Fantastic tour. This brings back great memories. I was stationed at the Gibbs Kaserne 1968-69. I drove deuce and a halves in Co. C, 308 S & S BN. We hauled men and supplies throughout the Frankfurt area...A great duty that allowed me to see a lot of West Germany on assignments. West Germany was a beautiful country. Great food, so much to see and the people were all friendly. My old barracks certainly did not look like this! Luxury "lofts" it surely was not!!! The Frankfurt government spent many DM's "to upgrade" the barracks!! We had wide window ledges that served as a make shift refrigerator for cold "stuff" during the late fall through early spring. I remember it was cold in the winter in the barracks and many times, the hot water was limited!!! I visited that kiorsk often when I returned from downtown. I remember the cemetery being more visible. They had a roller skating rink at the 97th Gen. Hosp. I am assuming the "wine club" was the old MP station at the main gate. The abandoned building with the columns was a focal point of the kaserne. There was a giant eagle (which you mentioned) on the top of the building. As I remember, we used to have classes in that building. Our motor pool was close to the mess hall. The new school might be where the motor pool was located. I don't remember seeing the mess hall on this "walking tour." One other "Walking tour" of Gibbs showed the mess hall, but it appeared empty. I really enjoyed this "walking tour" video. Thanks for making it and showing it!
Drake Edward's 1985! But went to Hanau American H.S. Class of 85!😊, Hey nice job on the video! So much has changed not much left to go visit!!!! Thank you !
Thank you for posting this. Making this old vet cry. I was stationed there 1986 to 1988 as an MP HHD 709th MP BN. God I miss this place. I was 19 years old when I was stationed there. Way before the cancer and divorces and now poor health. This takes me so back in time.
I was stationed with C 17th Sig. in 88-89. We could very well have passed by each other at some time. I can tell that building was torn down at some point. 🙁 Good memories of that place.
I was stationed at Gibbs Kaserne. 1971 January to August 1973. I worked at the I G Farben building for V COSCOM under General Hunter. I was there when the Bader Meinhoff gang set charges off in the main building and the officer’s club behind it. I volunteered to help after the attack and I kept the area secure when a LTC was killed from the charges going off. I was a staff chaplain’s assistant at the I G Farben building for Col. Anthony M Fracasso along with being an assistant platoon sergeant at Gibb’s Kaserne. I also worked at the movie theatre at night at the Kaserne. I also used the wood workshop at night. It was run by a former POW from WWII. He was a courier for Admiral Doonitz.
Wow, so many shared memories. Sounds like you got to experience a lot of history here. Do you ever come back for a visit? Did you watch my new video about IG Farben?
I was stationed there 77-79. 284th MP Co. 709th MP Bn. Would not have recognized it except for the last building. Under the eagle was a swatka covered with cement but in the evening if the sun hit it right you could still see it. I don't remember the burn out building because that was where the motor pool was. The rafters in the barracks were charred so most of Gibbs was damaged in WWII.
I was stationed on Gibbs 86-89 with HHB V Corps Artillery. We originally in on of the barracks to the right of the building with the eagle on it. In 87 they built that building on the left and we moved in there. The motor park was on the corner perimeter backed up to Gibbs housing and the actual motor pool/ shop was down behind the old bowling alley. Wow has it changed 😂
I was stationed at Gibbs from 88-90, the signal battalion. It was the first building to your right. Wow I can’t believe the kiosk is still there. Thank you!
I was stationed with Headquarters V Corps at Gibbs Kaserne 1963-1965. My workstation was at the IG Farben Building. Military busses carried us to and from the Farben on a regular schedule. My barracks were the first on the right, and you have pointed out that they are now luxury apartments. Each room in the barracks housed 2 to 4 men. I was always impressed (while mopping the hallway floors) by the fine construction materials used. Could have lasted for centuries! The building you walked towards at the end of the main drive was the consolidated mess hall, and also accommodated an NCO club. There was an eagle motif on the face of the building, reminiscent of the Kaserne's WWII occupants. Thanks for the memories,
The eagle is sitting over in the Fire Station area, sort of all alone. I saw it last year on a tour done for the guides of Frankfurt, but it is not accessible to the public. Thanks for your comments though. It is great to hear from those who lived there. Did you see the video of the Goethe University/IG Farben Building?
