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Military Presence in Hardheim
Regarding the United States Army - we first came to Hardheim in 1961 from the best I can ascertain from military records
and web searches. The site was been originally occupied by Charlie Battery 1/67 ADA which was (possibly) an Ajax (smaller
version of the Nike) missile unit. So, from 1961 to 1966, the unit may have been organized under 7th Army. Reports vary
- some indicate that the site was never Ajax - but always Nike Hercules.
Gary McCurdy (who apparantly took to heart
those conversations about keeping everything the Army ever gave him) came across an old history paper provided to all
new soldiers to the unit and forwarded to me for our enjoyment. Wonderful history for those who, like me, enjoy
that kind of thing. Thanks Gary!
Click here to download the PDF
Around 14 JUL 1967 (again, as reported by SP5 Gary McCurdy or defacto unit historian), we changed our patches and (maybe)
our equipment. We were now Charlie Btry 3/71 ADA, 32nd Army Air Defense Command and we absolutely had Nike Hercules
horses in our barns. We were still the closest site to the Czechoslovakian border.
Just before the site closed in 1991, the missiles were again changed out to the Hawk missile systems (I believe) and the unit
reorganized into Delta 6/52 ADA. The mission never changed.
Any specific help on the history form those who were there would be appreciated.
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Hardheim Military Presence Elsewhere...
(09 JUL 08 - Argentina): Lucio Seeber writes, " En 1826 tres hermanos SEEBER nacidos en Hardheim dos de ellos mercenarios
al servicio del Brasil,vencidos por la que sería la República Argentina en la batalla de Ituzaingo,
llegaron a Buenos Aires como prisioneros de guerra donde se afincaron y prosperaron fundando familias cuyos descendientes
son hoy en día cerca de 2.000 personas entre los que me cuento ,con 86 años y 4 hijos y 6 nietos Soy arquitecto
y vivo en Buenos Aires. Envío un cordial abrazo a los millares de SEEBER dispersos en el mundo" Rough
translation: In 1826 three brothers (family name SEEBER) were born in Hardheim. Two served as mercenary soldiers
in the service of the Brazil, which was overcome by the Argentine Republic in the battle of Ituzaingo. They arrived
at Buenos Aires as military prisoners of war where they settled down and prospered, founding families whose descendants
are nowadays near 2,000 people. I count myself as one of those decendants, and am 86 years and 4 children and 6 grandsons.
I am an architect and living in Buenos Aires. Sending a warm hug to the military sons and daughters of dispersed SEEBER
around the world.
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The Township of Hardheim
FAMOUS SONS OF HARDHEIM:
(~and I'll bet a pfenning that you never knew that Hardheim had famous heros such as
...)
Ignaz Schwinn (1860 - 1948) was born right here in Hardheim. Who, you ask? Why none other than the founder of
the American bicycle company Schwinn who brought us balloon tires & kickstands (both Schwinn ideas) and models like the
Black Phantom and (my personal favorite - although I got the Sears knockoff version) the STING-RAY with its high
rise handlebars and banana seat. My Sears model also had a three speed shifter on the cross-bar (no reverse).
Schwinn was a bicycle manufacturing legend in the United States for decades - but slipped his chain when the company
didn't see the current mountain bicycle craze coming. They later regrouped, reformed, and are now making the mountain bikes
and the retros.
(Joseph) Julius Heffner (1877 - 1851). Painter of oil and watercolors typically of idealistic rural Black Forest life. I can't
find a lot about Julius other than a few of his paintings for sale on auction sites and a section of the Hardheim Museum (did
you know that there even was one?) dedicated to his work. I found a few of his paintings selling for around $4,000 USD on
the web, so a Hardheim legend is probably within the price range of most of us.
Walter Hohmann (1880 - 1945). The son of a local doctor, Hohmann became an engineer and published a book called Die Erreichbarkeit
der Himmelskörper (The Attainability of the Celestial Bodies) in 1925. The spiraling orbits used to this day are still known
as the Hohmann Transfer Orbit. Remember that little rocketship in the park overlooking the town (aka: hang glider hill) --
I can bet I know who that is dedicated to ... and it wasn't us and our selfless defense of Hardheim, Germany, and the free
world...
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