Thanks again go to Paul Strauser for this picture. He got the ball rolling for the Sgt Adolph Gerszewski page, and now he has provided this amazing picture that proves an old rumor was indeed true. There was a swastika under the eagle on the 79th Engineer B-Company Barracks at Gerszewski's back gate!
The picture is from 1963 so it was taken several years before the 79th was there. Apparently the swastika was in the process of being removed when this picture was taken, however if you look closely you can see it pretty clearly. Especially in the next close-up.
Click the picture to hear a famous news bulletin from 1963.
December 30, 2003
From: "Paul Strauser"
To: "BRUCE CHRISTMAN"
Subject: Gerszewski Barracks Photo
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 07:57:31 -0600
Bruce,
First let me say you have established a wonderful web site for the 79th Engineer Battalion and I have visited it a few times since receiving emails from Daniel Gerszewski last summer.
Thought I'd send this photo to you should you want to use it at your site. If I ever get any other photos of Gerszewski from the guys I keep in touch with who were stationed at there I'll pass them on to you.
Have a Happy New Year,
Paul Strauser
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Strauser"
To: "WALTER ELKINS"
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 7:44 AM
Subject: Gerszewski Barracks Photo
Walter,
A photo for your consideration to use for Gerszewski Barracks in Karlsruhe.
Attached is a photo received just today from Dr. Donald R. Morton who was the Commanding Officer of the 595th Clearing Company at Smiley Barracks Karslruhe from September 1962 to May 1963 and then Commanding Officer of the 761st Medical Detachment at Gerszewski Barracks Karlsruhe from May
1963 to June 1966. He has since retired as Director of Medical Imaging from St. Clare's Hospital in the Schenectady, New York area.
His description of the photo is below.
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald R. Morton"
To: "Paul Strauser"
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 9:22 PM
Subject: Gerszewski Barracks
Paul - Thanks for all the info on Gerszewski Barracks I thought it very interesting and wanted you a have another picture to add to your collection. It was definitely called Rhein Kaserne [Notice the spelling] and this picture was taken on the back side of one of the buildings occupied at the time by the 56th Medical Battalion which the 761st was a part of. I don't remember which way was north or south at Gerszewski but the building was the one [if standing at the front gate] in the back left hand corner of the Kaserne. You had to go behind the building which was up against the fence in order to see it. This picture was taken in 1963 while I was at the 761st.
Keep up the good stuff about the 3rd & 761st they are fond memories!
