Where were you when the Berlin wall fell?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:24:09 -0400

It's been 25 years since the Berlin wall fell. Time sure flies! I will never forget where I was on the evening of November 9, 1989. I was a  young PFC stationed at FT. Drum and getting ready for the long four day weekend. I stopped in at my friend's room in the barracks when he had CNN on. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing on TV. People from both sides- East and West, Communists and Capitalists- all together as one partying it up on the Wall, where months earlier, a man was killed trying to escape from East Berlin.<br><.br>Where were you when the Berlin Wall fell? Are there any RP members who were stationed in West Berlin at the time? I'd like to hear all of your stories.<br>

Response by SFC James Baber made Mar 28 at 2014 10:26 AM

SFC James Baber — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:26:26 -0400

Prepping for what was forthcoming in Panama at the time, we were on lockdown waiting for the call, so my 4-day pretty much went out the window at the time.

We sat around for a few weeks waiting on that call, it was frustrating not knowing when and how it would come though, but I still enjoyed the camaraderie that was part of 82nd at the time.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 28 at 2014 10:30 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:30:16 -0400

I was a young CPL at Ft. Carson and remember watching in awe as it occurred, having been in for 2 years and this being the Cold War at the time, it was thrilling to watch as history unfolded!

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 28 at 2014 10:39 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:39:04 -0400

I was stationed in Aschaffenburg GE. Germany was one MASSIVE party! I had been to East Berlin a year earlier....So I actually got to go through Checkpoint Charlie (and Alpha and Bravo).

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 10:40 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:40:32 -0400

Pretty sure I was in the 4th grade!! Bet ya'll feel old now! LOL

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Mar 28 at 2014 1:11 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:11:32 -0400

Was sitting in the day room watching them on the news take sledge hammers to it!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 1:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:33:43 -0400

I was 12 years old....I don't remember a thing

Response by SPC David Wyckoff made Mar 28 at 2014 2:59 PM

SPC David Wyckoff — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:59:06 -0400

Fort Belvoir. AIT. Power Generation school. Watched it in the day room.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Mar 28 at 2014 3:05 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:05:27 -0400

Where were you when the Berlin Wall fell?

I had only been out of the National Guard for about a year so I was back in Missouri packing to move to Florida to help my parents take care of my grandfather in Florida. I was 27 at the time.

RallyPoint | Where were you when the Berlin Wall fell?

I will never forget where I was on the evening of November 9, 1989. I was a  young PFC stationed at FT. Drum and getting ready for the long four day weekend. I stopped in at my friend's room in t...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 4:07 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 16:07:48 -0400

I was in Friedberg Germany. Got to watch it fall.

Response by MSG Jose Colon made Mar 28 at 2014 9:53 PM

MSG Jose Colon — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 21:53:40 -0400

I was assigned to 4/8th Infantry, Coleman Barracks, and we were doing an FTX in Hoenfells.

Remembering that which happened long ago, and we had the privilege of being a part of, reminds us why we did it, and why it was worthy.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 10:40 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:40:25 -0400

I was actually there in 1989 when the wall came down. I was 7 years old And my father was stationed in Frankfurt and took us to the site. We got to chisel pieces of the rock from the wall. I still have them even though they are mostly crumbled. We PCSd to VA a year later and my third grade teacher was talking about the wall one day, I raised my hand to tell her I was there when it came down and she of course didn't believe me. I came back the next day with the pieces of rock and a plethora of pics to her shocking disbelief, but she apologised to me infront of the class. I will never forget that experience.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Mar 28 at 2014 10:49 PM

MSG Gene Potocki — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:49:58 -0400

I was in 3rd Ranger Battalion conducting Joint Readiness Training in prep for the invasion of Panama.

Response by LT Jessica Kellogg made Mar 29 at 2014 8:24 AM

LT Jessica Kellogg — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 08:24:50 -0400

I was about 6 months old. I do not remember it...

