Did anyone serve when the Berlin Wall was still up? Did you ever stand a post at Checkpoint Charlie?

I was stationed in Germany from 86 until 93, during that time I served on the border and was stationed in Gelnhausen, Schweinfurt and Berlin. I then got a European out in 1993 and stayed in Berlin until 2009, I still have my residence there and my company is registered there but I now live in Budapest. Border patrol was the best part of my career, I never served directly on CP Charlie but I have many stories...great times indeed...my last Army Photo with the Berlin Brigade Patch.

SFC Mark Merino, it was my privilege to serve in Berlin spring & summer 1963 in an augmenting Task Force. Following the Wall's construction (August 1961) President Kennedy ordered reinforcement of Berlin Brigade. A rotation of other units were attached to Berlin's U.S. Garrison until 1966. Each Task Force, which stayed in the City 90 days, included an Infantry Battle Group reinforced by a light howitzer battery & a light truck company. The first two Task Forces were from 8th & 24th Infantry Divisions in West Germany. From 1962-1963, CONUS (4th ID & 1st ID) rotated troops into the City, during "Operation Long Thrust." My unit, 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry "Lions of Cantigny," 1st Infantry Division was stationed in West Berlin on 26 June 1963, when President Kennedy visited. Lieutenant Steve Monsees from my unit served as OIC of Check Point Charlie at that time. Here's a photo of him at Check Point Charlie conferring with a 7th Army MP (who was also reinforcing Berlin Brigade). Other photos are of President Kennedy en route to address the U.S. Berlin Community at Clay HQ & the Brandenburg Gate (Soviet Sector) taken from the British Sector in 1963 with Berlin Wall in foreground. Fortunately, I took numerous pictures in Berlin & have even published a couple articles about that experience.

4 years stationed in Berlin, 80-84.