Thursday, January 12, 2012

U.S. Army Hospital Muenchweiler (Germany) - 1960


The main gate of the post, the ever-manned gate through which you could not exit without a pass issued by an officer or certain NCO's.  The unauthorized hole in the fence that led to Viktor's Gasthaus (mentioned in my previous post) would have been to the right, down about 1/2 mile.  If you left the main gate the road led you to the village of Muenchweiler, pictured on the postcard below.


80 comments:

  1. Top photo looks a wee bit bleakish...and sweet colour in the postcard..

    however 'tis a tad dangerous to judge books and so forth by their covers...there is joy is that that appears bleak...and bleakness in that that appears joyfilled...

    Did you become fluent in German?

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    1. I was born there on Dec 11, 1961.
      Youngest of 7. My father was a Capt then. It's hard to find pictures of the base.

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    2. I lived there between 66-69. Went to 1 st and 2nd grade in the stand alone building, and 3rd grade in the main building that also had the chapel, px, theatre, hospital and mess hall. My dad ran the mess hall and I remember going there for field trips and thanksgiving. I would go buy marbles and candy necklaces in the village by going through the fence and back. Used to sled down the hill and hope to stop before hitting the fence. I loved it.

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    3. We were there 1957-1960 - also went to 3rd grade there and enjoyed sledding down the hill. Don't forget the bowling alley where kids could bowl Saturday mornings, and the baseball field where the youth could have games. We rode our bikes to the village to buy what we called "chalk" - candy sticks that were close to sweet tarts, and gummy bears. Good way for a kid to learn the money.

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  2. I was stationed there from 1961 to 1963, That whole in the fence was still there back then. Viktor's Gasthaus was a great place to have a beir and get some very good German food dishes and get away from the standard Army chow.You mention a previous post above, would like to see any other pictures info you might have I was with the 225th Station Hospital unit.

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    1. Hi Anonymous - I do have just a few other pictures from Muenchweiler Hospital; I'll try to find them and post them on the blog in a few days or if you want to send me an email at fitzmar@aol.com I'll send them to you in a return email. Yes, I'd love to back to Viktor's and have a weiner schnitzel and a Lowenbrau! I worked at the "After Five Club" on post as a waiter and my co-waiter was a German frau. She would holler to the bartender "Zwei Looven" and it took me months before I realized she was ordering, in proper German pronunciation, two Lowens! I did another post about Muenchweiler and will look for it and post here a link to it when I find it. Thanks for writing and stirring great memories for me.

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  3. My father was attached to the U.S. Army Hospital 1960-1961. In fact my sister was born there in 1960. I'm looking for any other Army brats from that time or anyone living on the economy at that time. Does Camp WACAYA ring a bell with anyone? Or how about the Rung family?

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    1. Hi Sydney - What does the WACAYA stand for? The name Rung doesn't ring a bell ... that sounds like some attempt at a pun. The only youngsters I knew well in my time at Muenchweiler were Philip (Pip) and Adrian Alden, sons of my boss Warrant Officer Phil Alden; they were about 12 and 10 years old at the time. What was your father's name?

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    2. My son was born there in 1967.

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    3. Our family was stationed there from October 1962-April 1964. My youngest sister was born there. There were eight of us kids. My dad was Sgt Harold Sternburg. My brothers were Johnny, Gary, Jeanie Augustine. Does anyone remember us....great times at the Canteen!!!! My email is pprbackwriter69@yahoo.com.

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    4. My daughter was born there in 1960

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    5. I was born there in 1961 my father was stationed there from 1960-1962 Michael Ramaglia, he was an MP.

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  4. George I just sent u an email.

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  5. was there 67. went to pirmisens school. wondering about murdock macgiver, chuck caldwall and the feathersons. Great kids. lots of fun. Paul

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    1. I knew Chuck Caldwell when our family liver there; late '68-mid '70
      Ed

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    2. Knew chuck Caldwell David Adair David Quinn pam long Cecily Lehman there 68 69 70

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  6. Used to roll a snow ball up and block the gate to munchweiler. Catch hell from base co.

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  7. I was born either in that hospital or in Pirmasens.Only saw my birth certificate once and it has since been lost. Was born in August 1963 but lived mostly in Bad Aibling(east of Munich) till 1975.

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    1. I was a medic on ward 12A from 1956 to 1960 My name is Ray Kempinski

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    2. Hi Ray, I must have been there the same time period, I remember several of the people that worked in the hospital, Capt. Margaret Shea, Capt. Kugler both Nurses. Master Sergeant Nils Nilsson, Sargent Ed Rowe, who was the Ward Master, my best friend was Heriberto (Pancho) Maldonado. I don’t recall you, but we must crossed paths. John Botz

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  8. Opasheno Aug 23,2016 I was stationed At the 225th Oct 1956 to Aug 15th 1958. There was a little hotel/gasthaus down the road to Pirmasens. The best oxtail soup and rehsteak I ever had. I think the name was Hombrunnerhof Hotel Miss all you guys!