That being said, it is a period of history I find interesting.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Mar 29 at 2014 4:21 PM

TSgt Kevin Buccola — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 16:21:55 -0400

TDY - Howard AFB, Panama - getting ready for Operation "Just Cause!"

Response by Maj Emmett Conrecode made Mar 29 at 2014 5:58 PM

Maj Emmett Conrecode — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 17:58:43 -0400

I was in NY when the news broke, I jumped on a TWA flight that night and was pounding on the wall the next day. Walked around East Berlin chatted up some folks at a bar used the restroom and found out first "hand" why communist TP was so bad ;-)

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2014 9:48 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 21:48:25 -0400

In Berlin - CSC 6/502d - we set up sup kitchens for all the easties that were afraid the wall would go back up. Very humbling to hear their stories.

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Mar 30 at 2014 6:19 PM

SGT Thomas Lucken — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 18:19:48 -0400

I was at Camp Garry Owen, Korea at the time!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 30 at 2014 11:11 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 23:11:09 -0400

COMSPAWARSYSCOM, I was 6211 Div O/Div Chief/LPO (We were small what can I say) CNO WWMCCS Tech Control Boss and Master at Arms to the Chief of Staff. I was working on something called Milnet/Arpanet, We call it the Internet or Worldwide Web Now.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Mar 31 at 2014 9:16 AM

CSM Michael Poll — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:16:18 -0400

I was in AIT Fort McClellan, AL

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Mar 31 at 2014 7:49 PM

SGT Thomas Lucken — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:49:07 -0400

At 51 years of age, you all make me feel OLD!!!!!!!! :-) :-)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 11:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 23:44:47 -0400

I was about 2 months into plotting my great escape.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Apr 1 at 2014 9:20 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 09:20:50 -0400

This Scholarship Cadet was in his Senior year, and just about to find out that "peace dividend" translated to "We're full up! Get a job!"

Response by SFC Rich Carey made Apr 2 at 2014 8:25 AM

SFC Rich Carey — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 08:25:48 -0400

I was stationed in Hannau Germany. My unit was deployed in the Fulda Gap, just in case.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2014 8:35 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 08:35:11 -0400

We were in Heidelberg, Germany. My mom woke me up so that I could watch what was going on with them. The next day, we packed up the car and drove to Berlin to meet with some family friends and spent the next week in Berlin watching and experiencing the historical event. I will never forget it.

Response by SP5 David Cox made Apr 8 at 2014 8:28 PM

SP5 David Cox — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:28:45 -0400

I was in Berlin, at the Field Station (FSB) - went down to one of the crossing points and stood with the crowd for a while. The emotions were intense! West Berliners seemed to have grabbed anything they could and were handing it out to the Ossies (Easterners) - chocolate, flowers, beer, hugs if nothing else. I was also there at the Brandenburg Gate when they dismantled that section of the Wall, and at first, the official position was that the Wall was property of the East German government. We weren't supposed to get too near it, because the Wall was usually about 10 feet within the East Berlin/German border and we could only cross to the East under certain conditions. Everyone was there with a hammer and chisel in hand, chipping pieces off the Wall. The West Berlin police tried to stop them - destruction of government property - but they couldn't. The police would walk patrols, and everybody within about 20 feet of them would stop chipping and sort of hide the hammer and chisel. If you didn't, they would confiscate your hammer and chisel - a nearby police van had a stack of hammers and chisels halfway to the ceiling. As they walked their patrol, you could hear as they approached, because the chipping noise would die off as they neared, and then start up again after they passed. They called these people "Wall woodpeckers".

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Apr 11 at 2014 7:42 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:42:38 -0400

I was there when they put it up - does that count? I lived there for several years because my father flew for Pan Am. One day as a young teen I was bored and ventured over to the Wall, which was virtually almost always deserted and considered to be the end of the world. I found a spot where the VOPO's couldn't see me, then took out a screwdriver and started chipping away to get a souvenir piece of the wall. The East Germans went ballistic and were screaming when they heard the chiseling, and called the West Berlin Police who came flying up with lights and siren on. I chose to not remember my German in that moment and when he started yelling what am I doing, I replied in English I was taking a souvenir, and that if everyone did that there wouldn't be a wall. He roared with laughter, clapped me on the back, and told me to scoot so he could make up a story for the commies.

