START TRANS-----
Good Morning Everyone,
Here is a little something I have gathered and that you may find interesting...
1. Fake mustaches, hidden cameras, 80,000 agents: How Stasi brutalized a nation
An interesting little article by CNN on how the STASI used "disguises and complex surveillance techniques" A nice little look back. The accompanying photographs have an individual that looks familiar. Hmmmm, could be the disguise.
Link to the full story: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/13/world/europe/stasi-images-book/?hpt=hp_c3
2. From the Fall of the Berlin Wall to Tahir Square: The Case for Freedom, Democracy, and Peace
Huffington Post has an article on geo-political divisions in the world and the need for REAL Leadership in the world.
link to the full story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amb-alexandros-p-mallias/from-the-fall-of-the-berlin-wall_b_3916348.html
3. Bulgaria closes probe in Cold War umbrella killing
Story about the death of Georgi Markov, Bulgarian journalist, who fled Communist Bulgaria and settled in the UK. Markov is believed to have been shot with a poisoned tipped umbrella and died four days later in 1978. The story centers on the current Bulgarian Government's attempt to find the culprit but to no avail.
link to the full story: http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/2013/09/12/bulgaria-closes-probe-cold-war-umbrella-killing/M9QAIUzupdX2DJHGMm75rO/story.html
-----END TRANS
14 September 2013
13 September 2013
Friday Morning SITREP 0913060013Z
START TRANS-----
Good Morning Everyone,
Here is a little something I have gathered and think you will find interesting.
1. Bloomberg News is reporting the following headline: Berlin to Turn Cold-War Airlift Site Into 1,700 Affordable Homes
It seems the grounds of Tempelhof Central Airport are slated to be the latest location in Berlin to be turned into affordable housing. You can read the entire article here: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-09-12/berlin-to-build-homes-at-airport-used-for-cold-war-airlift
2. "And Then We Take Berlin"
The new book by author John Lawton is out: "And Then We Take Berlin". It offers a new and different spin on life in Post War Berlin and the early goings of the Cold War. "John Lawton’s terrific “And Then We Take Berlin” tells the story of a British soldier-cat burglar who becomes involved in post-war Berlin’s black market, then is asked to apply his skills in the service of a serious Cold War plot."
Should be interesting to read. Read the Seattle Times Article here: http://seattletimes.com/html/books/2021755698_lawtontakeberlinxml.html
3. 1940s drama ‘Foyle’s War’ returns on PBS
For those of you that want the Cold War served up on your television screen be sure to check out "Foyle's War" on PBS (check you local listings for time and date). This British produce series is in its seventh season and it promises to be a good one. The lead character Christopher Foyle is "asked" by British Intelligence Service MI5 to investigate and confirm the existence of a Soviet spy network working in London.
See the Preview video
or
Read the Miami Herald's article: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/11/3620713/1940s-drama-foyles-war-returns.html
------END TRANS
Good Morning Everyone,
Here is a little something I have gathered and think you will find interesting.
1. Bloomberg News is reporting the following headline: Berlin to Turn Cold-War Airlift Site Into 1,700 Affordable Homes
It seems the grounds of Tempelhof Central Airport are slated to be the latest location in Berlin to be turned into affordable housing. You can read the entire article here: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-09-12/berlin-to-build-homes-at-airport-used-for-cold-war-airlift
2. "And Then We Take Berlin"
The new book by author John Lawton is out: "And Then We Take Berlin". It offers a new and different spin on life in Post War Berlin and the early goings of the Cold War. "John Lawton’s terrific “And Then We Take Berlin” tells the story of a British soldier-cat burglar who becomes involved in post-war Berlin’s black market, then is asked to apply his skills in the service of a serious Cold War plot."
Should be interesting to read. Read the Seattle Times Article here: http://seattletimes.com/html/books/2021755698_lawtontakeberlinxml.html
3. 1940s drama ‘Foyle’s War’ returns on PBS
For those of you that want the Cold War served up on your television screen be sure to check out "Foyle's War" on PBS (check you local listings for time and date). This British produce series is in its seventh season and it promises to be a good one. The lead character Christopher Foyle is "asked" by British Intelligence Service MI5 to investigate and confirm the existence of a Soviet spy network working in London.
See the Preview video
or
Read the Miami Herald's article: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/11/3620713/1940s-drama-foyles-war-returns.html
------END TRANS
09 July 2013
Leadership Lessons of a Berlin Brigade Soldier: Introduction
Hello again! I am about to take to the next level something I have been working on for quite a long time but never went public with, that is until now. The following is the basis for a book that I have wanted to get really serious about and now the time has come to do so. This book is something that I would like to see as something that up and coming leaders can use as a reference in the modern workplace as I truly believe that famous quote by George Santayana: "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Therefore, we WILL revisit the past. Over the next 20+ weeks I will introduce one new addition to what I call "LEADERSHIP LESSONS OF A BERLIN BRIGADE SOLDIER." I will publish other content news and information in between these "chapters".
The premise is to show a new generation how we saw and did things in Berlin from 1945 to 1994. It was by doing these "things" with Dedication, Commitment, and Professionalism that we, the United States, along with our Allies (France and the United Kingdom) won the Cold War. Don't forget this is one Soldier's interpretation of how we did things. Therefore, if you will indulge me and if you could do me the honor and favor of providing feedback it would be greatly appreciated.
