Excerpts from Letters to Mom in italics.
One hot day late in AG2 Fehr's tenure in Germany, he and Canadian Air Force Sgt. Robie visited the local French Army NCO Club. Sgt. Robie was a senior enlisted French-Canadian assigned to the 3rd Canadian Air Force Fighter Wing on the other hill southeast of Zwei. He was probably a good ten years older than Steve, and a married man. Steve met him on one of his many trips to the Canadian Sergeants Club. Don't know why he took a liking to Steve; perhaps, some sort of fatherly feelings to keep him out of trouble.Ain't sure why they went to the rather Spartan, drab French Army canteen. Maybe Robie just wanted to speak some unadulterated French that day. The French Army was low paid even by German Army standards, which probably isn't germane but explains why French Army personnel were rarely seen downtown. Steve did not speak French and had little or no contact with the French except as noted in the German speaking provinces. It was only about ten years since the French were expelled from Vietnam and now there was terrorism at home and the Algerian War in North Africa.
The canteen was a small, low-ceiling affair with less than a dozen NCOs quietly sitting around killing time in fatigues - not in civilian clothing or any dress uniforms. After a few bieres, French beer was excellent, one of the French mentioned a word of advice that the Americans should stay out of Vietnam. Some of the French spoke German, and with Robie also translating, it was no problem communicating. The laid-back, laconic French veterans suffered the American fool, but were unimpressed with his defense. Steve took the optimistic party line that the Americans were not there for colonization, just for justice, self-determination and peace. Superman might have added, and the American way! What an insult. The veterans didn't get excited or put up much of an argument; they just dryly admonished the sound advice to stay out.
10 June 1965
I had a fairly good time on leave last week even though I didn't really go anywhere. I saw quite a bit more of Gretchen than I'm accustomed to and the bier tent and carnival hit town.
By the time you get this letter, I will have made up my mind whether I want to make the Navy a career or not. There are many bad aspects, but there are many advantages too. If I would "ship over" it would be for a two-year period and I would be stationed at Ft Meade, Md. However, it would delay my return probably an additional month or two, because it would take time to cut orders etc at this late date. Of course if I get out, I ought to be home by about the second week in July (to Philly Naval station). If I got discharged and then re-enlisted later, I would lose a re-up bonus, almost three years time in grade (sufficient to go up for first class) and possibly a stripe. The bonus is equal to one month's pay for each number of years you re-enlist.
You would not have to worry about my safety because there aren't any wars wherever I'd be. I'd probably get to visit England, Scotland, Turkey, Japan, Okinawa and Germany only in this Security Group Activity. Sounds hazardous - might get married or maybe fall off a bar stool.
03 July 1965
Dear Mom (I still prefer that to Grandma),
That sure sounds like a lot of boy! Please offer my congratulations [Sister Sondra had a baby boy, Jeff.] and possibly buy something for the little fellow with the enclosed money (or put it toward a gift).
I had to go TDY [temporary duty] to another one of our units [Darmstadt] last week for seven days. It was all USAF and they couldn't understand what a swabby was doing there. I told 'em it would take one swabby just one week to square 1,000 AF troops away. There were a couple other AF troops from the "Oh worst," 6901st who went along. We did a lot of work and accomplished pretty much, I think.
Yesterday, I found out a little bit on my orders. So, now I think I know just a little more than you summarized in your letter before last. Sometime before the 19th (July) I'm going to re-enlist for two years for duty in Taipei, Formosa. Mr. Gassner said I might stay here up to three months longer. So I suspect I'll be home for a couple weeks leave in probably August, maybe September.