I was also on the AYA football team, and we took the duty train on Friday night to Frankfurt which would arrive in the morning. At the border crossing, the Commies would get on the train to inspect and look very nasty. Then their officers would leave them on the tracks next to the train, and we would all trade Marlboros and lighters for parts of their uniforms. Beat the heck out of the Yellow Hornet school buses to the next town - we wouldn't get back home until Monday morning!

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Apr 11 at 2014 9:36 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 21:36:02 -0400

A friend of mine, much later on, was a Col Yaggi who was adjutant when the Soviets and US faced off barrel to barrel with the tanks. His CG was going over all the alternatives, and Al said go for it-either you win the war or you go down fighting-either way you have a place in history.

Fortunately, the CG ignored his wit and wisdom.

A number of years later after the Wall came down I was in Berlin for a class reunion, and we went through the Brandenburg Gate as a celebratory walk. There were a bunch of Russian soldiers selling bits and pieces of their uniforms, which I found wonderfully ironic after all the crap the Russians put us through when the Wall was up. While I was enjoying the sight, the German Police pulled over a bicycle rider to give him a ticket for something. Go figure.

A couple of interesting stories-when the East put up their fancy television tower with lots of glass plates, the sign of the cross reflected off the glass when the sun was out, and nothing they did could prevent it.

There was the story of when the East Germans first put up the Wall, the Berlin press laughed at the East Germans because the Victory Chariot was facing the East Germans in a show of victory by the West over the East. As the story went, the East Germans turned the chariot around, whereupon the press then laughed and said now the East Germans get to look at the horses' ass.

Finally, did any of you work with the observation units that used to drive all through East Germany throughout the Cold War?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2014 8:12 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 08:12:52 -0400

I was a 20 year old girl waiting tables - but, I managed to finagle a plane ticket and flew over there by Thanksgiving. I stayed for about 6 weeks and just wandered around. I went through Checkpoint Charlie (took two hours) and meandered through East Berlin. The big difference that stuck out to me was color. West Berlin had COLOR EVERYWHERE - East Berlin was gray. Different shades of gray - roads, buildings, signs, even everyone's coats - shades of gray. I loved watching the faces of the EB'ers when they came across to West Berlin for the first time. The shock on their faces - I swear it was the colors.

Also spent that New Years Eve at Brandenburg Gate - PEOPLE WERE ON TOP OF IT!!!!

Response by SGT Gene Lineburg made Apr 12 at 2014 4:55 PM

SGT Gene Lineburg — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 16:55:57 -0400

I was in Wurzburg, W. Germany on a night on the town. I was 19 at the time. I do remember when the East Germans would come to the clubs and stand and stare. Life must not be that exciting in the east!

Response by SGT Gene Lineburg made Apr 12 at 2014 5:05 PM

SGT Gene Lineburg — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 17:05:08 -0400

I was in Wurzburg, Germany having a night on the town, I was 19 at the time. It was odd to see the East Germans when they came to the clubs stand and stare. Life must be dull in the east!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2014 12:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 12:44:36 -0400

These are all great stories. A lot of different perspectives on how the RP members witnessed a historical event like this.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2014 11:24 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 11:24:27 -0400

These are all amazing stories! Thanks for sharing and let's keep on sharing!

Response by SSG Marvin Vick made Apr 23 at 2014 8:17 PM

SSG Marvin Vick — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 20:17:31 -0400

I was in still in Germany when it fell....I actually got a chance to go into east Germany when east Germany was east Germany...on the opposite side of the wall on the east side they had a huge painting on what they pictured the west side looking...so sad...the huge painting on the wall showed the west as the sun shining on a beautiful day on a perfectly blue sky.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 23 at 2014 11:21 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 23:21:00 -0400

I was in Jr. High.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2014 8:20 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 08:20:20 -0400

At the time I was stationed at Ft Bragg but was involved with a local Civil Air Patrol unit. I was at a hotel in Raliah, N.C. for some CAP function when it happened and an Air Force officer friend of mine were watching it happen on TV and he looked at me and stated "You know this is the end of the military as we now know it." Looking back, his words were all so prophetic in what was to come and is still happening.

