Eva Wendnagel
wrote von December 10, 2009:

Hi, my name is Eva Wendnagel and I'm from Germany.

We're looking for a long lost friend of my husbands family.  His name is LOY HILL and he was stationed in Pinder in 1949 up to 1952., UNIT 556 ORD.MED.MAINT.CO. We do have a picture of the whole company with all the

  names and photos of every single soldier on it. Before he came to Zirndorf he was stationed in Funkerkaserne Esslingen in 1948.(There he was with the MP we were told).

He originally was from the Los Angeles area, tall, blond hair, very well educated. After he had to go back to the states they never had been in contact.

Is there anybody out there who knows LOY HILL by any chance, even has his home address or know anything about and his family? We really would appriciate to get informations. Thank you very much. If you have any information you can email it to R. Lippmann email

Contact me directly: Evas.emails@web.de

Again, thank you.
Best regards , Eva Wendnagel

Birgit Powell
wrote von October 17, 2009:

In September 1988 I met a soldier called Roger Nagel. I met him at the Nashville Disco in Nuremberg. He was about 24 yrs old that time and he was stationed at Pinder Bcks. He was tall and had short brown curly hair and lovely brown eyes. Unfortunately I lost contact and I do not know how he is doing. I hope he is still alive.  If you know anything about him, please let me know. I am quite looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
Birgit Powell

Aaron Jastrow
wrote on October 5, 2009:

I saw a pinder site and found your name with people I remember.  If you can forward my name and email it would be great along with other sites I could cjheck out.

I was in HHB 1st A/D /arty in the survey section.

My name was Scott Gunderson was was changed to the above  If I remember the Chaplin was Anderson and I recall Espey.  In fact he should remember that Chaplin Anderson would play tennis often with me.  In fact I sold a watch to one of the chaplins assistant but don't remember which.  I also believe I knew Jeffery Branning as I was also from Minnesota.

I was their from 1975-77 and lived on the first floor with someone named Vito Marotta-a short italian.

So any info will be good.

Thanks

Aaron Jastrow (formaly Scott Gunderson)
aajastrow@yahoo.com

I now live in Chicago.

Rebecca Dotlich
wrote on September 1, 2009:

Rebecca Dotlich is asking for people who knew her brother  Curtis R. Thompson, who was in Zirndorf in 1974 an died in October 1974. She writes:

My brother's info at his time in Zirndorf

Sgt Curtis R. Thompson SP-4
C Battery 1st Battalion
Pinder Barracks
Zindorf outside Nuernberg, Germany
ABtry 1st BN 22nd Fld Arty

About my brother

Curt was a multilinguist in the army. He was coming from Indianapolis, Indiana. I believe a drug education counselor. He spoke many languages fluently.

His good friend in the same company or stationed with (not sure which) was Jim Hight (or "Hite").  Not sure if that is correct spelling of his last name.  (He was married to Sherry.  She was pregnant and ended up having a daughter named Autumn.)
He also spoke of a Bruce Craig from Butler, Indiana.

Curt was very intelligent, books were everything to him.  We had boxes and boxes sent home to us after his death.  He collected stamps, also. He loved to travel.  He was learning to scuba dive and had bought a lot of equipment.

About the incident

Curt was killed in the army in the age of 25 while on leave on October 4, 1974.  He was on leave with 2 friends from the army in Barcelona, Spain.  He had been stationed in Germany.  His death was thought (maybe ruled) suicide but murder was questioned.  He was found in a hotel room in Barcelona.

Somewhere in the world (probably in the US) are the two boys, now men, who would be about 60 years old who went on leave with Curt, last seeing him at a train station in southern France.

Please if anyone knew Curt email me

Rebecca Kai Dotlich
rebeccakai@aol.com

Boyd S. Sharp
wrote on July 1, 2009:

I was on Pinder Barracks from 1985-1991 in C Battery 1-22 FA and then 2-1 FA.  Pinder was my first duty assignment in the army as a Private.

I loved Pinder/Zirndorf/Nurnburg so much that I extended to stay at Pinder, then I re-enlisted to stay at Pinder.  I will always remember Pinder and Zirndorf and consider it my home away from home.  I miss the German food and good ole Zirndorfer beer!  My most favorite memories are the Pinder German-American Fest that was held on the big parade field in front of 6-14 FA that became 6-1 FA.  I last visited Pinder in 1999 and was sad to see that Pinder was empty, I did stop in Zirdorf for a good beer though.  I will never forget walking down to catch bus 72 heading to Nurnberg for a night of clubbing.

I will never forget the friends that I made while there.  I have to tell this story:

In 2006 I was at a rodeo here in Arizona where I am now.  I saw this guy that I thought I knew and as it turned out it was my old room-mate from Pinder Barracks Mark Hill from 18 years ago.  He was also living in Arizona and only 16 miles from me.  We got together every weekend and talked about the good ole days at Pinder Barracks.  He has since moved away and I only hear from him once a month now.

Take care and thanks for having the website.

V/R
MAJ Boyd S. Sharp

John McNulty
wrote on May 1, 2009:

Richard,

I was an American Army dependant.  My father was Company Commander for F Company 16th Infantry stationed at Pinder Barracks between 1948 and 1952.  We lived on Kreutleinstrasse and I remember it well.  My friends and I would play in the forest nearby.  I remember a very large tunnel and some kind of memorial.  It was rumored that the tunnel went all the way to Nuremburg and was used as an escape route during the bombing.  The tunnel was sealed off.   Of course that was the wild imagination of two 7 year old boys.  I also remember finding a mortar round and my friend and I brought it to my house to show my father.  My father very carefully took it away from us and took it across the street and called the Army bomb demolition team. They moved it in a very large truck and my father later told me that it exploded on the way to the demolition area.  He really scolded me and my friend.

My wife and I are planning on coming to Zirndorf in November and you better believe I will drive by Kreutleinstrasse.  I really enjoy your website, and that’s really the main reason we want to visit the Nuremburg area.

John McNulty

Mike Eaton
wrote on March 6, 2009
from Colorado Springs:

I just downloaded GoogleEarth and while testing it out I thought I'd look for Zirndorf. When it landed there I found a little icon to click on and it took me  to your site and experiences of former soldiers stationed there. I was stationed at Pinder Barracks from May 1968 to Sep 1969. I was with the 4th Armored Div, 2/16 Arty, "A" Btry. We were in the billets that were to the right at the end of the parade field as you came in the main gate. I see from the recent pictures that they have been torn down and it seems quite a bit has changed over the last 40 years.

I have very fond memories (although some may be dimming just a bit). I was lucky to do quite a bit of traveling while stationed at Pinder but I always loved just strolling around Zirndorf. I seem to remember two places, one in town which I think was a straight walk down (and a taxi ride back) from the main gate. I don't remember it's name but I believe the husband was German and his wife was Canadian. Not to say we drank a lot but I can still recall the day three or four of us and the owner sat at the bar trying all different combinations of alcohol to see who could "invent" the best drink. What a long, fun day that was!

The other place I remember was actually in Nurnburg (I think). It was the ETNA restaurant. It served some of the best Italian food you could find outside of Italy.

One last thing. While looking thru the experiences  of others who were there I was surprised to see my picture in someone else photo. Paul Edgerton wrote you in Dec of 2003 and included a picture of him and some buddies at the EM Club drinking some of that fantastic Das Gute Zirndorfer.  I'm sitting at the end of the table in the brown jacket. I don't know if you keep email addresses on file but if you do you can forward mine to him. It would be great to hear from someone who was in Zirndorf at the same time.

Thanks for the terrific site and all the fond memories you have helped us all to recall.

Mike Eaton Westampton, New Jersey

Mark D. Johnson
wrote on March 26, 2009:

I was at the 1/22 Zoo for 2 &1/2yrs. When i wasn't in Graff or out in the field somewhere we spent a lot of time at the Ponderosa club/Little Nashville club. Myself, Jerry Leftwitch and Opime use to drink a few wheat beers and try to do a little hoe down. Ok alot of beers. Here are some pictures.

Hank Dodson
wrote on September 1, 2008
from Colorado Springs:

Try this link to see what is happening at Pinder Bks today.

http://www.nbg-mil-com.de/pinder/pi.html

Sure miss that old area there. Lived in Zirndorf near the riding stables when you come in to Zirndorf. Carl-Diem str.

Hank Dodson, Colorado Springs

Dawn Rangel
wrote on September 11, 2008:

Hi my name is Dawn, my last name when I was at Pinder was Burroughs.

I was barely 18 when I arrived at Pinder Barracks the spring of 1987. I was in 156th Maint Co. I have such great memories of that place, Nuernberg and Germany as a whole. I was too young to appreciate the history and culture of Germany at the time, but home to return there again one day. I pulled gate guard duty for a few months while stationed there, so I pretty much saw everyone at Pinder who was there 1987-1989, I had blond hair and it's embarrrasing to say, but, I was a wild girl, I had such a blast going to all of the clubs off base, even the NCO club was a blast!!!

Thanks for putting up this website, it brough back a lot of  memories.

Steven Dunn
wrote on May 5, 2008

I am currently living in Ohio and I was searching for some photos from Pinder when I came apon your site. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I was stationed there in the early to mid '80s. My company was ACRC (Area Calibration and Repair Center). We had a German National working with us named Franz. I can't remember his last name, but he worked in our office. He was a real charector and kept me laughing. If you were facing the mess hall, my unit was to the far right and upstairs. I do have pictures, some have been damaged. I will try to get them together and send to you... Some of the people that were in my unit that come to mind are:

• Johnny Liz
• Millie Garcia
• Connie Clack
• Sgt Richardson
• Liz

I will add more as time goes by. Please feel free to pass on my e-mail address to anyone interested.

Many Thanks and Take Care,
Steven Dunn

Tony Hornsby
wrote on May 21, 2008

John Starkey
wrote on Februar 29, 2008

My name is John Starkey, I was stationed at Pinder Barracks with the 556 Ord Maint Co., from 1948 - 1950. I've been reading your web site over the past few years with great interest. May I compliment you on doing an out-standing service to both citizens and service men as well.

After my arrival and getting acclimated to company life the first thing I wanted to do, was explore and get acquainted with Zirndorf and it's people. Which I found to be most gracious and accommodating. Later that fall I was fortunate to be selected to attend an Ord Main Supply School at Eschwege, Germany for enlisted personnel. Lucky me, I managed to graduate and get back to Zirndorf  the day before Christmas.

The next year I was invited to a week of full paid expenses of R & R at Berchtesgaden. I don't have any idea of that came about, but I sure was happy over it  and really enjoy myself immensely. There was only one other guest staying there that week and it was another GI. You should have seen the sumptuous dinner set out for only us two. While there I got to do some great hiking and sight-seeing.

Another one of my favorites places, other than Zirndorf was, Leichendorf, a small village close by. There was only one gest Haus there, adjacent to a beautiful stream. A lovely place to visit and fellowship during nice weather. Over time I became well acquainted with the owners/proprietors, Ludwig and Maria Weisskoph, also their Mother.

Some of the names of fellows I remember were; George Weaver, Pa., Shaw, WA., Pirtle, MO., Schaffer, WI., Timitz, M/Sgt Alicandri, SPC William Vaas, Lt. Horne, and Gist, Truck Driver. I've tried getting in contact with Weaver, Schaffer and Pirtle, but to no avail. Let me hear from you, best regards, John

My name is Tim Hartney and I was stationed at Pinder barracks with the 156mt.co. from 1/74-7/76.

It was a cold Sunday night in the first week of January 1974 when the train stoped in the Fuerth Bahnhof to let me off. My orders said I was to go to 156th.mt.co. and that somebody would be there to meet me . Well we all know how the army works, so of course nobody was there to meet me and I had no idea where Pinder barracks was. I had five dollars in my pocket so I quickly bought myself my first german beer and got some marks back in exchange. After about an hour of language confusion I was finally able to get the MPs on their strange telephone. After about two hours and drinking up the rest of my five dollars a fellow named Perkins from W. Virginia picked me up in a half ton and drove me through the crazy streets of Fuerth and Zirndorf. That same night after being checked in guys named Mark Schafer, Dave (gator) Davis, and Willie Amic took me to the little pizzeria and got me plastered on das gute Zirndorfer Bier and teased me the whole night on how short they were and that I had two and a half years to go. I was depressed at first but I took german lessons bought a car traveled down to Garmisch-Partenkirchen a lot and had the best time of my life.

