CookeBarracks.com Message Board

CookeBarracks/Goeppingen-2008

roy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:02:32 GMT

What a difference 40 years make. I was station at Cooke from 1962-1964, assigned to the 504th AdminCo, prior to Cooke, I was at Ferris barracks in Erlangen for a while, great time, great duty, fantastic times. I made a trip to Goeppingen and Cooke Barracks
Barracks in October of this year. Big difference all around. The downtown has changed drastically, from the friendly bars to the upscale cafes and bistros. The traffic patents have change so that some areas are now just for foot traffic and the gasthaus's that where in this area are now Pizza Huts or McDonalds. Gone are the Harry's, Gasthaus Oberalis, the Egghaus and many many more that the names have been erased throughout time.
However Cafe Weigles is still in operation and I can tell you it looks the same, same color of paint the side porch and the same entrance into the little bar area and the dinning room and restrooms off to the right as you enter the building. If some of you remember the little bakery that was open during the morning and manned by Sissi, it has been closed off and is now filled with poker machines. The beer is still good, and cold. It was like walking back in time. If Ma Weigle or Annie (the waitress) were there, would think it was the 50/60's time frame. I walked all over town trying to locate different places that we use to loaf and have a few beers. I parked my car at the old MP station on Cooke and walked from there to Cafe Weigle's as I did over 40 years ago, the distance is the same but the time was a little slower. I really enjoyed the time I had in Goeppingen and the sounding towns and would recommend it to anyone who was stationed there.
While at Cooke Barracks, I drove all over from the main gate to the golf course, up to the officers housing area my home away from home-the 604th Admin Billets. The only thing is that they demolished the building 3 years ago, but I did get to see the parking spots for the CO/XO and 1SG. But, the memories were still rushing through my mind. The airfield is gone, the medical clinic is gone, most of the barracks have be taken down and new commercial building have been build. The officers housing area has been taken care of, in fact I think it looks better now then when I was there. The housing outside of the main gate on the hill to the right is still being use as house for German and Russian families.
Drove up Holenstofen(not spelled correctly) and the beauty looking down from up on the mountain still looked as great as it did when I was a youngster. Ate at the Honeydew and the few from there down the mountain was incredible. I also stopped and had lunch at the gasthaus that is on the right side of the road as you are driving up the mountain, and sets about a half mile or so bad in the woods, I can not remember the name, but, it has been there for many years, and again the few was fantastic.
I stayed at a little hotel in Jeberhausen, about 3Ks from Goeppingen. Great little village and nice hotel. As always the people were friendly the beer was good and food fabulous. Would recommend a trip back in time for anyone that had the chance to have been stationed at Cooke. Any guestions don't hesitate to drop a line

FRIENDS

Ruddy Jaquezs — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:19:06 GMT

i LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE HAPPY HOLIDAYS D/co 4/16inf from 1988- 1991. 3rd plt young guns if any one remember contact me also i'm looking for a very dear friend of mine his name is Macus Horton C/co 4/16inf please contact me thanks and lets keep those memories of gurp alive

Photos

Oscar Medina — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:09:43 GMT

I was stationed in Gurp from '87-'90. I will never forget the great times I had and the great people I met. I don't see many pics from those years posted in the photo section, so I submitted a few and hope they will be posted soon. Anyone in those pics feel free to contact me and give me info on your name and your recollection of the scene. I remember faces,but many names scape me. I hope you enjoy them as I keep these pics as a reminder of a meaningful time in my life. Spc. Crumback is in one of these pics. I found out that he was killed in base, by a truck, while riding his bike. This happened soon after I left Gurp. Anyone with more info please share it with me. May he RIP.

Looking for Bravo co infantry buddies 1985 to 1987 John Evans, Nate Perry, Chris Hunter, Chris Heggy, Jimenez, Kelsey, Anchor Larson, Davis, Lebeouf,

Robert Wood — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:31:44 GMT

11 Bravo infantry, "The big Red One"! 1985 to 1987
I was stationed my entire tour of duty in the Army in Goeppingen, Germany. Dec 1985 to Aug 1987. I lived in the Cooke Barracks, Bravo company, 2nd platoon. My first year I was assigned to 2nd platoon HQ squad. My Lt was Rojas. I don't remember my Platoon Sgt's name, but I can still see his face. It was so so cold in the winter, but in the summer it was nice and we BBq'd between Bravo co. buildings in the fire pit. The German Fraulines were so pretty and the beer was awesome. I will never forget the "Yak Shack". Some of the fellow soldiers I remember were: John Evans, Nate Perry, Chris Hunter, Chris Heggy, Jimenez, Kelsey, Anchor Larson, Davis, Lebeouf, Chamberlain, Sgt Pruit, SSG Fennel

Corporal Cynthia Nasti

Keith Andreu — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:59:24 GMT

Does anyone remember Cpl. Nasti? I believe see was in HHC IDF, or in the 101 MI. She may have also worked in the PAO. The night I got in country, she was working in the Replacement Det. This was in the later part of June 1987. Hope that helps. I'd love to hear from her. Nothing romantic, just a nice sweet girl. Thanks Keith Andreu, 1st IDF MP Platoon.

