Dear Mom and Dad,
Well by now I imagine that you are enjoying your summer vacation. I hope everyone is well and having a good time. I got Dad's letter and was glad to hear that you are progressing with preparation for building your home.
Well everything is going smoothly over here for me. It's been some time since I've written a detailed letter, so I will try to bring you up to date on what little news that I have. In June the Custodian of this club was sent to Vietnam. I had rather thought that I would be put in charge when he left, but as it turned out they sent in another man to take over, leaving me in my somewhat undefined position. The new custodian is a First Lt., with a masters degree in accounting and a CPA. I must assume that they made him Custodian because of these qualifications rather than a lack of ability on my part. I say, assume because no one has said one word about it to me one way or the other.
One of the worst things I have found about the Army so far is the lack of communication between myself and my superiors. Ever since I have been here I have never been corrected, reprimanded or counseled in any way, or for that matter, praised or applauded. But yet I find myself in a job that must be considered limbo! It is neither challenging or stimulating and definitely not necessary and it has long ago ceased to be interesting! I sometimes wonder if my card that has my name and rank on it, was folded, bent or mutilated and as a result I have been misplaced in this vast red tape machine that they call the Army. If the Army has a category for people like me, in my type of positions (because I know I'm not alone) then I think they should call it missing in "Inaction"! I don't want you to think it's all bad though because it really isn't, just somewhat boring and a little disheartening.
On a brighter note, I will tell you that I was promoted to First Lieutenant, right on time, June 22 which is almost exactly a year since the time I went on active duty. It's no big deal because everyone gets promoted to first Lt after one year unless you are a complete mongoloid idiot, in which case you are promoted directly to General. The day I got promoted, I got a phone call and was told to report over at Brigade HQ in a uniform. Finding my uniform and putting it all together was the hardest part. I reported to the executive officer, a Lt. Col. A Major read my orders and the XO pinned my silver bar on. I shook hands with him and the major and a couple of Lt's who were witnesses and left. That's all there was to it, short and sweet. It is nice to be a first Lieutenant though, at least it's not the bottom man on totem pole, and of course a little more money.
A month or so ago, my car broke down and I had it in the shop for about a month, so I have't been going around the country side too much lately. I have my car back now and it's running OK again, but it was so expensive that I hardly have enough money left for gas, at least for the rest of the month. I must admit, that as much as I like that car, Iv'e had a whole lot of mechanical difficulty with it. Much more than should be for a new car. I'm going to give it another chance though. I had so many parts of the engine replaced this time, that it should be almost like new...I hope.
Boy I really miss everyone and I sure would like to come home around Christmas, but at this time it is impossible to say if I can do it or not. The trip would cost at least $400 round trip, so that will pose a little problem, but not too big.
Although the Army stinks, Germany is still great. this is the beginning of the beer fest season when beer flows down thousands of German throats like water. We had a beer-fest of our own here at the club last week, with a 16 piece brass "omp-pa-pa" band. We went through 15, 50 liter kegs of beer. Needless to say a good time was had by all.
Well I have to close this letter now since it is midnight and I have to go downstairs (I am writing this in the office) and close the club for another night. Write whenever you can I really look forward to your letters.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Thursday, February 6, 2020
July 20, 1971
Dear Mom & Dad,
Well here are my final pictures that I took while I was on leave. I hope that by sending these pictures to you I have in some small way been able to share my trip with you, because I really wish you could have all been with me. After these last pictures, I will get off a more comprehensive letter.
Well after driving through the rugged mountains of Switzerland I finally made it to Interlaken. This picture is of the river that ran through the town, which joined the two lakes together that Interlaken is between. The water in this river and in the lakes, is the cleanest looking, that I think I have ever seen.
Here is one means of transportation that you can use to see Interlaken.
This one was also taken on the river with a few of the mountains in the background. It was a little too cloudy when I was there to see Jungfrau.
As you can see, progress and tall buildings even come to places like Interlaken eventually.
Well after Interlaken I went back "home" to Germany, but before I went back to work I took another day at one of my favorite towns, Rothenburg. I think it was June 1st when these pictures were taken and that happened to be the day of the Meister-Frank festival. To make a long story short, this is to celebrate a time about 300 years ago when a group of attacking Huns came into Rothenburg and were about to destroy the town. However the leader of the Huns made a deal with the Burger-Meister of Rothernburg; if the Burger-Meister could drink 10 liters of beer in one large chug-a-lug they would go home and leave the town alone, if not, then the Huns would stay. Well the Burger Meister took the challenge, and drank down the 10 liters without so much as a hic-up, right in the middle of the town square. The Huns were good to their word, and left and the Burger-Meister became a town hero. Every year there after the townspeople have held a celebration in honor of this event, and also because in later years it has proven to be pretty good for business. That will explain, I hope, these next pictures. Above you see a couple of young men riding down a street dressed in what were the local garb of the time.
Here we have some of the "good guys" resting up before participating in one of the mock battles.
This man is riding a very large horse, as you can see.
This is the man who plays the part of the Burger-Meister and as a matter of fact he really is the Burger Meister. By the way that armor is the real thing.
Here come the Huns, about to meet the Rothenburger's in a mock battle, which was pretty wild even though it was just acting.
This character is the leader of the Huns, a real villain-type
And once again, here come the "good guys" led by the "Burger-Meister"
At the end of the day they had a parade down the main street, with this group leading the way with authentic 18th century instruments. They played very 18th century marching tunes, also.
Well that's the end. I will try to get a letter off shortly.
Well after driving through the rugged mountains of Switzerland I finally made it to Interlaken. This picture is of the river that ran through the town, which joined the two lakes together that Interlaken is between. The water in this river and in the lakes, is the cleanest looking, that I think I have ever seen.
Here is one means of transportation that you can use to see Interlaken.
This one was also taken on the river with a few of the mountains in the background. It was a little too cloudy when I was there to see Jungfrau.
As you can see, progress and tall buildings even come to places like Interlaken eventually.
Well after Interlaken I went back "home" to Germany, but before I went back to work I took another day at one of my favorite towns, Rothenburg. I think it was June 1st when these pictures were taken and that happened to be the day of the Meister-Frank festival. To make a long story short, this is to celebrate a time about 300 years ago when a group of attacking Huns came into Rothenburg and were about to destroy the town. However the leader of the Huns made a deal with the Burger-Meister of Rothernburg; if the Burger-Meister could drink 10 liters of beer in one large chug-a-lug they would go home and leave the town alone, if not, then the Huns would stay. Well the Burger Meister took the challenge, and drank down the 10 liters without so much as a hic-up, right in the middle of the town square. The Huns were good to their word, and left and the Burger-Meister became a town hero. Every year there after the townspeople have held a celebration in honor of this event, and also because in later years it has proven to be pretty good for business. That will explain, I hope, these next pictures. Above you see a couple of young men riding down a street dressed in what were the local garb of the time.
Here we have some of the "good guys" resting up before participating in one of the mock battles.
This man is riding a very large horse, as you can see.
This is the man who plays the part of the Burger-Meister and as a matter of fact he really is the Burger Meister. By the way that armor is the real thing.
This character is the leader of the Huns, a real villain-type
And once again, here come the "good guys" led by the "Burger-Meister"
At the end of the day they had a parade down the main street, with this group leading the way with authentic 18th century instruments. They played very 18th century marching tunes, also.
Well that's the end. I will try to get a letter off shortly.
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