The Cold War tested strategic and diplomatic relations between two superpowers competing on a global level. Billions of dollars and rubles were spent on escalating nuclear yield and accuracy, delivery vehicles, and conventional forces. Somehow the missile silos and submarines kept quivered their awful arrows during the 40 years after WW II, in spite of varying levels of tension between East and West. Yet another story (often unheralded) played out wherein the lowest levels of military rank and responsibility, often without specific guidance or supervision, were expected to step back from the edge of emotional and humiliating confrontation, keeping an "almost" international incident from becoming an "actual" incident. These are the unsung heroes of the Cold War: the men and women behind the incident that didn't happen, and the confrontation that didn't escalate. I vowed to one day write of my "almosts" with the Russian Bear in East Germany. Having been blessed with (or cursed with) a near photographic memory, I set about researching these events, fully expecting to discover a body of work describing these incidents. To my utter surprise, no references mention or allude to my harrowing experiences. It's as if an information blackout exists around specific events and times. To the best of my memory from my position as a foot soldier, my narrative describes West-East confrontations at Checkpoints Alpha and Charlie. Either event came frighteningly close to turning the "Cold War" into a "shooting war." And yet, to my knowledge, no record exists in any format or media. Until now . . .

Dancing with the Bear

By Alton McVey

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Alton McVey
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-2225-9

Contents

Introduction..............................xiPrologue..................................xiiiCheck Point Alpha.........................1JFK Commits to Berlin.....................5Drill team................................8Long Thrust Departure.....................10Operation Seawall.........................126 May 1962................................22Wildflecken...............................27Road March................................30West Virginia.............................34Showdown..................................44Road to Berlin............................49Welcome to Berlin.........................59A Soldier's Stories.......................95The Wall..................................119Peter Fechter.............................124Another Showdown..........................1316th vs 8th Infantry.......................136A Life for a Life.........................138Farewell to Berlin........................146Redeployment..............................150Atlantic Crossing.........................158Coast to Coast............................167New Assignment............................171The Cuban Crisis..........................175Berlin-Cuba-Dallas........................180Closing Comment...........................183Epilogue..................................185SNAFU's,..................................186APPENDIX..................................203

Chapter One

June 24, 1962 Check Point Alpha Marienborn-Helmstedt, West Germany.

The boy, twenty three months a soldier now, Private First Class Alton C. McVey a member of the elite "Bullets" Drill team and special bodyguard to Colonel Vincent C. Guerin, Commander 1st Battle Group/ 8th Infantry, now Task Force 1/8 to Berlin. Today, June 24th, 1962, is Private McVey's 19th birthday. Quite a turnout here on the East German border. Don't think he'll get a cake, but all the fireworks appear to be in place.

Our 8th Infantry Battle Group, a fighting force of 1300 soldiers, after training for almost a month in West Germany, convoyed to the East German border early this morning. We were determined to reach Berlin, in spite of warnings the Russians would refuse us entry to the Autobahn access corridor. As expected, the Soviets created a confrontation by refusing us access to the corridor. As I looked at the hillside behind me covered with trucks, troops, and weapons, the unfolding confrontation jolted me back to reality. I thought, "Now you know where those troop trains go! And you are about to ride this train straight into the gates of Hell."

From my position as Air Guard above the cab of our Deuce-and-a-Half truck, I commanded an unobstructed 360 degree field of view. Just in front of our truck sat the Battle Group Commander's Jeep, stopped directly in front of the gate through the "Iron Curtain." The Group's convoy of vehicles strung out behind us as far as I could see. About 400 yards behind us, where the open field ended and the forest began, I was pleased to see the Battle Group's five Line Rifle Companies deploying along the tree line on either side of the Autobahn. Three Deuces filled with soldiers drove to the head of the convoy, lining up alongside of us.

The "Iron Curtain" became an overnight buzzword when Winston Churchill used the term in 1946 to describe a political and economic barrier between the West and the Communist controlled Eastern bloc countries. But as more people fled to the West, the "curtain" soon became a physical fence. The East German Communists realized they needed an 858-mile barrier along the border of the Russian sector of Germany just to keep their own people from escaping. This fence of razor wire, land mines, and guard towers, known as the "Inner German Border," separated East and West Germany, and held the East like a giant concentration camp. The Helmstedt checkpoint and road access to Berlin existed only by post-WWII oral agreement. The lack of formal treaty allowed the Soviets to close road or rail access at times when it suited their political needs. Apparently, this was one of those times.

