Too BIG for this newsletter] I did not go to the top with the family. Not a comfortable walk with an artificial knee and 58 years young. Those steps kicked my butt. I'll talk to you later! Roger
[Roger is a retired E7 who enjoyed his 'rocky' TOUR of DUTY at Manzarali. He had 100 each of the Det 27 and 4-4 patches made in Korea. We busted our butts to get them made and now FEW have been ordered. They are $5. each and can be ordered by sending a SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE to me at 3094 Warren Rd., Indiana, PA 15701
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ATTACHMENT
The 4-4 promotion attachment is a photo of Maj Cima handing out one SP6, three SP5 and one SP4 stripes
sometime in 1969 at Det 4-4, Karamursel Air Station. The only ID's thus far is Maj Cima and SP5 Rod Isler (3rd from the left). I'd appreciate the names of the others in the photo.
The 4-4
Isler is SP5 Rod Isler in 1969 getting promoted to SP5. This Rod
Isler went to OCS after his TOUR of DUTY as a 05H (ditty-bopper)
at KAS and in 2002 retired as a MAJOR GENERAL in the US Army.
General Isler was to be the guest speaker at the Hershey reunion,
but a late assignment caused him to cancel. Hope to see and hear
from the Isler's at the 2003 reunion.
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NEWLY FOUND VETERANS
ASCHER, Dewaine DOB: 1945 Det 4, 64-65, (Charlotte), 911 Marshall Ave., Green Bay, WI 54303, 920-499-8268, has e-mail (2nd at 191.5 lb to Vernal Wilcox at 1965 MSC Tournament. Talked to Charlotte on 29 October 2002
BARTOS, Fred (Fritz) DOB: 2MY45 E3-E5 98C Det 27, JN64-NO66, (1/W: Mary Alyce in Ankara-div 2/W: Jean, Maple Ave., Conyngham, PA 18219, 570-788-3235, fjbartos@epix.net . Contacted on 24 October 2002. Fritz had to have worked for me, but neither of us can remember. He worked straight days and did most of the filling in the T/A section and did little actual analysis. Bill Sofranko was the godfather for Fritz daughter Natalie.
BRINKMAN, Wm H O3 DDS DOB: 1JA39, Det 27, OC64-66, (Katie), 8675 The 5th Green, Atlanta, GA 30350, 770-992-1025, katie.brinkman@caldwellbanker.com . Contacted 27 October 2002. Native of Minnesota. Enjoyed his TOUR of DUTY at Manzarali. Participated in intramural sports and was a member of the 1964-65 Hqs Co Basketball team. He married John Tumpane's daughter, Katie, in January 1966 and departed Site 23 one month later. He remembers LT Richard Spets from Buffalo, NY. Retired as a Colonel with 38 years on active duty and still is active in denistry. Katie works in Real Estate in Atlanta. Would like other Manzarali vet's to contact him.
CASH, H Wayne, DOB: 27NO40, US52579828, E3-E4, MP, Det 27, JN64-OC65, (Mabel), 66 Bel Grene Dr., Fishersville, VA 22939, 540-949-7929, cash13@csw.com . Contacted on 25 October 2002. Had difficult time finding Wayne on switchboard.com because he is listed as H Wayne Cash in the telephone directory. Wayne was bubbling with enthusiasm throughout our lengthy conversation and promised to send me some photo's, order's, etc. Wayne is one of the few draftee's that served at Manzarali and at age 23 thoroughly enjoyed his TOUR of DUTY at Manzarali. He has kept in touch, off and on, with Trent Douglas and remembered a SP4 Harry Dodge (now deceased) who was a Det 27 elite soldier who was 'drafted' by the Army General in Ankara to be one of his aides and a lot of other vet's from Manzarali and will let him mention them in his response and BIO. Wayne retired in March 1999 from the Dupont Co and had, at one time, worked for them in Shanghai and Singapore
ERBER, Peter DOB: 7FE41 02 Post Engr Det 4, SE64-SE65, (Suzan), 70 Pine Cove, Senantobia, MS 38668, 662-562-5975, suzance@juno.com. Contacted on 29 October 2002. Found Pete Erber's name in the May 1965 Manzarali Mauler as follows: "Douglas Pins Erber in the 154 lb Class To Wrap Up MSC Win. On 26 March 1965 the Manzarali wrestling team won the 1965 M.S.C. Wrestling Championships when PFC Trenton Douglas of Manzarali Station defeated 1st Lt. Peter Erber of Sinop." Pete was not ASA, but was the Sinop Post Engineer. He graduated from Penn State Univ in 1962. He promised to send a BIO and some photo's for the Memory Book.
