Truman is not only incredibly knowledgeable regarding the history of the Depot, but has also put in a multitude of long hours for it to succeed as habitat, historical marker, and progressive local business. So, thank you from Buffalo, Tru. Enjoyed & appreciated.
As someone who has gone to a part of this area to autocross, I can say that there are a lot of grenade pins in the place we where at and a farmer uses some of the area to grow corn! So I don't see it as being unused in anyway!
Great piece. Surprised there was no mention of the Sampson Naval Training Center, which was right next door and had a similar story. My dad did his basic training there in 1943.
The Depot is at least twice the area of Montour Falls. A similar thing happened to Alvira, PA, south of Williamsport. The government displaced the community and took the land to build a pneumonia plant and storage bunkers during WWII. They told the people they could have their houses back after the war but then razed them. Many people were bitter and resentful at the loss of their homes and livelihoods and the break up of their community. Now state game lands, you can see foundations, sidewalks, steps and two cemeteries as well as the numerous round storage bunkers. The remains of the plant, which was needed after all as the war ended, are on federal prison property next door.
When I found and watched this video I realized I had to make an extensive comment because I believe I'm qualified to do so. I arrived at SEAD in early July 1974 as a Military Police Sergeant and remained there till February 1978 when I was shipped to Germany. I guess one could say SEAD was still in it's prime during those 4 years and had not really started it's down hill slide to closer. I can say that as a Military Police this was one of the worse assignments you could have if you really wanted to be a law enforcement MP that is. I spent 95% of my time working in and guarding the Q as it was called. I spent years either as a Desk Sergeant or Patrol Supervisor driving around those same Igloo laden roads waiting for a little excitement when an alarm would go off in the basement of the MP Station and we could drive as fast as our MP Chevy pickups could get us there with lights a blaze and sirens screaming to warn any potential bad guys away. I remember there was solid black marks on the parking lot of the station because we would burn rubber heading out to an alarm. They actually put governors on our vehicles to slow us down but that didn't last long. The patrols were I believe called 21 and 22 plus the Supervisor and we also had backup units that were called 34, 35, and finally 36 and a final Special Reaction Team (SRT) called 38 that trained in all SWAT tactics if we had someone that new any that is. The SRT was armed to the teeth with our 45s, M16s, 12 gauge shotguns with OO Buck M203s which is an M16 with an M79 grenade launcher attached. We also had an M1Sniper Rifle and an M60 machine Gun. The vehicles we used also had a dial telephone installed but it was almost impossible to use it very well. They did install a top of the line radio communication system in the MP Station that would even allow someone calling in on the phone to talk with one of the MP patrols. We had an old style plug in switchboard that connected to phones throughout the Q. The basement had a bomb proof alarm room connected to alarms on every Igloo door in the Q and every Igloo on the Depot and several other buildings on SEAD. I saw a lot of things there that I will never talk about because I pretty much gave my word that I wouldn't and signed papers saying that I wouldn't. I know Security was our number one priority and remembered a few times we went to the Airfield for an incoming flight where all the Military Police there had a live round in the chamber with only the safety on. The aircraft would land and loaded or unloaded and our only orders were to shoot to kill anything or anyone that wasn't supposed to be there. In 1976 I believe we also received several V-100 Military Police Armored cars. These were left overs from Vietnam and were actually fun to drive with turret mounted twin M-219 machine guns that fired 7.62 Ammo either on semi or full automatic. It was boring duty but also a good assignment in ways. I lived in a very nice Military Housing area on the other side of Post and my Son was born in Geneva General Hospital in 1975. There was lots of recreation for us including tennis courts and a wonderful swimming pool plus a kiddie pool that my son closed down one day when he removed his Poopy diaper. I'm 71 years old now and don't think I have to worry about some guys in black cars and suits showing up charging me with giving away any Military Secrets.
