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My father, Msgt Robert E. Ellis was stationed at Sembach from 1960-1963. Our time there was like a living history lesson. Our family lived in Alsenborn, Enkenbach, and lastly base housing at Sembach. The many day trips we took to every landmark, historical site, and just driving through the beautiful countryside were amazing. These times were sadly interspersed with the escalating tensions of the Cold War culminating in the erection of the Berlin Wall , followed the next year by the Cuban missile crisis. Even as children we were keenly aware of these events and the potentially catastrophic consequences. Learning about how to recognize the signs of radiation poisoning, and the air raid drills in school were a lot to process. We prayed these events would not result in war, but we were very proud of our fathers, our country, and our resolve as a nation willing to defend freedom. Knowing that so many people lived behind “The Iron Curtain”, and were restrained from exiting was horrible to think about. Aside from these unforgettable times, the opportunity to experience living there and spending wonderful vacations in Berchtesgaden, Garmisch, Switzerland, Austria, and France were experiences we never could have had otherwise. The very favorable exchange rates at the time allowed our family access to things we would not have been able to do in the US. My father retired in 1967 at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. Though he went on to work in the Insurance field for decades before passing away in 2019, he and my mother stayed in touch with several of the men and their families that were stationed at Sembach for the rest of their lives. Of all the places we lived , our time in Germany was the most unforgettable.