-Thank you, Dave Guerra
Leadership Lessons of a Berlin Brigade Soldier
INTRODUCTION
When World War II came to an end, the city of Berlin took on a new and unique role; that of the center of the Cold War. It was here that the victors of World War II played their unique game. It was a game of move and counter move, strategy and tactic. It was a game that involved everyone that ever-set foot in the city and no one was immune, not even its citizens. However, there was a group of individuals who went to Berlin willingly and were influenced by the city, the Allies, and the Cold War. Today many of those who served in the city, at anytime in its post-World War II history, specifically cite that being in Berlin and serving in the Berlin Command was the most pivotal point of their military career and their adult life. Personally, it was the place where I saw the world for what it really was; cold, harsh and very real. It was a place where life and death was marked by a strip of land sometimes no wider than a football field. It was a place that saw families ripped in two all because of which side of the street they happened to live on. It was the place where friendships that would last a lifetime were formed, it was also the place that fostered and improved my leadership abilities and skills. Since leaving the Berlin Brigade there has never been a time in my that has left me in awe about being part of something bigger than me, something that made me proud to say I was a U.S. Infantryman in West Berlin during the Cold War.
This book serves as a reminder to those that served in Berlin during 1945 to 1994 about those things that were an everyday part of lives. This book for those that never served in Berlin but are interested enough to pick up this book and take a peek into our lives and learn a little bit about what made each of us not just soldiers, and professionals but true Leaders for the rest of our lives.
While the 20 chapters of this book might seem like a lot to someone that never served in the city but for those that served 110 miles behind the Iron Curtain this is but the tip of the iceberg. I know that I am leaving out many, many unique aspects of the Berlin Brigade (and that may be for the next four books). I assure you that what you will read is but a sliver of our day-to-day lives in Berlin.
Now almost 20 years since the Berlin Brigade was deactivated, the lessons that we learned and lived then are still very much a part of lives today. The lessons in leadership that are presented in this book are part of who we are and it is our mission to continue to instill and pass along those lessons to others that we encounter no matter what they do. It is my intention to do my part to honor my fellow members of the Berlin Brigade by providing the tools by which we can continue to show what being a member of the Berlin Brigade meant to us and what these lessons in Leadership can do in your own unique situation.
The Berlin Brigade had a brief, yet honored tradition and unique history as part of the US Army. Today, those that served continue to be faithful to that tradition and history. Therefore, this book is solely dedicated to all who served in the Most Illustrious and Unique unit in the history of the United States Army: The Berlin Brigade.
== Next Week: #1 The Citizens of Berlin ==
Therefore, we WILL revisit the past. Over the next 20+ weeks I will introduce one new addition to what I call "LEADERSHIP LESSONS OF A BERLIN BRIGADE SOLDIER." I will publish other content news and information in between these "chapters".
The premise is to show a new generation how we saw and did things in Berlin from 1945 to 1994. It was by doing these "things" with Dedication, Commitment, and Professionalism that we, the United States, along with our Allies (France and the United Kingdom) won the Cold War. Don't forget this is one Soldier's interpretation of how we did things. Therefore, if you will indulge me and if you could do me the honor and favor of providing feedback it would be greatly appreciated.
-Thank you, Dave Guerra
Leadership Lessons of a Berlin Brigade Soldier
INTRODUCTION
When World War II came to an end, the city of Berlin took on a new and unique role; that of the center of the Cold War. It was here that the victors of World War II played their unique game. It was a game of move and counter move, strategy and tactic. It was a game that involved everyone that ever-set foot in the city and no one was immune, not even its citizens. However, there was a group of individuals who went to Berlin willingly and were influenced by the city, the Allies, and the Cold War. Today many of those who served in the city, at anytime in its post-World War II history, specifically cite that being in Berlin and serving in the Berlin Command was the most pivotal point of their military career and their adult life. Personally, it was the place where I saw the world for what it really was; cold, harsh and very real. It was a place where life and death was marked by a strip of land sometimes no wider than a football field. It was a place that saw families ripped in two all because of which side of the street they happened to live on. It was the place where friendships that would last a lifetime were formed, it was also the place that fostered and improved my leadership abilities and skills. Since leaving the Berlin Brigade there has never been a time in my that has left me in awe about being part of something bigger than me, something that made me proud to say I was a U.S. Infantryman in West Berlin during the Cold War.
This book serves as a reminder to those that served in Berlin during 1945 to 1994 about those things that were an everyday part of lives. This book for those that never served in Berlin but are interested enough to pick up this book and take a peek into our lives and learn a little bit about what made each of us not just soldiers, and professionals but true Leaders for the rest of our lives.
While the 20 chapters of this book might seem like a lot to someone that never served in the city but for those that served 110 miles behind the Iron Curtain this is but the tip of the iceberg. I know that I am leaving out many, many unique aspects of the Berlin Brigade (and that may be for the next four books). I assure you that what you will read is but a sliver of our day-to-day lives in Berlin.
Now almost 20 years since the Berlin Brigade was deactivated, the lessons that we learned and lived then are still very much a part of lives today. The lessons in leadership that are presented in this book are part of who we are and it is our mission to continue to instill and pass along those lessons to others that we encounter no matter what they do. It is my intention to do my part to honor my fellow members of the Berlin Brigade by providing the tools by which we can continue to show what being a member of the Berlin Brigade meant to us and what these lessons in Leadership can do in your own unique situation.
The Berlin Brigade had a brief, yet honored tradition and unique history as part of the US Army. Today, those that served continue to be faithful to that tradition and history. Therefore, this book is solely dedicated to all who served in the Most Illustrious and Unique unit in the history of the United States Army: The Berlin Brigade.
== Next Week: #1 The Citizens of Berlin ==
03 July 2013
The Occupation of Berlin (1945 - 1990): The Four Sectors of Berlin
In this video, I talk about the Four Sectors that made up the Divided City of Berlin from 1945 to 1990. I go into a little detail about the US, FRENCH, SOVIET, and BRITISH sectors. More info will come in later videos.