Everything has been declassified for years. Patrols were 310, 311, 312 - 295th MP Co SEAD 89-92 Break, Post 7 and all units 10-8, this is control commo check. 😆
@@kagnewmp12 All of the “Special Weapons” were removed from the Q and sent to Sierra AD or White Sands in 92. I think the official close is listed as 2000, but I understand it was essentially a ghost operation after 94.
@@remoevans7847 I had spent 16 months overseas in Eritrea or Ethiopia which closed in 1974 instead of Viet Nam in 72 where we did strictly White Hat duty if you still had the White MP Hat when you were in. I did White Hat duty at Valley Forge Army Hospital in Pennsylvania for 6 months which also closed down in June 1974. I went to SEAD for those four years which you know closed. I left for Germany and was stationed in Wurzburg Germany at Leighton Barracks where I did White Hat duty and Security at a Hawk Missile site and that Post also closed in 2008 I believe. I came back to Fort Meyer Virginia and did White hat duty till I decided to get out in 1994 after 12 plus years. I loved being a White Hat MP but hated the Army. What was your MP duty like. Today a lot of Post have gone to Rent a Cops which sucks.
@@kagnewmp12 After 4 years at SEAD and 3 in Heidelberg, I realized promotion to E-6 and above was near impossible as a 95B. I re-classed to 37F and spent the rest of my career at Fort Bragg with several deployments of course until retirement in 2009.
Native Americans : “This white one (deer) represents the sacredness of all living things and should be left alone, never hunted or bothered. When we see them, we should take notice of our own spirituality and think about where we are with it.” Seems so fitting that the white deer are what remain of this place, with so much history, that held the weapons/ammunition of war. One of those happenstances that seem almost to on-the-nose to ignore. Thank you for a great video.
in the early 90s, during the NY deer hunting season, we would meet at the NCO club and draw to hunt the white deer. there were only a handful that could be shot but there were a few. this hunt was open to military and civilans that worked on the depot.
Great video!
Truman is not only incredibly knowledgeable regarding the history of the Depot, but has also put in a multitude of long hours for it to succeed as habitat, historical marker, and progressive local business. So, thank you from Buffalo, Tru.
Enjoyed & appreciated.
MP Corp 82 to 85.ft Belvoir VA i was stationed there for 120 days for the big protests
Online book to follow
And yes there were plenty of white deer we saw
As someone who has gone to a part of this area to autocross, I can say that there are a lot of grenade pins in the place we where at and a farmer uses some of the area to grow corn! So I don't see it as being unused in anyway!
Great piece. Surprised there was no mention of the Sampson Naval Training Center, which was right next door and had a similar story. My dad did his basic training there in 1943.
Great Documentary. I hunted the Depot for years
The Depot is at least twice the area of Montour Falls. A similar thing happened to Alvira, PA, south of Williamsport. The government displaced the community and took the land to build a pneumonia plant and storage bunkers during WWII. They told the people they could have their houses back after the war but then razed them. Many people were bitter and resentful at the loss of their homes and livelihoods and the break up of their community. Now state game lands, you can see foundations, sidewalks, steps and two cemeteries as well as the numerous round storage bunkers. The remains of the plant, which was needed after all as the war ended, are on federal prison property next door.