Response by SGT Jay Maples made Apr 30 at 2014 2:58 PM

SGT Jay Maples — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 14:58:12 -0400

I was stationed in Nuernberg Germany just prior to my ETS. It was one of the most exciting times I can remember.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Apr 30 at 2014 3:05 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 15:05:13 -0400

Middle school

Response by SSG Mark Ives made May 2 at 2014 1:20 PM

SSG Mark Ives — Fri, 02 May 2014 13:20:45 -0400

I was in Berlin. It was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had! 'Guardian of Berlin's Freedom' 1989 - 1991

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made May 23 at 2014 9:03 AM

SGT Craig Northacker — Fri, 23 May 2014 09:03:16 -0400

Long Island, NY - where were you when it went up? I walked through the Brandenburg Gate in December, 1960, and not again until 1994. I remember breaking stink bombs by the Russian soldiers as an act of civil defiance as only a 7 year old could come up with. We lived in Frankfurt at the time because my father flew for Pan Am in DC-4's and DC-6's, and the Russians would buzz the airliners with their Migs in the early days.

Response by Sgt Randy Hill made May 23 at 2014 9:26 AM

Sgt Randy Hill — Fri, 23 May 2014 09:26:06 -0400

At Norton AFB Ca. I had just pcs'd back from Turkey and out of united states air forces Europe. We helped the Russian military with humanitarian aid after the Armenian earthquake.Wow that retrospect gives perfect perspective on the waning days of the cold war.

Response by MSG Mitch Dowler made May 23 at 2014 12:01 PM

MSG Mitch Dowler — Fri, 23 May 2014 12:01:40 -0400

I had only been back in the states from my assignment in Nurnberg for a couple of months when it happened. President Reagan's Star Wars program, spending to build new weapons systems, and standing up to the USSR did the trick to topple the USSR already suffering from the economic affects of communism. The sad thing is today we have broken our promises to extend the missile defense system to Poland and not given the support needed to former Soviet block nations. We have removed our tanks from western Europe back to the states when we should have been setting up agreements and moving them to eastern Europe. During the last six years we have aided Russia in it's efforts to reconstruct the USSR and now that process is well on it's way.

Response by MSG Michael Jackson made May 23 at 2014 7:51 PM

MSG Michael Jackson — Fri, 23 May 2014 19:51:02 -0400

No, I left Berlin Brigade in 1986. At the time I was there we were still doing wall patrol and keeping the corridor between the East and West active by traveling in convoys on occasion.

Response by 1SG Jeffrey Bergeron made Jun 13 at 2014 1:58 PM

1SG Jeffrey Bergeron — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:58:53 -0400

I was in stationed in Kitzigen, GA, It was a big party. I was a PFC in D Co 10th EN, Battalion, 3ID. I didn't get to go to Berlin to see it first hand however it was cool. The division recieved a section of the wall shortly after that I remember seeing it a ceremony in Wurtburg, GA in 1990 can't remember which months.

Response by SFC Rich Carey made Jun 13 at 2014 2:03 PM

SFC Rich Carey — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 14:03:51 -0400

In Germany, in the field (MLRS), guarding the Fulda Gap

Response by Cpl Robert Clark made Jun 13 at 2014 3:37 PM

Cpl Robert Clark — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 15:37:36 -0400

I was somewhere in the Pacific Ocean on the USS Bristol County, WestPac '89, 11thMEU/SOC.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 16 at 2014 1:38 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 13:38:46 -0400

Elementary school I believe...

