Thank you for the pictures of Bad Vilbel. I lived there in 1969/70.
It was very isolated from the rest of the amenities that the Army provided. As I recall, there were a couple of tennis courts and a very small playground that was pretty much a hangout for us teenagers, and that was it.
I read a lot of books and spent endless hours listening to AFN radio. There wasn't much else to do.
I lived in Bad V too from 70 - 73. Live on Beethoven Strasse. I remember the tennis courts and the large field the helos landed when taking the generals to/from work. The neighborhood was mixed Army and State Dept and various other groups. I went to FAJHS. I miss the bratwurst and pomme fritz!!
Great neighborhood, great times, great memories! Was there 68 - 71 and spent many a night on the playground and in the field. We held our "senior breakfast" in that field for the Class of 71.
WOW I haven't even seen the word Bad Vilbel since 79. I lived there with my then wife, in a 1 BR apartment in a house owned by a bank executive. During Fashing, and other holidays I used to pay my rent in booze, and usually subsidized my rent with cigarets! LOL, a regular black marketeer was I! Our apartment opened up into the back yard--where we taught our German hosts how to Bar-B-Q American style-- which let out into a corn field. LOL At least I remember it as corn. I ain't no farmer, and that's a long time ago, but what other crop grows 7 Ft tall? I don't remember the name of the street, but I'd bet I could drive straight there from the 7th Gen Hosp! Man what times we had there! We had a cat named sqweeky, the bankers little girls used to call him skveeky. Crazy thing: The day before the packers came for our HH goods for DEROS and subsequent ETS, The cat disappeared, as if he knew that our time was done. I like to think he came back and the girls had him to a ripe old age. If you were in the area between 77 and 79, and remember a guitar duo called Major Olgalvee, That was Me, Jim Crapanzano, and my bro David Dykes. We were regulars at the R/M AF Rod and Gun Club and various EM and AM Clubs from Frankfurt to Garmish. Aha, The General Abrams Hotel! But that's another story. Man, I'd give $20 bucks for a Binding or Henniger Bier!
Lived in 193b Beethoven Strasse from 73 to part way through 75... Always wondered who left the flags up in the attic... Still have one of them! Kevin Armstrong kevin.d.j.armstrong@gmail.com
My name is Jim O'Neill (Beanie), I was 9 yrs old when we moved to Bad Vilbel in 1970, I played with John Arneson, David Sargent, and many others. We had a boy scout troop with about 25 guys in it and we skied in Switzerland and other places. Played in the large field near the tennis courts, played football, baseball, and played soccer against the local towns (we got smoked every game.) Good times. JIMONEILL1128@gmail.com
We were there at the same time! Lived across the street from the Arnesons (Carl was my age, my brother Scott knew John, the Burdicks, the Julian’s, and the Judens.)
My name is Valerie and I lived in Bad Vilbel from 1969-71 in the neighborhood with homes pictured above. Can anyone give me a street address so that I can locate it while in the Frankfurt area over the Christas/New Year holidays? No one can recall the address, and it is a bit of a puzzle to locate without it (have made one quick attempt). I remember it had one main street which about three streets T'ed off. At the bottom of the street (the neighborhood followed a downhill slope) was a large field where we would sled in the winter time. In the summertime, we often saw shepherds herding sheep. On my street, at the top, was an electric box/generator, and I would ride my bike up there to get a fast start to go down hill. I believe there were two playgrounds--there was one at the end of my street (off the main road)--this was also where I waited for the school bus. I would also gather anyone I could to venture out into one of the surrounding German neighborhoods to practice the German phrases I learned at the American school I went to. Any help with street names is greatly appreciated! I would love to find this special home and neighborhood of my childhood!
From Jim O'Neill, Valerie, I vaguely remember you, what age were you when you lived in Bad Vibel from 69-71? I was in the 4th grade during 70-71. I lived on the very bottom street on the corner of the main street (which ran down hill and everyone would ride their bike down the hill). Jon Tashiro who lived directly behind us read my blog above and contacted me. Jon and I had a nice chat on the phone. Jon and I reminisced about going to the grocery store at the entrance of housing community or walking down the street to the walk up bar to buy pommes frites. While in Bad Vibel, we moved across the street; the house we lived in backed up to the field and the tennis courts were directly behind our house. Here are some other names of the kids we played with Randy Glenn, Jeff Ares, Sajo, Willie Hoss. My sister was Patty O'Neill and she was attend middle school and high school when we lived in Bad Vibel.
