Stationed in Bavaria,Germany from 93'-96'. I was out of Fürth/Nürnberg with HQ in Augsburg from 93'-95' til it all closed down then moved to Schweinfurt, 95'-96' with HQ in Bamberg. Other than our typical practice shooting/maneuver in Graf/Vilseck, I had to pull 45 days of road duty in Graf in 95'/96' while the rest of the MP's in Germany went onto the Bosnia. Graf, from the break of dawn til about 24,00, tanks, artillery, and other explosions going off F'n day long. 1 incident that I will never forget, after working the midnight shift (12hrs), went to bed and then got woken up around 14.00 from a jet flying really low over the Kaserne and then dropping their ordnance. Prost aus Mittelfranken!
+Robert Hacker Yes I was a 95B, but didn't get deployed because my Platoon Sergeant was an idiot. I was from 630th MP company out of Schweinfurt with HQ's in Bamberg. I first started out as the 218th MP company out of Fürth/Nürnberg 93'-95' with HQ's out of Augsburg. I married a German and stayed. The areas that I pulled road duty in Fürth/Nürnberg, Giebelstadt, Würzburg, Schweinfurt, Mannheim, Augsburg, Erlangen, Herzo Base, and Bamberg are all gone! Graf is still open because of the training area for NATO and also K-town!
I was in Vilseck 1963-66 the Sub Post of Graf. I was in Headquarters & Headquarters Company 7th Army out of Graf but assigned to 7th Army Ordnance Vilseck. We were the backup support for all units that came to the area for training. I remember a lot of the guys coming into the Tank Shop complaining how bad this place was and what a Hell Hole. They could not believe how much everyone that was assigned to Vilseck liked being there. I was back in Graf and Vilseck in 2011 both places really changes a lot, I remember having a 9 hole Golf course in front of Headquarters Bldg. it is gone now. Vilseck had a 2 lane road thar ran through it no more 4 lanes. No more 7th Army Ordnance but the Tank Shop still remains. No Officer,Nco or EM Clubs what a shame, how times have changed. The town of Vilseck still looks the same for the most part only the names of the shops and Gusthouses have changed. Still a great little town.Hope to return again this year. Oh I almost for got no more Combined Arms School had a lot of friends that were assigned there.Wonder if anyone is out there thar was in Vilseck during my 2 1/2 years.
Hi Michael: I was stationed in Vilseck from June '62 to Nov. '64 at the CBR school. I enlisted in Jan.'62, basic at Ft. Dix, then to Ft. McClellan in Al. Then sent to Hanau, near Frankfurt . I was asked whether I wanted to be transferred to Vilseck at the CBR school. There I helped out the classes for both NCO's and officers that were being trained in CBR warfare . I became an instructor and rose to Spec 5. It was an isolated site near the Czech border. So isolated I think I saw only one airplane during my duty there. Remember no one was allowed within 10 km of that border. Every 2 weeks we had a huge demo of all sorts of CBR warfare items, smoke generators, flame throwers, thermite grenades which could burn through an engine block, flame throwing tank, etc. I got a chance to fire the flame throwing tank on one occasion along with a flame thrower. We were told we had one of two flame throwing tanks in Europe. I had easy duty with little regimentation. I got a part time job at the EM club as a waiter and a part time job at the movie theater since a couple of officers at the school were in charge of these places. One time at the EM Club things got so rowdy a sarge in charge there put on his gas mask and sprayed CS to quell a near riot. On another occasion when one night the Officer of the Day was called to quell another riot. He had to fire a shot into the ceiling. Luckily no one on the second floor was hit. I guess the German beer does strange things which makes men want to fight. Since the whole area was a training ground the duty must have been tough and the troops had to let off some steam. I graduated from PC in Rhode Island with a degree in Chemistry so that's why I may have been selected to go to Vilseck at the CBR school. At PC I had no choice but to take 2 years of German since much of early chemistry was written in German. As an Italian-American I spoke Italian as well which proved to be a great help traveling on a 30 day leave visiting my uncles and cousins in Italy. During my entire Army stay I slept in a tent only one night. It was in a 16 man tent put up near Frankfurt for a NATO exercise. After the exercise ended timing was tight such that I was flown back to Vilseck the next day in a single engine plane to ensure I would get there in time to give a class. Vin DiBiasio
I was at Ray Barracks 74-77 and we went to Graf a few times a year, I remember the Desert, Graf dust, boar hogs, main snack bar where on any given day you might see someone from a prior duty assignment, flippies, and that great Rod and Gun Club. I for one always looked forward going to Graf.
