Vol. 30, No.

56th Field Artillery Command

Command soldiers pack

last Pershing missiles
by Julia Hearn
Staff Writer
On l fogg1 dar, so familiar 10 the Pershing soldier,
the lo~t Pershing II missile was loaded, secured and
covered. Soldiers stood by and watched their last
Pershing mission drive away.
It ,vas a day of great h istoric significance as the last
nine Per.hing II missiles were removed from the 56th
Field Anillery Command's Neu-Ulm missile operating bisc earl~ March 5.
The missiles were removed in accordance with tbe
Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed by
the U.S. and Soviet Union in 1987.
The rcmovnl ends over seven years of Pershing I!
missile operations for ht Banalion, 9,h Field Anillery in :--:eu-Ulm and surrounding areas, according to
Maj. John W. Falkenbury, public affairs officer, 56th
Field Artillery Command.
The missiles stood for peace for over twenty years
""ithout being fired.
"It's been quite an experience," said Sgt. Carlos
Torres, Co. B., !st Bn., 9th FA. " I've never done a
job like this in th~ Army. I'm really glad we never
bad to use them.
In No,ember 1983, 1st Bn., 9th FA fielded 36 missile systems.
Since the si~ning of the INF Treaty, the battalion
had three pnmary miuions: maintain its combat
readiness, support Soviet on-site inspections and

rctr0grade the Pershing force from Germany by

May 31, 1991.
Since November 1988, the 1st Bn., 9th Fa has removed its 36 missiles 10 be destroyed in the United
States. The INF Treaty requires the U.S. and the
Soviet Union to destroy all missiles with a range
between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.
Soldiers supporting the system are reassigned in accordance with their occupational specialty and the
needs of the Army.
"The Pershing retrograde speaks well for the c urrem peace movement in Europe, said Pfc. Philip
Kuras, B Co., 1st Bn., 9th FA. "I'm proud 10 represent my countries interestl during these moments."
Originally mo unted on a rracked launcher, the
Pershing missile system developed into a.n integral
element of NATO's nuclear deterrence force.
Upgraded in 1969 to Pershing IA, the tracked system was replaced wirh a wheeled erecto r-launcher.
In response 10 the deployment o f the SS 20 missile,
NATO developed a twin-track approach - continue
10 negotiate w11h the Soviet Union for the removal of
the SS 20 and to deploy the Persh ing II missile to Europe.
NATO's commirmcnt to the twin-track approach
resulted in the signing of the 1987 lntermediare-range
Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The treaty mandated the first-ever removal and
destruction of an entire class of weapons from both
the U .S. and the Soviet Union inventories.

.'

Secure it!

_.,_

Spee. Rot>ert Toli (lefl). and Pfc. Andreas Terry, both from B Btry, 1st Bn., 91h FA. secure canisters loaded with the last
Pershing missile componenls 10 leave Neu Ulm for destruction in the Un~ed Slales.

March 1991

Update FYI
Change In malling restrictions
Previous customs restriction limiting m3iling o f
tobacco products to SWA is lifted. E ffective
immediately, all tobacco products arc authorized
to be mailed 10 SW A from APOs. There is no
limitation on q uantities or type of tobacco producu which can be mailed to deployed soldier,.

Closure
The Department of the Army announced today
that the Armed Forces Recreation Center-Europe
(AFRC-E) will reduce its operations commencing
April 1991. Projected military pcrsonne I reduc
tions in Europe led to the decision to reduce the
scope o f the AFRC-E facilities.
Facilities affected by the downsizing "'ill be returned tO the control of United States Arm, - Eu
rope (USAREUR). Final disposition of th~ fa~ilities will be determined bv USAREUR.
Approximateli 360 local notional and U.S.
employcs will be affected over the ncxr 15-18
months by the planned reductions.
The General Abrams H otel in Garmisch and the
Bercbtesgaden Hof/ General McNair compb in
Berchtesgaden will cease operations o n April I,
1991. In April of 1992 all AFRC-E operations in
Berchtesgaden will close.
The facilities that will remain open, including
those located in Garmisch, will provide smice
personnel with a full range of accommodations
and recreational activities. According to Peter
Isaacs, Director of the Hospitality Management
Group, U .S. Army Community and Fami l)' Support Center (CFSC), operauons at the Lake
Chicmsee facility will also be retained. Lake
Chiemsee offers a fim class faciliry that p ro"ides
access to water spom and is located close co mher
outdoor recreational areas in the Bavarian Alps.
AFRC-E ha.s provided continuous support to
American servicemembers and their families since
the final days of World War II. Since 1972,
AFRC-E has operated facilities in Berchtesgaden,
Chiemsee and Garrnisch. In March 1988, operatio
nal control of the AFRC-E facilities was transforcd to the CFSC based in Alexandria, Va. The
Hospitality Management Group of the CFSC mJnages the Armed Forcts Recreation Center.
worldwide for the Department of the Army.
For additional informatio n contact, Harry Con
nors, AFRC Public Affairs Manager ETS
440-2712/ 847 or Civilian 08821-3956 or FAX
08821 -74216.

Inside
_

~1

I
') ( ~I
( I, )

I\ \ ~

Misaing youl We
want all of you fine
troops to hurry
bacl<!

the cable

CG's message, see page 2

Personal messages, see pages 3,

4, 5 & 6
Family support, see page 7

Bow wowl Moose

bari<s his thoughts
on troops in the
Gulf - Huny home!