-Enjoy
01 July 2013
The Occupation of Berlin: You are leaving Sector signs 1945-1990
Here is a little video I did about the "You are leaving the American Sector" signs that were all over the perimeter of the American Sector in West Berlin. However, these signs were all over East and West Berlin but written so as to depict which sector you were leaving.
-Enjoy
22 June 2013
July 2013 Book of the Month: Death On Devil's Mountain by David Von Norden
The BerlinBrigade.com July 2013 Book of the Month is "Death On Devil's Mountain" by David Von Norden
"Death on Devil's Mountain" is written by David Von Norden, a former member of the ASA, based out at US Army's former listening outpost on top of Berlin's Teufelsberg.
The Amazon.com website describes this exciting book as "The Summer of Love is past. The Cold War is heating up. Thousands of young men are being drafted for the conflict in Southeast Asia and hundreds more enlist in the hope of some choice of assignment. The best of these volunteers are channeled into the Army Security Agency and the brightest of this group gets sent to the National Security Agency's most important listening post,The Hill, in West Berlin. Teufelsberg, the Germans call it. The Devil's Mountain, a monument constructed from the rubble and ruins of the crushed German capital. But there is something terribly wrong in the 54th ASA Special Operations Command. People are dying. Death on Devil's Mountain depicts the twisted macramé of intelligence work, its effect on the 'civilians in uniform', and the mounting rancor of enlisted men against the cadre of sergeants and 'lifers'. This unit of hand picked misfits is a natural choice for a mad CIA-operated experiment code named MK-ISLAND. An experiment gone awry."
You can order your copy of "Death On Devil's Mountain" from Amazon.com
"Death on Devil's Mountain" is written by David Von Norden, a former member of the ASA, based out at US Army's former listening outpost on top of Berlin's Teufelsberg.
The Amazon.com website describes this exciting book as "The Summer of Love is past. The Cold War is heating up. Thousands of young men are being drafted for the conflict in Southeast Asia and hundreds more enlist in the hope of some choice of assignment. The best of these volunteers are channeled into the Army Security Agency and the brightest of this group gets sent to the National Security Agency's most important listening post,The Hill, in West Berlin. Teufelsberg, the Germans call it. The Devil's Mountain, a monument constructed from the rubble and ruins of the crushed German capital. But there is something terribly wrong in the 54th ASA Special Operations Command. People are dying. Death on Devil's Mountain depicts the twisted macramé of intelligence work, its effect on the 'civilians in uniform', and the mounting rancor of enlisted men against the cadre of sergeants and 'lifers'. This unit of hand picked misfits is a natural choice for a mad CIA-operated experiment code named MK-ISLAND. An experiment gone awry."
You can order your copy of "Death On Devil's Mountain" from Amazon.com
25 April 2013
May 2013 Book of the Moth: The Berlin Candy Bomber by Gail S. Halvorsen
The BerlinBrigade.com May 2013 Book of the Moth: The Berlin Candy Bomber by Gail S. Halvorsen
Celebrating the end of the Berlin Blockade on May 12, 1949, the BerlinBrigade.com Book of the Month for May 2013 is The Berlin Candy Bomber by Gail S. Halvorsen.
Read the story of the Col. Halvorsen's journey to and from Berlin during one of the hottest times during the Cold War.
From the publisher: "The Berlin Candy Bomber is a love story-how two sticks of gum and one man's kindness to the children of a vanquished enemy grew into an epic of goodwill spanning the globe-touching the hearts of millions in both Germany and America.
In June 1948, Russia laid siege to Berlin, cutting off the flow of food and supplies over highways into the city. More than two million people faced economic collapse and starvation. The Americans, English, and French began a massive airlift to bring sustenance to the city and to thwart the Russian siege.
Gail Halvorsen was one of hundreds of U.S. pilots involved in the airlift. While in Berlin, he met a group of children standing by the airport watching the incoming planes. Though they hadn't asked for candy, he was impressed to share with them the two sticks of gum he had in his possession. Seeing how thrilled they were by this gesture, he promised to drop more candy to them the next time he flew to the area.
True to his word, as he flew in the next day, he wiggled the wings of his plane to identify himself, then dropped several small bundles of candy using parachutes crafted from handkerchiefs to slow their fall. Local newspapers picked up the story. Suddenly, letters addressed to "Uncle Wiggly Wings" began to arrive as the children requested candy drops in other areas of the city.
Enthusiasm spread to America, and candy contributions came from all across the country. Within weeks candy manufacturers began donating candy by the boxcar.
In May 1949, the highway blockade ended, and the airlift ended in September. But the story of Uncle Wiggly Wings and the candy-filled parachutes lives on-a symbol of human charity."
You can order your copy of "The Berlin Candy Bomber" from Amazon.com
Celebrating the end of the Berlin Blockade on May 12, 1949, the BerlinBrigade.com Book of the Month for May 2013 is The Berlin Candy Bomber by Gail S. Halvorsen.
Read the story of the Col. Halvorsen's journey to and from Berlin during one of the hottest times during the Cold War.
From the publisher: "The Berlin Candy Bomber is a love story-how two sticks of gum and one man's kindness to the children of a vanquished enemy grew into an epic of goodwill spanning the globe-touching the hearts of millions in both Germany and America.
In June 1948, Russia laid siege to Berlin, cutting off the flow of food and supplies over highways into the city. More than two million people faced economic collapse and starvation. The Americans, English, and French began a massive airlift to bring sustenance to the city and to thwart the Russian siege.
Gail Halvorsen was one of hundreds of U.S. pilots involved in the airlift. While in Berlin, he met a group of children standing by the airport watching the incoming planes. Though they hadn't asked for candy, he was impressed to share with them the two sticks of gum he had in his possession. Seeing how thrilled they were by this gesture, he promised to drop more candy to them the next time he flew to the area.
