A-1-67 Kelley Barracks Darmstadt Germany

02/20/2025

I'm cleaning out files on my computer when I found these old photos. I'm not sure why I haven't posted it before.

Joseph Melvin Henn, Jr, playfully explaining "how things are" to a new guy - I don't remember his name (Craft/Kraft?). And the "new guy" and Joe, standing Ron Leatherman (Enid? Oklahoma) on his head. This would have been early 1969.

Dawn Schmode, Jenna Stokes, George Lowry, Gary Potts

02/15/2025

I can't believe I’ve never shared Joseph Melvin Henn, Jr.'s "last" photo here on on our old army unit site.

I took it as we were leaving that first visit, a year before he left us. He stood on his porch, waving, a knowing look in his eyes. With quiet certainty, he said, *"This is the last picture you will ever take of me, Matt."*

It wasn’t. I returned months later, by his side as he entered hospice, capturing moments of his final days. But in a way, this photo—this moment—feels like the *last*. It’s the one that lingers in my heart, in Gary Potts' and George Lowry's hearts, and in the hearts of his wonderful family, who chose it to honor him at his funeral.

I’ve taken hundreds of thousands of photos in my lifetime. But this one—this simple, quiet goodbye—holds more meaning than any of them. It carries the weight of love, memory, and the kind of farewell that never truly fades.

05/25/2024

Every year, for many years, I have posted this photo. It certainly should remind us of what Memorial Day really is supposed to be about. Freedom isn't free. It comes with a price.

11/23/2023

We managed to run to Nebraska on the weekend after Labor Day to visit with Joe and his wonderful family. (If you look at the background field of corn, would you have any doubt but that we were in Nebraska?).

George Lowry, Gary Potts, Michael Mathews, and Joe Henn. Together again for the first time in 54 years.

06/19/2023

10/08/2021

Well, we haven't had much luck -- No, let me correct that. We haven't had any luck finding any of our old friends from our army days at A-1-67 and Kelley Barracks - Darmstadt, Germany.

The three of us (Gary Potts, George Lowry, and me, Michael Mathews) who started this page are all doing well, still in regular touch with one another, and looking forward to more visits. We've been in touch with Joseph Henn, as well, although that has been more in one direction. He hasn't made it to visit yet and is not on Facebook. We actually communicate more through his beautiful daughters.

Spread the word if you know anyone who served back in those days in our unit or even nearby.

Surely, some of those guys that we spent our time with: in the exclusion gate, in one of the guard towers, down at 'Til's, or in Kelley Barracks propped up in one of the windows watching the 'rads go by; are on Facebook or some of their families might be. Yell at us. We know all those old stories you've been telling for years. And we know they are not outrageous lies as your friends and families may believe -- we were witnesses to so many fun days and nights that we will always remember. That includes the adventures no one would believe of us now.

09/01/2017

Writing letters home - Michael Mathews 03-1967

09/01/2017

How About some more photos? Info on each one - just click it.

09/01/2017

More old photos - click on each one for more information.

09/01/2017

Joyce and Bob Bales at the Russian Chapel in Darmstadt. 3-67