Welcome

During my time 2nd Finance there was a collective sense that we were all in this together. It seemed like a sociological study I observed and was part of. This photo was taken just before I arrived.

Groups coalesced and cliques were formed but we were all individuals. Overall, there was little animosity toward each other. The Brothers found their commonality and expressed it in different ways. Photo credit: Ken Ryerson.

Travel was an important part of keeping our sanity. We would all put in for a weekend or week pass, jump in someone's car and just drive to neighboring countries or just out in the country. Photo credit: me.

Sports brought us all together to defeat the larger teams. This may have been football. I'm second row, third from the left.

Some shenanigans at a house party. David Virtue, Lloyd DeShields, me, Al Peppery and maybe Dan Krull.

Germany is a beautiful country. Here's me and Eddie Reed walking back to my VW out in the countryside. Just getting away for a while.

My most interesting visit was to East Berlin at a time when people were escaping over the wall and through tunnels. I flew Pan AM into the famous Tempelhof Airport. Tempelhof is the site of the Berlin Airlift where, During the Soviet Berlin Blokade, the US and UK dropped food and fuel into Berlin. The time I spent in Berlin, especially East Berlin, was unforgettable.

The back of this postcard reads, "East check-pointy at Friedrich Street, crossing point for foreigners."

As I entered the city I had to show how much currency I had and, as I left, I to show receipts to account for the difference in cash holdings. I also had to go through the same checkpoint before midnight the same day I arrived. I was required to wear my Class A uniform.

I was informed at Checkpoint Charlie that, as a member of the allied forces, I was obliged to strictly follow many rules, which included no taking photos of public transportation, The Wall, and public officials. I had to wear my dress uniform. While there, avoiding public transportation altogether, I walked around taking photos and watched in amazement knowing that this was a communist country people were risking their lives trying to escape. 

The reverse of this post card I purchased from East Berlin says, "They can look like this or like that. How they look across depends also on us." An attempt to show the best face.

 I knew to visit Alexanderplatz and have lunch at the historic Dreh-Restaurant Sphere revolving restaurant in the tower with incredible views. West Berlin was artsy and lively, East Berlin was drab and slow. Compared to West Berlin, East Berlin was like living in a black and white city. I also was fixated on the Neo-classical Brandenburg Tour. Built in the late 1700s when it was part of Prussia, this is one of the most symbolic monoliths in all of Germany. Politically and historically associated throughout its existence. Napoleon marched through it in 1806. Presidents from Reagan to Obama have spoken there. It has been through a lot and is currently regarded as a symbol of peace.

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