Do you feel the fall of the Berlin Wall was as good for the U.S. As it was for Europe?

SPC James Seigars — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 22:01:47 -0400

I was in Germany when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and we suddenly attained Rock Star or Celebrity Status literally overnight. Everyone was happy we were there & everyone wanted us to be around them. The dollar was about 1.80 Marks & life was good. Skip ahead to 2005 and it is a different story, as I walk down the street a group of teens yells "Yankee go home" as people old enough to be their parents apologize for them & state that the younger generation doesn't know how it was before and therefore aren't grateful. The Euro which replaced the Mark is now worth about $1.80 or so. It seems everything has made a 180 both literally & figuratively. So my question is do you think that taking down the wall was as good for the U.S. As it was for Europe?

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 10:10 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 22:10:59 -0400

That our President played a significant role in its downfall, it should give us as Americans reason to take pride in its demise.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 6 at 2015 10:17 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 22:17:03 -0400

It was good for freedom

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 7 at 2015 1:47 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 01:47:22 -0400

A Big Chunk of what was Warsaw Pact is now Nato. What is not to like.

Response by SGT Robert R. made Sep 13 at 2015 9:53 PM

SGT Robert R. — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 21:53:58 -0400

I was in Berlin during the fall and reunification. There were many, in our age group, that would yell "Auslander Raus!" at us as we waited on whichever bus was next. The fall of the wall was a great thing for freedom, but the world lost a great villian, the west relaxed and much was lost. That old evil Iurking again. Will history repeat itself?

Response by SPC Stacey Lowell made Dec 4 at 2015 6:23 PM

SPC Stacey Lowell — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 18:23:13 -0500

I had heard awhile ago that some folks wished the Berlin Wall was back up...I always thought the fall of the Berlin Wall was good for everyone in that it did away with Erich Honnecker (who thought the DDR Regime would last INTACT forever). Mikhail Gorbachev told Honnecker on his way out of East Berlin after the 40th Anniversary of the DDR Military Parade to get with the times - Moscow would not send tanks in if there were problems with the West. And my goodness that wall came down quick. I still have several friends who exited the m ilitary in Berlin who say and swear that the fall of the wall was the best thing that could have happened. Now I just have to go back one day and see for myself...

Response by SPC Stacey Lowell made Dec 18 at 2015 6:01 PM

SPC Stacey Lowell — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 18:01:35 -0500

I am quite certain the fall of the Berlin Wall was good for everyone all around. It did mark the beginning of the end of the Berlin Brigade and allied commands as the Soviets went home and the Units from the BBDE were sent to Kosovo and other destinations. It has been 26 years since I left Berlin and I am still in contact with someone in Wilmersdorf who longs for the days when Americans ruled the day downtown West Berlin. It is awfully funny how the wall came down because Erich Honnecker basically told Mikhail Gorbachev that his was a government that would last forever. Well it crumbled fast and it was the end of the GDR. Some folks from the former East German Country Wish they could put the wall back up, but I think that is just wishful and sentimental thinking.

Response by SPC Deon Holmes made May 31 at 2016 8:17 PM

SPC Deon Holmes — Tue, 31 May 2016 20:17:17 -0400

I and a few roomies went down to a few spots when the news hit AFN via CNN. Of course the orders were coming down to not be anywhere near the wall, but since we didn't get the official orders, and I was off duty for a few days, there was nothing stopping us. We went down in and enjoyed the history! We climbed up on the wall near Check Point Charley and again near the rich tag building (which at the time was sealed off and just someplace to hang out if you were a local) and even pulled up a few east Germans up on top of the wall. I have pictures but man I wish I had a digital camera back then. We stayed their until the sun came back up and walked around the east for a short stent. My only regret is that before the wall came down you could go shopping in the east for super dirt cheap. I wanted to buy a china set and chrystal ware before I returned back state side. I did get some goodies so I guess I shouldn't complain.