1950s - John Carlsted

Got a GREAT note this week from John Carlsted who was stationed at Peden in the mid 50s. I'll cover what he sent in several posts - here's a start:

Hi Mark - I have been following your web with much interest during recent months. I served at Peden from early-1956 to June, 1957.

Prior to the Peden experience, I was with the 529th FA Observation Bn. at Neureut Kaserne - Karlsruhe. ( Note - I have been on both ends of the experiences at Grafenwohr - as an "Umpire" observer scoring gun battery performance and a gun battery team member with the 804th 8-inch SP unit after transfer from the 529th). We new arrivals from the States were dispersed to other units prior to the 529th Gyroscope back to the US. That is how I ended up at Peden and the 804th.

For me and my fellow-troopers it was a time of transition - from the old waist length "Ike Jacket" uniforms to the new, what we called the "Greens". We were never issued the new uniforms - stayed with the old Ike's until separation from service in summer of 1957. We were the last to wear them. They served the Army well from WWII on through Korea, etc. We also participated in the transition from the old M-43 8-inch SP to the much anticipated new M-55's. Note - I saw the new guns being unloaded at the rail area on the day I left Peden for return to US and separation from service. Getting those new guns was a big deal.

Your coverage has seemed to center around the modern (at that time) M-55's. I have noticed little about the old M-43's - understandable because we are getting older - I am 75. Let me offer some insights about the older guns that we operated and other Peden Barracks and Wertheim remembrances that reach back to the mid-1950's.

I will attach eight photographs from the era.

I served on a gun crew (Battery A) for one maneuver experience at Grafenwohr in the summer of 1956 (I became A Battery Clerk shortly after our return from Graf.). I have never worked so hard in all my life - and that coming from a farm kid. No automatic rammers, etc. - all hard labor under the usual time limits - fire them off and reload.

We each had our job - Higher ranking members got the gun into position as per pre-arranged coordinates. The 200 pound rounds, fuses and powder charges were made ready. The firing coordinates were sent down - the fuse was screwed into the front of the round and set - breach opened - the tray with the round was lifted up to the breach by two strong guys and the rest of us rammed it home using a long ramming pole - the power charge was "cut", depending on the distance to target

- powder charge placed in breach behind the round - breach closed - igniter screwed into the breach - lanyard attached

- Fire! - breach opened - swab with solvent attached to the ramming pole pushed up through the barrel for cleaning - ready for round two.

Hard dirty work - but rewarding if we did well and hit the target.

Recognition was given to the highest scoring guns in the unit.

About the gun itself. The M-43 8-inch SP was used extensively in Korea, but is a throwback to WWII. The carriage was developed from the WWII Sherman Tank and was powered by a 9 cylinder Continental radial engine. It was a noisy thing with two straight pipe exhausts that shot fire what seemed like about 6 feet when under full power.

It was a sight to behold and hear when moving at night. I always thought it was a fire trap! One of my jobs was to point a fire extinguisher at the engine when it was started. The drivers seemed to be chosen because they had that hot-rod mentality. Driving the thing must have given them a special rush!! I always wanted to try it - not a chance.

Peden Barracks and the Wertheim area was a great place to be stationed at that time. Those who lived off base with dependents really had it made. By German standards, we had lots of money.

Travel in Europe was cheap, especially if we took military "hops". I used to plan on spending $10 per day for everything. It seemed like everyone purchased German cameras and other duty free items. We also drank lots of beer. I and friends especially enjoyed going into Wertheim and surrounding areas. The German restaurants were great. I also took many pictures and spent many hours in the post photo lab. I have included some of them with this e-mail.

Mark, I will leave it at that. I hope you get this narrative and the attached pictures.

Wert. l - A Battery, 804th Gun Crew - 1956 - I'm on right Wert 2 - My gun - maneuvers at Graf. - 1956 Wert 3 - Painting on Dining Hall Wall - top gun Wert 4 - The line-up - 804th M-43's - 1956 Wert 5 - The "Gasthaus Gangster" - maintenance Wert 6 - The Tower Gasthaus Wert 7 - Wertheim crowded street - 1957 Wert 8 - The ferry across Tauber River - 1957