NIKE AJAX AND HERCULES ORDNANCE SUPPORT UNIT CURRENT GUEST LOG
Air Defense Artillery
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Good afternoon, In 1979 I served as a Belgian Air Force Reserve Officer in the 9th Air Defence Wing, 55th Squadron at Kapellen- Grevenbroich Germany. During that period I closely worked together with a US Army Detachement. Could you pleas tell me what the name of the USA unit was? The Company HQ was in Grefrath together with the 9th Wing HQ.
I was stationed at the Battery from August 1963 to April 1965. I was a radar operator and have many memories of those I served with. Please contact me if you would like to share any thoughts or images from that time.
"A" battery 4/44th then changed to 2/44th while I was there 7/71 to 8/72 mos 16B10. I can remember hilltop bar, & sargent Finner everything else up in smoke!
Not a Nike Vet just a big fan of the system. I am working with a group to clean up and restore as much as possible at C-94 Bravo Battery D magazine. Any input would be helpful. Thanks.
I was with the 200th Ordnance Nike Hercules Direct Support unit in Homestead, FL and my story is already on this link. This is just a note to update my new Email address as of 3 Dec 2011.
Drafted May 1968. Sent to Nyack, New York in August. Worked as a switchboard operator and gate guard at HQ till December 1968. Sent to Painesville, Ohio. Served as Company Clerk from December 1968 to May, 1970. Went out an E5. I found a couple of guys from A Btry, 3rd of the 65th Arty on this site. Wish I could find more. Looking for Sgt. John Mulkay. Motor pool. Went to Germany in 1970 and lost him. Big guy with a Boston accent. Also would like to find Miller my replacement as clerk. GREAT SITE Glad we never had to use those weapons we had.
I was stationed at the 43rd Artillery Team D in Blankenheim Germany from March 1965 - Jan 1967 as a 22F20 or Nike Hercules Electronic maintenance specialist. I would like to hear from any one who served around that time.
I trained as a 16B and was sent to Germany to be at one of the units of the 52nd USAAD. I was kept at batellion headquarters and worked in the S3 of the 557th Arty Group as operations assistant in Herbornseelbach, Germany 1967-1968
I was a 16C at HHB 17th Arty, Hampton Roads, Virginia in 1969-1970, and at B-5-6 in Germany in 1971-1972. I would like to correspond with anyone that was in those units when I was there.
I was ast 3rd battalion 71st ADA Phorzhiem, Geramany. Please put this battery on the list thank you.
Webmaster's Note: This website is for Ordnance Support units, not Air Defense Batteries. The Ordnance Direct Support Platoon for 3/71 ADA is listed on the website.
Served as an MP with A Battery 2nd of the 1st ADA McCllean Bks? Wackerheim from 75-76....24hours on 24 hours off...... it was the best of times.... it was the worst of times..... meet A LOT of great people, and a few a-holes.......
Date: 6/26/2011
Name: Jerry Winters (from Massachusetts)
E-Mail: 222glenwood@gmail.com
I was in the 165th MP Co Commo section from 1986-1989 in Fischbach, Germany. And to the Web master. Nice Job!!!!
Anyone remember the Bus rides from HAFB to and from Red Canyon? I was one of the bus drivers, made many trips to and from Ft Bliss, HAFB, and Red canyon. The year was 1956.
I enlisted in the Army in Sep. 1962. Did basic training in Ft. Dix, N.J. and was sent to A-1-56 in La Habra in Jan. 1963. Spent about a year and one-half there and was sent to C-4-65 at the beginning of 1964. I was the Battery clerk until my REFRAD in September 1965.
Man what a great find this was, so many memories flood my mind from the 8 hour lectures I got, to hitting my knees on the console, because I dosed off and my test lead touched the wrong test point. And dont act like you didn't DO IT. Looking back to my training as a 22L10 it brings joy. I can truly say I have met some wonderful people. I did my training at RSA better know as Fort Rest Home Alabama 10-01-81 thur 07-22-82. PCS to HHB 3/71st ADA working at Flak Kaserne DSU from 07-82 thur 06-84
I just read Larry McFalls comments about a recent Email I sent him. He was right about living and working with some of the finest people I have ever met. The memories of those days pop into my mind more frequently now that I am retired. Some of those memories have come about because I have been sorting through old photos of those days. As I continue sorting those pics I will try to share them with the visitors to this web site and maybe more memories will surface when they are viewed. There are other people we served with that deserve to participate in this site, but sadly contacting them is difficult for a variety of reasons. As I mentioned I am now retired and living in Oregon, with my wife of 45 years. We have been doing some traveling the last two years and enjoying life.