Thanks for this post. Bad Vilbel means so much to me. Lived there for four years in the early 80s (the era of John Byrd, Byron Mitchell, the Wyckoffs, and Chris Weathers). The Leson kids became my second family, and the MPs (Jimbo!) become my weird older cousins. Miss the strangeness of that place. Anyone who remembers me from those days is welcome to get in touch! -Brad G.
Kevin, my name is Jim O'Neill and I lived in bad vilbel from 70-73, 4-6th grade. My sister was Patty oneill she was in 6-9th grade. What is your last name? I was in the bad vilbel boy scout troop. I played football with Mark and Greg Julian on the Cowboys. I wonder how Mark and Greg are doing. We would take bus (get off at the circle where Frankfurt Elementary School was located) and take another bus to football practice. R, Jim O'Neill
Wow, so cool to reminisce. I'm Steve Ciricillo, 191B Beethoven Strasse, 1968-72. I see names I recognize, Randy Glenn, Jim Sajo, Patty O'Neill, went to school FAJHS with all of them. I remember the field at the bottom and the helos. Played many games of capture the flag and hide n seek in that sometimes fog filled field. Pat Haas, Steve Fisher and Mose Hose good friends then. My wife and I were just sharing childhood memories and I thought I'd search for some pics of my old stomping ground. Nice finding this site. Best wishes to all.
Kevin Armstrong, here...We are the same age... I rode my bike to Drake Edward for football (Packers) or we took the 68 or 69 bus and then caught another on. Andy Kindell was on our team.
Thank you for the pictures of Bad Vilbel. I lived there in 1969/70.
ReplyDeleteIt was very isolated from the rest of the amenities that the Army provided. As I recall, there were a couple of tennis courts and a very small playground that was pretty much a hangout for us teenagers, and that was it.
I read a lot of books and spent endless hours listening to AFN radio. There wasn't much else to do.
I lived in Bad V too from 70 - 73. Live on Beethoven Strasse. I remember the tennis courts and the large field the helos landed when taking the generals to/from work. The neighborhood was mixed Army and State Dept and various other groups. I went to FAJHS. I miss the bratwurst and pomme fritz!!
ReplyDeleteGreat neighborhood, great times, great memories! Was there 68 - 71 and spent many a night on the playground and in the field. We held our "senior breakfast" in that field for the Class of 71.
ReplyDeleteWOW I haven't even seen the word Bad Vilbel since 79. I lived there with my then wife, in a 1 BR apartment in a house owned by a bank executive. During Fashing, and other holidays I used to pay my rent in booze, and usually subsidized my rent with cigarets! LOL, a regular black marketeer was I!
ReplyDeleteOur apartment opened up into the back yard--where we taught our German hosts how to Bar-B-Q American style-- which let out into a corn field. LOL At least I remember it as corn. I ain't no farmer, and that's a long time ago, but what other crop grows 7 Ft tall?
I don't remember the name of the street, but I'd bet I could drive straight there from the 7th Gen Hosp! Man what times we had there!
We had a cat named sqweeky, the bankers little girls used to call him skveeky. Crazy thing: The day before the packers came for our HH goods for DEROS and subsequent ETS, The cat disappeared, as if he knew that our time was done. I like to think he came back and the girls had him to a ripe old age.
If you were in the area between 77 and 79, and remember a guitar duo called Major Olgalvee, That was Me, Jim Crapanzano, and my bro David Dykes. We were regulars at the R/M AF Rod and Gun Club and various EM and AM Clubs from Frankfurt to Garmish. Aha, The General Abrams Hotel! But that's another story. Man, I'd give $20 bucks for a Binding or Henniger Bier!
Lived in 193b Beethoven Strasse from 73 to part way through 75... Always wondered who left the flags up in the attic... Still have one of them!