I was part of the V Corp Adjutant General Department from 1964-1965 and was housed at Gibbs Kaserne. Think our building was the 1st one on the right after you went through the gate.
@@hal9000hd We were there at the same time. Yes, our barracks were the first on the right as you came through the MP guard gate. I had a green & white motorscooter I parked behind the building.
I was in charge of like 3rd or 4th platoon. Think I lived on like the 3rd or 4th floor. Remember one night a guy tried to rape a woman at the strasse in ban station right behind the barracks.
I was at Gibbs from '87 to '90. I lived in that burned out building with HHB V Corps Artillery. I had gate guard duty a few times in the wine shop bldg. Great memories, Thank You!
@@brianrighter9130 My 1st section Chief was SSG Collazo with Sgt Harding and Sgt Williams. Then Collazo went AWOL and the Section Chief was SSG Martin and Sgt Breedveld and Sgt Shepard. My loved those days! I'm pretty sure I remember you!
I was stationed at Gibbs kaserne 87-90 in the first barracks on the right as you passed the guard shack. If you don't mind I shared your video with my group 302nd Mi BN. Frankfurt Germany.
Thanks for sharing this! I was stationed there 89-92, had my oldest son at the 97th FARMC. I was in A Company, 302md. Worked in the Abrams building. Lots of great memorites!
I was stationed there from 89-92 with HHB V Corps Artillery. Man how things have changed!! Thanks for the memories! Walking through the front gate, the old movie theater which is gone. The bowling alley where we used to drink the huge "trash can" beers.
@@frankfurtonfoottours2361 Yes, I was stationed there from 1989-1991! Thanks for the video great memories. I was there about 12 years ago and they had only finished fire station and the first 2 buildings. I lived in the 2nd building which was 709 MP BN. The Building still standing at the end was our Brigade Headquarters.(18th MP Brigade) thanks again!
Thanks! That first view was the one I had for 11 years when I took the U5 to eork as a physician in the 97th. COL Anglade 1983-1994 we lived for 3 years in Atterbury, also gone at the other side of the 97th.
My home from 1985-1987. 284th MP Company. Got there about a week after they bombed the PX in Frankfurt. Worked with some outstanding MP's during this time. THANKS to ALL!
There from Sept 67 - Aug 69. Assigned to 92nd Trans but worked at V Corps HQ, so stayed in the HCC barracks. Thanks for the video. Things look so different today. chipchapin & spec5cat descriptions are spot on for that era.
You may remember Co. D 17th. Inf. LRRPS. We had the black dinner jackets with US Paratrooper on the back in bright white letters above and below paratrooper wings, and we raised a lot of hell with everyone at the Kaserne and in town too. There was an armored unit there and you guys. Ring a bell?
I was there from 1976 until 1979. Everything has changed. However, I can remember the installation. You are correct concerning the current fire department area was a theater and a recreational building for soldiers to use. It was where i learned to do black and white photography, film development as well. Thanks for posting this. Downloaded the video for future perusing and writing to family and friends. Thanks.
Video was really great. I was stationed at HHC V Corps from Jan 68-Sep70. My room was that first building, 2nd floor, the window facing the street.. Just to let you know during those years that Kiosk that was on the corner which you showed was not there. Across from the Guard shack and across the tracks was the kiosk which sold some great wurst. At the end of the road was the Blue Eagle which was the EM club. Drinks were 30 cents, sirloin steak dinner was $2.40. Companies on Gibbs were, HHC, 92nd Trans, 308th Supply, Co D LRP, 66th Aviation and 109th MP
I was with Co. D 17Inf. LRRPS from January 68 till August 68 when we deployed to Ft. Benning for more recon training and eventually my entire company got orders for Ranger School, which I opted out of.
