I was on the road for 11 days since New Years and spent last weekend in a truck stop in Frechen near Köln. I have to re-evaluate the strategy of any port in a storm. Most of the truckers sharing this paradise were from countries that I have no idea where they are on a map and sure as hell can't pronounce or spell and their sanitary habits were disgusting. It's not like you go into a truck stop in
any country for fashion ideas, but oh my god! I've spent my time in the field during deployments and I've seen my fair share of truck
stops in the States and in Europe, but this is the first time I've seen such filth even in the three months I spent in Honduras.
A few years ago I ran into France and spent the night in a truck stop. The toilets were German "Villeroy and Boch" we deliver calk
into that company. I noticed real quick that they just had the toilet bowl and no seat, there wasn't even holes for seats. I
thought the Germans had really punked the French. I am real happy I have an auxiliary heating system in the truck. I spent my time in the field in pup tents without heat and in GP mediums with the diesel stove that worked great only in temperatures above 80° F.

On one of my first deployments the 601 TCS went to Wasserkuppe for Reforger 1976. The 601 TCS did the first half of Reforger and was back up for the second half and the 602 TCS took over. Well instead of a party I mean back up the 602 TCS tasked for additional personnel and off we went to do the second half of Reforger at Biform. We were put on night shift so after working and traveling for almost 24 hours that cot fit real well when we were relieved. At some point I heard giggling and woke up enough to see I was in a tent full of girls. I asked if I was in the right tent and if so I guess this wasn't going to be so bad after all. The girl's tent had a defective stove and it filled the tent with soot so they spent a day or two in the visitor's tent while their stuff was being cleaned at the nearby base. I guess I looked harmless and trustworthy enough so no problem with the co-ed tent. What an ego buster!

On another Reforger deployment we spent a month in the field near Schwabisch Hall/Gaildorf and I had a square hole under my cot with my shelter half covering the case of German beer inside the hole. The dirt helped keep the beer cool for when I got off work. During Reforger I wasn't off work too often or for too long. We "a few close friends" would re-supply by putting the cases of beer in the
cargo bay under the Squadron bus during shower runs and sneak them onand off in the town that supplied the showers at a local sports
club.

I'm sure there are many more deployment tales that can be safely told. There has been plenty of time elapsed that the statue of
limitations must be in effect.
Bill Beachy