Charlie Battery - Kleingartach
The Launching Area - 1959 - 1969
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Detail Of Sections Main Perimeter Security Gate
On the far left of the photo just above the cable spools is the Sections Inner Perimeter Security Guard Shack. There was a personnel gate entrance, as well as the main gate for vehicle access.
Just past the guard shack around and up the hill was Alpha Section. To the near right one can see the Revetment and Generator Shed of Bravo Section, and in the distance one can see the Missile Hanger of Charlie Section.
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Charlie Battery's Baseball Stadium
We had a great baseball field, with many great games to be enjoyed. The area just to the left is where the Battery Group Picture was taken,.
Also, the concrete pad was the basketball court and part of the sports complex. You can view photos of the baseball and basketball teams on our “Archives” page if you “Click Here”, they represent an example of America's finest...! Just click on each team photo and it will appear.
Bravo Section's missile hanger is seen behind the berm, and one of the guard towers is to the very right of the photo.
Notice the gap in the treen a little to the right of the Guard Tower. That is the gap for the LCT to communicate with the IFC, which one can just make out there in the far distance.
The gap in the trees above Bravo Sections Missile Hanger is for their direct line of sight as well.
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Sergeant Fath And Charlie Burgess
And just behind them, down in the valley below, is the Kleingartach, Niederhofen, Stetten, and Schwaigern road.
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Alpha Section Hercules Rear View - 1968
This actually a great view of Alpha Section and the relationship of the Missile hanger, launchers with missiles, and the crew revetment. Also, to the far left of the image, and out the back of the revetment one just see the Generator Shed.
Each section had its own diesel generator, which made them self sufficient and therefore not relying on an outside source for their electrical power needs.
When we had an alert the first task was to start the generator.
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Alpha Section Hercules Ever Ready - 1968
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PFC Neil Watson - Section Panel Operator
Neil Watson was kind of a mentor to me. He was the man who helped me learn to become a section panel operator. I think it's quite possible that Neil was the very first Section Panel Operator of Alpha Section, and I, replacing Neil, became the second.
He had a great sense of humor and we spent many an hour drinking beer in wild conversations about the irony of just about everything. He was from Baltimore, Maryland. Here's what I mean... Click Here.
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Alpha Section Panel
This was my office. I wanted to be a section panel operator from the first time I saw one back at my first station with 1st Missile Battalion, 52nd Artillery, at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Camp Hanford, Washington State. So I worked on making sure that would happen.
The first thing I had going for me was that the current panel operator, Neil Watson, (image above) was part of the group I used to hang out with. He basically showed me the ropes, and when it came time for him to rotate home I stepped in seemlessly.
The second thing I had going for me was SFC John Chambers. He helped me get section panel manuals from missile maintenance, so that I could be knowledgeable on a technical level. It was my experience that John Chambers was always supportive when one show initiative and was a self starters, I think he respected that in people
In this image the missile on launcher 2 is selected and being made ready to fire. The rounded rectangle at the bottom center of the panel has the flip down door open. This section of selectors, switches, and toggles, is where the section could manually fire the missiles if all the other systems failed, or lost communication. Can you figure out which one is the firing switch, hmmmm... I wonder... which one is it? Well, if you “Click Here” you will see a detail of the firing switches.
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Also, for a full light view of a section panel please “Click Here” for a good example.
Section panel operator was a lot more interesting job, and one was always involved in the loop of action, using communication headsets. We always seemed to do well in alert evaluations.
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On A Battalion Alert Exercise
Manning the 50 caliber and facing us is Spec 4 Robert Haile. After all, one never knew when the patrons at the “Gasthaus In The Woods” would finish their bier und wurst and attack. If you follow the gun barrel directly into the woods for a quarter mile or so that wonderful little oasis would appear. “Click Here” to view this charming place.
The GI laying down improving his mind is James Norris, however and so far, I can't make out the others from the back.
But there's hope, they say your mind and memory improves with age...! At least I think that's how it goes... and of course, I can't remember who “THEY” are...!
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Alpha Section Revetment With Emergency Shower
This image give a good clear illustration of the section revetment. The thick doors are also illustrated in a detail image that you can view if you “Click Here”.
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To help understand this section concrete shell configuration within the revetment we have provided an illustration of a revetment plan, so please “Click Here” to view that image.
The emergency shower unit stands by because in case of an accident with the Nike Ajax missiles. The Ajax were propelled by a rocket motor that used two different and highly toxic liquid acids. So in case of an accident related to these toxic fuels, the shower is there to help flood and defuse these toxic effects.
Also, the guy behind Neil Watson, sitting behing the 50 Caliber Machine gun is, I think, Spec 4 James Mullin... I think...!
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Neil Watson Ever Ready - 1960
Alpha Section Panel Operator sitting, smiling and in his armor protected down sleeping bag, ... ready to meet any foe!
Ready for a Moninger Neil...?
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