Fallen Comrades of Ferris Barracks                      Submission Form

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   NAME    UNIT DATE DECEASED
SFC Rufino Garcia 50th & 51st Infantry   (1960 - 1965) 28 October 1995
An exemplary Christian, minister, soldier, leader, teacher, friend, husband and father who left an indelible legacy for us to emulate.  Fiercely loyal and loving to his family, country, and Savior, Jesus Christ.  In layman terms, "the Best Dad in the whole world."  We love and miss you Dad.   "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."  II Timothy 4:7
Sp/4 Horace Smallwood 46th Medical August 1968
"Buddy" as he was known as, died while serving his country at Ferris Barracks.  He was assigned to the dispensary and was proud to wear his "whites" and was always willing to lend a helping hand.  He was a friend to all who knew him and is greatly missed.
Sgt Wesley S. Kerr HHC 3/37 Armor March 1969
PFC Kerr came to Ferris Barracks in August of 1968 and was assigned to the medical platoon but thought that his skills were needed more in Vietnam.  He volunteered a month later and was assigned to the 1st Cav.  (AMBL)   He was killed in Tay Ninh South Vietnam in March of 1969.
Sp/4 Cuthbert Nelson HHC 3/37 Armor 17 April 1969

Ctuhbert was from Jamaica or one of the other islands of the Caribbean.  He moved to New York and joined the Army to get his American citizenship.  Whenever we went to the EM  Club or any other place he had a chance to talk, the talk always came around to him getting to be an American citizen.  Cuthbert was a track mechanic with the Battalion Maintenance.  On April 17, 1969 while returning to Ferris from Graf the vehicle he was driving drove over an embankment in a snow storm.  Cuthbert died while in route to Nürnberg Army Hospital via helicopter.
PFC Henry L. Grubb HHC 3/37 Armor 17 April 1969

Hank was a track mechanic in the Battalion Maintenance section of HHC 3/37 Armor.  On 17 April 1969, Hank was returning to Ferris from Graf in a motor convoy.  He was sitting in the middle seat of a deuce and a half driven by Sp/4 Cuthbert Nelson when their truck went over an embankment in a snow storm.  Hank died at the scene when the truck tolled over on top of him.
Thomas Dean Scout Platoon 50th Infantry  1959 - 1962 6 October 1966
Thomas was a great individual to work with.  He was a jeep driver 2nd Section 50th Infantry Scouts.  Later became the Section Leader.  He went to Vietnam from 46th Infantry, Fort Hood, Texas.  Was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division.  He became ill and died in country from medical problems.  His photo can be seen in the Ferris Barracks pictures of Scout Platoon Jerry Driscoll top row last on the right.
Major Oliver B. Patton S-2 Officer 2nd Bn 50th Infantry  (1960) September 2002

Major Oliver B. Patton (retired Brigadier General no relation to Gen. George S. Patton) was the Battalion Exec Officer (S-2) 2nd Bn 50th Infantry during my stay at Ferris Barracks 59/60.  I had the opportunity to be his driver for a very short time in 1960.  He was a fine soldier and a real gentleman.  Gen. Patton was a grad of the USMA 1944.  He served in combat during WWII, Korea and Vietnam.  1 - DSM, 3 - Legion of Merit, 3 - Bronze Stars, 3 - Purple Hearts.  Author of 5 published novels, the last of which was "The Silent Snow".  A story about the Battle of the Bulge".  Out of print but worth the search.  He was also featured in the PBS Documentary about the Battle of the Bulge.  Gen Patton is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Written by Jerry Driscoll
Sp/5 Raymond Carl Robinson HHC 35th Armor Vietnam 1966

Specialist Robinson was from Flint, Mi.  He was in the gasoline section at Ferris Barracks when I left in 1962.  He married a girl who worked at the deli or the place just down from the barracks where we drank beer.  I was from Flint, Mi. also and I read it in the paper.  He was buried in Avondale Cemetery on Lewis Street by the National Guard Armory.  His wife and two children went back to Germany after he was killed.    -----  Hager Jack Sizemore
Sp/4 Edward Vaughan B Company 50th Infantry May 1985
Vaughan entered the service at age 18, after basic training he was sent overseas and stationed at Ferris Barracks.  He extended his tour six months to get married to a German girl.  Back in the States he worked for General Motors Corporation.  He died at work of a heart attack at age 42.
Sp/4 Robert McBride HHC 3/37 Armor 1 April 2004

I met Bob in January of 1968 while we were at Ferris Barracks and became life long friends.  Bob was a tall kid from Brooklyn, New York and played football for the Ferris football team when he wasn't in the motor pool.

