Germany Photo Collection
December, 1959 through August, 1962
Viewed best at 800X600 Pixels-Click on photos or numbers to enlarge
I'll let Ed Smith describe these photos as he did when he shared them with me.
Photo 1: This photo was taken about a month after I arrived in Germany. The location is near Neumarkt, near Hohenfels, a major training area for US Forces in Germany. January 24, 1960. I was initially assigned as a Rifle Platoon Leader in Company D, 2d Armored Rifle Battalion, 50th Infantry, 4th Armored Division. Later, I was assigned to Company B as Executive Officer and then Company Commander.
Please note, the open top jeep. Don't care what the weather was, no top on the jeep. We always went tactical. At least we could put the windshield up. The guys in Recon had to go with the windshield down, so you can imagine the wind-chill in the dead of winter.
Photo 2: This photo was taken near Hohenfels, Germany. Company B, 2d Armored Rifle Battalion, 50th Infantry and two attached tank platoons from C/66 Armor went to Hohenfels to act as the Aggressor Force for units taking their Annual Training Test. Our Company Commander was off on another detail so I was Acting Company Commander on this exercise.
On the left, my driver, PFC Travis Hickman. If you can see thru all the clothing, that's me on the right. February 13, 1962.
Photo 3: On a Sunday in February 1962, we road marched Company B, 2d Armored Rifle Battalion, 50th Infantry, and two tank attached tank platoons from C/66 Armor from Hohenfels to Grafenwohr. We had 17 tracks, 10 tanks and a bunch of administrative vehicles, mess trucks, supply trucks, jeeps.
Probably 70 miles, more or less, snow and ice on the road all the way, no accidents and no breakdowns. Every vehicle closed the motor pool with the main column. It was an amazing feat with all the tracked vehicles, especially considering the age and reliability of our M-59 Armored Personnel Carriers and the road conditions.
Photo 4: At the end of our aggressor duty at Hohenfels, we had to road Company B and two attached tank platoons from Hohenfels to Grafenwohr to join the rest of our units to participate in our own Annual Training Test. This is the B-31 Track coming out of the water after crossing a ford. The bridge could not take our heavy vehicles.
The snow hit us on a Saturday night, before we moved out for Grafenwohr. February 1962.
Photo 5: This is another photo of a river crossing training exercise on the Donau River near Regansburg, in preparation for our participation in Exercise Wintershield II. January 17, 1961.
Notice the markings on the M-59 Armored Personnel Carriers. Everything means something.
- Square (Infantry). Armor, Artillery, etc., had other symbols. Believe Armor was a Triangle.
- White Square. 2d Armored Rifle Battalion, 50th Infantry.
- Colored Numbers Within the Square. The track coming out of the water on the far bank, Yellow, indicating Company D. The number 31 indicates 1st Squad, 3d Platoon. The platoon leader normally went with the 1st Squad track. The track preparing to enter the water, Red, indicating Company A. The number 33 indicates 3d Squad, 3d Platoon. Other company colors, B had White numbers, C had Blue Numbers.
You cannot imagine how cold it was during that river crossing exercise. We got up one morning to see chunks of ice floating down the river. I get cold just thinking about it.
Photo 6:(This is my personal favorite) This should give you an idea of the training and field living conditions in the early 60's. This photo is of soldiers from Company B, 2d Armored Rifle Battalion, 50th Infantry, 4th Armored Division, in the field during Exercise Winter Shield II. The expression on their faces says it all. Cold, wet, miserable. February 1961.