True to his word, as he flew in the next day, he wiggled the wings of his plane to identify himself, then dropped several small bundles of candy using parachutes crafted from handkerchiefs to slow their fall. Local newspapers picked up the story. Suddenly, letters addressed to "Uncle Wiggly Wings" began to arrive as the children requested candy drops in other areas of the city.
Enthusiasm spread to America, and candy contributions came from all across the country. Within weeks candy manufacturers began donating candy by the boxcar.
In May 1949, the highway blockade ended, and the airlift ended in September. But the story of Uncle Wiggly Wings and the candy-filled parachutes lives on-a symbol of human charity."
You can order your copy of "The Berlin Candy Bomber" from Amazon.com
22 April 2013
What Happens Tomorrow
"Nobody knows what's going to happen tomorrow" is what the song says.
When all of us woke up on the morning of Monday, April 15, 2013 no one knew just how much the world was going to change by sunset. The Boston Marathon Bombings brought the world of terrorism back to American soil and right smack onto our television sets as tonight's leading story.
While the two suspects are off the streets (one dead, one captured) their motives are yet to be fully revealed as well as what their ultimate plan was. Maybe we'll know one day soon. In the meantime, we have to keep moving forward.
As we move forward, there is something to always remember and never forget: Never Let Your Guard Down. Evil is everywhere because it very seldom hides in the shadows.
Those two jokers, in Boston, were living in plain sight when they decided that their agenda was more important than the lives of the people they lived among. Their logic escapes me as it did in April of 1986 when Libyan backed terrorists bombed the LaBelle Disco in West Berlin and as it escaped me after Pan Am flight 103 blew up over Lockerbie, Scotland, UK by Libyan backed terrorists. Logic most certainly escaped me on September 11, 2001 as well as in London and Madrid and every place else that individuals decide that terror is their only choice when it comes trying to create change.
Ghandi made change happen. King made change happen. The people of East Germany in the summer and fall of 1989 made change happen as did the people through out Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. These were welcomed changes.
Terrorism in the name of someone's perception of religion is NEVER a good change. Terrorism in any form is never a good thing.
However, it is an unfortunate byproduct of the world we live in today. Therefore, it is up to each and every one of us to stay vigilant and know that we are in this together and together is how we will get out of it.
Stay Safe and Stay Alert
When all of us woke up on the morning of Monday, April 15, 2013 no one knew just how much the world was going to change by sunset. The Boston Marathon Bombings brought the world of terrorism back to American soil and right smack onto our television sets as tonight's leading story.
While the two suspects are off the streets (one dead, one captured) their motives are yet to be fully revealed as well as what their ultimate plan was. Maybe we'll know one day soon. In the meantime, we have to keep moving forward.
As we move forward, there is something to always remember and never forget: Never Let Your Guard Down. Evil is everywhere because it very seldom hides in the shadows.
Those two jokers, in Boston, were living in plain sight when they decided that their agenda was more important than the lives of the people they lived among. Their logic escapes me as it did in April of 1986 when Libyan backed terrorists bombed the LaBelle Disco in West Berlin and as it escaped me after Pan Am flight 103 blew up over Lockerbie, Scotland, UK by Libyan backed terrorists. Logic most certainly escaped me on September 11, 2001 as well as in London and Madrid and every place else that individuals decide that terror is their only choice when it comes trying to create change.
Ghandi made change happen. King made change happen. The people of East Germany in the summer and fall of 1989 made change happen as did the people through out Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. These were welcomed changes.
Terrorism in the name of someone's perception of religion is NEVER a good change. Terrorism in any form is never a good thing.
However, it is an unfortunate byproduct of the world we live in today. Therefore, it is up to each and every one of us to stay vigilant and know that we are in this together and together is how we will get out of it.
Stay Safe and Stay Alert
09 April 2013
Goodbye To The Iron Lady
She was the "Iron Lady" to her nation and to the world. She led her nation during some of the most illustrious times in our world's history; the Cold War. Then again, she also led her nation through some rough economic, political, and civil times and still managed to come out on top.
To me she was one of the symbols of the Cold War. Though I never met the former Prime Minister, I did get a chance to work in direct contact with the Soldiers and Officers that were members of the British Forces in Berlin when I was based in Berlin. I remember those Soldiers spoke very highly of their Prime Minister.
For the most part, I do not recall a time that I ever heard a Brit talk bad about the leader of their nation on the contrary they were full of praise for their leader. I recall that for the most part they were not happy with their pay or their government food rations, then again ALL soldiers complain about their pay and that which is attempted to be passed off as military food. However, it says a lot about a nation and the soldiers that protect that nation when they completely believe in and stand firmly behind their leaders and the leadership they instill in those they lead.
Then again, it comes as no surprise because of her uncompromising politics and leadership style the nickname "Iron Lady" given to her by a Soviet reporter stuck with her till her last day and beyond.
Baroness Margaret Thatcher will always stand among the great World Leaders of all time.
Requiescat In Pace
(image courtesy of wikipedia.org)
08 April 2013
April 2013 Book of the Month: Lucius D. Clay: An American Life by Jean Edward Smith
In honor of his April 23rd birthday, the BerlinBrigade.ocm April 2013 Book of the Month is "Lucius D. Clay: An American Life" by Jean Edward Smith.
An American Life takes you through early childhood of Lucius D. Clay to his time at the US Military Academy at West Point all the way through his time as Military Governor of Germany. It also covers the story behind his crowning achievement as the architect of the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949) when the USSR blockaded the western sectors of the city of Berlin, Germany.
You can tell that Jean Edward Smith, author, spent much time meticulously researching the life and times of General Lucius D. Clay. Smith not only goes beyond the raw data that is anyone's life, he goes into such detail that the reader can't help but feel to be a fly on the wall that is witnessing the life of General Clay unfold.
