I spent from 1962 to 1964 in Merrell Barracks with the Headquarters 2nd Armored Cav unit. I met my first wife there (American dependant) and married her in the chapel there.
On 03 Aug, 2010, I was back at Merrell Barracks. (I had been stationed there from 1975 to 1985 with HHT, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and had a variety of jobs to include the Redeye Section, Scout Platoon, Regimental S-1, C & C Squadron S-1, and finally the Regimental Operations Center or Border Ops.) It was the BEST TIME of my life. I could not get into the main building itself and was told to come back the next day and I would be allowed in but this was not possible due to my travel schedule. A ZOLL office has an entrance near the original HHT entrance. The original metal awning over the regimental headquarters entrance is still there and I was able to go through the building. The main floor has been whitewashed and all of the original marble is covered with this stuff. This floor is used by a music school for practice rooms. It was very sad to see how run down the building was. The stairs to the second floor (S-3, S-2, and Border ops where I spent five years) were still the same but the second floor had been wrecked and opened into the area where the bank and the snack bar had been. It appeared to be used for a night club but appeared to be abandoned. I walked through the whole place and never saw anyone. The stairs that led to the basement where C & C Squadron Headquarters had been along with the mail room were also open and a German in the basement stated that the City of Nurnberg owned the building but had no funds to repair it and was using the basement to store old unused books from the city library. He told me that I could roam around anywhere that I wanted in the building and I did. The stairs to the old snack bar are still there but are covered with graffiti and out of date night club posters. The outside stairs leading to the basement under the old theater still had a sign that read “A I C” with an arrow pointing down to the door which I found to be locked. I hope to be back again next year when I have more time to roam around. If anyone knows 1st Sgt.s Patton or Preston, Cpt. Jackie Packer, CSM Tribeau, or any of the ROC NCO’s I’d sure like to hear from you or them. Also John Karl, Juice Chery, Roger Castillo or any of the guys from the motor pool of those days. AGAIN IT WAS TO BEST TIMES OF LIFE AND I DID NOT KNOW IT UNTIL LATER. ALWAYS READY!! IF YOU WEREN’T CAV, YOU WEREN’T!
Hi. Just came across this website by chance. My family escaped from East Germany in 1954, and couldn’t find a place to live in Fuerth. My sister and I wound up in an orphanage for about a year. While there, at Christmas time, we were invited to a party at Merrill Barracks. The soldiers fed us a decent meal, we all got a pair of shoes, and one of those red net stockings filled with goodies. For kids who had truly nothing, it made for a wonderful Christmas. If anyone is out there in internet land (you would by now be in you 70s), who was stationed in Nuernberg in 1954, 1955, thanks so much for caring. After all this time it still brings tears to my eyes to remember those lean years, and to recall that kindness.
A few years later, maybe 1958 and 1959, my mother would organize “shows” (we danced ballet, etc.) at Merrill Barracks for the soldiers, and then later we would come to dances at the USO? club.
All the best to all you great guys. I am now living a good life in the USA.
Ursula……I was there, but at Darby sept’52 to feb’54.We were still considered army of occupation.Age? you hit it pretty close….I’ll be 79 next month. I was with a small unit near the Furth railroad station. The 27th Base Post Office.
I spent from 1962 to 1964 in Merrell Barracks with the Headquarters 2nd Armored Cav unit. I met my first wife there (American dependant) and married her in the chapel there.
On 03 Aug, 2010, I was back at Merrell Barracks. (I had been stationed there from 1975 to 1985 with HHT, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and had a variety of jobs to include the Redeye Section, Scout Platoon, Regimental S-1, C & C Squadron S-1, and finally the Regimental Operations Center or Border Ops.) It was the BEST TIME of my life. I could not get into the main building itself and was told to come back the next day and I would be allowed in but this was not possible due to my travel schedule. A ZOLL office has an entrance near the original HHT entrance. The original metal awning over the regimental headquarters entrance is still there and I was able to go through the building. The main floor has been whitewashed and all of the original marble is covered with this stuff. This floor is used by a music school for practice rooms. It was very sad to see how run down the building was. The stairs to the second floor (S-3, S-2, and Border ops where I spent five years) were still the same but the second floor had been wrecked and opened into the area where the bank and the snack bar had been. It appeared to be used for a night club but appeared to be abandoned. I walked through the whole place and never saw anyone. The stairs that led to the basement where C & C Squadron Headquarters had been along with the mail room were also open and a German in the basement stated that the City of Nurnberg owned the building but had no funds to repair it and was using the basement to store old unused books from the city library. He told me that I could roam around anywhere that I wanted in the building and I did. The stairs to the old snack bar are still there but are covered with graffiti and out of date night club posters. The outside stairs leading to the basement under the old theater still had a sign that read “A I C” with an arrow pointing down to the door which I found to be locked. I hope to be back again next year when I have more time to roam around. If anyone knows 1st Sgt.s Patton or Preston, Cpt. Jackie Packer, CSM Tribeau, or any of the ROC NCO’s I’d sure like to hear from you or them. Also John Karl, Juice Chery, Roger Castillo or any of the guys from the motor pool of those days. AGAIN IT WAS TO BEST TIMES OF LIFE AND I DID NOT KNOW IT UNTIL LATER. ALWAYS READY!! IF YOU WEREN’T CAV, YOU WEREN’T!
rick do you remember me, my wife Lorraine (sissy) sgt lyall was stationed with you also email lyall@lmha1.org hope all is well.
Hi. Just came across this website by chance. My family escaped from East Germany in 1954, and couldn’t find a place to live in Fuerth. My sister and I wound up in an orphanage for about a year. While there, at Christmas time, we were invited to a party at Merrill Barracks. The soldiers fed us a decent meal, we all got a pair of shoes, and one of those red net stockings filled with goodies. For kids who had truly nothing, it made for a wonderful Christmas. If anyone is out there in internet land (you would by now be in you 70s), who was stationed in Nuernberg in 1954, 1955, thanks so much for caring. After all this time it still brings tears to my eyes to remember those lean years, and to recall that kindness.
A few years later, maybe 1958 and 1959, my mother would organize “shows” (we danced ballet, etc.) at Merrill Barracks for the soldiers, and then later we would come to dances at the USO? club.
All the best to all you great guys. I am now living a good life in the USA.
Ursula……I was there, but at Darby sept’52 to feb’54.We were still considered army of occupation.Age? you hit it pretty close….I’ll be 79 next month. I was with a small unit near the Furth railroad station. The 27th Base Post Office.