I was there with the 284th MP Co. 1980-82. The 2nd Barracks 2 floor. I remember the chow hall had 2 dumpsters. One labeled edible garbage and non-edible garbage. I found that to be so funny. I did live the snack shack out on the corner. I am glad it is still there.
Great video, much has changed still it brought back memories. HHC V Corps G1, 72-74, this was when Bader-Meinhof bombed the IG Farben. I lived in first barracks building for most of my time there but was moved to the third one while ours was renovated then movd back. Back then the strassenbahn tracks went across Giessener Str between the German apartments and on to the north. My brother was born at the 97th Gen Hosp in 60, back then we lived in Pioneer Housing in Hanau.
There 85-87. Worked in the Top Secret unit towards back of compound. Main memories were great beer & bad food (in chow hall). Did alot of guard duty as well in that entry shack.
Just came across your video. I was stationed there from 57-60. I was on the 4th floor of the last barracks down by the NCO club. I was in the "triple seven deuce"(7772). Signal service company.
Lived at Gibbs 83 to 85. The building at the 6:26 mark housed 19th Material Management Center, part of 3rd Support Command. There was an NCO bar in the basement of this building. The Mess Hall was on the back side of that building. I was with HHC, 3rd Support Command and our barracks was the building on the right of this one, but was torn down and replaced a few years ago.
I was a little kid when my family moved to Gibbs in 1963. We were there for a short time before moving to Edwards Kaserne. Many thanks for the walking tour. Hope you find the time to record Edwards. The street we lived on was Am Schieferstein. Our building was next to the orchard and the huge athletic field.
Thanks for sharing some of your memories. Edwards video will have to wait until summer as the weather has been so wet and windy here and I will be gone for about 5 weeks.
I was stationed at Gibbs Kaserne 1964-1965 and was part of the Adjutant General Department. I worked in the IG Farben Building. I'm very familiar with the 97th General Hospital because I left my appendix there.
I was stationed in one of the barracks that's still standing for two full years. I was there 1980 - 1981. When the Iranians took the Americans hostage and the attempted helicopter assault failed, they took the people who were burned and treated them in the 97th Hospital down the street. The story I heard when we got to Gibbs Kaserne was that those buildings were German military barracks in WWII. There used to be Falcons and Swastikas up on that building at the end of the street. When the Americans moved in they took down the Swastikas, left the falcons and just agreed from then on that they were Eagles. American Eagles. So if she has the eagles then they actually date back to WWII falcons.
I lived in the 3rd barracks down on the right in 80-81 while stationed as the unit clerk for the Army Calibration & Repair Center, Schwanheim. Remember the MP’s training for civil disturbances when the protests were happening? Can’t remember what they were protesting, but it’s been awhile and I’m old, so go figure 😂. Anyway, the rumor I heard was that Gibbs was an SS installation during WWII. Another one was that a swastika over the main doors of the HQ building was ground off and the eagle’s beak was pointed the opposite direction of the American eagle and there’s a huge underground “parking” area. Probably just barracks talk after too many biers at the Schnell Imbiss I’m thinking 😂
I was stationed at Gibbs 70-71, HHC V Corps, Great Memories. First Barracks Building on Right as you walk in. Looks like the old Dining Facility is still there also
I was stationed at 97th General Hospital 1990-92 under 7th Medcom. MOS 91 Sierra. Shoutout to MSG Easter, SFC Goodwin, and all friends I lost contact with. Not a social media person, just feeling nostalgic. Your video gave me chills when you showed the U Bahn station. I traveled to many of the local Kasernes as part of my daily duties. I even gave the final inspection (as a health inspector) to the Elvis Aron Pressley dining facility at Friedberg.My barracks were located 2nd floor at the building most adjacent to hospital (Betts Kaserne?). PT was done at Blozis fitness center. Based on what you said about no filming there, the buildings there have probably been repurposed. Not surprised about that place being the American Consulate. Let's just say the Germans loved their tunnel systems. Two awesome restaurants at the time, which I believe were on GiesserStrasse:: Forno di Oro and Wolpertinger. I'm going off of memory from 30 years ago, so there may be some fuzz. Next video Sachsenhausen? The pubs!
