4th Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment

The Roster: 4/12th Infantry, Warriors

2020-02-17T21:09:00.013+11:00

If you email me about your service with 4/12th Infantry -- click here -- then I'll upload your details on the web beacon and forward any contacts I have on the roster I'm building.

Of course, I won't pass your details along to spammers or scammers. And I'm not selling anything myself, either.

If you're looking for anyone in particular, have any photos or perhaps a great story to share, please be sure to let me know. The general idea is to feed Google with names and keywords, which helps anyone who's searching for you or the fellows you served with.

Speaking of which, if you're still in touch with anyone from those days, I'd be grateful if you would let me know and cc them a copy of this email to tell them about the web beacon

I look forward to hearing back so I can get your correct details up on the Web Beacon. It can take a while -- I'm only able to get to this once every few weeks -- but we'll get there in the end.

Warriors!

p.s. if you were also with 1/39 Inf (M), be sure to check the Paddy's Gang web beacon as well.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Check out the right hand column of this page and see if it's in "Previous Posts". Or you can use the "Search Blog" function at the top left of this page to search the whole site.

Frequently Asked Questions. . .

2020-02-16T14:56:00.001+11:00

. . . plus some Not-So-Frequently Asked Questions

I was with the unit in the early 1990s -- how do I stay in touch with other 8th Infantry Division veterans?

Have a look at the 8th ID Yahoo Group. Post, ask questions, refresh your memory or just lurk – you can get the postings sent to your regular email address, too.

Likewise, how do I get 8th Infantry Division Veterans Association membership information?

Why, at the 8th Infantry Division Association, of course. There is also an alphabetic roster of 8th ID vets you might want to check out.

How can I locate a buddy of mine that I served with in the military?

Click here, and drop me a line with as much of the following information as possible:

*Surname in the unit [just making sure -- believe it or not, some guys have different surnames these days]:

*First Name:

Middle Initial:

Rank:

*1/39 Inf, 4/12 Inf or both?:

*Company:

Platoon:

*Arrived (month/year):

*Departed (month/year):

Home of record

So long as you’re not from the IRS, I’ll post the information on the Web Beacon along with your contact details, if you like.

How do I find out about the unit history?

I haven't even begun to pull together my notes, but if you drop me a line I’ll share what I’ve got. It isn’t much . . . then again, it’s better than nothing.

How do I get copies of military records and request medals?

Requests can be made by veterans or their next of kin and should be made on a government form that is called the Standard Form 180. It provides information about the service history of the veteran and the specifics of the request being made. The form must be submitted to the appropriate Military Records Center.

Assistance in obtaining records or medals can be provided by Veterans Service Organizations such as the VFW, American Legion, DAV, VVA, etc. and local and state veterans agencies.

For an on-line Standard Form 180 or for answers to other questions, go to the federal government's Military Personal Records frequently asked questions page.

Am I still welcome to post my details if I served with one of the sister battalions in the regiment?

Sure, why not. Depending on circumstances, I may just point you to one of the other associations if that’s likely to get you a better result, but shoot me an email and we'll see.

Armistice Day 2011

2011-11-11T11:00:00.001+11:00

Lest we forget.

Army Birthday 2011

2011-06-14T04:30:00.000+10:00

Warriors!

Clarence Franklin (Frank) Prigmore, 4/12 Infantry 1989-1991

2010-12-19T11:05:00.001+11:00

I served with this gent back in the day -- drop me a line if you'd like to get back in contact:

Hello My name is Clarence Franklin Prigmore. I was assigned to D Co 1-39th Inf Regt from Dec 1987 through the transition to D Co 4-12th Inf Regt. CSM Reed had me assigned to S-3 so I was also Major Bhatta's Track Commander and Asst Ops Sergeant in HHC 4-12th BN. Towards the end sometime like September 90, I was reassigned to A Co 4-12th until I ets'd on April 1st 1991.

LT Van Hoozen was my PLDR while in D Dco. I was the SGT from D Co that had the camo net set up in the parking lot of the EIB site that everyone came by to RTR on before they went to test. I also ran the entire course in the first day so I could be done and at my RTR site. I got an ARCOM for that little stunt plus every member of my squad got their EIB as well.

It was also that little act that got me put in S3 as the Asst S-3 Ops Sgt under MSG Kelly. LT Quintana was in the S-3 shop at that time. Then there was Lt. Sampson.

Frank Prigmore Campbell, Texas

I've cross-posted this one to the 1/39 Inf web beacon, too.

p.s. You can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

Armistice Day: 11 November, 2010

2010-11-11T11:00:00.002+11:00

Lest we forget.

SGT Jerry Pollay, 4/12 Infantry 1970

2009-11-24T04:30:00.003+11:00

Team,

Here's a late posting of contact details for Vietnam-era vet Jerry Pollay:

SGT Jerry Pollay
Delta Company
4/12 Inf
Arrived January 1970
Departed December 1970

Please send me an email if you'd like to get back in touch with Jerry, or if you served with 4/12 Infantry over the years.

Welcome home, SGT Pollay!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

You might also check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Mark Donovan, 4th Bn 12th Inf, Baumholder 1991-1993

2009-07-19T09:10:00.003+10:00

Contact details freshly arrived from another 4th Bn, 12th Inf
vet, Mark Donovan:

Surname: Donovan
First Name: Mark
Middle Initial: E
Rank: E-4
Company: Bravo
Platoon: 3rd
Arrived (month/year): 3-91
Departed (month/year): 1-93
Email Contact: 1 mdfrog69@yahoo.com

Gents, you know the drill: feel free to contact Mark directly, or send in your name if you'd like me to post your details as well.

Warriors!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

You might also check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

SPC Jake Stremmel, 4/12 Inf Scouts

2009-07-19T08:21:00.003+10:00

Here's some recent news from Jake Stremmel:

my name is marvin l stremmel (jake). my rank was e-4 at the time.
i was a member of hhc 4/12 inf. scout platoon from sept.1990-oct.1993. i am now living in kc.mo.
my e-mail is stremmel4455@yahoo.com.

If you served with the unit during those days, please drop Jake a line.

Warriors!

p.s. Jake sent me an update, mentioning that his LT was Tom Seagrist. Jake also remembered his friend Mike Gaylor, who ETS'd in 1993 and is in Atlanta these days.

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

You might also check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Mark Donovan, Bravo Co 4/12 Inf

2009-07-17T08:54:00.003+10:00

Another 4/12 Infantryman of few words! Here are the briefest of details on Mark Donovan, who you can easily contact if you drop me a line:

SPC Mark E Donovan
3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 4th Battalion 12th Infantry
Arrived 3/91
Departed 1/93

Warriors!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

You might also check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Chuck Duncan, 4/12 Inf Mortar Platoon 1966-1967

2009-07-15T10:23:00.000+10:00

Chuck Duncan, who served as a SP/4 with the 4/12 Inf mortar platoon back in Viet Nam, is on the hunt for fellow Charlie Company veterans. If that's you, or if you're in touch with one, drop him a line at one of the links below. (I also have an email address.)

He was there from December 1966 (steaming over with the unit on the General Sultan), and left in October 1967. Living in Phoenix these days.

Here are a few words from Chuck:

There are about 24 of us from Charlie Company looking for others from C Co 4/12 199th LIB between June 1966 and September 1967 and considering a Charlie Company Reunion in 2010 or 2011.

Brothers can go to http://groups.google.com/group/redcatchers-c-co-412-199th?hl=en to sign up for the Group.

You can email some of the group at redcatchers-c-co-412-199th@googlegroups.com

Warriors!

If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

You might also check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Army Birthday 2009

2009-06-14T13:44:00.000+10:00

4th Battalion 12th Infantry remembers.

Warriors!

Jason Dahl, Support Platoon 4-12 Inf (M), 1991-1994

2009-06-14T11:26:00.003+10:00

Here' s the briefest of messages from Jason Dahl, who served with us in 4/12 Infantry during the early- to mid-1990s:

1991 - 1994 baumholder germany support

Jason's a man of few words.

Readers, if you served with HHC Support Platoon during those days, or just remember Jason from H D Smith barracks, be sure to drop a line.

