The story of my life can be found in my book. It will start with my neede to be around a loving family. But that family would not be mine because I had one of the families where my dad had been in prison for child abuse and both parents had the hobby of openning and closing bar's. The family I hung around with when I needed to be away from abuse was the other Mormon family up the hill. There was a loving family and also the cutest girl I would ever meet.

Hello, for 10 years was part of the Berlin Elite, for the complete story read older postings also

They Promised Me Sleep Deprivation, Mental Torment, And Muscles So Sore You'll Puke. "Sweat dries, blood clots, and bones heal, suck it up, be a Ranger“

My Prayer
Almighty Father, whose command is over all and whose love never fails, make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Rangers, my loved ones and Thee without shame or fear. Protect my family. Give me the will to do the work of a Ranger and to accept my share of responsibilities with vigor and enthusiasm. Grant me the courage to be proficient in my daily performance. Keep me loyal and faithful to my superiors and to the duties my country and the US Army have entrusted to me. Make me considerate of those committed to my leadership. Help me to wear my uniform with dignity, and let it remind me daily of the traditions which I must uphold. If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and grant me wisdom by which I may understand the answer to my prayer.

In 1976 after finishing High School early; I joined the US Army. Because my test scores were in the top 2% I went straight from basic/AIT to Berlin Germany. On my first week there they took me here “Check Point Charlie”. This was to let me see firsthand why we are there. You see while Berlin would be my best assignment ever it was also the new Alamo, because the mission was in case a war started we were to fight to the death to give the west as much time as possible to get ready. I was 17 years old and in my first major city and I had more fear of the city life then I ever had for the Russians.

The Berlin Wall

Berlin was located 110 miles behind the Iron Curtain. It was a city Governed by four powers, two friendly, one hostile, and the French (we called them the Western Russians). We would all have equal control (except the French; they had to ask us for everything) and a mission to get along.

Don't miss this link

http://www.berlin-brigade.de/us-ins/us-ein.html

Spandau Prison

My first guard duty would be at Berlin's Spandau Prison. Here we used all four countries to guard the last WWII war prisoner, Rudolph Hess. This was interesting for me because my Grandmothers maiden name was Susie Hess. This photo was from guard tower number one. We were not allowed to take pictures from in there so I can’t tell you where this one came from. What happened to me here; was while pulling guard from this tower the Russian Warden came walking up on the trail you can see on the left side of the photo. We were required to give the greeting of the day. I gave my own greeting of “I would rather be dead then red Sir”. It would turnout that the Russian Warden went to School in Minnesota on an exchange program where we train the Russian KGB to speak American English so that they can hide better. Well anyway this would be strike one on me, me saying that Rudolph Hess may be my Uncle would be strike two, and that thing that happen with the Warden’s daughter (her fault, her idea, I just played along; really, ask anyone; I am a push over). The Warden had more problems with catching this soldier with his daughter then any of my other problems that I made. This would be strike three and I was out (please remember I was a 17 year old guy mainly playing Army but sometimes house; I'm still a guy). Also when we met she was sitting on her bedroom window sill wearing so little that if I put everything together I could not make boot strings for my boots (OK, a little more then that but not much). This would give me some free time to see more of the city. I would find my way to Berlins biggest lake. There I would learn that swim suits may be optional which was good for me because well I did not have one anyways. I would meet a nice girl there that would show me around the city. Oh, Mike was growing up fast.

The French connection

This picture shows how the city was divided. Originally it was going to be just a three power control because France was not one of the victorious countries because they had fallen to Germany and we had to go in and take it back and give it back to them. This reminds me of a meeting that our military had in France a few years ago. At the meeting the language chosen was English because all of the countries there had people that could speak English and there were more countries there where English was their native language so it was set. A French General stood to make the statement that he felt that while in France they should all need to speak French. An American General stood to answer him with "we fill because Canada, England, and the United States made it so that everyone in France did not need to learn German then when they come once a year to France the French can speak English". The French General shut up and sat back down.

Don't bother to run you just die tired

In 1978 I competed in International weapons competition. I got the Bronze medal so the country thought it was better to use me more in support fire instead of front line. I was asked to first go to sniper school and then to agree to become Special Forces. By this time I had already lost Sally and wanted to die anyway. I decided to say yes to both. Now that would be taking me on a ride to Hell that I would have liked to of passed on but now I would not change it; because someone had to do it. In 1991 I was given a Special Forces coin for over 100 kills, on the back side it has "DON'T BOTHER TO RUN; YOU'LL ONLY DIE TIRED".

Do you see me.

Next with my new job I needed to learn to be a spook, I had the uniforms to be a soldier from anywhere or any land, but sometimes I needed to be totally invisible. My first question was I am in a big city with buildings and people, don’t I kind of standout dressed like this. You see I thought I needed a special weapon that I could break down and put it in a small case, wear a suit and blend in? Well there were no books for that so I was the walking bush in the city. I was thinking of carrying a sign that stated by the orders of the United States and the occupying powers, you don’t see me. That did not happen.