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Reforger Commo
Ft Campbell Ky to Germany
During one of my assignments with the 101st Airborne Division, I
was given the additional duties of coordinating maintenance
problems with the division units deployed to Germany for
Reforger in 1976.
During these duties, I met the guys that had setup the HF
Radio site on FT Campbell to maintain commo with the deployed
troops in Germany. With me being a Ham Radio Operator, this
was very interesting to me. I was given a tour of the site,
which was located in a large field, where FT Campbell Hospital
is now located at.
The site was run by the 11th Signal Command, and consisted of
a Receiver Shelter, a Transmitter Shelter, a 200 KW Generator,
and 2 towers, with a Slopping V antenna on one, and a Log
Periodic antenna on the other. The transmitter shelter held the
Amplifier, that was capable of 10 KW continuous duty in
digital modes, and much more than that in SSB use. The OIC showed me
a spare tube for the amp, and it was one of those huge metal
ceramic ones that has built in handles in the top. The LP
antenna was very large, with the rear elements long enough
to allow it to operate down in the 2 Mhz range.
I had not been a Ham very long at this time, and it began my
interest in Antennas and Propagation. I had several other
assignments after this, that combined Ham Radio and my Army
Assignment, which allowed me to gain experience and knowledge
for both.