Warriors!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

You might also check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Marc Pavone, HHC Support Platoon 1992-1996

2009-04-25T05:00:00.001+10:00

News from another 4/12 Infantry veteran:

Marc Pavone here,

I served in 4/12 IN from AUG92-FEB96.

I was in HHC, Support Platoon. Lived in the barracks directly in front
of Burger King.

Wolfpack!

Here are some of the fellows Marc worked with:

John Boyne (works for Google now)
Jason Dahl from Seattle, .50 gunner,
Sederstrom, also from Seattle but married a German girl
Brian Collins, had a cat in the barracks
Joe Silzer, bodybuilder and loveable goof
Richard Hughes, he's a cop in the Boston area
Matt Leal, he was a medic
SSG Alexander
SSG Guajardo
PSG Cropper
PSG Donahue

Let me know if you'd like me to forward a message to Marc, or if you're in touch with any of the rest of these guys.

Warriors!

p.s. You can add your name to the roster here.

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

SSG Norrgard, Charlie Co 4/12 Inf (M)

2009-04-15T18:37:00.001+10:00

This from a comment left on the Web Beacon by another 4-12 Infantry vet. By the way, email addresses don't automatically 'stick' in the comments, so please be sure to include contact details:

Just found this blog after searching around the internet looking for long lost pals...

Sergeant Major Smith??? HAHAHA! Yes, he was the BC's driver. I'd love to get a hold of Peter; he and I had a good time attending a MotoGP race at Hockenheimring one year...

I served in C Company from 90-93 (2nd Platoon, Psychos)

SSG Norrgard

Warriors!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

Thomas Putney, 199th LIB 1968

2009-04-05T11:03:00.003+10:00

In March, I heard from Thomas Putney who served with the 4/12 Infantry in Viet Nam. Here's his message:

Thomas B. Putney
B Co. /4th & 12th / 199th
02/68 - 10/68

Looking for:
Jerry Bourland (or possibly spelled Jerry Borland)
From: Texas
Also with: Co. B. / 4th & 12th /199th
'68-'69

Thanks!

Thomas Putney

tbellp1947@verizon.net

Anyone who can help, please email direct or send a note to me if you prefer.

Thanks for writing, Thomas, and welcome home!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

Kevin Christie, Charlie Co 4/12 Inf (M)

2009-04-05T10:15:00.014+10:00

Recently heard from Kevin Christie, who was with the unit in Bosnia:

I served with 4/12 Infantry, Charlie Company, from Feb 94-Feb 97. Seved in Bosnia in 96. Was a Gunner on Charlie 11. Name is Sgt Kevin Christie.

As ever, if you remember Kevin and want to get in touch, drop me a line.

Warriors!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

Phil Lynch / A-4/12 Inf 1967-1968

2009-03-07T07:43:00.002+11:00

More news from Vietnam-era vet Phil Lynch:

Hi,

Please add me to the web beacon and forward any contacts you have on the roster you're building.

Philip Lynch
Michigan
Phone: 810-588-0886
email address: philip.g.lynch@gmail.com
Company A 4th BN, 12th Inf., 199th Light Infantry Brigade
Nov 1967 thru Nov 1968

Thank you

Phil Lynch

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

Ram "Doc" Chavez

2009-03-07T07:41:00.001+11:00

One of the team from Vietnam days:

Ram "Doc" Chavez
199th Light Infantry Brigade

Sept. 1967 - Co. C, 7th Spt Bn Medic
Dec. 6, 1967 - Co. A, 4th Bn 12th Inf Combat Medic
Jan. 1, 1968 = Co. D, 4th Bn 12th Inf Senior Combat Medic
May 5, 1968 - Replaced by Harvey Lynn Colley,
May 6 - 1968 Returned to Co. D, 4th Bn 12th Inf, and replaced my replacement.
May 11, 1968 - Co. C, 7th Spt Bn Medic
Sept. 1968 - Departed Vietnam

H D Smith Barracks, Baumholder FRG

2009-02-28T08:37:00.004+11:00

Just a quick link to a photo and a few words about H D Smith Barracks (click here), which veterans of 4/12 Infantry will all remember as a pleasantly flat oasis of sunlight and toasty weather in what was otherwise a notoriously hilly, wet and cold part of Germany.

Warriors!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

Richard Correoso, Mortar Platoon 1990-1993

2009-02-08T15:12:00.002+11:00

Here's word from another 11C from 4/12 Infantry:

My name is Richard Correoso. I served in the mortar platoon from 1990-93.

M my e-mail is rik60mm@aol.com

Richard would have served in Baumholder just after I left. I'll update this with some names when he gets back to me.

p.s. If you haven't visited before, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

SGT Patrick Coffee, Charlie Co, 4/12 Infantry, 1993-1996

2009-02-04T21:17:00.006+11:00

Again, a quick note from another 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry vet:

SGT Patrick Coffee
B & C Co
1993-1996

Patrick went back to the States and a civilian career after leaving Baumholder. If you remember him, or served at the same time, dash off an email -- I've got contact details.

Warriors!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

2009-01-15T14:47:00.001+11:00

Mike Vargas is keen to catch up with anyone from Alpha Co 4/12 Infantry:

Mike Vargas
Alpha Co. 4/12 inf
Nov 94 to Nov 96
Baumholder, Germany

Drop me a line if you remember Mike and would like me to pass along your email details.

Warriors!

p.s. If you're new to the Web Beacon and haven't already written in, you can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

You might also check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

Chuck Norton, Maintenance Platoon, 4/12 Inf (M)

2008-12-03T08:05:00.003+11:00

News of Chuck Norton, who served with me both in 4th Bn, 12th Inf and, before that, with the 1st Battalion 39th Infantry:

My name is Chuck Norton. I was a Specialist stationed in Baumholder Germany from 1988-1991. I was in HQ company.

I was in the maintenance platoon who was run by SFC Deihl at the time. SFC Deihl became my section sergeant after MSG Elce came and took over the maintenance platoon. I worked with Sgt Dan Rogers, SSG Dan Young, one of the Vorhis brothers and Trey Herdon (my room mate at the time). I remember both COs but can't remember the name of the tall slender 1SGT that we had -- just remember that he was a nice guy (Jones I think).

I do recall Major McAllister. I can see him running around in his Shelver-flage now!

There is no one in particular that I am looking for. I would be interested in getting in touch with anyone from the maintenance platoon just to say hello.

Happy holidays!

Chuck Norton

Thanks, Chuck, for writing in -- everyone else, don't be shy about sending an email to get back in touch.

p.s. You can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

email@ddress

Victory In Iraq

2008-11-22T01:00:00.000+11:00

I'm calling it: 22nd November 2008 -- Victory in Iraq.

Warriors!

Jason Miley, Mortar Platoon 4/12 Infantry 1990-1993

2008-10-26T06:48:00.005+11:00

Early in October I received a brief message from Jason Miley

Jason Miley
HHC 4/12 Inf. Mortar Platoon
03/1990 through 04/1993

Just thought I'd post this while I wait to hear whether he's hunting for anyone in particular. I do have Jason's email address [jdmiley@sbcglobal.net], so if you remember him from your days in 4th Bn, 12th Inf, drop one of us a line.

Warriors!

p.s. You can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

Back On-line

2008-10-26T06:43:00.002+11:00

Well, here we are back on-line again. Have reworked this system all the way from the keyboard to the nearest telephone post, hired a new ISP and burned up a lifetime's worth of patience in the process. While my system's been down, I've heard from a few fellows and I'll start posting again soon . . . at about the usual pace, though.

Redcatcher: 4/12 Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade (Vietnam)

2008-08-30T08:10:00.006+10:00

From time to time I get email from veterans who served with 4th Bn, 12th Inf when the regiment was in Vietnam, where the parent 199th Light Infantry Brigade was known as Redcatcher. As a courtesy, and out of historical interest for those of us who served with the unit in Germany at the end of the Cold War and the early/mid 1990s, I'm posting a couple of useful links:

Pancho Ramirez' Redcatcher site: http://www.pancho199th.freeservers.com/

Tom Ward's Redcatcher site: http://www.redcatcher.org/

p.s. You can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

Bill and Joy Howard, 4/12 Infantry 1989

2008-08-30T05:57:00.006+10:00

I forget exactly when they arrived, maybe 1988 -- probably when 'we' were still 1/39 Infantry -- but in any case I remember LT Bill Howard and his wife LT Joy Howard (who was with 8th Personnel down near the hospital). We didn't have a lot of couples who were both in the military for some reason.