When I found and watched this video I realized I had to make an extensive comment because I believe I'm qualified to do so. I arrived at SEAD in early July 1974 as a Military Police Sergeant and remained there till February 1978 when I was shipped to Germany. I guess one could say SEAD was still in it's prime during those 4 years and had not really started it's down hill slide to closer. I can say that as a Military Police this was one of the worse assignments you could have if you really wanted to be a law enforcement MP that is. I spent 95% of my time working in and guarding the Q as it was called. I spent years either as a Desk Sergeant or Patrol Supervisor driving around those same Igloo laden roads waiting for a little excitement when an alarm would go off in the basement of the MP Station and we could drive as fast as our MP Chevy pickups could get us there with lights a blaze and sirens screaming to warn any potential bad guys away. I remember there was solid black marks on the parking lot of the station because we would burn rubber heading out to an alarm. They actually put governors on our vehicles to slow us down but that didn't last long. The patrols were I believe called 21 and 22 plus the Supervisor and we also had backup units that were called 34, 35, and finally 36 and a final Special Reaction Team (SRT) called 38 that trained in all SWAT tactics if we had someone that new any that is. The SRT was armed to the teeth with our 45s, M16s, 12 gauge shotguns with OO Buck M203s which is an M16 with an M79 grenade launcher attached. We also had an M1Sniper Rifle and an M60 machine Gun. The vehicles we used also had a dial telephone installed but it was almost impossible to use it very well. They did install a top of the line radio communication system in the MP Station that would even allow someone calling in on the phone to talk with one of the MP patrols. We had an old style plug in switchboard that connected to phones throughout the Q. The basement had a bomb proof alarm room connected to alarms on every Igloo door in the Q and every Igloo on the Depot and several other buildings on SEAD. I saw a lot of things there that I will never talk about because I pretty much gave my word that I wouldn't and signed papers saying that I wouldn't. I know Security was our number one priority and remembered a few times we went to the Airfield for an incoming flight where all the Military Police there had a live round in the chamber with only the safety on. The aircraft would land and loaded or unloaded and our only orders were to shoot to kill anything or anyone that wasn't supposed to be there. In 1976 I believe we also received several V-100 Military Police Armored cars. These were left overs from Vietnam and were actually fun to drive with turret mounted twin M-219 machine guns that fired 7.62 Ammo either on semi or full automatic. It was boring duty but also a good assignment in ways. I lived in a very nice Military Housing area on the other side of Post and my Son was born in Geneva General Hospital in 1975. There was lots of recreation for us including tennis courts and a wonderful swimming pool plus a kiddie pool that my son closed down one day when he removed his Poopy diaper. I'm 71 years old now and don't think I have to worry about some guys in black cars and suits showing up charging me with giving away any Military Secrets.
Everything has been declassified for years. Patrols were 310, 311, 312 - 295th MP Co SEAD 89-92
Break, Post 7 and all units 10-8, this is control commo check. 😆
@@remoevans7847 It must of changed a lot after I left and I think it closed down in 1996
@@kagnewmp12 All of the “Special Weapons” were removed from the Q and sent to Sierra AD or White Sands in 92. I think the official close is listed as 2000, but I understand it was essentially a ghost operation after 94.
@@remoevans7847 I had spent 16 months overseas in Eritrea or Ethiopia which closed in 1974 instead of Viet Nam in 72 where we did strictly White Hat duty if you still had the White MP Hat when you were in. I did White Hat duty at Valley Forge Army Hospital in Pennsylvania for 6 months which also closed down in June 1974. I went to SEAD for those four years which you know closed. I left for Germany and was stationed in Wurzburg Germany at Leighton Barracks where I did White Hat duty and Security at a Hawk Missile site and that Post also closed in 2008 I believe. I came back to Fort Meyer Virginia and did White hat duty till I decided to get out in 1994 after 12 plus years. I loved being a White Hat MP but hated the Army. What was your MP duty like. Today a lot of Post have gone to Rent a Cops which sucks.
@@kagnewmp12 After 4 years at SEAD and 3 in Heidelberg, I realized promotion to E-6 and above was near impossible as a 95B. I re-classed to 37F and spent the rest of my career at Fort Bragg with several deployments of course until retirement in 2009.
Native Americans : “This white one (deer) represents the sacredness of all living things and should be left alone, never hunted or bothered. When we see them, we should take notice of our own spirituality and think about where we are with it.” Seems so fitting that the white deer are what remain of this place, with so much history, that held the weapons/ammunition of war. One of those happenstances that seem almost to on-the-nose to ignore.
Thank you for a great video.
in the early 90s, during the NY deer hunting season, we would meet at the NCO club and draw to hunt the white deer. there were only a handful that could be shot but there were a few. this hunt was open to military and civilans that worked on the depot.
the place was a toxic dump, dump to work at for the MPs too
Great video. Thanks!