Thomas H. Buschke (Major, Retired)
After graduation from high school in 1954 I attended Sierra Junior College (then in Auburn) for two years. Just before graduation I joined the Army National Guard unit in Auburn and remained assigned through 1959.
After graduation in 1956 I attended the University of Nevada at Reno for three years, majoring in Civil Engineering. I was also in the ROTC program but only for three years instead of four. In June 1959 I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering and the rank 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers.
During the summers of 1956 -1959 I worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in northern California, north of Redding working on dam projects and relocation of county roads.
In November 1959 I reported to my first military assignment. It was at Fort Belvoir, Virginia (then the home of the Corps of Engineers) and attended the Officer’s Basic Engineer Course. After graduating, I remained at Fort Belvoir for a short time working in the G-3 (Operations) Division, of the Post Headquarters.
In early 1960 I continued with my twenty-one year career with the US Army, mostly at various overseas assignments. Here is a list in order of assignment:
- Germany (Frankfurt and Bad Hersfeld)
- Vietnam (Saigon) engineer staff officer
- Fort Belvoir (Officer’s Advanced Course)
- Rolla, Missouri (University of Missouri) Masters Degree in Civil Engineering
- Okinawa (2nd Logistical Command) Commander, 185th Engineer Company
- Vietnam (Hoc Mon) Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese 5th Engineer Group.
- Germany (Karlsruhe) XO 249th Engineer Battalion and Facilities Engineer
- Germany (Pirmasens) Facilities Engineer
- Retired in 1980 in Pirmasens Germany.
- Became a Civilian working for the Corps of Engineers 1981
- Purchased a home near Pirmasens in 1985
- Germany (Grafenhoehr) Master Planner for the military community
- Germany (Seckenheim) Installation Coordinator, Hammonds Barracks
- Germany (Wildflecken) Master Planner for the military community
- Germany (Zweibruecken) Engineer at 60th Ordinance Group
- During the closure of US bases in Europe (1991-1995) assisted in the closure of the US Army Military Posts at Pirmasens and Zweibruecken
- Germany (Kaislerslautern) Master Planner for the military community
- Retired in 1989 from Civil Service
- Retirement home is in Lemberg, Germany near Kaiserslautern.
- Today keeps busy with maintenance of the house and garden and spending time with my wife and two boys.