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15 Comments

  1. I have found your website to be informative and evocative of my own experience of living in Berlin. My father was stationed there from 1971-74. As such, I can remember many of the sights, sounds, and smells of West Berlin at the time. Thank you for invoking those cherished memories of an elementary school kid (army brat)!

  2. Hi, RW. I was in the 287th from April 1970 through May, 1971. Your name is familiar but I can’t quite place you. Were you a railway MP? If so, I think I remember that the railway guys all roomed together so contact would have been limited. I was in the general group that did motor patrols. Bob Bantle, my roommate was a guard at the stockade which was located over at the McNair Barracks compound. You may or may not remember him.
    I enjoyed seeing your pictures and the video you put together for Berlin 1969 on YouTube. I haven’t seen anyone from my days at the 287th since I left in 1971.
    Alan Smith

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the YouTube videos that I pieced together for the re-activation of the 287th at Fort Riley.

      When you arrived in the 287th I lived in the USCOB Billets, attached to HHC, Spl Trps. We were on the top floor, above Det A. Later in 1970 I moved to the villa at Sven-Hedin Strasse 11. I was around Andrews quite a bit and knew some MP’s from my time with the Rail Transportation Office. Sometimes I ate with the MP’s mess. Some MP’s might remember my train rides from Bremen to Berlin because I had to share some of the delicious, but not refrigerated, food that my German relatives packed on my visits to their farm.

      At BUSMVA reunions the MP’s always get together for a special dinner. We suspect that they tell stories about coping with the rest of us.

  3. Hi, a question: the USCOB had a residence at 14-16 Pacelliallee and a guest/summer house on the Wannsee. Is this Commandants Guest Residence that featured here on this website that same house? Thanks. Bill

  4. Dear Sir,
    my name is Francesco Clerici. I am a Ph.D. student living and working in Berlin. I would like to contact you in order to ask for permission to use one photograph posted on this website for a paper I am writing. In it, I also discuss the history of the Anhalter Bahnhof. I searched for a direct contact on your website, but could not find any. I hope this message will reach you.
    Best regards
    Francesco

  5. This is a great website. I am researching Ludwiglust and wondered if you had a minute to speak to me about your article and Ludwiglust.

  6. Hello, I notice that some of your photos are in Wikipedia under a CC license. Is it possible to secure permission to use other photos from the site? Thanks,

    1. It depends on the proposed use. If it is for a commercial project I charge the Associated Press archive rate, but usually can provide a larger file than in the website. If it is for a non-profit, educational, or hobby use and can be picked up from the site I just ask for a copy of the publication and a photo credit. A couple of times I have asked for corrections. The only party that has refused a correction so far is the U.S. Army.

  7. Hi rwr,

    I was stationed in Berlin from 1977-81 & again 1994-1990. I worked on Andrews (with Det A) and Roosevelt later – loved being there. You have some nice photos (esp. Bornholmer X’g and the Duty Train) and great writing here. Thanks.
    I am now a historian and author who’s wishing I took more photos because I’m in the process of writing a guide to Cold War Berlin in words and photos. Just got back from a trip in June – quite a change. All the best.

    I’m here too: https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Stejskal/author/B00NXOQG4Y?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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