I served in the 3rd of the 14th Cav in 1969 through 1971. I drove a M74 recovery vehicle. I did all of the ranges several times. I am on my way to our reunion in Fulda next month (Sept. 2024).
awesome footage. i was there fore on cycle gunnery in feb, march and april of 72. my most memorable times were taking general kirwin to his tank on the range and if i went under 35 miles an hour on those muddy tank trails he was on my ass. what a trip. the other was when capt goins took me for a joy ride in hi chopper. i told him i didn't realize choppers could fly upside down. he said they don't we're dropping like a rock.
I'm proud to have served during the seventies , and everyone else then and now and that includes families and closest ones who stuck it thru good times and bad . Hoorah !!!
Great video!! I was there during 69-71, my tank was #24 (I think). I roomed with Henry McCall. Robert Gomez and Cunningham and I hung around.I remember a Lt Lopez, too. I have been looking at some 8mm recordings that I made when I was in Berlin. I will try to post them in the Turner Tankers website. Hope you all are doing well.
Two tank gunnery qualifications in Graf '69 & '70 in addition to extended TDY as a control driver on Range 80 in '71 while with the 3/68th Armor attached to the 8th Infantry Div. The 3/68th was home base in Mannheim at Sullivan Barracks.
Stationed at Kaiserslautern 1970-71. Drove for the 89th Trans, made many trips hauling ammos to Vilseck, and spent the nights in Graf. Nice place to visit, but glad I was not stationed there.
I was stationed in Germany from 1989 to 1991. I did 4 "Graf Rotations". Thanks for the (good?) memories, LOL. I spent a lot of time in the field as a cannon crew member and loved watching the tanks.
Wow, this is so cool, I remember the mud in winter and dust in the summer, chow hall turning into beer hall, railhead, train ride, hurry up and wait. man I'm about to cry about this
I was in Amberg with Mco 3/2 ACR From 1978 to 1980 only a short road march to Graf spent more time there than I want to remember, trained for CAT 79 on range 10. freezing and muddy in the winter and dust in the summer. You were lucky if you stayed in the barracks, most of the time it was tent city for us. Hated it at the time but would do it all over again if I had the chance. Toujours pret Always ready.
Thanks for posting the video Deitz and thanks for your service. Myself and a bunch of Cav Troopers can be found at Dragoon Base on the web, lots of stories and pictures, videos and history from all time periods. Hooah
Three summers there 59,60&61 long time ago. Stationed at O’Brien barracks Schwabach Germany 15th Cav 2nd recon 4th Armored division. Also some time winter training at Vilseck . Actually met Elvis there 1960 nato maneuvers
I was 13B. in --HWB 2/11 ACR. In Bad KISSINGEN. Served in HQ Platoon,in Ammo Section,in 88M slot. I was TC,for How 45. for 1year,my 1st Graf,2nd,3rd,and later,moved to Wildflicken,in Jan 1992,after Closing BK POST,end of 1991. Graf,from Wildflicken,after that,and went to GUNLINE,1st Platoon. made a bet with(Smoke/Gunny),SFC Ricky Brewer,that I get a CHALLENGE COIN,for (OUR LAST GRAF)!!!. Bet a (Case). I Won the Bet!!! but (Injured my Right-Hand,in the side-hatch,of the FAASV)!!!. (SHUT-IT-DOWN)--(CEASE-ALL-TRAINING)!!!...WoW. oh. LTC Speakes,i think provided that CHALLENGE COIN!!! (1991-1993),with "The BLACKHORSE"!!! (Deployed with 11th ACR,in 1991,from Bad KISSINGEN,Germany,to KKMC-SAUDI ARABIA,and DOHA,KUWAIT)---(Doha Dash Soldier)!!!(PV2 R.D.S.)
