I was a 31m20, handled carrier and teletype equip. B36 was my truck number. Didn't mess with the radio's. Trained on the old Trac 24 radio but never learned the Ang 50 that replaced the 24.

Our company (B) supported the radio Hawaii a lot and when in the field we were in the area of Hawaii site as I recollect.

Ended up making E5 became a squad leader. Remember a few of the guys names and think of them occasionally, so much for keeping in touch as we all promised.

Good memories, drank too much on occasion, young and full of piss and vinegar chasing 6m60 girls which I never caught.

The consolidated mess hall fed close to 800 to 900 per meal. All of the 440th signal Bn ate there along with C Company of the 26th Signal Bn; the photo unit which was at Kleber Kasern; and maybe one or two other units. The Armor unit at the Kaserne had there own mess hall. At one time we had 48 cooks until the commands found out and then reduced that amount real fast.

I do have a picture of one of our Thanksgiving meals I will send to you if you would like. I would have to search for it though.

It sure is good to bring back old memories. I still keep in contact with a cook I served with, Earl D Wittmer, from Neb. I lost contact with a lot of my unit.

When I arrived in Germany, it was pretty laid back. Things changed dramatically - the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia and COL Morrison took over 7th Army Communication Command. All 5 of the Signal Battalions in the Command failed the first Command Maintenance Management Inspection after he took over. Our duty days were 12 hrs on/12 hrs off 7 days a week until we passed the CMMI.

Our Company spent its fair share of time in the woods at Hohenecken, Wattenheim, Bad Kreuznach, and other areas, on FTXs. Shortly after my arrival in Germany, D Companies of most support units in Europe were re-assigned to Fort Hood, TX along with 3rd Armored Cav and others (Operation REFORGER). In December 1968, all of those re-assigned units were moved back to Germany for Operation Carbide Ice/Reforger I in the Hohenfels-Grafenwoehr area. The move back from the States took only 48 hrs courtesy of the newly deployed C5. Hohenfels was a unique experience, we arrived in the area along with a 2-foot snow fall which changed to ankle deep mud in about 48 hrs.

Some of the people I remember were LTC J. T. Knox, Bn Commander; MAJ Keating, Bn XO; 1SG Robert Kusterer; SSG Roger "Pete" Herrmann. My best buddy, SGT Norman Nichols, re-upped for OCS and a 2nd tour in 'Nam; he stopped writing about 6 months into his tour. Nick's name isn't on The Wall nor is he listed as MIA. I am still trying to locate some of my card playing buddies from the 440th as well as a couple of guys from 541st Signal Construction (formerly C Co., 25th Signal Bn). I did come into contact with a member of the group, Miles Notz, completely by accident.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I entered into the U.S. Army on 18 September 1967. I went through training at Ft. Campbell Ky. 101st Airborn D-10-2. I then went to Ft Gordon Ga. to train in my mos. I was a 31m20.

I then went to Germany and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Co, 440th Sig. Bn. A few weeks after I was assigned to the unit I was asked by the Company Commander if I would like to be assigned to a remote como station that was located about 35km from our unit. I told him yes. I was then driven to the site, Hill 517 better known as Hawaii Site 49.

This site was fairly new when I arrived. We had a new barracks {6 rooms} two men per room. We also had a new kitchen (mess hall) and latrine, plus a day room.

The equipment we had was AN/GRC 50 radios, AN/TCC-7's the carrier equipment, one TCC-8 repeater and a FM radio Net. We also had a SB/675 for the land line.

I have a list of names of the people I knew and worked with while I was assigned to the site. I also have some pictures.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY

440th SIGNAL BATTALION

APO 09227

BRIEFING HAWAII DEMOD 49

"HAWAII SITE 49" is a relay, terminal and demodulation station with R.W.I facilities. It operates a total of FIVE RADIO SHOTS, THREE TERMINAL AN/TCC's repeater cable land-line with TCC-11 repeaters in normal operations.

The radio systems are A3ADMI, A049VI, and A349VI. The A3ADMI is a mixed radio and cable combination with a radio shot to back up the cable system. The terminals A049VI, and A039VI terminates in SB-675 with lines going to various locations that are patched through a 50 pair cable to CENTAG is under ground from HAWAII SITE to CENTAG and to units east of the RHINE RIVER from the CENTAG location.

System A3ADMI originates in HEIDELBERG and terminates in MANNHEIM with radios from HEIDELBERG to HAWAII SITE and cable from HAWAII SITE to MANNHEIM. It has radio back-up from HAWAII to MANNHEIM. The cable system uses the AN/TTC-8 repeater with TCC-11 unmanned repeaters in the cable.

System 4900V1 is radio from VOGELWEH to HAWAII terminating at HAWAII's patch and is patched to other locations such as MANNHEIM, HEIDELBERG and CENTAG.

System A049V1 originates in HEILDELBERG and terminates at HAWAII patch with lines patched through the same as with the 4900V1 system.

System A349V1 originates in MANNHEIM and als terminates at HAWAII and branches out as the two previous mentioned systems.

During FTX's and CRASH OUTS, systems are maintained by A company of the 440th Signal Battalion with additional systems such as 4241V1, 4209V1, and 4292V1 with switch board and COMM CENTER FACILITIES. It gives us an additional three {3} to five {5} systems plus continual R.W.I. capabilities. All systems operate on a 12 channel carrier basic.

Power is commerical during normal operation with SF-10 - 10 KW generators as back up. The power is 220 volts with step down power to 110 volts a. c. on FTX's, all radios are on commerical power and carrier systems are on generator power. Using all equipment during an FTX over-loads commerical power facilities and cause circuit breakers to trip causing outages. Four SF 10 generators are in stand by ready on a moment's notice in case of commerical power failure. Six generators are in reserve.

The men of HAWAII DEMOD are proud of there designation as "PRIDE OF THE 440th" and continually strives to improve their facilities, both on a self-help basis and in conjuction with the army engineers. Recent accomplishments include a paved road to the site, a new paved HELI-PAD, a new all-electric mess hall and kitchen complex, and new billets. Projects underway include camouflage of buildings on the site. construction of a POL SUMP, and landscape beautification.

Recreation facilities for the men of HAWAII DEMOD include a dayroom equipped with pool table, ping-pong table, fuss-ball machine. Nightly full length movies are shown at no cost to the men. HAWAII is a designated theater of the AAFMPS. The work shift rotation also allows each man to visit KAISERSLAUTERN at least once a week to purchase px items. Nightly pass runs off duty personnel are made to the nearby town of BAD DURKHEIM.