It is great that Doyle continues to provide us with a forum to communicate in regards to our old tyme field of endevour in the missile field. I thank him for that effort.
Lately I got an e-mail from a fellow missile mechanic in Okinawa [Machinato~Ordnance Group] that reminded me of some very interesting events. This was one that envolved Gene Oppliger taking one each bloody pulp of a Larry McFall to the barracks after a confrontation in Village of Yufoso. Once again, I thank him for that act of kindness and believe me, I needed it!.
With all said and done! we all had some pretty wild times in those days of our youth and I met, lived and depended on some of the finest folks I have ever know. Life is much different now and I don't believe that the young soldiers have the opportunity for the events as we had. That may be good however, what I see on Redstone Arsenal here in 2011 is not much interaction of soldiers. No clubs, no service centers, not much of anything.
Thank God I was born when I was and got the opportunities as I did. God bless all of you and keep your health up.
Larry Leroy McFall ~ a former 433.10 Nike Mechanical Repairman ~ Okinawa, Ft. Bliss, Korea, Redstone and destinations unknown!!!
I was in HHB 3/60th ADA in Graf from Aug 77 to Sept 79. I worked in the Motor Pool. I also was the Battery Commander driver when we went and did field training or evacuating the hill. SFC Randall was our Motor Pool Sgt. If anyone has any pics of our unit, I would love to see them.
My wife Carol and I enjoyed a four-day reunion of sorts in Orlando, Florida a couple of weeks ago with Jody and Janis Smith. They were our next-door neighbors in Hoppstaedten when Jody and I were there with HHB 5th Battalion 6th Artillery in 1970-1971. We lived at #9 am Flugplatz. Jody was a Spec5 in the Battalion Motor Pool and I was a Spec4 in the DSP. We have been friends for 40 years, and we still laugh about some of the things we experienced and the people we met back in our Army days.
I served with the 529th from 6/63 and was moved to the 583rd for the move up to Munster. I left in 1966 on the Buckner out of Bremerhaven. MOS 55G20 E4. We worked in caves with the 529th and were the last to work on the Corporal war heads. We also did work on the Nike at other bases we were sent to TDY. In Munster we were one of the only Americans in the British sector.
Looking for any info on my father, Albert P. Merson, who served in WWII with the 58th Ordnance in Guadalcanal. All of his military records were lost in the fire in St. Louis. Trying to track his unit for information. He passed away in 1964. Thank you to anyone who can lead me in the right direction.
I served in Team A- Thum and Team D- Blankenheim of the 43d US Army Artillery Detachment from April 1974 to April 1977. To Fred Pritikin- I never appreciated you enough as our commander until after you left. I will forever remember our trip to Paris. Thank you, Fred.
Served in the 4th Ord at Miesau Army Depot from Feb 69 through March 70. We were general support for Nike and Hawk systems. This was a very small base at the time. Almost able to draw isolation pay. Many good memories of the time my wife and I spent in Germany. Planning on going back in the next year or two and plan to go to Miesau. Would love to hear from others stationed in the 4th Ord at the time I was there.
Hello I would like to hear from anyone who served with me in Korea, 16th Ord Det during the years 1962 to 1964. Please send email. Thanks, Frank Scaglione
Being a young Sergeant in Jan 1980, I followed the 24U maintenance course in Fort Bliss, Texas together with a lot of US Army collegues. After this 6 months course I was stationed in Grefrath (Germany)in the 56 Sqd of the W Msl (Begian Air Force, see the link of Christian Van Hevele). 10 years later the Belgian Nike units were disolved. I still enjoy thinking about those wunderfull moments. With kind regards, JP
PS: This year I will retire from the BAF after a succesfull career as a NCO.
I was a missile crewman in the 333rd Arty at Fort Bliss Texas from 1966 to 1968. We moved to Macgregor Range sometime in the first year. I was then transferred back to Fort Bliss for Nuclear qualifications with the 508th Arty Det. From there to Rheine, Germany for a couple of months then to Schoeppingen for a month or two and then back to Rheine until march of 1969.
Date: 1/8/2011
Name: Dick "BRIS" Brisbois
E-Mail: bris55@aol.com
Hi, I was stationed with A-2-52 Ft Bliss 60-62 then to B-4-44 in Korea - Camp Holiday "sea range" 62-63. Would love to hear from any who were stationed with me.
MOS 433.1 October 1959 to December 1959 BCT Fort Ord CA. Launcher Mech Repair-Redstone Arsenal, December 1959 to March 1960 March 1960 to August 1960, Fort Bliss Texas August 1960 to August 1962 96th Ord Okinawa August 1962 ETS January 1964 reenlisted, Fort Ord February 1964 to August 1964 13th Ord Ft Bliss Texas August 1964 to December 1966 89th Ord Ft Shafter Hawaii December 1966 ETS
Great web site! I have seen some familiar names in the guest book. It is OK to contact me. I am also on facebook.