FYI: I removed my original 'Graf' video due to issues with Music Copyright Laws etc. At this time there is no way to replace the UA-cam music with my music. The only way to replace their music is to upload the video again with my soundtrack/music. The following post are from my original 'Graf' video: A lot of GIs will never forget their time in Graf. After more than 90 years Graf is still going strong making memories for all. The Graf legend lives on. ========================================== S619jensen 2 years ago - Steve Jensen , I spent some crazy times at Graf from 1994-1995 sgt smileys used to open a kitchen every weekend when we returned from the field in 2/3 field artillery , he would open it like it was a bar and we would get so hammered , one time the british army was there and they came to smileys to party with us they are comedians , I thought I was going to die from laughing so hard that night, think it was me Rowe, Gen, Sgt Linkes, and Sgt Wiend might have been deployed not sure Recon One 2 years ago - I sent a message to Reinhard Schafft of Graf asking if he knew of you or any of the people you spoke of. Reinhard keeps us up to date as to what is going on in Graf via our facebook group(s). Thanks for posting thedeitz.com Reply to S619jensen Tom Jones 2 years ago - Thx for the memories. I was With 14AC HQ at Downs Barracks/Kaserne, Fulda, 1963-66. Our old M48A2s were just being replaced by the all new M60A1s. I went to Graf twice as a gunner. Range 42. Even more fun was Wildflecken in winter! :0| Recon One 2 years ago - Thanks for checking in. I don't know about you but I never hear from any 2nd SQDN guys that were stationed in Bad Kissingen. Reply to Tom Jones Giacomo Milano 1 year ago - Memories of REFORGER 1974. My first year. Wow, great memories. Thank you, Sergeant J Hall, HQ's, 1/46th Infantry 73-77 S619jensen 2 years ago - Suck it up. We don't always agree with Uncle Sam. But us enlisted soldiers across the world we know that we are making the world a better place for everyone and we have sacrificed a lot for this world SO BACK OFF! S619jensen 2 years ago - Sorry Jeany most of us our no longer there , I'm not trying to sound rude but due to your country allowing a one man dictator to take control of your country . We stay around as baby sitters to make sure it doesn't happen again. Because the threat you guys had you brought to everyone else's soil. So you are crying cause doing the time just like being in prison those men in prison are doing 20 years to life for killing one man . You can't handle maybe 200 years of having us as a baby sitter. artifactman660 2 years ago - I was in 1/11 ACR 88-92 went to GRAF about a half dozen times or more 30 days a trip. wildflicken in the winter was crazy shit.my first trip there it was 60 that night freezing rain and about 6 inches of snow.and the dust in GRAF in the summer time would kill a man. but looking back it was some good times. thanks for the visit. touche1950 2 years ago - I was there in 66 and 67. Recon One 2 years ago - Thanks, it was an interesting place to train and meet other NATO troops. Recon One 4 years ago -@richard47129- by Dave R: I seem to recall a primer vibrated loose (from ready rounds standing up near breech, came loose and dropped down where it hit the batteries (or battery cable). Since 105 ammo was electrically primed it detonated putting the round thru the top of the turret. I think we were supposed to have a rubber gasket like thing at the base of each ready round on the turret floor but they would get lost etc. Shows the risk our troopers took every day during the "Cold" War richard47129 , Thanks for your comment thedeitz.com Ibreakthings51 4 years ago - hahah memories, many of gunnery rotations there. Ex tanker 1AD B Co. 1-35 AR BN Baumholder, Germany xiso 4 years ago - Wonderfull pictures.. :) Recon One 4 years ago - xiso Thanks, I have other Graf photos on my 3rd Squadron web page thedeitz. com - Reply · in reply to Tom Jones (comment) Recon One 2 years ago - Thanks for checking in. I don't know about you but I never hear from any 2nd SQDN guys that were stationed in Bad Kissingen. touche1950 2 years ago - I was there in 66 and 67. bodyguardik 3 years ago lol. nuclear weapon is only defender. NATO tanks was no match for USSR Recon One 2 years ago - The tanks were there to delay the aggressors. The border units were there to verify an attack of the Warsaw Pact & Soviets. There to alert the 7th Army of an advance across the border. Our second mission was to delay the aggressors as long as possible. Life expectancy 20 minutes? Larger units were located farther into Germany to give them time to mobilize & to get NATO units on the move in the air and on the ground. Nuclear Warheads would slow down the progress of the aggressor. Ibreakthings51 4 years ago - hahah memories, many of gunnery rotations there. Ex tanker 1AD B Co. 1-35 AR BN Baumholder, Germany Recon One 4 years ago -@HerbWalker/SSG Walker I see where Ray Barracks was was closed in 2007 returning same to the Germans. I did a UA-cam after returning to our closed McPheeters Kaserne 'Barracks' in Hersfeld (we erected a monument there in 2009). ...good memories ... Steve R 4 years ago - Great video, Graf, mud and dust at the same time Recon One 5 years ago - TheMikee55 .. What town, Graf? We were not allowed to leave Graf. We were restricted to the Kaserne, no passes. PopppaBlue59 5 years ago - Graf.....The only place I have ever been up to my ass in mud---with dust blowing in my eyes! Ask anybody who was ever there. Great pics. Thanks for posting. Sgt. Carter 1/39 Inf. 8th ID. 1981- 1983. Recon One 5 years ago - Roger your last Sarg, we developed, printed the photos at the service club after we returned to our Kaserne in Bad Hersfeld. Recon One 5 years ago - Vielen Dank, dass Sie mein Freund. Ihre Worte bedeuten mir sehr viel und andere. Bitte besuchen Sie unsere Web-Seite auf thedeitz.com. Bis später Wilmington, North Carolina. schnellguy 6 years ago - Thanks once again for this posting,i was just thinking about Graf.Today,The Rail head sure brings back memories of loading our M-109s and making sure the overhang was the same on both sides.