Was Bill with Delta Co, or am I mistaken?

Last time I saw Joy, she was visiting Heidelberg (where I was living in 1990), not long before Gulf War I.

Also heard a rumour that Bill was transferred down to Miesau, of all places. Anybody out there know? If so, drop a line and I'll post it.

Warriors!

p.s. You can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

SFC Stuart Norman and SGT Rick Wagner, S-3 Shop, 4/12 Infantry

2008-06-09T07:52:00.004+10:00

Rick Wagner left me a message not long ago to remind me of SFC Stuart Norman's first name. Sure sounds familiar, so I'm posting it as it is.

Here are some earlier words I posted over on the Paddy's Gang web beacon.

Although I wouldn't swear to it I think [SFC Stuart Norman] had been a teacher before joining the Army and I'm pretty sure he made it to E-7 in four years. He had been with the Berlin Brigade and met his wife in Berlin.

As for Rick, he also served with the 4th Bn, 12th Inf in the S-3 shop, after the redesignation from 1st Bn, 39th Inf. That was in 1989-1990. Rick's out east these days, working in IT.

Warriors!

p.s. You can add your name to the roster now!

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

4/12 Infantry: A Little Bit Of History

2008-05-24T06:36:00.003+10:00

Just heard news from Rick Gabriele. Although not a 4/12 Inf veteran, he pulled duty in our old 'home', sunny Baumholder FRG, during 1970-73.

Elements of the 2nd Armored Division were already there in the mid/late 1950s. And, as I mentioned before, the 12th Infantry was there during 1956 as part of the 8th ID. Not sure when the unit left.

Paddy's Gang -- 1/39 Inf -- arrived from Worms in 1966. We were redesignated as 4/12 Inf in 1989. Then, in turn, the unit was redesignated as 2/6 Inf in 1997.

And now, in 2008, soldiers from 2/6 Inf are walking those same familiar cobblestones even as I write.

So the 4/12 Inf (M) Warriors once assigned to H. D. Smith barracks are part of a long line -- more than fifty years of US Infantry in Baumholder.

Drop me a line if you remember.

p.s. Have you added your name to the roster yet?

Didn't find what you were after? Try looking in the 'previous posts' over to the right, or use the search tool at the top left of this page.

4th Bn, 12th Inf: Scott Bond, Medic Platoon 1987-1990

2008-04-27T08:13:00.004+10:00

Like Santa Claus, Scott Bond always knew whether we had been good or bad -- more exactly, he always knew exactly how bad we had been. The medics saw it all!

Here are a few medics' names that Scott remembered to me when we corresponded a while back:

SGT Esquerto
SP/4 Jednorski
"Top" Reynolds

I remember Jednorski too, because one day he disappeared with my firestick and it took a good half hour of frantic searching for it (and him) before we found them both up a tree playing sniper.

If you know where to find these fellows, drop me a line.

AAAO!

Before I forget -- please add your name to the roster if you haven't already. And if you also served with 1/39 Inf (M), like Scott did, you might want to check out the Paddy's Gang web beacon, too.

Interesting News at 1/39 Inf Web Beacon

2008-04-20T08:32:00.002+10:00

Although it isn't directly relevant to 4/12 Inf (M) veterans, on the 1/39 Inf (M) web beacon I just posted news of a gentleman who served with the unit in 1945-1946. Apart from historical interest, if any reader is a red-hot archivist who can help track down some photos and official newspaper info, we'd appreciate the help.

Before you go -- please add your name to the Warriors' roster!

4/12 Inf (M): Ronald G. Vance III

2008-04-20T08:08:00.004+10:00

Last week I heard from SFC Ronald Vance, who's still in uniform. Having left 4/12 Inf (M) just before the unit went to Bosnia, he spent time in Fort Huachuca (1994), switched over to T10 AGR (Full Time Federal National Guard) in '96 and is still at it. That's involved ten years in the DC area (between Belvoir, the Pentagon, and Crystal City), a year in Iraq, and time at Fort Polk. Here's SFC Vance's original email with news from Baumholder days:

Hello,

I was SPC Ronald G. Vance III at the time.
HHQ PLT, HHC, 4-12TH INF(M)
SEPT 1991- SEPT 1994
I served as the Acting Supply SGT, Asst Supply SGT, and Section Leader.

Over the course of 3 years, I served with:

CPL Aarick Caldwell (ARMORER)
PFC Jaime Mellon (SUPPLY CLERK)
SPC Ronald Gebhart (NBC NCO)
SGT Kyle Swearengen (CO DRIVER)
PFC George Ginn (SUPPLY CLERK)
PFC Jeffrey Alexander (SUPPLY CLERK)
SGT (now MSG) Marlon Reyes (ASST SUPPLY SGT)
SGT Darrell Hackney (NBC NCO)
PFC Paul Goodoue (NBC SPC)
SGT Dikinson (SUPPLY SGT)
CPL Wynn (ASST SUPPLY SGT)

My PLT Sergeants were -
SSG Gary P. Crews (SUPPLY SGT)
SSG Bobby Pane (SUPPLY SGT)
SFC Timothy J. Rainwater (SUPPLY SGT)

RONALD G. VANCE III
SFC, USA
Logistics & Mobilization NCO
DCS-NG, JRTC
Office: DSN: 863-1615
Commercial: 337-531-1476
Cell Phone: 571-435-6177
E-Mail: Ronald.vance@conus.army.mil
Ronald.vance@us.army.mil

Thanks for writing in! I'm still working to consolidate the roster data, which involves not only updating the info but shifting it between two different databases on two different systems, but I'll run the numbers this week and get back to you with any contacts I have from those days.

Of course, if anyone can provide leads on any of those 4-12 Inf vets, please contact me or SFC Vance direct.

Warriors!

p.s. If you're visiting and haven't already added your name to the roster, please click through before you go!

4/12 Inf (M): Brodie Wolgamott, Delta Company 1991-1992

2008-04-13T08:27:00.005+10:00

News today from Brodie Wolgamott, who was with Delta Co's 1st Platoon during 1991-1992 and is hoping to catch up with fellows he served with. If you remember Brodie, or are in touch with any of these former Delta Co veterans, please send a message to me or go direct to Brodie.Wolgamott@homecomings.com

Delta
1st platoon
Feb 1991
Jul 1992

John Singletary
Charles Mottle
Bo Hawks
Jeff Bauer
Bill Sutton
Brian Rhoerig
Keith Schaeffer
? Ostertag
? Marmett
Ray Hill
? Conroe

My chain of command was

Squad leaders:
Sgt Ross
Sgt "Pookie" (can't remember his real name)

Platoon Sgt.
SFC Lucero

1st Sgt.
Larry Knuth - not sure of the spelling - (what a character)

Don't remember my first Capt but the one that took over was Edwards.

Thanks, Brodie, for the info.

Other Warriors -- please add your name to the roster now!

12th Infantry, Baumholder FRG 1956 (!)

2008-03-30T10:46:00.003+11:00

Hell, I didn't know this!

Walter Ekins' ever-fascinating USAREUR site tells us that the 2nd Battle Group of the 12th Infantry was in Baumholder with the 8th ID all the way back in 1956. That means they were there even before 1/39 Inf (M) arrived.

Well, you learn something new every day. Anyone out there from 1956, be sure to drop me a line.

By the way, please add your name to the roster now, if you haven't already. Like Johnny Cash, I'm building it one piece at a time . . . and in the next week or two I expect to have another posting with some fresh names and dates, as soon as I get this bad boy transferred into a proper database.

4-12 Infantry

2008-02-24T08:55:00.001+11:00

If you served in Baumholder with 4-12 Infantry then why not send up a flare while you're here?

4/12 Infantry

2008-02-24T08:53:00.004+11:00

If you served in Baumholder with 4/12 Infantry then why not send up a flare while you're here?

4th Bn, 12th Inf

2008-02-24T08:33:00.006+11:00

If you served in Baumholder with the 4th Bn, 12th Inf then why not send up a flare while you're here?

