I'm a 35P, and I was just reading about the history of SIGINT when I stumbled across all this stuff about the ASA. (Without breaking OPSEC), I see a lot of parallels between what they did during their time and what we modern SIGINTers do today. Are their any old ASA people here?

Absolutely

U.S. Army Security Agency Field Station Berlin - 1970-1972

Sidenote - photo of my barracks taken in 1934 (home of Hitler's Waffen SS).

Thx for the reply. I've recently read two novels about the ASA experience. The first was James Crumley's "One to Count Cadence" about the early exploits of the ASA in Nam. The second was "Voices Under Berlin" by THE Hill (an obvious pseudonym).

Have you read any of these books, and do they reflect your experiences? I thought it was hilarious how some of the SIGINT/linguist jokes and eccentricities have virtually remained unchanged in sixty years, be it linguist vs analyst clashes, cluelss LTs, oversensetive OPSEC folks who throw out the "need to know" card at every single turn, reclassed soldiers deriding "overeducated" DLIers for not being "real soldiers," etc. I can assure you the same situations are being played out in Iraq and Afghanistan as I type this.

I encourage anyone currently in SIGINT to read up on this stuff. It will make you smile a bit knowing that people have been going through the same crap you did as a SIGINTer for the past 60 years!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 98GCM,

quote:

Originally posted by 98GCM:
I've recently read two novels about the ASA experience. The first was James Crumley's "One to Count Cadence" about the early exploits of the ASA in Nam. The second was "Voices Under Berlin" by THE Hill (an obvious pseudonym).

Have you read any of these books, and do they reflect your experiences?

I hadn't heard of either of those books prior to your post. I'll have to look for them.

Regarding the rest of your post. It just goes to show you that in the most basic ways, the Army never changes.

I was in 78th and 54 th ASA in Berlin, 65-67, you might enjoy reading "C Trick" by Don Cooper about his years there 66-69, its a great read and a lot of laughs, today and yesterday SOS. Enjoy.
John

quote:

Originally posted by 9480705:
I was in 78th and 54 th ASA in Berlin, 65-67, you might enjoy reading "C Trick" by Don Cooper

I've been wanting to read that but can't find a copy. Last time I looked on Amazon.com, the cheapest one I could find was through one of their booksellers for $100+.

"C Trick" is the hard cover copy, about 2 years later he put out "Worth the Trip". It is the same book but soft cover (larger than a pocketbook) It has a couple of extra chapters and uses more actual names of the guys there. Its also out of print but I located it at allbookstores.com for $21.95. I have them both, didn't know they had gone up so much. If you get it enjoy the read and remember it all happened over 40 yrs ago, it happened, I was there. Good Luck, John

quote:

Originally posted by johnhmcgary:
Its also out of print but I located it at allbookstores.com for $21.95.

Thanks for letting me know about the alternate title. I checked allbookstores.com. They have 2 booksellers listed - one is out of stock and the other is in England. Go figure.

quote:

Originally posted by johnhmcgary:
I was there.

Great to hear about others from that time and place. What site did you work out of? I was at Site 4.

I was on the Hill with "A" Trick, was an 059 (05K20), started in Silver (TT Room) and finished in the "Pit" search position. It's been over 40 yrs and I don't remember the sites being numbered just named, The Hill, Rudow etc. When people ask me where I grew up I always say Berlin (born in Jersey City). Went over there as a young 19yr. old kid, worked with some of the most intelligent and rebellious people I have ever had the pleasure of being with my entire life. I left Berlin with a plan for my life at 22. Came home, became a cop and retired in 02 as Chief. Stayed retired for two years, became bored then took a position with a company to train Iraqi police for a year. Got tired of being shot at, mortered and blown up. I am once again HAPPILY retired at the Jersey Shore, no more big adventures for me. I believe like anything else my ASA experience was both good and bad but there is no doubt whatsoever that the good FAR outweighs the bad. Have friends from my time in Berlin that I still stay in touch with others that are just memories but when I think about them I can just smile and think of just how lucky I am to have just known such people. Sorry I got a little wordy just that theres so much more, bars, alerts, IG"s Etc. Thanks for asking, feel good just typing this. Thanks again, John

John,

Here's a photo site that may jog your memory.

Go to the page "Sites - all others in Berlin"

BTW - the "Hill" or Tberg was Site 3.

http://fsbvg.homestead.com/photos.html

Thanks for the site, looked at them all, familiar places alas no familiar faces. Thanks again, John

I was not ASA, but was stationed at Kassel/Rothwesten Germany in the 60s, which was mainly a ASA site. They were a very Unique bunch I ran into one of my HS friends there, and only after 2 years at Rothwesten working in the Block House, he had developed a odd twitch.

That's strange because in Berlin we GAVE twitches, tics and upset stomachs to our NCO"s and Officers .

If anyone is interested, "C" Trick by D. Cooper just came out with another printing Jan. 2010, it is available on Amazon. John McGary

quote:

Originally posted by johnhmcgary:
If anyone is interested, "C" Trick by D. Cooper just came out with another printing Jan. 2010, it is available on Amazon. John McGary

Thanks for the heads-up. Been looking for a copy, but didn't want to spend $100+ through the used book market.