I interviewed with a German Television Station

I admit to being old.

But, I was at Checkpoint Charlie the entire week the US and Soviet tanks faced each other. The T V Station is putting a pretty big time documentary about the event called by some as the Defining Moment of the Cold War.
I have been quietly planning to go back to Berlin for the 50th anniversary on my own. I wasn't even going to tell anyone just walk around so I could go full circle on some of the more emotional incidents when this call happened.
I was interviewed in September on berlinbrigade.com and a whole bunch of stuff just poured out. I guess they had listened to that 2 part intervies. They are also talking to Lieutenant Schwartzkoph and Lieutenant Joblosky. (Thats what they were when I knew them)
i had purchased a small Minolta camera and took some pics that have remained in my scrapbook sine I got home from there. I served for 24 more years all over the world so I put this incident behind me as much as I could.

That is just so wow.

Which TV station did you do the interview with

Tony

You may be surprised when you return that Berlin has transformed itself and looks nothing like it did during the Cold War; even Checkpoint Charlie is now just a mere semblance of its former self and now overrun by tourists and others peddling wares and photos.

Several of my friends have gone back one of them often. I have a bunch of pics that I find it hard to believe. But it is what we prayed for. If you are interested in hearing how it was as far as my memor can recall go the the berlinbrigade.com website and listen to the 2 part interview. I'll post a pic or two, hopefully someone who's father or mother was in the city then can add to them.

This is a picture of the window of the car that was being held by the Communists in 'no man's land' You can look at the windlw and judge for yourself what did it. Whe the 3rd Battle Group Alert Platoon got to the scene (which was quick) I was the medic. One of our officers and I think it was John Mentor told me to come with him and check to see if anyone in the car needed assistance. So I went, I determined that no one was hurt and then snapped a pic of the window. I have never released this pic before this week.

Here is a pic of the machine-gun position that overlooked C P Charlie. The gunner was able to track my walk with Lt. Mentor as we walked to the car. Then the gunners were able to cover Colonel Windor when he went to get the car.

Wow for the second time on one thread.....

Thanks for sharing .

Tony

I am following your other thread as well and I look forward to catching the show on TV. I am always interested to see things about Berlin the City I grew up in.

Thanks for posting!

Thanks for sharing! I was there many years ago and it's great to see photos from the cold war period.

Outstanding pics and story!!!

This is a tag.

Young, thinking he is tough and ready to take on anything the Soviets have to give. Threefeathers as a young soldier, Gad.

Looking good, glad things panned out the way they did, having googled this incident I found a page saying the US moved 10 M8 tanks up to checkpoint Charlie, but they look more like M60s to me??? Oh and the Russians countered with 33 of their MBT's of the day.

Tony

No, they were a later model M-48.

They are flying me to D C to be interviewed for a number of days and have chosen the national Archives Facility. Then to Berlin later this year.

I really hope someone can upload this onto you tube so that I can get to see it.

And when you do the Berlin thing and if you manage to go AWOL, Munich and an evening at the ranges ain't that far away.

Tony

That is really neat, good for you! :)

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing....

Leaving for D C tomorrow, I found a bunch of new pics.

Spent 4 days being interviewed and filmed. I'll share pics when get over the jet lag. We started by evening and morning interviews. I had already shown my DD 214 and many pics, 4 of my officers had been interviewed and filmed and they verified the things I had seen and done. None of them were interviewed for onger than a half day, all were West Point Grads. All were folks I had much respect for.
The second day went to Arlington where I was filmed moving from the grave of a close friend to the Kennedy grave and memorial. the 5 person film crew was assisted by the Cemetary personnel in setting up and handling the crowds. People there watching were amazing as they were told that one of the 88 American soldiers who had faced in excess of 1500 Russians for 16 hours during the closest direct American Russian confrontation in 1961 was there. The Germans did take one, two, three, from every angle they could and people applauded me each time. We are talking hundreds of people helping me out. When 5 hours of filming was done in one day the PAO asked me if I would stay and talk to tourists about the incident. I said yes and 5 bus loads of people showed up. I spoke to all, people from many different lands mixed with Americans from every where.
The next day in the National Archives building, all day, filming me watching and commenting of original film from the event.
The last day in a studio with a narrator going over each incident in very detailed and graphic explanation.
whew.

Here is a pic of the T V crew getting ready.

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