4/12th Infantry: The Roster

2008-02-17T21:35:00.004+11:00

I've been slowly building up a unit roster from the details of veterans who've emailed me over the past few years. Often, guys just contact each other directly, but to help me reunite people who served together in 4/12th Infantry I'd be grateful if you would add your name to the roster so I can share your details with other fellows from your time in service.

Same for those of us who also served in Baumholder with 1/39th Infantry.

Drop a line with your details and if I know of any contacts I'll pass them along.

Warriors!

4/12 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG: Herb Zamar

2008-01-20T08:19:00.000+11:00

Here we are again, back from a system crash. Better luck in 2008!

This belated post is from Herb Zamar, who served with Bravo Company 4/12 Inf (M):

I was with B 4/12 from 89 to 91 at Baumholder . . . I'm trying to find some of my old buddies; William Judge, Tricky Thompson, Curtis Cobb.

If you know how to get in touch with any of them please let me know.

Thanks,

Herb

You can reach Herb here: hzamar@yahoo.com

Warriors!

p.s. have cross-posted this to the 1/39 Inf (M) web beacon, just in case Judge, Thompson or Cobb served with Paddy's Gang before the redesignation.

Cold War Victory Medal

2007-11-11T22:57:00.000+11:00

The point of a Cold War Victory Medal would be to publicly, formally and irrevocably recognize the Cold War as a real war ending with a real victory.

After the allies won both WWI and WWII, we struck Victory Medals.

Didn't matter what else a fellow did in uniform, he got a medal to commemorate the victory. So back in 1918 and 1945 there wasn't anything notable in having a Victory Medal.

But now, on 11 November 2007 -- Remembrance Day -- when you see an old-timer at a service wearing a Victory Medal, you don't think about him as a younger fellow like us who would rather have been chasing girls and drinking beer and doing pretty much anything except patrolling, digging holes and cleaning a rifle. Instead, when you see those medals you think about the war he went to, the country he stood for, and the millions of guys who are no longer with us that he and his medals have come to represent.

Of course, when it comes to the Cold War, a Victory Medal wouldn't be politically correct, would it? Because if we won the war . . . then the Soviets and their allies (several of which are now our own allies, and all of which are now our trading partners) must have lost the war. And if the Cold War was a real war . . . what the devil happened to years of peace that were supposed to follow? And if we acknowledge that we had a real enemy . . . what does that say about the people who spent their time undermining us?

Meanwhile, every time some smirking cretin tells me that there was no real threat, that we had no real enemy, and that the Cold War was just a big waste of money over a misunderstanding born out of our own pigheadedness, well, I have to wonder if successive US administrations are inclined to agree. Cold War? WHAT war? Who, me?! Nobody here but us chickens!

So I expect that politicians will continue to approach this softly, softly, not wanting to raise awkward issues that might alienate friends abroad or upset voters at home. After all, the Cold War was a victory for those of us in uniform but there are plenty of others who are still upset about getting their noses rubbed in it.

Like most of you, I've already got a couple rows of ribbons and it would be an expensive nuisance to add another at this point. But of course it's not about 'me'. And it's certainly not about another two-dollar piece of hardware. Instead, it's about the government finally acknowledging, in the traditional way, one of the greatest political and military victories in US history: a victory that took decades, billions of dollars and, of course, the service of millions.

The Cold War didn't end by coincidence. It certainly didn't end just because Gorbachev was a nice guy who finally helped us realise the error of our ways. It ended because guys like us at all levels of the government and military were determined to put an end to one of the most vicious dictatorships in modern history, and free the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe.

So that's what we went and did. And that's what justifies a Cold War Victory Medal.

Written 11 November 2007.

Lest we forget.

Armistice Day: November 11, 2007

2007-11-11T08:54:00.000+11:00

Lest we forget.

Warriors

.

Delta Company 4/12 Inf, Baumholder FRG 1989

2007-10-07T10:26:00.000+10:00

Here are the names of two fellows who, I'm told, were with Delta Company 4/12 Inf back in 1989:

CPT Mike Shields

SSG Danny Stengle

Warriors!

Alpha Company 4/12 Inf (M), 1989

2007-08-06T09:40:00.000+10:00

I've just published a giant list of names from Alpha 1/39 Inf (M), and many of these soldiers are bound to have been around for the redesignation to 4/12 Inf (M) in mid-1989.

Thanks once again to Sean Carpenter for his help (although any mistakes in spelling or assigned platoon are down to me).

Warriors!

SPC Dave DeLuca, Alpha Company 4/12 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG

2007-08-06T09:00:00.000+10:00

Recently heard from Dave DeLuca who was with A-1/39 Inf (M) from October '87 and then 4/12 Inf (M) through to October '90. There's a posting from him (along with an email address) at the Paddy's Gang web beacon.

Before I forget, though, he's looking for SGT William McDaniel, who was in Baumholder FRG before being posted to Fort Polk.

Warriors!

Peter Smith, 4/12 Inf (M) Baumholder FRG 1990

2007-07-23T17:26:00.000+10:00

Now, this one's a bit speculative, but I'm pretty sure that (courtesy of Bruce Van Hoozen) this is a photo of SP/4 Peter Smith and LT Scott Phelps. We recently heard from CSM Peter Smith who served with 4/12 Inf in 1990-91, and I wonder if this is the same soldier? Let me know and I'll either confirm it or fix the caption.

Warriors!

4/12 Inf (M): Southcott, McLaughlin and Friendly Partisans

2007-06-23T08:27:00.001+10:00

Here's a favorite of mine from the Bruce Van Hoozen photo archive, Captain Ed McLaughlin (on the right) and, I believe, Captain Joe Southcott rendezousing with friendly partisans in the German countryside. This one's from spring / summer of 1990, not long after the Berlin Wall had fallen.

At that point I was a student (again) in Heidelberg and loving every minute of it.

In Baumholder days, kids on bikes used to track us like bloodhounds, hot on the trail of free MREs, lost equipment and vicarious thrills; as Brooks McAllister once said, "these kids have Panzers in their blood". Bruce Van Hoozen used to use them as inform recon units, scouting out the orange forces.

I understand that today, in mid-2007, Joe Southcott's a bird colonel and Ed McLaughlin's a civilian working up north (in Wisconsin?).

Warriors!

And there's another recently uploaded photo of two fellows who would have served with 4/12 Inf here.

p.s. add your name to the roster now!

Ed Marsh, Mortar Platoon 4/12 Inf (M)

2007-05-12T14:02:00.000+10:00

Ed Marsh was with the 4/12 Inf (M) Mortar Platoon there in Baumholder, FRG, and I've posted a photo of him over at the 1/39 Inf (M) web beacon.

Warriors!

LT Jim Lee, Grafenwoehr 1989

2007-05-12T13:24:00.000+10:00

Here's another photo, this one from 4/12 Inf (M) in the field at Grafenwoehr (Summer 1989 if I've got that right):

Source: Bruce Van Hoozen archive

Bruce's caption:

"Jim Lee on the left runs a maneuver range. He had a problem with deer wandering downrange during live fire. He had a range chart in the control tower with the scores of the different platoons and added a column for deer kills."

I'm pretty sure this one was taken after the redesignation from 1/39 Inf (M), where there's also a web beacon.

Last time I heard from Jim, he was headed off to Hawaii for an assignment as an LTC 'round about 2000.

Warriors!

4/12 Inf (M): Torbert, Whitmore, Keller

2007-05-06T08:43:00.001+10:00

Yet another photo from the Van Hoozen archive. Here we see (from left to right) LT Doug Torbert, LT Eric Whitmore -- featured elsewhere here on the web beacon as Blue Elvis -- and Chaplain (CPT) Eric Keller. There was never a dull moment when any of these three guys was around, beginning, if memory serves, in 1988.

Although I've lost track of the first two, Chaplain Keller is now an LTC up at the Pentagon.

Warriors!

p.s. add your name to the roster now!

Roger Cole, 4/12 Inf (M) H D Smith Barracks

2007-05-06T08:37:00.000+10:00

A couple of months back I was trying to remember Roger's last name, and Bruce Van Hoozen came through with a memory jogger and a photo. Here's a link to it over at the 1/39 Inf (M) web beacon.

