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193 entries.
Richard T. Dick Johnson wrote on July 2, 2008
Russ, I just started to look thru your website. I was a launch crew and flight commander at jolly old Grรผnstadt, the \"jewel in the crown of the 38th TMW\"! 1963-until closure in 1966. Enjoying some great memories of some great people. Will add to your collection as soon as I get organized.

Dick
Michael Hamerski (Hammer) wrote on May 19, 2008
Hi Russ,
I am back in Wisconsin and will be digging into my shoe-box of old photos from Sembach.
You have done an incredible job of developing this web site. I really like it. Thanks a million. After attending last years reunion you can bet that I will be going to next years in Ohio and that should give us a chance to meet again after all these years. Can hardly wait.
All the best,
Michael H.
Robert (Bob) Kutulis wrote on May 12, 2008
Hi Russ;
Great Web site---Thanks for the memories. I was a crew chief at the 887th, Hacksaw. After 24 years in the Air Force, I look back to my assignment at the 887th as the most memorable. The 887th was a unit with the highest camaraderie and esprit de corps and I have many lasting friendships and memories from from my assignment there. I hope as many people as possible can join us at the 38th TAC Msl Wing reunions.

Bob Kutulis
Vikki Ertz Hamilton wrote on May 6, 2008
I was fortunate to be able to visit my brother, sister-in-law and family in June, 1965 through October, 1965, and live on base with them. I had just graduated from high school in Portland, OR, and was in awe of the beautiful countrysides and interesting people in Germany and other countries I visited.

It was great being part of the Sembach AFB community and I met so many terrific servicemen and their families. It certainly made a lasting impression on me, and I was thrilled when my brother, Richard Ertz, called and told me about the website. Dick is retired now and lives in Las Vegas, playing as much golf as he can and winning at the casinos. He is very lucky!

Thank you, Russ, for this site and for the work you are putting into this project. I hope others take the time to help you by sending photos and reconnecting through email.

Thanks again, and good luck,

Vikki Ertz Hamilton
John Ward wrote on April 1, 2008
Russ\' I just sent you a e-mail. I was at Grunstadt from 61-66.When we first went there, all of our birds were ASAP birds.I don\' have pictures, but I have a copy of every order I received since I volunteered for Missiles in 1961.

John
Joe Molinaro wrote on March 31, 2008
Just heard of your new website Russ; good job getting something new added. However, much of the old info and pictures are located at the TAC Missilier site. I was assigned to 822, Crew 1-13 until I promoted to SMS and then transferred to Site II maintenance Chief. Departed Sembach in Jan 66. Attended Reunions in Dallas and Nashville. Good luck getting some new additions and pictures.
JACK P. HALL wrote on March 20, 2008
Walter Allan Reston,
Hello brother in law. How is Bridget and the kids. On the computer and wondered about old Sembach and the 38th. Saw the Mace missle on the cover and a group of kids under it. I remember Mom took a couple of pictures of us kids under the same missle in 64. In Bogart, GA working for **** ********** Systems, Inc.
***** Jefferson Ave. , Bogart, GA. 30622
706-614-**** God loves us, and thank God we never had to use the missles....Sembach, I am sure, was on the Russians hit list also.
Rui Mauricio wrote on February 27, 2008
Thank you Russ
I was contacted by Mr Kyser and we have gone over a few details and mods on the mini cooper that confirms that in fact I do have Mr kyser\'s old race car.Hopefully Mr kyser and I will be able to get together some time in the future.I would be very Happy to reunite Mr kyser with the litle car the after 40 plus years.
Bill Adair wrote on February 27, 2008
Russ,

Great site!

I think you are looking for info on the Mace 822nd TMS, but I was also in the
822nd, when it was still a Matador Sq.

I\'m an old Matador guidance mechanic, from the original 11th Tac Missile Sq.,
Combat Flight B. Trained at Lowry AFB CO, completed overseas training at Orlando
AFB FL, including two live Matador launches from Cape Canaveral.

We arrived at Sembach in June of 1956, in the first mass airlift of an entire
military organization, including dependents. Flew from Orlando Florida, to
Sembach Germany via the northern route, with two stops for fuel. Eighteen hours
of flying time if I recall correctly, in a Douglas DC-6B transport.

Later, the organization was renamed for a WWII bomb squadron, and the 11th TMS
became the 822nd TMS, under the 587th TMG. In Dec of 1958, the Matadors were
being phased out at Sembach, and many of us were reassigned to Hahn, where
Matadors were still operational. I served the last six months of my overseas
tour at Hahn AB, returning to the states in June of 1959, and was subsequently
assigned back to Lowry AFB CO, as a Mace B inertial guidance system instructor.
We attended the entire Mace A guidance system school, while waiting for the
Martin Company to start Mace B factory training in Baltimore.

I taught the Mace B inertial guidance system course for three years, before
being assigned to the Douglas Skybolt air launched ballistic missile guidance
school at Lowry.

Macnamara canceled the Skybolt program less than a year later, when we had just
begun setting up our training program at Lowry. Sadly, I never again returned to
the class room as an AF instructor, and was subsequently assigned to Holloman
AFB, NM, as a guidance technician.