The physical "curtain" was no ordinary fence. It was a hideous and most imposing obstruction. Two barriers faced an escape attempt: an outer fence of concrete posts rising about 12 feet, and an inner fence about 12 feet inside the first. Both posts were connected by rows of barbed wire, at six inch intervals, from top to bottom. Both outer and inner fences were topped with concertina wire. More concertina wire lay on the ground in the 12 foot space between inner and outer fences. The top wire connecting the posts was charged with high voltage electricity. Inside the fences lay the infamous "no man's land:" 100 yards of open field, laced with land mines, and regularly plowed to remove vegetation and show footprints. This same barrier ran on both sides of the Autobahn all the way to Berlin.

This Soviet border crossing, known to the Allies as "Checkpoint Alpha," was one of a few authorized road entry points. A long guardhouse sat between the two traffic lanes. Removable sawhorses blocked both lanes with signs reading "HALT." To the left rear was a log building, probably guard housing. At least two machine gun towers and a couple of machine gun (MG) emplacements stared at us across the fence. Soldiers patrolled on foot between the towers. It seemed pretty clear the East Germans/Soviets did not want anyone to come in or out of their country.

The Colonel and a couple of officers approached the Russian officers at the guard house. I assumed there were interpreters among them, as they were having a conversation. The Russian guards, armed with sub machine guns, stood firmly in the road. It came as no surprise that they refused to allow us through. Other units had recently approached this checkpoint, only to be turned back.

Those units may have been smaller contingents, but today we showed up with the full 1st Battle Group/8th Infantry from the 4th Infantry Division. Some 1300 strong, we strung out for a mile, snaking slowly through the peaceful West German countryside.

The last blockade of all surface traffic into Berlin began June 24,1948 (same as today's date) in response to U.S. demands that Russian troops cease plundering in the American sector. In addition to roadblocks, the East Germans famously disrupted trains into West Berlin by removing actual sections of railroad track. The legendary Berlin airlift successfully supplied the city until May 11, 1949.

Tensions rose again in 1958 when the new Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev threatened another blockade if the West did not pull all troops out of West Berlin. As talks failed and tensions rose, then U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959 firmly stated that the US would go to war should Berlin access be denied for any reason. To a superpower in 1959, "war" meant Nuclear War.

In 1961, the Russians attempted to reduce the number of Eastern bloc citizens streaming to the West by sealing off the politically divided city with barbed wire, and then by erecting a Wall. Almost overnight, a 27-mile Wall cut Berlin nearly in half, in addition to 69 miles of wall and fence surrounding the entire city limits of West Berlin. The newly inaugurated U.S. President John F. Kennedy came under pressure to maintain a U.S. presence in Berlin. Still stinging from the failed CIA invasion of Cuba in 1961 at the Bay of Pigs, and shaken by Russian Premier Khrushchev's threats in Vienna three months later, Kennedy recognized that Berlin was a smoldering diplomatic powder keg, and Khrushchev intended to use Berlin to test the mettle of the youthful President, as well as the resolve of the U.S.

Kennedy made a sweeping military response to a perceived weakness in Europe. He ordered the military manpower increased by 100,000, increased the draft call, raised the defense budget by $3 billion, froze all military separations, and activated many Reserve and National Guard units. The U.S. had sounded a call to arms, and Moscow heard it loud and clear. Kennedy knew Berlin was important to Europe, NATO, the re-unification of Germany, and U.S. Cold War credibility, so he took the protection of West Berlin as his personal crusade.

The 1300 soldiers of the 1st Battle Group took an extended smoke break at the Soviet border crossing, awaiting our Commander's next move. We could sit and patiently wait for the gears of diplomacy, turn back and try again later, blast our way through the entrance and fight our way to Berlin, or take some other proactive series of steps.

Chapter Two

JFK Commits to Berlin

On August 5, 1961, President Kennedy reaffirmed the Western Allies' commitment to West Berlin by deploying the entire 1st Battle Group/18th Infantry from the 8th Infantry Division (ID) based in Mannheim, West Germany to augment Berlin's resident 6th Infantry. They were the first of a continuous cycle of Battle Groups assigned 90-day Berlin rotations, continuing through 1966.