GOTHIER, Norman D E2-E5 MP Det 27,65-68, (Victoria), 2-02 Berdan Ave., Fair Lawn, NJ 07410, 201-475-0856, aandeman1@aol.com . Contacted 25 October 2002
LEWALLEN, Jimmy M DOB: 1JA43 E3-E5 058 Det 27, 65-66, (Jeanee), HC 68 104 W Pecon, Monahans, TX 79756, 915-943-2643. Contacted 26 October 2002. Op sine: MB. Enjoyed his TOUR OF DUTY at Manzarali. Played the piano in the Rock and Roll Band that Joe Walden formed and was called the COBRA's. Ron Dacus was the guitar player
LINDERUD, Wm N (Bill) E3-E5 05K Det 27, NO64-DE66, (Deborah), 529 Kriederman Dr., Stoughton, WI 53589, 608-873-5102, wnlinderud@hotmail.com . Contacted 25 October 2002. Had a long and interesting conversation with Bill Linderud. He loved every minute of his 26m and 18d TOUR OF DUTY at Manzarali Station. His wife, Barbara, is a former BRAT whose father (K.B. Barton) was a career ASA MP. One of Bill's best friends at Site 23 was the Operations Company Armorer, Wm N. Anderson, who also was know as the GENTLE GIANT
MERTES, Harold H DOB: 1940, E4 292.10 Det 53, OC63-64, (Sandra-div),13284 Canal Rd, Sterling Hts, MI 48313, 586-739-2140, dhhome@intouchmi.com Contacted on 25 October 2002. Gave http://dppl-1.tripod.com Det 53 was a small unit housed on Manzarali.
NEBE, Howard T DOB: 25DE42 E4-E5 Det 27 @65, (1/W: Janet-div 2/W: Loretta), 8479 Johnnycake Ridge Rd., Mentor, OH 44060, 440-974-5179, hnebe@prodigy.net d.
WEBBER, Benny R Det 4-4, 72, bwebber@satx.rr.com per Jim Harber - Elder, I have just located one of my old Army buddies I served with at Homestead AFB in Florida, after I left Manzarali. I will give him an opportunity to send his bio... He is Benny R Webber bwebber@satx.rr.com . We talked for over an hour tonite, reminiscing about Homestead... He really helped my out while I was at Homestead and rebuilt the engine in my 55 Ford that was using almost as much oil as gas. And as I recall, he only charged me about $30 + the cost of parts. Total cost to me for the rebuild was about $90 He stayed in 22 years - went to OCS and reached Capt during Viet Nam but got RIF'ed after the war but reached SFC before retirement... but still
retired as a Captain..... I know you are wondering why I am sending you this.. but I learned tonite that he also served at Det 4-4 in 1972. He is very interested in receiving DOOL's. So please put him on your master listing. Later Jim
WILLCOX, Vernal (Vern), DOB: 16SE42, E4, 059, Det 4, FE64-DE65, 11m10d, (Diane), 1821 Sw Athens Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801, 541-276-0556, vwillcox@oregontrail.net . Contacted on 29 October 2002.Vern won 1st place at 191.5 lbs at the 1965 M.S.C. Tournament held at Manzarali Station. He defeated Dewaine Ascher, also from Sinop, for the title. He remembers Lt Erber and few others from his TOUR of DUTY at Sinop. He travelled all over Europe with the wresting team and remembers an incident in Athens when the team or teams went to a bar named New York Bar and everyone had overlooked the exchange rate and when the bill was tabulated, they didn't have enough money. He also remembers the Black Sea Steamer and the Soviet subs on the Black Sea. Vern, at first, didn't want to tell me his MOS for fear that it was still classified and said that he worked as a chaplain assistant. After Sinop Vern was sent to TRRS where he was discharged. He graduated from Eastern Oregon College (no a university) and retired after 32 years as a school teacher in Pendleton, OR. He still sub's when needed. Vern promised to send some photo's and a BIO.
