By JIM PURCELL
John Simon is an Army veteran who served on active duty
during the Cold War, from 1985 to 1988. He was born in Southbridge,
Massachusetts but raised in Worcester, Massachusetts.
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| The M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle |
Like a lot of young
people, John joined the Army right after high school. So, after he collected
his diploma at Doherty Memorial High School, he went straight to the Army
recruiter’s office.
“I wanted to join
the Army since I was kid,” John said.
John’s first step in becoming a soldier
brought him to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he trained
to be an infantryman and Bradley crewman. The Bradley was still new to
soldiers, with the M2 and M3 entering service in 1981.
Named for the late
General Omar Bradley, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle included a crew of three: a
commander, driver and gunner. Its weaponry included an M242, 25mm chain gun, a
TOW anti-tank weapon and a 7.62mm, M240 machine gun. In addition, the Bradley
could carry six fully equipped soldiers.
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| Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, in Garlstedt, FRG |
The Bradley
replaced the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, which was basically an
aluminum-armored rolling box equipped with an M2, .50-caliber machine gun.
While the APC was replaced by the Bradley in infantry line units, they were
still used by support units.
“What I liked most
about my job was driving the Bradley,” John said.
He got a chance to
join a unit that was equipped relatively early with the Bradley when he arrived
to his first duty station, Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, in Garlstedt, Federal
Republic of Germany; the home of the 2nd Armored Division (Forward).
Once there, he was assigned to Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 41st
Infantry Regiment.
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| 41st Infantry Regiment Crest |
Clay Kaserne was
named for the former European Commander Gen. Lucius D. Clay (1898-1978). Clay
had served during World War II in Europe and stayed on after the German
surrender, in 1945, to serve as deputy governor of Germany during the Allied
Military Government that was in place immediately following the end of the war.
At the time, the
Division (Forward) was comprised of three maneuver battalions: the 1st
Battalion, 41st Infantry; the 4th Battalion, 41st
Infantry; and the 2nd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment,
equipped with the still relatively new M1 tanks. Rounding out the Division
(Forward) was the 4th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery
Regiment and a support battalion.
The 2nd
Armored Division (Forward) was situated in Northern Germany, so when PFC Simon
joined his unit in January, 1986 he got the opportunity to experience icy
blasts off the North Sea firsthand.
“I think the things
the Army taught me were to trust your brothers and, if need be, be ready to
kick ass,” John said.
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| Army Overseas Service Ribbon |
The battalion was
in the field regularly, whether it was cold weather training in Denmark;
gunnery or training evaluations in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels, in Southern
Germany; or taking part in REFORGER (Return Forces to Germany) exercises.
Still, John made the time to enjoy Northern Germany’s night-life some,
frequently clubbing in Bremerhaven. In fact, it was there that John met his
future wife.
During May, 1988,
John’s battalion was rotated back to Fort Hood, in Texas, where it was placed
in the 2nd (St. Lo) Brigade of the 2nd Armored Division
(Main). The 4th Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment was
replaced in Garlstedt by the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored
Regiment.
By the time he left
the active Army, in October, 1988, John had earned a promotion to the rank of
specialist and went on to serve an additional three years in the U.S. Army
Reserve.
Today, he recalls
his time in the Army fondly and enjoys his memories of serving with the Iron
Deuce in Europe and the United States.
