http://www.5min.com/Video/Touring-Abandoned-Military-Stations-in-Berlin-517130555
"Harry Pohlabel." When I knew him, he was called "Tony" Pohlabel and was a SP5, engaged in a running feud with FSB brass. He once claimed to have converted to the Sikh religion just so he could grow a beard. Credit where credit due... he was a mechanical mastermind, always working on cars at the Auto Craft Shop. He manufactured, by hand, a set of the green USA issue plates for his unregistered car. He was caught only because he hadn't used reflective paint when he finished them and the MP's noticed this one night while driving behind him.
I either forgot, or never knew, that he stayed in Germany after ETS.
Tony was a great guy... and I liked him immensely.
He was always ready with a helping hand.
He, also, was always looking for ways to scam authority.
He was a living, breathing "Archie"... could've played the roll without a script.
(Blog Entry - 21 APR 11)
My one outstanding memory of him was from an annual MWR Christmas-time play. This was in '74 or '75. The play was titled, "Father Ruffian" and had been written by one Lucien Agniel, who was in Berlin with RIAS. At the time, the theater was located on the Clay HQ compound, on the bottom floor of what was also the AFN enlisted billets.
Tony Pohlabel was in the production, playing the role of a WWII Major General at the Battle Of The Bulge. During the premier, with the CG Berlin Bde attending, somebody upstairs in the billeting area began blasting their stereo. Tony, in costume, was dispatched to ask that the music be turned down. To hear him tell it... he knocked on the door... was ignored... knocked again, louder... was ignored... banged on the door... the door opened and the occupant began to say, "What the F**K do you..." saw the two stars on Tony's uniform collar, snapped to attention (nearly breaking his back) while yelling, "Sorry Sir!"
Tony played it straight, told the guy to turn down the music... then departed quickly before anything else could be said... or realized. We all laughed about the incident for weeks after.
More on Lucien Agniel:
http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=526
-Fini
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