I remember guys like Gerry Holley, Kurt Selfridge, Bill Schuel, Bob Yates, John Tucker, Paul Hernandez, Johnny Johnstone, Pooles, Torbit, Estep, Eldon Baker, and many many more. I remember many times having to scronge up five marks for a very tasty pizza outside the main gate from a pizza hut that was the size of  a volkswagon. Ill bet that old rad is a multi-millionaire now! There was a line in front of that hut every night. I remember the cheep cigarettes  that you could sell to germans for a tidy profit if you needed extra money. I remember being up all night listening to are jams on are stereos we bought, of which I still have, and many of the albums of the time.I remember my first trip to the infamous wall,what a night that was . I was scared to death! Only forty marks or four cartoons of cigarettes ha ha!! I remember going to Hitlers stadium for our organizational day, the Dutzendteich, the castle,and just buming around the city.

Pinder barracks was the best place to be in the whole  Nurenberg area. We had our own theater, gymnasium, and NCO club. I got to say those were the most care free and best times of my life. I have traveled back to the zirndorf  area a couple of times  with my wife since then and saw a few changes, but I still know the place like the back of my hand. I miss all the friends I made and I wonder what they are doing now. I'm living in the Chicago area, been married for twenty four years and have three daughters.

So why don't all ex. Inmates of pinder barrashs drop a line. Thank you for this excellent site. Bye for now. Auf Wiedersehen!

Michael A. Butler
wrote on October 10, 2007:

I would like to thank you again for the Gute Zirndorfer mug! I last wrote you in January of 2006. Since then, I have contacted one local Zirndorf citizen, and one former soldier. They saw the photograph, and recognized me, and my friend, Eric Champ. I was searching thru my old photos, and found a company photo (click to enlarge, please)

I was stationed with Headquarters Battery when this photo was taken. April,1979, to September, 1981. I hope this photo helps someone who is looking for a long lost friend. Thank you again. Your website is invaluable!

Anneliese Leverton
wrote on August 15, 2007:

Does anybody know the address of the Commanding Officer or his dependent, who was there in Pinder Barracks, from 1945-1946?.

Write a mail to lippmann@zirndorf.de, I will forward it to Anneliese.

James Hank Dodson
wrote on July 16, 2007:

Great site, thought I would share with you a story from last fall. I ran across the name of Alvin Crispin on the 95th QM web page and contacted the web master, got his email and started corresponding with him. We were in the HQ together at Darby with our tours in 61 overlapping just 2 months. His ending and my beginning. We had all our ordinance work done at Pinder.

He emailed me this picture and knew only one of the subjects and ask if I knew the one with the name tag covered where you could only se "son" . Lo and behold it was me. A 45 year old picture of me drinking my first, maybe second German beer. I ended up spending a total of 9 years in Germany from 1961 to 1988. Those were really great years.

Amazing what you find on the internet.

Keep up the good work, Herr Lippmann, I Check your site every day for new additions.

Ben
wrote on May 17, 2007:

We used Zirndorf as a staging point for a trip through southern Europe on which we had a wonderful time . We zigzaged through southern Germany and on into Austria, Italy, Switzerland. We got lost in Basil trying to get back into Germany and wound up at the border crossing into France. The crossing guard told us go on up a ways till we came to a sign pointing towards Frirburg. We finally made it back to Zirndorf after a three week trip. Every where we went we were treated like old friends. It was a wonderful time and I will always remember it .

Randy L. Johnson
as known as Chico
visited Zirndorf
in May 2007:

Enjoyed our visit to Zirndorf 5-20 May and enjoyed meeting you and your son.  I was stationed in Germany starting in 73, they where remodeling the barracks at Pinder so we where staying in Merrill Barracks in Nurnberg, I was in the 6-14th A Battery FDC.  Do not remember when we moved back to Pinder, but I was then transferred to DIVARTY FSE.  

Enjoyed my actual stay in Pinder, spent most of my free time at Ellies (Zur Vogelherd) or the Pizzaria in the middle of the street (Ottavio's).  Met my wife in Zirndorf and we have been married 31 years on the 17th of June.

Randy (in the middle) with his two brothers-in-law
celebrating father's day in Zirndorf

Have been back to Zirndorf a few times.  Always enjoy the Zirndorf beer. While we where there with my mother (first time in German), we went to the Playmobil park, if anyone goes plan on spending the whole day, lots of things for the kids to do and see. Went to the Mothers day concert held at the new Market Place, (the one you can see from the webcam) The pub Rotes Ross next to the Markey Place, has changed a lot, really nice inside it is now called Maroni and has a hotel attached.  Went into the old Ellies and took some pictures, will post them on the Pinder site. Looking forward to my next visit.

Randy L. Johnson (Chico) SFC (R)

Jeff Gibson
from El Paso, Tx
wrote on March 28, 2007:

I, too, was a soldier stationed at Pinder Barracks from 1985-1987.  I was a FISTer (Fire Support Team . Beobachter Artillerie) with HHB 1-22 FA.  My memories of the wonderful town of Zirndorf and it.s wonderful people are some of the fondest of my life.  My memories of that time are the result of the friendships made with both the soldiers and citizens of Zirndorf: Mark Priest, Bob Booth, Rod Foster, Jeff Helbing, .Doc., Tim, O.Conner, Evelyn (one of the bar maids of our favorite bar . the Café Hofmann.s), Lisa(?) (our British bar maid, and partner of Evelyn), .Pops. Santos (the owner of our favorite Sicilian restaurant), the Rock Bar, the Turk Bar, Marty.s Place, the Nashville, and the Wai-ki-ki.  .Pops. Santos was kind enough to sit with us and talk after our traditional meal of Cordon Bleu (delicious!), Doppel Bock beer (also delcious!), and the complementary after dinner Amaretto (as I write this, I sip on an Amaretto introduced to me by this man).  I remember the owner/barmaid of the Wai-ki-ki fondly, but do not remember her name.  She and I would buy one another beers all night, and chat.  Ich hab im meiner Jugend mehr als ein bißchen Deutch gesprochen, aber es ist mehr als zwanzig jahre.

The Café Hoffman (we just called it the .FIST. bar), directly across the street from Pops Santos restaurant, was our favorite hang out.  The hours of drinking, laughing, and playing a dice game called .Chicago. were some of the best times of my life.  If you will refer to a previous entry made by Bryan Wayte in January 2001, the picture of the young man on the left is Jeff Helbing, to whom I refer earlier in this message.  I can attest to this story, as it was still being told in my time, though I never met Bryan, I heard of him spoken fondly.  The other soldier on the right of the photo, I remember the face well, but do not remember his name.  He left shortly after I arrived in Zirndorf.  Please accept my thanks for all of those of your beautiful town who were so kind and gracious to my friends and me.  My wife and I have had the great honor and pleasure to have become friends with a German soldier and his family who are stationed here in El Paso, Texas (my home).  They are from Kelheim, Bayern and have become some of our closest friends.  It was memories of the many kindnesses shown me by the people of Zirndorf that helped to show the same to our new friends from Germany, the Schusters.  Take care, and God Bless.

Jeff Gibson
El Paso, TX

Markus Uebelein
from Zirndorf, Germany
wrote on March 1, 2007:

I have concentrated my attention to your website and of course to the heart-warming memories.

I was born in 1967 and raised in the "Siedlung" a part of Zirndorf behind the barracks. Of course we were intrigued by the "Amis" (as you people were called by the natives here). We took every chance to enter "our" barracks.

The ambiance, the military way and certainly the american way of life had deep impact on our feelings and was unforgetable. I think this is the case for many people of Zirndorf.

Later, when I was about 14, I met elder american soldiers. We always were their little brothers. Once I took to buddies, one was called "bear", home to my mother to have great bavarian food: Shoifele (the right german word is spelled Schäufele).

With the advent of the comouflage uniform around 1985 "different" kinds of soldiers came to Zirndorf and we alienated.

A few years ago I got the chance to buy an old MUTT M151 A1. I started to renovate it and I became a collector of nearly every army-equipment you can think of. The collection is huuuge in the meantime. Not long ago I found out that some of these soldiers must have served in Vietnam. These people were "like brothers" to us.

Ed Homer
wrote on December 8, 2006:

I was a soldier in the army at pinder barracks during the late 1970's, My name is ED HOMER, I was a protesting cuss at the time because of being sent to a country that I was afraid of, In finally getting past this problem I discovered that GERMAN people are some of the most wonderful people in the world.

I wish that I could have stayed there forever. My life has never been the same since I left.

Some who were there might remember me from the fuel and electric shop at 156th maint co. I wore big black leather gauntlets and refused to remove them. The company commander made a rule that you could not wear anything at work that did not have a watch in it so I modified my left band and put a watch in it. I remember the time the I.G. came through and the orderly room threw the computer punch cards in the dumpster to avoid being caught with surplus. It was the first place they looked.

I loved zirndorf and their pizza cost me my gaulbladder from all of the grease. But it was a great time.  I remember my first time drinking german beer, I made a bet that I could drink a six pack of german beer and not even feel it. WRONG IDEA! Needless to say I learned a valuable lesson that day or night.As always the people were wonderful and the lady that ran the gausthaus that I drank at was everyones favorite lady. It has been almost 30 years and it looks like progress has come to your town too.The little town I remember will always be in my life as long as I live.

I moved to 614th maint co.Nurenburg,bindlach (the rock)and then bamberg before going home on my first tour. I came back and and spent another tour in bamberg.

One paticular memory of pinder barracks is one night going to Leichendorf, to a gasthaus for a beer with a friend and seeing other soldiers there. I then looked a little closer and saw that they were german wwII uniforms and one was black with ss lightening bolts on the collar. We looked at each other not knowing what to do. I raised my stein and said prost, They looked bewildered for a moment and then laughed and said ya prost. There was many of the prost-x episodes too.

I found a lovely girl on my second tour and to this day I wonder how she is. Her name was Anita Schtindl of Lichtenfels. I hope she found the right guy. I still have one of her letters. I wish I could have stayed. I also miss the Cordon Bleu, Schnitzel, Pommes Frites and the Bier.

The one thing I do not miss was the racial problems we faced in military life. There were a lot of race cards played.

May all of Germany have a very merry holiday's.

Jeffrey Banning
wrote on November 10, 2006:

About 5 years ago on Veteran's Day I typed "Pinder Barracks, Zirndorf, Germany" into Google and was I surprised to find your wonderful website.  My memories of Pinder Barracks, Zirndorf, Furth, Nurnburg, and Germany in general are similar to so many of the folks who have e-mailed you over in the past.  I have only the fondest of memories of my 2 years at Pinder/Germany.  Thank you for this web site!!!!!!  I spent 2 of my 4 years stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., but they pale in comparison to the 2 years I spent in Zirndorf.  

I'd like to give a brief account of my time at Pinder Barracks (Sept 1976-June 1978) and corroborate and clarify some of the information that 2 soldiers that I overlapped (Verno and Espey) with, have written in your fine web-site.

I arrived in Germany on Sept. 2 1976 and after processing throught the 21st Replacement Detachment in Frankfurt and then to Erlangen briefly, I found myself at Pinder on Sept 4th.  2 Days later we shipped out for 2 weeks of Autumn Forge.  I was in HHB 1st AD Artillery (Divarty).  Captain Claude Woolard was the CO and SFC Anderson was the 1st Sgt..  I remember both Wayne Espey and Steve Verno (who have both written in your web blog).  I was in the S-3 section and was good friends with (and still in contact with) Ray Miller and Doug McVicar (Doug was in a different section than S-3 but was/is a good friend).  I also worked with PFC Harry Hopewell, PFC Franklin, Spec. Gary Moon, PFC Meyer, SSGT Billy Shewmake, SFC Hodges, SFC Rybicki, SFC Melton (who later became the First Sergeant) MSGT Beulow, SMG Furman Buckner, SMG Allen, Captain Pankow, Major Aux, LTC Ward.  I was promoted to SGT E-5 during my last year at Pinder.

