-byCoM,-

Whlle rendering a snappy hand salute, 1st Sgt. Ronald Wright, Headquarteni and Headquarter Battery, 56th Field Artillery Command, recelvff the unit's accounllt>lllty

report,.

PershinQ Cllbltt
.lllnuary 1990

Pershing crews set standard

by Richard J. Clemenson
Staff Writer

They arc the "backbone" of the 56th Field Artillery Command. They stay out of the Limelight and
perform their duties in an efficient, proficient
manner. They arc 1SE's. They arc Pershing missile
crcwmcmbcrs.
They endure long days, cold nights and muddy
field exercises 10 ensure that the 56th field Artillery
Command maintains its "quick, reliable and accurate" readiness status.
In order to visualize a day in the life of a
crcw:member, one must get up pretty early. A recap
of a day spent with the third platoon, Battery B, 2nd
Battalion, 9th Field Artillery was eventful. The day
spanned 11 hours and involved one of the most
important inspections the platoon will undergo during the year.
0300: It's an average, chilly December morning.
Outside, fog lin~ers and a thin frost coats the ground.
It is serene outside, but inside of Building 406, Hardt
Kaserne, nearly 120 bodies arc bailing out of bed.
Third platoon is preparing for the days events which
will include a high-level inspection.
The beds are made, the floors swept, bathrooms
cleaned and formation held. All this occurs during a
time when most people arc rolling over in bed or
rurning off the alarm. Third platoon has been awake
for three hours. There is a bit of tension in the air.
Today, third platoon will undergo their annual
Nuclear Surety Inspection (NS!).
For some platoons this is a "do or die" day. The
battery executive officer, Capt. Tyrone Smith says,
"It is merely icing on the cake. "We have trained
nearly two months for today," he said. "On certai.n
days we have trained until 8 p.m. We have gone over
this thousands of times. Today, we will prove that we
are excellently trained, he explained.
He enthusiastically added, "I'd go to war with
these guys any day. Because of our training and how
fervently we do it, I feel we arc one of the most proficient firing batteries around.
0900: Time for reckoning is around the comer.
Platoon Sgt. Gerald Moore said that a normal Tuesday entails sending half of the platoon to Mutlangen
to perform missile preventive maintenance checks
and services. The remainder will run their vehicles
through the Battalion Maintenance Organi:ution for
disp.atch.
1100: The time has come for third platoon to perform. The platoon has been briefed on the do's and
don'ts of this very slow, very tedious inspection.

-0yc-.
Pershing -.nbers lllke their l'ffpecth,e posfflons In preperatton for the demlltlng process during Nuclear
Surety Inspection.

Two phases of the inspection have been satisfactorily

Moore's words ring true throughout the platoon.
performed by first and second platoons. Third pla- A mixture of- sadness and pride. Even with the elitoon will perform the third and final phase. This mination of their jobs they look at the situation posiphase is considered the most difficult.
tively. But where will they go?
Some, like PFC Brian Bauer will leave the Army
All three phases, from mating the missile to demating and storing arc difficult," Smith said. "But, with Pershing. Bauer plans on attending college after
the third phase is probably the hardest because of the his term in service is complete.
He said, "I wouldn't trade this job for anything. I
safety precautions involved.
As the inspection begins, everything is painsuk- couldn't stand to be a pencil-pusher. This job offers
ingly slow and efficient. There arc no errors. A new challenges and work everyday."
Others like Spec. Brian Bourke will stay in the
crcwmcmber reads a manual while guiding the others
through the demating procedures. It's frec:ting out as Army and reclassify into another military occupational specialty. Bourke will be retrained as a 550,
the inspection surpasses the 45 minute mark.
Maj. Jeffery Perry, battery commander, and Smith explosive ordnance specialist.
1400: For third platoon, the day comes to a close
linger in the background and talk amongst
themselves. Perhars they are nervous. Moore appears early (usually it ends between 6-7 p.m. ). More than
to be walking of his tensions. He jokingly shouts, a full day's work has been put in. After cleaning up
the inspection site, most of the platoon is released.
"It's lih having a baby. I can't wait till its over!"
As they disperse and go their separate ways, many
Moore knows how to handle the stress from the
job. He should because he arrived with the first of the platoon member's faces emit broad smiles. It is
Pershing !Ats and was a member of 1st Battalion, a smile of satisfaction. Once again they have passed
41st Field Artillery. When asked about h.is present the test. They proved third platoon was well-trained
situation as a !SE he proudly announces, "I think and ready to perform their wartime mission.
pan of the reason the (Berlin) Wall crumbled was because of Pershing, and I am part of that tradition of Pfc. Clemenson spcnc December 12, 198'9 wich Third
Pie., Bravo Bery., 2nd Bn., 9th FA, S6cl, CMD.
ex~llcncc.

sun r l - and so do then soldiers ol Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 9th Fleld
Artillery aa they prepare for another dy In Pershing.

Th&

TI!tee Pershing crewmember prepare tor the final steps In the demllllng process of
a Pershing II misslle during Nuclear Surety Inspection.