Robert Burns Wadley's Page

Comment by harold goldstein on June 24, 2020 at 10:10am
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THE COLD WAR 1958: A YEAR IN A 19 YEAR OLD G. I.’s LIFE

We were searching through the woods until we finally found him; a big guy by the name of Elliott. I don’t remember if that was his first or last name. He was crying like a baby while reading a roll of toilet paper his fiancée had sent him. It started with “Dear John”. We were on alert and although he was very depressed, Elliott knew he had to work, so his team put him in their jeep and off they went.

I’ll never forget a night I was outside the barracks and I heard the Sergeant screaming my name. There is an emergency at the border because nine of our guys crossed the border into E. Germany or Czechoslovakia and were captured. The company needs me and my team to rush there to open direct communications to D.C. and Ft. Meade on an Embassy Net. We stayed at the Air Force base in Hof, a border town, for over 2 weeks. The Top Brass decided they did not want non commissioned soldiers on this Embassy Net and brought in an Officer Radio Operator and his team. My group and I returned to HQ home base in Nuremberg.

Some days later a Messenger came to Nuremburg to drop off a classified document. Security put him up in the Transient Billets for the night. He was free to walk around our compound. The following morning someone found him dead, shot himself through his mouth and blew his head off with his own 45. He was found in the underground tunnels which Hitler had constructed.

A couple of weeks after, we went on alert again. Rumor had it that we are going into Lebanon as a peacekeeping force. All Vehicles; Weapons, Tanks, Personnel Carriers, 2 1/2 ton Trucks, 3/4s and Jeeps, Radios, and all Personal Weaponry were all cleaned, maintenance performed, and inspected. I burned all my personal letters in fear of other people reading them if I didn’t come back.

In the field, a buddy of mine, name of Avery, was banging his head against a tree. He was teary eyed and holding a diamond ring his girl sent back in the mail with a Dear John Letter.

We (The 2nd ACR) are gearing up for combat. Elliott was on his radio (Morse code) cursing, angry and trying to reach the field troops. I knew it was him as my training was to read handwriting signals. Unwillingly, I reported him and he was relieved of radio duty.

Some days later we found out we were not going to Lebanon. They were sending in the Marines from a troop ship that was already in that area. Almost simultaneously, a U.S. Convoy from one part of W. Germany loaded with provisions and supplies heading to Berlin through E. Germany were stopped by the E. Germans. This was supposed to be an agreed upon safe open route for the Allies. They were stopped and it became a ‘Lock and Load” situation. All three of our Battalions were assembled on the border ready to move in. The E. Germans finally let the convoy continue through. Our troops stood their ground and never let the enemy search their vehicles.

March, 1959 I was Honorably Discharged with a Good Conduct Medal and upon entering the Army Reserves, achieved the rank of Sergeant (E-5)

A close Army buddy from Versailles Kentucky named Sam Alves came to Brooklyn from Germany. He stayed with me in Brooklyn for about a week and then went on to his home in Kentucky. I guess he did not tell his wife he was coming home. He committed suicide there the following week.

Avery on the other hand, met and married a German girl and wanted me to meet her. They stopped by Brooklyn on their way home, so went out to celebrate. I still keep in touch with my roomie, Owen Tussing who lives in Ohio. He became a great grandpa twice now. I speak with another buddy, Chuck Dixon, who lives in Atlanta. We talk every few weeks to make sure we’re both still alive and kicking.

To the best of my recollection, all names, places, incidents, and dates are true and

Wadley, I remember when we were in basic trng at Ft. Meade, you faked being out cold or dead or something of that nature, you freaked everyone out incl the NCO's, you got lucky getting transferred to Bravo Company, I moved there after my Summary in 1960!

Good morning Robert and " HAPPY BIRTHDAY " hope your special day if full of fun and good things, tried calling you around 10AM your time. Take care old friend, hope all is well !

Hi Robert,your pal from Ca.just wishing you the best birthday ever. May it consist of good things. Blessings !