Unfortunately no, I've never been back. More cool story: Due to our barracks being over quarterd, I got the privilege of residing in off post housing after one year into my tour. The Army subsidized my apartment at 35 Franken Allee downtown. Had a magnificent view out of my living room window of the Frankfurt Stadthalle (where I saw the bands Rush and Primus play live) and the Messe Building (supposedly the same architect as Sears Tower in Chicago--the white pyramid on top of both buildings makes sense). Totally serious about a Sachsenhausen pub tour. If you have one already, would appreciate a link. I definitely wasn't the first soldier or the last to appreciate the Essen und Trink of that area. Ah, the Donnerkebabs!
We lived in Gibbs 66-69. Bldg 431 C-1. My father was in the 109th MP in Gibbs until he was promoted and worked in the IG Farben bldg. My mother's uncle picked us ap at Rhein Main AFB and drove us to Gibbs. He instantly recognized the eagle on the HQ building. He was stationed there in WW2 in the Wehrmacht part of tank crew if memory serves me right. There was a "German " park next to the housing area where we spent lots of time when we weren't playing AYA sports. Out the back way of the housing area across the street was a few shops where we bought candy. Down that same street there was a corner kiosk where we bought dad's beer and yes....more candy. I could go on and on about German candy, but that's another story.
As a draftees, I was happy to arrive in Frankfurt in 5/72 assigned to HHC, 5th Corps. My buds were Jimmy Wall, Glenn Bailey and 'Gentleman' Jack Watson. Also Wayne Kasiski from Motown.
@@frankfurtonfoottours2361 For sure there was - I saw many movies there and was in a bowling league at the bowling just few few building down the road there.
@@frankfurtonfoottours2361 Abrams was next to FAHS (as you remember) and that was the WAY better theater. We always preferred that one --Gibbs was for last minute decision since we lived at Gibbs housing or for seeing a really good movie again (as the movies went through all of the theaters).
Hi, this is very interesting. I was with USAG Frankfurt HQ, near the the Dental Compound 1985 (Assistant Building Coordinator) to 1988 and our HQ Company Orderly Room was in...I think at the end of the road, where that building stands in the middle, the short building to the left of that building. Our barracks was also in that building. Pulled a lot of CQ there. Sad to hear that they use that building for fire-exercises, but that's war. Good work and Thanks VERY much for posting this video.
Sorry for the confusion, the Dental Compound is/was across town from Gibbs, I just wanted to mention that I worked there, USAG Frankfurt Military Community Adjutant NCOIC, and our Orderly Room was at Gibbs. Again, Thanks a bunch for the video. Bought back a lot of memories. All the best to all...stay safe.
At 8:39 is the site of a former 2 story barrack that housed 3rd Support Command troops when I was there 1983 to 1985. SUPCOM moved to Wiesbaden in April 1985.
I lived in the kaserne directly next to where the eagle used to stand in 1982. Top floor, 4th Transportation Command. It was so neat and tidy back then. I don't recognize any of it now. The MP entrance is a wine shop! Ha ha ha a fine example of deliberate abandonment by the now-independent Germans.
They use this back building for training for the fire dept. which is next door and took over much of the Kasern property. The biggest problem that they have with the old building is that many of them are full of asbestos. So, they either tear them down, or in the case of the barracks at the front, they have been remodeled into rather nice apartments.
I was stationed there in 1968 - 1969 with the US Army Engineer Command, Headquarters company. Our barracks was not shown but was opposite the mess hall to the rear of the EM club.
Do you remember Co. D 17th. Inf LRRPS? We had the black dinner jackets with the US Paratrooper on the back above and below bright Paratrooper Wings. Ring a bell?
I was with C 17th Sig. 88-89 after transferring from B out in Hochst. Our old building was torn down at some point.🙁 It sat where the school is in the video. Anyone here during that time remember the madness when they opened the Dominoes pizza?
The newer building immediately on the right were built on the grassy areas in front of the 3 story barracks buildings. V Corps barracks were in one of those 3 story buildings in the mid 80's.