You can order your copy of "Lucius D. Clay: An American Life" from Amazon.com
An American Life takes you through early childhood of Lucius D. Clay to his time at the US Military Academy at West Point all the way through his time as Military Governor of Germany. It also covers the story behind his crowning achievement as the architect of the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949) when the USSR blockaded the western sectors of the city of Berlin, Germany.
You can tell that Jean Edward Smith, author, spent much time meticulously researching the life and times of General Lucius D. Clay. Smith not only goes beyond the raw data that is anyone's life, he goes into such detail that the reader can't help but feel to be a fly on the wall that is witnessing the life of General Clay unfold.
You can order your copy of "Lucius D. Clay: An American Life" from Amazon.com
16 March 2013
Attention Berlin Veterans: I Have One Question to Ask
As the title states; I one question that I have been meaning to ask. Here goes:
What do you think about BerlinBrigade.com launching a VETERANS BUSINESS DIRECTORY?
Here is what I am thinking: I am thinking of creating a directory of the businesses that the Veterans of the Berlin either own or a work at or do. This is to help facilitate finding the right people for the right job. Who else to do that job than another Berlin Brigade Vet.
The process would be simple. You fill out an online form containing some basic information about you and your business. Then that information is broken down into at least three business categories and then posted online.
So let's say you are looking for an RV Mechanic in Michigan. You look at the Berlin Brigade Business Directory and find an RV Mechanic in Northern Indiana. He might not be next door but depending on where in Michigan you the Berlin Brigade Vet might be close enough to try.
So what do you think?
Would you use a Berlin Brigade Veterans Business Directory?
Would you submit your organization's information?
What do you think about BerlinBrigade.com launching a VETERANS BUSINESS DIRECTORY?
Here is what I am thinking: I am thinking of creating a directory of the businesses that the Veterans of the Berlin either own or a work at or do. This is to help facilitate finding the right people for the right job. Who else to do that job than another Berlin Brigade Vet.
The process would be simple. You fill out an online form containing some basic information about you and your business. Then that information is broken down into at least three business categories and then posted online.
So let's say you are looking for an RV Mechanic in Michigan. You look at the Berlin Brigade Business Directory and find an RV Mechanic in Northern Indiana. He might not be next door but depending on where in Michigan you the Berlin Brigade Vet might be close enough to try.
So what do you think?
Would you use a Berlin Brigade Veterans Business Directory?
Would you submit your organization's information?
03 March 2013
March 2013 Book of the Month: Mercedes and The Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven
The BerlinBrigade.com March 2013 Book of the Month is "Mercedes and The Chocolate Pilot" by Margot Theis Raven.
From Amazon.com: During the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949, Lt. Gail Halvorsen and his squadron dropped over 250,000 candy-loaded parachutes and twenty tons of chocolate and gum to West Berlin's 100,000 children. He received thousands of letters from children, and only the most important were translated and given to him for his personal reply. This is the true story of a little girl named Mercedes, who waited anxiously for candy drops from Lt. Gail, known as the Chocolate Pilot.
This book is written with the child in mind but Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot is a story of such historical value that everyone, of any age, will enjoy this wonderful story.
You can order your very own copy of "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot"
From Amazon.com: During the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949, Lt. Gail Halvorsen and his squadron dropped over 250,000 candy-loaded parachutes and twenty tons of chocolate and gum to West Berlin's 100,000 children. He received thousands of letters from children, and only the most important were translated and given to him for his personal reply. This is the true story of a little girl named Mercedes, who waited anxiously for candy drops from Lt. Gail, known as the Chocolate Pilot.
This book is written with the child in mind but Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot is a story of such historical value that everyone, of any age, will enjoy this wonderful story.
You can order your very own copy of "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot"
27 January 2013
International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2013
Today, January 27, 2013, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
BerlinBrigade.com takes time to reflect on and remember the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide that resulted in the annihilation of approximately "6 million Jews, 2 million Gypsies (Roma and Sinti), 15,000 homosexual people and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators."
We, the Veterans of the US Army's Berlin Brigade, served in the city where all this began.
We are honored to have helped the city of Berlin, the country of Germany, the European Continent, and the World move forward and beyond those atrocities. However, we must always continue to take time and look back at the past to ensure that such horrors never happen again. To confirm that the events of today are no where close to what happened in the 1930s and 1940s are exactly why we need to remember and never forget.
The photo was taken by David Guerra, on November 8, 2009, at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin.
BerlinBrigade.com takes time to reflect on and remember the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide that resulted in the annihilation of approximately "6 million Jews, 2 million Gypsies (Roma and Sinti), 15,000 homosexual people and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators."
We, the Veterans of the US Army's Berlin Brigade, served in the city where all this began.
We are honored to have helped the city of Berlin, the country of Germany, the European Continent, and the World move forward and beyond those atrocities. However, we must always continue to take time and look back at the past to ensure that such horrors never happen again. To confirm that the events of today are no where close to what happened in the 1930s and 1940s are exactly why we need to remember and never forget.
The photo was taken by David Guerra, on November 8, 2009, at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin.
25 January 2013
February 2013 Book of the Month: The Batter's Out (Baseball Training Manual) by Charles R. Sledge Jr.
Jan/Feb 2013 Book of the Month: The Batter's Out (Baseball Training Manual) How to Play Defense: For Parents, Coaches, and Kids By Charles R. Sledge Jr. (Berlin Brigade Veteran)
Just as Pitcher's and Catchers are due to report and in time for spring training. This is the book you want your budding young athletes digging their cleats into. This book offers some of the greatest information on how to play the game, of baseball, was meant to be played: As a game that has strategy, tactics, and requires little skill but leaves plenty of room for mastery. Mastery at levels that are bound to take even the novice of players to the next level of the Great American Pastime.