Very good, spent my share of time training here from 1971 to 1973, 3/37 artillery, over all Germany was great duty, but this one place I have no fond memories.
War ab 1970 mehrmals in Grafenwöhr mit unseren Werfern und Geschützen ( und Küche ) Die Amerikanischen Soldaten kamen ( obwohl sie besser versorgt wurden...) sehr gerne zu unserer deutschen Küche im Einsatz auch zum Küchenwagen ....Viel hab ich nicht verstanden aber deutsche Küche GUT ist mir in Erinnerung geblieben...
A German guy that worked the in the year 2015 told me that some surfaces have been paved = less mud and dust now. That takes some of the fun out of it lol
.....H Company 2nd & 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment, Bamberg early '72 to Dec. '74 Always Ready....Last year I was the best gunner in the company of 17 M 60 A-1 main battle tanks...rail headed many times like the pictures here...Also did border patrol and did over night border duty in the shack on the border...Best time of my life...Makes me want to say I wish I had become a lifer, as I would have had many more places to admire now, plus retirement pay.....
Thanks for the photos. I made 4 trips to Graf 1959-1961. Coldest days this Texan ever spent....but loved every minute. Seems like just yesterday!
Good to hear from you. I only made it to Graf once and it was a good experience.
Thanks for the great memories, A troop 1st/11 ACR. Fulda 77/80 best time of my life.
And I thanks you .....
I served in the 3rd of the 14th Cav in 1969 through 1971. I drove a M74 recovery vehicle. I did all of the ranges several times. I am on my way to our reunion in Fulda next month (Sept. 2024).
awesome footage. i was there fore on cycle gunnery in feb, march and april of 72. my most memorable times were taking general kirwin to his tank on the range and if i went under 35 miles an hour on those muddy tank trails he was on my ass. what a trip. the other was when capt goins took me for a joy ride in hi chopper. i told him i didn't realize choppers could fly upside down. he said they don't we're dropping like a rock.
Randy thanks for checking in and the interesting story.....
I'm proud to have served during the seventies , and everyone else then and now and that includes families and closest ones who stuck it thru good times and bad . Hoorah !!!
Thanks for your service ....
Great video!! I was there during 69-71, my tank was #24 (I think). I roomed with Henry McCall. Robert Gomez and Cunningham and I hung around.I remember a Lt Lopez, too. I have been looking at some 8mm recordings that I made when I was in Berlin. I will try to post them in the Turner Tankers website. Hope you all are doing well.
Thanks for sharing your memories of Graf.
Thanks for the memories. I spent time in Graf, and Wildflicken. C trp 1st Sqd 14th ACR Fulda 67-68.
Two tank gunnery qualifications in Graf '69 & '70 in addition to extended TDY as a control driver on Range 80 in '71 while with the 3/68th Armor attached to the 8th Infantry Div. The 3/68th was home base in Mannheim at Sullivan Barracks.
Support platoon HHC 3/68th, 73-75. I liked going to Graf much more than Baumholder.