MOS 433.1 I just stumbled on this site by accident and am glad I found it. A little history about myself. I enlisted in 1959 and signed up for a cryptography school. Midway through BCT at Fort Ord CA I was informed that my clerical skills were not high enough to qualify for the school and that I was qualified for the Nike Mechanical school at Redstone Arsenal. I completed the course in February 1960 along with Henry Bryson and, I don't remember his first name but his last name was Foy. The three of us were then sent to Fort Bliss and were mixed in with a catchall unit which I do not remember the name of. Six months later all three of us were reassigned to 96th ORD on Okinawa
As I was cruising the guest book I recognized a few names from those days, Higgenbotham, McFall and Duggan. There are too many stories in my head to relate them here, but most were good and this web site prompted me to dig out my old photos of those times. Boy, am I glad I did not qualify for cryptography school.
After I was discharged in 1962 and bounced from job to job I decided to reenlist. After waiting for assignment orders for several weeks at Fort Ord I was again sent to Fort Bliss and the 13th ORD Co. I spent most of my time at Ft Bliss waiting for my security clearance to be reestablished and was sent to 89th ORD Fort Shafter Hawaii. An interesting sidebar is that I had a civilian uncle who was attached to the unit as a guidance unit tech. I also met my wife of 44yrs while assigned to the 89th. After my new wife made it very plain that she did like the Army I decided to get out in 1966-I really wanted to reenlist.
I would enjoy hearing from anyone who remembers me and would like to swap stories. Happy New Year! gopp41@hotmail.com
Served at two Nike Herc sites in Germany 1968-1970. First at A/1/67 near Darmstadt, They had no need of my MOS, so they had me work in motor pool and commo section for a few months. Later, I was sent to C/2/56 in the Salzwoog/Lemberg area by Pirmasens and worked the TTR. Have visited Rolf's Nike pages, Ed Thelen's website, an others. Lots of great pictures and great memories and also have contacted a couple of people who I found there. Also dug out some old pictures from my time at Charlie battery and will have them converted to digital and will upload sometime soon. I'd like to hear if you or anyone is recognized cuz I don't remember all the names, for sure!
Well here it is coming up on 2011 and many years have past since many of us old Nike/Missile gang got together. It is a shame that we didn't start some kind of social club to keep the days alive however, we all know that life must go on. I still see my old 433 buddy, Bob Higgenbotham and I see Bill Benson frequently who was a class mate of our old shop officer in Okinawa, Daniel Dugan. If nothing else, we entertain ourselves in talking about the old days.
I hope my pictures of Okinawa and Korea is still on board and that Doyle Piland is still healthy and keeping the site alive. Doyle has done a great job however, time does take it's toll and many don't remember much about the days when the missile field was new and dynamic. We were in demand in those days and now it is pretty much a memory.
I offer my thanks and gratitude to Doyle for his great effort and hope we can stay around a little longer to tell a few more stories about those days that put the name "Redstone" in our memory bank forever.
Larry Leroy McFall, MOS 433.10, one of the classes of 1959 ~ Ordnance Guided Missile School (OGMS), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Okinawa, McGregor Range, Redstone, Korea, West Germany.
I graduated from South Sr. High Akron, Ohio June, "79". Joined the Army Dec, "79" the delayed entry program from Annapolis, MD. 20 Feb 80 I was in the army 2nd battery 52nd battalion 2nd squad 2nd man. I really had some great times at Fort Bliss and McGregor Range also White Sands Missile Range. I went to 24Q school then to 16C. I was the computor operator then I went to work for HQ HQ battery as rhe Draftsman before I was shipped off to Germany Delta 3rd 71st. My good times out weighted all of the bad. It was a great journey serving in the army as an ADA Nike Hercules Missel mechanic and crew member.
4/251 ADA (LA Defense) and 1/251 ADA (SF Defense) had 3 day reunion in Laughlin, NV in October 2010. Had over 130 in attendance. Next reunion is October 2012.
I was stationed at A Team 43rd USAAD in Thum Germany from 08/85 to 08/88 as a 95B and am interested in contacts from anyone that was stationed there at the same time that would like to keep in contact.
I often think about the old days back in the 50s when many of us were young, freshly in the Ordnance Missile Field and had a lot of future to consider. It has been a long time since I have looked at the site and I hope all my old 433 friends are doing well.