From the Publisher: "The Batter's Out is a book of instructions on how to play baseball defensively. It teaches how to play all nine positions properly on the field by showing how each player moves during the course of a play through illustrations. The Batter's Out is a detailed description of what each player on any given team should do when the baseball is being hit to any given position. The illustrations are colorful and simulate real action. This book also holds a glossary of all the terms used for playing great defense. It's ideal for Parents who want to become Coaches, Coaches who want to improve there coaching skills and Children who dream of playing professional baseball everywhere."
Just as Pitcher's and Catchers are due to report and in time for spring training. This is the book you want your budding young athletes digging their cleats into. This book offers some of the greatest information on how to play the game, of baseball, was meant to be played: As a game that has strategy, tactics, and requires little skill but leaves plenty of room for mastery. Mastery at levels that are bound to take even the novice of players to the next level of the Great American Pastime.
From the Publisher: "The Batter's Out is a book of instructions on how to play baseball defensively. It teaches how to play all nine positions properly on the field by showing how each player moves during the course of a play through illustrations. The Batter's Out is a detailed description of what each player on any given team should do when the baseball is being hit to any given position. The illustrations are colorful and simulate real action. This book also holds a glossary of all the terms used for playing great defense. It's ideal for Parents who want to become Coaches, Coaches who want to improve there coaching skills and Children who dream of playing professional baseball everywhere."
25 December 2012
January 2013 Book of the Month: Voices Under Berlin: The Tale Of A Monterey Mary by T.H.E. Hill
The BerlinBrigade.com Book of the Month for January 2013 is Voices Under Berlin: The Tale Of A Monterey Mary by T.H.E. Hill.
This is a great story that will give you a fictionalized and unique insider's view of how things may have happened in 1955 Berlin's Spy Tunnel. While it may be hard to imagine how things such as this were going on beneath the feet of the citizens of Berlin but it was the Cold War after all.
From Amazon.com: Dr. Wesley Britton, author of "Spy Television", "Beyond Bond: Spies in Fiction and Film", and "Onscreen and Undercover: The Ultimate Book of Movie Espionage", writing at SpyWise.net writes "Throughout the Cold War, the divided city of Berlin was the epicenter of spy films and literature, especially in the hands of masters like John Le Carré and Len Deighton. For decades, we saw and read about Western agents sneaking in and Eastern defectors sneaking out of East Berlin--over, under, and through the most iconic symbol of the times--the Berlin Wall.
But T.H.E. Hill's new 2008 "Voices Under Berlin: The Tale of a Monterey Mary" has nothing to do with such spy vs. spy duels in Germany. Instead, his subject is the long-neglected Berlin Tunnel of the 1950s and the cryptographers, linguists, and analysts sifting through intercepted intelligence from East Germany to the masters in Moscow. Better--Voices Under Berlin is, in fact, perhaps the funniest spy book ever written. It's not a parody or satire of the 007 mythos nor is it a continuation of themes in the novels by the likes of Graham Greene or Eric Ambler poking fun at the ineptitude of clandestine services. Still, in the tradition of Greene and Ambler, Voices Under Berlin contains many literate qualities that make it a work of special consideration, worthy of an audience much broader than that of espionage enthusiasts or those interested in Cold War history."
You can order your copy of Voices Under Berlin by T.H.E. Hill:
This is a great story that will give you a fictionalized and unique insider's view of how things may have happened in 1955 Berlin's Spy Tunnel. While it may be hard to imagine how things such as this were going on beneath the feet of the citizens of Berlin but it was the Cold War after all.
From Amazon.com: Dr. Wesley Britton, author of "Spy Television", "Beyond Bond: Spies in Fiction and Film", and "Onscreen and Undercover: The Ultimate Book of Movie Espionage", writing at SpyWise.net writes "Throughout the Cold War, the divided city of Berlin was the epicenter of spy films and literature, especially in the hands of masters like John Le Carré and Len Deighton. For decades, we saw and read about Western agents sneaking in and Eastern defectors sneaking out of East Berlin--over, under, and through the most iconic symbol of the times--the Berlin Wall.
But T.H.E. Hill's new 2008 "Voices Under Berlin: The Tale of a Monterey Mary" has nothing to do with such spy vs. spy duels in Germany. Instead, his subject is the long-neglected Berlin Tunnel of the 1950s and the cryptographers, linguists, and analysts sifting through intercepted intelligence from East Germany to the masters in Moscow. Better--Voices Under Berlin is, in fact, perhaps the funniest spy book ever written. It's not a parody or satire of the 007 mythos nor is it a continuation of themes in the novels by the likes of Graham Greene or Eric Ambler poking fun at the ineptitude of clandestine services. Still, in the tradition of Greene and Ambler, Voices Under Berlin contains many literate qualities that make it a work of special consideration, worthy of an audience much broader than that of espionage enthusiasts or those interested in Cold War history."
You can order your copy of Voices Under Berlin by T.H.E. Hill:
22 December 2012
NUTS!
I was so gently reminded this morning that not only is today the 22nd day of December but it is also December 22, 2012 which is exactly 68 years from December 22, 1944.
What's so special about December 22, 1944 and what do NUTS have to do with it?
Well, that is the day that an event of epic proportions took place and the word "Nuts" played a huge role.
Let me take you back in time a bit.
Fresh off the heels of the Allied invasion of Europe just a mere six months earlier, then past fighting along the French hedgerows and then the Liberation of Paris. It seemed that US and Allied Forces were going to hit Berlin faster than anyone imagined. That is until they entered the BENELUX (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) region of Europe then things started to slow down. The German forces started to feel that their backs were to the wall and they were not prepared to let any foreign invaders enter their country. So they "amped" up operations and really tried to put it to the ALLIES.