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    1. I was stationed there from October 1957 to December of1958, anybody out there that served in that same period? John Botz

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    2. I was stationed there from 1956 to 1960. I worked on ward 12A My name is Ray Kempinski

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    3. Does anyone remember Clarence "Pete" Gates? Believe he was a captain with Medical services. I understand he had a small golf course built on the base. Was there around 1959 through 1963 I believe. He was my grandfather, my mother was in 3rd-6th grade while there.

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    4. Capt. Gates was my boss and a fine man. My name is John White and I was stationed there from 1960-1962. I played golf with your Grandfather and I caddied for him. He wrote a nice college recommendation for me when I was getting discharged. He was in charge of medical services and I was a clerk in the same office. We had a great relationship. I remember having dinner at his home.

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    5. John White again. My e-mail address is jswhite1719@verizon.net. Love to hear from you and discuss your grandfather.

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    6. I was stationed at the 225 from Nov. 1958 to Feb. 1960. In headquarters with legal officer Capt. Billy R. Jefferson.

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    7. The Jefferson's were friends of my parents. They retired to Arkansas. Billy has since died, but I think his children are still living in Arkansas.

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  9. I too was born here, March 22nd 1967, or so I am told. I would love to get any photos of the hospital, bars and town. I lived here (army brat)for five years, and all I currently have is a photo of me in a little red peddle car with my adopted Opa and Oma(spelling?). Please send any photos or links to rf411@outlook.com

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  10. Our Dad was stationed there Robert Serles and my Mom Juliet and my brother James Serles was born there in July of 1958.

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  11. I lived on base from 63-65. My best friends were Roy Ray and Wayne Mitchell. I went to school in Pirmasens and was Captain of the Safety Patrol. (That was a big deal back then)

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    1. Bill do you remember Johnny or Gary Augustine...they were in the Boy Scouts at Muchenweiler. We were there from 1962-1964? My brothers were good friends of the Chaplain's son.

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    2. Hi Bill, Roy is my brother! We lived in the same stairwell... great memories.

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  12. In army bases in Germany by state people have the access to many information like USAG Grafenwoehr represents the path to celebrity for the small town of Grafenwoehr, located in eastern Bavaria, close to the border with the Czech Republic.

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  13. I was born there in August of 1961 .. father was Sgt. Donald Henderson who was killed at the Officers New Years party 1961. Would really like to talk with anyone who knows anything about my father as I was only 3 months old when he died. My email: PQTmouse@sbcglobal.net

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  14. I was born there in Dec of 1967. My father was Sgt. Kenneth Greely. We were stationed there until 1973. I remember he use to work at the theater on the Pirmasens base.

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  15. I was born there in 1961 as my father, MP Charles Jensen (now deceased) was stationed there.

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    1. I too was born there in 1961. My dad (also deceased) was an MP Michael Ramaglia

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  16. I was born here in 1968. Bothparents in US Army

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  17. Born there in 1960 a n.v d would love to share any pictures of the base and town

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  18. HOW I miss this 21 April 1961.T could kick
    k my ass that i didn't go back. all together I've spent about 12 years, the last for about 3yrs,i was close not evening knowing...I'd like to go back or to K-Town...
    Heads up:

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  19. Our family lived in Muenchweiler from probably 1961 - 1964. My earliest memories are from there, playing in field in front of the housing. I remember it was several stories high. I can't remember any friends from there, we moved back to the states in 1964 when Dad, MSG James Harris, went to Vietnam. We returned to the area in 1966 - 68 and lived in Niedersimpton, lots of memories from there playing with the locals.

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  20. Thank you so much for sharing these pictures. I was born in the base hospital February of 1964.

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  21. Born in December of 64, sister in December of 65. Would love some pictures sent to wilsonrncpa@yahoo.com. Thanks.

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  22. I was stationed their from 1980 to 1984 and was instrumental in getting the club running. A lot of good people were in our unit
    SGT Kerry Ishmael

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  23. I was born in this hospital in October of 1960. My dad was a dentist on base. I know I have pictures taken on the base, but they are in storage. Some day, I will go through the pictures and post some.

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  24. I was born in the Muenchweiler Hospital on December 5th, 1960. My older sister was born there on September 30th, 1959. Our Father was Stationed there from 1958 - 1961.

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    1. I believe I was born there 2 March 1958, according to my birth certificate. My father was stationed there. James Fink. I’m trying to find photos.

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    2. I believe I was born there 2 March 1958, according to my birth certificate. My father was stationed there. James Fink. I’m trying to find photos.