Cooke Barracks Gppingen Tower Restauration

Michael Schellberg — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:09:54 GMT

Hi alle ex soldiers , my name is michael an i live in gppingen near the old Control Tower, i like to buy the tower and i like to restaure it to the original look, i need help, from you guys, who have served the army in Gppingen, i need pictures, history and original equiment to make the control tower looks like in the old days, we have founded a tower club, an we try to get all fans together to buy the Tower and to make it open to public ...... ich will setup a website soon..,....so mail me what you hav, pics, information, idears.....and all knowledge form the building...thanks......GERMANY ist proud ...long live COOKE BARACKS

I am looking for Bill L. Traylor

Paula — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:52:55 GMT

Hallo people, I am looking for Bill L. Traylor. He was in the cooke barracks until 1975. Then he lived in Jay Maine. I wrote him sometimes, but now I lost contact and would like to find him. Anybody there who knows him? That would be great.
Many greetings from Sen bei Gppingen

Famous residents

Leonard "Jake" Jacobs — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:31:48 GMT

Am wondering how many famous individuals served at Cooke Barracks. If I recall correctly, Curt Simmons, Phillies baseball pitcher, was called up with the Penn. Nat'l Guard (28th Division) and served at Cooke. Later, Yankees catcher John Blanchard served there. Anyone know of others?
How about others who became famous after serving at Cooke?

THE HAMMER

Malik Johnson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:52:19 GMT

True story!!!!!!!

I was stationed on Planet Gerp between 89-91 and was in headquarters commpany of 1st IDF(signal platoon). In early April or May of 1990 we recieved a new GI named Singleton who was married. All Singleton did was talk about his wife. He had pictures of her in his locker along with her panties. He would constantly tell us how great she was and that she was soon comming. Needless to say the only thang that came was the "Dear John" letter.

Prior to this, Singlton never hung out with us. He didn't drink didn't smoke wich all change with the letter. In Dec. 1990 my platoon was attached to another unit and sent to Iraq. After 9 month in Iraq we returned to a Planet Gerp that was completely on LOCK DOWN. The buzz going around post was about "the Hammer" an American soilder that was attacking the local women, hitting them with a hammer like object and raping them.

No one could leave of post, except for my platoon because it obviously wasn't one of us(we've been in Iraq for 9 months). WRONG!!! It happened again the night we got back.

The next day, we returned to our barracks, to discover we could not enter. Our barrack was completely covered in plastic and people in white coveralls and hoods and plastic face shields were all over the place. Our 1st Sgt informed us that they found the hammer and it was Singleton.

Does anyone have any knowledge on what happen to Singleton? Just curious, I tell this story all the time and no one believes me.

Mortar Platoon, 4/16th IN, 88-91

Eugene Teasley — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:42:26 GMT

Looking for you guys. I found MSG Talamoa (Retired) in Somoa. He went native and is now a village elder, which if I understand it right, the equivalent to a state senator. I saw that David Ross posted and Matt (aka, Willie) Baker. Still looking for Martinez, Genes, Ford, Ortiz, Wolfe, Proffer, Christensen, Ellis, Goss, Estrella, Salinas, Grabbe, yes and even CPL Frazier aka, "Sweetness". I found out what happened to CPT Volpe and I am sad to report that he passed at FT Irwin. I ran into SGT Walker while at FT Sill and he got chaptered, fired a few rounds out of safe. I really want to catch up with you guys. I retired in '06. Seems when you argue with a haji 120mm rocket, you usually lose.

Teasley
Army Retired.

No email address in body of a message!

David Wisniewski — Thur, 16 Oct 2008 22:11:37 GMT

This is just a friendly reminder advising you not to post your email address **in the body** of a message. There's no need to do so. Let me explain:

If you fill in the "Your email" address box when you compose a message, the message board software will automatically turn your name into an email link so others can contact you directly, if desired.

The same goes for the guestbook. You'll see an email link for each postee to be contacted if desired.

So, if you still insist on including your email address IN THE BODY OF THE MESSAGE, you invite web harvesting bots to capture your email address for spam. These bots CANNOT capture your email address if you only share it where you're asked to supply it in the process of using the message board or guestbook.

Who's kidding Who

Mel — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:00:54 GMT

I read these messages and guest book and everybody says it was the best years of their lives being at Cooke Barracks as I remember everybody couldn't wait to go home counting their days down and yelling short. Has memory failed you people on how miserable everybody was I know of no one who said I don't want to go home I want to stay at Cooke Barracks until I die

The guy with too many wives

Thomas — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:54:09 GMT

I recollect a guy in the mid-1960's that had too many wives. If I'm not mistaken, he was from 4th QM. He had a wife and babies in Atlanta or maybe Birmingham, but got tangled up with a German lady around Nuremburg or Munich and married a second time. He was transfered back to Goeppingen, but he spent much time with his second, until he met a third girl. He talked about fairly free, and said the Conjac did it to him. It put him in the marrying mood. I think he was there when I rotated.

Hundreds of pictures of Cooke Bks.

Horst W. Mueller — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:59:49 GMT

Hi Mr. Wisniewski,

I worked on Cooke Barracks for over 20 years as Photo Instructor, first in the Service Club later in the Recreation Center for Morale Support Activities.

From this time, 1971 - 1992 I have hundreds of photographs left, many of people which I cannot identify anymore. G/A-week activities, sport events, Recreation facilities, also Group pictures of parts of units before they departed or the complete colleges from the MSA.

As well as the last picture of General Henslik etc., some of Colonel Parker, General Price, troops returning from Irak war and lots more.

The germans who departed after leaving work at Cooke Barracks meet once a year at the Frisch Auf Gaststtte - for the 16th time this year. I made a CD-ROM of the collection of pictures as JPEG's as well as Power Point presentation. If you send me your postal address I send you one. I am sure, you and all others find pictures of people they knew. Just tell me, you are going to use the pictures to everybodie's benefit and not for any profit purposes.

I am looking forward to hear from you.

Since this mail was returned as not deliverable to your email address I try to send it openly to your guestbook.

Best regards

Horst W. Mueller

Lerchenberger Str. 35

D-73035 Goeppingen-Bartenbach

Germany

Good Memories

Mel — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:38:08 GMT

You have to love the MP who's good memories of Germany was giving out DR's to other GI's really a swell guy