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e-mail changes
GH, the address for Tom Nuttal, twn1949@aol.com came back to me as undeliverable. Please check and advise. Thanks, Greg
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TAPS
Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all - The true joy of life is the trip. by Robt J. Hastings, 1924-97, "The Station."
DEVANNEY, Wm, Maj-LTC, Chaplain, Det 27, MR63-SE64 DOB: 1 October 1916 DOD: October 1984 at Hartford, CT., SSN: 045-16-5211 issued CT. Extract from e-mail of Dan Drachman -Chaplin Devaney when he was called into be our coach along with Major Hughes (as I remember -- and he also had a very attractive daughter, as I remember). They put us through heavy group lifting exercises with telephone poles, etc. Chaplin Devaney had jumped at Normandy and expected nothing but the best from us. They were great coaches from the respect of having us ready mentally and physically and they knew the basics all right. Extract from Manzarali Mauler – Nov 1964 edition: Chaplain Wm G. Devanny left Manzarali Station in September 1964; those of us who knew him well during his nearly 18 months here can easily recall the numerous improvements he brought to our community. For those who didn’t have the distinct pleasure of knowing him personally, he still in effect resides at Manzarali through the many wonderful stories that circulate among his friends. In November 64 after 12 years as a chaplain he was promoted to LTC at Fort Hamilton where he is an instructor at a unique school for chaplains. LTC Devanney was the son of a Presbyterian minister . He was born in Buffalo, NY and spent his childhood in NJ. He enlisted in the US Army a short time after graduating from high school. He saw airborne duty in numerous combat zones, in addition to fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine jump. Sgt Devanney left for the USA aboard the troop ship, "Madawaska Victory." The returning soldiers were so elated with coming home that they rushed to one side of the ship, nearly turning it over? He entered the Princeton Theological Seminary after graduating from Brown University in 1949. In mid-1951 he was ordained a Presbyterian minister; soon afterward, as he had planned years before, he entered the Chaplain Corps as a 1LT. LTC Devanney is an extremely well qualified parachutist, with well over 400 jumps to his credit. He is a tremendously dedicated chaplain who feels that his calling is to spread the Word of God to the serviceman. He has a fantastic command of the Scriptures – he is able to recite any passage from the Bible by memory alone. But above all, Chaplain Devanny is the type of person that will be remembered no matter where he goes; the work that he does for the Army, for his country, and for his God is positive proof of his unfaltering devotion. General Harold K Johnson, Chief of Staff of the Army, summed it up perfectly when he said that Chaplain Devanney is one of the finest examples that we have of a dedicated and devoted Chaplain Corps.
