German Unification

In November 1989 history took a big ass turn when the Berlin wall came tumbling down onto the pile of rubble that was left of Communism and Socialism. 70 years of forcing people into submission to live in an ineffective, illiberal, oppressive system of mismanagement, corruption, murder, torture, and imprisonment. The East Germans were subject to two consecutive dictatorships, from 1933 to 1945 more or less self inflicted under the Nazis, and right after the war until 1989 under ruthless and brutal Soviet rule. With Gorbachev taking control of the Soviet politburo in 1986, things behind the iron curtain began to change. It took a little longer to arrive in East Germany, but eventually even the hardliners in the GDR could no longer deny the people's will. Especially not when the Russians declined to interfere with any internal resistance movements. So, after the East Germans replaced their stubborn and senile leadership on October 1989, the train towards East German liberation, and ultimately German unification was set in motion.

To fulfill my role as an NCO handling the highest classified documents at SOC3, I had the highest Top Secret clearances from NATO, the German Military, as well as a U.S. Top Secret clearance issued by the DoD. Having these clearances makes you vulnerable to being compromised, and a primary target of enemy intelligence services, and personnel with those security clearance levels were not allowed to go near the East German (or any other Warsaw pact country's) border by keeping I believe was a three mile minimum distance. One was also not permitted to go to West Berlin, at least not by car or train. Mind you, I never had any interest in exploring the East. However, due to the historic events, travel restrictions were lifted in January of 1990, and I ended up taking my first trip to West Berlin. That trip was an eye opener revealing what communism had done to a people and a country's infrastructure. Rubble everywhere, ruins and buildings about to collapse, and a stink of coal, and two-stroke exhaust fumes from their little plastic cars everywhere made me want to return to the West as quickly as possible.

The summer of 1990 was a time of packed Autobahns, filled with millions of East German visitors and migrants; the Soccer World Cup (won by a unified German team), and preparations to reunite West and East Germany after basically 45 years of separation. July 1st, the East German currency was replaced by the Deutschmark (DM), and in-spite of leading economists warning of the astronomical costs to West German taxpayers, the political leadership did not want to miss the historic chance of having all four Allied powers still controlling Germany's fate support the initiative to reunite the two German states. 

October 3rd, was to mark the day the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic were to become one, by having the newly formed East German states join the territorial applicability of the (West German) Federal Constitution. 

Me enjoying (ha!) a Bischoff brew
closely watched by Jeff Dusseau and Damon Weimer

My friends in the "NATO Connection", my brothers and sisters in arms, and all of the Sembach military community witnessed the events with somewhat of a distant curiosity, as we still had a mission to fulfill: Defending our way of life, and our political, social, and liberal accomplishments we reached since the end of World War II. However, since October 3rd was declared a new public holiday in Germany, my German comrades and I planned a huge party to be held at the dormitory that housed us Germans on the eve of the historic event. And a huge party it was. We had hundreds of mostly U.S. Air Force airmen and women, NCOs and officers join us in our dorm rooms on a beautiful late summer evening celebrating the culmination of NATO's resilience, vigilance and determination resulting in the unification of the German nation within the Western family of free and democratic societies. 

Jeff Dusseau, me and Martin Staffeldt having a blast

John Phoenix lustfully eyeing Samantha Whatshername
(sorry, I forgot) 

Sembach Air Base - The Fun Stuff

My time at Sembach Air Base was memorable, to say the least. It was without a doubt the most influential time of my life. Not only shaped my duties and responsibilities as a German Air Force NCO at Sector Operations Center 3 me into the person I am today, but the time I spent on and off base with my closest friends inside and outside my unit were profoundly responsible for who I became, and who I am today. Five of us ended up becoming really close friends, and over time our little group was dubbed "The NATO Connection" across the base. Airman Colin Doyle, Airman John Phoenix, Airman Craig Larsen, and Sergeant James Lyman, and myself became virtually inseparable. We spent as much time as our shift and duty schedules allowed, mainly at the bowling alley or at the movies. 

Craig, Colin, myself and John in Colin's and Craig's room

Me, John, Craig and Colin
at Colin's Farewell Party

It was during that time, that my interest in Motocross turned into a passion, mainly due to Colin's obsession with it. I was introduced to music styles unknown to me until then, mostly Californian punk and rock, but also to up and coming new bands such as REM or the B52s. I was never a fan of popular music that you hear on the radio every day, or that is being played at clubs. Bands that were known only to a small circle of fans at that time were suddenly my thing, such as The Descendants, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty, NoFX and others. We visited their concerts and ended up travelling as far as Heilbronn to see them live.

Countless weekends at the Bowling Center "Tiger Lanes", or trips to surrounding places and cities, visiting concerts, motocross races and events, or even just going to places like Frankfurt to watch Colin and Craig skateboard, made my time at Sembach the most enjoyable time ever. 

Colin, Craig and some skateboard kids
they were friends with
after the Bad Religion concert