Bruce Van Hoozen, Patton Days, Diekirch Luxembourg 1989

2007-04-28T10:04:00.000+10:00

As I just noted over on the 1/39 Inf Web Beacon, Bruce Van Hoozen has sent me a stack of interesting photos from Baumholder days.

This is him in Diekirch, Luxembourg in 1989.

Now that I can upload these, expect to see a stream of photos online.

Warriors!

4/12 Inf (M), H D Smith Barracks, Baumholder 1990

2007-04-28T09:00:00.001+10:00

Here are the names of two more fellows who were with the unit in Baumholder. Although I can't remember exactly when they arrived, it was most likely before the redesignation from Paddy's Gang in mid-1989 (they were certainly posted to H D Smith barracks in 1990):

LT Tom Seagrist [Tom Segrist?]
LT Gregory Peck

This recollection is down to Bruce Van Hoozen, who's partly unthawed my memory and sent me a fairly extensive list of names to add from these days. I'll be extracting them from Gmail a few at a rip. With luck I'll be able to get some of his great photos from 4/12 Inf (M) up on the site, too.

Stay posted.

Warriors!

p.s. Add your name to the roster now!

1/39 Inf and 4/12 Inf -- Baumholder FRG

2007-04-09T16:13:00.000+10:00

Once again, a very brief blog entry to get a couple of names down for the record:

LT Grant Jacoby
LT Mike Ablowich

Both of these gentlemen were there for the redesignation from 1/39 Inf (M).

Grant was already in Germany when I arrived, suffering a badly broken leg after a rhinoceros-charge collision with Deane Shephard during a battalion "soccer" match. As I recall, Grant eventually became the Adjutant, married a girl from Luxembourg and came back to Germany where I met him again in 1991 taking a course with Boston University Overseas Programs up in Frankfurt . . . back in the days when the Army was still there in force (it pains me to write that). Last time I heard news of Grant he was still on active duty as an LTC teaching at USMA circa 2004.

Mike continues to travel the world managing government finance (including a stint with the US Treasury advising in Russia, and very senior positions in the New Hampshire state government). He's presently in Africa as a highly-placed advisor. I could write more but please search Google and see for yourself -- it's a very impressive resume.

My word! How many days and kilometers since our days in H D Smith Barracks in Baumholder?

4/12 Inf (M): LT Mike Whetstone and LT Dan Dozer

2007-04-01T09:27:00.000+10:00

Following my earlier post on Bruce Van Hoozen, here are two fresh names that I should have mentioned ages ago:

LT Dan Dozer
LT Mike Whetstone

I understand that Dan's a lawyer in Oklahoma, although I don't have any firm news about that.

Mike's been on a lifetime of adventure, including a spell in Somalia with the 10th Mountain Division where he was awarded a Silver Star (and more) for the action that resulted in the book Black Hawk Down. He's an LTC on active duty now working as a subject matter expert in Urban Joint Ops.

Both of these fellows were with us before the redesignation from Paddy's Gang, 1/39 Inf (M) in 1989.

Warriors!

LT Ken Sampson, 4/12 Inf (M) 1989

2007-03-19T15:34:00.000+11:00

Here's a fellow who was with us in 4/12 Inf (M) in Baumholder in 1989, and perhaps also before the redesignation from 1/39 Inf (M):

LT Ken Sampson

In addition, there's another name I think I remember, but I may have got it wrong and confused it with the fellow above:

LT Ken Livingston

The first of these gentlemen was definitely there. Can anyone can help? I do have a single 35mm slide of the fellow I'm thinking of if that will help clarify things.

Twenty years gets behind one faster than he expects, with more consequences than he anticipates.

Warriors!

Russ Nehmer, 4/12 Inf (M), H D Smith Barracks

2007-03-10T14:39:00.000+11:00

Had an email from Russ Nehmer a while back, who's in uniform once again and serving up in Darmstadt as a Staff Sergeant.

Back in Baumholder Russ served with Echo Company and Delta Company. I had hoped to run his entire email but, since I don't have full permission, here are the pertinent bits that I can safely provide:

Looking for any old contacts. My military email is russell.nehmer@us.army.mil or russell.nehmer@mi.army.mil . Private is rwn01@hotmail.com.

Russ also mentioned many other soldiers he served with around 1990:

Lt Bruce
Lt.Weaver
Lt. Reyes (one heck of a soldier)
SGT Butrum
SGT Larsen
SSG Chapman
SSG Reese

I was pleased that Russ managed to catch up to a couple old colleagues through this site:

SSG Darren Glory
SPC Dave Patrick
SPC Carter Fuller

Finally, Russ asked me to see if there was anyone out there who may have been with him at company level or over in PLDC who might still have a set of orders or other paperwork with his name listed, since his DD214 is missing some details from way back when.

Thanks, Russ, for the news, and good luck catching up with anyone who can help.

Warriors!

As I think of it, don't forget that anyone serving with the battalion in 1989 may also have passed through the 1/39 Inf (M) web beacon as well.

LT Bruce Van Hoozen: 4/12 Inf (M), H. D. Smith Barracks, Baumholder FRG

2007-03-05T14:59:00.000+11:00

Bruce Van Hoozen and I swapped a few emails in February, and you can reach him at bvh71@frontiernet.net.

Says Bruce:

I was at Delta for 18 months as both platoon leader and acting
XO. Then I spent 10 months as mortar platoon leader, and was in the infamous S-3 shop until I left the Army in June of '91.

These days he's up in northern Wisconsin, running his own electrical business.

Returning to Baumholder days, Bruce sent me stacks of information and news but I figured I'd better just extract the names for the moment since I don't have his permission to post it all.

First up, Bruce recalls that LT Hill's first name was John. He left the Army about a half a year after being injured at Hohenfels in 1989.

Bruce also recalls a few fellows from the Mortar Platoon, including Mike Standifer, Platoon Sergeant Paine, Platoon Sergeant Kelly and SSGT Grillet.

Beyond that, here are the names of several battalion officers that Bruce remembers, several of whom were with us in 1/39 Inf (M):

LT Ken Sampson

LT John Hill

LT Will Beckman (made O-3 and then went to IOAC in '91)

CPT John Farmer (formerly of the S-3 shop, went up to Bad Kreuznach in 1991 and later left the Army)

CPT Burnsworth (briefly Delta Company CO)

CPT McKinny (Delta Company CO after CPT Burnsworth)

CPT Alston (Delta Company CO after Captain McKinny)

MAJ Hicks (ended up as a bull colonel with a brigade at Fort Riley)

LTC Goodrich

Thanks for the info, Bruce!

Warriors

SGT Wolf, HHC 4/12 Inf (M): A Man of Few Words

2007-02-11T09:04:00.000+11:00

SGT Wolf left a comment in an earlier post, and I thought I'd promote it to a post of its own:

HHC 4/12 Medic 1993-1995 Sgt. Wolf

He didn't leave an email, but anyone from Baumholder days who would like to get back in touch can drop his own contact details into the comments.

Warriors!

SFC Donovan, S-3 Shop 4/12 Inf (M) 1989

2007-01-20T11:01:00.000+11:00

During 1989 my travels briefly overlapped with those of SFC Donovan, who also served in the Operations Shop there in Baumholder. When he arrived the S-3 was still Major Rodolfo R. Diaz-Pons [links aren't working but here's the URL -- http://1-39inf.blogspot.com/2006/02/s-3-shop-paddys-gang-1988-1989.html]

One busy morning when we were all scrambling around and distracted and not necessarily thinking too clearly, with lots of "do this" and "don't do that" and "get me" whizzing around the TOC, SFC Donovan announced to the world in general (and the S-3 in particular) that he was "not a &^%$#@ coffee boy!" And that was the truth.

In FM 22-100 that sort of frankness is characterized as "moral courage". It doesn't sound like a big deal but it was a lesson just the same.

Some further news, courtesy of SFC Ito:

After [SFC Donovan] left the S3 he came down to C Co and took a platoon. He was my PSG before he left for Ft Drum . . . we also served in the same company at Ft Drum.

Warriors!

