Trent Ruble's Blog: The Other Way It Is - Posts Tagged "communist"

In the early 1980s, while I was enlisted in the United States Air Force, I had the opportunity to visit communist East Germany. It was known among aircrew members at the time that, if we wore our uniforms, we were allowed to enter East Germany and return safely to the West. Although I very much considered the Soviets and their satellites to be our enemies, I'd always been fascinated by the mystery of the communist world. So, when my fellow airman, Todd Vangundy, and I found ourselves assigned to a mission to Tempelhof Airport in West Berlin, we made sure to pack our dress blues. In those days we were not allowed to wear work uniforms (flight suits) off base like service members do today.



Upon our arrival in Berlin we quickly unloaded the giant cargo plane and then proceeded to our room to change clothes. We next made our way to the Berlin Wall's Checkpoint Charlie, the designated crossing for Allied military personnel wanting access to East Berlin. However, prior to crossing over to the dark side, we were required to attend a briefing. The only thing I remember from the briefing is what we were told about returning; once we entered the passageway back to the West, we were not to stop walking for any reason.

At the end of the briefing we proceeded through the Iron Curtain to East Berlin. If I recall, the crossing was only about 20 or 30 yards long. At the other end was a gate or door on one side and a guard shack on the other. We proceeded through the gate and into the red state.

Todd and I toured around the city noticing immediately how quiet and drab it was when compared to the West. However, the people we met were warm and friendly. We ate lunch in a hotel where, at least on the inside, it seemed quite lively. Upon paying our bill I received coins back as change and noticed that they felt more like plastic than metal. I still have one of those plastic coins today. After several hours we made our way back to the crossing. It was here that I nearly caused an international incident.

Todd and I approached the gate and he went through first. I followed and instantly heard the East German guard yelling at me in German. At that time I wasn't far removed from my high school German class but, even so, I couldn't understand anything the guard was saying. It didn't take long to figure it out, though. Upon looking back I saw the guard pointing at the wide open gate while screaming at me. I knew he wanted me to return and close the gate. Even in the midst of the situation I wondered why the gate didn't close automatically. But I wasn't going back. All I could think of at the time was what we'd been told in our pre-crossing briefing; "Whatever you do, do not stop walking once you start through the passageway." I, for one, did not want to spend the rest of my life in the Eastern Bloc! I continued walking and the guard continued screaming. I have never been so relieved as I was when I was completely through that passageway and back in the good old Western World! I have always hoped that, because I'd left the gate open, some desperate East Germans were able to escape! (Not likely.)