ReplyDeleteKevin Armstrong
kevin.d.j.armstrong@gmail.com
My name is Jim O'Neill (Beanie), I was 9 yrs old when we moved to Bad Vilbel in 1970, I played with John Arneson, David Sargent, and many others. We had a boy scout troop with about 25 guys in it and we skied in Switzerland and other places. Played in the large field near the tennis courts, played football, baseball, and played soccer against the local towns (we got smoked every game.) Good times. JIMONEILL1128@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWe were there at the same time! Lived across the street from the Arnesons (Carl was my age, my brother Scott knew John, the Burdicks, the Julian’s, and the Judens.)
DeleteMy name is Valerie and I lived in Bad Vilbel from 1969-71 in the neighborhood with homes pictured above. Can anyone give me a street address so that I can locate it while in the Frankfurt area over the Christas/New Year holidays? No one can recall the address, and it is a bit of a puzzle to locate without it (have made one quick attempt). I remember it had one main street which about three streets T'ed off. At the bottom of the street (the neighborhood followed a downhill slope) was a large field where we would sled in the winter time. In the summertime, we often saw shepherds herding sheep. On my street, at the top, was an electric box/generator, and I would ride my bike up there to get a fast start to go down hill. I believe there were two playgrounds--there was one at the end of my street (off the main road)--this was also where I waited for the school bus. I would also gather anyone I could to venture out into one of the surrounding German neighborhoods to practice the German phrases I learned at the American school I went to. Any help with street names is greatly appreciated! I would love to find this special home and neighborhood of my childhood!
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie,
ReplyDeleteYou could use Carl-Schurz Straße as reference. Unfortunately, the the field you remember is now just history, as the city expanded downhill...
I'm sorry if my message comes too late for your trip to Germany, but I will try to pass-by in coming months and post an update.
FF
From Jim O'Neill, Valerie, I vaguely remember you, what age were you when you lived in Bad Vibel from 69-71? I was in the 4th grade during 70-71. I lived on the very bottom street on the corner of the main street (which ran down hill and everyone would ride their bike down the hill). Jon Tashiro who lived directly behind us read my blog above and contacted me. Jon and I had a nice chat on the phone. Jon and I reminisced about going to the grocery store at the entrance of housing community or walking down the street to the walk up bar to buy pommes frites. While in Bad Vibel, we moved across the street; the house we lived in backed up to the field and the tennis courts were directly behind our house. Here are some other names of the kids we played with Randy Glenn, Jeff Ares, Sajo, Willie Hoss. My sister was Patty O'Neill and she was attend middle school and high school when we lived in Bad Vibel.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. Bad Vilbel means so much to me. Lived there for four years in the early 80s (the era of John Byrd, Byron Mitchell, the Wyckoffs, and Chris Weathers). The Leson kids became my second family, and the MPs (Jimbo!) become my weird older cousins. Miss the strangeness of that place. Anyone who remembers me from those days is welcome to get in touch!
ReplyDelete-Brad G.
Kevin, my name is Jim O'Neill and I lived in bad vilbel from 70-73, 4-6th grade. My sister was Patty oneill she was in 6-9th grade. What is your last name? I was in the bad vilbel boy scout troop. I played football with Mark and Greg Julian on the Cowboys. I wonder how Mark and Greg are doing. We would take bus (get off at the circle where Frankfurt Elementary School was located) and take another bus to football practice. R, Jim O'Neill
ReplyDeleteWow, so cool to reminisce. I'm Steve Ciricillo, 191B Beethoven Strasse, 1968-72. I see names I recognize, Randy Glenn, Jim Sajo, Patty O'Neill, went to school FAJHS with all of them. I remember the field at the bottom and the helos. Played many games of capture the flag and hide n seek in that sometimes fog filled field. Pat Haas, Steve Fisher and Mose Hose good friends then. My wife and I were just sharing childhood memories and I thought I'd search for some pics of my old stomping ground. Nice finding this site. Best wishes to all.
ReplyDeleteKevin Armstrong! We were there at the same time! There was a motor pool driver named “High” the took us to the elementary school in Atterbury Betts
ReplyDeleteKevin Armstrong, here...We are the same age... I rode my bike to Drake Edward for football (Packers) or we took the 68 or 69 bus and then caught another on. Andy Kindell was on our team.
ReplyDelete