My room was on the second floor right beside the Tower (to the left as you were coming into the post).  Whenever I see pictures of the tower in the web-site I can see my room and great memories come back.  I remember Espey and the CB club in the tower itself.  I still recall the little pizza shack outside the front gate.  I remember spending lots of time in Graf. I remember eating at literally dozens of different Gausthaus' throughout the region.  I was also involved with the Christian Servicemen's Center in Furth.  What a delightful town Zirndorf and the surrounding area were.  I don't believe a serviceman could have been stationed in a nicer area.  The friendly German people, the beautiful countryside, the food, and hospitality are forever etched in my mind.

After leaving Pinder, I flew to Ft. Dix, NJ and was discharged.  I went back home to Minnesota and used my GI Bill to get a BS in Chemistry (met my wife, married) and went to graduate school and got a PhD in Chemistry.  I've worked as an R&D chemist in South Carolina for 7 years and currently in Oregon (for almost 12 years).  I have a wife (of 26 years) and 6 kids.  My oldest is a son at the US Air Force Academy.  Maybe some day he might get lucky enough to be stationed at an Airbase in Germany.

I've never made it back to Germany, but it is a goal of mine to someday go back and show my wife where I was stationed and all of the wonderful sights I enjoyed those 2 years in Zirndorf.  Boy, do I have great memories of Zirndorf/Pinder/Germany!!!!!!!!

Thank you,
Jeff Banning

Thank you,
Mark Bourisaw

Tony Classe
wrote on May 26, 2006:

Thank you,
Tony Classe
Post Commander 10708

Richard comments: Please write me an email to lippmann@zirndorf.de to get Tony Classe's email-address.

Alfred Gonzales
wrote on March 22, 2006:

I was station at Pinder in 1976 to 1978, when I was station there I had already work on many music record night I remember where the music Hip Hop name came from I was in the NCO club and the field artillery had just come back from the field and all of started to jump to the music that they look like rabbits first we gave them the name Gun Bunny because they were to a DJ that was raping the name hip hop stuck and this little bit of history that you can tell your kids that  Hip Hop started in Zirndorf  at Pinder.

Steven Miller
from San Rafael,
California
wrote on March 31, 2006:

Hank Dodson
from Colorado Springs
wrote on February 24, 2006:

What a great site, my son found it and brought it to my attention. I was at Darby Kaserne from 1961-1963 and had a great tour there as a soldier. Pinder barracks was where our ordnance was for any repairs we had to parts we had swapped out on vehicles. Then I returned in 1981-1986 and worked on Darby as a Civilian computor specialist. Lived in Zirndorf right where you come in behind the riding stables, Carl Diem Str. Spent a lot of time over on Pinder at the craft shop working on cars, Painted a couple for my kids, had a great time teaching them how to take care of their car. Pinder barracks and Zirndorf were great places to spend 5 years.

When I left I had to pay 5 years of canal tax. I thought it was because I crossed over the canal every day and later found out it was a sewer tax.

Regards from Colorado Springs

Hank Dodson

The well-known, friendly
and dilligent Carl Wade
sent me this great picture
on January 30, 2006:

Klick onto the picture to see it larger.

KO (???)
wrote on January 12, 2006:

Hi... I may have emailed in you in the past, but I lived in Zirndorf in 1984. I believe one of my addresses was Eine Erfurter Strasse. The first address was a somewhat outdated apartment complex downtown across from a flower shop and bar. There was a grocery and bank below.  I worked at the Stars & Strips for a short while at Pinder. Do you know what ever happened to the Restaurant that Italians ran? It was one of my favorite places, and now I can't remember the name of it! I think it started with an "S" Thanks for your time...

KO

Glenn E. Cline
wrote on January, 18
from Athens, Ohio:

I was just looking at some pictures of Pinder. I was stationed there in 1951 to 1953. I have some pictures, but I will have to dig them out.

My unit was the 43rd Inf. Div. 169th Inf Reg. We have been holding reunions for several years but the attendance is dropping off. My Co was 'Fox Co.'  2nd Battalion. We still talk about our time in Germany and also met a lot of good people. Seeing the main gate of Pinder brought back a lot of memories I will try to find the pictures and would you be interested in seeing some of them.  
Thank you very much  Glenn.

Grant Wideman
wrote on January 2006:

Iwas stationed at pinder barracks 66-68  i made friends with a few german couples during my time there. i have lost contact and addresses with them over the years.   his name is brandy {nickname for ?} and her name is hannelore {honey}   the other couples name is erwin and erna ??   i don't know where these friends are  if you know of them please foreward  thank you

Grant Wideman{hamster}

Michael Butler
wrote on January 2006:

Hello, Herr Lippmann,

I have a pretty interesting story about your lovely town and beautiful, loving people.

I arrived at Pinder Barracks in April of 1979. It was in the middle of the German American festival. All of the towns people were allowed to enter and tour Pinder barracks. We had beer tents and ompah bands, and I got my first taste of Great German beer!

My first Christmas in Germany was amazing. I was selected to spend Christmas with a Family from Zirndorf. We spent Christmas eve on a Volksmarch in the woods. Also, I had the traditional German Christmas eve meal of fish with the Family. I must say, they were so kind and I wish that I remembered their names. I do remember that the Father was a Crane operater. Attached are Pics of Me and 2 of my friends,(as well as my favorite beer Das Gute Zirndorfer!) and My host familys son with his Christmas gift,(Playmobile, of course!) and their grandson under the Christmas Tree. I hope to visit your town this fall. Until then, Gruss Gott.

Michael Butler

Richard answers: What a nice story, Michael! I hope to see you in Zirndorf this year! Thanks for scanning the picture and telling us the story.

Roger B. Chamberland
wrote on
December 1, 2005:

I served in Pinder Barracks from 1984 - 1985 in the 1st battalion 22nd FA, Charlie Battery.  I was assigned to the Special Weapons team with a great bunch of soldiers.  Specialist Burke of NY (He was on the "gun run" team - a race where a team would pull a towed howitzer), Corporal Applebee of Washington, Sergeant Smelcher of Iowa (I remember him being a huge Hawkeye's fan), Private Cuellar of Chicago (He did a great John Bellushi impression),  Specialist Paulson of California (I think he was a surfer).  

We spent many nights in downtown Zirndorf at the "Rock" bar which was next to the "Turk" bar.  I can't forget to mention the "Green Goose" in Nuernberg.  We also used to frequent a country bar called the Ponderosa (I think that was the name).  Another place where we would eat was the Pizzeria Napoli. I have many great memories of my stay there. Hope to hear from some more former members/soldiers of the Pinder community.

Delos Tull
wrote on
December 5, 2005:

Hi, My name is Delos Tull. I was a SP/5 stationed with the 71st Bn H.Q. CO. 1971-73. We lived in downtown Nuernberg on Essenweinstrasse. We loved our two years in Germany.

My wife worked at the Pinder post library then taught the GED at the Military prison in Furth. I have many fond memories of "Moms" cafe and of St Joseph wine and of course Zirndorf beer. I miss Germany and the German people. We made friends with a family named Echmann. Poppa Echman was a writer for a German news service. I would love to hear from others in the Pinder/Merrill family! Miss you all!

Pastor Dion Amos
wrote on
November 1, 2005:

We ( Baptist church in Nuernberg) and myself (Pastor Dion Amos along with Pastor Barthel), will be starting a International Baptist Church in Nuernberg.

If you would be so kind and forward this message to other Americans, I would appreciate it, along with my address.

I can be reached Friday evening about 9 in the evening for further questions (09 11 / 99 43 97 14), and information, you can reach me by e-mail (damos@efg-nuernberg.de).

Lane Johnson
from Houston, Texas
wrote on
November 10, 2005:

My father was stationed at Pinder Barracks from 1952-1955 and we lived at #7 Vestnerstrasse. 

Last month, my husband, our daughter, son-in-law, grandson and I returned for a visit.  I had been to Zirndorf in 1962 during our second assignment in Germany, but that was a long time ago. 

The village I remembered was a bustling city.  But I recognized the tower that had been the entrance to Pinder! I'm attaching two photos that mean very much to me.  The first is my grandson, racing through Pinder Park, where his great-grandfather had been stationed so many years ago. 

The second is of me (shown here on the right side) under the Vestnerstrasse street sign.  I have many happy memories of my early years in Zirndorf and it was wonderful to share Zirndorf with my family.  Oh yes, my grandson loved Play Mobil Fun Park!

Bill Capshaw
from Middleton, Tennessee
wrote on November 10, 2005:

 If I have attached correctly pics of my mugs along with a clock I got in Parsburg near Hohenfeld.  Also, pic of me in 1966 at Pinder & 2 pics when I returned in 1989.

Does this qualify me for a mug?  (Richard says: definitely yes) I broke my "Das Gute Zirndorfer" ash tray and would really like something from Zirndorf.  The time I spent in Pinder & Zirndorf was one of the most enjoyable in my life. Thanks for your site and the memories it brings back.

Here are some more pictures along with my story.

 I was sent to Pinder/Zirndorf with the 144th Signal Bn Detachment in April of 1965, and spent the rest of my elistment till May of 1967 there.  I returned for a visit in 1989 staying at the Hotel Rangau.  Spent many a happy time before when we called it "Moms".  Also good times at all the other places in Zirndorf where the people were always so nice to me.  All of the artillery people usually stayed downtown, while the Signal people had a favorite place up on the hill called Sonnehugel, it was an Italian place when I was there in 89.  Hope you can use some of the pics---auf wiedersehen bis 2006 die seit vo ich zuruckkomme.

Ferenc Kovac
from California
wrote on November 25, 2005 

Greetings.  I came across your site while my younger daughter was doing her 'elder' report and my mom, uncle, and I discussed the Zirndorf refugee camp (Lager, was it?).  I was 12 (it was 1964/65) when we got there, and am now living in California.

While waiting to emigrate from Germany, my father worked in town and my mother worked in the Snack Bar at an American base and remembers an Austrian manager, Lotti, the cashier, and Susi, the secretary.  There is also some mention of an American General Robert (?) who had some property in Alaska.   Does any of this ring a bell to anyone?

Is the camp/Lager still there?  Is the small Catholic church a part of it?  Zirndorf was a beatiful place, but I never figured out why the camp had barbed wire around it, as I was just a kid.

Thanks in advance for any additional information you may have on this.  My German is pretty weak now, so I'd prefer auf Englisch, bitte.

Richard answers shortly because he does not know about every aspect: The "Lager" is still there. "Lager" ist the german word for "camp", the Lager is near the border of Zirndorf and usually people do not live long in Zirndorf before they get forwarded to other cities in Germany. The barbed wire still exists, don't ask me why. Neither the german people on one side of the fence nor the foreign people on the other are enemies to each other, but they usually do not get contact because most aliens (can I say that in english, I don't mean people from other planets in our solar system?) don't stay long here, a few weeks.

John wrote on
October 12, 2005:

Loril wrote on
October 9, 2005:

Mark Frederick
wrote on
September 6, 2005:

[...] I've been going through all my pictures of Zirndorf and Pinder Barracks to find the right one. Is Hoffmans still there. I would go there to recover from my day and visit with my friends. We would go to Nurenburg to Dance at the clubs that were not off limits. I remember just before I went back to the States on recruting duty they had a little farewell party and at that time Hoffmans was off limits but we went anyway and the MP's came and we were arrested. All they did was call our Unit to come and pick us up. When we got back to the barracks we went back down town to Hoffmans where they locked the doors until the party was over.

