Earl Freudenberg: Looking Back 51 Years To My American Forces Network, Europe, Days

Fifty one years ago I was preparing to leave Frankfurt, West Germany after spending over a year in Uncle Sam’s Army at the American Forces Network, Europe. At that time, I didn’t realize how fortunate I was to have the assignment at the studio known as “Wonders in a chromium box.”

It started out in late spring of 1972 with orders from the Army to Vietnam. I was sent to Oakland, California and spent four days waiting on my final overseas assignment.

During this time, our group went to see the Oakland A’s and we were greeted by Gene Autry. The western movie star and singer thanked us for our service and told us to enjoy the baseball game. After looking at my name, Mr. Autry asked where I was from. I proudly said, “Chattanooga, Tennessee, sir.” He responded, “Chattanooga Choo Choo.”

On Thursday afternoon, during formation, we received word from President Nixon that a large group was being diverted to Europe: I was among that group.

After a six-hour flight from Ft. Dix, New Jersey, we arrived at the Rhein Mein Base near Frankfurt and rode by train to the beautiful city of Heidelberg.

When the First Sergeant learned of my radio background, I was driven, in the Colonel’s car, back to Frankfurt to begin what would become the high point of my 55 years of broadcasting.

After walking up a long flight of steps at the studios on Bertramstrasse, I was greeted by SFC Joe Maggart, a sergeant who gave me a classical music audition. I told him, “Where I’m from its Dolly Parton, Roy Acuff, Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb.” All of a sudden he burst into laughter. I wondered to myself, what did I say wrong. The sergeant responded, “I’m from Kingsport – Johnson City and just wanted to mess with a fellow Tennessean."

The sergeant made me feel at home and said I’d be starting a morning country show next Monday as the present host was rotating back to the states. It had to have been the prayers of my mother and grandmother because no one at the network knew what I sounded like. To my knowledge they’d never heard my audition tape.

“Town and Country” ran every morning at 5 a.m. on the entire network and was heard over most of Europe. With the help of Bud Miller, one of the network program directors, we chose “Chattanooga Choo Choo” by Floyd Cramer as the theme song. The program was mostly requests for country songs from the past 30 years. The AFN postman said “Town and Country” received more mail that any other during his 25 years as AFN mailman. This writer still has many of those cards and letters.

One listener from England wrote, “I realize your program is intended for American Servicemen, but thought you would like to know I enjoy listening. I earn my living milking cows rising at 5:00. I listen while drinking my tea. Please play Johnny Cash singing that song about prison.”

Another listener wrote, “I am a 14-year old German school girl. I like country music and listen to your program every morning. I’ve a little problem: I don’t understand your first name, please spell it one time.“

There was the letter from a young Army specialist who rode his bicycle to work every morning. The soldier said, “I always fasten to my bike my radio as I will not miss your show.”

An SFC at the Frankfurt hospital said, “I listen to you faithfully six days a week. Please play, ‘Satin Sheets,’ by Jeannie Pruett, ‘Take Me home Country Roads,’ by John Denver and ‘Does your ring hurt my finger’ by Charlie Pride.”

Special recognition goes to AFNE music Liberian Gisela Brertkopt. Ms. Brertkopt was a long time employee of the network and knew all types of music. The AFN music library was one of the largest in the world. Ms. Brertkopt was most helpful in finding songs our listeners were requesting.

Part of this writer’s assignment was to interview some of the country singers who came to entertain the troops. There were conversations with Dottie West, Donna Fargo, Red Sovine, Hank Thompson, the Wilburn Brothers and Tommy Cash, Johnny’s brother.

Although I didn’t get to interview Glen Campbell and Anne Murray, there was the short conversation with Mr. Campbell when I met him face to face coming out of the men’s room. I asked the singer his favorite song to sing on stage. He responded, "It’s not a song but my favorite is my narration, “Friends” from the Galveston album. The singer said he wrote the words as a tribute to all his fans and friends.

A big AFN fan was Hoagie Lauer, who lived in Frankfurt and loved country music. Mr. Lauer and his wife took us to the small city of “Freudenberg, Germany” where my family most likely came from.

During that year I was able to produce “From life to Legend” a tribute to Hank Williams and “Gentleman Jim” highlighting Jim Reeves' career.

This writer hosted several other shows at the network including the “Golden Record Gallery," featuring number one songs from the 1940s to the 1960s.

The most memorable event during my Army tour was a telephone call from the Frankfurt Airport. It was from Tennessee Senator Bill Brock, who along with Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, was on the way to NATO headquarters.

Senator Brock said if there was anything I needed just let him know. I told the senator it was so good to hear a voice from home (Chattanooga).

While stationed in Frankfurt, the American Forces Network, Europe celebrated its 30th anniversary. Highlighting the event were concerts by Neil Sedaka and the Raspberries. They sang all our favorite songs.

Former President Dwight Eisenhower wrote, “The network first went on the air from London in 1943. From those war days to the present, the mission has never changed. Because the network has so ably fulfilled its mission not only to our servicemen, but to people of other nations, it is a pleasure for me to say congratulations and to wish the American Forces Network many more years of successful operation. “

AFNE’s director of program operations, the late Paul Kryer, said at the time the network had the potential to reach 21 million people when the microphone was opened. Mr. Kryer taught us to be prepared when going on the air.

A few weeks after returning home several original recordings of my shows came in the mail from Mr. Kryer. He wrote a nice letter and said he missed our conversations about country music. Mr. Kryer was a good friend of the late Jim Reeves who even offered him a job after performing in Germany.

Many of the professional broadcasters, both military and civilian, that I worked with have passed on. One of those professionals, from whom this writer learned so much about radio was Trent Christman, who wrote the book “Brass Button Broadcasters.”

Although his book is out of print, it still serves as one of the most comprehensive histories of military broadcasting. Mr. Christman served both in and out of military broadcasting including working for the NBC Network.

While stationed at AFNE, the network had 45 AM and FM transmitters. They included the 150,000 watts transmitter from near Frankfurt, one of the most powerful in the world. AFNE received mail from East Germany; one listener from behind the iron curtain wrote her favorite country singer was Hank Williams.

Not every person who applies is selected for a job in military broadcasting. Some recognizable names from the Chattanooga area are WFLI’s Johnny Eagle, WDEF’s Dick Davis and WDOD radio and WDEF Television news anchor Jerry Brown.

What really makes this writer feel especially proud is when someone at the mall or in the grocery store says they listened to our program every morning on AFNE. I was honored in 1972-73 to have been a very small part of the VOICE that brought a touch of home to our troops in Europe.