+michael heberling Wow, you actually stayed? I came REALLY close. Loved it there. I was stationed in Bamberg in 88 right as the Wall fell. I was a "Tanker" back then before switching to MP. Graf was probably my favorite duty station. I lived in on post hosing right across the from the base of the tower. I remember the 630th, Actually had to go to Scheinfurt to work the road for a month (though I can remember why I we did that). I came back to Germany a few years ago and drove to Graf to see if I could check things out. I couldn't get on base at all (understandable at this day in age). Sad though.
I will be short in information, because I could tell some stories about the time I was there. Vilseck kaserne, 1969-71 663rd Ordnance (Ammo) had the Patton seven steps to hell patch, but, was changed to the VII round patch. I was permanent party, the re-forger troops were called field rats, and we had some serious in barrack fights on post when they came through, such as entrenching tools and steel pots types. Found a hole in the ground that was used during WWII that was about 20 feet deep with 5 rooms dug in the sides and a large room at the bottom with a dug out hole for cooking, while walking to Vilseck, next to a stream. Encountered a spirit in the office building, which was an early 1900's rock and mortar German house, which was the ASP #1 (Ammunition Supply Point) building, that stood alone in the woods.
good memories,trained there alot, even parachuted into Bunker drop zone, all the way from Aviano,italy, I remember tent city, camp kasserine,camp cheb,etc,, PROST !
Same here, some of our firing points were knee-deep mud. Do you remember the boar hogs? I had one chase me... I ended up on top of our gun one night during guard duty.
My first tour, I was a RedLeg Rivers Barracks The Zoo . Giessen . 2/92 F A BN 42nd Group. M 110-A 1 . My first summer Graff was a trip . I was the M-548 driver. Section 6 . We went to the western edge of the boundary. It took us 2 hours but it was worth it. Had our first fire mission Charge 6 White Bag 0300 hours . This is your wake up call from the Red Devils. 6 Gun Battery of the 8 Inch. Woke up everyone from 10 miles in all directions.
was stationed in Graf..Jun 1966 til Feb 1968 ..Btry A 6BN 60 ARTY 32nd AADCOM....A Hawk Missile unit we were located on main post and the missile base was about a 30 min ride from main barracks don't remember where just remember it was up a hill and during the snow sometime we could not get our POV's up the hill......I remember the main barracks was not far from the post Gym, I"m 6'5" was the tallest guy in the Company so if I was not working, down town drinking , I was in the Gym playing Basketball. I enjoyed my time over there no complaints spent ALL of my vacation time in Denmark & Sweden. Worked with a great bunch guys wish a lot of good memories.....
Wow, the tower its been there alone time. I was stationed there HHB 3/60th ADA Jan 84-85 18 months there. I remember the super long movie theator, and the 6 lane bowling alley to the left and 6 to the right. Wish I got to see more of W Germany back then. Was a PVT so didn't make the big bucks but sure enjoyed the Dark Weizen mit lemon, pomfrits with cury sauce. Nice to see it's still in action, I remember going to the movies and seeing helicoptor missles being fired off in the distance at night on xmas eve. Seemed like we were in the field or getting ready to go back to the field when I was there. great experance I would enjoy checking it out today
I was a dependant and loved being there from 81-81 in my tweens to early teens. So many fond memories of the giant General Walker theater and the bowling alley. Also loved hitting the Stars and Stripes bookstore for sci-fi and fantasy novels, comics and Heavy Metal magazine once my parents would let me buy it.
Went to Graf only once in '73 for an ORT. There were about 32 battalion-sized units in the area at that time. Too much dust and I had to work on the recovery crew.
I trained there from 56 to end of 58, it was used by the Americans, Germans and British when I was there. we lucked out and got barracks but we still had to stay out in the field for days. We fired an Honest john rocket with 1500 lbs of explosives once and the townspeople complained so much we never fired a live one again. the thing I liked best about that place was supper at the mess hall. we were allowed beer. that never happened anywere else.
