the 'bach

I spent '87 & '88 in Siegelsbach, West Germany as a Military Policeman. Not the cool kind of policeman where you ride around in a squad car. I was the yucky kind that carried an M16 with 100 rounds of ammo and a gas mask. Our job was to guard nuclear artillary warheads and -during war- link up with the artillary units so they could fire them at the bad guys.

It was a crappy and very cold job. It was weird work because we worked a ton of hours - easily 100 a week, but our job consisted of standing and watching. Standing and watching. Walking and looking. Standing and watching. I've never have worked so much with so little to show for it.

We were called "tower rats". About three years after I left East and West Germany were unified and they shut down our Depot. Recently a group of former tower rats went back to the 'bach. I posted some pictures from the site.

I hated that place. I hated the numbification. I learned a hard lesson about what your life can become if you let others decide for you.