7th US Army Non Commissioned Officers Academy
Quote from jkwebster06 on February 16, 2024, 9:55 pmCliff, No Yank medals but did receive a Graduation Certificate, a leather bound swagger stick, and a "leather" bound scrapbook with masses of photos taken during the Course. It was a really good pictorial display of events from day 1 to the Course completion - when I became SSM "A" Sqn I put it on a wee table outside the Sqn Office for anyone interested to have a look - you may remember it ?I think it lasted a week before some barsteward removed it . A shame because the only pics I had were all in that book, no use to anyone else but obviously someone had a serious grudge but without the guts to confront me.
Anyway, Part 5 next week ! John (JKW)
Cliff, No Yank medals but did receive a Graduation Certificate, a leather bound swagger stick, and a "leather" bound scrapbook with masses of photos taken during the Course. It was a really good pictorial display of events from day 1 to the Course completion - when I became SSM "A" Sqn I put it on a wee table outside the Sqn Office for anyone interested to have a look - you may remember it ?I think it lasted a week before some barsteward removed it . A shame because the only pics I had were all in that book, no use to anyone else but obviously someone had a serious grudge but without the guts to confront me.
Anyway, Part 5 next week ! John (JKW)
Quote from jkwebster06 on February 22, 2024, 9:49 pmPart 5 Back to the Training area, in preparation for an Escape & Evasion exercise we were given a demonstration of what the war dogs (German Shepherds) were capable of - held on thick chains we were told these dogs had been in Vietnam. Seemingly placid, suddenly a dog handler uttered some war cry ( we were told it was telling the dog that the guy padded up was a Viet Cong!). The dog snarled violently, was released & tore into the "stooge", ripping his padding to bits. Just to watch was terrifying, more so when we were told that these dogs would be loose and looking out for us during the following E&E exercise. We were split into small groups and despatched at intervals into the darkness. I was determined to be the best Escape & Evasion student, terrified of being savaged by the dogs during the 24 hour exercise! I did everything with my small team to evade capture, criss crossing streams ,wading through water, dropping aniseed & even paraffin at intervals. At the end, very few teams actually evaded capture, mine did thankfully, and on debrief it transpired that at no time during the exercise were the dogs actually released, looking for us yes, but held by the handlers at all times ! We didn't know that of course, so it made for good, realistic training but wow, did it concentrate the minds! Just a short Part this time, but more to follow.......John (JKW)
Part 5 Back to the Training area, in preparation for an Escape & Evasion exercise we were given a demonstration of what the war dogs (German Shepherds) were capable of - held on thick chains we were told these dogs had been in Vietnam. Seemingly placid, suddenly a dog handler uttered some war cry ( we were told it was telling the dog that the guy padded up was a Viet Cong!). The dog snarled violently, was released & tore into the "stooge", ripping his padding to bits. Just to watch was terrifying, more so when we were told that these dogs would be loose and looking out for us during the following E&E exercise. We were split into small groups and despatched at intervals into the darkness. I was determined to be the best Escape & Evasion student, terrified of being savaged by the dogs during the 24 hour exercise! I did everything with my small team to evade capture, criss crossing streams ,wading through water, dropping aniseed & even paraffin at intervals. At the end, very few teams actually evaded capture, mine did thankfully, and on debrief it transpired that at no time during the exercise were the dogs actually released, looking for us yes, but held by the handlers at all times ! We didn't know that of course, so it made for good, realistic training but wow, did it concentrate the minds! Just a short Part this time, but more to follow.......John (JKW)
Quote from DavidFullard on March 1, 2024, 12:50 pmWaiting for ‘more to follow’.
Waiting for ‘more to follow’.
Quote from jkwebster06 on March 3, 2024, 5:17 pmPart 6......It wasn't all work, inspections & training without some play ! Weekends I remember were more relaxed & a time for some shopping at the PX shop, plus the chance to go to the PX Night Club ! I honestly don't remember too much about the Club except it was very plush, a far cry from our NAAFI's, and had very pretty young ladies waiting on us ! I think it closed sharp at 2300 hrs, but again there's not much in the memory bank of the Club, I don't even recall if we were sold alcohol or not, but they probably did, hence my lack of detail recall !!
Have I mentioned the Barber Shop ? On the 1st day we were all sent to the barbers where at least 8 German barbers were ready to scalp us . The Yanks were used to it, but being a young buck I was horrified to see the way heads were shaved, particularly the sides which were called "sidewalls". I caused a scene by refusing to submit to such treatment. Threatened with RTU I told them I'd take photographs of so-called haircuts & knew my CO would agree with me - I was bluffing of course, I didn't even have a camera ! Anyway, I heard the PS tell one of the barbers to just go through the motions so the other students didn't rebel as well. Bear in mind, in prep for the Course I HAD received a crew cut, so felt that was enough, whereas the Yanks , as well as sidewalls (as white car tyres ) they were shaved down to the wood.
The Yanks were decent guys, totally ignorant of most things English though - I remember one night, asleep on the floor in my Greatcoat for the few hours allowed, when I was shaken awake with "Limey, I just can't sleep, what is the American equivalent of that word you use a lot here "bloody" ! I did reply but used other words to do so LOL.
