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Click on the
thumbnail to see the full-sized picture
OP Sierra as of 1980. Looking from the rear over the OP and towards
Meiningen, the observation portion is the left hand side, the
exhaust for the drip heater is visible, the right hand side of the
building was partially screened off as a sleeping space. The OP had
unsecured FM voice and land line to the Border Operations Center at
Camp Lee. The " rough and ready " aspect of the building is clearly
evident.
--Sommerkamp
Looking north along the edge of
the OP 1981, the matching unit and antenna evident on the corner, GSR dish in front. The woodline
is in West Germany and this was a matter of concern. As the
trees grew, more and more of the immediate area to the front of
the OP was obscured. Getting the trees trimmed was a
difficult proposition .... the local Forest Manager (Waldmeister) didn't want to do it ... the terrain was
difficult and he didn't want to cut the trees. I believe we asked
for the BGS and the Office of the Border Resident, Corps level MI
in sector, to assist. Eventually, the forest manager cut off one
year's worth of growth. After I left, I imagine they fought the
same battle the following year. --Sabas Peralta
Railroad tie bunker by the gate to the OP area, 1977. --Dan
Thompson
Lt Mitchell of G Troop has just conducted a reenlistment at the OP
for one of his troopers. The photo gives a good view of the
interior of the OP and, seen on the counter, center of frame, the
GSR monitor. --Randy Mitchell
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Eaglehorse Border
Observation Posts 1972 - 1990
The Eaglehorse Squadron, as
of 1972, maintained two fixed observation posts in the
border sector. The first one OP 10 known in my period as
OP Sierra and then re - built and re - named as OP
Tennessee in the mid 1980's, was located on a high spur
running east - west just behind the border near the
Eussenhausen Crossing Point. The OP offered great views
toward Meiningen and the bowl that funneled towards the
"Meiningen Gap". The crossing point and Highway 19 was
visible off to the lower right in the field of view, it
was not our primary focus although all traffic heading
towards the Border Troop control and inspection points was
visible. The OP lay approximately 200 meters behind the
border at the front and 100 meters away at the " west "
side where the border jogged in and around the spur.
OP Sierra was staffed
continuously through the period of the border mission.
It had been built by the 2 /14 ACR, probably during the
construction phase at Camp Wollbach. The teams rotated
each 24 hrs from the border camp, shuttling back and forth
initially in a M113 and then M3 once issued. The team
consisted of two NCO's and four junior enlisted. The
NCO's were required to remain awake for the entire tour of
duty, the junior enlisted men provided the gate guard at
the OP, a daylight roving guard at the barbed wire
perimeter and assisted in observing and reporting on East
German activities. As time allowed, the troopers were
rotated in positions and allowed to sleep in shifts.
Often, the standard OP team was augmented by a GSR team in
a second M113. The radar went into operation after sunset
and allowed for " real world " detection and tracking
experience for the operators.
OP Sierra initially had a
latrine with "catch and burn" system. This was replaced
by a commercial German "porta-pottie" and once or twice
each week, a "suck truck" negotiated the steep and winding
gravel trail to service the unit. This was a matter of
some humor to all concerned. The OP qualified as a "
remote site " and therefore was under scrutiny by various
Corps and USAREUR offices with little or no interest in
the actual border mission. As Border Officer, I once
escorted a USAREUR contact team to inspect the "porta-pottie". They were the funding control office for the invoices
received from the German latrine contractor and they
wanted to insure that all aspects of the contract were
being met. I expected to show them the OP and East
Germany; they took little interest in this as they thoroughly checked the porta-pottie and reviewed in great
detail the contract and "suck" schedule with the
contractor. Once satisfied with the operation, they
informed me they were leaving and I led them out of the 1
K zone. I imagine they had other latrines to check that day
...
OP 12 was the second fixed
site in our sector, it was similar in design to OP Sierra
and was located to the southeast, in the rolling farmland
near Sondheim. This was used only on occasion and lost
it's roof in early 1978 due to a fire started by careless
activity by a non-squadron GSR crew. The site was still
used but no efforts were made to repair the damage. After
this, non Eaglehorse GRS augmentation teams were not
allowed into the border area without unless under
direct control of a standard 2/11 OP team.
This image, from 1974, shows the
open expanse of the Meiningen Gap. We are looking almost due North
across the border from OP 10; the city of Meiningen is visible in
the distance, Henneberg, a small village, is not visible but would
be to the right. The Eussenhausen Crossing Point would be to the
extreme right. --Ron Hudgins
SGT's Semienko and Lisby
check out East Germany from OP 10 in 1974.
--Capers
Looking from the former East Germany toward the spur where OP Sierra
/ Tennessee one stood, 2000. The OP would have been found in a
clearing near the top edge of the spur about half way from right to
left. With the exception of the telephone poles that ran along the
gravel trail to the OP, all evidence of the US presence is gone.
--Bob Mathis
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