It was not until the winter started to settle in. Trust me folks, if you have never experienced a winter in Europe you really would not begin to understand just how much of a game changer the weather is, but I digress (only a little).
OK, so the US Forces are making their way to the small but critical crossroads right in the middle of a town in southeastern Belgium; Bastogne. They were somewhat rather swiftly encircled by fast moving German forces that were intent on cutting off the supply lines of the Allied Forces, in what they hoped would turn the tide of the war in favor of the German Forces.
So the two forces met at Bastogne with the German Forces taking the upperhand and surround the US Forces. It was late December and as I mentioned the weather was not cooperating making air drops almost impossible. Thus as the ensuing battle raged ammo, food, medicine and cool weather gear were running out or non-existent. Nothing demoralizes the fighting man more than lack of bullets, beans, and band aids.
By the 22nd of December the US Forces were starting to think that everything was lost as they were surrounded by the enemy, supplies were running out, and their leaders had forgotten about them, until. Until under a white flag a small contingent of German Soldiers (two officers and two enlisted) the following ultimatum to Gen. McAuliffe:
To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.
The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.
There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.
If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.
The German Commander.
The response by General Anthony McAuliffe had to be something that not only seemed rational, considering the situation but also fair to all the men under his command. Thus his response was simple and to the point:
Once word of Gen. McAuliffe's response to the Germans got out the morale of each and every soldier shot up. Those the situation was hopeless that one word changed the outcome of the war. It offered enough motivation to each soldier to hold on just a little bit longer. The weather finally cleared up a few days later and air drops of supplies were accomplished. That along with reinforcements from Patton's 3rd Army arrived to help break the siege of Bastogne and return the allied advancement towards Berlin. About five months later, the war in Europe comes to an end.
As we approach Christmas 2012, please take a moment to remember the men and women that have served and are serving in defense of our nation. As you are at home warm and cosy getting ready to enjoy your Christmas and New Years, be grateful that men like those that were in Bastogne 68 years ago who sacrificed so much that we may be here today.
Merry Christmas! and NUTS!!!
What's so special about December 22, 1944 and what do NUTS have to do with it?
Well, that is the day that an event of epic proportions took place and the word "Nuts" played a huge role.
Let me take you back in time a bit.
Fresh off the heels of the Allied invasion of Europe just a mere six months earlier, then past fighting along the French hedgerows and then the Liberation of Paris. It seemed that US and Allied Forces were going to hit Berlin faster than anyone imagined. That is until they entered the BENELUX (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) region of Europe then things started to slow down. The German forces started to feel that their backs were to the wall and they were not prepared to let any foreign invaders enter their country. So they "amped" up operations and really tried to put it to the ALLIES.
It was not until the winter started to settle in. Trust me folks, if you have never experienced a winter in Europe you really would not begin to understand just how much of a game changer the weather is, but I digress (only a little).
OK, so the US Forces are making their way to the small but critical crossroads right in the middle of a town in southeastern Belgium; Bastogne. They were somewhat rather swiftly encircled by fast moving German forces that were intent on cutting off the supply lines of the Allied Forces, in what they hoped would turn the tide of the war in favor of the German Forces.
So the two forces met at Bastogne with the German Forces taking the upperhand and surround the US Forces. It was late December and as I mentioned the weather was not cooperating making air drops almost impossible. Thus as the ensuing battle raged ammo, food, medicine and cool weather gear were running out or non-existent. Nothing demoralizes the fighting man more than lack of bullets, beans, and band aids.
By the 22nd of December the US Forces were starting to think that everything was lost as they were surrounded by the enemy, supplies were running out, and their leaders had forgotten about them, until. Until under a white flag a small contingent of German Soldiers (two officers and two enlisted) the following ultimatum to Gen. McAuliffe:
To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.
The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.
There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.
If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.
The German Commander.
The response by General Anthony McAuliffe had to be something that not only seemed rational, considering the situation but also fair to all the men under his command. Thus his response was simple and to the point:
Once word of Gen. McAuliffe's response to the Germans got out the morale of each and every soldier shot up. Those the situation was hopeless that one word changed the outcome of the war. It offered enough motivation to each soldier to hold on just a little bit longer. The weather finally cleared up a few days later and air drops of supplies were accomplished. That along with reinforcements from Patton's 3rd Army arrived to help break the siege of Bastogne and return the allied advancement towards Berlin. About five months later, the war in Europe comes to an end.
As we approach Christmas 2012, please take a moment to remember the men and women that have served and are serving in defense of our nation. As you are at home warm and cosy getting ready to enjoy your Christmas and New Years, be grateful that men like those that were in Bastogne 68 years ago who sacrificed so much that we may be here today.
Merry Christmas! and NUTS!!!
25 November 2012
Nov/Dec 2012 Book of the Month: C Trick by Donald M. Cooper
The November - December 2012 Book of the Month is by former member of the Berlin Brigade Donald M. Cooper: C TRICK.
His entry into the literary world is the book "C Trick" which has be considered as THE Cold War "memoir for the common man."
C TRICK reads sort of as a glimpse into life during a wartime military (Vietnam) and "[b]efore the all-volunteer Army, there was the draft. This meant that most young American men had to decide how they were going to meet their military obligation. As the Cold War dragged on and the Vietnam War heated up, how a person met this obligation assumed critical importance. The choices were stark. If you were in college, you were safe. If not, you could wait to be drafted with the understanding that you could be sent to Vietnam as a combat soldier, or you could volunteer for an assignment that offered the chance of avoiding infantry combat in a rice paddy. Volunteering, however, also had a price. You would serve for a longer time, often in a foreign country far away from friends and family. "C Trick" tells the story of some of those who volunteered. The book is a tale that describes how one group of young citizen-soldiers met their military obligation during the last half of the Sixties. The book describes what it was like to be a soldier in a special Army unit stationed in what may have been the most important Cold War hot spot. Using prose from the era, the book captures all the humor and frustration experienced by young men coping with the rigors of military life. The reader will experience the frustration of these men when they were expected to perform difficult technical work in an important national security facility while also dealing with military absurdities. This book captures all the details of how these soldiers worked, played and tried to avoid military life while serving in the Army. It is a very refreshing account of how Cold War soldiers spent their time while their lives were on hold." (Amazon.com Book Description).