I was stationed in Grafenwohr from Dec 90/Nov 97. I was in the 536 MP Co, 4th platoon, Death Star. The only company ever in the Army History to serve under a Direct Command. 7th ATC. The 536 no longer exist and it's a shame it was disbanded. I loved Graf, and Bayreuth, which I was also stationed at the Rohrensee Kaserne with the 536 and the Rock in Bayreuth and the Kaserne no longer exist either. Great memories.
Great Video, In 1984 and 1985 I was stationed in Darmstadt Germany in A Company 94th engineers 18th bde.... We were TDY in Graf, we built the ranges for the M1 abrams and the Bradly .....we were there for about 9 months I believe......not exactally good times in Graf...... But there are good memories.
I was in the 94th B co 81-83 we went to Graf TDY for 9 months in 82 for range reconstruction, went with the whole 18th Brigade...Good Times...Mud and Dust....
Permanent Party 82-85 ,535th Eng Co. Remember having a rare 2 days off because of rain the following day. Me and roommate went down to the Braughtwurst stand outside of Gate 1. We were E - 4 Mafia. We got our 12 brats and was heading back on post and E-6 from 18 Eng Bde told us to stop and we had to go through the Railhead gate. We told him to fuck off and kept walking , MP jeep pulled up to us and asked where we are going? Back to our barracks. I ask the MP's WHO do you think does all the Snow Removal in the winter ? They gave us a ride to the barracks.
I was there 72-73, 1st infantry, our company got caught up in an entanglement with another company. It seemed, their guys jumped on of our guys. We all picked up bats, lead pipes and proceeded towards their encampment to deliver a surprise dinner. Their must have been 30-40 vert agitated medics, who were going to set the record straight. We were intercepted by a Captain MP, who was very gentle with us. Gave us a friendly, don't do this, we have the culprit's in hand. If you do, I their's a company of MPs standing by who will assist in taking us down, fully armed. We decided to stand down, I don't know if that ever happened in this reserve? I'm sure if we had been serving in the wermacht, we would all have been lined up and shot.
funding local economies and nato training...well thanks for that...but nato training is sposored by nato not by the US...and the grafenwöhr training arae once was founded by the bavarian king, not by the US military
Not arguing, except that you should maybe look into your NATO funding statement. I believe we should pull out of NATO and Germany. It has been a money pit since 1941. Nobody ever claimed the GTA was founded by the U.S. Military. It was founded by Elvis Presley.
Dimpflbruder Man, I really do believe that the US is in too many places. I'm shipping in a few months to basic but even I see the good effects of the US being in Germany. Helps the economy a lot. you guys cant get money from us too. Plus isn't it a good thing that we are all working together in the world?
I really miss that place too! I hated it when I lived there but there were some great times!
My son is going there, just graduated very proud of him D company
31st engineer battalion 🐉 may God bless you and everyone serving!
Stationed in Bavaria,Germany from 93'-96'. I was out of Fürth/Nürnberg with HQ in Augsburg from 93'-95' til it all closed down then moved to Schweinfurt, 95'-96' with HQ in Bamberg. Other than our typical practice shooting/maneuver in Graf/Vilseck, I had to pull 45 days of road duty in Graf in 95'/96' while the rest of the MP's in Germany went onto the Bosnia. Graf, from the break of dawn til about 24,00, tanks, artillery, and other explosions going off F'n day long. 1 incident that I will never forget, after working the midnight shift (12hrs), went to bed and then got woken up around 14.00 from a jet flying really low over the Kaserne and then dropping their ordnance. Prost aus Mittelfranken!
+michael heberling Were you a 95B? I was stationed in Graf with the 536th MP and deployed from there to Bosnia.
+Robert Hacker Yes I was a 95B, but didn't get deployed because my Platoon Sergeant was an idiot. I was from 630th MP company out of Schweinfurt with HQ's in Bamberg. I first started out as the 218th MP company out of Fürth/Nürnberg 93'-95' with HQ's out of Augsburg. I married a German and stayed. The areas that I pulled road duty in Fürth/Nürnberg, Giebelstadt, Würzburg, Schweinfurt, Mannheim, Augsburg, Erlangen, Herzo Base, and Bamberg are all gone! Graf is still open because of the training area for NATO and also K-town!
