Military
Drafted
This is what I did in the army:
Certificate of Achievement
Letter of Appreciation
Orders For Well Done Plaque
Letter of Commendation
Certificate of Recognition
This is a bridge we built over the Rhein River. I'm the guy sitting in the first row, middle, with black gloves.
Letter of Appreciation - 10 December 1973
1. While attached to Company B, 79th Engineer Battalion in Grafenwoehr, Germany during the period June to November 1973, SP4 Christman displayed unusual resourcefulness, technical ability, and mature judgment in the timely execution of assigned soils and surveying tasks on the Maintenance Complex. Especially noteworthy was the keen sense of acumen he demonstrated during thorough sieve and soils analysis. His devotion to duty was exemplified by his attention to detail and willingness to work long hard hours.
2. With only a basic knowledge of surveying techniques initially, SP4 Christman quickly grasped the skills and fundamentals of surveying, and was highly instrumental in accomplishing many large surveying tasks. He propelled the surveying team during many extra long hours by surveying paving forms for the following day's concrete placement. His diligence and devotion to duty resulted in final elevations and site layout of the highest quality.
3. SP4 Christman seasoned a summer of hard work by generating the as built elevation plans in great detail, comprising over 1000 different elevation readings. The quality of his service, characterized by imagination and ingenuity, was also apparent by the effective accomplishment of the unit's mission to finish all major concrete work by winter.
4. SP4 Christman's outstanding performance during this period reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.
Lee A. Davis 2LT, CE
Project Officer
A Platoon Leader Recalls
The Maintenance Complex was the biggest project B Company had taken on in a long time. Planning started in the winter of 1972-1973 with LT Kenneth Clow as the Project Officer. By the time B Company moved to Graf in the spring of 1973, CPT William Gay had assumed command of the company, and LT Sidney Allison took over as the Project Officer. LT Allison was promoted to CPT and reassigned, and in the fall of 1973, LT Lee Davis took over as Project Officer and finished the job.
Just about nobody from B Company (or the rest of the 79th, for that matter) was left in Karlsruhe. Both B Company vertical construction platoons were involved at the Maintenance Complex site, and the earthmoving platoon was working with C Company on the upgrade of Tank Ranges 12 and 80. The early work on the Maintenance Complex involved getting the building foundations and structure in place, and a whole pile of grading and paving. The paving equipment came from the 24th Engineer Group's Equipment Platoon, and labor was provided by the 79th. Concrete paving went on dusk-to-dawn for months. There were also hundreds of yards of concrete-paved drainage ditches, sludge traps, and oil separators that had to go in, as well.
I'll leave it to Bruce Christman to tell the story of how the Maintenance Complex project turned out, since he was there.
In response to the observation that the NCOs were not very visible on the jobsite, I can only recall that there were not many there in the first place. In the post-Vietnam draw-down, the Army was having a hard time convincing career soldiers that they should stay in, especially after twenty years. Europe came lower in priority than Asian assignments, or apparently than stateside duty for that matter. B Company had First Sergeant Givens, a number of earthmoving NCOs, and several experienced vertical construction leaders like 1st Platoon's SFC Crawford out on the line. They were good NCOs, but they were spread plenty thin. In general, things got done because some special young fellows like Mike Bridge and Gary Burdett got picked to be acting NCOs.
They took the challenge, and stepped up and got more done with fewer resources than anyone could reasonably have expected of them.
John McConaghy, LT, B-Co 1st Platoon (See "Brass" Picture Above)
Charlotte, North Carolina
Letter of Commendation, 1973
It is with great pride that I express my personal commendation to you for a job well done, in the work you accomplished while attached to Company B, 79th Engr Bn, Grafenwoehr, Germany. Headquarters Company's mission of support is achieved with the highest quality of standards through the performance you have shown in the accomplishment of your duties on this occasion as is done in garrison.
Fred T Weems, CPT, CE
Commanding
Enlisted Efficiency Report, 1974
1. SP4 Christman is the soils section leader. He has been responsible for the collection, testing, and analyzation of soils for both horizontal and vertical construction for design & quality control purposes.
2. SP4 Christman is a hard-driving, energetic individual. He has performed his duties with outstanding results on more than five large earthmoving projects, and countless general construction projects.
Hugh C. MacDonald, 1LT, CE
Construction Officer
Philip L Hall, Major, CE
Operations Officer
Enlisted Efficiency Report, 1975
1. SP4 Christman has been the section chief for the battalion soils analysis section for the past two years and has done a commendable job.
2. SP4 Christman exhibits leadership and intelligence that is outstanding for his grade and time in service. He has great potential as an NCO. He is a strong supporter of the EOP. He has great tallent in the field of terrain analysis and should pursue that endeavor.
Phillip S Morris, 1LT, CE
Ass't S-3 Officer
Philip L Hall, Major, CE
Operations Officer
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