Mark Frederick

Randy Johnson
wrote on
September 9, 2005:

Came across these pictures last night and thought about all the good times we had in Zirndorf.  Attached is a picture of the original Pinder Power Lifters after one of our meets.  This was taken in 1975, each of us took a trophy including best Team and Best lift.

Wayne Espey
wrote on
September 8, 2005

I was just reading thru your site. You have a key to the tower? I used to have the tower in 74-78 for a CB club. I used a Walky-Talky I bought on the economy and from up there I had excellent range. I signed for the tower from the Post Commander and spent several weeks sweeping it out. Wound up painting the attic floor with army gray paint but don't remember if I actually got around to painting a signal corps design in the middle.

I wish I had taken the time to see more of Zirndorf, but I was young and there was always tomorrow. That's one of my main regrets of the time I spent there.

Terry Kokot
wrote on
September 19, 2005:

I was thrilled to Google into your website that featured experiences of GI's stationed in Zirndorf.  My memories of Zirndorf & Pinder Barracks are very vivid as I have visited Zirndorf many times since getting out of the U.S. Army.  I was stationed at Pinder Barracks from January, 1967 through December, 1969.  I was a Sergeant E-5 and my unit was in charge of the Tech Supply/Mobile Repair Warehouse on the Post. 

There are so many memories for me that I couldn't possibly list them all.  Yes, I was part of the 71st Maintenance Battalion that everyone affectionately called "Die Kinder Von Pinder!"  Yes, we spent many nights downing the "Das Gute Zirndorfer" at Sophie's Cafe Bub, Mom's, Buro's Wildemann Cafe, etc., etc.  Too many to name.

One thing I did do right was meet the German people of Zirndorf and I am proud to say that I have a special group of friends in Zirndorf, Munich and Amberg.  My oldest and dearest friend, Karl, met me right off the bat at Cafe Bub as he was a part-time bartender.  Everyone knew Karl as "Charlie" and we have now been friends for 38 1/2 years!!

I have been very fortunate to visit Zirndorf and Pinder Barracks many times over the years so I was able to see the transition of my old home away from home. 

My wife and I are planning a reunion with my German friends for August/September, 2007 (Lord Willing).  My pal Karl has also already picked out a gasthaus in Zirndorf to celebate my 60th birthday in August, 2007.

Just in case anyone is planning to visit Zirndorf in the future, plan on staying at Pension Knorz.  They are great people and Frau Mueller's (Mother) had actually owned the Goldener Lowe right downtown in the Markplatz.  Brother, do I miss that great schnitzel, Kartoffel Salat and Das Gute Zirndorfer Bier!!

Thanks for posting your great website Richard.  Who knows, I might even get to meet you in '07.

John Dorrer
wrote an October 16, 2005
from Brunswick, Maine:

Greetings from the Bavarian Section in Brunswick, Maine, USA:

Lt Col Charles Arndt
wrote on August 1:

attached is a photo from Pinder 1947. I thought you would like it.

Click on it to see it larger.

This picture is from http://www.usarmygermany.com
Thanks to Walter Elkins for his admittance for that!

Robert Smith
wrote on July 3:

Richard, I just found your site and enjoyed it. I was in Nuremburg Germany from 1960-1962 at 20th station Hospital.

My question is , Do you know of a Web site to get information of guys I served with there?

Richard answers: Sorry, I don't know any sources. I will forward answers to this question to your email-address known here. So guys: answer to lippmann@zirndorf.de Thanks!

Martin Marin
from San Antonio, Texas
wrote on May 31:

I don't have a funny story to tell or a picture to send, but a can and will say thank you. I never thought I would see this gem of a place again, but thanks to your website and a chance Google search for Zirndorfer beer I came about your website.

I was stationed  at Pinder Kaserne in 1990 with Bravo Battery 6-1 Field Artillery prior to our move to Rose Barracks and the 3rd Infantry Division.

I remember pulling guard duty at the gate, running our two mile run down the road and back, I used the aerial to show my wife and kids. Driving the track down to the local training area, Warbonnet Field for battalion formation, training on Wednesdays, going to Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels (I hope I spelled that right). Does the Army still do that? Volksmarches and the talking buses. I laughed when we started getting those here in San Antonio, Texas a couple of years ago, I realized how behind the times we were.

I was so thrilled to take the virtual walk, and thrilled to see Cosmo's had left his shack and moved on up like the Jefferson's.

You cannot imagine how many times I've told my family about Cosmo's and bragged that Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Domino's, and any of the chain pizza joint's just can't touch his food. I miss the schnitzel. He used to give this poor private credit, it was really short term, enough time to run to the barracks. :-)

Anyway thank you so much for bringing back so many emotions and memories for me. May God bless you and keep you. Keep up the wonderful job you've done.

Robert Collar
wrote on April 28:

My name is Robert Collar and i was stationed at Pinder barracks from November 1956 til May 1959 in the 556 ord company when i first got there i worked in the orderly room and then was transfered to Automotive i used to use the back gate to go out on pass went to a little pub  called moms place on sugar hill i really enjoyed it over there it was very beautiful over there and have always wanted to come back there i would like to hear from anyone who might have been there at the time i was they can e-mail me at robertcollar1939 at yahoo dot com

???
wrote on April 25:

First, Hope everything is okay with you and your family...and also to the people of zirndorf. I was in the army and my first station was in Pinder Barracks from 1971-1972.

Of course I love your small town (at the time) as the years went by...from 1975 to 1983 I was stationed from Merrell barracks to Monteith Barracks... my youngest son was born in Nurnberg Hospital. My wife and I visited Germany (Zirndorf, Fuerth, and Merrell barracks) sometime 2002, yes everything have change, but the German people are still as lovely as ever... If there is another place to live... of course I would take Germany... with the beautiful green hills, nice people and very interesting culture... I miss the volksmarch, I miss that crispy roast chicken cook in maggie sauce, pommes fritas, shush licks ?

[...] next time I visit your website, I will send you plenty of pictures that I have taken from the year 1971-1983 from Zirndorf, especially coming from the back gate...do you know about that retired Sargeant Major I guess, who opened a restaurant (in a barn) about 15 to 20 KM from zirndorf he was married to a german woman... they served a good Chicken Cordon Bleu... yummmy....  anyway, keep up this website and sometime this summer I will send you the pictures I got... I and my family will visit nurnberg and sure to stop by this september...and hopefully to meet you... take care and hope to hear from you...

Tony Welle
from Huntington Beach,
California
wrote on April 30:

I'm Tony Welle of Huntington Beach, California. I was SP4 (well actually, a PFC, then a SP4, then a PFC again) stationed at Pinder with the 156th from 4/86 - 3/88. My good buddy Marty Ocha, whom I just got in touch with recently, showed me this website. Wow, does this bring back some memories? I see that a couple of other 156ers  have posted messages as well, including my old C.O. Edward Miller! I'm sure he doesn't remember me, but I sure remember standing at attention in front of his desk early one Monday morning and being ordered to go take a breathalizer test! Seems I'd had too much fun at my birthday party the night before... LOL

Like Marty, I could go on forever with great stories, but one of my fondest memories is of how a few of my buddies and I used to repel off of the side of that tall stone watchtower on the hill where the Liberty Bell Bar / Rockin' Town Lounge was (is it called Alte Veste? [* Richard: well remembered! Yes, that's the name of the place *] ). We'd head for the bar with our ropes and other gear in tow, maybe stop into the bar for a delicious cold bottle of "Dorfer" or three, then walk up that long staircase to the top of the tower. We'd tie a rope around a stone pillar at the top, climb over the edge, and leap right off the side! We'd compete to see who could make it down and touch the side of the tower the fewest times on the way down.

Luckily, no one ever got seriously hurt. Crazy young fools we were.

I cherish those days in Zirndorf. With few exceptions, the townspeople (and all of the Germans that I encountered for that matter) were warm, freindly, honest, hard working people. I revisited in 1994 for a day as I was travelling nearby. Pinder was like a ghost town, but the people were as friendly as ever.

What excelllent hosts!

If anyone recognizes my name (or not) and wants to e-mail me I'd love to hear from you! My email is tonywelle at yahoo dot com

Thanks for maintaining this website, Richard!
Prost!

CarlWade
from Seattle, Washington
wrote on May 20:

Thank You for your Zirndorf Website ; Being there Jan 54 till May 56 I'm amazed at the growth . Back then it was a small village with cobble stone streets and friendly people. Pictures now show a much larger town and paved streets enclosed a picture of Zirndorf taken from the back gate. As that the gate the 556 Ord. Co. used
Again Thanks I check it often

???
wrote on April 25:

I was in the army and my first station was in Pinder Barracks from 1971-1972.

Of course I love your small town (at the time) as the years went by...from 1975 to 1983 I was stationed from Merrell barracks to Monteith Barracks...my youngest son was born in Nurnberg Hospital. My wife and I visited Germany (Zirndorf, Fuerth, and Merrell barracks) sometime 2002, yes everything have change, but the German people are still as lovely as ever...If there is another place to live...of course I would take Germany...with the beautiful green hills, nice people and very interesting culture...

I miss the volksmarch, I miss that crispy roast chicken cook in maggie sauce, pommes fritas, shush licks? Right now I am in new york, next time I visit your website, I will send you plenty of pictures that I have taken from the year 1971-1983 from Zirndorf, especially coming from the back gate...

Do you know about that retired Sargeant Major I guess, who opened a restaurant (in a barn) about 15 to 20 KM from zirndorf he was married to a german woman...they served a good Chicken Cordon Bleu...yummmy.... anyway, keep up this website and sometime this summer I will send you the pictures I got...I and my family will visit nurnberg and sure to stop by this september...and hopefully to meet you...I will bring the other Lippmann with me...so you can meet him...who knows he might be your relative...take care and hope to hear from you...

Marti Ocha
wrote on April 25:

I was stationed at Pinder from Nov 1977 till March 82 with SVC BTRY 6/14 TH FA. I left the army in 82 and lived in Zirndorf till Nov 1990. I have so many great memories of a time and town where I rocked and rolled all over that beautiful town in Zirndorf.

Hope that anyone who remembers me, the good and the bad times would feel free to drop me a line at mocha@wi.rr.com

The Rock Bar, Bodo's, The Rose with Chef and Adom. Ricky or Morot and his place. Elli's, the Wi Kee Kee, Otavio's and Mamma, the turkish Imbis, all the great places to eat, drink and be crazy, all the parties at the Zimmermannspark and not to forget the Stadtpark now and then. but also a place I called my own, "The Liberty Bell" and Marty's Rock and Town Lounge up at the Alta Vista. I tell you 1986, 87, 88 will never be the same. We were running on full tilt and the party was some of the best I could ever remember. Loving, fighting, raising hell and doing what we did as the wild and young. That bar rocked, and what a great time.

I have a million pics of the times, but my mind holds the best of all. Great people I knew and brothers I confider life long. It would take up too much of your site to even begin to tell stories, but it sure has been great too see this site and remember good ol' Zirndorfers, by far the best beer on this rock we call Earth.

I will answer all who want to know of friends during that time, and welcome all who remember me. Thanks Rich, great Job bring this place alive of us. Older guys who spent the youth of our lives there, be good

Marty

Charles Johnston
wrote on March 1:

I was stationed there in 1963 to 1965. My last year at Zirndorf, I was living off base the road to Johnson Barracks not to far Bub' cafe ( if I can remmber correctly)... I never met anyone that I didn't like, every-one was very nice to us.

I really liked the food and beer... a lot of good times.. I am sending a photo of the (Beer Stein) of the HHD 4th Arty at Pinder I got in 1964.. and photo of me taking at the motor pool inside Pinder... FROM: Sp5 Charles Johnston Pinder 1963 to 1965.

Patrick Adams
from Hartville, OH:

I was there in Zirndorf from May, 1960 to June, 1962 in the 4th Armoured Div HHQ.  I was from West Virginia when I joined the service and now reside in Hartville, OH.

