Message Board

Hey Geoff,

Girlfriends and wasted youth in Garmisch - what better way to spend a TDY tour while in the military! That NCO ran the permanent troops stationed there and the guys & girls that came to try out for one thing or another.  I just remember he used to ride us pretty hard in training.

I just found out thru another friend that Keith still lives in GAP. When I get his address, I'll mention your sister.  I live just outside of SF so if I ever get up to the city, I'll  look up the Horseshoe Tavern and stop by.  As far as free time in GAP - I hardly had any.  I worked 6 or 7 days a week but no complaints back then.  It was better than fixing helicopters in the snow of Mannheim.  We had Tennis Week where we gave lessons and held class tournaments every week.  Frank and I usually taught together - he was a blast to work with.  After the class we had private lessons.  10 to 12 hour days was the norm.  We had enough energy back then to take the students out on the town - probably every night or close to it as I recall.  I did manage to see ELO one time but I think that was just before coming to Garmisch.

Bis Spader......Pete

Hey Rick....this is Pete Praksti.  I remember a Rick on the Ski Team - are you the one that also did some mountain climbing and wanted to fly helicopters?  

Pete 

Hello,

I came across this site while looking for pictures of Garmisch and the surrounding mountains for my son.  Reading the various emails brought back fond memories of my time in Garmisch.  I was lucky enough to have heard about the AFRC program while stationed in Mannheim.  I sent in the required paperwork, was released on TDY and arrived in Garmisch in the Spring of 1978.  I ended up teaching tennis in the Tennis Week program they had then.  At the end of the Summer, they needed someone to ski early Ski Patrol and I was tapped for that duty too.  No complaints here.  They moved me around quite a bit so I also rented bikes, ice skates and ski gear from time to time.

I was sad to read here that John Dove passed away.  I knew him quite well.  He taught me to mount ski bindings in the Winter and how to string tennis racquets in the Summer. I worked with him in that little downstairs room on and off for 2 or 3 yrs.  Don't remember too many names of the guys and girls I worked with.  The German tennis staff....Hans, Freida and Willie, Frank.  On the American side, Bill Adams and Connie (whose last name I can't remember) Then there were some long-term GAP'ers Paul Dutro, Keith Eades, Barb Bowman are names that come to mind.   

Well, that's it for now.  Anyone who remembers me is welcome to drop a line.

Thanks

Pete 

if memory serves correct, a trip up the hausberg bann with sgt willie brought out his true feelings for the moutain, something about the white death and what was wrong wtih us folks for wanting to be out in such an environment, oh yea and the old saying “remeber guys and dolls what goes around comes around. yee ha wasted youth.

Geoff---

I just spent 30 minutes responding to your response and it got dumped... somewhere in neverneverland.  So when I have the time again... I will try again.  Wanted you to know I was very happy to hear from you and will keep in touch.  My email in roster... better to use. 

Take care and have a great time at your son's wedding and bachelor party!

Christine

Sgt. Evans, AKA Black Lassie (like from the song, the name just somehow stuck) to the race teamers, now there was a guy who seemed totally out of his element in Garmisch. 

Joe Garves, good to see you drop in here.  Hope life has been good to you since Garmisch.  After 27 years I happened by chance to cross paths with John Swift (USARUER Race Team Coach) this past February in Steamboat at the NASTAR National Championships.  He was there racing, I was there coaching.  We spent an evening sharing drinks and memories of a special time in both our lives, and yours was one of the names that came up. 

Rick Schnellmann, Race Team, 77-79