You can order your copy of C TRICK by Donald M. Cooper:
His entry into the literary world is the book "C Trick" which has be considered as THE Cold War "memoir for the common man."
C TRICK reads sort of as a glimpse into life during a wartime military (Vietnam) and "[b]efore the all-volunteer Army, there was the draft. This meant that most young American men had to decide how they were going to meet their military obligation. As the Cold War dragged on and the Vietnam War heated up, how a person met this obligation assumed critical importance. The choices were stark. If you were in college, you were safe. If not, you could wait to be drafted with the understanding that you could be sent to Vietnam as a combat soldier, or you could volunteer for an assignment that offered the chance of avoiding infantry combat in a rice paddy. Volunteering, however, also had a price. You would serve for a longer time, often in a foreign country far away from friends and family. "C Trick" tells the story of some of those who volunteered. The book is a tale that describes how one group of young citizen-soldiers met their military obligation during the last half of the Sixties. The book describes what it was like to be a soldier in a special Army unit stationed in what may have been the most important Cold War hot spot. Using prose from the era, the book captures all the humor and frustration experienced by young men coping with the rigors of military life. The reader will experience the frustration of these men when they were expected to perform difficult technical work in an important national security facility while also dealing with military absurdities. This book captures all the details of how these soldiers worked, played and tried to avoid military life while serving in the Army. It is a very refreshing account of how Cold War soldiers spent their time while their lives were on hold." (Amazon.com Book Description).
You can order your copy of C TRICK by Donald M. Cooper:
24 November 2012
Congrats to New York Times Best Selling Author Rebecca Cantrell
BerlinBrigade.com wants to extend the most Heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS we can collectively muster to our good friend Rebecca Cantrell (www.RebeccaCantrell.com) who recently became a New York Times Bestselling Author. Rebecca joins that prestigious list of authors for the work that she along with James Rollins (another NYTimes Bestselling Author) did in writing the novel "City of Screams" (Kindle edition).
"City of Screams" is a story set in the "highlands of Afghanistan, amid the ruins of Shahr-e-Gholghol, an archaeology team is massacred in the night. Sergeant Jordan Stone and his crack forensic team are called in to examine the site, to hunt for the perpetrators of this horrific act. But the discovery of a survivor—a child of ten—will shatter all the team knows about life and death. Among the crumbling bones of dead kings, something hoary and murderous stirs out of the ancient past, lurching forward to claim vengeance on those still living."
You can order your copy for the Kindle:
Also, did you know in Episode 30 of the BerlinBrigade.com Podcast I interviewed the author of the Hannah Vogel series of books; Rebecca Cantrell? That's right!
Rebecca Cantrell was interviewed in April of 2011 which was right around the time that her second book, "A Night of Long Knives", was being published.
I invite you to listen to the that interview on the EPISODE 30 page by clicking here. Once the page scroll down to the INTERVIEW ONLY player and you can here the wonderful conversation that I was fortunate enough to have with Rebecca Cantrell.
CONGRATULATIONS REBECCA!!!!
"City of Screams" is a story set in the "highlands of Afghanistan, amid the ruins of Shahr-e-Gholghol, an archaeology team is massacred in the night. Sergeant Jordan Stone and his crack forensic team are called in to examine the site, to hunt for the perpetrators of this horrific act. But the discovery of a survivor—a child of ten—will shatter all the team knows about life and death. Among the crumbling bones of dead kings, something hoary and murderous stirs out of the ancient past, lurching forward to claim vengeance on those still living."
You can order your copy for the Kindle:
Also, did you know in Episode 30 of the BerlinBrigade.com Podcast I interviewed the author of the Hannah Vogel series of books; Rebecca Cantrell? That's right!
Rebecca Cantrell was interviewed in April of 2011 which was right around the time that her second book, "A Night of Long Knives", was being published.
I invite you to listen to the that interview on the EPISODE 30 page by clicking here. Once the page scroll down to the INTERVIEW ONLY player and you can here the wonderful conversation that I was fortunate enough to have with Rebecca Cantrell.
CONGRATULATIONS REBECCA!!!!
09 November 2012
It Was 23 Years Ago Today (November 9, 1989)
23 years ago on this day the world came to a sudden halt. So very few times in World History has one event been able to stop everything and make the world pay attention. November 9, 1989 is that day. The Fall of the Berlin Wall was the "astonishing event" that change the world.
I recorded a small video message to on the occasion of the 23rd Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
Congratulations to Germany and the World!
07 November 2012
October/November 2012 Book of the Month: Battleground Berlin: CIA vs. KGB in the Cold War
Battleground Berlin: CIA vs. KGB in the Cold War takes you behind the scenes of Spy vs. Spy life in East and West Berlin from just after the end of the Second World War to the construction of the notorious/infamous Berlin Wall.
If all you know about the spy-craft and the Cold War is what you have seen in the movies or on some History Channel special, well you have another thing coming with Battleground Berlin. This book brings to you some of the characters that played the game of move and counter-move during some of the most OVERT and COVERT events of the epicenter of the Cold War: Berlin.
On the surface this 556 page hardcover is not light reading but for anyone interested in getting an insider's look to the CIA's and KGB's operations in Berlin then this book is one you cannot pass up. You can order your copy of Battleground Berlin from Amazon.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)