Gen. D P Quant asked Wolfgang Priebe to form the German American Club and I was a charter member.  Three other charter members were James Smith, John Aldrich (both of New England) and George Bowling of Georgia.  Ursula Rieß [Richard: her name is now Ursula Kurzman) was a local member of the club (would like to get in touch with her.)

If you know of Theodore "Teddy" Bear, please have him contact me. My wife and I are traveling to England and Germany March 22, 2005.  We probably will be in Germany the first week of April.  We are flying home from Frankfurt on April 7.  I am very excited about returning to your area.

I will look for pictures and if I have any, I will send later.  It was great finding your site.

Mark Johnson
from Midwest, Oklahoma:

The well-know Joseph Feiser
wrote on November 1:

He wrote about Adams Barracks:

When you came out of Pinder Barracks if you would have looked to the right side across those fields you could see Adams Barracks and that is where head quarters  of the 16th infantry regtiment and the motorpool was stationed. I use to go over there a lot as I had froms that was stationed over there. Their names was Paul Praskac und Sgt. Orlin E. Knight.
... Adams Barracks is where the 16th Infantry Motorpool was and also Headquarters Co. I wish Herman had some picture from there as I do not have any. I asked you once before if there is a touwn called Lackendorf down behind Zirndorf as That is where I left to come home on furlough back in 1952 when I reenlisted to stay in Germany. I do not know if it is spelled right or not but maybe you heard of it.

Richard answers: Sure, there is a village called Leichendorf, take a look here onto this aerial view:

I was with the 4th Armored Div. HQ/HQ and attached to the 51st armored infantry out of Ulm and Neu Ulm Germany from Dec. 1963 to Feb 1965. While on field maneuvers in Grafenwohr in 1964, two soldiers (a sergeant and I believe a spec4) drowned when they floated their APC across a pond just before an inspection to clean it. The pond was actually an old mine shaft over 300ft deep. Their engine compartment hatch was not closed properly and the APC sank to the bottom with them. The pond was just off post to the east I believe. The military had to call in divers from Italy to go the three hundred ft. deep to get them up. I desparatly need to find the names of these soldiers. PLEASE HELP!

Lindy Wenzl
wrote on October 25:

We meet at the St, Jakobskirche, Breite Gasse 82/84 (U-Bahn-Haltestelle Weißer Turm).

Dear Richard,

I saw your web site and thought I would share some fond memories with you.  I was stationed at Pinder Barracks from July 1948 to November 1949. After this time I briefly returned to the United States and then was reassigned to Adams Barracks in Zirndorf.  At that time the barracks was surrounded by farmland.

I recall a river flowing near the barracks, and on the other side of the river were small private gardening plots leading to the town of Zirndorf.  

When I  left Adams Barracks on a weekend pass with some buddies, they would never seem to go beyond the first Gasthof, where they would guzzle down the Zirndorf beer that they loved so much.  As for myself, I was not a drinker and would have only one beer.  I would say auf wiedersehen and leave for Furth or Nurnberg with other things on my mind.

Richard, did you ever think of investigating the history of Adams Barracks?  I have a few photos of the place.

I remember taking a bus to Nurnberg for 50 Pfennings and a Strassenbahn ride from Nurnberg to Furth for 20 or 30 Pfennings.  In 1951, I met a beautiful fraulien in Nurnberg, and married her in March, 1953.  My wife and I returned to the United States in August 1953.  We have been happily married for 51 years.

My wife and I have returned to Zirndorf and the Nurnberg area many times to visit an old friend who still lives in Zirndorf.  We plan to return to Germany again in 2005.  I have always felt a kinship with the German people, for I am of German and Austrian descent.

The years have been good to us, and we are enjoying good health.  Our family has grown to 13.  We have 2 children, 6 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and grandson-in-law.

Richard, keep up the good work of preserving the history of Pinder Barracks, the relationship between American soldiers, and the good people of Zirndorf!

I have taken the liberty of including a picture of  my wife and myself in uniform from 1951.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Sincerely,
Herman and Ingeborg
West Palm Beach, Florida

Richard answers: This brightened my day in this rainy week! It's good to hear that the right people found their way together. Say hi to your beautiful wife. I am sure she taught you to speak German, like all the german women are doing :-)

To be true... I never heard of Adams Barracks in Zirndorf. Where had they been? People are always talking about Pinder Barracks and sure, I know where these are... hm. Makes me think. Tell me more, please!

Michael Bradley
wrote on September 22:

Jack Breitenbucher
wrote on September 4
from Bay Shore, NY:

Dear Richard,

I was pleased to find your Zirndorf website. I was stationed at Pinder Barracks from 1964 to 1966. I have fond memories of my time in Zirndorf. In 1964 most people were not as well traveled as they are today. For a young soldier in those times, this was probably the first time they were ever out of the US. I remember the great food and beer and all the wonderful people of Zirndorf. They made us feel welcome in their town.

I married a girl from neighboring Gebersdorf, and have returned to visit family and friends every year for the last 7 years. On every visit I return to Zirndorf to visit the local shops and eat in the many gasthauses. I still speak the language pretty well and enjoy talking to the people in the shops and restaurants. When I tell them that I was stationed here in the mid 60's and just returned for a visit, they are genuinely happy that some of the soldiers have such fond memories of Zirndorf.  

I always go back to visit Pinder Kaserne. It makes me sad to see all the old buildings torn down and replaced with modern units. The old mess hall boarded up, the motor pool empty, the HQ battery knocked down, I wish it could have remained as it was.

Thanks for the nice website and the nice memories of Pinder. I'm going to go home tonight and toast you with my last bottle of "das gute Zirndorfer" that I brought back with me this June.

Jack Breitenbucher
Bay Shore, NY
HQ Battery 4th Armored Division Artillery
Pinder Barracks 1964~1966

Mark D. Johnson
scanned and mailed
on August 15:

Click onto the pictures to see them larger...

I was just wondering if the Sportplatz is still around. I think it was in Fuerth? I Was with the 556 ord from 1962 to 1964. Really enjoyed my stay in Germany. I said it then and I can still say it now. Hope to get back there one day.

Richard: Hey, you remember the Sportplatz! Sure, it's there. It's around the corner of the Pinder Park.

Jerry Barnes
wrote on August 5:

I loved your website. I was in Pinder at HQ 6/14 from 1983 to 1985. I had many great times in Zirndorf. I remember a little pizza place in the middle of town that had the best food and beer. I spent a lot of time in a country club called Club Nashville. When I was leaving, they were building a bigger club. Does it still exist? I hope to get back there some day. I was sad when I found they were closing Pinder. Please let me know where I can keep up with the next reunion. I would love to go.

Richard answers: Hey Jerry, this mail brought up some memories! The Nashville Club was up the hill at the Alte Vester tower in Zirndorf and moved from there to the city border Nürnberg/Fürth. I was talking with some people about it but I'm afraid it does not exist anymore. When we were talking about it a collegue remembered laughing out loud about the famous Wet T-Shirt contests they had there.

Paul Gubany
wrote on August 5:

dear richard, i finally visited your web-site and it brought back memories that brought a tear to my eye..

i was with 156th maint co at pinder barracks from 1979-1983 and the times i had there and shared with my fellow soldiers still hold high in my heart and thoughts.

i lived off-post in wachendorf but my wife roan and i always stopped in zirndorf. i remember a time when we found a bakery in zirndorf that made fresh glazed doughnuts,when my wife and i went into the bakery one morning we heard a german lady speaking in german saying look at that car driving down the street with noone in it. we turned and my wife and i saw our car going down the street at 20 mph where it finally rear ended a parked car and came to a stop...reason for car rolling? emergency brake wasnt set.anyway everyone in town was very nice and accepted our apologies.

i dont know if they tore down the brick wall surronding pinder barracks but for those who knew where it was there was a swatsika made out of discolored bricks built by a masonist when the built the kaserne.......any way i'd love to hear from anyone stationed with me in that time period.one day i will return to the place where i stood as a young man.......

thank you
sincerly Paul Gubany

wp120470
wrote on July 28
via yahoogroups::

I am looking for Spc. Jim Northrup. I know he was in A Btry. 6/1 F.A. He was at Pinder from around 87 till we started the remodeling to turn her over to the civilian labor force then we were sent to Vilseck to join 3rd Inf. Div. I would love to have a chance to talk to him again. I know when we got out we both stayed in Germany I lived in Nurnberg and he live in Furth. I lost track after I left country.

If anyone knows or any leads to investigate just leave a message. I do check messages on a regular basis to keep up on all the changes and memories. I tried veterans search but they drew a blank.

Pinderbarracks@yahoogroups.com

Brian DuCharme
wrote on July 21:

P.S the coo coo clock I bought downtown is still ticken fine.

Richard answers: Hope to you see you some day! Take a look onto our webcams to see some of the people living hero, go to http://www.zirndorf.de/webcam

Steve Verno
wrote on July 16:

I just received my 3rd Zirndorf/Pinder beer mug in the mail.  This one is about 12" tall, is white, has army soliders in dress blues, german and american flags and in german and english it is dated 1992 and has the words, "Mission Acomplished".  In gold it has the name Zirndorf.

Another mug I just bought has a tank on it and unit crest and the words 2/1 FA, Pinder Barracks.

The third mug I just bought has the Pinder Clock tower on it and is from a volksmarch that I guess was done there in 1988.  

Last, not a Pinder mug, but I just bought a Flint Kassern/Bad Tolz beer mug.  I went to Bad Tolz in January 1976 to the 7th Army NCO Academy when it was an NCO Academy and not PLDC.

All of these were bought via the internet and all were under $10, so I wonder what else is out there from our old kassern.

Steve Verno, SFC
HHB Divarty Medics
December 1975 - December 1978

Richard says: I was asking Steve for a picture of the mugs. I look forward for it! Maybe, I have the chance to get one or another special ones here in Zirndorf. Hey, there are secret sources in the area! :-)

And here they are. Steve sent me six pictures from his valuable Steins. Take a look onto them on this extra page!

I just go a call from the Bavarian Broadcast. They want to produce a little broadcast about the american soldiers in Zirndorf. Hey, but none of you is here! So I have to do the job. I hope everything goes well. If somebody of you is in Zirndorf on July 15, don't hesitate to give me a holler. The radio people would like to practise their English :-)

Hi Richard,  I just wanted to thank you for all your effort in answering my email. The map and pictures that you placed on the website were very helpful.

From your map, the street map from the web, and the aerial pictures, I have learned how much Zirndorf has grown. It is no longer the small town that I remember. But when I read the comments from soldiers who served more recently in Zirndorf, I realize that your large city has not lost the friendly small town feeling it always had for me. Once again, Thanks!  

Jim Throneburg
from Kansas, USA     
wrote on May 3:

Richard, your web site really brought back some memories. And if I may I would like to share my story with you.

My Father served with the 7th army back in the 1950's. He like many American soldiers married a German girl My mom was from Fürth and like many children from 1955, I was born at the American Army Hospital in Nürnberg. That is not where the story ends.

My father became a career soldier and we traveled back and forth from the US and Germany for many years. We were living in Erlangen when it was decided that I would remain in Germany and attend Berufschule. Which I did. I went to the Landwirtshaftliche Berufschule in Fürth and lived and worked on a Farm in Leichendorf, very near to Zirndorf. I spent 3 wonderful years there and the pictures of your city brought back many memories.

I actually joined the US Army myself and served one year in Idar-Oberstein, close to Kaiserslautern Germany. But shamefully I must say that I never was able to get back to Leichendorf or Zirndorf. I have been searching the Web for information on my mothers family history and that is how I tripped over your site.

You are probably asking yourself why I didn't write in german. Well I must say that since I left Germany I have not had much chance to use the German Language.   I was very taken by your, and your Cities foresight, understanding, and willingness to dedicate time and space to a fallen American, and to all the rest that came and went over the years. Americans are seldomly looked on with favor, especially the soldiers. Your city however was different. I know, I was in Germany a civilian and as a soldier. Thank you and you city, very much.

