1/32nd FA in Fliegerhorst from Jan 85 - May 88

[Rob Vestal]

Hello former "Proud Americans",

I would enjoying hearing from any former 1/32nd members. I was assigned in Jan 85 as a 2nd Lt and made it to the rank of CPT. After 4 yrs in May, 1988, I decided that I had had enough, and moved to Dallas, TX, where I have worked for several corporations i.e. computer, telecom, software, and now homebuilding/lighting construction. However, now in looking back, I can say honestly, that I had the best time of my life while there. A lot of life experiences were learned, and a lot of great friends and memories were made. While at the 1/32nd, I worked for both CPT's John Petrik and Ivars Baumanis in the S-3 as the Bn Recon Survery/Training Officer Officer. I then worked for CPT Joe Wood in C Battery as a Detail Plt Ldr, and Firing Plt Ldr. After that my last assignment was working as the Bn S-1 for LTC Harvery Glowaski, Major Phillip Taylor, and Major Ted Lombard. Feel free to contact me at robvestal@aol.com . I would enjoy going down memory lane again and would enjoy hearing from anyone that might have known me!

"Time on Target"

[manuel]

Not sure if we've met. I worked under CW3 Chiassion in missile maintenance spending most of my time at the motor pool. If your interested, a there are pictures (1984) of 1/32nd at classmates.com. I recognized a lot of familiar faces.

[Rob Vestal]

Hello Manuel. Yes, I do remember you after seeing the photos. When I first assigned at 1/32, I was involved with Training and administering SQT's etc, and I remember you and your photo. I remember having to work with CPT Ross at SVC Battery who was then replaced by CPT Curtis, I also remember several of the troops and Sgts. I also remember Chief Chiasson quite well. He was tall and funny guy. I also remember Chief Figures and Chief Cuney. As a LT, I also used to run around with Lt's Rick Moller, Barry Buehler, Kerry Loudenslager, Hodges Washington, John Edelen, and Jeff Lawrence. They were quite the characters. Do you also remember Lt's Marshall Windsor, Scot Connor, Rock Amick, Steve Barsamian, Dan Schmick, Greg Pickell? You also wrote about the Chernobyl thing. I have a photo taken at the baseball diamond at Fliegerhorst that exact day. I remember the Bn had a cookout, and later in the day as it began raining, someone went to the HHB's NBC room and grabbed a geiger counter and tested the water in a few puddles and it came up hot. What memories! Anyway, I have quite a few photos. I need to have them scanned and sent to you. By the way, your articles and website are great! Thanks for keeping the memories of our time in the Army and in Lance alive. - Rob Vestal in Dallas, TX

[manuel]

The some of the officer's names sound familiar. I couldn't remember Cpt Ross until you mentioned him--his appearance and voice popped back into my mind. Both the CWs sound familiar so do Moller, Windsor, and Schmick. I'd love seeing your photos. I was thinking of creating an online scrapbook of member's photos (with permission and credits). The pictures of 1/32FA at Classmates are buried deep in their site. If you're interested, there's a 1984 roster of 1/32FA posted by Mary the Medic Egan in the old message board. I plan on creating a new category for the 1/32FA on this message board with links to all relevant posts from the old message board. I'll look forward to hearing from you again.

[Rentiers]

I remember a Lt. Vestal. I remember many of those other officers also. Greg Pickell was (still is) one of my best friends, along with Sp4 Joel Bass. Greg is now married, with 2 little sons, rank of LTC, living in Springfield, VA, working at the Pentagon. (can you believe that shit?). Both of them used to crash at my apartment on JFK Strasse above that bar at the far left end (after drinking to excess). You may remember me after seeing some photos on my MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/rentiers).

I am Bill Rentiers III. I was an Sp4 RattRigg team chief. Most of my time was assigned to HHB (commanded by a complete prick named Cpt Bill DeHass) in the commo platoon lead by Lt. Smith & SFC Canty (a criminal & racist), and the RTT section was SSG Santiago. For a time, some of us Ratts were sent over to Cpt Curtis in SVC battery. Sometime later, HHB was Cpt English (a nice lady) and the commo platoon was run by Lt. Pearly Page (ditzy) and SSG Lee Bolden was RTT chief. Just before I ETS'd, (Feb88) I was planning to reup as a Russian Interrogator, passed the DLAB test with 114, and got my school locked in for August 88. Glowaski seemed impressed by that. Well, while waiting for my reenlistement window, my dad was diagnosed with liver/colon cancer and the wife & I changed our minds about me staying in. Best decision I ever made. I got out & went back to college, got my BS in BusAdmin. Dad died after 18months of fighting it. I would have stayed in for life, but I don't regret getting out & spending that time with my father for a second.

1/32FA was a shitty assignment. SFC Canty made it as shitty for the Ratts as he possibly could. And not one person in 1/32 ever seemed to give a shit about what he was doing to us either. But hey, what could anyone do about it, right? I made lots of good friends there, Americans and Germans, that I'll remember for life. I saw some castles & shit. Once they sent Canty stateside I guess life wasn't too bad anymore.

So I spent about 10yrs as a Technical Recruiter hiring computer programmers for consulting companies. Made pretty good money, but I walked away from it over a year ago for my current gig as a Second Amendment lobbyist for a nonprofit in South Carolina. I work from home now, and I love it. Our website is http://www.SCFirearms.org. I am the webmaster, the editor of our newspaper, the Executive Officer of the organization, a registered lobbyist, etc. Life is sweet right now.