When I left Ferris on emergency leave in December of 68, the duty driver wasn't available to take me to Frankfurt, so I went up stairs to the 3rd floor to say good-bye to Bob.  I had to wake him and explained my situation to him.  As usual, he took charge and we jumped into his VW and he drove me to Rhein-Main himself.  It was something I will always remember and will always be grateful for.  We saw each other often throughout the years and often spoke of our times while at Ferris.

Bob retired to Angola, Indiana about 2 years before he suffered a heart attack and died.  I miss you and think of you often my friend.

Written by:
Arnold Shaw
David Anthony Wamhoff Maintenance Platoon HHC 2/5th Infantry 27 Nov 2002
David Anthony Wamhoff died at Wappappello, Mo. of a heart attack.
William A. Carter A Company 3/37 Armor 20 December 1967
Spc William Carter came to Ferris Barracks in April 1967.  Spc Carter was assigned to A-35 as my Driver (Sgt Ernie F Routh), we became close friends.  Bill 1049'd to Vietnam in October of 67 and was killed 20 December of 1967 at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam.
Joseph R. House C Company 2nd ARB 50th & 51st Infantry 2004
He dated a girl from Erlangen and married her about 1965.  They have a boy and girl.  They all still live in Erlangen.  Joe was a Sgt in C Company like myself, but unlike myself stayed in service and attended OCS, becomming an officer.  He made two tours to Nam being wounded twice in batle.  He retired a Major.  Joes death was due to the effects of Agent Orange from Nam.  He was a good soldier that would lay it all on the line for his men.  He is very much missed by his Wife, family and friends.

Sgt B.D. West Charley Comapny 61 -64
Sp/5 Harmon W. Perry A Company 3/37 Armor 3 March 1968
Sp/5 Harmon was assigned to 1st Platoon, A Company 3/37 Armor (1966 - 1967).   He was killed while serving his country at Gia Dinh Vietnam 3/3/68.
Sp/4 Doug Swenson Ferris Barracks 25 April 2003
Doug and I went to school together and served at Ferris Barracks at the same time.  1973 - 1976.   He passed peacefully at home (illness) awhile ago in 2003, but I still can see his face with a big smile.  Time has erased my memory of which unit he was with and his rank, but he did serve there.  I believe it was a tank unit.  He passed away to young and left 2 young children and a loving wife behind.

Mike Landwehr
Sp/4 Donald Marconi B Company 50th Infantry 4th Armored Division 15 March 07

Sp/4 Donald (Don) Marconi 66, of Pohatcong Township Jersey 1960-62.  He is survived by his wife Joan, four children and seven grand children.  He was a great military buddy that will be greatly missed.