Christa Hunter
from Australia
wrote in May 11:

Tom Toy answered: I was stationed at Pinder Barracks From 1954 to 1957.  The Second Battalion 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division was there (nickname for the second battalion was "Second to none").  The nickname of the 39th Infantry Regiment was "The Fighting Falcons".

Larry Stubbman
wrote on April 26:

Hello Richard,   

First, I would like to thank you for sending Me Joe Gilman's email address. I contacted him, and as it turns out, I do remember him now. He was the Supply Officer in the 556 Ord Co when I was there.

 I would also like to thank you for telling us what is going to be built on the site that is now being demolished. It helps to know the good that is going to come from the loss of the places we remember.

I would like to ask another favor if I might. It has been 40 years since I have been in Zirndorf, and my memory is not totally clear of how to get around in Zirndorf. [...]

http://www.staedte-verlag.de/stadtplaene/plan/index.php4?plz=90513.   I think you have a great website and appreciate all your work and help so very much.

Richard answers: Hi Larry, here it is: my walk for you leads you along some typical places in Zirndorf. Have fun!

Richard Wharris
wrote on April 24:

Richard you are correct in saying that is one of the many things Mr Pinder died for.

I for one will remember my days at Pinder with a great fondness but I do think that it is going to be of better use for now. Our time is in the past, but for now I want this part of the world to grow into something great and that will have a little of all of us in it. I was there from 1968 to Jan 1970 and will make it back there in the next couple of years I hope.  Can't wait to see for myself what has transpired in this beautiful little village.

Richard Lippmann
reports from Zirndorf
on April 23:

They wreck it down... but there will be place for new activities for the people living here.

What will be on the ground where the Pinder barracks have been? There will be a housing area, a kindergarten, a home for the aged, some companies for medical services.

It will be a small part of for what John J. Pinder Jr. died for. For a life in peace in a place where you love to live. Tell me your thoughts about the project and send a mail to me.

Joe Gilman
wrote on April 7
from Massachusetts:

Here for your collection is a picture of Zirndorf (as I recall) taken on a Sunday morning in 1962.

I remember Zirndorf, and Germany, as a peaceful place. While I was there Kruschev built the Berlin Wall, and later we had the Cuban missile crisis to talk about, but none of that prevented us from going wherever we chose on a Sunday afternoon and enjoying our time in Germany. [klick on the picture to enlarge it]

Joe Gilman
wrote at
March 30, 2004:

I have enjoyed the pictures and stories of Pinder Barracks on your web site. I was stationed at Zirndorf during 1961 and 1962 with the 556th Ordnance Company.

Here is a photo of a 50-gun salute on May 30, 1962.  This is B-Battery, 1st Howitzer Battalion, 22nd Artillery.

Please click onto the picture to see it larger.

Jerry Hebert
wrote at
March 15, 2004:

... during my time at Pinder Barracks from 1972 to Dec. 1974. I started as an S1 clerk 1st Battalion 22nd Field Artillery, then as the baltalion mailman and then the final 6 months in 6th section, A battery.

My fondest memories were the numerous partys at any given time at any given place and when the munchies hit, you sent the newest rookie to the gate to get the best pizza's in this world. I will send some of my picture collection as I can locate them.

Will the Zirndorfer brewery ship beer to the US? I'm considering a return trip in the near future, would you give me a tour of the New Zirndorf? I hardly recognize any of the streets/buildings. Good website, I hope to visit and respond on a regular basis

Richard answers: The brewery doesn't ship to the US. You have to drink our beer in Zirndorf! That's the bad news. Now the good ones: Maybe some of you guys now have children or grandchildren which love Playmobil. Let the children have a good day in Playmobil Funpark in Zirndorf and you and your spouse are visiting the old places: Pinder barracks which are Pinderpark now, the old tower, the city, the "Alte Veste". Give me a visit (ask for the computer-guy in the city-hall) and hopefully get a visit with me into the old Pindertower, I have the key for inspection-walks! And now? Take a look out of the old Pindertower now with our webcam.

Ross Heywood
from New Zealand
wrote at
February 24, 2004:

Was wondering if you know which division of American soldiers it was who occupied Zirndorf at the end or the war ? And if you are in contact with any of these people as I would like to find out, if possible, who it was who took the flag back to the US. It must be nearly spring time over there. We havn't had much of a summer here.

Richard answers: Nearly spring... take a look onto our webcams and you see: snow (sigh). Please send Ross a mail if you know something about the flag.

Aaron Sadowski
from North Carolina
wrote at
February 8, 2004:

I am sitting at my desk at home looking or some information on how to home brew German beer. What I really want to make is Hefeweizen. Well thinking about Germany, I put in Zirndorf Germany in the search engine just to see what came up.

I am one of the proud American solders that were stationed in the beautiful town of Zirndorf. At the time (about ten years ago) the Americans did not seem to have a big impact on your town. In Furth, more than a few Americans showed their asses on an occasion and for good reason the locals grew tired of our presence.

In Zirndorf I could walk down the streets and into the local shops and feel like I was home. I would do my best to show respect and speak the German language to the best of my ability. In turn the friendly locals would do there best to accommodate me. Every day was an adventure and a learning experience. I stayed the last year of my tour in Zirndorf. My first two were in Crailsheim. Like Zirndorf, it was a small town friendly to its American guests. Looking at the pictures on your site I feel old at the age of 29. So much has changed. Your town is and was beautiful... its nature, the design of the structures, its people. I truly miss your town.

Lynn Harpold
from Texas
wrote at
February 15, 2004:

I was able to be fortunate enough to bring 2 of the Das Gute Zirndorfer steins back with me but unfortunately not able to enjoy the delicious brew it once held!

Paul Hernandez
wrote at
January 1, 2004:

I was with the 156th from 1972-1974. I think I can see the billets area in the aerial photos, definitely the motor pool and HQ building. I loved Das gute Zirndorfer (wish it was available here). I still remember the horse drawn beer wagons, Mom's, Pizzaria Napoli, and the pizza truck at the front gate (I don't remember a shack).

As I recall, there was a fest celebrating the town's 900th birthday (maybe it was 1000), and we provided a number of tents. That festival lasted two weeks! I had a few MP buddies that were living in the jailhouse. I thought they had it made. At least they didn't hear the noise being made by the artillery pieces, heading out the back gate to the train.  I don't know what happened to most of the guys, but it was a good time.

Capt. H. P. Garvin, Jr.  USAF (Ret.)

Paul Edgerton wrote
from Houston, Texas:

Richard, thank you for one great website.  Greetings from Houston, Texas USA.  My name is Paul Edgerton and I was at Pinder from May 1967 through November 1968.  I was with the 4th Armor Division, 1st Battalion, 22nd Artillery, C Battery.  I lived in the billets to the left as you came through the archway from buying one of those great pizza's outside the gate.

The barracks are no longer there as I see from the great aerial views that you provide on your website, but it was the one where the post office and barber shop were located.  I am sending a picture of an artillery unit leaving for training at Graf taken from a room which was right next to the archway.  Also, I notice that the row of buildings which housed the NCO club and the EM club are still there.  I am sending a picture taken inside the Pinder EM club showing me and some buddies enjoying the 20 cent Das gute Zirndorfer.  I notice that Zirndorfer's has changed the tops on their bottles getting rid of the porcelain stoppers. A real shame, because it seems like just looking at one of those old style bottles in the picture makes the memory of the great taste of the bier that much better.

Discussion in the
Pinder group of Yahoo
in November 2003:

Uta: i went back to zirndorf in 1997, to visit my family ............to make a long story short,pinder is a bisuness park now,the pizza shack is gone.

Thomas G: That pizza shack has been there since history began.  Albrecht Duerer wrote in his diary once, "Methinks I'll take me horse over to Zirndorf for ye pie of pizza today."

Larry Stubbmann: The Pizza Shack hasn't been there forever guys. It wasn't there when I was there from 62 to 64. It's hard to beleive it was forty years ago. You couldn't find an Italian restaurant or a pizza store, even in Nurnberg. They did have a place that sold "New York Hamburgers" in Nurnberg, but they didn't even come close to a real hamburger.

D.R. Hamilton: Check out this official Army 1958 photo of Pinder. It appears that the pizza shack is present then, or at least the little bldg that it use to be in.

Fortunately I grew up alot since my old Zirndorf days. I went into the Air Force after that and went back to Germany two more times. Was at Wiesbaden   from 1975 to 1978 and Rhein-Main from 1984 to 1987. I made it a point to get to Zirndorf and Pinder Barracks both times. I wanted to show my children where I did some "growing up".   Hope to get back there again someday to look around & enjoy the beer and bratwurst.

I was in the 71ST maintenence btln as a radio repairman in 71-72. Zirndorf was one of the nicest places in Europe I have ever visited. Hope to see it again. The coasters are just a couple of things I found in an old case I kept my papers in. The beer label (left top in the picture) was off of an old flip-flop bottle of Zirndorfer.

That's me (left bottom) in my communication repair truck at pinder.

One thing we did for fun was go to the Schwimmbad ( I think that's it ) on a summer day. We would take all of our field gear out of our ruck sacks, and fill them with racks of Zirndorfers, and then go swimming. One particular day, me and about 4 others were at the top of the slide when a guy named Sprague pushed this little German kid out of the way and went down the slide in front of him. The little boy looked back at us smiling as he urinated in the water behind Sprague.

Thank you Zirndorf for all the great memories.

I was there in 1981 at Pinder and I won that moped you raffle off. After that I got into trouble and I was return to the USA. Drank all the good beer and ate good food all over town. Had a second cousin that ran a pizza place in downtown Nuernberg. It was fun!
Thank You Douglas

Shannon wrote
in September 2003:

Richard answers:
Thank you for your story. Wow! One of the last american soldiers been here in Zirndorf. I would love to get some pictures for http://www.zirndorf.de/english/experiences.html

I don't remember the fire in the Kaufmarkt store in Zirndorf, I did not even know. The store is very popular in Zirndorf, although there is much more than one supermarket. As in the US: people would like to drive with their car in the shop if they only could :-)

Richard Lippmann is always in Zirndorf for you and writes September 2003:

Hi folks, here I have some very special movies from you! It's simply a walk from the Rathaus down the Fuerter Strasse to the marketplace. Do you recognize the Café Bub?
Attention because of laaaarge files:

• out_of_the_rathaus.avi (6 Megabytes)
• down_the_fuerther_strasse.avi (3 Megabytes)

Mike Beck from Madison, Wisconsin wrote again in September 2003:

Whoever is aiming the Nurnberger camera must have had too many Gute Zirndorfer's.  Also-is that your reflection in the "no more curtains" picture? You should post a photo of yourself so we can all see who you are! You asked for photo's-My wife and I were recently at the famous Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin for an anniversary party for my boss. [My boss is the one in costume] Greetings from the U.S.A.

Richard answers:
Mike, you found an "unofficial link" to one of our webcams. Good one! Maybe some of you know the house on the topline of http://www.zirndorf.de/webcam/ ?

Hm, hm... a picture of me and my family (I am the left one, you guessed it!):

... I visited Zirndorf and took my family to see Pinder (after PLAY MOBIL land of course).  One of my last duties at Pinder was to design a memorial stone that commentated the 1st Armored Division units assigned to Pinder between 1970 and 1992 and the relationship with the town of Zirndorf.  The memorial stone was placed in the grassy area to the right of the entrance tower and was about a meter tall.  Do you have any information on what happened to the stone since its no longer at the spot it was installed?  Do you have any idea what the plan is for the remaining buildings on Pinder?

Richard answers:
O well, I had some good ideas which persons could know about the memorial stone and here it is.

I found it in the patio of the old jail house left in front of the Pinder tower. Mr. Schneeberger, who takes care about the building in Pinderpark saved the stone because another was stolen! Good move to do that. Our mayor Mr. Kohl gave order today to clean the stone up and make it a part of a small park behind the Pinder tower. You can take a look at the webcam to see the park.