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DODGE, Harry Det 27 @65. Was detailed to be the General's driver in Ankara per Wayne Cash. SSDI: born 7 May 1943 died November 1974, SSN: 215-44-2900 issued MD
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PORTS, Waldo W Jr (Bill) O3-O4 SigC, A/Opns O, Det 53/27, 63-65, President of Manzarali Rod & Gun Club in 1965, SSDI: born 24 January 1931 died 12 November 1998 at Sacremento, CA., SSN:466-22-7246 issued TX
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REHKOPF, Edward B., Maj, Catholic Chaplain, Det 27, 64-65, DOB: 21 March 1912 DOD: 16 April 1994 POD: Houston, TX SSN: 213-34-0189 iss MD Extract from the Manzarali Mauler, March-April 1965 edition: Our New Priest Chaplain (Major) Edward B. Rehkopf was born and raised in the Army tradition, his father and grandfather on the maternal side were both West Point graduates and made the Army their life career. Born in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Father Rehkopf moved from post to post as a boy and graduated from Loyola College, Baltimore, in 1934. He then worked for 3 years before entering the Jesuit Seminary to study for the priesthood. After ordination he served as teacher and Dean of Men at Georgetown Prep in Washington D.C. and Loyola High School, Baltimore. He also spent some years as a parish priest in Philadelphia and Southern Maryland. In 1952 Father Rehkopf entered the Army and has served with the 7th Infantry Division, Fort Polk, LA; Hq’s Antilles Command, Puerto Rico; Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, CA and the USAREUR Rehabilitation Center, Germany
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BALDERSON, Eric L (Rick) O1-O2 F&AO Det 83 and 27, 62-63, (Ramona), 36 Florie Farm Rd., Mendham, NJ 07945, 973-543-2093, ericramona@aol.com Elder, Belatedly, thanks for all of your hard work and dedication in getting ASAers in touch with each other through DOOL and the reunion. Ramona and I really had a great time. I was happy to have her meet some of the great people I served with. I learned a few details about our mission in Turkey that as an admin type I was only somewhat aware of. It served to rekindle my pride in having served in the ASA and its important part in the cold war. We are looking forward to future reunions.
BIO of Eric Balderson
I arrived in Turkey in January 1962 after completing the basic finance officers course at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. As you might suspect, this did nothing to prepare me for my assignment. I originally reported in to TUSLOG Det 83 which I never hear anyone mention. It was an ASA headquarters organization with offices in the BOQ. I was in it for no more than a month before it was disbanded and folded into Det 27. My assignment was to open a disbursing office on site to take over financial services from Det 30. The first problem was to get enough personnel in place, and since financial services in Turkey were an Air Force responsibility, all our Army trained personnel had to be retrained to use the Air Force systems and procedures. We finally got it figured out and opened the office in May after a lot of dedicated hard work by some really great people. Then there were the unexpected kinks in the Army/Air Force financial interface. It was like no one had ever done this before. Looking back, it was a quite an accomplishment that everyone who had a part in should really be proud of. After we were up and running, I became the Deputy Controller for Major Underwood who rotated toward the end of 62. He was replaced by Captain Newingham who left unexpectedly after a couple of months because of medical problems. I became the Acting Controller for two months until I was replaced by Lt. Ruscwitz (please don't hold me to the spelling).
I left Turkey in September 1963 and moved to Washington, DC where I went to graduate business school and started a career in computers and systems working for the Defense Communications Agency as a programmer/analyst. After graduation I moved to New Jersey to work for eighteen years for Exxon in their computing and information systems group. I left Exxon to become Director of Information Services for a New York State agency. I now work for a consulting firm that does systems and software for Exxon Mobil.
I am married to Ramona Childress who I met in Ankara while she was teaching school at the Air Force dependent school. We have four children and four grandchildren. Both Ramona and I have some really nice memories of Turkey and the people we met there.
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CLAUDEL, Ernie US...E3-E5 Pers Sgt Det 4-4, 9DE70-31MR72, (Janet), 1109 W. Wabash, Olathe, KS 66061, 913-782-5139, eclaudel1@comcast.net
BIO OF ERNIE CLAUDEL
I graduated from Oakley High School (Western Kansas on I -70) in 1965. I attended and received my bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. While at Forts Hays, I met and married Janet. We took a teaching job in Southwestern Kansas at Hugoton, for the school year 69-70. For you geographers, Hugoton used to be known as the "natural gas capital of the world". I taught 5th grade for one year, and Janet worked for an attorney. At the end of the 1970 school year, I was drafted into the army. I went to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for basic. I then was sent to Fort Ord, CA for clerk school. I was then "drafted" into the Army Security Agency, as was my friend and "brother" (we have the same birthday) the other Ernie; Earnie Carman. Janet joined me during AIT, and we lived in an apartment in Marina, CA. When I finished clerk school, I was placed on OJT status while my clearance was being processed.
