Gilbert J. Matherne
A Constabulary Soldier
We were known as the Circle "C" Cowboys.
FRITZLAR AIR BASE
14th A/C Reg.
U. S. Constabulary
1947-1949
SUIVEZ MOI - FOLLOW ME
Gilbert Matherne arrived in Fritzlar 1947.
He and Neil Aikin worked together and became best of friends. Gil
was in Radio and Communications and taught signal school when not in
the
radio room.
Neil worked the Radio Room and there were times
they had to go on maneuvers.
Press Release
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A Sunny Day
in Fritzlar
The Kaserne
|
This was the view we had when looking out the window of our
room.
Gilbert Matherne
Neil Aikin - Radio Operator's Room
When Neil wasn't working, he was out with
his gal.
Neil said, "My girlfriend's name was
Waltraute
(Fishy) Thiermann. She got that gawd
awful nickname from GI's who couldn't
pronounce her name right. Phonetically
it was pronounced Viletrout with the trout
portion being rolled. Trrrout.
After several attempts they gave up and
nicknamed her Fishy. I met her in
1947 at a party in Bad Wildungen.
She was a dental assistant on the post in
Fritzlar. She insisted I learn
proper
German, so every night I had to learn
5 new words.
It stood me in good stance when my wife,
Sue & I returned to Germany
in 1996 for the 1st time. Sue speaks
no German so it was up to me to
translate. Within 3 days I was thinking
in German & fared well for the
remainder of our 14 day stay. As
I told Gil, it was like going home.
Waldtraute [Fishy] Thiermann and Neil Aikin
Neil said, "I don't know how Gil &
I met other than we were assigned to the same 2 bed
room at the Kaserne at Fritzlar. I worked
a shift at the Radio Room. I think
both Gil & I were exempt of duty.
I just remember that most of his free time
was spent with his girl in Kassel, while
mine was spent with Fishy in Bad
Wildungen. We spent a good bit of time
together when we went on maneuvers ."
Gilbert Matherne
I can remember how important it was
to
catch a quick ride out to Kassel to see my gal. Some guys used
the
bus and some had their own transportation but my ride was a
German
man who worked on post who owned a BMW motorcycle. When it was
time
to get off of work, I looked for my ride and didn't want to miss
it.
Missing it would cost me another 45 min. delay. Me and that
German
fellow looked like the Road Runner going up and down those hills
traveling
from Fritzlar to Kassel. Time was precious.
Gil
|
Washing Clothes while on Maneuver
|
A
message from
Neil Aikin
|
Gil:
I'm pleased Tevington got in touch with you. He has quite a memory.
I
enjoyed our visit with him at the National Reunion in San Diego.
He has a
gift of gab that's fun to listen to.
Al Watts was a character. I can still hear him dit dit dawing on
the way to
the latrine as he passed our room in the morning. I think he was
the living,
moving, breathing example of the word dit happy.
By now you should have received the pictures I sent, one of which
was Sgt.
Francis Brooks. I'll try to scan some more & send them to you
via snail
mail.
I don't think I can make it to your April bash. I sure would like
to spend
some time with you sharing memories of Fritzlar, etc. Maybe some
other time.
Best Regards,
Neil
UNGEDANKEN
UNGEDANKEN was the first town past
Fritzlar
traveling on to Bad Wildungen. Trooper Gilbert
Matherenelived there as
a second home for a short time, with his wife Elisabeth, their
son,
Gilbert Jr., and Liz's children, Dieter and Margaret. There was a
small Catholic Church in Ungerdungen and this was where Gilbert
Matherne
had his son baptized.
Continuing down this road, away from Fritzlar, you will come
into Bad Wildungen. This was where you would find the major
Military
Hospital. If any major hospital care was needed, this was where
all
the Military within the area, would come for treatment.
The German girl that a GI wished to marry to bring home to
mother to the States, must first see a doctor at this
hospital.
This was the only way the marriage would be allowed with the approval
for
the trip to the Untied States. Before receiving these
approvals,
it was necessary for her to past the physical and mental testing, to
prove
a clean bill of health. There was many questions asked . My
mother told me they even ask her if she was a Nazi. The war was
over
in 1945 but the requirements of marriage to a foreigner continued on
through
1950's.
Irene Matherne Moore, daughter of Troopr Gilbert Matherne
A Story from the daughter of
Wallace Smith, a Constabulary Soldier.
Bad Wildungen is the name if a small resort town near Kassel. The
word
"Bad" preceding the name of a town in Germany indicates that it is a
town
where there are natural springs that are used for therapeutic mineral
baths. People go there for health cures, often prescribed by their
doctors, as well
as for rest & relaxation vacations. These towns have been known for
their
Baths for, I would guess, more than 100 years. I don't know the
history, but
it seems pretty likely that the Americans would have taken over some of
the
hospitals during the time right after W.W.II. I was born in Bad
Wildungen in a German hospital in 1949 and my
sister Linda was born in Bad Nauheim, not too far from there, in 1951.
In
1988 my mother and I visited the midwife in Bad Wildungen who had
assisted my
mother when I was born. The midwife was 85 years old then, still
remembered
my mother.
Best Wishes to you,
Barbara Scibetta
The author of the book WAR BRIDES
.....................................
..
Gil and Liz in Louisiana
1989
Liz and Gil in Kassel, Germany1948.
The apartment that Liz and Gilbert lived in was in Bettenhaussen.
The street name was the Radestrasse.
Kassel, Germany
They lived upstairs with Liz's two children and one on the way.
1948
|
The resource of the
information below
came from the Lightning Bolt Newsletter that was posted quarterly by
the
U.S. Constabulary Association nationally.
|
The United States Constabulary
The United States Constabulary along with
the 1st Infantry Division formed
the deterrent to Communism in Germany and Austria immediately after
World
War II. Members of these fine organizations were the first "Cold
War Warriors". In addition, the United States Constabulary
performed
many of the functions that the German and Austrian governments could
not
perform. The Constabulary provided general military and civil
security,
patrolled the borders, seized contraband and controlled displaced
persons,
among their other duties. The United States Constabulary was
phased
out December 1952 having accomplished its mission. It had been
truly
one of the elite forces of the U. S. Army and lived up to its motto,
"Mobility,
Vigilance, Justice".
Now the United States Constabulary, which
represented our country so well during its existence in Europe, need
help
from its country. Fort Riley, Kansas has been designated as
the official repository of U. S. Constabulary memorabilia.
On November 7, 1998 the U. S. Constabulary Museum was officially
opened.
Unfortunately it consisted of a single room, in the U.S. Cavalry
Museum,
and much to small to display all the items received by the Museum
Curator,
Terry Van Meter. Another building at Fort Riley is available to
house
an expanded museum for the Constabulary. It requires renovation
to
fulfill the purpose of a museum. The cost of this renovation is
approximately
$450,000. We are appealing to you to provide those funds for the
renovation.
This project is very important to those
of us who served in the U.S. Constabulary. So important that we
have
established a fund to assist in the renovation project. The fund
has began the day of the dedication and now is at $1,202.
However,
it is not reasonable to expect former Troopers and their friends to
raised
the sum of $450,000. Most are retired and are living on fixed
incomes.
We Appreciate any and all assistance you
can give us in securing the $450,000 for the renovation of the building
at Fort Riley to house the United States Constabulary Museum.
Sincerely,
Please, if you have any interest in what our fathers did in the
Cold
War, copy, paste and print this letter, then mail it to your
congressman.
Irene Moore
-
dated Aug. 1999