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Dave Smith took these photos
during his early amateur years with a camera, prior to his return
to civilian life in 1966 and an eventual career in commercial
photography in Pittsburgh, PA. He experimented briefly with an
Argus 35mm at Ft. Gorden in 1964, but it was at the Service Club
photo lab in Kirchgoens where he learned true camera basics,
and where he was introduced to darkroom work - all in black &
white, of course, back then. With a Pentax 35mm purchased at
the Ayers PX, and additional lenses from German photo stores,
Dave was a natural. He produced not only the sampling of photos
in this collection, but other excellent photos that can be seen
in the "3rd Armored Nukes" section of the Cold War
Index. What's also notable about all of his photos in the website
is that none has ever been published before, although they were
certainly equal to the work of the photographers at Div. HQ PIO
and at 143rd Signal Bn. |
1st Brigade M-60 tank display at Ayers Kaserne for incoming
Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Walter Kerwin, Jr., in March, 1965
(See caption below.)
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Dave Smith recalls that several days were needed
to paint and shine the tanks, prior to the tedious task of perfectly
aligning all twenty (ten in each row). He believes that three
units were involved -- the 2/33, 3/33, and 2/32 Armor. Despite
the time, effort, and truly dramatic results, the CG landed in
his helicopter and was quickly driven in a jeep through the middle
of the display with hardly a passing glance. |
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