NIKE AJAX AND HERCULES ORDNANCE SUPPORT UNIT JANUARY &
FEBRUARY 1999
GUEST LOG
Air Defense Artillery
Date: 2/25/1999
Name: Joseph Robert (Bob) Wilson
E-Mail: pilot1@gte.net
Hello friends, I was stationed outside of Fairbanks Alaska at Echo Battery from February 1970 until it was closed in 1971. I was there when we boxed up the warheads and loaded them on a flatbed for shipment. If any of you were there, please E-mail me.
Webmaster's note: Bob served in Fairbanks as a Missle crewman with a rank of SP4.
Attended the Nike Ajax officers maint course at Redstone from Late 1953 until May 1954 when i was assigned as shop officer to the 194th Ord Det in San Francisco to support the nike Ajax systems in the San francisco area. In 1956 was transfered to the Panama Canal Zone to help install Nike but after I arrived they changed their mind and did not install them, So I was retained as the Commander of the 565th Ord Det (M33) for three years. Upon my return in 1959 was assigned as chief of the Nike Maint section in the Guided Missile school where I stayed untill my retirment from the Army in July 1962. I then went to work for the Army Missile Command as a Missile Maintiance Tech with various assignments in the US and Europe Until I retired in 1983.
Date: 2/19/1999
Name: Donna Pence
E-Mail: kioman@aol.com
My father, Robert E. Pence, served at MacGregor Missile Range in New Mexico in the 1960's. I worked as an organist for the chapel there and at Orogrande, while in high school. My father also served in Okinawa 1959-1963.
FINALLY ON-LINE ON MY OWN - THIS IS NEW ADDRESS. SERVED WITH DSP 5 BN 6 ARTY IN HOPPSTADTEN, GERMANY AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO SERVED WITH ME FROM '69 TO '71. WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND SEE THE OLD SITE AND HAVE EIN BIER AT EACH GASTHAUS FROM IDAR OBERSTEIN TO FREISEN. IT IS GREAT THAT YOU HAVE THE INTEREST TO MAINTAIN THIS WEBSITE FOR US OLD FARTS!
I am selling a Nike Ajax missile. Auction closes on 2/24/99. Go to this link to see it and get auction details: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=68439843
First To Fire Another great site. I was old MOS 225. Missile and launch area tech. Spent all 3 years at Ft Bliss in 62-64 Keep the memories going.
Webmaster's not: Fred served at Fort Bliss with D/4/62, Mobile Herc and AJAX, as a Missile & Launcher Tech (supported school com.) with a rank or E3 from 9/62 to 6/63. In addition, he was assigned to 507 Arty Det. (Warhead) with an MOS of 225 from 6/63 to 5/64 as an E3 and with with F Btry/1st Gp/1st Bgd. as an E4 from 5/64 to 12/64.
Served from 1961 to 1964 in 562 Artillery at Tolchester Beach in Maryland (May 1961 to Dec 1961) and at Bellvue, Louisana from Jan 1962 until Feb 1964. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who I served with.
Webmaster's note: Stephen served in Nike Hercules, Gardner, Kansas then Nike Herclues B/5/1 ADA in Germany as a 16B, Launcher Crewman with a rank of E-2 from Aug 68 to Nov 68. Then with Nike Hercules in Porter, Indiana (attended one SNAP) as an E-3 from Nov 68 to Nov 69. Additionally, assigned to Dexheim, Germany (attended one SNAP in Crete) with B/5/1 ADA as a 16B Launcher Crewman and Battery Security Clerk - rank of E-5 from Nov 60 to Mar 72.
HI, I WAS STATIONED IN WIESMOOR GERMANY STATIONED WITH THE GERMANY AIR FORCE. I WORKED AS A 24U20 NIKE ELEC REPAIR 68 THU 71. I'M LOOKING FOR ANY INFO ON MY SITE.
WOLF
Webmaster's not: Arthur served in the 35th Arty in Wiesmoor, Germany as a 24U20, NIKE MISSEL REPAIR, with a rank of E-5 from 1/69 to 1/71.