And my son Bill Rentiers IV just graduated from BCT one week ago today. He's home for Christmas, but goes back to Leonard Wood for AIT in early January, then God knows where for a few years... (sigh)

Bill

[manuel]

Hi Bill. I'm sure I talked to you at one point or another. Now that you mention Bass, I might have you two confused. I checked out your site. I don't think you spoke much of gun rights back then. 1/32FA was definitely a learning experience. A wee bit oppressive too. Good luck with the site.

[Rentiers]

We have talked a few times over the past few years.

I think we knew each other at least somewhat back at 1/32FA, because your face looks very familiar. No, Joel Bass and I were good friends, but he and I were definitely not the same guy

Bass was 'unkempt' to put in kindly. He also was constantly losing keys to vehicles, and he kept lots of Stephen King books spread out all over his room.

Being married, I lived off post with my family, in an apartment over that bar at the far end of JFK Strasse (next to Peppy's pizza). I was seldom in the barracks after hours or on weekends unless I had no choice.

[Morales.Luis]

Hello former "Proud Americans",

"While at the 1/32nd, I worked for both CPT's John Petrik and Ivars Baumanis in the S-3 as the Bn Recon Survery/Training Officer Officer. I then worked for CPT Joe Wood in C Battery as a Detail Plt Ldr, and Firing Plt Ldr. After that my last assignment was working as the Bn S-1 for LTC Harvery Glowaski, Major Phillip Taylor, and Major Ted Lombard. Feel free to contact me at robvestal@aol.com . I would enjoy going down memory lane again and would enjoy hearing from anyone that might have known me!

"Time on Target"

I vaguely remember you. Baumanis went to the Lance Cadre Course with me. I went through using it as a refresher course since I had been out of the loop due to a recruiting assignment. I rotated to Ft Stewart where I became MLRS Qualified, then upon making E-8 went to the Howitzers. Finally retired after the mandatory 19 months that the Seargents Major Academy puts on your back.

[flccnp]

I got into Fliegerhorst in Jan '86. ETS'd in Jan '88.

I remember the name Vestal.

I remember Manuel.

Baumanis sounds familiar too.

Captain Curtis sounds very familiar. I don't remember Capt Ross though.

Was Lt Moller short but stout? I seem to remember one LT saying when asked if he had tried drugs at his enlistment interview his answer was "I did go to college". I think it was Moller.

I think I was in Rentiers apartment one time. You had some photos you took of people loading a plane with every box that was labeled this side up being loaded upside down? (got my FL CCW earlier this year so I'm on your side with RKBA)

Did Lt Page make BDU bottoms look good? I remember a female Lt that did just that.

Did Bass have a snoring problem? Or was it somebody else?

Somebody with the nickname HC was my Sgt. I don't know if little kids may read this so I'll leave it as the initials.

Some other familiar names from way back when, Lonnergan, Quarles and Morales.

[ccmhunt]

v (manuel) you were my room-mate when I first moved to 1/32nd. Small world....

[manuel]

v (manuel) you were my room-mate when I first moved to 1/32nd. Small world....

Great hearing from you. In SVC BTRY? Were you tall and thin with dark hair?

[wachrock]

[quote]My name is Rock Amick. I served with Bravo, 1/32 FA Lance at Fliegerhorst Kaserne from August '84 to July '87. I served primarily as a Fire Platoon Leader, later as XO Bravo Battery, then XO HQ Battery. I remember my time in Germany (it was WEST Germany back then), and with Bravo Battery very fondly. In fact, in many ways, it was the best time of my life. For those reading his post, I probably do not need to explain that statement.

I would be excited to hear from those with whom I served. I can be found on facebook, Plaxo, or linkedin networks or at rock25@mac.com.

My most memorable (sober) moment occurred at NAMFI in Crete when my crew scored, what I was told by the Israeli umpire at the time, was the first perfect score during our evaluation in 1985. Sgt. Roger Wood was the Platoon Sgt. and the best NCO, among many, with whom I had the honor to serve. First Sgt. was Bill Oliver and the Battery Commander was Cpt. Aivars Baumanis. Cpt. Baumanis was a West Pointer, but a pretty good officer nonetheless. There are a hundred others but at my advanced age I dare not try to remember all the other names. I am hoping this message board will help me remember.

Long live the Proud Americans!
/quote]

[wachrock]

i remember most of you nuts, especially Vestal. it is great to hear from all of you. makes me want to go to the local liquor store and buy a case of Bitburger and a sleeve of Jager!

[SP4 Maldonado]

Hey Rentiers !!
u may not rememeber who I am, SP4 Maldonado, i was in the Red Eye platoon with SSG Hurt and at one time with SSG Mouzon. I remember your name and face, i was roomates with a black dude named Barber and stapleton (I beleive they were in the RATT platton with the asshole SFC Canty. Canty sure was a jerk, even to our platoon and he was so far up the 1SG's ass it want even funny !!!!!!

But overall, i spent some good 'ole days at Fliegerhorst !!!!!!!!!

[SP4 Maldonado]

I heard a rumor there is no more Fleigerhorst ?????????????? I miss the pizza place (armandos ??) outside the front gate and that bar next to the 'rendezvous'......Sooo many good memories !!!!!!