Al Thompson
Staff Alumnus
1987 Hohenfels Germany. I was the CO of an infantry company in the 1st Armored Division. We were the closest Infantry Battalion (to Hohenfels) and were constantly tasked for Oposing Forces duty. This was when the concept of a miniature NTC in Europe was getting started.
Two of our companies (Charlie and Delta) were tasked as dismounted recon. The idea was that we would recon in sector until a bit before the "regiment" (other two rifle companies and a tank battalion) would attack. We used soviet tactics and to simulate the distances involved, we would get dropped off on one side or the other of Hohenfels and conduct recon ops all the way until we hit the BluFor, We would scout out what we could, report back, hide next to a target and assult them when the "regiment" needed us to. Usually the blufor would defend in the center, so the walk was only a few miles.
One night, we got out of the duece and a halfs, oriented ourselves and broke into four groups. Three of my platoons went their seperate ways and the company commander (me) took his two RTO's and went deep into the woods.
The armorer (John Roach) and the commo sergent (Tom Radke) and I (Giz) went along the military crest of a long shallow ridge. Lots of deep dark woods. We all packed night vision goggles,
M16A2s, bayonets, blank ammo, miles gear and a radio each.
We knew the West German recon guys were playing this week and we were very interested in them. Until this time we had not seen them except in the cantonment area. There was a question as to what role they were playing. The guys and I had moved several klicks when we heard the crunching of brush behind us. We cut over the top of the hill at a dead run and hunkered down. We were firmly convinced that the German recon boys were hot on our tracks.
This ridge line was heavily forested and very dark. We figured the Germans were trying to chase our team down and capture me (us). We had zigged and zagged after putting the crest of the hill between them and us, so we figured we should just go to ground. The thought was that they couldn't see us and would go past us.
Didn't happen. Couldn't see'em, but we damn sure heard'em cross the crest at the same spot we did, buttonhook the same way we did and start right up our back trail.
I figured right then that I was not going to get captured or shot. I dropped my ruck, shoved my map and CEOI in my pocket, grabbed my rifle and prepared to let Tom and John die gallently for their country.
But something was wrong. This tracking was superhuman. I decided that I was at least going to get a look at these Aryan supermen prior to leading them on a long cross-country run.
Using the NVGs I couldn't see'em. I could hear'em and I could see brush moving, but no upright bipeds. Hmmmmmmmmmm
We had a small clearing just to our front where we had set up an ambush. Watching through the NVGs out stepped two of the biggest foxes you've ever seen. We had to shout at them to get them to go away.
Why did they follow us? Dunno. No food on us, no aftershave.....
But a treasured experiance none-the-less!
Giz
Two of our companies (Charlie and Delta) were tasked as dismounted recon. The idea was that we would recon in sector until a bit before the "regiment" (other two rifle companies and a tank battalion) would attack. We used soviet tactics and to simulate the distances involved, we would get dropped off on one side or the other of Hohenfels and conduct recon ops all the way until we hit the BluFor, We would scout out what we could, report back, hide next to a target and assult them when the "regiment" needed us to. Usually the blufor would defend in the center, so the walk was only a few miles.
One night, we got out of the duece and a halfs, oriented ourselves and broke into four groups. Three of my platoons went their seperate ways and the company commander (me) took his two RTO's and went deep into the woods.
The armorer (John Roach) and the commo sergent (Tom Radke) and I (Giz) went along the military crest of a long shallow ridge. Lots of deep dark woods. We all packed night vision goggles,
M16A2s, bayonets, blank ammo, miles gear and a radio each.
We knew the West German recon guys were playing this week and we were very interested in them. Until this time we had not seen them except in the cantonment area. There was a question as to what role they were playing. The guys and I had moved several klicks when we heard the crunching of brush behind us. We cut over the top of the hill at a dead run and hunkered down. We were firmly convinced that the German recon boys were hot on our tracks.
This ridge line was heavily forested and very dark. We figured the Germans were trying to chase our team down and capture me (us). We had zigged and zagged after putting the crest of the hill between them and us, so we figured we should just go to ground. The thought was that they couldn't see us and would go past us.
Didn't happen. Couldn't see'em, but we damn sure heard'em cross the crest at the same spot we did, buttonhook the same way we did and start right up our back trail.
I figured right then that I was not going to get captured or shot. I dropped my ruck, shoved my map and CEOI in my pocket, grabbed my rifle and prepared to let Tom and John die gallently for their country.
But something was wrong. This tracking was superhuman. I decided that I was at least going to get a look at these Aryan supermen prior to leading them on a long cross-country run.
Using the NVGs I couldn't see'em. I could hear'em and I could see brush moving, but no upright bipeds. Hmmmmmmmmmm
We had a small clearing just to our front where we had set up an ambush. Watching through the NVGs out stepped two of the biggest foxes you've ever seen. We had to shout at them to get them to go away.
Why did they follow us? Dunno. No food on us, no aftershave.....
But a treasured experiance none-the-less!
Giz