Cold War US Army tank driver at the Iron Curtain (282)

Cold War Conversations

Brian Regal entered the US Army in 1977 and served on the M60A1 tank initially as a driver. The M60A1 was America's primary main battle tank during the Cold War, with initial deployment in 1960 and combat service through to 1991.

After tank school, Brian was sent to West Germany where he was assigned to the 3/35 Armor in the Bamberg Garrison as part of the 1st Armored Division US Army, where the 3/35 was tasked to fight a Warsaw Pact attack across the Czechoslovak and East German borders. Brian was also his company’s nuclear, biological and chemical warfare specialist.

He describes in detail his training, how patrols were conducted along the borders, an incident with a Soviet Military Liaison mission car, the war games amongst the West German civilians, as well as practice alerts.

It’s a great chat and Brian is frank about his role and the scant expectations for survival if war did come.

He is now Dr. Brian Regal, Professor for the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine at Kean University, New Jersey

web page: https://sites.google.com/a/kean.edu/brian-regal-phd/

0:00 Introduction and Brian Regal's initial days in the US Army

1:53 Request for donations to support the podcast

7:00 Brian's decision to join the Army and training experiences

23:41 Arrival at the first duty station in Bamburg Garrison, Bavaria

28:57 Introduction to M60A1 tank and its features

37:56 NBC training and nuclear chemical defense

52:54 Practice alerts and close calls during the Cold War

1:01:05 Rules of engagement at the border and description of fortifications

1:07:58 Interaction with German civilians and Soviet military during service

1:31:08 Journey to becoming a tank commander

1:35:48 Episode extras and appreciation for financial supporters

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