1981/1983. 38th Engineer MGB. out of Kornwestheim. Spent months in Graf fixing ranges
Stationed at Kaiserslautern 1970-71. Drove for the 89th Trans, made many trips hauling ammos to Vilseck, and spent the nights in Graf. Nice place to visit, but glad I was not stationed there.
Was there a few times also and the best training exercise there was my last one. As we used to say back in the day, "last Graf!"
I did four gunneries at Graf. With C/5/32 out of Munich in 1965-66-67 and with C/1/68 out of Baumholder in 1968 shot distingushed on that last one.
I was stationed in Germany from 1989 to 1991. I did 4 "Graf Rotations". Thanks for the (good?) memories, LOL. I spent a lot of time in the field as a cannon crew member and loved watching the tanks.
Dan V Thanks for sharing your memories....
2/11th ACR 89-91. Good times in GRAF, young and dumb, but looking back I wouldnt trade it.
@@richardrhodes9661 We just visited Point Alpha this past fall. The Fulda area is beautiful.
Bad Hersfeld. 1985/1989
3/11ACR
Was there a few times!
Spent 6 trips to Graf 1965-1967 with the 34th Artillery, 2nd Bn , Commo Battery, supporting the 2AC Tojour pret.
Wow, this is so cool, I remember the mud in winter and dust in the summer, chow hall turning into beer hall, railhead, train ride, hurry up and wait. man I'm about to cry about this
I can feel your pain ;-) So glad I made it there at least once ..
Recon One went there about 4 times, 3/35th armor and 3/7th cav summer was best
You lucked out = Not a bad place for a TDY assignment = As long as the weather is warm ..
I was in Amberg with Mco 3/2 ACR From 1978 to 1980 only a short road march to Graf spent more time there than I want to remember, trained for CAT 79 on range 10. freezing and muddy in the winter and dust in the summer. You were lucky if you stayed in the barracks, most of the time it was tent city for us. Hated it at the time but would do it all over again if I had the chance. Toujours pret Always ready.
Yep, you, I and many more have said the same " Hated it at the time but would do it all over again if I had the chance."
Thanks for posting the video Deitz and thanks for your service. Myself and a bunch of Cav Troopers can be found at Dragoon Base on the web, lots of stories and pictures, videos and history from all time periods. Hooah
62-65 Montieth Barracks 126th Maint Bn 4th Armored Div
Three summers there 59,60&61 long time ago. Stationed at O’Brien barracks Schwabach Germany 15th Cav 2nd recon 4th Armored division. Also some time winter training at Vilseck . Actually met Elvis there 1960 nato maneuvers
Stationed at graff 535th ( CSE ) 563rd Eng Bn 7 Eng BDE 7 Corp . 82- 85 3rd plt.
Graff, Hoensfields, Wilflicken, 3 years with Blue Spaders A-Co, 1/26, 75-78.
Good times but sucked at the time.
2/33 Armor Kiirch-Gons. Graf 14 times!!! Came as a cruit, left as an NCO....
I was 13B. in --HWB 2/11 ACR. In Bad KISSINGEN. Served in HQ Platoon,in Ammo Section,in 88M slot. I was TC,for How 45. for 1year,my 1st Graf,2nd,3rd,and later,moved to Wildflicken,in Jan 1992,after Closing BK POST,end of 1991. Graf,from Wildflicken,after that,and went to GUNLINE,1st Platoon. made a bet with(Smoke/Gunny),SFC Ricky Brewer,that I get a CHALLENGE COIN,for (OUR LAST GRAF)!!!. Bet a (Case). I Won the Bet!!! but (Injured my Right-Hand,in the side-hatch,of the FAASV)!!!. (SHUT-IT-DOWN)--(CEASE-ALL-TRAINING)!!!...WoW. oh. LTC Speakes,i think provided that CHALLENGE COIN!!! (1991-1993),with "The BLACKHORSE"!!! (Deployed with 11th ACR,in 1991,from Bad KISSINGEN,Germany,to KKMC-SAUDI ARABIA,and DOHA,KUWAIT)---(Doha Dash Soldier)!!!(PV2 R.D.S.)
Bet you have heard the same question = When I tell people I was stationed in Bad Hersfeld some ask "Why was it bad?" ;-)
Also HOW BTRY 2/11 89-91. I was clearing BK as you guys were gearing up to ship out! HAMMER TIME BABY!