I had the entire one-year Nike Ajax course in 1955, along with ten peers, Dr. Werner Von Broun taught some of it. On graduation, I was assigned as the CO of the arctic tests of Nike Ajax in Ft. Churchill, Manatobe, Canada. Damn! Upon return to Redstone, I was the CO for the curriculum development of the Hercules. Over one year of lesson plans, one hour at a time. It must have worked, for we made the other guys very scared of what we had.
Good work, all the troops, at every level. We Won!
I was with the 116th Ord Det, at a Nike Hercules site protecting SF and Travis AFB in the early 70's. Being professional was an understatement. Rest assured, you were all very much protected day and night.
was at bliss when JFK got shot.. was at bliss when down-town el-paso has a alligator in the park.. was at bliss when those dam B52 skimmed the barracks antennas.. was at bliss when you could aim the TTR at the 2:25pm AA flight into EP..
too many "was'es"
Webmaster's note: Bob served at Ft Bliss with the Air Defense Board as an MOS 226.1 with a rank of SP/5 from 6/1/62 to 4/5/65.
22N Missle & Launcher Repairer. Served at 5/6 in Nuebruke, FRG from 79-81 ('til it was closed down), then went to RSA as maint. 2nd tour at Ludwigsburg from 84-85, Made the last DS site call to a US battery in Germany (Closed down that Bn too). The rest of my carreer was Patriot, Not even close to the excellent memories I had of the people and the times we had in Herc.
Date: 1/30/1999
Name: Richard E Aughe
E-Mail: dick@sofnet.com
I was with Ft Mac Missile shop '66 to '74.
Date: 1/28/1999
Name: Thomas F. McGowan
E-Mail: tmcghmb@aol.com
As I said in another e-mail, "I don't live in the past, but I sure can appreciate it looking back, as hindsight is 2020." I never knew that someday I would be communicating with other NIKE folks via electronic mail, but I am happy to have the opportunity. Technology then and technology now. I believe that looking back at it, those days working as a 23N20 were quite exciting.
As they say, you always forget the painful times, like taking an M109 Van through the gates at Camp Humphreys headed to Foxtrot Battery, attempting to eat a chicken sandwich that the mess hall made for you, as they had to, but realizing that the cook never took out the bones. That is hard to know when you are driving a truck through An Jong-Ni hoping that you don't take out the upper seven club's front entrance with your bumper. Ah, were those good days or am I just getting older?
Keep up the great site and by the way, Gary Nelson, we were stationed together, but I doubt that you remember me.
All for now.
Regards,
Tom
Webmaster's note: During his training for MOS 23N20 Tom was assigned to the 4th ETC 2nd Platoon at the US Army Missile & Munitions Center and School at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama with a rank of SP4 from 2/70 to 3/71.
I had the pleasure of serving with 32d AADCOM in 1978 and 1979 as the Command Chemical Officer. While it is true that ALL Chemical Corps Officers became Ordnance Corps officers for a few years in 1973, I cannot in truth claim to be a dedicated Ordnance support professional... but I admire the job they do. Congratulations on a great job on your website !!!
Webmaster's note: Charles served in the 32nd AADCOM in Darmstadt, Germany as the Chemical Officer (MOS 74B) from Jan 78 to Jan 80 with a paygrade of O-4.
School early 1972 Ft Bliss served LA88 Chatsworth CA 72 73 pit rat and generator operator was in artical in the watchman magasine snake man of site 88 would like to try getting a copy of the article and finding my friend Ronald J Harris havent seen him since 1974 when he came to visit me in El Paso.
Webmaster's note: Kimble John served at LA88 from 12/72 to 6/74 with rank of SP5.
MANY FOND MEMORIES OF MY DAYS IN THE DSP 5/6 AT HOPPSTADTEN. THAT WAS THIRTY YEARS AGO - TIME FLIES. HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION SINCE 72. AT VETERNS STADIUM SINCE 89 AS ASSISTANT MANAGER. THREE YEARS FROM RETIREMENT AND FEELING SHORT. I WILL KEEP MY EYE ON THIS WEBSITE IN THE HOPE OF COMMUNICATING WITH OLD FRIENDS. THANKS!