I am still doing well and spend a lot of time on Redstone but a lot of Redstone brings back a lot of memories. My running buddy Clyde Mier died years ago right here in Huntsville and Bob Higginbotham is here but don't see him often.
I hope my pictures are still on line and that somebody is still interested in the old days.
Larry L. McFall, Nike Mechanical Repair, MOS 433.10, 1959.
Also have e-mail address glydewilliams@aol.com, use any one of them. I was station in Germany around 1962-1966 with Btry D 5th msl Bn 1st Arty in Diestabauck on top of an mountain. I went by my nickname (Ed)or (Eddie). I had a good oh time in Stromburg. Lost all connection with whom I'd party with was an Asst FC Oper. Sorry guys don't have any thing else to say.
I was with A battery 2/56 ADA from 1977-1982 as a generator repairman. There's a lot of action that happen their during that time. Best of all those were the good ole days. Most of all I am still hanging in their. Hope to here from you guys.
I was stationed at Fort MacArthur, in the 19th ADA, in San Pedro, CA from 1972 to 1974 & helped close the post. I was the Supply clerk E-5. Does anyone out there remember the BLUE ROOM ?
I am updating my old post from 10 years ago. I was a 22L and in the 4th Ord., Miesau Army Depot, from 81 - 83. It is a bummer to know that the 4th Ord. is no more. I have since met with a few of the NIKE guys but would like to hear from more. I wish I could have appreciated many things that I did back then as much as I do now. Most of us just didn't know how made in the shade we had it. But I do now. I hope you all have a great time remembering way back when. Until then.
I am looking for a former NIKE Member who served at one of the eight Nike Missile stations in Cleveland, OH from approx. 1962 to spring of 1963. This would be my father who transferred out of the Cleveland, OH station prior to my date of birth 6.13.1963. This Army NIKE Member was from Michigan and of Finnish descent. This father would be approx. 69 years of age in the year 2010. My birth mother's name was Beverly Labus, originally from Pennsylvannia. If you knew this man in 1963 @ the age of 22, Finnish descent and a member of the NIKE Missile Station in Cleveland, OH, please contact me as I have no further information including his name.
I served in D 2/1 ADA as a 16B Nike Hercules crewman in Dichtelbach, Germany 1976 to 1978. Great times and good friends. We are having a reunion 7 /4 /2011 in Dichtelbach. Web site Delta 2 1 Dichtelbach Nike Missile site. We hope to find all of the soldiers that served in Dichtelbach. We have a group on Facebook, about 35 guys have reconnected. Just search Delta battery 2 1 Dichtelbach Germany. Nike Hercules to find the group.
I served in D 2/1 ADA as a 16B Nike Hercules crewman in Dichtelbach, Germany 1976 to 1978. Great times and good friends. We are having a reunion 7 /4 /2011 in Dichtelbach. Web site delta 2 1 Dichtelbach Nike Missile site. The site is listed on Bing, Google is slow to list, d21dichtelbach. webs. com. We hope to find all of the soldiers that served in Dichtelbach. We have a group on Facebook, about 35 guys have reconnected. Just search Delta battery 2/1 Dichtelbach Germany.Nike Hercules to find the group.
Just found this on Facebook. I will have to let the other MP's that were there with me know of this. I am still in contact with; Bruce Grizzle, Bruce Sweeney, Dennis Bradford, and Scott Duncan. I will send this page to them so they can sign the roster.
Fort Bliss 16B training Oct 66 -Dec 66, then to It Bovolone, Italy, Team 3, 31st from Dec 66 until Sep 69. Got out, came back in Nov 70 went to CL-11, Painesville, Oh. Back to Ft Bliss for one year then to McCully Barracks, HHB, 2/1. Then changes MOS 00E Recruter, Nashville. Retired Ft Leonard Wood, MO in March 88.
I was in Nike-Hercules 22N20 from 1978-1985. Went to school at RSA, AL. in Apr 78 - Dec 78. Stationed in El Paso from Jan 79 - Dec 80, RSA, AL from Sept81-Oct82, Pirmasens, Germany from Nov 82 - May 84 and Stuttgart from May 84 - May 85. Made a lot of friends in Nike-Hercules, and would like to see them again someday, where are the re-unions? Please let me know. My phone #256-776-3658
Date: 3/10/2010
Name: Al Abbondanza, LTC, LG
E-Mail: abbo167@aol.com
I served with the 1/34th USAAD, Ceggia, Italy, from MAR 1983 to NOV 1984. Then transfered to the 69th OD CO, Site Pluto, NOV 1984 to MAR 1986.
Email comments and/or suggestions about this web site to Doyle Piland at webmaster@nikeordnance.com
