Gruss Gott!

On December 28, 1986 I arrived in Schwaebisch Gmuend Germany for a 2 year stay, compliments of Uncle Sam. Stationed with CSA Platoon, A Co. (later HHC) 38^th Signal Battalion of the 56^th Field Artillery Command (Pershing). I was to begin a love affair with Germany that continues today.

After 2 years of fun and games at Bismark Kaserne, I returned stateside for a stint at Ft. Lewis with the 502^nd MI over on north fort - we moved to main post about halfway through my assignment there. I then re-upped and returned to Germany, this time to Flensburg. For those not in the know, Flensburg is wayyy up on the northern border of Germany by Denmark. After my initial stay in southern Germany, Flensburg was quite a change. During my first tour I took a vacation in Hamburg for a week and a half - Hamburg is one fun town.

 Although I spent nearly 4 years in Germany, the first three were spent in typical 18 year old GI fashion - namely a alcoholic stupor. Once I sobered up, I figured out that there was a lot to see over there.

 The first was a trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Garmisch had something like 4 or 5 American hotels for cheap lodging at the doorstep to the Zugspitze.

From Garmisch it was a short jaunt to Neuschwanstein, Innsbruck and all kinds of places out of your old history books. The tour director was on the board of trustees so we got to get into some areas closed to the general public.

You've seen the above picture on posters, movies and what not but did you ever wonder where it's taken from? The picture on the right was taken from inside the castle - the view of the castle itself is from that bridge. Quite a jaunt up there, it was. A group of German bikers - typically clad all in leather and riding Vespas (Harleys are ungodly "teuer" over there) was coding out about halfway up.

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