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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 4 – Number 10
November 1, 2008
Ralph R, Thadeus, Editor
(Scheyern 53-56)
E-Mail Us or Visit Our Web Site
REUNION AFTER ACTION REPORT
Well our 17th reunion is now history and, entertainment wise, was one of the best that we have ever had. A grand time was had by attendees representing sites in Bad Aibling, Bamberg, Coburg, Frankfurt, Heilbronn, Hof, Memmingen, Scheyern and Wels, and spanning the years from the late 40’s to the late 60’s.
With most of the troops checking in on Thursday, the hospitality room got a good workout. Then a large contingent of us went to our local German restaurant, The Gast Haus, for some great schnitzel and entertainment by the Obenheimer Express from Alsace, one of the featured bands at the Soulard Oktoberfest.
Friday morning saw a small group join Jim Natividad on the Forest Park golf course for 18 holes on a great course showing off the many splendors of Forest Park itself. Others spent time within Forest Park visiting the zoo; museum and the Missouri historical museum, all just down the hill from our headquarters hotel at the Cheshire Lodge.
Friday night was a blast. We all hopped on the bus and went to the opening of the Soulard Oktoberfest and little bit of Munich in our own backyard. Yours truly was part of the Color Guard that preceded the tapping of the 200-liter keg by St. Louis Mayor Slay, with the traditional cheer, “O’zapft is”. And what an evening it was. After the opening ceremony the Obenheimer Express provided us with oompah music to create a real German Stimnung. Then Chikeria, the featured band from Munich, came on and just tore the place apart. All I can say is WOW!!!
Talk about authentic; the beer benches were brought in from the Hofbräuhaus in Munich which also provided the Munich brewed beer for the evening. Even the pillar pretzels were flown in from Germany. Dinner was about as German as you can get with schweinshaxe, bratwurst
and roasted chicken all available.
Saturday saw heavy activity in the hospitality room, as usual, and, when not busy gabbing, our members were out and about town. Saturday evening saw us again boarding a bus for our banquet at the Feasting Fox restaurant. It was a great physical set-up, excellent food, drink and music.
Prior to the dinner itself we held our reunion business meeting. By acclimation the following officers were re-elected for another term: Jim Natividad, President; Ray Lash, Vice-President Ralph Thadeus Treasurer/Editor. Nominations for our next reunion in the Fall of 2009 were made. Under consideration are Tulsa, Oklahoma, Las Vegas and Myrtle Beach. As soon as more is know about the amenities available, the officers will make a decision and inform the membership.
Sunday morning saw most of the members on their way back home. Happy to have seen each other again and looking forward to our next reunion.
Start saving your shekels now and join us next year for another great reunion. Remember - we aint getting any younger.
ASMN
Supporting member Jim Pettit (Scheyern/Kassel 55-57) asked us to remind all you Scheyern guys that Stephan Demmelmeier of Pfaffenhofen is still working on the history of Scheyern. So if any of you want to contribute facts, figures or photographs to him you can do so by contacting him by e-mail at sdemmelmei@aol.com. (It’s his name less the last two letters.)
Denis Byrne (Hoeglin, British DF Site – 69) wrote that he just returned from the Munich Oktoberfest after four fantastic days there. He mentioned how big it has grown since he was last there in the 60’s. A stein of beer was 8 Euros and still as good as ever. He also had a night at the Hofbräuhaus München as well and mentioned that it has “smartened up” considerable. Denis stayed at the Deutscher Kaiser hotel near the Hauptbahnhof for about 400 Euros a night. (So pucker up guys if you intend on hitting next year’s Munich Oktoberfest) Denis ended his note by sending his regards to all you ditty-boppers out there.
Bob Rennick (NSA Herzo 55-57) failed to see the humor in our spoof of Aggi being a NSA Mole in Scheyern. Bob pointed out that NSA civilians were at several fixed stations during the 1955-58 time frame. He said that Herzo had 33, Baumholder 18, Kyoto 37 and Okinawa 14. Bob says that all wore civilian clothes and within Operations never hid the fact that they were NSA.
Marney Mason (Wobeck/Gartow/Mt, Meissner/Rothwesten 66-69) chided us for some typos
in our masthead. OK Marney, we changed them. (Damn these German Linguists are touchy)
Following up on the NSA Mole story, you guys at the Herzo and Rothwesten fixed stations must have had bad-assed tours of duty. Not one nomination for a NSA Mole came out of you guys. Thank God I did my time at Scheyern, the Country Club of ASA Germany. Drunk or sober we did our mission and while doing so, had one hell-of-a-good-time doing it. Our “war stories” are legend.
Patricia Ulmen, wife of Pat Ulmen (Scheyern 52-55) gave her family and friends a scare when she had a heart attack early this month. Patrick said that she had been feeling “lousy” so he took her to the emergency room where her heart stopped beating. Thankfully this was while she was being examined and they were able to get her “re-started.” In subsequent e-mails Patrick advised us that she was now back home and that she had suffered only minor reductions in heart efficiency. Our prayers are with both the Pats.
TAPS
Supporting Member Oscar Loveless (116th Signal Radio Intelligence Company – WW2) passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2008. At his passing Oscar was 89 years of age. Oscar last joined us at the Louisville reunion where he was a big hit with the ladies. Believe it or not, he had driven himself from his home in Elbefeld, Indiana, to the reunion. Oscar pitched for his section’s B-League ball team.
Rest in peace Oscar.
LOST CONTACTS
Robert Lane (Herzo 49) @austin.rr.com
Walt Richards** (Herzo/Sontra/Scheyern 47-51) @lanset.com
David Hay (Mt. Meisner 66-6) @verizon.net