FReeper Canteen~Music Dedication~12 Jan 2008

Our Troops Rock! | Canteen DeeJay's

[SandRat]

A tid-bit for Elvis Fans.

Army Closes Ray Barracks in Germany

Jan 10, 2008
BY Sgt. Elizabeth A. Sheridan

FRIEDBERG, Germany (Army News Service, Jan.10, 2008) - The voice of Elvis Presley echoed through Ray Barracks one last time Monday, returning for a brief moment to his old military stomping grounds.

With Presley's "Hound Dog" reverberating off the cement walls, Lt. Col. Thomas Salo, commander, 102nd Signal Battalion, and Jeurgen Jaeger, 102nd Signal Bn., shut off the main power supply to the KN-4100 telephone switch during a closing ceremony for building 3705 on Ray Barracks.

The barracks were "The King's" home in Friedberg from October 1958 to March 1960 when he served as a member of the 1st Battalion, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division during his tour in the U.S. Army.

"The historical aspects of this post warranted a ceremony, here in this former home of Elvis," said Salo. "Thousands and thousands of people were able to communicate from lines connected to this building; it is the end of an era."

The massive telephone switch, installed in 1986, enabled 102nd Signal Battalion to provide communications to the Friedberg and Giessen military communities with 400 DSN lines and 20 commercial lines. By 1996 the capacity was bumped up to1400 DSN lines and 40 commercial lines.

"This is not the first communications site to close, and it will not be the last," said Salo.

The garrison closure ceremony for U.S. Army Garrison Giessen, which encompassed Ray Barracks, was held Sept. 28, 2007. And 3705 is the last building on Ray Barracks to be turned over to the Department of Public Works for release back to the host nation, explained James Neufeld, chief of the Operations Management Cell in Hanau.

"It is fitting that commo is the first in and last out," said Salo. "We do not turn off until the last customer is gone. They're gone, so its time to flip the switch."

(Sgt. Elizabeth A. Sheridan serves as NCOIC for 5th Signal Command Public Affairs.)

The main gate of Ray Barracks in Friedberg, Germany, is shown here in 1963. Photo by U.S. Army

Lt. Col. Thomas Salo, commander, 102nd Signal Battalion, and Jeurgen Jaeger shut off the main power supply to the KN-4100 telephone switch during a closing ceremony Monday on Ray Barracks. Photo by Sgt. Elizabeth A. Sheridan U.S. Army

[EsmeraldaA]

You found it!!

Cool! AND thanks my. ;D

[BykrBayb]

Happy belated birthday!

[SoldierDad]

Oh, Yeah!!!!! Bring on the Chargers!!!!!

[SoldierDad]

Bummer for the Colts and the Cowboys. Bring on the Chargers!!!!!!! I’d rather see the Giants than the Pack.

[Tanniker Smith]

I could go for either of them.

I was really hoping for the Colts to take down the Pats next week, but that wasn't meant to be. The Pats are going to roll over the Chargers next week. sigh

[SoldierDad]

I was hoping for the Colts to win, but for a different reason than yours. I wanted to see the Pat’s get revenge for the loss last year (which should have been a win exept for the bad call in the end zone by the refs). I’m not sure that the Pat’s will roll over the Chargers though. They’ve got a good defense, and a great running game. We’ll have to wait and see. Whoever wins that game will probably win the SB.

[AZamericonnie]

LOL.....love that cat Bayb! Thanks so very much....

[AZamericonnie]

Thank you for the wishes Miss Dita...*Hugs*

[AZamericonnie]

2 Kitchen play sets for the grandkids and a couple of yarn swifts for the oldest daughter

Looking forward to the pics alfa!

[alfa6]

Since you asked:-) I just brought the second Kitchen set up from the shop about a half an hour ago. I finished the first one Christmas Eve. That is the refergirator/freezer on the left and the oven is underneath the stove. My 21/2 year old granddaughter was all excited about the one that Santa brought on his sleigh. Good thing that she doesn't know that Santa drives a silver Ford pick-up, eh?

Here is a close up of the sink and stove...

I was planning on geting the yarn swifts built today but I ran into problems with the burners on the stove. I went to paint them on Sunday night and the paint bubbled up:-( I hope to have the yarn swifts done this weekend. I will get a pic once i get them finished.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[AZamericonnie]

Alfa....that is too cool!

Any little girl would get maximum joy out of such a play kitchen!

Really a knock out...you’re one awesome grampa & I can only imagine the wide eyes & hugs!

Ma you have gotta check this out....

[Kathy in Alaska]

Now THAT is one cool play set. If Santa brought the first one, who brought the second? Is it the same, or some other kitchen stuff? What a cool grampa.

[alfa6]

Mrs alfa6 ratted me out to our daughter that I was going to build a play kitchen after Christmas. So said daughter asked if I could build one for Christmas. She asked about two weeks before Christmas. The only problem was that I was working for about 11 of the 12 days before Christmas, and 5 or 6 of them days was really night shifts:-(

I did manage to get it done though in time. I put the finishing touches on it Christmas Eve and toted it over while the daughter took the kids to look at the Christmas Lights.

I must say that this one is just a little better than the first one. Shoot I haven’t made one of these in about twenty years or so:-)

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Kozak]

Was at the Packer bar in Chicago for the game. An awesome experience! Wall to wall with happy Packer fans.

Then the Cowboys go down in flames!

What more could you ask for?

GO PACK GO!