GLCM stories

     I remember once having to stand a post that was in the very back of the IGAMA, I think I was guarding the vents that were unprotected.  Anyway, while I was back there the flight chief initiated an exercise…can’t remember what the exercise was about, but I didn’t like it, so I started chucking rocks at the Fence Disturbance Sensors (FDS) and set one off.  I remember the MSCFO (Bravo-5) calling, “Break, break, break, (my callsign)” and asking if I saw anything.  Of course I didn’t see anything.  They cleared the alarm and re-initiated the exercise.  I remembered to stand far enough back that Bravo-5 couldn’t see me and chucked another rock at the fence…”break, break, break…Bravo-5 to all posted patrols we have termination of flight level exercise….”  LOL, I knew how mess with them! 

     Some of the peculiarities of being assigned to the 38^th MSS:  for about 5 months we had no ensignia of any kind on our uniforms…no stripes, no name tapes…no nothing.  We were supposed to have the aircrew style name tags on our uniforms, but the embosser that the unit had was broke and there were no others to get anywhere within Europe.  So, other than a beret with the USAFE emblem we ran around Hahn looking like we were in basic training.  When we finally got a working embosser, some general decided he didn’t like us wearing the aircrew name tags so we had to put on stripes and name tags.  Also, after about a month or two being there we finally got our M-16’s, but we couldn’t get M-203’s.  It seems that Colt was on strike at the time and there were no M-203’s to be gotten anywhere, so the Air Force sent us some mothballed XM-148’s that were last used in the Vietnam War….anyone remember the 5 position sight?  Because the Air Force and Ronny Reagan were so hot to get GLCM operational in West Germany no one could fail their QC’s.  If anyone failed they were corrected up to the passing score, how comforting to know that there were people that completely blew there QC’s but could still work around nukes…I know I slept better. 

 Ray Brower

19 Comments

I just found this site, I don't know if anyone still checks this but I was a GLCM Ranger from 85-90. Yes I remember working at the I-GAMA and going to the field with A flt. and later with C flt. Almost the entire time there was spent going to the field or cleaning up after getting back. I remember a lot of the names on here, you all have brought back so many memories of my time there. I will always be proud of my time there. "BGM-109 Rocks Moscow, hit after hit".

Oh my god...you gentlemen have brought back way to many 1/2 memories...Vandevissers drawings, Brock...omg need I say more. Knophf. Way to many acronyms to remember. I do remember most of your names as I read them. I am and always will be proud to be one of the "GLCM Rangers" 11/85 - 11/89. Shout out to Withrow, Dennis, Dobbins and everyone I've forgotten to mention. You are all missed. Remember "The Scrub"

I was the first airman to report for GLCM IOT&E way back in July of 1980. We had three other officers, Majs. Karlage, Linvingston and Longino, and nothing else aside from three desks and a file cabinet in a back room at 6501st RS. My sponsor, who was actually a member of that squadron, was for some reason unreachable the night I reported, so I spent my first duty day at Dugway sleeping in the Army MPs' detention cell. My dad, who was an active duty Chief at the time, got a kick out of that one. GLCM IOT&E was an amazing and occasionally bizarre experience. Everything we needed was send to us post haste-I even seem to remember a pallet of cammies arriving on a C-130. We borrowed vehicles and equipment from the Army, wore Marine fatigues and worked for a Navy Admiral-joint service at its best. I'd given some thought to becoming a soldier when I'd gone down to enlist, and after a few weeks as an inaugural member of the Air Force infantry I realized that I'd done just that.

I also arrived at Ramstein and found no one there to pick me up!!! hitched a ride to Hahn. I was with the 2nd wave to hit the 38th. The IGAMA was already set up. Good times and good memories!!!

Hey Don!! I am in contact with Zak!! He is in Cal. i am in Oklahoma. we are both on facebook!!

I remember during exercises trying to drive the Hummers with black-out lights, chem gear and gasmask. Couldn't see a damn thing!