Lieutenant Hill, 4/12 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG 1989

2007-01-14T10:02:00.001+11:00

Folks,

A month or so ago I posted a request for a memory-jogger to help me recall some gentlemen whose names had temporarily slipped away from me, including fellows who served both with 4/12 Inf (M) and 1/39 Inf (M) in Baumholder.

SFC Richard Ito very graciously sent me some thoughts on that, and we concluded that the fellow who was injured by the broken track hatch was LT Hill.

Now, I still can't remember his first name, but I would certainly appreciate it if anyone with more info (including contact details) would get in touch with me at matthewginn-at-gmail.com -- I owe LT Hill a big thank-you for some advice he and his wife gave me back in 1989.

Warriors!

UPDATE: I understand that's LT John Hill -- still looking for him, though.

p.s. add your name to the roster now!

Warriors: SFC Richard Ito, US Army (Retired)

2007-01-14T09:50:00.001+11:00

I've had a very interesting set of emails from SFC Richard Ito, who was with 4/12 Inf (M) in Baumholder during and after my days there, including the redesignation from 1/39 Inf (M).

In the original spirit of this web beacon, which is to post names in the hope that people will be able to find themselves and former colleagues online, here are many former members of Charlie Company 4/12 Inf (M). Several of these men who would also have been with 1/39 Inf (M).

1SG Joe ‘Smoking Joe’ McBride (who came to C Co from A Co)

LT Albert

LT Reyes (XO B Co)

LT Boice

SFC Kann

SFC Johnson

SFC Donovan

SSG Colvin

SSG Foster

SGT Chong

SPC Rosario

SPC Madarish

SPC Walema

SPC Chalepah

SPC Louis

Thanks, Richard for looking into your memory and sharing this!

Other visitors -- please add your name to the roster while you're here!

Warriors: 12th Infantry Regiment, H D Smith Barracks

2006-12-17T09:35:00.000+11:00

Folks,

I'll go out on a limb here in search of some fellows whose names I can't remember. I will remember them if someone can remind me, but for the moment I'm stuck. From recollection all of these gentlemen were in the unit for the redesignation from 1/39 Inf (M) in 1989.

Roger the BICC

Roger worked in the S-2 team as the battlefield information control center officer or BICC. He was a smart, quiet guy who worked in the lock-up there in the Battalion Headquarters. I can't remember his last name to save me, but I recall his face as if I'd just left yesterday. His wife was with the engineer unit on the other side of happy valley.

The Injured LT

We were coming back from Hohenfels in, let's see, must've been the middle of 1988 or 1989. Summer weather. Got an emergency call over the radio that a TC had been injured out on the autobahn. Turns out that one of our LTs was riding up top of an M113 when the fastening mount for the hatch broke, and he got mousetrapped there in the cupola. The hatch slammed shut on his head and the only thing that saved him was the CVC helmet. He was badly hurt and, after a while, I think he was medically retired. Now, I just cannot remember his name, but I had many a pleasant chat with him and his wife, including right before I took my European out. They had met as students in Heidelberg where they'd spent a couple of years before he joined the Army, and he gave me the low-down on the town before I moved there permanently in late 1989. What was his name?

The CMSU Sig Tau

There was a fellow who turned up at the unit in, what was it, 1988? who came to the unit after going to school at Central Missouri State University. I'd been there myself and it turned out we knew some of the same people; in fact, he'd been in the Sig Tau fraternity and was close to a few guys I used to dorm with back in Warrensburg, Missouri. Anyway, he and I were shooting pool together the night I won the big Officers Wives Club raffle that they ran for the Baumholder Milcom. I took away something like seven thousand dollars by the time all the checks had come through . . . but that's another story. Now, someone out there must surely be able to remind me of this guy's name.

If any of these rings a bell, please email me and pass along the news.

Thanks!

4/12 INF (M), BAUMHOLDER FRG 1989

2006-12-03T09:38:00.003+11:00

Here are some more fellows who were there for the redesignation from 1/39 Inf (M) back in 1989:

LT Harris Clarke – he came out with the COHORT unit from Colorado and went to Delta Company, where I believe he still assigned at the beginning of our 4/12 Inf (M) days. He left active duty in the early 1990s and is out in Washington state these days.

LT Jim Lee – If I'm not mistaken Jim had been in Korea before he arrived in Baumholder; he was already a 1LT when he arrived so he'd been around the Army a while. Last time I spoke to Jim he was at Fort Huachuca and on his way to an assignment in Hawaii. Pretty sure that he'd just been promoted to LTC at that point.

LT Mike Munoz – Mike had a line platoon (Delta Company?) and was an anti-armor platoon leader in Echo Company 1/39 Inf in mid-1989. He too left the Army in the early 1990s, got an MBA and has taken on a series of interesting business turnarounds in the US and Japan. Spent some time as a senior administration office (Assistant Deputy Secretary?) in the Department of Education in Washington. Last word I had, he was moving the family from Chicago to Missoula. I could probably reach Mike via Nate Smith in Denver.

LT Steve Winterfeld – Steve and his wife Jennifer stuck it out for 12 years on active duty but eventually went back to the private sector. I believe he's still in the Reserves and I know he was promoted to LTC a few years back. They're in Colorado these days and by all accounts are doing well. They were good folks, kept me out of trouble back in Baumholder, and we generally touch base once or twice a year these days.

By the way, you can add you name to the roster while you're here!

4/12 Inf (M): Kevin Cranmer

2006-11-26T08:13:00.000+11:00

Just had a brief email exchange with Kevin Cranmer, who was with 4/12 Inf (M) in Baumholder from 1993. He managed to fit in some travel while he was with The Warriors:

We did deploy to Bosnia, although I was only there about 4 months. I was glad to go . . . finally real Army stuff without a lot of the garrison politics and BS.

Kevin's shared some names of the battalion's lieutenants from those days:

Dan Tollman (arrived in 1990)
Andrew Mutter
Mike Beal
Mike Roberts
Eric Zwickel
Chuck Bergman
Lee Seal

Thanks for the info!

I know from the analytics system that other fellows are reading, so don't be shy -- email me, let me know who you remember and who you'd like to find.

Baumholder FRG 1986-1990

2006-11-12T10:25:00.001+11:00

During the four years or so I spent at Baumholder with 1/39 Inf and 4/12 Inf, I ran into a number of people who were in other units. Of course, there was always a degree of mission overlap and you may have bumped into these folks as well, so I'll post a few names here on the 4/12 web beacon and cross-post it on the 1/39 Inf web beacon.

1LT Keith Altmeier

I met LT Keith Altmeier and his wife during the induction program run by the Baumholder Milcom back in mid-1986. He was assigned to 4/29 FA and I used to run into him from time to time around the post or out in the field. For a while there he was a Fire Support Team (FIST) leader which, as I've mentioned before, always struck me as being one of the best jobs in the Combat Arms. Keith and his better half were good folks and I had many an enjoyable afternoon talking to them back in 1986. Hope life's treated them well over the years.

1LT Paul Pressler

LT Paul Pressler was also with 4/29 FA, and he used to room in the BOQs not far from the MLRS unit and 25th Chemical Company. Paul had a number of German girlfriends over the years and I heard that he married one from up near Bochum and took a European Out to stay in-country. He already spoke pretty good German when he arrived and I learned a lot from him in early days. At one point he was looking for a transfer down to the 1st Armored Division down at Ansbach where they had a liaison posting for someone who knew the language. Funny to think that in a few short years the 1st AD would move up to our AO and replace the 8th Infantry Division. . . .

1LT Rick Morgan

I knew Rick from the induction program, too, and we worked not far from each other since he was with 1/13 Infantry just down the road from us in Paddy's Gang. We had some merry times in Idar-Oberstein, and we both took a European Out in 1989. He stayed in Baumholder and I moved down to Heidelberg, but we were both studying at Boston University Overseas Programs so we managed to stay in touch. Rick's in Texas right now, running his own oil company and doing well.

Ms Normal Danzie

Just about every new face in Baumholder would have known Normal Danzie because she was a leader in the induction program there. I ran into her again several years after I arrived in Baumholder and was amazed that, despite the fact I was in civvies, she still remembered my name. That ain't bad, considering she must have met thousands of people coming through the program. Somewhere at the bottom of one of my old footlockers I've still got my certificate of "graduation" from the induction program and will see about scanning it the next time I have a good Spring cleaning.

