Very wonderful interview with Leslie. I served on the Iron Curtain in West Germany during the Cold War right when Vietnam War ended 1975. It was such a dark place to see the enslavement of people. It was common at our outposts in the Fulda Gap to hear land mines going off. I would run into East German soldiers and be standing feet apart from not seeing each other from the brush. I have seen the Soviet SS-20 ballistic nuclear missiles pointed directly at me and the only comfort sadly was knowing our nuclear missiles were pointed at them. The bizarre nature of many military minds who believed it was possible to have a limited nuclear war. Such an insane idea. I was taken as a prisoner by the East Germans at 18 years old in 1976 and had guns rammed in my back and head. My father was wanted in Yugoslavia for fighting against the communists by Tito and also had to fight the fascists during WWII . My grandfather was tortured to death after enduring 30 days of brutality by communists . I didn’t think I would be released but was fortunate to have lived and not stay captive for a long time. I still live with the nightmares from that experience. Three generations of my family were held captive but I won’t want my son to be put into that situation. My joy was to listen to pirate radio stations off of England. I loved the prog music and many German bands. It is great to hear from a perspective of a person who lived behind the Iron Curtain. I felt true sorrow for the people who were victims of the Stassi. Each totalitarian system was terrible for the people who wanted to live with their own freedom. I think many Americans have no idea what it was like during the Cold War. It also is a fabrication that no shots were fired at each other during that period from 1945 to 1991. My heart goes out to all those people who died and were living under the Soviet Union. Keep playing the awesome music because it does have the ability to bring people together. Peace ✌️ always. One of the benefits of serving in a place where we had a 15 minute or less life expectancy if we were attacked by the Soviet Union thru the Fulda Gap was we all had awesome stereo equipment,with reel to reel players and every room was filled with music, as we all got high on hashish during our off time. We still were distinguished because of the repetition of memory in handling our weapons on our tanks. My deepest respect to you Leslie for what you endured living behind the Iron Curtain. Peace , love and blessings 💜🙏✌️The US should have helped Gorbachev to transition to a free economy and that would have prevented KGB Stassi Putin from being in power. Keep the music going as it is a powerful force for peace.
Phil, another great interview. I’m old enough to remember the wall coming down and the hope for a new world. Fascinating interview and cd now on order. Kind regards
Very wonderful interview with Leslie. I served on the Iron Curtain in West Germany during the Cold War right when Vietnam War ended 1975. It was such a dark place to see the enslavement of people. It was common at our outposts in the Fulda Gap to hear land mines going off. I would run into East German soldiers and be standing feet apart from not seeing each other from the brush. I have seen the Soviet SS-20 ballistic nuclear missiles pointed directly at me and the only comfort sadly was knowing our nuclear missiles were pointed at them. The bizarre nature of many military minds who believed it was possible to have a limited nuclear war. Such an insane idea. I was taken as a prisoner by the East Germans at 18 years old in 1976 and had guns rammed in my back and head. My father was wanted in Yugoslavia for fighting against the communists by Tito and also had to fight the fascists during WWII . My grandfather was tortured to death after enduring 30 days of brutality by communists . I didn’t think I would be released but was fortunate to have lived and not stay captive for a long time. I still live with the nightmares from that experience. Three generations of my family were held captive but I won’t want my son to be put into that situation. My joy was to listen to pirate radio stations off of England. I loved the prog music and many German bands. It is great to hear from a perspective of a person who lived behind the Iron Curtain. I felt true sorrow for the people who were victims of the Stassi. Each totalitarian system was terrible for the people who wanted to live with their own freedom. I think many Americans have no idea what it was like during the Cold War. It also is a fabrication that no shots were fired at each other during that period from 1945 to 1991. My heart goes out to all those people who died and were living under the Soviet Union. Keep playing the awesome music because it does have the ability to bring people together. Peace ✌️ always. One of the benefits of serving in a place where we had a 15 minute or less life expectancy if we were attacked by the Soviet Union thru the Fulda Gap was we all had awesome stereo equipment,with reel to reel players and every room was filled with music, as we all got high on hashish during our off time. We still were distinguished because of the repetition of memory in handling our weapons on our tanks. My deepest respect to you Leslie for what you endured living behind the Iron Curtain. Peace , love and blessings 💜🙏✌️The US should have helped Gorbachev to transition to a free economy and that would have prevented KGB Stassi Putin from being in power. Keep the music going as it is a powerful force for peace.
Great interview!
The album’s on my wish list.
🤘😎🤘
What a wonderful interview! Leslie is a true torch bearer for trying to realize ones dream. Also sounds like he is a very sympathetic person.
Thank you for watching - Phil
What an amazing story. And what an excellent interview. Thank-you, Phil. Thank-you, Leslie.
Thank you for watching
This is the first I've heard of Leslie Mandoki but I really enjoy hearing him and his story thank you for the interview Phil.🎶🎤🎸🎸🎹🥁🎶
Thank you for watching
Phil, another great interview. I’m old enough to remember the wall coming down and the hope for a new world. Fascinating interview and cd now on order. Kind regards
Thank you for listening
@ thanks. Just halfway through your interview with Pete at SOT which dropped overnight, then onto your Sabbath video😁 Kind regards