Posted on Aug 24, 2017
Where can I find records of a specific Army Cold War accident in Germany 1974?
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The incident happened near Inzendorf, Germany, July 25, 1974. A fully combat loaded M551 Sheridan caught fire and exploded. I saved the life of a SSG who was on fire just prior to the explosion and was later recommended for the Soldier's Medal by my platoon leader, then 1LT Andrew Stilley, based on my statement of the incident.
Cold War
Germany
Awards
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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Wow, they have already located the accident in the database and are requesting the report from the records custodian. She said it should be late September for it to arrive.
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!!!!
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!!!!
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LTC Jason Mackay
PFC David Gettman - I'd have the award recommender send a letter to this office referencing the FOIA request wasking for unredacted copies for the purposes of award recommendation before those involved have all passed. Especially if you can nail down a statement or a passage in particular.
Do the reports you have, show someone witnessed your act? these statements were sworn under penalty of law at the time. That may be sufficient in and of itself.
Do the reports you have, show someone witnessed your act? these statements were sworn under penalty of law at the time. That may be sufficient in and of itself.
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PFC David Gettman
LTC Jason Mackay - The E-6 I saved passed away in 2002. My platoon leader who recommended me hasn't answered my e-mails in 18 years and I fear he has passed also. The only contact info I had for him was an e-mail address. I later found his name (Andrew Stilley) in connection with Ft. Hood but he was no longer there.
No other witnesses, but I was told shortly after the incident that the temporary TC (E-5) on my vehicle filed a statement directly contradicting mine, saying he attempted to activate the burning vehicles fire suppression system prior to the explosion and nobody else was around. This was just a few days prior to borrowing my 35mm camera and leather jacket, then PCS'd with them. Liar/thief. He is the maggot on the lower bunk, Sgt. Parmenter.
No other witnesses, but I was told shortly after the incident that the temporary TC (E-5) on my vehicle filed a statement directly contradicting mine, saying he attempted to activate the burning vehicles fire suppression system prior to the explosion and nobody else was around. This was just a few days prior to borrowing my 35mm camera and leather jacket, then PCS'd with them. Liar/thief. He is the maggot on the lower bunk, Sgt. Parmenter.
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The incident happened near Inzendorf, Germany, July 25, 1974. A fully combat loaded M551 Sheridan caught fire and exploded. I saved the life of a SSG who was on fire just prior to the explosion and was later recommended for the Soldier's Medal by my platoon leader, then 1LT Andrew Stilley, based on my statement of the incident.
The SSG was flown from the scene and I never heard anything more about him, figured he had died from his injuries. Then about 1999, retired LTC Stilley contacted me. Andy told me that SSG Brow had been flown to a burn center in Texas, and had survived his burns. Said he was living someplace in Corpus Christi but he couldn't find him. Also Told me the reason the Soldier's Medal had been denied was for lack of witnesses.
I just blundered into the family of SSG Brow on Facebook. Unfortunately he suffered a stroke in the early 1990's and passed away in 2002. But he had another 28 years with his family. His wife vaguely remembered my name when her son mentioned it to her the other day, but she vividly remembers about the poncho I used to extinguish her husband. It was in my original statement from that day about the poncho and I'm hoping if those records still exist, her testimony might be enough to corroborate my statement and finally get the medal. I'm getting old and I want something to leave my grandson.
The SSG was flown from the scene and I never heard anything more about him, figured he had died from his injuries. Then about 1999, retired LTC Stilley contacted me. Andy told me that SSG Brow had been flown to a burn center in Texas, and had survived his burns. Said he was living someplace in Corpus Christi but he couldn't find him. Also Told me the reason the Soldier's Medal had been denied was for lack of witnesses.
I just blundered into the family of SSG Brow on Facebook. Unfortunately he suffered a stroke in the early 1990's and passed away in 2002. But he had another 28 years with his family. His wife vaguely remembered my name when her son mentioned it to her the other day, but she vividly remembers about the poncho I used to extinguish her husband. It was in my original statement from that day about the poncho and I'm hoping if those records still exist, her testimony might be enough to corroborate my statement and finally get the medal. I'm getting old and I want something to leave my grandson.
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LCpl Shane Couch
I hope you get whats due. But if by some chance it fails to happen, your grandson will still have the memory of your story, the photos and any other "memorabilia" from the incident. Again, I hope you get the recognition you deserve.
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I recommend filing a FOIA request with the DoD. The records involving the incident should have been filed and are most likely located at a NARA facility. Depending on how much information you're requesting the price of information can vary, but it will probably cost $30-60
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PFC David Gettman
Thanks Tony, I just filed two FOIA requests with DoD, one with DoA and one with DISA. The wait begins.
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PFC David Gettman
MAJ Tom Hutton - Yes sir, I received two records from DoA USA Combat Readiness Center, Ft Rucker, but they were very difficult to read and censored for all names.
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