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 16 at 2014 3:40 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 15:40:20 -0400

I was a senior in HS. A buddy of mine took his graduation vacation to Germany and got me a piece of the Wall before they stopped letting people take them.

Response by MSG(P) Michael Warrick made Jun 18 at 2014 1:05 AM

MSG(P) Michael Warrick — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 01:05:51 -0400

I was stationed in Viliseck, Germany when the wall came down. In fact, I was one of the last hundred Americans to go through Checkpoint Charlie prior to the Germany coming back together as one country!

Response by MSgt Terrell Gamble made Jul 15 at 2014 3:00 PM

MSgt Terrell Gamble — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:00:16 -0400

I was stationed at Andersen AFB Guam. I remember I was so excited and my ex just didn't seem to get how historically significant it was. And from an AF side things started to change. No more SAC, nor more Alert. And big cuts in funding and manpower.

Response by MSG Michael Jackson made Jul 16 at 2014 11:58 AM

MSG Michael Jackson — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:58:08 -0400

Unfortunately I had PCSed from Berlin Brigade when the wall fell. There's a lot of good memories of doing wall patrols, exploring the city, and meeting good people when I was there. This was a hidden secret of a duty assignment that many soldiers and airmen missed out on.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2014 8:12 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 20:12:46 -0400

In Berlin at McNair.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2014 10:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 22:33:42 -0400

Probably home getting ready for bed....I was 7. Though I do remember seeing videos of it around that time. But I can tell you exactly where I was during Challenger and OJ.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 4 at 2014 11:23 PM

SGT Richard H. — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 23:23:43 -0400

Bamberg, Germany. It came down like a month after my one & only trip to Berlin. Just another in a string of "right place, wrong time"

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2014 10:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 22:35:57 -0400

My dad was a Nuclear Specialist stationed in Germany at the time, so my mom and I were with him. We actually had a piece of the wall that his buddies pulled down with a pickup truck :)

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Aug 8 at 2014 2:13 AM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 02:13:04 -0400

I was in my college dorm room when my neighbor (a "military brat" whose dad had been stationed in Cold-War era West Germany) ran around pounding on everyone's doors shouting, "It's coming down! The wall is coming down!!!"

Response by SGT Randall Guillory made Oct 30 at 2014 10:18 AM

SGT Randall Guillory — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:18:24 -0400

Next weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Wall. We were out on our 4 week annual picnic in the Grunewald at the time freezing and running from goonie pigs. Heard the news on AFN radio then the orders came to pack it in and head back to McNair. If you have ever been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, that's what it was like for about 2 weeks. Swift Strike!

Response by SSG Eli Brown made Oct 30 at 2014 10:44 AM

SSG Eli Brown — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:44:08 -0400

I was in elementary school. However, my dad was stationed in Berlin during the 70's. He stole a sign off it when he was leaving. Always thought it was the coolest thing. I remember though sitting in class, the teacher had turned on a tv and we were watching it all go down on the news. Even at that age I knew something big was happening.

Response by SGT Robert R. made Oct 30 at 2014 1:52 PM

SGT Robert R. — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 13:52:14 -0400

I was on orders to Berlin from Ft Devens, MA, but first I had to go to Ft. Goodfellow for a few months. I landed the following June, just in time to see Roger Waters, Wall concert. Those dang Gruenie pigs...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 1:46 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 13:46:23 -0500

I can't believe that it's been 25 years ago that the Berlin wall fell.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 4 at 2015 2:32 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:32:05 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, I'd like to say I was there like so many were, but I was not. I was in New Orleans, LA and assigned to the 377th TAACOM (now TSC), USAR.

Response by Sgt Jennifer Mohler made Jan 5 at 2015 8:08 AM

Sgt Jennifer Mohler — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 08:08:35 -0500

Time time to make some people feel old ;) I was two Years old and I remember sitting on the living room floor watching the news with my mom. She explained that the boundaries to countries weren't actually perminant and sometime people don't like them, so they change. She took me to our globe and showed me the boundry between the U.S. And Canada and explained that it wasn't always like that. She told me if I went there, there would not be a line on he ground and the ground would look the same no matter where people say the boundry was. I can also remember talking about the fall of the Soviet Union, and then why Regan was no longer president and how we hold elections so no one is in office too long and they Bush was then the president.

