Page 95 - The History of Veterans at Highland Springs

GUSTAV A. SCHLAPKOHL
HIGHLAND SPRINGS RESIDENT, ARMY
After immigrating to the US in June 1953, I was drafted into the US Army in April 1954, in Rochester, N. Y. I took my Basic Training at Fort Knox Ky.
My first permanent duty station was at the Ordnance Automotive School, Atlanta General Depot, Atlanta Ga. In Feb. 1955, I was assigned to the Air Force, for Project SARWARF-FEAF (Special Category Army Assigned with Air Force - Far East Air Force). I was assigned to the 809th Engineer Aviation Bn. Anderson Air Force Base, Guam. Our mission on Guam, was the extension of the runway to accommodate the take-off and landing for the new B-36 and B-52 Bombers. On my return to the US, I was released from Active Duty in March 1956, as Sp-2 (E-5) at Fort Dix N.J. I was then assigned to the Active Army Reserve, in Rochester N. Y.
In Sep. 1959, I re-enlisted, stationed at Fort Dix, N. J., trained as Artillery Field Communications Specialist. After training, I was assigned to the 21st Artillery, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, an 8” towed Artillery Unit, where I was a wire team chief.
In 1962, I transferred to the Seventh US Army in Germany. I was assigned to the 92nd FA, in Giessen Germany, an 8” self-propelled battalion. The mission of the battalion, as an Army Unit, was general support of the III. German Army Corps. My duty started out to be wire team chief but was soon changed. First, because of my German language proficiency as interpreter at the S-2 Dept., then to S-3, as Bn. Trng. NCO, and finally to Bn. Ops. NCO. I also had the additional duty of Liaison Sergeant to III. German Army Corps Artillery, in Koblenz, Germany.
After three and a half years in Germany, I returned to the US. I was assigned to the 29th FA, 5th Inf. Div., Fort Carson, Colorado. By this time, I had enough of the US Army, I decided to get out of the Army at the end of enlistment. I received my third honorable discharge as Staff-Sergeant (E-6), in Feb. 1967.
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