History
Coming soon!
Anyone who was with the 123rd Signal Battalion before and after the move from the Hindenburg Kaserne in Wurzburg could help fill in some of the blanks. I understand that the 123rd Sig Bn was in Kitzingen before going to Fort Stewart. I don’t have dates on that though, or where they were stationed in Kitzingen. Just leave a comment if you have this information.
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About
You might be wondering what the title of this web site, “First Voice Heard” means. “Prima Vox Audiat”, or “First Voice Heard”, was the motto of the 123rd Signal Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. It was the communications (signal) unit of the 3rd Infantry Division. Since the 3rd Infantry Division was known as the “Rock of the Marne”, the 123rd Signal Battalion was also known as the “Voice of the Rock”.
The 123rd Signal Battalion was deactivated in 2004.
If you have photos from the 123rd Signal Battalion, please leave a comment. (Click on the Photos tab and leave a comment there.)
If you have some history of the 123rd Signal Battalion to add, click on the History tab and leave a comment there.
First Voice Heard 
I was stationed at Hindenburg from July 1983 till Sept 1989. I was first in Charlie Company which later became Alpha Company (if memory serves me…and it is fuzzy now!) I was in Cable platoon.
The only Battalion Commander I really remember was LTC Gramiccioni (I think that’s how it was spelled…) He was the best. Of course I remember LTC Fink and he really was a damn fink.
I had many good times and many bad times in the 123rd. The worst part of course were the constant trips to the field and the endless inspections.
The best part was the bier, the Kiliani, the Spring Fest, and of course my daughter, who is now 21 and lives here in Colorado with me. I always wanted to write a book about Hindenburg. But…time flies and memories fade.
I remember both of those Battalion Commanders well. I remember LTC Fink yelling at his wife in front of several troops. It was a disgrace. LTC “G” was the best commander I ever served under. I was the Training NCO in the S3. My name is David Rogers and I became an E5 while I was there. I you would like you can reply to me at davidw.rogers57@gmail.com
I too was at the 123 rd sig ,,from 64 to 65 , had fun with all the inspections too, also the alerts , good fun, LOL, I was a drafty US 56 36 —- er.. still have that number embedded, never to forget it, I have many pics that I can scan and put in ,as soon as the site is ready to add too, Thanks for this great site and for making it possible to do this for us all that served ,, yes,, thanks many times,to all,, Jer
Jerry must have been my relief. I served from 62-65 at Hindenburg company B under LTC towsley. Best memory was being a “short timer” I was so short I had to reach up to tie my laces. LOL I to have some pics and memories to share very soon.
Milt Merryman and still a PFC and proud of it. Some one had to be the grunt and it was me. Did MUCH better in civilian life thank heaven.
I was stationed with HHB 123rd Signal in Wurzburg at Leighton Barracks. End of 1991 thru 1992. I frequently traveled to Kitzingen during that time where part of our unit was stationed. I’m not sure about this Hindenburg Kaserne. All notes that I have read on this said it was in Wurzburg. This is what I currently remember, but as I review and things come to memory, I will let you know.
I was in Hindenburg Kaserne ’86 – ’90. 36M in C co, located in Wurzeburg
Spc4 James Gillette I was at hindenburg kaserne 123rd signal battalion 1981 -1982 Bavo company had a lot of good times lots of field duty and on alert seems like all the time our battalion commander was relieved of his duty for being so cruel to us dont remember his name but does anyone else remember this guy would love to here fromanyone who was there at this time
Hi Gillette,
I was stationed at Hindeberg Kaserne 79 – 82, I was in Bravo Co with Bill Tannenbaum 3rd Plt. I remember Maj Fink got promoted to LTC, I was the First reenlistment he did as a LTC. After that he became the BC. Drop me a line. All the Best. A.J.Thompson
stayGillette remember me Charles eldridge took boot camp ft Jackson sc ltc rex pierson stay in the woods all the tim two weeks out nmonth
Mr. Thompson
Great to here from guys that came from hindenburg not sure if I remember you been such along time were you from chicago?
I was in 2nd platoon hung out with sgt vargas(chico) sgt alfiche sp4 serano sgt joo
spc 4 Charles eldridge pcm plt c ompany 1980 to 1982 any old plt buddies give a call 2562440855 love too hear from old buddies
Hey Hindenburg survivors
I was there from 1989 to 91, I was SGT Carson then Darby.
