Mt. Meisner-Start Up
by Merv Balyeat
mbalyeat@cibola.net
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26 Feb l951 Hq Fkft Post Order #2-328 Sent CPL M.R. Balyeat and PFC James Gray to the EUCOM Ordnance School for a period of 30 days to operate SigC equipment. (E/W intercept in its primative form) We took a 2 1/2 ton van with a PE-95 power unit and a jeep. We located up the "hill" from the Gasthaus Schwabenthal. (Could this have been the "abandoned German AF Resort?) This location became the permanent site. We were successful.

24 March l951 Fkft Post Order #3-450 placed another four EM on TDY for an indefinite period. (Actually until May 1953) Included in the four were SFC William Merrill, NCOIC, and motormac PFC Santillana. They had arrived with a 21/2 ton truck and another jeep. We started 24 hour a day operations.

July 1951 1LT John Roberts assigned as OIC. Troops were billeted at the Ordnance School.

MID 1952 Wood frame building was completed and housed opns, billets mess, etc. Young Rudy was hired as the KP. The original TLR-1 XE-1 was replaced by updated equipment.

MAY 1953 We were relieved/replaced by the 9492nd Signal Service Team commanded by CPT Reed deHorsy (later LTC and director of Dept 2 which consisted of D,E and F(ELINT) Divisions at USASATC&S, Ft Devens. Five of us stayed with the 9492nd until May 1954.

Later in 1957 while stationed at Schneeberg with the 258th USASA Det the 1SG and I went TDY to Meissner. The original building had been enlarged and the place was flooded with linguists. I don't know if they were cunning or not.

SEPT-OCT 1955 ELINT functions were transferred from SigC to ASA.
I have a copy of HQ USASAE Order #1338-59 dated 13 Nov 1959 sending CPT Bolak and I on TDY to Mt Meissner. I don't recall going at that time.

Note: In 1961 - PFC Santillana - was MSG Santillana and NCOIC of SigC communications at Rothwestern ASA base.