Each Battle Group convoyed by road from West Germany into, and out of Berlin. A convoy through East Germany was fraught with foreboding anxiety: the access road was a 110-mile strip of Autobahn surrounded by Russian tanks and guns, and frequently included harassment by low flying aircraft. A slip of the trigger from either side could erupt into World War III. While perilous indeed, the Russians kept the Autobahn open ever since the famous Berlin airlift of 1948-49. But the corridor belonged to the Russians, and they closed it again in 1962, creating a tense situation involving elements of the 4th ID.

In late 1961, Fort Lewis, already home to the 4th ID, began receiving a flood of military men and equipment when a division of Reservists, the 32nd ID of Wisconsin, received activation orders and arrived at Fort Lewis. The older part of the north fort, mothballed and used for storage, required frantic refurbishment to accommodate another entire division. The huge Fort Lewis reservation is more than adequate for one division. But quite crowded with two.

Therefore, inevitable tensions arose, due to crowding in Post Exchange, service clubs, snack bars, commissaries, traffic congestion, and competition for training areas and rifle ranges. The 4th felt the "citizen soldiers" were chronic complainers, writing their Congressmen, protesting active duty and separation from their homes and families. Others thought the 32nd were coddled, and given preferential treatment.

The 4th began suffering shortages of field jackets, blankets, sheets, ponchos, and web gear. The items normally replaced when found to be worn, frayed, or torn, were now being sewn, patched repaired, and reissued. We active duty 18-19 year olds of the 4th resented our reservist contemporaries in the 32nd, as many of them were already wearing the rank of E-5 and E-6, while we were lucky to be E-3 or E-4.

As it turned out, we didn't have long to dwell on jealousy. The 1st BG/8th Inf began training heavily at the rifle ranges with our new weapons. Until now, our weapons of issue were the WW-II vintage M-1 rifle, Browning Automatic Rifle (B.A.R.), and 30 cal. Browning light machine gun. But now we were training on weapons we had never seen before: the M-14 rifle, capable of semi, as well as full auto feed from a 20-round box magazine using standard 7.62 mm NATO bullets; the M-60 full auto, belt fed, 7.62 cal machine gun. We also trained hard on riot control and combat in cities.

The 4th Division was one of three divisions assigned to STRAC (Strategic Army Corps). We trained constantly in all types of weather and terrain for rapid deployment (within 96 hours) to any developing global crisis by ground, rail, sea, or air. So we constantly sat on "alert," with our bags packed. Since my arrival in November 1960, the 8th seemed to be on perpetual alert due to world events. The Dominican Republic, the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, and now rising tension in Berlin meant that we were working seven day work weeks.

Under the "Pentomic" system used by the Army at that time, the 4th ID at Fort Lewis was composed of five Infantry Battle Groups (BG): 8th, 12th, 22nd, 39th, and 47th. In early 1962, Fort Lewis' 2nd BG/47th INF shipped out to Germany in preparation for its Berlin rotation, with return scheduled for early June. My outfit, the 1st Battle Group/8th Infantry, nicknamed the "Bullets," began earnest deployment preparations to replace them via Exercise Long Thrust III.

As we trained to participate in Berlin's historical events, I somehow found time to tryout and earn a berth on the 8th Infantry's elite Drill team. I soon learned Drill team was a special combination of privilege, responsibility, honor, and a lot of hard work.

Chapter Three

Drill team

The Drill team members were chosen from volunteers selected competitively from the five Rifle Companies of the 8th Infantry. I tried out for the Commander's elite Drill team, and was lucky enough to land a permanent position. I soon found my new job quite different from foot soldier.

Before joining the team, each member was already a fully qualified "gunslinger," well trained in infantry tactics and weaponry. We could easily act as the Colonel's guard, private police force, and tactically, as his rapid reaction force. However, precision rifle drill performances, and escorting visiting dignitaries was a completely new skill set. Our Fort Lewis duties tended toward ceremony and exhibition: guarding the historic Punch Bowl at official unit functions, rifle salutes at military funerals, military and civilian parades, and Drill team demonstrations.

