In This Issue...!

Our website continues to enjoy active participation and visits, both from old hands, as well as those who discover it for the first time. I am also pleased that our friends in Germany visit and use the website, which was always part of the original vision in its creation.

In fact one new visitor, from the kleingartach site in the mid-sixties, actually lives in Colorado Springs just a few blocks from the Academy Hotel, but didn't know of the reunion. So close, yet so far away, here's hoping they make it to the next Reunion this year in Huntsville, Alabama next Fall.

In this issue some of the topics we will be discussing are;

• Charlie Battery Website Business
• New additions to the website
• The U.S Army Historical Museum
• The approaching Reunion

Charlie Battery Website Business

We have a most pressing decision to make, one that needs everyone's attention and participation. The website domain name is about to expire, or be renewed, by July of this year.

When I first bought the “Domain Name” back in the spring of 2010 I only committed myself for a year, because I wasn't sure if it would even gain a following or participation. But as the site grew in content and popularity, it was clear that we needed to protect ourselves with a longer commitment. I knew that a Reunion in Branson was about to happen so I thought the best way to achieve a group decision was when they were altogether in one place. So I contacted Jim Fitzpatrick and explained the situation as asked him if he could poll the guys and see if they were interested in contributing to group renewal or extension of the website's domain name. As it turns out they were very enthusiastic and came through.

There were 10 core guys, all from the 1959-1961 time frame, and they gave 10 dollars each, and we were able to extend our contract with Go Daddy for another additional 5 years, which along with my year plus the 5 came to a total of years. Well, as previously stated, that time is rapidly coming to a conclusion. My how time flies when "yer are havin' fun".

So at this point I want to tell you all a little story. Originally Don Yarbrough had his Delta Battery website Domain Name registered. Unfortunately he experienced a rather serious health issue that forced him into the hospital with all focus at that time on his condition and recuperation.

Sadly at the same time his website Domain Name came due for renewal and he missed that deadline, which resulted in loss of his Domain Name and all of its content. It seems there are Domain Name “VULTURES”, who I guess, have software that allows them troll the web looking for websites that are about to expire. Then, when websites becomes available they suck them up and hold them for ransom. The “PINHEADS” that got Don's site want $500 before they will give it back to him.

Now back to the present, we would not lose our content because I have the site completely backed up, however, we would NOT want to lose our Domain Name. Therefore we as a group need to decide whether we want that scenario to occur. So you know where I am going with this and it's all about money. The more years we extend our Domain Name for the cheaper each individual year is, and with so many more people aware of, and interested in website, then small contributions from more people lighten the load.

To Be Continued...

New Website Additions - Kleingartach Area

To start there is a new photo in the barracks on page 4. It's a photo of someone on KP, and is the only image we have of the kitchen. Also, if anyone knows who the GI on KP is please let me know, and if you have any unique photos of any areas of the battery that are not now on the website please let me know and we can talk about it. Also, the photo I was sent is a copy of the original, and is not very well focused. I did what I could with it and it's not the best, but it's all we've got so far.

There are a number of new and interesting items in the Archives section. One is the original "Building Site Plan" that was from the archives of our good friend and military historian Thomas Schulz, of Heilbronn. Thomas has been a very important contributor of photos and documents pertaining to the origin, building, and history of Charlie Battery Kleingartach. Our history would be a much barer cupboard if we had not met Thomas Schulz. We are grateful Thomas for all of your hard work and willingness to share your efforts with us.

Another very unique and rare document came to us at the Reunion in Colorado Springs by way of Warrant Officer II Robin E. Smith (Retired), a former Electronics Specialist in the IFC. Much of what was Nike was created by the research and production of Western Electric. Early Nike technology was analog, an old radio tube type technology. This book illustrates and describes the transition from that older technology to the new digital technology. It is thought that this book is one of very few surviving today, so it is worth taking a look at. Robin is understandably protective of this book and we are extremely grateful for trusting it to my care so that I could scan it and make it into a pdf document. It has been safely returned to it owner, and I hope I got the above information correct, if I didn't I'm sure Robin will correct me.

And to top it off there is the very personal and interesting Archives document of the photo album of Francis J. DeGrado (1961-1962). This again was some more of the bounty of the last Reunion. (Now you see the real benefits of a great reunion). Francis had brought his album with him and when I saw it I expressed great interest and he trusted me to take it home with me to scan some representative examples the album. So be sure to take a look at this one, it really great to see how he chronicled his experiences at Charlie Battery with humor and a keen eye.

The Guest book continues to live up to all of my hopes and expectations. If you have not seen it lately, you'll see what I mean by making the website inclusive to both those who served and those who shared their neighborhood with us, and even including those searching for information of lost fathers, and even finding some, giving them closure to their lives.           >>>