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The Border Mission 1972-1973 BG (Ret) Mike O'Connell: "When I took command of the squadron, we were still part of VII Corps and attached to the 2nd ACR. The mission was conducted out of both Wollbach and Coburg and we were responsible for a very long run of border. This was a difficult task, the mission was done with a reinforced platoon at each camp and the balance of the troop remaining at Daley. I had seen the border earlier in my career and new what to expect from the East Germans ... they constantly worked to improve the barriers and stood guard vigilantly.   Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are courtesy of BG (Ret) Mike O'Connell             Late November 1971, I assume command of the squadron in Bad Kissingen. The ceremony was held in the gym; the previous SCO, LTC Tuggle had already departed so the photo shows at left, the SXO, LTC O'Connell, center, and COL Graham, RCO of the 2'nd ACR at right.   At the ceremony, we had invited guests and family members in the stands and commanders, staff and senior NCOs of the squadron.   We were attached to the 2nd ACR and actually designated as the 4th Squadron. From left: 1st Squadron SCO, 2nd Squadron SCO, LTC Tommy Smith, 2 ACR RCO, Col Charles P. Graham, 3rd Squadron SCO and on far right, LTC M.G. O'Connell, 4th Squadron SCO. Colonel Graham retired at the grade of Lieutenant General.                 I went to the Regimental commander with a series of changes I wanted to make and he gave me free reign. It was important that the cavalry troop realize that the border mission was very important and not get complacent but also, that all the other training and maintenance missions get done as well. I wanted that troop commander at a border camp and all the soldiers out of Daley. During those first months, I was very active on the border, checking the camps and calling out the Reaction Force for command inspection. If I wasn't up there, the S2 or Border NCO was.                         The men of HHT receive an Honor Streamer.   Troop E receives a new streamer; the squadron had a long way to go from when I first took command. My approach was simple, good soldiers working hard were rewarded, troopers who did not support the program were in trouble.   They were always at it; DDR guards with a personnel carrier by a construction site.                 Insofar as the camps, I was able to get some small funds to continue the improvements to the buildings. Soldier morale and quality of life were important keys to what I wanted the border mission to be. Once we re-flagged to the Blackhorse, the mission became somewhat easier in that we now only had one camp, Wollbach, and the length of the border to be observed was reduced. Camp Wollbach may have been a little tight for a cav troop but at least now, the entire chain of command could monitor the situation from one location. I felt we made steady progress in both our professionalism on the border as well as getting everything else done.                         This was part of fixing up the second generation fence. I don't recall they had that single fence program going on yet.   Here is a good photo of a GAK. I don't think we called them that, however. I think we just called them all "guards".   The usual construction program.                 The re-flag did present a number of challenges to the staff as all the reports changed when we came back to the Blackhorse and there honestly was a different approach to virtually all things in V Corps. We spent many hours in meetings at Fulda to learn the new "language" and get the changes out to the soldiers in an understandable fashion. The staff did great work here. I guess my best border story goes back to the first months after taking command. We went out on alert and then I had some freedom of maneuver. I ran that squadron fast towards the border and we went into hide positions near our defensive positions for several hours. After getting back to BK, I received a call from the 2nd ACR commander. He said he hoped we had enjoyed a good training experience and .... that if I did that again, he wanted plenty of advanced warning  to himself and the regimental staff. A few days later, I learned that our little maneuver had caused much interest in East Germany and that several long silent radio nets had suddenly sparked to life. The signal guys had a field day listening in!"                         More of the same.   Each month we tried to have a command briefing at the Post Theater to keep all the troopers informed as well as recognize those who had performed in an outstanding fashion. I am at center handing out an award, CSM Daley is at right.   This was interesting to watch, the building of a new tower. I do not recall any of the wooden ones when I took command but maybe there were a few.                 MSG (Ret) Scott Ford: "I was the Eaglehorse Border NCO from 72-74 and spent a lot of time on the border, mostly after the re-flag. I don't recall that I was involved with a lot of border training for the troops. This was left up to the troop commanders and maybe the S2. I don't recall having a border knowledge test either. Things like the air insertions and joint patrols with the Germans sound great but we did not have either of those. The SBOC was under the control of the S2, the GSR guys were in HHT and we controlled them. They spent a lot of time at the border camp augmenting the troop with the mission. I don't recall any other units sending guys to help us out on the border except when we went to gunnery, then the entire mission was handed off. Usually I stayed behind to make sure this went OK.                         I guess you have to give them credit for bravery or something to do that job.   Here is a copy of an East German Border Company Spot Report Summery that Erwin Ritter found in the German Federal Archives. It details how "two American soldiers armed with pistols were captured just southwest of Brix and then later turned over to the State Ministry for Security." This would have been just outside of the Eaglehorse sector. BG (Ret) O'Connell noted, " I have no idea what those guys were talking about because this did not happen. It would have been the biggest story in Germany that year, I was there and never heard of it!" Any help on this mystery?? --Erwin Ritter   This was a difficult period for the Army. We still had draftees and soldiers returning from Vietnam with only six months of active duty remaining. There were drugs, racial tensions and discipline problems. I had a strong chain of command and little by little, we fought each battle. Having the border mission helped, all soldiers could see the reason for being in Germany.                 The patrolling of the border went on as usual, the fixed OP by Highway 19 and then the jeep patrols moving along a series of check points and calling in spot reports. I think we had some track patrols but they were not a big part of the program. We did not use How Battery on the border but maybe they  sent a few guys up at some point to help drive. H Company was another matter. They were required  more often to help out and the talk was always on going about adding  them  to the regular rotation. I think that by 1974, when LTC Zeltman was the squadron commander, this may have happened.                         Soldier of the Month award to one of the troopers of the squadron who helped make it all work.   Another strong soldier is recognized. Six months into the command, I felt things had really improved: discipline, hard training, positive feedback for doing good, a very simple approach.   NBC training at HTA.                 Much of my time was spent on the border, observing the East Germans and checking things out at Camp Wollbach. We would call the Reaction Force out for inspection and then there were "mini-alerts" just to test the camp readiness. There may have been some IBC's but I don't recall much about them. The rule was to hand anyone like that off to the German police as soon as possible. I don’t recall if we had a Camp Custodian or if it was all handled by HHT Supply." Big thanks to BG (Ret) O’Connell and MSG (Ret) Ford for helping us get this part of the story underway. If any other troopers would like to give us a hand with their recollections of this period, please contact the webmaster.           Blackhorse commander, Colonel Clark, presents awards to select squadron personnel. Note that we still wear the baseball cap. The black berets came on board in March or April of 73.   Squadron formation as I turn command over to LTC Zeltman in July 1973. We had come a long way and I was very proud of the squadron that LTC Zeltman would command.   Detail of the Eaglehorse formation at the change of command.                             From left, RCO Colonel Schweitzer, LTC O'Connell and LTC Zeltman.   I would later command a brigade in the US and then return to Germany as the 8th ID Assistant Division Commander (maneuver). I recall the command of the cavalry squadron in Bad Kissingen as a major highlight in my career. The successes we had came as a direct result of the hard work of the troopers.