KOREAN WAR MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES

Name:   Art Naffziger   Service Number:   US 55483191   Branch of Service:   U.S. Army   Rank at Discharge:   PFC   Dates of Service:   April 26, 1954 to March 21, 1956

I left Rockford, Illinois in the Spring of ’54 for basic training in Ft. Lenardwood, Missouri and Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. After completing basic training, orders came down we were shipping out to Germany. After a couple of weeks stay in Camp Kilmer, New Jersey I was shipped overseas on the Merchant Ship Geiger. After nine days at sea, we reached the Port of Bremerhaven, Germany. We were then transported to our base in “Sherdon Kacern”, just outside of Augsburg. Just as we arrived there we were informed that our company was just going on maneuvers; “just my luck” spent the first two weeks of my tour of duty in the field.

In the Winter of ’55 we were leaving for the Rail Head, to load the tanks on flat cars, for maneuvers with “North Atlantic Treaty Organization”. The code name for this training exercise was “Cord on Blue”!

We arrived at our destination ten hours later. After unloading and securing our tanks, we posted guards around the perimeter. The next step was to put up our pup tents. The rest of us, that weren’t on duty, for the time being, retired to our tents. Several hours later, during the night, we were alerted a strong snowstorm was approaching and heading our way. We were advised to leave our tents, for the safety of our tanks.

The next morning, after the storm many trees had been uprooted. In one case, a tree fell between two guys while in their tents - apparently they didn’t heed the warning. Miraculously, they only received bumps and bruises. We were later advised a tank crew were asphyxiated during the night. Immediately after that incident, all tank heaters were disconnected. This was our last tour of duty in February of ’56. We’ll be leaving for Bremerhaven, Germany, March of ’56, and board the ship “Gen. William Darby” destination USA. We reached New York Harbor in nine days, bused to Penn Station, and then left for Ft. Sheridan, just outside of Chicago, Illinois to be mustered out. I then fulfilled my obligation for six more years of inactive reserves.

U.S. 7th Army “Red Diamond Division” 11th Infantry Reg. Tank Co.