One important Drill team duty was guarding the 8th Infantry's showpiece, a solid silver punch bowl set. This historic piece of unit history, heavy and valuable, was laden with tradition and heritage. Like the unit colors, the bowl and goblets always stayed with the 8th, whether at Fort Lewis or deployed. The names of our unit's heroic soldiers and commanders had been engraved on each goblet. When not on public display, the set remained packed and locked securely. During transport and cleaning, the Drill team always guarded the punch bowl. At formal functions, the Drill team, in full dress, posted two guards at all times, as well as providing honors for arriving guests, escorting them into the hall. When a function ended, the Drill team could not stand down until the set was cleaned, polished, and re-packed securely behind lock and key.

Our public appearances were visually impressive. Instead of familiar Army green, we wore a blue long sleeve waist coast with colorful rope braids hanging off each shoulder. Our bloused boots had an immaculate mirror black finish, and "ladder-laced" with white shoestrings. A white scarf filled the jacket's open collar. Finally, each Drill team member wore a polished chrome helmet.

Before I joined them, the Drill Team performed on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1958 and 1959. Under the guidance of our natural-born entertainer John Trimble, the performance drill became part of a variety show. They went on the road with a pared down 3- to 6-man demonstration team, better suited to smaller venues, and made several appearances in Western Washington.

Precision military drill teams were common among colleges and academies, but were nearly non-existent within the active Army. The only other active Army drill team we ever encountered was the 6th Infantry drill team at McNair Barracks in Berlin (the 6th was the permanent party garrison in West Berlin). Naturally, we briefly taunted each other during our Berlin rotation, even suggesting a competition to settle the issue. But no competition ever materialized. It was just as well, since we already knew which team was the best!

I relish the time spent with the 8th Infantry "Bullets" Drill team. Any public appearance demanded each member look and act perfect; and every man was up to the task. It was a special privilege for a group of Privates to work directly for the Battle Group Commander, Colonel Vincent Guerin. I look back with pride on the camaraderie and dedication to duty shared by my fellow Drill team members: David Cox, John Trimble, Leonard Adams, Gary Wichart, Paul Byram, Clyde Croft, Thomas Walker, John Jarvis, Julius Zaferiou, Edward Ransom, Thomas Akins, Harvey Bean, Ceylaya - Hokensen, Sergeant Barningham.

Chapter Four

Long Thrust Departure

Seattle World's Fair: On May 6th, 1962, the featured act at the Opera House was "The Littlest Circus."

The beginning of May 1962 was a busy time for the 8th, turning in our weapons, vehicles, field mess, and supply equipment. When the process finally completed, I had no Army-issued items left except my uniforms and a duffle bag. Finally, we were ready to ship out for Europe. On May 6th, we marched from the HQ Company Building, northward across 2nd Division Drive, and into a parking lot near Fort Lewis' Gray Army Airfield. But we would not be leaving from this airfield. From this parking lot, we boarded buses for a short bus ride to adjacent McChord Air Force Base. At McChord's back gate, the air police escorted our buses to the flight line and a waiting aircraft, the Boeing C-135.

The Air Force purchased a cargo variant of the high flying Boeing 707 jetliner, designated the C-135. Although the C-135 looked like an airliner from the outside, the luxurious interior and creature comforts were absent. In keeping with military form and function, the center of the fuselage was open and flat for cargo shipment. A series of folding nylon web bench seats lined each side of the fuselage. The only windows were a few small portholes located on each side.

As his personal bodyguards, the Drill team always traveled with the 8th Infantry Commander, Colonel Guerin. Riding with "the old man" didn't mean that you traveled first class, but it did mean that you were the first out. Shortly after takeoff from McChord Air Force Base, we were treated to an unexpected surprise. Instead of immediately climbing to cruise altitude, the pilot flew low and slow over downtown Seattle. Someone on the left side yelled out "There's the Space Needle!" As if he had overheard us, the pilot banked left and made two complete low altitude orbits around the Space Needle and the World's Fair complex. Many of us traded positions to see out the small windows. It was a nice gesture from the old man, having pre-arranged this with the pilot who coordinated with air traffic control. Then the aircraft pitched skyward and roared to full power, lifting us high into the northwest skies.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Dancing with the Bearby Alton McVey Copyright © 2009 by Alton McVey. Excerpted by permission.
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