Webmaster's note: James took Basic Training at Ft. Bragg, NC in USATCI C-9-2 and recieved his MOS training for 23N20 at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama in theUSAMMCS, 9TH ETC from Oct 68 thru Oct 69.
Date: 1/17/1999
Name: Michael Fogarty
E-Mail: mikim@gte.net
Hi Doyle, thank you for providing your great site on Nike-Herc support organizations. Am a former "Scope dope" (16C10, Acq radar operator) with Btry B, 1st, 43rd ADA, at Site Summit on the mountain top above Ft. Richardson, AK. I was there from 5/75 till 9/77. Seems we were supported by 524th Ordinance Co. if I remember right. Boy those guys used to wring us out during T-1 training. Just recently discovered Nikes on the internet and am having a lot of fun checking out all the websites. I'm of course particularly interested in info concerning the Nike sites in AK and would love to hear from anybody who was there over the years. I tried to sign onto your guestbook the other evening, but was unable to make the connection. Hope you are able to get me in there somehow. Anyway, would love hearing from anyone who wants to talk Hercs. Thanks. Michael Fogarty Lake Oswego, OR
VERY GOOD PAGE. I WAS STATIONED IN KOREA 74-76 C/2/44 & D/2/44 YOUR PAGE BRINGS BACK A LOT OF FOND MEMORIES KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, RONNIE
Webmaster's note: Ronnie served (as MOS 16D) with 11th Group at Ft. Bliss, Texas with a rank of PFC and was in Korea with D/2/44 in Missile Maintenance with rank of SP4 and in C/2/44 in the Launcher Platoon with a rank of SP4.
This is a great site been looking for something like this for awhile. Keep up the good work.
Webmaster's note: Larry served at Painesville, OH with A Btry, 3rd msl battalion, 65th Arty as a Missile Mechanic with a rank of E3 from 04/64 to 09/65 and in Landua, Germany with B Btry, 2 Bn, 56th Arty as Supply Sgt with a rank of E5 from 09/65 to 02/67.
Hello, My name is Tania Smallwood, I am looking to find information about Fort Bliss air defense school. My father was an instructor there many years ago. My father (Master Sgt Max Smallwood) has recently passed away, and I have something of his that has the Fort Bliss air defense school symbol on top, and a red and gold crest on the bottom that has a gold stripe thru it. I am trying to find out more this crest. It has the words" per ardua" under it. I know that he also set up the nike missle sites in Homestead and Key Largo Fla during the cuban missle crisis-so maybe it is related to that, I am not sure. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Stumbled across the site by accident. Served as a Tower Rat with C/2-56 (Nike) Outside of Pirmasens,GY. from 2-73 to 5-74.
Webmaster's note: Dennis served at Charlie Battery 2/56th 32AADCOM with an MOS of 94B10 and rank of E-4.
Date: 1/11/1999
Name: John J McKenna III
E-Mail: jmckiii@idt.net
Wonderful historical info. Was Chief IFC Tech 6/63 through 6/66 at C-3 51st Arty Bgd 52 ADA. Have been looking for info on old Nike sites--this was a true treasure to find.
Webmaster's note: John served at Sandy Hook, NJ (Ft Hancock) with a rank of E5
16K20 scopedope and crew chief @ OC71 2/71 Artillary(Hawk). Served same 40th Artillary (AADCP). "Protecting Freedoms Frontier".
Webmaster's note: Gary served in Korea at Camp Redcloud (hill 468) Uijongbu, Korea with 2/71 Artillary (hawk) OC71 as a SP/5 from 12/10/68 to 1/13/70, and in San Rafael, California with the 40th Artillary (AADCP) at Mount Tamalpias, Presido San Francisco with the rank of SP/5 from 1/10/70 to 5/30/71.
24U, SSG Team A, 66th USAAD - Germany 1976-1980 Fort Bliss Air Defense School 1980-1982
Email comments and/or suggestions about this web site to Doyle Piland at webmaster@nikeordnance.com