I was in those barracks until they moved us across the street from the Abrams building. HHC V Corps TACCP 1986-1990. Motorpool was Gibbs Kasserne where I worked. That Brat stand was there then.
@@marcgreenfield5139 We may have lived on Gibbs at the same time then? Cool. I was in the building just to the right of the MMC building (the one at the end of the main, with the eagle over the entry.) The mess hall was right out our barracks door. Our barracks had one or two V Corps folks living there. Most of the building was HHC, 3rd Support Command. I used to go the the NCO club in the basement of the Eagle building. One of the bartenders was Sergeant Sanchez. Once in a while he would bring his young son with him.
@@marcgreenfield5139I to was hhc Vcorps taccp from 82 to 84 also second floor first building to the right.i don't recognize much but don't remember you,small world
I was stationed there back in 1968- 70 , right across the mass hall ,I was with headquarters Engineers commander , our unit patch was changed to the white star above the castle ,in red,white and Blue lot of memories were made there ....
@@frankfurtonfoottours2361 back then our motorpool was right across the PX ,barber shop and movie theater ,,it's been so long that I have forgotten what other shops were there and that was left as soon as you came in the gate , and our building was the one right across the mess hall ,the Eagle's nest was an everyday thing if you liked german beer ,friday's and saturday we had life music ,the rest of the week we just drank beer ,woopti-doo
Ye Gods! I was at Gibbs Kaserne in 1981-1982. The granite eagle that stood guard over the Enlisted Men's Club has been removed and placed in the fire dept parking lot
I was with Co. D 17th. Inf. LRRP stationed at Gibbs Kaserne in 1968. We were an Airborne unit attached to NATO and trained with the German Paratroopers and the British in another part of Germany. We were a spec op company, highly trained and participated in some NATO ops ie. attacking a German Nike Missile site unannounced. Also, counterinsurgency training and an op against the British. We redeployed back to Benning in '68 where we spent time in the field training and also with Marine Recon in the swamps. We also trained for a short time in crowd control for a political convention. After several months training and maintaining our jump status by jumping with the cherries from jump school, my entire company received orders for Ranger School. I think it was the first time ever an entire company got orders for Ranger training without applying. We were all accepted, but I chose not to go as I was sick of training and told the Old Man, "Just give me my orders for Nam because that was where everyone was going after Ranger school. He was surprised I didn't want to go to Ranger training because of the reputation of being a Ranger commanded much respect, but as I said, I had been training the entire time of my enlistment and wanted to get going to the real thing which I ended up in Nam in January of '68 with A Co. 3rd. Bat. 503 Inf. 173rd. Airborne Brigade in the Central Highlands.
I was stationed in what was the HHD 93d MP Bn. It was the building to the right of the one at the very end. It is very sad to see so much history wiped out but it still looks better than it did when we gave it back at first,
I've seen other sources reference barracks at Gibbs Kaserne back to 1952. My Dad was in the 322 Signal Bn from 1950 to 1952. His service records were lost in the St Louis fire. Do you think these buildings pre-date 1952?
Got many a Rindswurst mit und Pommes Brotchen at that li'l Imbuss back in the late 80s while stationed at Gibbs. I was in the last set of barracks to the back right across from the Chow hall and coin laundry, that bldg is gone. Charley Company 17th Signal, we supported the Emergency Action Center in the basement of the IG Farben Bldg aka Abrams complex. i see they removed the eagle from the top of the bldg at the end of the road.
The Eagle is sitting over in the Fire Dept. area, next door. I saw it a few years ago while touring the fire dept. but didn't get a photo of it. Wish I taken a moment and got one.
The 1st building on the right was HHC V Corps the 1 at app. 6 min used to be a mess hall .on the left when you enter was a barber, apex, cafeteria and dry cleaning next on left was motor pool and the bowling alley.
The Fire Department sits where the Movie Theater, Motor Pool, Bowling Alley and Gym used to be. The fancy apartment immediately on the right from the fire department (3:06) are built on what used to be a grassy median in front of the older, three story buildings behind.
