Apr1953 to May 1954

My name is Dean Slagle; I enlisted in the ASA at Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 13, 1953. I traveled by train to the reception depot at Fort Meade Md. for processing and assignment. I was assigned to Co. D, 518th Field Artillery Bn., 101st. Airborne (deactivated) located at Camp Breckenridge Ky., for 8 weeks basic training. After basic training was over, I was sent to for Fort Devens Ma. for assignment. From Fort Devens, I was sent to Camp Gordon Ga., for a 26-week course in Field Radio Repair (MOS 1648). I was assigned to Student Co. 12 at The SouthEastern Signal School (T.S.E.S.S). About a month before we were finished with our schooling, we were called into the ASA liaison office and asked if we had any preferences where we would like to be stationed. I requested Germany. I departed the states on April 26, 1954, my 21st birthday, on my way to Germany, via Camp Kilmer NJ, Westover AFB Ma. and the Azores. The airplane had motor trouble on the flight, we landed at Lajos AFB in the Azores, and it took two days to repair the engine. We finally arrived in Germany on or about the 29th of April 1954. When we landed at Rhine Main, we "Agency" men were taken to the Gut Leut Kasserne in down town Frankfurt A/M near the main train station. We spent a couple of days processing and then we were sent to Heilbron for asignment.

May 1954 to Nov 1954
I was assigned to 331st Communications Reconnaissance Company (C.R. Co.) 5th Corp located at Giessen. Upon ariving in Giessen, I found out that the 331st C.R.Co. was on detached service near the town of Koningslutter in the then British Zone of Germany. After loading my gear in the back of a truck, and climbing into truck for a 3 or 4 hour ride to Sollingen, near Helmstedt, I finally arrived at my assigned company and destination. Which was known as "31 Fox" and what was to be my home until mid November 1954. "31 Fox" was a communications intelligence intercept site, that is an electronic monitoring location to intercept, copy and decode the Communist Army Military messages. The company was scattered about northern Germany; HQ was at Giessen, "31 Fox" was the main operations monitoring site near Sollingen, and 3 out post DF stations; 31 Able was at Lubeck, Bahrdorf was Det 1, located near Velpke, I don't recall the site designator for Wesendorf located near Gifhorn. There may have been more outstation sites that I not aware of being in use at this time. The 331st CRC was spread out over a distance from Giessen, just north of Frankfurt to Lubeck. I believe that Major Sutherland was CO at that time. Being a radio repairman, I had the opportunity to travel to the different out stations. At "31 Fox" we lived in squad tents, and worked in van trucks.

Giessen Nov 1954 to Apr 1955
"31 Fox" broke camp and went back to Giessen for the winter, we were stationed at the Quarter Master Depot Kasserne.

Bahrdorf ( Det 1) Apr 1955 to Nov 1955
I went on detached service to Bahrdorf in mid April and returned from the field in mid November. The site at "31 Fox" was not activated this year. The 331st CRC moved and set up HQ and operations at Rothwesten near Kassel. I don't know the date, but sometime that year, probably in July. The 331st CR Co. became the 307th CR Bn., the 307th CR Bn. consisted of three companies; HQ, A and B. I was attached to Co. A.

Rothwesten Nov 1955
We returned from detached service in mid November to Rothwesten. I was only at Rothwesten for a short period of time and was re assigned to the out station at Altefeld. Altefeld Dec 1955 to Apr 1956 Altefeld was an out post located east of Kassel, along the border over looking the Eisenach valley. I don't recall the site designation name; it was located in the vicinity Archfeld. We were quartered in a house named "Haus Eschwege", which I was told was an R&R site for recuperating German fliers during WW II. About the first of April, I got my orders to return to the states for discharge. Departed by air from Frankfurt to Prestwick Scotland to New Foundland to McGuire AFB NJ then across the road to Ft Dix NJ for discharge on April 8th, 1956.
 

Late August or early September 1954 while we were at 31 fox (Sollingen). We had a scheduled company party, for all personal. Everyone was there except the trick on duty; they rented a hall in Koeningslutter for the party. We had all kind of foods and beer to consume, about two hours into the party, when every one was starting to get "feeling good"; we had a "red alert" the Eastern Bloc nations went on maneuvers. The Soviet navy was moving south along the coast of Norway, the Red Army tanks were moving towards the border, and their air force were joining in the games. We were loaded on to vehicles and moved back to 31 fox as quickly as possible. They found four 50's for our "protection" (I don't think anyone saw anything heavier than a 30 caliber in basic and even knew how to load or fire a 50 caliber), we went to work as soon as we got back, Laying all the racks of communication equipment on mattress on the floor of the vans, cutting all runs of coax and ground wires and etc. wi th fire axes at each vehicle so we would be able to clear out, to where I don't know. It took us about a week to repair all the damage that we did the fire axes. The only casualty we had that night was one sprained ankle fr om a guy jumping out of the Back of a 2 1/2-ton truck.

Bahrdorf 1955
The site at Bahrdorf was on the northern plain and sat on top of a sandy mound that had a few pine trees and was more open than the site the previous summer at 31 Fox. We had a prefab recreation hall, a little PX and the squad Tent City. The operation area was operated out of van trucks again. To bathe we had to go to the public baths in the little town of Vorsfelde.

Altefeld 1956
Herlehausen was a border town located about 10 miles from Altefeld. It was through here in 1956 that the Russians released some of the German POW's from WWII. Most of the returning German POW's had been captives for more than 11 years. I can remember going down to the border crossing point and seeing these gaunt, somber shells of men in worn and tattered German WWII uniforms crossing the bridge to freedom. They were a somber group, not showing any signs of joy of being freed. I can remember thinking that the war had been over for almost 11 years and yet these poor souls were only now being repatriated. I also remember the paintings of the spirals on the floor and the "US Army Parade of Command" painted on the walls in the basement of "Haus Eschwege". I would have liked to meet the person who did this art job, but no one could come up with a name. He was a head of his time, if you read this I say "very interesting". I would like to hear from anyone who may have served with the 331 st CR Co. or the 307th CR Bn. or at any of the sites mentioned.

I enjoyed the time that I served in the ASA and I would do it over again with out any hesitation. The "Agency" lives in our hearts, our minds and our memories.

Dean Slagle 145 Sell St. Johnstown, PA 15905 814-539-7094 slagle@nasaa.npoint.net  gdslagle@hotmail.com

1955