SF History

[QRQ 30]

Folks: The post about Dick Meadows brings something to mind -- the true "Quiet Professionals". In Post-War Germany an act was put into effect, (I believe the Dulles Act) which allowed displaced persone (DPs) to enlist in the U.S. military in Europe and eventually receive their U.S. Citizenship. Many took advantage of this program, a version of the Foreign Legion. The Polish Brigade performed all of the duties in Germany that the Post Engineers do here. IIRC they also puled much of the Post Security.

Several, perhaps 100+, ended up in the 10th SFGA in Bad Toelz. Most of them represented a story of undergroujnd contacts, escape across the Iron Curtain and much more. Many changed their names since they had rewards on their heads. They were true professionals and many died in Vietnam before ever having a chance to live a life of freedom in the States. One I remember, Rosniuk, not only escaped across the Iron Curtain, but took a leave and walked back to the Ukrain to visit his mother and then returned. There was a former East German Soldier in my company who had literally shot his way across the border to freedom.

For years their stories couldn't be told. Perhaps now, with the fall of the Soviet Union they can. This would be a worthy project for any budding authors out there.

There is a lot of history out there which will be lost if people don't write it down. Though hardly a hero, that is the purpose of my Web Site. Some of the FOGS, VFOGS and VVFOGS need to stop being so modest and start recording their personal histories.

On another vein, we FOGS tend to think we were first. Not true!! We have predecessors all of the way back to the Revolutionary War. From what I have heard, today's SF soldiers are every bit as dedicated and professional as were the RVN era soldiers. They are now authorized to sit at a table and tell their stories and I would gladly sit with them and keep the drinks coming.