I was there from Aug 87 to March 89. While my time was basically hell on earth because of the many personal problems I encountered; not to mention all of the trouble I got into, I will never forget what it was to be part of that very unique assignment. When I think back to it, being a member of GLCM, a weapon system that literally changed history, that changed the world. Russia hauled ass to the table to bargain with us and ultimately decrease Nuclear Arms because they knew that they couldn't win with Death so close. I am currently in the Texas Army National Guard deployed in Iraq as a Medic the lessons learned from my not so shining moment in my Air Force career has formed a different mindset and allowed me to return to Military Service and finish what I started over 20 years ago. Regardless of what happened then, I am extremely proud to have been Air Force, A Security Policeman, and a GLCM RANGER!!!!!

QC- Delta flight DFS and general knucklehead. Yeah it was a great assignment.

Rich C. You're so right about the Hahn boys hating us because we got the best of everything... sucked to be them. I loved dispersals; hated GAMA duty. Whenever I think life is hard I recall trying to get through those 12 hour night shifts. Dennis Toomey... you and I were roomies with Schaeffer and had some great times. I'll always remember karate training, the bed of nails and you eating glass in that gasthaus in Traben-Trarbach.

You guys are bringing back some good memories. What a great three year tour!!!

Been awhile Ray... The panties were simply my "home reminders" and something to look forward too. I was there 85 to 88. Started in the IGAMA, moved to the site and did 30/30 (3 on 3 off), augmented the GAMA since the sensors did not work, field exercises out the ass (with Capt Zahn, Capt Brown and Capt Curry). Remember Stan Hyles (Hiles), he was a TOC Operator with me. Drivold rings a bell... Jog my memories, because I remember the name!!!

Geez Fortunately, I got out unscathed, well with the exception of a few stripes. I am not familiar with a lot of what you guys are talking about, but I had a great time, maybe to great of a time. Now that I am older and wiser, I will apologize to all those whom at one time or another made your lives miserable. Maybe you will all remember the O.S.I. storming the Delta flight NIKE barn. Thanks to Scott tamarrows week undercover sting operation on his Fellow flight members. That was funny

Ray, this is good stuff! I was assigned in Quality Control (QC) when we staged from the I-GAMA, so I found your interpretations both humorous and enlightening. For the record, I'll take some responsibility for your less than flattering perception of our QC Section. The truth is that my QC colleague (and mentor), SSgt Greg Moncrieff, and I had a fiery rivalry going on in the section that may have influenced this perception. In a nutshell, SSgt Moncrief was adamant about failing poor performance. And reviews of flight training records indicated improvements were needed, justifying his perspective. Equally important though, I was extremely vocal in ensuring flight trainers had the proper tools to train with; In fact, I eventually resigned my QC position to become a flight trainer. I’d like to think the rivalry helped to strike a balance between passing a small few that should have failed and rather than failing a small few that should have passed. However, based on your historical interpretation of the reason those who pass should have failed, Greg’s position is again justified and I will always owe him a world of respect for sticking to his guns.

Hey Rooney, doubt you'll remember me, but I remember deploying with you on the field exercises. You used to keep your wife's panties in your helmet. Not saying that to embarrass you, it's just how I remember you. I remember Knopf's black helicopter full of tactical ninjas and stupid stealth gliders. Boy, what an idiot he was. How we ever won the cold war with him on our side I don't know.

The best times at Hahn has to be how the the Hahn Security Forces hated us since they took all of our gear when it arrived and then lost their budget for several years because they had to give it back. Or when we had to augment them during the crisis resulting from Pan Am 103 shooting. It was great to get to the actual site and working 30/30 duties.

Anyone remember Knopf's exercises... Russian airplane lands, taxis to end of runway, 2 armored personnel carriers offload, the armored vehicles break through the flightline gate, continue on through the 2 fences to the IGAMA, russian soliders deploy from the armored personnel carriers, they have gained access to the no-lone zone and are tampering with the resource....all that to call a mobile fire team/final protective fire exercise. What fun... The wine and beer fests made it worth while.

Hey Greg! How's it going? I still remember the time we were at Baumholder on an exercise. In the middle of the night you, me and someone else were chatting and you went to bend over to reach for something, then "BAM!" Your M-16 fired (blanks, fortunately...lol). I don't think we ever figured out how that happened.

I drank way to much to remember that much detail! How are doing Ray? Hi Mike.

A Flight MMT You have to remember some good times.

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