OK, folks, who knows where they've ended up?

p.s. add your name to the roster now!

4/12 Infantry: Blue Elvis

2006-09-30T09:46:00.001+10:00

I was in the bar in Ettelbruck when Eric Whitmore got his nickname.

The place was packed with GIs and locals, all celebrating the annual commemoration of the liberation of Luxemburg. Most of us were sipping the local beer, a fairly ordinary pils brewed over in Diekirch. For some reason -- and, well, who needs a reason? -- Eric ordered himself an extravagant mixed drink. The key ingredient was blue curacao, which lends an almost magical color to clear spirits. It was like he was holding a cupful of Mediterranean sky.

We were all arsing around singing Hank Williams and Elvis tunes. Out of that, somehow, Blue Elvis was born.

By the way, that drink was filthy. I tried it, that's how I know.

Last time I saw Eric Whitmore was 'round about New Years Eve 1989. He happened to step around the street corner coming down to the Chuck Wagon at the exact moment I was thumping some idiot from 2/68 Armor.

But that's a story for another day.

p.s. Add your name to the roster now!

4/12 Inf (M), Baumholder FRG 1989

2006-09-24T11:14:00.001+10:00

Here are a few more fellows who were with us in 1989. I originally posted this over at 1/39 Infantry web beacon, but I'm reasonably confident that both of them were still there in 1989 for the redesignation to 4/12 Inf.

SFC Norman, whose first name I forget, had moved up very quickly through the ranks. Although I wouldn't swear to it I think he had been a teacher before joining the Army and I'm pretty sure he made it to E-7 in four years. He had been with the Berlin Brigade and met his wife in Berlin. SFC Norman was assigned to Alpha Company 1/39 Infantry before being tapped for a job with the S-3 shop.

SGT James Farrell was with Echo Company 1/39 Infantry as an 11 Hotel. Originally from Saint Joseph Missouri, he'd been around the Army for a while including a tour in Korea and -- am I right here? -- Fort Campbell. He and his wife lived out in Niederalben at the east end of the tank trail.

I had both of them pegged as potential CSMs, and I hope they got there, too.

p.s. Add your name to the roster now!

Baumholder 1989 -- Two 4/12 Infantry Vets

2006-09-10T16:44:00.001+10:00

Just posted a note about a few fellows over at the 1/39 Infantry web beacon. Two of them, I'm pretty sure, were also with 4/12 Inf:

SFC Rick Williams
SFC Stanley

Both had assignments in HHC at one time or another. Although I heard that Rick Williams was a police officer in the Southeast (Nashville?), I haven't had any luck finding him.

Sure would be glad to hear from anyone who knows where to find either of them.

By the way, please add your name to the roster while you're here!

4/12 Inf Warriors: 1LT Jerry Kulp

2006-07-08T15:31:00.000+10:00

I just posted a note over at the 1/39 Inf web beacon for anyone from Baumholder days. You fellows may remember 1LT Jerry Kulp. Although Jerry started out in 1/39 Inf in the mid-1980s, I'm pretty sure he ended up commanding a company with the 4/12 Inf Warriors at the start of the 1990s.

4/12 Infantry -- Looking For Jeffrey Cumby

2006-07-02T12:23:00.001+10:00

Chris Skains wrote in, shared some news and asked after an old buddy, Jeffrey Christian Cumby from Baird, Texas. Chris told me to go ahead and post his message on the blog, so here you go:

I was in Bravo 4/12 from Dec 93 to Dec 95. As a private E1, I was a dismount saw gunner, then a Bradley driver on a good crew. We scored Distinguished at every gunnery. My gunner, SPC Echols got a leg broke in a bar fight in Downtown Baumholder and we had a gun-off to replace him. I won the spot as an E3 PFC! My first gunnery I fired a 923 and I thought that I over-achieved. But, in April 95 we deployed to Kuwait and fired gunnery on some sorry, makeshift lanes in the desert. I fired a perfect 1000 points. I believe that it was a tad easier there, but no one else shot a 1000, so I was really proud. My driver, PFC Reid was a crazy brother from New York City. Good guy, decent driver, terrible soldier. He hated discipline. My best friend was SPC Jeffrey Christian Cumby from Baird, TX. I ets'd as a SPC4 in Dec '95 about a month before the unit left for Bosnia. I spoke to him once after he returned and was in some trouble at his new unit at Ft Hood. But, never after that. He was like a brother to me and I wish he could meet my children. I named my first born son after him. Christian Lane Skains, born in 1998. I have many other folks I wish I still knew from that period of my military career, but none more than him. Thanks for the cool site. Warriors never die!

Thanks for writing, Chris! If anyone can make the link, drop a note into the comments along with a contact email and we'll get these guys back in touch.

By the way, please add your name to the roster while you're here!

Warriors, 1989: Command Team

2006-04-23T10:04:00.000+10:00

Not long after the redesignation from 1/39 Inf (M) back in 1989, LTC Goodrich assumed command of 4/12 Inf (M). I think Major Brooks McAllister was still XO, and Major Roberto R. Diaz-Pons was briefly the S-3, although both of them had of course already finished a considerable part of their assignments with Paddy's Gang by that point.

************

As an aside, from time to time I suppose I should note that the logic of this blog is to list names from those days, establish a bit of a web presence and make it easier for me and former unit members to find each other on-line. So, rather than posting stories and so forth, I'll mostly stick to listing names, places and similar key words, with the occasional exception if the inspiration strikes.

4/12 Infantry, Baumholder 1989

2006-03-26T10:03:00.000+11:00

Here are a few more names of fellows who were in 4/12 Infantry back at the end of the 1980s:

1LT Nick Quintana
1LT Eric Whitmore
1LT Ken Evans

All three of them arrived in Baumholder before the redesignation from 1/39 Infantry.

Mortar Platoon, 4/12 Infantry

2006-02-25T09:33:00.000+11:00

I've recently been talking to Paul Butcher, who was in Baumholder from 1984-1986, and rather than re-post that material here (most of which is a bit early for 4/12 Inf) I've listed the names over at 1/39 Inf.

4/12 Infantry: Baumholder Region

2006-01-09T19:03:00.001+11:00

I posted an item on the Baumholder region over at the 1/39 Infantry web beacon.

But please add you name to the Warriors roster before you go!

Warriors: 4/12 Infantry

2005-12-30T18:12:00.000+11:00

First, let me tip you to Robert Tonsetic's Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam, which provides some interesting history of 4/12 Inf back in 'Nam.

Returning to the main idea of the web beacon -- listing names in hope of helping people find each other -- let me briefly mention 1LT(P) Ed McLaughlin. As I recall, Ed came to Baumholder after a tour in Korea, so he was already a pretty senior Lieutenant when he first arrived. I think he was there in Germany for the winter of '88-'89, six months or so before the redesignation from 1/39 Inf. In any case, he was there with 4/12 Inf in late 1989.

Ed kept a collection of alarm clocks which he would time to go off mostly at once, but with one or two set on delay and left hidden somewhere in hope of finally rousing him at zero dark thirty each day. Must've been one hell of a treat for the neighbours. I'm not sure how well the alarms worked, but sooner or later each morning someone must have come around in person to hammer on his door and put an end to the racket. Otherwise, he'd probably still be there sleepin'.

Yep, yet another good guy among a whole bunch of good guys.

Ed, where are you now?

The Movie King, 4/12 Inf, Baumholder 1989

2005-12-06T21:15:00.000+11:00

2LT Dan Albert arrived in Baumholder with what must have been the most comprehensive collection of movies on video ever found at H D Smith Barracks, not excluding the storeroom of the Wagon Wheel Theater. Will have to go back through my emails to find out what other news I've had of Dan. Understand he ended up in Japan as an Aide-de-Camp to some general, but don't know any details.

In any case, if he turns up in Hollywood one day then remember that you first heard the tip right here.

One day I decided to put Dan to the test by asking after a copy of Das Boot -- and sure enough, he walked over to his cabinet and pulled the tape right off a shelf. This at a time when your average joe couldn't get his hands on even art house blockbusters.

What an amazing run of films the New German Cinema had in the 70s and early 80s! Herzog, Fassbinder, Wenders, Petersen and so forth -- no matter how anti-American and left wing -- well, watching their period work takes me straight back to life in Germany in those days. Hell, you can watch it with the sound off and it's still worth your while.