SFC Martinez was my friend and mentor in Brigade Supply. When I received orders for Det. 4-4, he suggested that I write the CO and see if I could bring Janet to Turkey with me. He reasoned that since it was not a hardship tour, and I would eventually be allowed to bring her over, I might as well write (Major Frickey) and ask permission to do so in the beginning. The "Major" said yes! Janet and I have always been grateful for this opportunity. (Incidentally, we met Earnie in New York City and flew to Turkey together.)
We always believed that "The Lord" smiled on us during the entire tour. As we were on leave before reporting to Turkey, we stopped in Hugoton to visit friends. We discovered that one of my Lions Club friends had a son stationed at Karamursel Air Station in the Air Force. My friend Jake Chilcott gave us a tour of the base, via slides, before we ever left the states. His son, Captain Jim Chilcott, was in charge of the base motor pool among other things. This connection was to become very important in the days to come.
We arrived and found that we had no place to live because we did not qualify for base housing as a PFC. We soon learned about "package deals", base furniture, and the banomee. We soon found an apartment in Yalova with the help of Barb and Gary Larson (the unit’s finance clerk), but we had no furniture. Captain Jim provided us an Air Force truck and two helpers to move our "package deal" from Golchuck to Yalova. (The Army only had a Ford 150 pickup. It would have taken a half dozen trips with that small truck.) Regarding my Army assignment: Earnie and I had arrived at the same time and were at that time both clerks. The unit, in the winter of 1970, was still sizeable. The CO, First Sergeant, personnel, administrative, finance, and supply located in the barracks. Earnie and I were given the choice as to who would stay and work at the company in personnel and who would go to "Ops" and be the clerk there. We agreed that I would stay in personnel.
The highlights of our tour at Det 4-4 were all the great people, the travel in Turkey and Greece, and for us, the Army Basketball Team. I also enjoyed playing drums with the "D Jam" which was a soul band made up of service men and dependents. Incidentally, I was the only draftee on the base.
We arrived in Istanbul on December 8, 1970. By this time, the unit had apparently become much smaller than it originally was. When gH sent me "the days of our lives" information, one of the items of great interest was the picture of Major Frickey and all the NCOs. I could be wrong, but by the time of our arrival, I am confident that the number of career men was much smaller. One of the fun things that Gary, Barb, Janet and I did was to start a series of parties we called "Bashes" at our apartment complex. I believe that we had four between December 1970 and March of 1972. We held the first three at our apartment house. The last one we rented a "disco" down on the Sea of Marmara near the ferry dock. By this time, the unit was small enough that there was not much discrimination between rank (as far as friendship was concerned) and everyone came. The highlight of these events was the presentation of (gag) gifts to the men and women (let’s not forget SP5 Elizabeth Katerhenry) who were PCSing.
I can recall three really interesting personnel events that happened that were significant. At some point during my tour, we were visited by "THE" ASA Command Sgt. Major. (I am sorry, I cannot remember his name.) As the Vietnam War began to wind down, the Army began to cut our unit back. On a Sunday afternoon, early in December of 1971, (I believe), I was on base for some reason and some of the men found me and took me to see a message that had just come in. (I was SP5 by this time and had done well enough on my MOS test to be moved from clerk to personnel specialist.) After seeing the message, I tracked down Mr. Drawdy (the personnel officer) to see if it said what we believed it said and he joined us. The information in the message was that a year had been chopped off almost everyone’s enlistment and, in my case, commitment. Some of the troops went from 370 days remaining in the Army, to 5 days overnight. You can imagine the excitement that this caused! One of the men entered the personnel office, checked the authenticity of the message, threw his cap on the floor and said, "I’m not _____short, I’m _____next!" [I believe this was SP5 Chris Andress] We placed his cap on the window sill of the personnel shop in honor of the "get short" message. Gary Larson, Peter Huck, and I actually extended for a few weeks as we were planning on traveling in Europe on the way home and wanted to wait for the weather to warm up. The number of staff trained in finance and personnel were getting slim by this time as well. By the time we left at the end of March, the unit was very small. The sudden reduction in size was caused by the "overnight" enlistment reduction, as well as the alleviation of the O5K MOS. During our stay in Turkey, I can’t recall the date, the Army launched a satellite and when they determined the technology worked, and the 05K MOS was a thing of the past. The troops were assigned to COM centers throughout the world. (I think most were assigned back to the states.) As you can imagine, a number of the men were very unhappy at the idea of being transferred from the ASA.