I was in Vilseck 1963-66 the Sub Post of Graf. I was in Headquarters & Headquarters Company 7th Army out of Graf but assigned to 7th Army Ordnance Vilseck. We were the backup support for all units that came to the area for training. I remember a lot of the guys coming into the Tank Shop complaining how bad this place was and what a Hell Hole. They could not believe how much everyone that was assigned to Vilseck liked being there. I was back in Graf and Vilseck in 2011 both places really changes a lot, I remember having a 9 hole Golf course in front of Headquarters Bldg. it is gone now. Vilseck had a 2 lane road thar ran through it no more 4 lanes. No more 7th Army Ordnance but the Tank Shop still remains. No Officer,Nco or EM Clubs what a shame, how times have changed. The town of Vilseck still looks the same for the most part only the names of the shops and Gusthouses have changed. Still a great little town.Hope to return again this year. Oh I almost for got no more Combined Arms School had a lot of friends that were assigned there.Wonder if anyone is out there thar was in Vilseck during my 2 1/2 years.
Hi Michael: I was stationed in Vilseck from June '62 to Nov. '64 at the CBR school. I enlisted in Jan.'62, basic at Ft. Dix, then to Ft. McClellan in Al. Then sent to Hanau, near Frankfurt . I was asked whether I wanted to be transferred to Vilseck at the CBR school. There I helped out the classes for both NCO's and officers that were being trained in CBR warfare . I became an instructor and rose to Spec 5. It was an isolated site near the Czech border. So isolated I think I saw only one airplane during my duty there. Remember no one was allowed within 10 km of that border. Every 2 weeks we had a huge demo of all sorts of CBR warfare items, smoke generators, flame throwers, thermite grenades which could burn through an engine block, flame throwing tank, etc. I got a chance to fire the flame throwing tank on one occasion along with a flame thrower. We were told we had one of two flame throwing tanks in Europe.
I had easy duty with little regimentation. I got a part time job at the EM club as a waiter and a part time job at the movie theater since a couple of officers at the school were in charge of these places.
One time at the EM Club things got so rowdy a sarge in charge there put on his gas mask and sprayed CS to quell a near riot. On another occasion when one night the Officer of the Day was called to quell another riot. He had to fire a shot into the ceiling. Luckily no one on the second floor was hit. I guess the German beer does strange things which makes men want to fight. Since
the whole area was a training ground the duty must have been tough and the troops had to let off some steam.
I graduated from PC in Rhode Island with a degree in Chemistry so that's why I may have been selected to go to Vilseck at the CBR school. At PC I had no choice but to take 2 years of German since much of early chemistry was written in German. As an Italian-American I spoke Italian as well which proved to be a great help traveling on a 30 day leave visiting my uncles and cousins in Italy.
During my entire Army stay I slept in a tent only one night. It was in a 16 man tent put up near Frankfurt for a NATO exercise. After the exercise ended timing was tight such that I was flown back to Vilseck the next day in a single engine plane to ensure I would get there in time to give a class.
Vin DiBiasio
Thanks for sharing your stories..I was stationed in vilseck from 2016 to 2020 and I love hearing stories from what it was like back in the day. 👍
I was at Ray Barracks 74-77 and we went to Graf a few times a year, I remember the Desert, Graf dust, boar hogs, main snack bar where on any given day you might see someone from a prior duty assignment, flippies, and that great Rod and Gun Club. I for one always looked forward going to Graf.
Graf Dust, and when it rained, Graf mud.
Very fond memories of Graf and Wildflecken (probably because I was Permanent party and not their for training)
My father served in the 7th Army,and 30 years later I served in the 3rd Armored Division. Hey Dad! Great memories of Germany.
+michael heberling Wow, you actually stayed? I came REALLY close. Loved it there. I was stationed in Bamberg in 88 right as the Wall fell. I was a "Tanker" back then before switching to MP. Graf was probably my favorite duty station. I lived in on post hosing right across the from the base of the tower. I remember the 630th, Actually had to go to Scheinfurt to work the road for a month (though I can remember why I we did that). I came back to Germany a few years ago and drove to Graf to see if I could check things out. I couldn't get on base at all (understandable at this day in age). Sad though.
3/35 Armor has a Facebook page.
I will be short in information, because I could
tell some stories about the time I was there.