Ironically, my first job assignment at Holloman, was on the Skybolt rocket sled
test program! We adapted the Skybolt astro inertial platform, as a test bed for
later guidance system component testing. The first test item we carried, was a
Minuteman II accelerometer.

I retired at HAFB thirteen years later, and took a job with the Boeing Company
in Seattle. Retired from Boeing in 95, and we moved to Portland Oregon three
years ago, to be near our youngest grandkids.

My time at Sembach was an exciting adventure, and I will never forget those
wonderful times, and all the dear friends I made there. Many of them or gone
now, but the memories are still with me, and I will cherish them for the rest of
my life.

Good luck with your web site, and please let me know if there is any way I may
assist you in your efforts.

Regards,

Bill Adair
Rui Mauricio wrote on February 23, 2008
Hello Russ
I know I\'m an outsider butI just could not contain myself,I own teh mini cooper in pics and I am holding in my hand as Itype this a registration card to the mini cooper dated 01-18-67 owner Kyser Linvel Lee jr.
Vandenbrg AFB CA Non resident military.
what a small world.Is mr kyser still with us? how can I get in touch with Him?
Donald R Hess wrote on February 21, 2008
Great site and thanks for the memories!
Seems like my 1st message did not get through. Being another
Rich Jarosz wrote on February 21, 2008
Just wanted to say that your site is terrific. Sure brought back lots of memories of wonderful times at Sembach AB. I was assigned to the 38th Tac Hospital working in medical supply in the barracks across the street from the base veterinarians office. Arrived Sembach 12/22/59 and rotated 12/23/62. You and I probably bumped shoulders at the NCO Club, snack bar, chow hall of BX at one time or another. Who was the Medic in your 60
Paul O\'Rell wrote on February 20, 2008
The picture with the shelters over the top of the missiles looks to be Site #1 to me. I was assigned to site one way after decommissioning of the missiles. I was there in 1975-76. The layout from what you get in the image looks the same. Needless to say there was even more buildings that would have been in the picture when I was there as they added maintenance buildings to the site where the missiles could be worked on.

The Site had been abandoned for about probably 9 years when we took it over to base the 601TACC there , the mobile command and control squadron for the 601TCW which was the USAFE command and control wing at that time. It was not the ideal spot but there was no room on base after they moved the 601TCW back to the Bach after having moved it for 4 months to Wiesbaden, typical military maneuver..lol.
Paul O
Joseph J Grimm Jr. wrote on February 20, 2008
I was stationed at Sembach from June 1960 through Feb 1963. I was assigned to Hq 38th Tac Missile Wing. I returned to the states under Project Short Spurt to allow for other airmen to come to Germany for a shorter tour but without dependents. I don\'t know how that turned out. I don\'t have a \'pocket rocket\' and can\'t be considered a Missileer. However, I initially worked in the Wing Civil Engineering office and typed page after page of specifications and justifications in order to have a permanent cover installed over the missiles to protect them from the elements. Next I worked for the Wing Inspector and typed the findings of the infamous Operational Readiness Inspections of the missile sites. I know you loved them! I am most proud of the fact that I was the centerfielder for the Sembach Tiger Base Fast Pitch Softball team in 1961 and 1962. We traveled throughout Germany and other countries, representing not only Sembach but USAFE. The 1960 team was the USAFE champion. It was an opportunity and experience that I will never forget. Finally on your web site I noticed the Special Orders from 1962. I was the Orders Clerk in the 38 TMW Hq and typed those orders! Seeing those brought back great memories from a time long ago! Congratulations on the site and give my best regards to all the former members of the 38th Tactical Missile Wing.
Hank Barlow wrote on January 27, 2008
Hi Russ, Just heard about your site and it looks good. I was a mech 1 at the 887th at Grunstadt from 1964 - 1966 and then was a maintenance team chief at the 341st msl wing at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls. Sure had a great time there and met a lot of lasting friends. Good Luck with the site. Hank Barlow, crew 3-11 at Hacksaw 3
Bob Bolton wrote on January 27, 2008
Hi Russ,
Good luck with the new Sembach Missileers web site, I hope it takes off for you. It has a good looking format. Nice to see a web site dedicated soley to the Missilemen from Sembach. I was a launch Mech #1, stationed and living at Gr
Lance Moorman wrote on January 27, 2008
Hi Russ:

Bob Bolton was nice enough to forward your site to me. Nice format. Best wishes for sucess. I was a Mech II at the 887th TMS at Grunstadt from 1962 to 1964. I was just recently able to reconnect to many of the great guys I was with in Germany. It has been enjoyable finding them again. It is through people, such as you, who are willing to put forth the effort to give us the means to continue our fellowship.

Thank you.
Lance Moorman
Russ Reston wrote on January 27, 2008
Hi! My name is Walt \'Russ\' Reston. I am a former member of the 823rd TMS. I was stationed at Sembach from Feb. 1964 until missile phase out in Sept. 66. I was the Tech. #1 on Crew 2-15.

Sembach brings back a lot of good memories, so I thought I\'d share some of them with y\'all via this website. I\'d love to hear from people that were stationed at Sembach in the mid-1960s and solicit any slides/photos/anecdotes/etc. that you are willing to share. All slides/photos will be digitized and the originals returned promptly.

Best Regards,
Russ Reston