Gary and Barb Larson, Pete and Jean Ann Huck, and Janet and I headed for Europe, April 1, 1972. Janet and I headed back to Kansas after traveling for 10 weeks. We moved back to Southwestern Kansas, but living 3 hours from Istanbul and having traveled Europe, had spoiled us. We set about "getting the hell out of Dodge" (by the way Hugoton is only about an hour from Dodge City)! We moved to Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. On the way to Olathe, we stopped off in Hays where I finished my masters, using in part the hours I had gained on base in the Wayne State Graduate program. Since 1974 the city of Olathe has grown from 22,000 to 100,000. I taught 5th grade, 6th grade, was an elementary principal and ended my 33 years in education as an assistant principal of Santa Fe Trail Junior High. That was my favorite position. I really enjoyed those students! I also found, during this time, Primerica and love this company! I retired in July of 2002 and have been pursuing Primerica full time since then as my second career.
Janet and I just celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary this past August and have two children. Scott is 27 and lives in LA. He is working at a professional drumming career and drums for The Alibi Band. He is still working a "day job", but is hopeful that success in music is on the way. An album is recorded and mixed but has not yet been released. He has two years of college and marched for a drum and bugle corps one summer. Lisa is 22 and is a senior at Kansas State University, majoring in social work. Lisa spends her summers at home working and harassing her parents. Both have a great love for life, and while both of them have had serious relationships, from time to time, neither is engaged or married. We would love to hear from any of you we knew from Det 4-4.
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STEPHENS, Howard C (Steve) E4 Det 27, DE60-SE62, (Judy), 3149 Tamarron Dr., Rochester Hills, MI 48309, 248-375-0081, howardstephenssr@prodigy.net
Elder, As always, I continue to enjoy the DOOL e-mails and the great memories that go with it. I'm always glad to have an opportunity to respond to your requests and will do so below.
THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
How many of you remember in October 1962 (FORTY YEARS AGO) when the USA and USSR came frighteningly close to all-out war over Soviet missiles being based in CUBA. How many of you remember the FLASH and CRITIC messages that were generated during this period? How many of you remember the US missile units that were deployed in Turkey and Germany in 1959 that triggered the deployment of Soviet missiles to Cuba. Also, the Bay of Pigs fiasco took place in 1963. Please send me your comments and I'll lump them all together into one newsletter for everyone to enjoy and remember how the COLD WAR played a roll in our ASA lives.
Elder, So much for my perception of the ASA as a "sanctuary" in the early 1960's. Years after I served, I read Colin Powell's book. In his book, he refers to non-career soldiers and particularly the service "college crowd". I think they referred to many of us as "the Christmas Help" - much in the same way as many young civilians are regarded when they work as temps during the holidays, even to this day. So far as my tour as "Christmas help" in a "non combat outfit", things got a little bit turbulent in the early 60's! Nothing in comparison to what followed in Viet Nam, but certainly things I'll never forget. The first little reality check was the Berlin Crisis. That's been the subject of a lot of DOOL's so I won't repeat. Suffice it to say, we quickly learned that when the Russian Bear was prowling, we all were called upon to stand to it. Thankfully, the only "casualties" were a minor inconvenience and delays in rotation back to the comfort of the U.S. for many of us. Not too bad when you realize the price so many others paid. The second little reality check was the Cuban Missile Crisis. I rotated from Det 27 to Co B of the 313th ASA Bn, and was stationed at Ft Campbell, Ky. Being a "short timer" with 9 months to go, I thought I was in coast mode. Guess my military bearing had slipped a bit and I was quickly brought back in line by the Company 1st Sergeant, when I reported for duty in September 1962. Things settled down after that, for nearly a whole month. Then the Cuban Crisis flared up. A few Cuban linguists were temporarily attached to various company's scheduled for deployment to Cuba. They were actually supposed to be our interpreters but their English was a little hard to understand. Ah well, 1 out of 2 isn't bad. Thankfully, reason and peace prevailed and we were allowed to stand down. Again, a minor little worry and certainly nothing compared to the sacrifice so many guys made when they stood to it in Viet Nam. The service was a great experience and I have many great memories. I sometimes feel the only way to truly appreciate what we have in this country is to serve in uniform. There are many that don't understand and don't respect the sacrifices that have been made to buy their freedom. All of us owe a great debt of gratitude to all our men and women who have served our country with honor these many, many years.