Pen Polnta

Commanders give
Messages
encouraging words
to deployed soldiers

To all former Pershing Officers, Warnnt Officers and Soldiers now serving
in Oll"ration Desen Storm.
Th,s special edition of the Pershing
Cable is dedicated 10 you and the loved
ones you left behind in Schwabisch
Gmiind, Neu-Ulm and other mifaary
communities throughout USAREUR
and the United States.
Even before the USAREUR Desert
Shield u.sking, former Pershing soldiers
answered the call to duty in the Gulf,
either from duty Stations in CONUS or
in USAREUR. In a two day period, the
Command provided over 700 officers
and soldier to USAREUR commands
deploying 10 Southwest Asia. The combat readiness of all former Pershing soldiers is directly amibutable to the high
sianduds which you set and maintained
over the last 27 years of Pershing operations in Europe.

Capt. Tyronnc A. S., HHB, 4th

Bn., 3rd FA
From Gmiind to Grlstadt, we have
traveled a great distance. Now it's
your turn. We miss you like crazy.
Love, KAY, ALEXIS, and MARLA

Sgt. John L. M., HHB, 2nd Bn.,

82nd FA

While no one can ever take your

place on the home front, re11 a,sure that
the Command is doing everything possible 10 ease the burdens of your families and loved ones. Although the Command closes its chapter in history, an
important part of which you wrote, we
will continue tO provide assistonce and
support to those Ifft behind.
You have honored the Command
through your actions and have earned
the nation's gratitude. We are anxiously
waiting your safe return.

To the best daddy and husband in

the whole world. It will not always
be like this. Hold out for better days
and know that we arc thinking of
you. Love always, GIOVANNI, and
PIA-MARIA

Charles M., 11 th HMS Co., 13th
LTF, 16th Supply Group
This ii to Chuck, Holli,, J,son, an<
Bill: You guys are not missing a
thing. Mr. Flamingo write Mai;gic :
Jason, Amy got the package - rittcn in sione; Legs, Timi ,ay\ hi!
Also, I had to help clean out your
house. We love and miss atll of ,ou.
Please hurry home. BARRY R. ." and
REAGAN W .
Spec. Gavin A., 226th S&S Co.
Stay low and keep the faith!!!!
JULIUS 0.

To the OeNrt Storm troops .. .

We think you guys are doing a great
job. You have truly made all Amencans
proud to be a part of this great nation.
We love and miss you. Please hurry
home! DEBRAH R.

Sincerely,

Roger K. Btan
Major General, U.S. Army
Commanding

55th
We arc ,cry proud of the battalion's
JOO soldiers who have deployed in sup-

pon of Desert Storm. We arc all hoping

and praying for your quick and safe return. For those with families left behind
in Germany, the battalion family suppon groups ore doing their best to
watch over and assist your families as
needed. Your spouses and children are
being strong and arc holding up well.
We mailed out battalion coins and other
correspondence to you in January
which we hope you have received. If
not, drop us a line - if yes, still drop us
line.
Congratulations 10 Staff Sgt. Jaime
Rodriquez, 216th S&S Co., I Supply/
Service Battalion, 2nd COSCOM, on
your promotion. We have received your
lerters, but before we can make your

promotion official, we need a copy of

all college mnscripu, including your
Dances test re,ults. Send copies to us
and we will coordinate with the rear detachment and PSC.
To keep you posted on events here the battalion continues 10 march quickly towards its inactivation on 31 May
1991. Alpha company had iu inoctiva
tion ceremony on I February and panicipated in the Task Force 2-9 farewell
ceremony on 7 Februuy. Soldiers of
Bravo, Delta and Heodquarters companies are working long hours in support
of retrograde and the securiry of the
Neu Ulm military community. Again,
we and your families anxiously await
your safe and victorious return home!
Li. Col. VIRGIL and CSM HOFFMAN

Sgff Sgt. Scheddrlck K. W., HHC,

51'1 Sig. Bn.
HI hOney. Jazz and I are fine and we
can't

ready tor a nice juicy steak.

groen beans, and cornbread" Well.

that's wailing tor you with much more. I
love you soooo much. Please hurry
hOmel Love. JAN and JAZZ.

1-9 _ _ _ __
To 1- 9 FA soldiers deployed in support of Dcsen Storm ... I hope this
special edition of the Cable finds you in
good spirits . . . Those remaining in
Task Force 1-9, listened intently 10 all
dcv,lopments. We cross check uniu and
locations so that we can try to follow
your deployment.
Retrograde is going well. We are
ahead of schedule, but we stay busy in

waij for you to come hOme. I bot

you,e

Sgt. Olden s.

How are you? I hope you are doing

well. We miss you very much and pray
you have a safe retum. TERRI C .

the motor pool. It has snowed almost

everyday during February. Q-hits
would definitely been in1eres1ing this
year.
We arc proud of your con1ribu1ion 10
the success of Task Force 1-9 and are
certain you will continue 10 drive on
with 1he spirit that made you "Pershing's finest".
STEPHEN M. SEAY, .Lt. Col., FA

Pershing
Cable
Commander
Maj. Gen. Roger K Bean

Public Aflein1 Officer

Maj. John W. Flllkenbury

NCOIC ---------------....ll'C Don-

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