First C rock, then after the shake up in C again. Only SFC Curry
was still with me, he was such a bully that I’m sure he went far
in his carreer.
Do you remember the ‘missing; NCO on that
field problem right outside Bieblried. I got found.
Motor pool Hearn is here in Colorado also.
Call me guys 217 6385539
Jimmy Gillette contact info.
email. jimmy13132000@aol.com
phone. 217-638-5539
1450 n. 8th st.
springfield, Illinois 62702
My name is Ted Walczak twkt@aol.com lleft basic apr. 1966 FT> Polk ; FT.gordon spring of 1966 went by train from gordon to ft. dix waited 3 days took thew Us navy ship USS Darby to europe went by train to wurzburg assigned Hdqt. Co. 123rd at hindenburg kascerne from july of 66 t0 dec 1967 . our section was on the second floor of A company. we would work 2 or 3 months up at leighton barracks thats were the division Hdqts was
located. we worked in the basement of the hdqts bldg and we would print out the rotation home msgs for the guys at our barracks b4 the company even knew. when we worked at Leighton barracks we went round the clock, about every 4th month we were assigned to maintain our vehicles down at the kascerne. in the field i was usually was stationed with FTOC [ forward tactical operation center] I played football in 1967 for the division team “Wurzburg Warriors” and got my knee blown outy in one of our games. we went all over too, including Berlin which was really cool saw checkpoint charlie etc. mosty o0f berlin was still rubble from the 2nd ww. i cant remember all the call signs but our title was RUFMAZ 3rd inf. div. wurZburg ger
then we had subordinate units in A’burg Wertheim, some of the call signs were” wft wfc wfa” God i can’t remember all the locations we covered for and had conversations with online. drank a lot of Edinberry wine played double deck penochle, went to KIlliani Fest in July and Wine fest in sept best part of the whole deals was the guys we were all good friends. i had a lot of friends that worked in the microwave trucks. Im from chicago and was US all the way; was very fortunate to go to USAEUR. thanks for creating this website. istill live in chicago and just turned 69. so i was there when i was 19 & 20. thanks again Ted Walczak twkt@aol.com
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Hi Ted, sounds like we might have crossed paths on the way to Wurzburg. I was at Ft. Gordon also for the signal school. I held my breath at Ft. Dix praying to be on a plane instead of a boat. I did luck out and get the plane. I was in B Co. and worked at the comm. center at division headquarters. I spent a lot of time out in the field, (didn’t we all?), on exercises. Nothing like having a tent go up in flames when you’ve worked 48 hrs straight and dead tired.
I used to go to Google Earth and be able to see Wurzburg by just doing a street view. I still go there, but they changed it to just photos now. Google Earth is not as good but I still enjoy looking at the photos. It was home for 2 years. It’s sad to see everything gone in the Hindenburg Kaserne. I think they still have the C company barracks but a lot of the other buildings have been torn down.
My only regret is that we didn’t have computers back then. Things would have been a lot different in the comm. center.
Ron
I was stationed at Hindenburg from July 1983 thru December 1986. A-Company, 63-B in the motorpool.
Came to 123rd when it was under Col. Fink and the A-company CO was Captain Bass. Bass was a great man 1SG Smith too! Fink was REALLY disturbed, Major Schenk was a nutbag, and SM Al Johnson was running amock. . Line drills at all hours, alert after alert, and insidious inspections.
We once worked 187 days without any time off. Our day started and hour before PT and lasted after 2200. 187 days…. B company and Sgt. Roberts had the same schtick….. It was total HELL until Colonel Grammacioni took over about 6 months before I hit ETS.
Would love to hear from any of the motorpool mechanics (Sgt. Bill Talk, Randall May, Dave Jurina, Loren Rogers, Sgt Gabbie Watts, Julia “DAMMIT” Williams, Jay Roessler) or anyone from the line….. I can be reached on Facebook.
My Name is Rick Veasey 123rd B Co. 1975-1979. I loved it and miss it all the time
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I served at the 123rd signal company B in wurzburg hindenburg kasern from november 1962-March 1965. Great time to be in germany. I spent a lot of time at relay sites like ashaffenburg (? ) Altoshernenbach, Kitsenken (?)and of course manneuvers. I have a few pics but it has been 50+ years last pic I seen shows pretty much demolished since they gave it back to the city. Only company B building still standing. Love hearing and reading all the posts.
PFC Milt Merryman (that is right, still a pfc)
Baltimore Md.