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The E-Mail Newsletter of the Army Security Agency Alpiners Reunion Group
Serving veterans of the SIS, ASA and INSCOM who were stationed in Germany or Austria

Volume 7 – Number 1
February 1, 2011
Ralph R, Thadeus, Editor
(Scheyern 53-56)
E-Mail Us

ASMN

Der Bierkrug: Well we got a pretty good response to the mystery of the Bad Aibling stein. We have several responses but the first one following seems (to an outsider) to clear up the mystery.

Alan Donnelly (Bad Aibling 55-57) contributed the following: “On that beer stein...I have one on my bookshelf.

It has my name on the top rim: Herr Donnelly. The stein is white glazed with hand-painted artwork that shows Schloss Maxlrain against the backdrop of Wendelstein Mountain. Also, the Maxlrain crest, the familiar Blue and White diamond-pattern of the Munich crest flanking a red tag of the 69 Club (for whatever reason, I can't remember). A ribbon across the lower front proclaims at opposite ends the Maxlrain Sub-Area, which was more appropriate for our outfit than the Munich Sub-Area of which we were a unit. The center of the banner says The Fighting Fourth, which was the particular platoon of the Big Deuce (332nd C/R Company) that had these mugs made. I'm told that once the order was placed and filled, the artwork from which it was created was destroyed.

To the left of the drawing of Schloss Maxlrain is a honeywagon being driven toward the twin-spired Frauenkirchen of Munich with road signs right and left along the winding road proclaiming: AN FAHRT, AUS FAHRT, EIN FAHRT, AB FAHRT, DURCH FAHRT, FREI FAHRT, and, of course, BEER FAHRT.

On the left side, is an illustration of the Munich Strip showing several establishments including the Rhumba Bar, and a descending paratrooper (the 101st was the hell-raising outfit in Munich at the time).

The metal lid had a US Army crest thumb press and a cloak-and-dagger figure on top. On the bottom, a buxom lady in bas-relief is visible when the stein is emptied. That aspect was good for many a free beer in some of the German haunts back home when I returned in 1957.”

Terry Gockley (Bad Aibling 57-60) added: “I bought one of these mugs while I was at BA from Oct 57 to Jan 60, but I don't remember why that FIGHTING SUB AREA is on there, I don't remember if an outside source came on post to sell them, or who designed them. I only remember I bought one and it has my name on it, and have it setting in my back room on a shelf with other things I collected while I was in the Army for three years. Sorry I can’t be of more help”

Editor: Terry sent us a couple more pictures that match up to what Alan said about the art work. Thanks Terry, it was a help.

Dennis Bennett (Bad Aibling 57-62) thought it might have been from the NSA Operations sub-group that was stationed there at the time.

And, last but not least, Supporting Member Wade Temple (Bamberg/Alsfeld/Rothwesten 54-56) asked: “I was wondering about the name James K Ward. When I was in Bamberg the Lt in command of the radio repair groups name was James Ward. I was there in 1954-1955. I am not sure about the middle initial.”

AFSS: Carl Beduhn (Baumholder 56-58) passed along a web site address that may be of interest to you Cold War vets even though it deals with our counterpart, the Air Force Security Service. Check it out at http://vivausafss.org/donlehmann.htm.

The father-son team of Floyd and Chris Koch has joined our group (see New Contacts below). Floyd, who is not on the Internet, would like to contact any other 8606ers he might have served with. If you would like to contact Floyd, send me your telephone number, I will pass it along and Floyd will call you.

Alan Donnelly later added the following to his comments regarding “Der Bierkrug”: “Just to clarify how closely linked our Bad Aibling outfit was with Schloss Maxlrain. It was, of course, by way of the Maxlrain Brauerei. The brewery was on one side of the road and the Gasthof Maxlrain was across the street. THAT was our home away from home and where most of us hung out when not chasing dits and dahs. The Family Riel ran the place for the count, whose castle and grounds were behind the Gasthof.

Maxlrain beer was great, and for the first year, we, at the post, were PO'd because we couldn't get it at our EM Club. EES wouldn't sanction it because it wasn't pasteurized - so they said. In a camp open meeting with our CO, Major Fowler, we all chimed that there was more than enough alcohol in Maxlrain to make up for the lack of pasteurization. Fowler went to bat for us, EES rescinded its ban, and our EM Club and Officers Club were both able to bring in the Count's brew. He was so pleased; he provided the stuff free for a week.

I'd love to be able to get some today. Alongside that Fighting Fourth mug, I have stoneware steins from Schlossbrauerei Maxlrain, the Hofbrauhaus, and Loewenbrau München.

And, hell, while I'm bending your ear or straining your eyeballs, if you do put this stuff in an upcoming issue could you mention that I'd love to hear from folks from the 1955-1957 Bad Aibling crew. I've gotten in touch recently with two -- Jim Menges and Bruce Spalding.”

Hal Rivers (Coburg/Bamberg 53-54) writes: “We (the 332nd Comm. Recon.) had moved from Coburg to Bamberg. The year was 1953 or 54. The locals had a big Bavarian fest going on in Bamberg. "Someone" hauled down the large (the Germans always did things big) blue and white Bavarian Flag one night. The next morning the Kaserne was swarming with Politzi and MPs For low and behold the Bavarian banner was draped on the roof of the barracks of the 332nd CRC - 4 stories up, and I seem to remember the roof was tiled.”

Delois (Dee) Gober (Göppingen 53-55) reminds us that a “Cold War Certificate” is available to those of us who served during that time. We have previously written about this certificate but it didn’t seem worth the effort. Your editor tried out some of the web sites mentioned on Google but my security system warned me away from a lot of them. So, if you are interested in obtaining such a certificate, you had best work through your local VA office to be safe.

NEW CONTACTS

• Floyd H. Koch – Herzo FS 8606 49-50
• Chris Koch – Frankfurt 78-80
• Hal Rivers – Coburg/Bamberg 53-54

LOST CONTACTS

TAPS

John A. (Jack) Wiehl passed away on October 26, 2010, after a valiant struggle with cancer and COPD, as reported by his wife Sybil. Jack was a resident of Pompano Beach, Florida at the time of his passing.

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