Sembach Air Base - The First Weeks

The street with the dormitories and the dining hall

When we first moved to the base, our dormitories were still being built. So we were put up in temporary housing, spread out over the base. Eventually we would move to the building in the back of the picture on the right, right next to the dining hall, the small building in the center. But for now, I ended up in the Air Force Security Forces' dorm, which housed the members of the base's Air Force military police (in the picture last building on the left). These guys meant business, as in the first few weeks, a bunch of our German guys were pulled over for speeding. They conducted their business just like police in the U.S.: They'd sit inconspicuously somewhere on the side, checking your speed, and when you went too fast, they'd come after you with their distinctive American police sirens and red and blue lights. However, over the next few weeks I would get to know some of them, hang out watching movies with them, or party at the NCO club on the weekend. I saw "Empire of the Sun" and other movies during that time, and watching these movies today brings back great memories.

My NCO Club membership card

The NCO club was very impressive and was no comparison to any German Air Force type of entertainment or hospitality venue for German NCOs. It consisted of a restaurant, a bar, a dance club, a lounge, a gift shop, and a snack bar. On the weekends they would have parties, live band performances or karaoke. And our commander, MajGen Rutherford, made sure, that we as Germans could join the NCO club, even though we were German Air Force, not U.S. Air Force.

This base was so much different from Birkenfeld, and eventually I spent more and more weekends at the base, rather than driving six hours home on Fridays, only to return after another six hour drive on Sundays. There was the NCO club, the movie theater, a 24 hour Bowling Alley, the commissary, the BX, a liquor store, Sunday football games, weekday baseball games.

The Tiger Palace movie theater

At Tiger palace (the football team's name was The Sembach Tigers, so everything was named after them, the movie theater for example, or the bowling alley - Tiger Lanes) I watched the latest movies, about six months before they would be released in German cinemas. And in English! I learned to appreciate the original voices of actors, even Arnold Schwarzenegger. When I watch movies that I first saw at Sembach, today, such as "Total Recall", it brings back memories and awakens a feeling of nostalgia for a time I tremendously appreciate and cherish.

Craig, Colin and John outside
Colin's dorm room
drinking Southern Comfort

I spent entire weekends, days and nights at the bowling alley, trying to improve my game, but never making it above 170. When there were enough of us around off duty or in between shifts, some of us would play softball on Tuesdays, and afterwards we would get the most delicious (and unhealthy) cheese hot dogs from "Frank's Franks" hot dog stand in front of the BX. And I particularly cherish the long summer evenings in front of our dorm rooms, listening to music (B52s is a vivid memory), drinking Southern Comfort and not having a care in the world. On weekends I would sleep in, eventually get up, and run next door to the dining hall to get breakfast, American style. We were enjoying life on base, and not once did we feel the need to venture off base to mingle with the locals.

It turned out that living on Sembach Air Base between the summer of 1989 and the fall of 1991 would become one of the best times of my life. Not only was there so much to do, but I would eventually meet people, who would change my life forever, and whom I truly believe, I owe everything I am today. A Monday night poker game in the fall of 1989 turned out to be an event where I met the most incredible group of people, some of whom also became my best friends.