In garrison, we had a technical supply (repair parts for units of the 2nd BDE), a radiator/glass repair shop - they could also do body repair & general welding, small engine repair (generators), smalls arms (M16, M60, etc.) repair, radio/field phone (commo) repair, fire control (tank sights and main gun hydraulics), a shop where we would exchange & then rebuild wheel cylinders, carbs, alternators, and then the main automotive shop - replace engines, transmissions, clutches, axles, replace head gaskets, injectors and the like.

We were authorized 3 (but needed & used 4) automotive contact teams that would travel with the combat battalions (3 armor and 1 mech infantry) when on maneuvers. The division would take 6 weeks to go through gunnery training/qualification at Graf once a year. Each of the 3 forward support maintenance companies (C, D, E) would be at Graf for 2 weeks supporting when their Brigade headquarters was there. Generally each of the maintenance companies would have a commo repair and fire control and small arms team at one of the three main ranges for the entire 6 week period. The automotive contact teams would leave garrison with the battalion they supported and then return when they came back. The automotive contact teams were attached to the combat battalions' maintenance platoon and were with them whenever they were on maneuvers, at Graf, or at Hoenfels.

We did not handle medical, transport (fuel, food), or satellite commo. We did also support the Target Acquisition Battery (of DivArty) which was stationed at a small base near us (Herzo I think). We did have our own tractor/trailer rigs to haul repair parts from the A Company warehouse - engines, transmissions, transfer cases, axles, tires, batteries, light bulbs, filters, tank track, etc. - back to our supply section and out to the field.

We came under DISCOM (Division Support Command), and wore the DUI for the 1st Armored Division, until we became part of the 1st Aviation Regiment (then we wore the "Super Primum" DUI - which we jokingly called 'Super Premium").

I was thrilled to see the reference to Mr. Robert Quillen - he was, at one time, our platoon leader (he was a CWO3 at the time, I believe), and we referred to him as the "Skipper", because of the huge vintage American automobile (convertible) he drove (I remember him taking a sizable chunk of the platoon down to Hindenburg Kaserne in the summer time, with the top down). Before he was our boss, we had Mr. Gundrum, another experienced CWO3. Later we got a Captain (I don't remember his name at this moment, but give me a minute...)

I still have my armament platoon black ball cap (with the orginal blue cobra patch designed by Sgt Jamie Carlson), and I treasure my Army aircrew badge above all other awards.

We supported the 501st Avn Battalion, Task Foce Phoenix, 1/1 Cav, and the Apaches when they first came to Ansbach AAF.

We were the divisional AVIM unit - we were a huge company (bigger than a battalion), but paraded with just one guideon (it was hilarious to see I Co. march as a unit at change of command ceremonies - we looked like a huge mob marching behind our one guideon!)

A lot has happened since those days. I got out of the Army, went to university, moved to Japan, then came back to the States after 9/11 and went back into the military. I am currently a mustang Navy officer (Lieutenant Junior Grade), but the lessons I learned under 1stSgt Ruiz, SSG Hale, SSG Seabolt, SGT Carlson and Chief Quillen have held me in good stead all these years.

One particular memory was a winter flight over to Grafenwöhr. We were supporting a gunnery and our armament shop was going to send some folks via ground convoy, and a few lucky individuals would get to fly there. I was chosen to fly, and we were told that everybody, except one, would ride a UH-1H - one very lucky individual would get to ride front-seat in an AH-1S Cobra. For some reason, I was that guy, and it was one of the biggest treats of my entire military career!

The pilot was an extremely experienced CWO4, and we took off into a cold gray sky that quickly turned very cloudy with flurries. Our group was made up of a bunch of Cobras, some OH-58 scouts and a lone crowded Huey. The weather never really cooperated that day, and I remember that we had to put down in some poor German farmer's field to get ourselves orientated (some of the aircrew sprinted between helicopters to try to get our bearings and deliver instructions). At some point, the German farmer, whose field we were using as an impromptu landing area, suddenly appeared through the wafting snow in his tractor, gawking at the gaggle of aircraft (all running with full lights and rotors)! We pulled pitch and flew off into the fog.

We had to fly low, and followed an autobahn for a while. The pilot suggested that I use the TSU (Telescopic Sighting Unit), and I had great fun following the cars below. We ended up flying nap-of-the-earth for a while, and the ride was so smooth and steady (thanks to the Air Data Sensor - designed to help make the Cobra a steady weapons platform) that it was an absolute dream flight, despite the horrendous weather. I was bundled in all my cold weather issue (we had recently gotten the old-style green fishtail parka with the big fur-ruff hood), and was very comfortable.

When we finally landed at Grafenwöhr I was in great shape - my buddies, in the Huey, not so much. They had had a very uncomfortable ride, and many (if not all) were air-sick. That ADT definitely made a big difference.

When my platoon finally formed up, we traded notes on the ride up: the convoy folks had not enjoyed themselves; the Huey folks had gotten a rough ride, but they counted themselves luckier than the ground group; me, I had lucked out, and to this day I consider it a great honor to have been chosen to fly on the Cobra.

Your website has brought back a slew of memories - things I haven't thought about for a very long time.

Thank you, and I sincerely hope to hear from some of my old comrades from I Co. (61st AMC)!