Amazing too, just how many Americans thought London WAS England, no other counties, with Wales, Scotland or N. Ireland just States of the UK ! They also thought we had fog every day - now of course, their knowledge is much greater, but IMO they are very insular, totally unaware & uninterested in what happens in the UK, N. Ireland a possible exception to that rule.
Anyway, Graduation Day approaches and I've never seen such bullsh*t involved - we thought we were good/bad at it, the Yanks leave us standing.
Drill sessions daily, I was selected to be the Adjutant for the day, although chosen I reckon because my uniform (No1 Dress, peaked cap, boots n spurs) stood out from everyone else's). It was deemed an honour though, so whatever the reason I accepted the role happily, which involved giving the orders out on the Drill Square to the assembled troops. It was basically a Passing Out Parade, some awards handed out and we all received our Graduation Certificates. Out of the 132 that started I know a fair number were RTU'd, whilst some jacked in but at least 100 of us got the coveted Certificates, so a decent number passed off.
Once over, plenty of back slapping of course, autograph/address exchanges, and for me, numerous messages to call in whenever you pass by ....Florida, Texas, California etc !!
After a celebration meal, pack up and next morning get my transport back to Detmold ,via Munich, with many memories, some of which I've shared on here, others lost in the mists of time (it was 1967 !) and/ or in my scrapbook stolen from the A Sqn office corridor some years later.
My thoughts on the Course ? - enlightening in so many ways, it certainly broadened my mind, helped me as a person, but I suggest not a great deal of practical use to a budding tank commander or even a potential future RSM !
I AM very glad to have done the Course though, it gave me a good insight into how others go about their training and their way of life. My only advice would be to tell any future British student is to take a bloody sleeping bag !! John (JKW)
Part 6......It wasn't all work, inspections & training without some play ! Weekends I remember were more relaxed & a time for some shopping at the PX shop, plus the chance to go to the PX Night Club ! I honestly don't remember too much about the Club except it was very plush, a far cry from our NAAFI's, and had very pretty young ladies waiting on us ! I think it closed sharp at 2300 hrs, but again there's not much in the memory bank of the Club, I don't even recall if we were sold alcohol or not, but they probably did, hence my lack of detail recall !!
Have I mentioned the Barber Shop ? On the 1st day we were all sent to the barbers where at least 8 German barbers were ready to scalp us . The Yanks were used to it, but being a young buck I was horrified to see the way heads were shaved, particularly the sides which were called "sidewalls". I caused a scene by refusing to submit to such treatment. Threatened with RTU I told them I'd take photographs of so-called haircuts & knew my CO would agree with me - I was bluffing of course, I didn't even have a camera ! Anyway, I heard the PS tell one of the barbers to just go through the motions so the other students didn't rebel as well. Bear in mind, in prep for the Course I HAD received a crew cut, so felt that was enough, whereas the Yanks , as well as sidewalls (as white car tyres ) they were shaved down to the wood.
The Yanks were decent guys, totally ignorant of most things English though - I remember one night, asleep on the floor in my Greatcoat for the few hours allowed, when I was shaken awake with "Limey, I just can't sleep, what is the American equivalent of that word you use a lot here "bloody" ! I did reply but used other words to do so LOL.
Amazing too, just how many Americans thought London WAS England, no other counties, with Wales, Scotland or N. Ireland just States of the UK ! They also thought we had fog every day - now of course, their knowledge is much greater, but IMO they are very insular, totally unaware & uninterested in what happens in the UK, N. Ireland a possible exception to that rule.
Anyway, Graduation Day approaches and I've never seen such bullsh*t involved - we thought we were good/bad at it, the Yanks leave us standing.
Drill sessions daily, I was selected to be the Adjutant for the day, although chosen I reckon because my uniform (No1 Dress, peaked cap, boots n spurs) stood out from everyone else's). It was deemed an honour though, so whatever the reason I accepted the role happily, which involved giving the orders out on the Drill Square to the assembled troops. It was basically a Passing Out Parade, some awards handed out and we all received our Graduation Certificates. Out of the 132 that started I know a fair number were RTU'd, whilst some jacked in but at least 100 of us got the coveted Certificates, so a decent number passed off.
Once over, plenty of back slapping of course, autograph/address exchanges, and for me, numerous messages to call in whenever you pass by ....Florida, Texas, California etc !!
After a celebration meal, pack up and next morning get my transport back to Detmold ,via Munich, with many memories, some of which I've shared on here, others lost in the mists of time (it was 1967 !) and/ or in my scrapbook stolen from the A Sqn office corridor some years later.
My thoughts on the Course ? - enlightening in so many ways, it certainly broadened my mind, helped me as a person, but I suggest not a great deal of practical use to a budding tank commander or even a potential future RSM !
I AM very glad to have done the Course though, it gave me a good insight into how others go about their training and their way of life. My only advice would be to tell any future British student is to take a bloody sleeping bag !! John (JKW)