All right, but I find your old jail-house so nice every time I am there. I think I fell in love with it. Here are some pictures for you to understand (click on them to see them larger):

Hector Ramos from VA, USA wrote in June 2003:

Thank you so much for keeping so much information on this website. There are thousands of soldiers that would love to visit Zirndorf again. All of us adopted your town as our own.
Vielen Dank!

Giovanni de Angelis
wrote from Italy in June 2003:

Dear Richard, here you have a picture from about 1975, may be June. I decided to call it "silence after the storm". It was 4 a.m., shortly after one of the usual fights. The MP won (as usual, again). Maybe one of the MP recognizes himself? The pictures was shot from safe distance from my bed-room. It was a good time.

Joseph Feiser
wrote in May 2003:

Well to begin with I joined the army at age 17 and took my training at Fort Knox Kentucky, after that I went to texas for my medical training and then got sent to germany in March 1950. I joined the  Medical Co. of the 16th infantry regt. at Grafenwoehr on about the 20th of March 1950.It was still really cold out there in Grafenwhor at that time and I sure was glad when we finally got back to Zirndorf. Like the other Sgt. that was with the medical co we did sick call in the mornings and then we haad our training also to do.

As a medical aidman we would go on 15 mile hikes with one of the other company's and we would do that two or three times aweek but it kept us in shape. Some of my best times were going into Zirndorf and just having a few biers as it helped you to unwind if you know what I mean. In 1951 got rented an apartment from Herr und Frau Hummel but I just for got there first names. They had 2 sons and 2 daughters and one of there daughters name was Kunigunde but I think they called her Kuni for short.

I have been back to Germany 14 or 15 times since I got out of the service in 1955 and I have been back to Zirndorf  two or three times when I was over there but I could not find them anymore. I got out of the army in 1955 and did not return to germany until 1969 and there was really a big change in those 14 years that I was away, but i will never get my time in Zirndorf or Schweinfurt as they were really five and one half years of my life that I will never forget if I live to be 100.

George A. Moore, III
from California
wrote in April 2003:

I too was stationed at Pinder Kaserne between 1983 to 1985 and then transfered to the SS Kaserne.  My job was at the AIC (Area Installation Coordinator's) office located at the entrance to Pinder Kaserne on the right side as you enter. While stationed there I was the administration NCO and I worked as an interperator for German, Turkish and Yiddish.  My name is SSG George A. Moore, III US Army (Retired).  Some of the personnel that I worked with in the office were MSG Clarence Gaston, SGT Bernie Harris, SSG Norman Wasson, SSG Pam Shelters and Ms. Konschak just to name a few.

... There was one place I would go by and usually have a glass of Frankenwein and that was "Das Rote Ross".  It seems to me that  Das Rote Ross must have been as old as Zirndorf.

Richard answers: I think you mean this building. It has been rebuilt and is now one of the nicest buildings in Zirndorf. There is a new restaurant in it called Maroni.

One question that no one seems to be able to answer and that is the refugee centre at one time was a kaserne.  Was the refugee centre at one time called Adams Kaserne?  No one seems to remember.

Richard answers: The refugee centre has never been a soldiers place. I was asking several people here and they all agreed.

I have been back to Zirndorf twice, the first time on vacation with just my wife in 1977 and most recently in July of 2000 with my wife and two boys.  We spent 2 nights at Hotel Knorz.  We were on an 8,000 km drive that started in Paris and went to Switzerland, Italy from top to the very bottom, Slovenia, Croatia, where we stayed with my relatives, Austria, Germany and back to Paris.  I was a great trip, safe, and we were only lost a few times.  Aside from staying with family in Croatia, being back in Zirndorf was the highlight.  It was like being back home again.  This trip was for our 25th wedding anniversary.

I have so many fond memories of Zirndorf and have been able to maintain some friendships from those years.  I have one friend in particular from Texas who I see every few years.  Yes, the time really slips by.

While I was stationed in Pinder I did have VW and was able to travel in Germany and other countries.  The people of Zirndorf were the most friendly.  Even 2 years ago when I was back it was the same.  I was somewhat saddened, however, that my billets was gone and that construction was underway.  It probably is a good thing, however, because it would have been too expensive to maintain everything.  I'm glad to see that the tower will continue to stand.

I have some great stories of my time there that I can send at a later time.  There was a music store in Zirndorf where I purchased a Hoyer guitar, which I still have. Thanks for taking the time to keep some of the memories alive.  I will be returning to Germany in the summer of 2005 and will spend a couple of nights in my second home, Zirndorf.

At one fest, my friends and I were having a great time and made the acquaintance of three young Zirndorf residents sitting next to us (they worked in a television factory up by the brewery?)... I don't think we missed an "Ein Prosit" for the rest of the night!  Although we couldn't understand everything that was said amongst us, we had great fun and became fast friends... In fact, when the fest was shut down and the benches were being put up on the tables, our new friends persuaded us (little persuasion necessary!) to drink more "Das Gute Zirndorfer" , so we ended the night at the Cafe Bub (although, at the time it was "off limits" our friends convinced the barmaid that we were "camarade" and she agreed to serve us "just one more bier").  When we finished, our new friends escorted us back to my apartment on Hirtenacker Strasse, the opposite direction from their houses. 

I will remember always their friendly "Auf Wiedersehen" as they bowed and clicked their heels quite formally!  Such wonderful people... for all my time in Zirndorf... it was always a smile and a friendly "Grusse Gott"!

The people of your community were always very friendly and helpful. I rented an apartment above a bakery which was just wonderful because every morning I would wake up to the smell of fresh baked breads. To this day when I smell that smell, I think of Zirndorf.  I rented from and older gentlemen called Heir Pfann, I'm pretty sure he has passed by now but he was always very helpful and kind. He sort of took me under his wing and helped me with many things that I would not have know how to do or find out how to get things done.

I'll always remember that great "ZIRNDORFER BEER" I'll never forget this first time I had a little to much to drink one night downtown, a policeman drove me back to Pinder he really gave me a break. I used to have a couple mugs with the Zirndorfer Logo, but they were broken during the shipment of my personal things back to the United States in 1972. :(

Richard says: Jägerschnitzel. This is a well-known Schnitzel with a brown sauce from mushroom. Hey, I love that too!

I do plan on making it back to Germany and Zirndorf sometime, but with all that is going on in our world and the problems flying and all the threats by those close to Bin Laden one has to think twice before traveling abroad. Keep up the good work with the web-site and maybe I can come across some pictures that I can e-mail to you sometime soon. Do you have any updated pictures of downtown Zirndorf? I'd like to see how much things have change in 30 years.

Richard says: I don't have new pictures from downtown, but there are some very old ones on my harddisk. I am creating a new webpage with a lot of them... it will take some time. But in the meantime. Take this:

James B. Frost Sr
wrote in
August 2002:

I was stationed at the Kaserne from 1949 till 1952. The pictures that I have are not very good as it has been quite a while since they were taken. I was in "F Company 16th Infantry 1st Division second battalion" Our 1st battalion was in Furth air base and the 3rd was in Berlin.

Just out side of the kaserne we had a tank company. You could see it across the field. Never knew any history of the place. In the middle of what we called the 'Motor pool" they kept  the trucks etc. They had turned  the buildings in to mess halls for the different companies that were there. Also there was a large pool in the middle of it. Zirndorf was nothing like what I see on the web site. People were friendly,beer was good. I think the kids resented the fact that we were there but in all it was nice.

Thanks for putting up this site as it has brought back a lot of memories.

Richard says: James, you are one of our eldest people here! Times have changed and Zirndorf changed _a_lot. I just scanned a lot of source-pictures from Mrs. Finwegs book "Zirndorf" (search for 3897024322 at the german Amazon http://www.amazon.de) which has pictures from Zirndorf from 1880 up to the 1970ties.

I wanted to complement you on a tremendous Web site. I was stationed at Pinder Barracks (S1-DivArty) in 1971-1972. Like all GI's stationed there, I too had vowed to return, but have not had the time nor opportunity. One saving grace is that I have a colleague who now brings me a liter of Zirndorfer each year. The label has changed since I was in Zirndorf, but the beer is still as good as I remembered it while stationed at Pinder. I have two one-liter Zirndorfer mugs packed away in my souvenirs.

I read with interest the messages, especially a comment about Ron Davis, Jr. I use to spend a lot of time with the Davis family at their house. They taught me how to travel through Europe on what little money our Uncle use to give us. The comments brought back memories of the ice cream parlor, the guesthouses, the restaurants and the bus rides to Nürnberg. This is not to mention drinking coffee in the snack bar until closing (who needed Starbuck's back then, the stuff we drank was plenty strong) and watching movies at the Barracks theater for less than a dollar.

The only humor I can share are the numerous alerts (why did they call them alerts when we all knew about them days in advance?) and the efforts made by Jim Farr (aka Farr Guy) and I to see how much bier and hard stuff we could bring with us. Our record was something like 12 cases of Zirndorfer and two gallons each of Bourbon, Scotch and Vodka. Thank goodness they never asked us to unpack the tents and stoves!

As Bob Hope would say, "Thanks for the memories."

Gary W. Hoormann

Richard is the web cam pointed toward #9 Nurenburger Strasse? If so is it just around the curve. I lived there about 30 years ago.

Here it is. The road in front is just under construction. The "Deutsche Bank" at the corner is now in Fuerth. There is a bookstore, an optician and a chinese kitchen at the frontside.

I was born in Dorthrecht, Holland and returned to Europe via the Military in 1984 to 1987. I was station at Pinder Barracks in Zirndorf, Germany. Lived under Getränke shop at Cadolzburger Straße 3. Two of my daughters were born Nuremberg Army Hospital. My wife Lisa worked at The Exchange in Fürth selling Apple Computers. I was assigned to the 6/14 Field Artillery at Pinder Barracks which was part of Old Ironsides. My mother Veronica Ringel is from Gießen. I have a relatives north of Frankfurt.

Since the U.S. pulled out of Nuremberg I heard Pinder Barracks is a car rental place. I can relate about all the festivals,pubs,resturants etc.. Does anyone know if Santos restaurant and Mr Santos is still around. I read someones recollection of the greengoose. What about the Quadrocet, Nashville etc.. I wonder about past aquaintences of People like Beck, Franzen, Fuller, Martinez, Peterson, Dawson, Frost, Neil, Martin, Trussel, Vern & Michelle.

The list goes on and on. I live in Cincinnati Ohio if interested in comments or parties mentioned reply by email: raymond.lapre@cinbell.com

Look me up when passing through the Midwest.

Halloo Richard,
Here we are Ingeborg and Timo in Milwaukee Wisconsin. As we found you on the internet the Zirndorfer BEER brought back memories. When we lived there we could see the Brauerei from our living room window.

I was not ever a soldier at Pinder but we know it well. We lived on Nibelungen str, had a nice view of Zirndorf from there. We were in the Nuernberg area about twenty years. Timo born in Finland and Ingeborg born in Germany say thanks for your Zirndorf memories.

Website: http://home.wi.rr.com/finn1937

I loved Germany from my first assignment in 1967 to 1968 in the Rhine Valley near Wiesbaden, to my last, 1985 to '88 in Zirndorf.

Given the opportunity, Zirndorf is the place I would live, breath, and die. Most of us traveled some during assignments, I was very fortunate to see a lot, but I never visited a place I could live all my life at like Zirndorf. After hectic days at local training areas or Graf, Zirndorf and surrounding cities provided all the rest or entertainment I could ask for. I still tell friends the best beer in the world is Zirndorfer. You can't drink just one and you can't remember bad things about Zirndorf. My wedding reception was held in Zirndorf April 1985.

I was stationed at Pinder from 1979 to 1982. During that time, the things I most remember is the great relationship between the German community and the Americans. My wife and I lived in a apartment above the Turkish gasthous. I think that the street was speil strasse or something.....Anyway it was the street that went by Pinder. I had a landlord named Herr Klous. He had an automotive repair shop behind the Turkish bar. He was a great help to my wife and I while we lived there. He helped my wife find and negotiate a good deal on a car and he was very good about replacing broken stuff in our apartment.