Sgt. John Trasher
B Co. 50th Inf 4th AD
CSM John E. Denison 2/81 Armor Battalion HQ May 2002
CSM Denison died from a tumor of the brain in Erlangen where he lived in retirement after 31 years of Army service.  He was buried in Mississippi.  At his memorial in Germany and his funeral in the States, people attending told of how he had been a friend.  He loved serving his country.  After 9/11 he called the Dept. of the Army to let them know he was available should they need him.  He was in his 70's.
SSG Gary L. Dingler D Company 123rd Maint. Battalion 25 July 2005
SSG Gary Dingler was in D Company 123rd Maint. Bn. in the armorment platoon and worked in the Tank Turret shop.  He spent his off time there racing cars at the race track.  He stayed in the Army.  He passed away on 25 July 2005.
Maximiliaan (Max) Vanbergen D Company 123rd Maint. Bn. 5 May 1994
Max Vanbergen worked in Tech Supply in D Company 123rd Maint.  He was a Sp/4 then.  He left D Company in 1977.   He stayed in the Army and served in the Persian Gulf War.   He passed away on 5 May 1994 after just being promoted to SFC.  He left behind a wife and a daughter.  Mas kied at a very young age of 44.   1951 - 1994
Sgt Guy Hurkman C Company 1 Bn. 35th Armor 1980
Sgt Guy Hurkmans could light up a room.  He was one of my best friends while a member of C Company 1/35 Armor.  He arrived at Ferris Barracks in 1976 as and E-2, and quickly rose to the rank of E-5 in about 2 years.  Guy was a regular at Georges in downtown Erlangen always enjoying that great beer after a full days work in the motor pool.  In October of 1978 Guy Hurkmans, myself, and about 20 other guys from C Comany 1/35 took a 9 day trip south to Spain in a double decker bus through Germany and France.  I sat up front with Guy.  We had the time of our lives Spainright on the Mediterranean Sea.  Guy was killed in a motor cycle accident in 1980 only about one year after getting out of the Army.  He was only about 24 years old.

Michael Curl
C Company 1/35 Armor 1975-1978
James Vestal White 61st Tank Battalion 2006
Jim was a 2nd Lt at Ferris with Col Abrahms, 2Lt Donn Starry, 1Lt George Patton IV around 1948.  He married Mary Clapper in the Alt Kierche donwtown.  1949-50.  they rode off on a "new" M-26 Tank!  Enlisted medic in the Pacific 1942-45.  Commisioned in 1948 and retired in 1964 as a Major.
Richard Loraff Hq, 720th Field Artillery Battalion 1966
Richard and I entered the service on the same day, July 10, 1956 and discharged on the same day of July 9, 1958.  Even though Richard lived about 15 miles from me, I did not know or meet him before the military.  We were good friends for years after our service.  I can only say that one could meet no finer man than he.  I attended his funeral and the sadness of his family I will never forget. 

Richard contracted Leukemia and told me that the doctors had stated if he could just hold on for a few years they could help him, but it came to no avail.  God Bless him always.  He was born in Bridgman, Michigan and the place where he passed.  He worked for Clark Equipment Company up until that time.
SSG Don R. Gantz 5th Battalion 73rd Field Artillery January 25, 2997
He was my Hero, and a wonderful father.  He enjoyed the Army and we all remember our assignment at Erlangen.
Sgt James H. Temperly HQ Company 1st Battalion 35th Armor August 27, 2008
Jim loved visiting this site and would always reminisce about his tour at Ferris Barracks.  He was assigned to the Commo Platoon and served in the Message Center.  His quote is featured on this site's home page.  Jim left Erlangen in 1961.  He and I served together and exchanged emails for many years.  His friendship will be dearly missed.
Sgt Douglas W. Hatch HQ 720th Field Artillery Battalion December 19, 2003
Doug served with me at Fort Lewis, Wa.  "1956" and on to Erlangen at Ferris Barracks and from there to Aschaffenburg.  He was my best man at our wedding on March 8 1958.  I last saw him at the Bahnhof in A'burg when I shipped back home.  He was instrumental in getting us flowers and rings for our wedding and was one of the greatest persons I have ever known.  I thought of him over the years and tried to find him, but when I did it was too late.
Maj Clyde R. Argo Battalion HQ 720th Field Artillery 2001
Major Argo attended my wedding in Aschaffenburg on March 8, 1958.  He also served with me from Fort Lewis to Erlangen in 1956-1957.  He enlisted in the Army in 1936 when the Army still used horses to pull artillery.  When WWII started he entered OCS and obtained hi commission.  When I left him seen him last was summer of 58 and he stayed in service until he retired in 61.  He returned to the state of Washington and taught school for the next ten years.  He passed away 4 days before turning ninety.  Great Battalion Commander.
     
 

 

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