Gotta go for now, Elder. May God Bless you and your family with good health and happiness in the years ahead. You certainly earned it the old fashioned way dear friend. Have a great day! As always, Howard "Steve" Stephens, SP/4 Det 27 12-60 through 09-62
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WENGER, Jay DOB 17FE37 E6 71L Det 4, 28AU63-8JL64, (Nancy), 201 Leffler Dr., Richland, PA 17087, 717-866-7490, jlwen@paonline.com
Sorry Jay and I didn't make it to the reunion but Jay had to have somemore back surgery. He had a disk that exploded and some of the bone chips were in his nerve. So, they had to go in and clean that out. What a mess that was. He had been in alot of pain before the surgery and feels alot better now. His big problem now is a double heart beat. We hope to find out soon why he has that problem. When it rains, it pours. Of course, I tell him if he weren't so grumpy, he wouldn't have this problem. Sorry to hear about Biff. We knew him from the Hall. He was such a lovely person. Nancy Wenger
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PERLOWSKI, James L., PFC, Editor of the Manzarali Mauler, Det 27, 64-29OC65, 6333 Copperfield Ave., Las Vegas, NV 44109, 216-398-7016 jamesp@accessnv.com Subject: Mauler Hi - Thank you for your call. I was already in bed. My wife told me you were looking for information. I don't know how you found me - but you did good!!! I was the editor of the post "rag". I inherited the job when Tom Plunkett was reassigned stateside. He was the previous editor. We worked for an .... named Lyle Boyd who was a WWII leftover. I have old copies of the Mauler as well as a scrap book my previous wife had put together. I'll have to get into the garage and find it. I was replaced by a Sgt. Bowman when I was reassigned to Two Rock Ranch in Noveber of 1965. My son was born in Turkey September 8th, 1965. I wanted to finish out my tour but as..... Boyd made sure I didn't. I'll dig out what I can find and FedEx it to you. Finding "stuff" gH - I have not forgotten you - honest. It's just that I have over 200 boxes to go through. So far I'm about half done. One good thing as a by-product - I'll be able to fit one of the cars inside this damm garage when I'm finished. Hang in there, it will not be much longer. Best, Jim Perlowski (Former editor of the Manzarali Mauler) Elder, As I promised you, I have found nine issues of the "Mauler". I had stashed away years ago. These are the only copies known to survive. Please, please treat them very carefully and return them as soon as you are finished copying them. My best to you and yours. Sorry I couldn't make the reunion - maybe the next one.
EXTRACT FROM THE MANZARALI MAULER, Vol III No. 9, November 1965
MIGHTY MAULER MANIPULATOR MIGRATES
by SFC David Bowman
They said it would never come, but it has? Jim Lee Perlowski has left – legally too, via the Pan Am job. His 18 months have come and gone at last. He left this morning, 29 October, with somewhat more than he came with: For one, Charlene (his wife – type girl), who joined him here in December 1964, and James Jr., delivered not by Pan Am but by a lost low flying stork in September 1965. Gosh, and Jim even made all the way up to Fourth Class Specialist while here. Jim put out the MAULER from December 64 edition until the copy you read last payday. His work was, well, to say the least and uh, his mother and father-in-law visited him also while he was here too and – gee, I’d better get on something else. James will be missed, no doubt (his landlord was looking for him this morning for some reason, and Sgt Pixley probably can get some time off now from his dispensary chores, and Thunder will be able to sleep better, and a certain Major will be able to open his apartment door with an easy feeling. MSG Morgan’s cigarette tab will go ‘way down, and the Turkish motor pool drivers can go the RIGHT way on one-way streets without bein’ blessed out. Yeah, he’ll be missed alright. Hey, think of Two Rock Ranch, CA in the US of A! That’s where he’s going to spend the last year of his 3 year sentence, uh, hitch. Won’t the people there be surprised? Seriously James, we’ll miss you heaps. Your work was - - oh oh, there I go again! We will miss you though. Good luck ole buddy, take care of yourself and Charley and young Turk Perlowski. All here wish you well and know you’ll succeed highly in whatever you do. (Gee, I wanted to add so badly "whenever you finally start doing it", but I won’t.)