Vilseck kaserne, 1969-71 663rd Ordnance (Ammo)
had the Patton seven steps to hell patch, but,
was changed to the VII round patch.
I was permanent party, the re-forger troops were
called field rats, and we had some serious in barrack
fights on post when they came through, such as entrenching
tools and steel pots types.
Found a hole in the ground that was used during WWII
that was about 20 feet deep with 5 rooms dug in the sides
and a large room at the bottom with a dug out hole for cooking,
while walking to Vilseck, next to a stream.
Encountered a spirit in the office building, which was
an early 1900's rock and mortar German house, which was
the ASP #1 (Ammunition Supply Point) building, that stood
alone in the woods.
good memories,trained there alot, even parachuted into Bunker drop zone, all the way from Aviano,italy, I remember tent city, camp kasserine,camp cheb,etc,, PROST !
I was artillery. All we got to see were the mud holes that 20 other artillery batteries had torn up before us.
Same here, some of our firing points were knee-deep mud. Do you remember the boar hogs? I had one chase me... I ended up on top of our gun one night during guard duty.
My first tour, I was a RedLeg Rivers Barracks The Zoo . Giessen . 2/92 F A BN 42nd Group. M 110-A 1 . My first summer Graff was a trip . I was the M-548 driver. Section 6 . We went to the western edge of the boundary. It took us 2 hours but it was worth it. Had our first fire mission Charge 6 White Bag 0300 hours . This is your wake up call from the Red Devils.
6 Gun Battery of the 8 Inch. Woke up everyone from 10 miles in all directions.
was stationed in Graf..Jun 1966 til Feb 1968 ..Btry A 6BN 60 ARTY 32nd AADCOM....A Hawk Missile unit we were located on main post and the missile base was about a 30 min ride from main barracks don't remember where just remember it was up a hill and during the snow sometime we could not get our POV's up the hill......I remember the main barracks was not far from the post Gym, I"m 6'5" was the tallest guy in the Company so if I was not working, down town
drinking , I was in the Gym playing Basketball. I enjoyed my time over there no complaints spent ALL of my vacation time in Denmark & Sweden. Worked with a great bunch guys wish a lot of good memories.....
Wow, the tower its been there alone time. I was stationed there HHB 3/60th ADA Jan 84-85 18 months there. I remember the super long movie theator, and the 6 lane bowling alley to the left and 6 to the right. Wish I got to see more of W Germany back then. Was a PVT so didn't make the big bucks but sure enjoyed the Dark Weizen mit lemon, pomfrits with cury sauce. Nice to see it's still in action, I remember going to the movies and seeing helicoptor missles being fired off in the distance at night on xmas eve. Seemed like we were in the field or getting ready to go back to the field when I was there. great experance I would enjoy checking it out today
I was hawk missle crewmember stationed at A 3/60 from 8/86 to 88. very tough 2 years but wouldn't trade it for anything!!!
I was a dependant and loved being there from 81-81 in my tweens to early teens. So many fond memories of the giant General Walker theater and the bowling alley. Also loved hitting the Stars and Stripes bookstore for sci-fi and fantasy novels, comics and Heavy Metal magazine once my parents would let me buy it.
As much as I hated and cursed that place when I was there I really miss it. It was a lot of fun. Great memories.
Same here...
Went to Graf only once in '73 for an ORT. There were about 32 battalion-sized units in the area at that time. Too much dust and I had to work on the recovery crew.
I trained there from 56 to end of 58, it was used by the Americans, Germans and British when I was there. we lucked out and got barracks but we still had to stay out in the field for days. We fired an Honest john rocket with 1500 lbs of explosives once and the townspeople complained so much we never fired a live one again. the thing I liked best about that place was supper at the mess hall. we were allowed beer. that never happened anywere else.
That is awesome..were you able to experience the German public such as German food and kirchweih fests back then?
Was in first OPERATION REFORGER in February, 1969; 2/70 Armor BN, 24th ID
Victor Blackburn 1975. C 2/41.2nd armored div.
Was at Graf for at least 6 times from 1974 to 1977. 2d Bn 3d FA
I was there in 71&72 ,with 7th Army, remember the mud, met some good German troops ,went to their barracks it was stacked with cases of beer.