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  25. I was born there September 24, 1964.

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    1. I was a medic there from 6/62-11/64 working in men's ward, sometimes during kids getting sick from a trip, maternity ward, and Pirmasen's Dispensary. Maybe I helped deliver you as two of the docs wanted to train we few maternity medics to assist in delivery's. Also had a young girl in open bay section back of delivery rooms by exit door. She was around 14-15 years old.
      I miss those days and the town along with the German people I worked with at the hospital and warehouse.

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  26. I was born there May 25, 1963. This is so cool to see the hospital I was born in, thank you so much!!!

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  27. I believe I was born there 2 March 1958, according to my birth certificate. My father was stationed there. James Fink. I’m trying to find photos. My email is faithfilled58@gmail.com

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  28. I was stationed there 1978-1980, and went back for a visit around 2009. The only buildings left at that time were the old EM club, the shell of the chapel, and part of one of the family housing buildings. Everything else was rubble, mud, and new homes being constructed.

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  29. I was born there 6/24/61 Joe Kinder

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  30. I was born there 03-27-1965.

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  31. I was born there in April of 1965 but my father was reassigned to the states. My mother used to talk about a place called Pirmasens? Can anybody tell me about this place and it's relation to this base? Thank you.


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    1. Pirmasens was an Army base where we went to JR High school. We lived in Muchenweiler 10 miles down the valley. Huge Army hospital there.

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    2. there is a Group on FB called Husterhoeh Kaserne , lots of memories about the Barracks (and surounding Area like Clausen,site59, Münchweiler,Fischbach ,K-Town ) and Pirm (Pirmasens Town )

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  32. Stationed there with my parents and three brothers 1964-1966

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  33. I was born there. October 25,1967. My father was a pilot and flew out of Pirmasans, I believe. When I was in my 40's,I was sitting next to a gentleman at a bar in Vancouver, Washington. We got to talking, turns out he worked as a nurse (maybe a medic) at the hospital there in 1967. Army life never ceases to amaze me.

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  34. Thank you for posting the pictures! My Dad was stationed at 225 hospital 1961-62 John walvoord

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  35. My brother was stationed
    There in the 60's does anyone
    Remember Michael shampoo we called
    Him junior. He married a German
    Girl named her kinda and stayed
    In munchweiler until he passed
    In 2020 and where can we get a
    Obituary?

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  36. Hello All...!! I am searching for any clear pictures of the post front entry, the Hospital and or the Town...My husband was born at the hospital in July 62'...He has never actually sent any pictures of anything in that area...I would love to get my hands on some items for his Bornday this year...!! Blessings to All and Thank You...!!

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  37. I was born at the Army Hospital on January 30,1958. I would love any information and photos of the base and the hospital. Thank you.Cordelia Wright Albritton.

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  38. I was born there in 1959. My father, Jack Nanney was stationed at that base. We left when I was at the age of three, so I don’t have any memories of it. I am actually going back next month for a visit to see where I was born and the country. Realize the base is no longer there but maybe get some history.

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    1. I was stationed there from Oct.1958 to Dec 1959, anybody out there that same time? John Botz

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  39. Hi Christine, Were you in the Army, or a dependent? John Botz

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  40. I was a dependant - 3rd grade thru 5th grade

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  41. My Dad was an Optometrist at the Hospital - Dr ? Capt Paul E Marcotte

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  42. Hi Christine, Nice of you to reply, I was a medic who worked on a ward, I don’t recall your father although we might have crossed paths. I am retired now 84 yrs old, I really liked it at the hospital, did a fair amount of traveling. In Europe when I was there. Thank you for the info. John Botz

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    1. Wow!! Been looking awhile others born in Muenchweiler.
      My daddy was a medic at 225th, 1962-1966. His name was Harold Shipp.
      I was born in 62. My brother 64.
      Our parents always told us good things about bring in Germany. Except mom's didn't care for the cold weathet

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    2. I was a medic at the 225th from 1962-65. My boss the last year was Spec 7 Shipp. Very professional and a nice guy.

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    3. John; My name is John White and I was stationed there from 1960-1962. I was a clerk in the warehouse and played a lot of Basketball and fast pitch Softball. I'm in touch with Don Franchini and Andy Swearingen who were also stationed there about the same time. My e-mail address is jswhite1719@verizon.net. I'm 85 years old.

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  43. My name is Danny Norris. No relation to chuck. It was very nice to find this site, but as it may....the only site i knew was site 59. We called it the rock. I wasnt there in the 50s or 60s.I was lucky enough to be stationed there in 84-85,with 330th ord. I loved and truely miss that base.

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  44. I was born there December 23, 1959. My father was a captain at the time and retired in 1986 with one star.

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    1. Sorry left off my name. Rick Childs

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