Response by SSG Mark Ives made May 31 at 2015 9:53 PM

SSG Mark Ives — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:53:01 -0400

Berlin 1989

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2015 9:59 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:59:10 -0400

Hanover, PA.

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 31 at 2015 10:02 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sun, 31 May 2015 22:02:25 -0400

I was in Bamberg, Germany....who else remembers the sudden onslaught of those crappy east German cars (Trebant, I think?). they smelled like a fart when you drove behind one.

Response by SPC Ingo W Schiller made Jun 4 at 2015 6:12 PM

SPC Ingo W Schiller — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:12:16 -0400

I was working in the US not Militaery Service !

Response by SPC Ingo W Schiller made Jun 4 at 2015 6:14 PM

SPC Ingo W Schiller — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:14:26 -0400

I was in Germany with the 11th Cav long before the Berlin fell !

Response by SSG Paul Setterholm made Jun 11 at 2015 1:12 PM

SSG Paul Setterholm — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 13:12:46 -0400

I watched on hotel tv room while on vacation. '88 I was in Berlin for combat in cities training. Ironically. On our last day they threw cs on us so we were in mopp 4. Afterwards we were sitting on an ice berm and the East Germans were watching from a tower and guys were angry. I "jokingly " said we should "moon" them. Next thing I know everyone jumped up and dropped "trou"

Response by SPC Charles Batchelor made Apr 30 at 2017 6:12 PM

SPC Charles Batchelor — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 18:12:56 -0400

In Berlin with C Co, 6th BN, 502nd INF.

Response by SPC Deon Holmes made Mar 2 at 2018 9:28 AM

SPC Deon Holmes — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 09:28:02 -0500

I was really really there that day, and all night. I was off duty just hanging around the barracks when AFN broke in with a feed from CNN international. I was stationed in the now disbanded Berlin brigade, Meddac. As I watched the news, word spread like wildfire around the hospital. And then it hit me, WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING STANDING HERE? I GOTTA GET DOWN THERE! Myself and a few others got dressed, grabbed cameras, and headed out before any official orders came down from headquarters to stay away. Glad we got out, because that did happen. Everything was on lockdown. But I had no worries since it was very normal for guys to be gone from the barracks (medical unit) for days without being seen. I wish there were digital cameras back then, I got a few decent pictures but by the time we got to the Brandenburg Gate / Reichstag area, the sun was setting. But we stayed all night and into the early morning hours. I got on top of the wall (in this area there was a wide platform on top about 12 feet wide. So many people were up there taking pictures, helping East Germany up and over. I did that a few times. I've always wondered what thought was going through the mind of the East german when they saw me reaching out to them. It's must have been something since some of them have never come in contact with anyone outside their nationality. Anyway to make a long story short, when I did get back to the Meddac I was asked where I have been since everything was on lock down. I just said I was gone before the command was given out (which was true) and that I was shacked up with a german girl and didn't know. A particular Master Sgt. tried to burn me, but there wasn't anything he could do since I did nothing wrong. While out there I did manage to trade my BDU cap to a Russian soldier for his Ushanka hat and some other trading went on. That day really had an effect on the rest of the worlds history. November 9, 1989!

Response by LTC John Griscom made Aug 18 at 2018 7:57 AM

LTC John Griscom — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 07:57:26 -0400

Third Army HQ at Fort McPherson, GA.
Saw my first performance of "The Nutcracker" at the Stadt Opera in East Berlin in 1978. The communists liked to show East Berlin as a great city, but it was lacking a lot of things. East German Marks were trading 8 to 1 on the black market, stores had many empty shelves. Only four gas stations in the city; streets were dark at night.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 7 at 2019 7:05 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 19:05:19 -0400

I was in Fulda, West Germany!