Got a nice note from a recent visitor I thought I'd share since it talks about the post shut-down. I enjoyed the mention of 1SG Donohue too - a great American, and the kind of NCO that made being a junior officer a whole lot easier. Anyone out there have any pics from the shut-down days/process? MJ
Mark - I had chills going down my spine as I viewed the images. I left Peden on March 30 1992 almost 1 week before complete shutdown. I was in C 3/35th FA in August 1990, 1sg Cook then sent me to SVC Btry 3/35th December 1990 (they thought I was smart) and worked in S-4 and was deeply involved in the shipping and transporting of all equipment and supplies to other barracks (Patton, Wurzburg and Parmesan). I will never forget the day all remaining personnel stripped the barracks. Tossing out wall lockers onto the ground outside. M998 (HEMMT) loading them up and taking them to other barracks. Railheading all the guns, (started in August 1990 with M210 8", then changed to 155 in 1991). I noticed in 1 picture of the HQ (attached to SVC Btry) the door was moved to face the street? It was on the left against the hill by main road.
I remember some names and you might recall some of them. CPT. Maton...CPT. Portaque...BXO Major Stanley...BC LTC. James B. Godwin Jr. (know this one, stood before him a few times)...1sg Donahue...SFC Amaro (Smoke)
You should Google Earth Peden now. WOW!! the FTA stripped and now farmland, you can see the three white lines where the connex's and guns were lined. Just strange
enjoy...Steve Kielinen
7 comments:
Was stationed @ Peden, C Battery 3/35 from 1989 - 1991. Top Cook was a Hell of a guy. I finished up with Donahue. Some guys I would love to find; Michael Uber, David Eller, SSG Daryl Winningham. SSG was a soldiers soldier. A Ranger, not much older than I, but I respected the Heck out him. Fondest memory; Uber driving the 155 down the hill, not able to make the loop at the bottom, going over the curb, through the grass and out onto the other side. Just in time to pass the polizei. I was guiding from the turret, and the commo gear worked as great as always. By the time we got down town, the officer was already talking with 1SG Donahue. Big Ube lost his license that day. Course he only had a few days left anyway. I got chewed out for not being a better guide, even though my commo gear didn't work, and what the heck am I going to do anyway? Great times! Hard times! Never thought I'd miss it. By the way my wife just came back from there. She said the MP station is now gone, and they have restored the post, most of it. C Battery, and I think Alfa have been condemned. She said they have done a great job, and it is really beautiful.
Was stationed @ Peden, C Battery 3/35 from 1989 - 1991. Top Cook was a Hell of a guy. I finished up with Donahue. Some guys I would love to find; Michael Uber, David Eller, SSG Daryl Winningham. SSG was a soldiers soldier. A Ranger, not much older than I, but I respected the Heck out him. Fondest memory; Uber driving the 155 down the hill, not able to make the loop at the bottom, going over the curb, through the grass and out onto the other side. Just in time to pass the polizei. I was guiding from the turret, and the commo gear worked as great as always. By the time we got down town, the officer was already talking with 1SG Donahue. Big Ube lost his license that day. Course he only had a few days left anyway. I got chewed out for not being a better guide, even though my commo gear didn't work, and what the heck am I going to do anyway? Great times! Hard times! Never thought I'd miss it. By the way my wife just came back from there. She said the MP station is now gone, and they have restored the post, most of it. C Battery, and I think Alfa have been condemned. She said they have done a great job, and it is really beautiful.
Was doing some reminiscing about my times in the 1st Armored Division Field Artillery (3rd [Bulldog] Brigade) stationed in Bamberg, Germany. I remembered one of the first field exercises we went on - Peden Barracks in Wertheim. I was with HHB 3-1 Field Artillery (FIST) and we took our TRACs up there (M-981) and had a pretty decent FTX.
I liked Wertheim, although we spent the entire time in the field or at the Barracks, never did do the town visiting, but I was just come over from AIT at Ft. Sill and this was like the second FTX I'd been on as the newest FIST member.
Those were the days - before the War, before terrorism, and all the BS that's going on in the world today. SGT Harold Thornburg (RET).
Once a REDLEG, always a Redleg...
"Iron Soldiers!"
Thanksgiving day at Peden Barracks,
Wertheim, Germany.
It was wonderful time of the year
at Peden Barracks.One could feel
winter was here, crisp cold air
and with occasional snow storms.
Above all to dine on turkey, gravy,
cranberry, and pumpkin pie.My
favorite meal! For me I was thankful to be in Germany instead of Vietnam.Just barely missed the cut(out of about ll0 soldiers in company, 90% went to Vietnam,less then five rec'd orders Germany).It was time to reflex and wondering how my parents were doing.In some respects I felt lonely being so far from home. I was stationed at
Peden Barracks with the 72nd F/A.
Grp.HHB.Note, I still love a turkey
meal.
.
3 years at Peden, '78-'81. Hard to believe how long ago this was, but the memories are still sharp.
DJ Buell "Private Blue"
Was stationed at Peden Barracks from May 1970 to May 1973 with the C-TAB unit located just to the right after entering the main gate.
Got my orders right after graduating from Artillery Surveyor at Ft. Lawton
Arrived as a PFC and left as an Specialist 5. Regrettably, by this time, any NCO's or Officers I favored have already passed away. I myself just turned 65.
At the time I was in my early 20's, married to my childhood sweetheart and the proud father of a new born baby boy.
For such a small base Peden seemed to have a little bit of everything. Never got the chance to go back. A great experience.
I was stationed there for a while, 1967-68, with the 351st Aviation Company. Enlisted guy but had a good relationship with all of our Warrant Officers, Especially Cicero Stutts and his friend Beth Piper who worked at the Service Club, if anyone knows of their whereabouts or also served with the 351, would like to hear from you. e-mail: coach_mac223@msn.com
Larry McElreavy
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