Comments on: Where were you when the Wall came down?

By: kbros

kbros — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:22:07 +0000

I served with the 11th Armored Cav. (1975-77) We patrolled OP ALPHA. Brings back so many memories. We loved giving the finger to our E.German border guaurds. Urinating at them from our tower was another greeting to their prying eyes. We were prohibited from throwing rocks at the mined fence. Heh, Heh! We spent 4 hours on guard and 4 hours off for usually a week or so. It was tiring work and you always knew you would be killed if the Soviets attacked through the Fulda Gap. We were a suicide delay force since no one was ahead of us on the E. and W.German border. Bless you Berlin Brigade and Berliners! Since we had a one minute life expectantcy in case of attack and since we were severly outnumbered when at OP ALPHA (platoon), we took drugs as a daily ritual. We took our work seriously though and are very proud that we were on the front lines facing the Soviet Bear. When I left M.CO. back to the World, I thought I never would live to see the day when the Wall came tumbling down! Ironically I was held by the East Germans and treated harshly because of an accidental crossing. I paid the price living a lifetime with PTSD. As an 18 year old kid, I was placed in a center and had guns put in my head and back. They wanted me to sign confessions and I thought I would never come home. I never signed their confessions. When the Wall came down I was with a new girlfriend. She never knew how much I went through and all the suffering that occurred during the Cold War. To my 3/11 ACR Brothers, Allons! KAT-B.

By: Robert Zinitski

Robert Zinitski — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:08:10 +0000

I was born in 1972 in West Berlin. As I remember- most Berliners were glued to their televisions when the wall came down. Nobody could believe what was happening and nobody for sure was anticipating it.
Weeks before the wall came down West Germans were following all the events in the GDR, but nobody was expecting it. More and more East Germans were taking part in the monday demonstrations against the communist regime and the demonstrations just became more and more.
As far as I know, and what a lot of people forget, is that the wall coming down so fast was a partial accident. The East Germnan foreign ministry had announced over the radio that it will open the borders and will allow the East Germans to travel with visas. After that broadcast the people of the GDR started flocking to the borders to try out their new freedom. The first couple of thousands that went over to West Berlin were given a “special” visa stamp. The idea behind this was not to let the people back in with this stamp. A few hours later though there suddenly were tens of thousands of people standing at the border and wanting out. To manage the crowd and prevent an uprising, the East German border police had the only option to open the borders and let the people pass.
One final thing: A lot of people, including the ex chancellor of West Germany, tried to take credit for the wall coming down. For me and for what I saw in those weeks the wall tumbled- the only one who deserves 100% of the credit for the actual fall of the wall is the East German people. They were sick of their government and stood up against it. For me, this is one of the biggest displays of freedom of speech through action and very good example how anyone and anywhere can start a revolution and succeed.

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:10:17 +0000

I was in Lima, Peru, Southamerica, I was so happy to be able to see the fall of that wall, and all the win of Humanity and Freedom over the opression.
My spirit was so happy to share that with some German friends of mine. Reay so specia for the world, and also to never forget .

By: Rajeev Rawat

Rajeev Rawat — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:44:34 +0000

New York – wedding.

By: James Parker

James Parker — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:25:36 +0000

From ’79-’82 I was guarding F-4s and later F-16s at Hahn AB, W.Germany. One cold December morning at about 2 we scrambled and unlike the many exercises I participated in, my bird actually left the area fully loaded and taxied out for takeoff. Later, much later we got the news that Soviet tanks had massed on the Polish border awaiting the order to go in and take out the Lech Walesea-Solidarity Union weakened government. Now, I’m not declaring anything other than I believe they saw my bird by satellite and blinked. For me, the wall started falling sooner than most.

By: Mary Lennox

Mary Lennox — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:39:05 +0000

Indelible event, for me as an American working with US Military in Stuttgart, Germany. First time I was introduced to “prayer warriors” and the realization that many people had been concentrating “prayers” visualizing the positive and freeing transformation of Russia and reunification of Germany. A time of great joy, gratitude and wondrous respect for Gorbachov and all inspired human decisions!
It made me understand transformation and change can be peaceful, war is not necessary – our positive creative abilities are powerful enough to effect huge change!

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:17:33 +0000

I had spent all of my summers living with family in West Berlin and had toured the Wall often. We knew the people on the other side lived under a tyrannical government and had no freedom. The movie “Other People’s Lives” gives a fuller picture of what life was like there. When I was watching the news of the wall coming down, I thought I was seeing things.I was completely in shock. I thought they would begin shooting at any time. I was so happy for those experiencing freedom, knowing not to ever take it for granted.

By: Dennis Cory

Dennis Cory — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:13:16 +0000

The news of the Wall coming down seemed unbelievable that it was really true; it was on November 9th, 1989, my 50th birthday. That news made it a magnificent day to always remember. I paused and always remember Peter Fechter, the German boy who was shot and bled to death on the wall when it was first constructed. Oddly yesterday I ran into Sergi Kruchev,(the son of Nikita Kruchev who looks exactly like his father) who now lives in my community in the USA. A small world has changed, no more walls. Come on Korea, get the idea, lets move on in the 21st century! DMC

By: Josh

Josh — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 03:00:58 +0000

While I sit here reflecting, drinking a German hefe-weissbier…I was 12 years old living in Saint Louis Missouri, United States. I don’t remember much or knew the struggle involved but I remember president Reagan uttering these words, “Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” I know now this wasn’t some magical words that lead to the tear down. I do believe now looking back that it just added fuel to the fire and the pressure that was already boiling over in Berlin. If the wall didn’t come down from higher up, it would have came down. It was inevitable.

By: Hugh Strickland

Hugh Strickland — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:57:00 +0000

I visited the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on July 4, 2009. I selected July 4th, because it was the anniversary of the Independence Day in the USA. One of the many great exhibits was a fragment of the Berlin Wall. I also heard the recording of President Reagan’s speech in which he told Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.” Hearing those words again put chills on my spine again.