OMG, I remember the huge savage horseflies
I was stationed in Grafenwohr from Dec 90/Nov 97. I was in the 536 MP Co, 4th platoon, Death Star. The only company ever in the Army History to serve under a Direct Command. 7th ATC. The 536 no longer exist and it's a shame it was disbanded. I loved Graf, and Bayreuth, which I was also stationed at the Rohrensee Kaserne with the 536 and the Rock in Bayreuth and the Kaserne no longer exist either. Great memories.
Three Grafs for me. Loved the tower, hated the dust/mud.
4:33, some fat folks on the treadmills, wasn't like that when I was there...
ha ha ha
Great Video, In 1984 and 1985 I was stationed in Darmstadt Germany in A Company 94th engineers 18th bde.... We were TDY in Graf, we built the ranges for the M1 abrams and the Bradly .....we were there for about 9 months I believe......not exactally good times in Graf...... But there are good memories.
I was in the 94th B co 81-83 we went to Graf TDY for 9 months in 82 for range reconstruction, went with the whole 18th Brigade...Good Times...Mud and Dust....
I was stationed there 75, 76. I was assigned to 7th Armor training command. First ever 7th Army Foreign Vehicle Detachment. Vilseck, Germany.
Permanent Party 82-85 ,535th Eng Co.
Remember having a rare 2 days off because of rain the following day. Me and roommate went down to the Braughtwurst stand outside of Gate 1.
We were E - 4 Mafia. We got our 12 brats and was heading back on post and E-6 from 18 Eng Bde told us to stop and we had to go through the Railhead gate. We told him to fuck off and kept walking , MP jeep pulled up to us and asked where we are going? Back to our barracks. I ask the MP's
WHO do you think does all the Snow Removal in the winter ?
They gave us a ride to the barracks.
I put in 5 yrs there myself....back in the day.....and I must say I miss it too. All of Germany for that matter
Who gave this video a thumbs down? You must not had been to Graf. Loved it, Shot gunnery there. B.co 1/37 Armor.
had pics of Graf one time ( apparently got lost in moving )and pics of the bunkers that were left behind..
I trained there, and later got assigned there. I do miss it!!!
Anybody got any tips about the area? I just got here maybe 2 weeks ago.
you brought us Range 301, old Range 79
nice work
Range 10
Co A 1st of 37th, 1st Armored Division. 3 Grafs. 71-73. Great memories. Courage Conquers.
I was at Graf & Vilseck 96-2000, 1st Inf
I was there 72-73, 1st infantry, our company got caught up in an entanglement with another company. It seemed, their guys jumped on of our guys. We all picked up bats, lead pipes and proceeded towards their encampment to deliver a surprise dinner.
Their must have been 30-40 vert agitated medics, who were going to set the record straight. We were intercepted by a Captain MP, who was very gentle with us. Gave us a friendly, don't do this, we have the culprit's in hand.
If you do, I their's a company of MPs standing by who will assist in taking us down, fully armed. We decided to stand down, I don't know if that ever happened in this reserve? I'm sure if we had been serving in the wermacht, we would all have been lined up and shot.
The BOARHOGS!! LOL
M co 3/2 acr 1973-75 remember mud or was the hoenfells
Heute sind wir Freunde Verbündete und Kameraden die US - Army und die Bundeswehr 👋🪖
The Dust!
The mud!
Graf sucked. Never could get that grey clay off our vehicles. No matter how many times we washed them.
No need for us troops anymore.....go home
No need for us troops anymore.....go home
hey dimpbruder, I'm plannig another trip back to Germania, can I bivouac at your haus/heim bitte ? lol....
Du bist ganz richtig Dimplbruder. It is time for the Americans to go home and stop funding local economies and Nato training
funding local economies and nato training...well thanks for that...but nato training is sposored by nato not by the US...and the grafenwöhr training arae once was founded by the bavarian king, not by the US military
Not arguing, except that you should maybe look into your NATO funding statement. I believe we should pull out of NATO and Germany. It has been a money pit since 1941. Nobody ever claimed the GTA was founded by the U.S. Military. It was founded by Elvis Presley.
Dimpflbruder Man, I really do believe that the US is in too many places. I'm shipping in a few months to basic but even I see the good effects of the US being in Germany. Helps the economy a lot. you guys cant get money from us too. Plus isn't it a good thing that we are all working together in the world?