The pizzeria was just a block away. Sometimes I would sneak out of the apartment and get me a cold zirndorfer from there. Boy what I would'nt give for a cold one now.

Here is some pictures of the good ole days...................SFC RET. JAMES D. DENHAM

A parade taken from my apartment just above the turkish gasthaus

My name is D.R. Hamilton. Spent 9 years at Pinder. >From 1986 to 1990 I was the Command Sergeant Major for the Division Artillery.

I just established a club at Yahoo for Pinder Kaserne. Would appreciate it if you would post a link to your site of American Soldiers in Zirndorf.

The web address is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pinderkaserne/

Was going through some pictures of Pinder and thought I would send you some. This was the German/American Fest at Pinder (Webmaster says: the people in the front are the mayors from Oberasbach, a neighbour city of Zirndorf. Do you see how much foam is in the glasses? This is definitly the official part of the fest!). ... Have many great memories of Pinder and Zirndorf. I left in March 1990 and retired from the Army. The wife and I have been back to Zirndorf 4 times since them.

To: kohl@zirndorf.de (mayor of Zirndorf)
Subject: Thank You

Lieber Herr Burgermeister,

I am currently working in Bratislava, Slovakia and my wife forwarded your very kind and thoughtful letter to me this morning.

It is always good to hear from old, dear friends and it is particularly important to know that they are genuinely concerned and sympathetic in times of crisis. Herr Kohl, I deeply appreciate your expression of sympathy, outrage and support for your former neighbors at Pinder Barracks; all of us have fond and lasting memories of the time we spent in
Zirndorf, and your thoughtfulness reinforces the bonds of friendship that exist between us.

I will send a copy of your letter to all of my friends who served at Pinder. Just as we stood together during the many years of the Cold War, I know that we will stand together for the duration of this new campaign. This was a terrible attack launched against the United States, but it was also an attack against freedom-loving peoples around the world. It will be a long and difficult campaign but I know that we will prevail.

Again Herr Burgermeister, I thank you very much for your letter, and I ask that you pass along my sincere thanks to all of our friends in and around Zirndorf.

Most Sincerely,
COL Roger L.Bernardi, US Army (RET)

Richard, it is so nice to find this site. I was stationed at Pinder (HHB 1st ADA) from 4/72 till 7/75. I have really missed Zirndorf. I hope one day to be able to bring my wife for a visit.

I just learned this past Monday of the change at Pinder (and I may not really be up to date on all the changes). To me it is sad, but I'm sure for your area it is probably a welcome change, and a chance for economic development. I hope that having the soldiers in your backyard for all those years brings more happy memories than regrets for your people. I know for my part, the time that I spent in Zirndorf fills my heart with love and gratitude for the area residents.

I can still recall moments there like it was yesterday; such as the day I stepped into an ice cream shop to get change for the bus.

The ice cream shop at the bus station still exists! The italian people there are sooo nice and I love their ice-cream...

I didn't know how to make myself understood, and the woman behind the counter gave me that knowing smile and gave me change for the dollar bill; the countless evenings I spent at the Pizzeria Napoli with Octavio, his wife, and mama eating that great spaghetti; and of course all the money I put into your local economy drinking the best beer in the world, Zirndorfer!!
By the way, do you know what happened to Octavio and his family? I understand that establishment now serves Greek food.

Octavio is still in Zirndorf. He owns a pub called "Häfala" (address: Angerzeile 2, 90513 Zirndorf).

Yes, I miss your town, and if your young people are like others around the world, I'm sure they don't appreciate what they have.

In closing, let me ask you, I would like to be able to purchase a couple of beer mugs, and also some Zirndorfer, do you know if it is possible for me to import small quantities for personal consumption?

It's not... I am sorry to say that. "Zirndorfer Bier" doesn't get exported to the US officially. And the beer mugs can be get only in Fürth from the brewery. It's not easy for me to do that but nearly impossible for the usual people. Stop! There is a way to get _one_: send me a story of your time in Pinder and a picture from you now or then and you will get a beer mug from my private stock, ok?

2001/09/12: There was an answer about these questions from Ray from a Zirndorf citizen. Maybe I can tell you more soon. (Richard)

I was stationed TDY (Temporary Duty) from the 34th Signal Battalion, Ludwigsburg, Germany at Pinder Barracks almost 2 years from 1964-65. I was a regular customer at Cafe Bud and enjoyed this area of Germany the most. The citizens of Zirndorf were the friendliest of all Germans, all the people in Germany were very nice and friendly.

About 10 years ago my home exploded and I lost everything that I had collected during my stay in Germany. I am grateful for the site you have on the internet, it brings back many memories of the times I spent in Zirndorf.

The most enjoyable time I had was going to the Football Club down from Pinder Barracks as a guest of the club and enjoying many fine meals, drinks and games.

I hope to be able to visit Germany and especially Zirndorf and be able to meet you in person.

Steve Verno emailed
at March 20, 2001:

A picture of Steve from 1976

I was stationed there from December 1975 to December 1978. The unit was HHB Divarty but I worked in the consolidated medical clinic located near the theater.

I am attaching several photographs which I hope you will enjoy. One is of Pinder Barracks, taken in 1976. One is of me taken at HHB Divarty that was placed on the unit wall at Pinder. [not published, you know all the Pinder views by day _and_ by night, don't you :-) ]

Another picture is of my Zirndorfer bier mug and bier glass I obtained from my friend who was the manager of the restaurant at the Zirndorf Hallenbad. These were bought in 1978 and are in excellent condition. I was a member of the Nurnberg CB club and we used to meet at the Zirndorf Hallenbad every Saturday morning and night. I was also an honorary member of the German Red Cross and taught swimming lessons at the Hallenbad. [wow! that's great!]

You will also find a picture of a bier mug where I was a member of the Nurnberg Volksmarch club. I still have my medals and plates. This mug was bought in 1977 and is in perfect condition.

Warren Flarity emailed
at February 17, 2001
from Cypress, California:

A picture of Warren in 1966

I was stationed at Pinder Barracks 1964 to 1967.

I was an S1 clerk with the 4th Armored Division Artillery. A favorite pastime was to leave the barracks without a pass and go drinking at "zur Eule/Tanz-Cafe" (also known as: Mom's). My Barracks room was on the corner in back of Mom's. There was always a board or two missing from the back fence and this made it easy to go for a late night bier & bratwurst. Please see post card. If you enlarge the picture you can see my room at Pinder Barracks in back of zur Eule.

I must return and see Pinder-Park when it is completed. The Pinder-Park web pages look great! Good job Zirndorf.

Webmaster thinks this when reading this mail: hey, Warren is not the first one telling about the missing board in the back fence! Do you want to see how the pub "zur Eule" looks today? Ok, they renamed it to "Akzent-Hotel Rangau", you can have your accomodation there when you are visiting Zirndorf.

Warren wrote this back:
Please find two attachment photos: A picture of me about 1966 with typewriter in hand (can be seen in the left column), and a picture I found showing the famous 'hole in the fence' in back of Pinder Kaserne.

Ivan D. Kemerly wrote me at March 5, 2001: very good web site. I was there in 1957 TO 1959 In the 22nd field arty. was with the 4th armored when the colors went over. It was called Operation Gryoscope. the whole 4ad went to Germany.
P.S. tell the person that told about the hole in the fence. IT WAS THERE WHEN I WAS THERE. LOL.
This is what Warren wrote me after getting the beer-mug (it's soo funny!):

The long awaited day has arrived. The postman delivered the Zirndorfer Bier
Mug in perfect condition last Saturday. Now I have a Zirndorfer Bier Mug for
each hand. I am enclosing a picture of both mugs. The newest and oldest
(almost 40 years old). We have a "German Style" shopping center in Torrance,
California, called The Alpine Village. They have a micro brewery that brews
a bier in the German Tradition. It is served in their local restaurants. I
will visit them next week with my new mug for a 'fill-up.'

As for funny stories, I will share a rather tame one that occurred in a bar in Fürth with one of our German friends named Fritz. Fritz was a large man, about 6’3” and he weighed at least 300 lbs. / 135 kg. He had recently discovered the American style of football, and was talking quite excitedly about participating on a German team playing American football in the Fürth area. He was explaining that he was the best defensive lineman on the team and was intent on demonstrating his prowess to us. After hearing his story of greatness for some time, my buddy Jeff told Fritz that he would bet him a beer that he could block Fritz, and prevent him from getting by him. As the challenge was set, we began to move a bunch of tables in the bar so as to clear a space for the match. Karl, the owner of the bar was quite interested in the challenge, and made offers to match Jeff’s wager with anyone in the bar.

Now Jeff is solidly built and a very athletic guy, but Fritz outweighed him by at least 100 lbs. / 45 kg. The match needless to say looked a bit one-sided. As everyone gathered around to watch the unfolding drama, I set the rules. On the count of three, Jeff would attempt to block Fritz and not let him by for five seconds, while Fritz would do his best to reach a line we had marked some five feet behind Jeff. The two men got down into three point stances, and I began to count, ONE, TWO…

I looked at Fritz, who was breathing heavily, looking every bit the bull about to charge, and then glanced at Jeff, who was calmly waiting for the final count of THREE! Fritz lunged forward with the force of a freight train looking to run over Jeff and reach the line. Much to his surprise however, Jeff simply stood up and moved quickly to the side on the count of three, watching the hurtling Fritz ramble past him and crash into the tables we had moved behind line. As Fritz laid there among the scattered tables with a stunned look on his face, more embarrassed than hurt from his thunderous crash, the tension rose slightly as Jeff said, “Well Fritz, I guess you win, Karl pour him a beer on me.”; at which point a huge smile appeared on Fritz’s face and his hearty laugh reverberated throughout the room. Soon we all started laughing and Karl bought everyone in the bar a drink.

My husband Robert A. Laux, a Spec 4, was stationed in 1968/69 in Zirndorf. I was here together with him. Zirndorf didn't change very much since that time. We were living in the street where Café Bub is and after that in Nuernberger Strasse [this is the street where a lot of the little shops are]. Robert died in 1990.

I am now here for a vacation the 4th time, my next place to visit will be Rothenburg and Munich.

The picture shows Robert A. Laux in the field (about 1968).

Robert A. Laux in front of an official building (about 1968, in Zirndorf?)

I served at Pinder Barracks 1959-60 as S1 Clerk of 4th Armored Division Artillery. I enjoyed my stay there and the environs. I can still taste the Zirndorfer bier just thinking about your town.

My wife and I tried to visit the old barracks in 1995 but we learned in Nurnberg that the barracks had been turned into a car rental agency.
I also remember eating at the Gold Lion a couple of times and enjoyed the food there.

I hope all is well in Zirndorf.

A car rental? I do not know about a thing like that!

The Pinder-barracks-area is rebuild in year 2000/2001 into a commercial area for the city. Some larger companies will settle there and also the county management (german: Landratsamt).

The pub "Goldener Löwe" (english: Golden Lion) still stands!

This is my answer
to him:

Hi Greg,

> Yes, I was please to find your site.
> I lived in Zirndorf from 1976 to 1978
> and have many fond memories.
> I still have a das gut Zirndorfer .5 liter
> glass that I cherish.

> I will dig through my old pictures, perhaps I can mail you some.
> If you know her say hello to Brigette Watchter (sp?) for me.

thanks for your kind offer. I look forward to the prictures. I want to make Zirndorf site a better place for our "old soldiers". But the work on the german part of the site seems to be endless. You will see what's going on the next time.

I am sorry to say that I do not know Brigitte Wachter. And no one of my coleagues does. Hope to see you in Zirndorf again on a nice Germany trip!

From Zirndorf, Bavaria
Yours

Richard

Greg sent me this nice pictures:

We were laughing so hard about this... hey! Let me look for a new picture...

There is a very good greek Restaurant in this house nowadays.

Greg Prachyl also sent me this picture:

Here you can see Pinder barracks. The view did not change so much in the meantime, the big tower is now only half as tall as it was.