[Jim Perlowski presumes that this article was Bowman's attempt at humor. Also, Perlowski admits that he was very upset that his request for extension was denied and he believes that it was SFC Lyle E. Boyd who recommended disapproval.]
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THE MANZARALI MAULER, Vol III No. 3 - May 1965:
Douglas Pins Erber to Wrap up MSC Win
On March 26, 1965 the Post Wresting Team won the 1965 M.S.C. Wrestling Championships when PFC Trenton Douglas of Manzarali Station defeated 1LT Peter Erber of Sinop. The 1st and 2nd place winners in the wrestling meet are as follows:
Robert Tamashiro, Sinop............1st in the 114.5 lb
Rudy Degremaldo, Manzarali.....1st in the 124.5 lb
Warren Umeda, Manzarali...........2nd in the 124.5 lb
Frank Weinkopff, Manzarali........1st in the 138.5 lb
David Gaustad, Sinop....................2nd in the 138.5 lb
Trenton Douglas, Manzarali........1st in the 154 lb
Peter Erber, Sinop.........................2nd in the 154 lb
Donald Kramer, Sinop..................1st in the 171.5 lb
John Eitenmiller, Manzarali.......2nd in the 171.5 lb
Vernal Willcox, Sinop....................1st in the 191.5 lb
Dewaine Ascher, Sinop..................2nd in the 191.5 lb
Gordon Case, Manzarali................1st in the 213 lb
Richard Scott, Sinop.......................2nd in the 213 lb
James Vandenburg, Manzarali......1st in the Hvy Wt lb
John Zimmerman, Sinop.................2nd in the Hvy Wt lb
[[I've located Trent Douglas, Pete Erber, Vern Willcox, Dewaine Ascher and Gordon Case]]
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DID YOU TAKE ONE OF THESE SERVICE CLUB SPONSORED TOURS
Bogazkale, Hittite Capital
Ski at Uludag
Amasra , Medieval Venetian Port on Black Sea
Taurus, Mersin and Iskenderun
Gordium - Where Alexander cut the Gordian Knot
Sivas
Akcakoca (Black Sea)
Antalya
WAITE, Daryl L E3-E4 Det 66, DE63-JA65, (Hope), 33 N. Washington, Carthage, IL 62321, 217-357-2884, k9jpq@hotmail.com Elder: - Was there an Asmara site in Turkey? We had a counterpart in Asmara, Ethopia (websearch: Kagnew) I contacted someone who claims a friend of his was stationed at Asmara, Turkey. Is he correct, confused, or BSing? Daryl [The only thing that comes close is AMASRA (listed above as being a port on the Black Sea)]
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DET 27 ROD & GUN CLUB
The Det 27 Rod and Club was established in early 1965 by a Board of Governors virtually from scratch. Does anyone remember the names of those members? I will appreciate if any one who hunted in Turkey send me what you remember about the Det 27 Rod and Gun Club or the Rod and Gun Club in Ankara. I don't remember the Rod and Gun Club at Manzarali, but bought an Ithaca 12 ga. at the AF Rod and Gun Club in Ankara and also the one at Karamursel.. The first President of the Manzarali R&G Club was Maj W.W. Ports Jr., who is now deceased.