3rd BN 68th Armor C Company, 8th Infantry
Four Grafs (with Graf bands) 1972-1975. The red dirt! Tent city and side trips to Vilseck.
did graf 75-76 co.b 1/33rd out of gelnhausen, one thing great about graf was the beer,aka. flipppies. don white tread head forever
70-73 from Hanau it was about 6hrs army driving by road and 3 days by rail -party time .
What happened to the top of the turret of that M60?
FYI: I removed my original 'Graf' video due to issues with Music Copyright Laws etc. At this time there is no way to replace the UA-cam music with my music. The only way to replace their music is to upload the video again with my soundtrack/music.
The following post are from my original 'Graf' video:
A lot of GIs will never forget their time in Graf. After more than 90 years Graf is still going strong making memories for all. The Graf legend lives on.
==========================================
S619jensen 2 years ago - Steve Jensen , I spent some crazy times at Graf from 1994-1995 sgt smileys used to open a kitchen every weekend when we returned from the field in 2/3 field artillery , he would open it like it was a bar and we would get so hammered , one time the british army was there and they came to smileys to party with us they are comedians , I thought I was going to die from laughing so hard that night, think it was me Rowe, Gen, Sgt Linkes, and Sgt Wiend might have been deployed not sure
Recon One 2 years ago - I sent a message to Reinhard Schafft of Graf asking if he knew of you or any of the people you spoke of. Reinhard keeps us up to date as to what is going on in Graf via our facebook group(s). Thanks for posting thedeitz.com
Reply to S619jensen
Tom Jones 2 years ago - Thx for the memories. I was With 14AC HQ at Downs Barracks/Kaserne, Fulda, 1963-66. Our old M48A2s were just being replaced by the all new M60A1s. I went to Graf twice as a gunner. Range 42. Even more fun was Wildflecken in winter! :0|
Recon One 2 years ago - Thanks for checking in. I don't know about you but I never hear from any 2nd SQDN guys that were stationed in Bad Kissingen.
Reply to Tom Jones
Giacomo Milano 1 year ago - Memories of REFORGER 1974. My first year. Wow, great memories. Thank you, Sergeant J Hall, HQ's, 1/46th Infantry 73-77
S619jensen 2 years ago - Suck it up. We don't always agree with Uncle Sam. But us enlisted soldiers across the world we know that we are making the world a better place for everyone and we have sacrificed a lot for this world SO BACK OFF!
S619jensen 2 years ago - Sorry Jeany most of us our no longer there , I'm not trying to sound rude but due to your country allowing a one man dictator to take control of your country . We stay around as baby sitters to make sure it doesn't happen again. Because the threat you guys had you brought to everyone else's soil. So you are crying cause doing the time just like being in prison those men in prison are doing 20 years to life for killing one man . You can't handle maybe 200 years of having us as a baby sitter.
artifactman660 2 years ago - I was in 1/11 ACR 88-92 went to GRAF about a half dozen times or more 30 days a trip. wildflicken in the winter was crazy shit.my first trip there it was 60 that night freezing rain and about 6 inches of snow.and the dust in GRAF in the summer time would kill a man. but looking back it was some good times. thanks for the visit.
touche1950 2 years ago - I was there in 66 and 67.
Recon One 2 years ago - Thanks, it was an interesting place to train and meet other NATO troops.
Recon One 4 years ago -@richard47129- by Dave R: I seem to recall a primer vibrated loose (from ready rounds standing up near breech, came loose and dropped down where it hit the batteries (or battery cable). Since 105 ammo was electrically primed it detonated putting the round thru the top of the turret. I think we were supposed to have a rubber gasket like thing at the base of each ready round on the turret floor but they would get lost etc. Shows the risk our troopers took every day during the "Cold" War
richard47129 , Thanks for your comment thedeitz.com
Ibreakthings51 4 years ago - hahah memories, many of gunnery rotations there. Ex tanker
1AD B Co. 1-35 AR BN Baumholder, Germany
xiso 4 years ago - Wonderfull pictures.. :)
Recon One 4 years ago - xiso Thanks, I have other Graf photos on my 3rd Squadron web page thedeitz. com -
Reply · in reply to Tom Jones (comment)
Recon One 2 years ago - Thanks for checking in. I don't know about you but I never hear from any 2nd SQDN guys that were stationed in Bad Kissingen.
