Did you go through mortar fire unit evaluation at Wildflecken training area? If so how many times?

2015-04-30T17:34:40-04:00

During the Cold War, I went with 1/52 IN Bn to Wildflecken twice for gunnery training including mortar training and evaluation. Wildflecken training area was significantly different from Graf. I remember Dead Man's Curve with the multiple white crosses displayed along the roadside and the nearby Monastery where the monks served a great beer.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Apr 30 at 2015 5:35 PM

2015-04-30T17:35:52-04:00

My unit went to Wildflecken in 1982 and 1983.

Response by SFC Wayne Ocker made Apr 30 at 2015 5:37 PM

2015-04-30T17:37:12-04:00

Was there for training.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2015 5:51 PM

2015-04-30T17:51:56-04:00

LTC Stephen F. Sir, I spent six and half years (74-77 & 79-82) in the 11th ACR (Fulda, GE) and did many a CAV Troop convoys and Jeep trips to Wildflicken for Gunnery, FTXs, other live fires, guard duty, etc. Seen it snow in the middle of summer on more than one ocassion. The Kruzberg Monestary is memory I will never forget. In fact I've been back twice since retiring in 96. I went back for 2 11th ACR Reunions in Fulda and we ensured a day at Kruzberg was a part of each Reunion.

I recall the Dead Man's Curve with the Crosses and in fact was present for one vehicle accident along the cobblestone tank trail that did result in a Soldier's death.

Here are a few photos: Kruzburg Mug, typical Wlid-Chicken snow and Troop convoy to the WTA training area.

Response by SGT John Panzini made Apr 30 at 2015 7:43 PM

2015-04-30T19:43:39-04:00

Yes- went to Wildflecken twice and Graf twice with 3/63 AR BN, 3rd ID, 1986-1989. Feels like forever.

Response by SFC Douglas Davis made Apr 30 at 2015 8:37 PM

2015-04-30T20:37:40-04:00

I went to Wildflecken with 2 11 cab in 81 and a whole bunch of times after that. Was Battalion Commo Chief of 54th Engineer Bn stationed at Wildflecken from 90 until 93 when we shut the unit down.

Response by SGT Robert Pacheco made Apr 30 at 2015 11:02 PM

2015-04-30T23:02:25-04:00

I went to Wildflecken twice for mortar ARTEPS in 1984 and 85. Also went to the monastery there and had some great beer.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 1 at 2015 12:05 AM

2015-05-01T00:05:29-04:00

LTC Stephen F., I became an 11C (Indirect fire infantryman-mortars) while at AIT at Fort Jackson, SC from JAN70 to MAR70. I then went to the Weapons NCO Supervisor Candidate Special Forces Course at Fort Bragg, NC late MAY70 through AUG70. The last half of the SF course was all heavy weapons, with tremendous emphasis on the M30, 4.2" mortar during the week long FTX at the end of heavy the weapons portion of the course. Photo is of me hanging a round at the actual SF heavy weapons FTX at Fort Bragg in JUL-AUG70! COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. SGM Gregory Tarancon IV CPT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SSG Kenneth Lanning made May 1 at 2015 9:45 AM

2015-05-01T09:45:30-04:00

Mortar, no...artillery, yes.

Response by SSG Everett Wilson made May 1 at 2015 3:21 PM

2015-05-01T15:21:42-04:00

was with 2/87 we went a couple of times, most of the time we just sent our weapons (4th) platoon there or we would do the evals in graf. my first experience with dead man's curve was in the maintenance truck. the hydrovac went out to the m35a2, the motor sgt and I rolled down the hill, he wouldn't tell me why the crosses were there until we got at the bottom of the hill.

Response by SPC Edwin Lewis made May 8 at 2015 3:19 AM

2015-05-08T03:19:20-04:00

I was stationed at Baumholder from 93-95 and we rotated from Hoenfelds to Grafenver. I have no idea what they do now.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 8 at 2015 9:10 PM

2015-05-08T21:10:00-04:00

LTC Stephen F., I thought I had posted these photos on another discussion thread, but I could not find it. So here they are on this thread, if that's OK with you. It may be interesting, in any event.
When we made our trips to the FRG to support the various NATO exercises, we were attached to VII U.S. Corps at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart. During our numerous trips there, we became good friends with a lieutenant colonel, who was in the USAR program in the FRG which was very impressive. He met and married a baroness, more specifically a freiherran. My last trip over I took my wife and so with one other couple we spent a few days with them in their castle in the village of Thüngen, which is about 25 km NW of Wurzburg.
Here's an aerial photograph of Schloss der Freiherren von Thüngen, home of LTC James L., Freiherr (Baron) von Thüngen. The castle was protected by a hillside to the rear (left) and a dry moat to the front (right). According to Jim, records showed that the rectangular block building to the right of the castle dates back to the time of Charlemagne (742-814 A.D.)!
The second photo is a detail of the castle and the third photo is a detail of the "Charlemagne" building. What looks like a bay window is really an early version of indoor plumbing! The color photos were from JUL85. COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. CPT Private RallyPoint Member PO3 Phyllis Maynard SGT Robert Pryor SPC Woody Bullard

Here’s the FRG tag I mentioned, SFC William Farrell.

My travels don’t compare to yours SGT Mark Anderson, but I thought this little story might interest you.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel, your shared link about "How Germans remember World Wars" put me in mind of this little tale from my trips to the FRG. Thought you might be interested.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Mar 25 at 2016 9:34 PM

2016-03-25T21:34:08-04:00

No, never had the chance, but did some at Gowen Field, Idaho.

Response by SPC Robert Keesee made Jan 17 at 2018 9:15 PM

2018-01-17T21:15:44-05:00

I been there many time !
I was a 11C also 1/54 Inf BN Bamberg Germany

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jun 22 at 2018 1:57 PM

2018-06-22T13:57:40-04:00

I have been to Chicken Flicken with the German Army Unit I was attached to, but didn't have mortars. Sorry.

Response by SFC Thomas Lomax made Dec 25 at 2019 1:24 PM

2019-12-25T13:24:59-05:00

Remember the CHICKEN!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 28 at 2021 2:40 PM

2021-12-28T14:40:04-05:00

This reminds me of the LTC who shot a M113 from an Apache during Desert Storm. The IR image showed the silhouette of what looked like a M113.

When I told the tank gunner of a target, the gunner would say “identified” which means that is an enemy target.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Dec 29 at 2021 7:02 AM

2021-12-29T07:02:48-05:00

I was on an escort mission for a couple of officers with another NCO when the wall came down, we stopped there overnight. They put me and the other NCO in this big room with two bedrooms and very old-style furniture. I do not remember well but I think it was the Officers overnight or vacation quarters really nice digs. We could not be far from our principle, and he did not want us in his room. Neither did the other officers. It was a great time I went in East Germany and Berlin we only wore uniforms on US bases in west Germany and Berlin. Got to meet and talk to Russian soldiers who were not able to go home. Because they had no transportation or something. So, they were sleeping in tents on the side of the Highways waiting to go home. While the officers were doing their thing were ever, we took them. I was left to my own devices for a lot of time. I would explore places most Americans had never seen. And east and west Germany was like walking from a bright sunny day into a dark cloudy one.

Response by MAJ Bob Miyagishima made Mar 20 at 2022 10:13 PM

2022-03-20T22:13:00-04:00

I was stationed in Wildflecken B 1/1 ADA from 1978 to 1980 then transferred to Wurtzberg until may 1981.