I've been in touch with the German distributor of Edgar Reitz's Heimat series with a view to getting this stuff released on DVD here in Australia. Good luck with that, I'd say. So why do I raise it here? Because Heimat was shot just up the road from Baumholder, in Morfeld.

But, once again, I see that I'm beginning to digress.

A Blackened Peace: 4/12 Inf In Action

2005-12-01T21:06:00.001+11:00

I recently discovered some on-line fiction, "A Blackened Peace", which centers on 4/12 Inf in Bosnia. Can't yet say whether it's a satisfactorily accurate account, since I haven't read it, but at a glance I'd guess the author's a 4/12 Inf veteran. Just sent him an email to find out.

Meanwhile, for your reading pleasure, check out the link above. One doubts that we'll ever challenge the Royal Welch Fusiliers when it comes to military memoirs, but at first glance this looks like a respectable start.

p.s. add your name to the roster now!

The Chemo, S-3 Shop, 4/12 Inf 1989

2005-12-01T20:11:00.000+11:00

In 1989, the 4/12 Inf Chemo was 1LT David Livingston, an American, Chicago born. He started out working alongside us in the 1/39 Inf S-3 shop for Major Diaz-Pons, another memorable fellow who was also Chicago born.

I remember Dave out on an alert, zero-dark-thirty once again, mud-soaked, frozen, fingers cracked, stupid-tired like all the rest of us, curses flying around him like bullets, while he alone remained calm as we raised, and re-raised, and then raised again a heavy recalcitrant camo net over the M-577. The rain pissed cruelly down and somewhere nearby Noah hurriedly fitted the drain plugs back into the hull of his Ark. It all ran straight off Dave's back -- always calm, a decent sense of humor, unflappable -- he was a hell of a good guy.

Dave and his wife Stacey stopped by to see me after I'd gone down to Heidelberg as a civilian. I had sworn I would never pull the usual fresh veteran stunt of growing my hair long . . . so of course by the time he'd caught up to me, there it was, 1990-hippy-style, way on down past my shoulders. All part of that second long Summer of Love us expats celebrated after the Wall came down. Don't you remember?

The long black leather pimp jacket I was wearing, well, you'd just have to think of it as my own special touch.

Guess that's a whole 'nuther story.

Dave and Stacey went back to Detroit after they got out of the Army, and I hope they've lived happily ever after. They sure deserved to.

E Co 4/12 Infantry, 1989

2005-11-18T20:53:00.000+11:00

In 1989, Captain Joe Southcott took command of the battalion anti-armor company. He had already spent a few years as a Paddy's Gang 1LT before the redesignation, including a spell as the Scout Platoon Leader.

I don't remember him assuming command directly from Captain Ray Nagy (see comments on E Co 1/39 Inf) but if someone else had the company in between the two then memory fails me.

In any case, Captain Southcott was definitely CO of E Co 4/12 Inf toward the end of 1989.

Until recently -- perhaps even now -- LTC Southcott was CO of 1/9 Inf (M) over in Iraq. There's a relevant news article over at the 9th Infantry Association site ("The 9th Regiment In Iraq").

Armistice Day 1989, 4/12 Infantry, Baumholder

2005-11-11T11:01:00.000+11:00

On 11 November 1989 I was on terminal leave, camping at Hartmannswillerskopf in the hills above Colmar, France, which was still littered with spent bullets and cartridge cases from 1914-1918.

As for Baumholder, 2LT Ted White (who I think was Mortar Platoon Leader at that point) and 2LT Ken Livingston would still have been there with 4/12 Infantry in late 1989.

4/12 Infantry & USAREUR Historical Research

2005-10-29T21:20:00.000+10:00

Thought I'd pass on my plug for Walter Elkins' site (US Army in Germany). If you ever felt like a red-headed stepchild back in Baumholder, disconnected from the world and just counting the minutes until someone shouted BOHICA again, then check out Walter's site and take a spin through fifty years worth of USAREUR history. So far as I can tell, no one else has ever done a more thorough and conscientious job of telling the story of US soldiers in post-war Germany. From individual tales and unit histories right up to grand strategy, he's got something interesting to say about everything and pictures to back it up. DA should put this guy on some sort of honorary pension.

In Baumholder, by the Summer of 1989 . . .

2005-10-29T10:15:00.001+10:00

. . . we knew the Soviet Bloc was on its way down. Some clever people who weren't there will try to tell you otherwise, but by the time it was shirtsleeves weather that year we could all feel what was in the wind. East Germans, Czechs, Hungarians and others were already flooding through openings in the Austrian border, and there was even a de facto refugee camp down near Ramstein. It was like the last few minutes of a championship final: we had the points and the other team was never going to be able to pull it back out. You just needed to hold on to the ball, not do anything stupid and wait for the whistle.

At that point USAREUR had already been closing bases and shifting units around for a year or so. For example, the Pershing units had been disbanded, and Hermann was getting even more worked up than usual about taking back the real estate in Frankfurt.

The 8th ID remained in place for a couple more years (mid-1992) before the entire division was redesignated 1AD. I didn't think much of that idea, but I was a civilian in Heidelberg by then and USAREUR neglected to solicit my advice.

So, returning to Baumholder, at H. D. Smith barracks, in that unusually warm and pleasant German summer of 1989, we held a parade and ceremony down at the football field and 1/39 Infantry passed (for the moment) into history, redesignated as 4/12 Infantry. Sure, we kept the same buildings, soldiers and equipment, the same attitudes and approaches, but I think just about everybody could sense a change. The Cold War was ending, and something new was beginning.

Of course, we were wrong about the new thing. We thought it was going to be a quiet period of extended peace, continuing force reductions and lousy promotion prospects. No one I spoke to ever imagined that within eighteen months forces would be headed to the Gulf, or that in a handful of years 4/12 Infantry soldiers would be earning their CIBs in Bosnia. Instead, there was a flood of good people declining to re-up.

Turning back to the purpose of this blog, I should list a few names from those days.

I'm pretty sure that when the battalion-level redesignation took place, LTC Chip Shelverton was still the BC of 1/39 Infantry. I understand that he later retired as a Bird Colonel after a tour through Bolivia and ended up in the State Department working on demining issues during OIF.

MAJ Brooks McAllister was the Battalion XO. I bet he's still laughing about that Lieutenant he caught pissing in the gravel motorpool there at the HQ building. . . .

Where is he today?

Matt Ginn
4/12 Inf (M)
8th ID (M)
Baumholder FRG
1989

p.s. add your name to the roster now!

Welcome to the 4/12 Infantry blog

2005-10-26T18:23:00.001+10:00

. . . which is meant to be a sort of on-line beacon to help former unit members find each other.

The general idea here is to establish a free-standing unit page that includes peoples' names, so that it won't be so hard to locate veterans on the web.

I don't plan to run this as your usual web diary, chat room or on-line historical record. In fact, I'm just volunteering to be the link man for the moment, perhaps until someone with more time in the organisation expresses an interest. After all, I was with the unit for only six months or so after 1/39 Inf was redesignated as 4/12 Inf in 1989. Those of you who were there in Baumholder at the time may want to have a look at this blog's sister site (http://www.1-39inf.blogspot.com/).

Anyway, from time to time I'll post a name, place or event that I remember. If you send me your name, I'll post it, and if you're looking for someone, let me know. Likewise, feel free to send me reminders -- for example, names lifted from orders and/or unit rosters would be very handy.

Obviously, the more info I can put online the better your chances of finding someone or being found yourself; however, for the moment, at least, I don't plan to post email addresses without express permission. I'll keep a record offline and will act as a go-between where necessary to put people back in touch.

For the present, I'll watch for comms in the comments. That'll change soon, I'm sure, once the spammers and trolls come out, but for now let's run with the comments.

Looking to the future, my preference is to hand this blog over to someone who spent a couple of years in the unit. Depending on interest, I plan to keep the blog alive for a year or so and will decide whether to keep it going at that point.

Over. . . .

Matt Ginn
4/12 Inf (M)
8th ID (M)
Baumholder FRG
1989

p.s. add your name to the roster now!