touche1950 2 years ago - I was there in 66 and 67.
bodyguardik 3 years ago lol. nuclear weapon is only defender. NATO tanks was no match for USSR
Recon One 2 years ago - The tanks were there to delay the aggressors. The border units were there to verify an attack of the Warsaw Pact & Soviets. There to alert the 7th Army of an advance across the border. Our second mission was to delay the aggressors as long as possible. Life expectancy 20 minutes? Larger units were located farther into Germany to give them time to mobilize & to get NATO units on the move in the air and on the ground. Nuclear Warheads would slow down the progress of the aggressor.
Ibreakthings51 4 years ago - hahah memories, many of gunnery rotations there. Ex tanker
1AD B Co. 1-35 AR BN Baumholder, Germany
Recon One 4 years ago -@HerbWalker/SSG Walker I see where Ray Barracks was was closed in 2007 returning same to the Germans. I did a UA-cam after returning to our closed McPheeters Kaserne 'Barracks' in Hersfeld (we erected a monument there in 2009). ...good memories ...
Steve R 4 years ago - Great video, Graf, mud and dust at the same time
Recon One 5 years ago - TheMikee55 .. What town, Graf? We were not allowed to leave Graf. We were restricted to the Kaserne, no passes.
PopppaBlue59 5 years ago - Graf.....The only place I have ever been up to my ass in mud---with dust blowing in my eyes! Ask anybody who was ever there. Great pics. Thanks for posting. Sgt. Carter 1/39 Inf. 8th ID. 1981- 1983.
Recon One 5 years ago - Roger your last Sarg, we developed, printed the photos at the service club after we returned to our Kaserne in Bad Hersfeld.
Recon One 5 years ago - Vielen Dank, dass Sie mein Freund. Ihre Worte bedeuten mir sehr viel und andere. Bitte besuchen Sie unsere Web-Seite auf thedeitz.com. Bis später Wilmington, North Carolina.
schnellguy 6 years ago - Thanks once again for this posting,i was just thinking about Graf.Today,The Rail head sure brings back memories of loading our M-109s and making sure the overhang was the same on both sides.
I commanded a platoon of M60 tanks in the 2/70th Armor Bn, 24th Infantry Div. in 1968. Went to Graf after the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia.
If you like this video please subscribe, comment and share, thanks
C/Co 237th Eng Bn 85 ,87 spent a month there building Tank turn pads .
Very good, spent my share of time training here from 1971 to 1973, 3/37 artillery, over all Germany was great duty, but this one place I have no fond memories.
Mike you like some others can say: Been There Done That ;-)
I gunned table eight for years, ty for video
Mud and dust ... that was Graf in the mid 80ths
Graf 3 times 1984 1986 3 armored division from Butzbach Germany
I was there there after Nam , 71-72.
War ab 1970 mehrmals in Grafenwöhr mit unseren Werfern und Geschützen ( und Küche ) Die Amerikanischen Soldaten kamen ( obwohl sie besser versorgt wurden...) sehr gerne zu unserer deutschen Küche im Einsatz auch zum Küchenwagen ....Viel hab ich nicht verstanden aber deutsche Küche GUT ist mir in Erinnerung geblieben...
It either choking dust or muddy.
A German guy that worked the in the year 2015 told me that some surfaces have been paved = less mud and dust now. That takes some of the fun out of it lol
I was stationed at Panzer from 75 - 77 with B Co 4/73rd Armor.
schwinefurt 1961 ,64 c3 64 armor good times.
I was there pulling shit details !
2/2 ACR Bamberg Germany
.....H Company 2nd & 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment, Bamberg early '72 to Dec. '74 Always Ready....Last year I was the best gunner in the company of 17 M 60 A-1 main battle tanks...rail headed many times like the pictures here...Also did border patrol and did over night border duty in the shack on the border...Best time of my life...Makes me want to say I wish I had become a lifer, as I would have had many more places to admire now, plus retirement pay.....
Get some!
Your welcome.
GRAF, WILDCHICKEN, LOL.. HOHENFELS, BAUMHOLDER, HAMMELBURG,VILSECK, BERLIN BRIGADE , ECT... REFORGERS LET'S SMOKE A BOWL !! ha ha