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Rosenthal names names
Robert M. Rosenthal
provided some names:
In 1961 the CO of the APC was Lt.
Col. Robert B. Randle. He was a great guy. He wanted discipline
but had an enlisted unit that was composed of mostly artsy-fartsy guys
who couldn't salute to save themselves. That group included my childhood
friend Steven Segal who was an enlisted man at APC when
I arrived. Steve ended up in the publicity departments of Warners and
Fox.
I arrived from the USACGSC, all gong ho, and
insisted on military discipline from the company, me and another newly
arrived officer (2nd Lt. Charles R. Grizzle), and Col.
Randle loved it. In fact he arranged for "Chuck" and I to have Saturday
morning duty (he asked us to, not ordered) just to instill some military
bearing into the men. As I'm typing this my memories are flooding back.
In checking my 201 file (now I know why I
kept this) I see that Col. Randle gave me the following MOSes prior to
my leaving for France: 8500 Pictorial Unit Commander, 8511 Motion
Picture and TV Director and 8510 which, if I recall, was a staff
pictorial MOS.
Other officers at APC in 1961 were:
Capt. James A Harrington, Capt. James F. Lane, 1st Lt. Victor D. Hunter,
1st Lt. Michael A. Norell, 2nd Lt. Duane Austin, 2nd Lt. James R.
Rogers, CWP W-2 Charles R. Lilley. The APC's adjutant was
Maj. Sarah M. Benham WAC.
When I was transferred to Europe (Operation
Roundout) I ended up at 1st Signal Group in Orleans, France, along with
about 25 2nd Lts. I was last on the list as we all went in to see
Col. McGovern for duty assignments, and, bluntly, he
needed us like a hole in the head. I watched as Lt. after Lt. was made
comm center officer or code officer on the graveyard shifts. I noted
that the Group had 15 pictorial detachments and talked McGovern into
making me Pictorial Officer EURCOMZ. Had a ball. Even went to the Cannes
Film Festival in dress blues!!
If you want a few anecdotes, just ask.
Harry Franklin?? Oh, boy, and I was in Paris with him.
I have pictures from those days.
Robert
Robert M. Rosenthal
rosenthalx@aol.com
310-286-7691
fax: 310-286-0121
(Submitted October 30, 2001; updated September 14,
2020.)
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