European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday july 6, 1994 Farewell to Berlin the stars and stripes Page 5at Wall s by Ron Jensen staff writer Berlin a the Jingle of a Telephone awoke Brig. Gen. Fredrick o. Hartel about Midnight on that August night Back in 1961. The caller wanted to know if it was True that russian tanks were pouring through checkpoint Charlie into West Berlin. Thinking quickly the general told his caller a we have a terrible connection a and Hung up. The commander of the . Army in Berlin then raced to checkpoint Charlie the american crossing Point. There were no tanks but trouble was afoot. East germans were beginning construction of what would become known As the Berlin Wall. A there was to Wall. They just had concertina wire a said Hartel who was in Berlin on monday along with 20 other former commanding generals to attend the final fourth of july Parade. The Berlin brigade and All of the forces of the world War ii allies Are leaving Berlin by the summer s end. Nearly All of the former commanders served in Berlin after the Berlin Wall was in place in the City that was the Symbol of the cold War. Those interviewed said they always thought that the Wall would fall and that Germany would be reunited. None said he thought it would happen when it did. But Hartel 88, who now lives in Williamsburg va., said he did predict even in 1961 How the Wall would fall. After the Wall was up he said he would travel through it to East Berlin every Day to a show the american the East berliners would ask him when the Wall would come Down. A i said look that Wall is not going tits. A a. A amps Kon Georga two former commanders in Berlin Fredrick o. Hartel left and Raymond a Haddock reminisce monday about the Berlin Wall s Rise and fall. Come Down by military action a he said he told them that Only political will could smash it. A a and Quot he told them Quot it Wilt come Down a lot faster than it went at Hartels Side during the reception at the Harnack House the Berlin officers club was Raymond e. Haddock a major general commanding in Berlin when the Wall came Down in 1989. A i was holding a meeting with the Dresdner Bank that evening Quot he recalled. His chief of staff came in and told him that the Wall was opening. Haddock a a not believing the report told the officer to double Check. That second report confirmed the historic news. A from that moment on we went Many. Times to the Wall to Greet people and say Welcome a Haddock said. A people would shake my hand with tears streaming Down their time and again they thanked him and All americans for being in Berlin so they could once again know Freedom. A it was in actuality the end of the confrontation that was the cold War a Haddock said. Jack d. Woodall was a major general commanding the Berlin brigade in 1987 when president Reagan came to town to Tell soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev to a tear Down this Wall a a we did no to expect that within two years a said Woodall who was making his first visit to Berlin since leaving in August 1987. Leroy n. Suddath or. Commanded the Berlin brigade As a major general from november 1981 to july 1984. A i always firmly believed that Germany would be reunited a he said. A i never expected it when it when r. Clean Tice was a major general commanding the brigade from september 1974 to june 1976, terrorists in West Germany were a bigger worry than the communists in East Germany. A i guess there was no Way of predicting in what time the Wall would come Down Quot he said. A there was no doubt in my mind that free people would eventually although the former commanders said the reason for the Berlin brigade s departure is Good they help but feel a bit melancholy. A a it a a very sad Day for All of us a Suddath said. Tice said the fourth of july ceremony was an emotional one. A when the soldiers walked by the reviewing stand a he said a fall of us old generals had a tear in our run deep for 2 Bondsmen by Joseph Owen Staft writer ,. Berlin a he lived Here Only three years and left nearly a decade ago but sgt. 1st class Michael p. Herrmann can to shake the feeling that he is a Berliner. A this is Home for me. I got married Here. My ancestors Are from Here. I Learned How to be a Soldier Here a the Mankato kan., native said Herrmann served in the 298th army band known colloquially As the berlin1 brigade band from 1982 to 1985. Now stationed in the United states he is temporarily Back in Berlin playing his euphonium at a final series of army festivities. So is sgt. 1st class Dan a. Hermann a trombone player assigned to Berlin from 1977 to 1980 and 1985 to 1989. Hermann of Rockford 111., also is of German descent. Two of his children were born in Berlin. His sister served Here at Tempelhof a. When Herrmann spoke of his attachment to the City Hermann added simply a i was going to say the same Herrmann and Hermann obviously have a lot in common. In addition to a similar last name they As members of the Berlin band claim a special affiliation with the City. The 298th was the first american unit to enter the City As part of the . Occupation Force in 1945. And later this year it will be one of the last to leave. Army officials in Berlin estimated that the unit played marches Dixieland or traditional German music to about 5 million people each year. The performances did no to Stop with formal presentations. After a Parade the band often broke into a Glen Miller tune endearing them to berliners who first heard such music during the Early occupation years. A a they a do something totally off the Wall a no Pun. A amps Dave Casey looking Cool in the heat members of the Berlin brigade band March in review at the fourth of july Celebration. Intended a Hermann said of the musicians. During his two Berlin Tours Hermann spent his spare time playing in a German polka band and compiling Sheet music from . Military sources and from East Berlin. Herrmann who joined the army specifically for the Opportunity to come to Berlin took advantage of the assignment to meet his relatives in nearby Beelitz part of the former East Germany Back in 1984 when the Berlin Wall was still up. His official duties included participation in the Brandenburg express a Rock and pop group that played at picnics and other informal functions. Despite the bands connection with berlins past its members were Only vaguely aware of the units historic status he said. A we knew that that was the Deal but it was just one of the things that you done to think about because you be got a Job to do and you do it a Herrmann said. One reason for that attitude might be that serving in Berlin required greater than average self discipline. A Overall the standards of conduct and duty performance were higher than any other place in be served in the military a Herrmann said. A if you messed up you were
