Wilmer Probst

81 years old

Born 1934 in Story County, Iowa

Lives in Truman, MN
Korean War and Cold War-era U.S. Army Veteran
 

Wilmer Probst was working as an Iowa farmhand in 1957 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After his basic training he was preparing to head to Korea when the Korean War ended. Without a war to fight, Probst was reassigned with the 1^st Division 41^st Artillery and shipped out to Germany.

“We had an Honest John rocket in out outfit,” he recalled. The Honest John was a large,truck mounted rocket with nuclear warhead capabilities. Army Honest John battalions were first deployed in Europe in early 1954. It was the very beginnings of the European Cold War in the wake of World War II.

Although his main duty was working as a parts supply clerk, Probst found himself learning to drive a tank, and getting behind the wheel of large Army cargo trucks, driving supplies long distances across that part of Europe. “We'd get sent on bug-out drives and have to bivouac until we were able to get back to our company,” he said. “ I remember having to sleep on the cold ground under my truck. I woke up many mornings with snow on the ground. I remember that well.”

U.S forces were stationed along the boarders of the eastern block counties such as East Germany. It was a time just before the Berlin Wall was built. Probst said U.S. Army and East German soldiers would put their weapons down and “we'd play cards with the guys from the other side. They didn't want war anymore than we did,” he said. Even though the two sides got along, Probst said U.S. Troops were now allowed to drive over the border into East Germany.

After serving for 2 years in the Army, Probst was discharged and join the Army Reserves, serving for another four years. Following his tour of duty serving our country, the native Iowan returned to farming.

Story and Image © 2016 Joseph Kreiss Photography