My arrival at 2 (F) Wing was in the latter part of October 1952 - the exact date remains a bit of a blur. I was single status at the time and I lived in barracks during my tour at Grostenquin.My arrival at 2 (F) Wing was somewhat unique. I had been assigned as "Cargo Escort" to a shipment of five Telecom trailers for SHAPE HQ at Fontainbleau. I embarked Montreal on a Cunard freighter "SS Asia" and we landed Le Havre some eleven days later after an interesting crossing. I was only the third passenger ever on this ship and I was assigned the "Hospital Cabin" as quarters. I was met at Le Havre by a USA "Equipment Pick-up Party" to which trailers were released. With help from the Cunard staff, we plotted the trip to 2 (F) Wing via Paris, Metz, Faulquemont and arrived at the station after a cross country adventure of some 30 hours. I have many memories of the station where, on arrival, I found a station under construction and there was only one road which went from the main gate to the MSE Section. The Hanger Line was complete. The "circle road" through the quarters, messes, and buildings area was still under construction. The Alsace "gumbo" required staff to be issued with rubber boots for wear till the end of 1952 and into early 1953.
There was no central heating plant operational as yet. The Station CE Section plus Hanger Line personnel installed Herman Nelson heaters in each half of the barrack blocks. These provided heat for a couple of hours in the evening and also the morning for the personnel to go to bed and to rise for duty in some semblance of warmth. There was only one common Mess dining room and this served all staff on a shift basis. It was the warmest place on the station and one always hoped to be in the last sitting in order to enjoy the warmth for a longer period. The barracks and other buildings were the French military's first attempt using pre-fabbed building systems. Some of the panels did not fit and so we had the pleasure of constant "air-conditioning" - winter and summer. The hot water supply did come on line until December 1952 - we got accustomed to "refreshing showers" and "cold water shaves". The recreational facilities were not yet constructed. Initial programs were nightly films, twice weekly bus runs into Metz for personnel interested in swimming at the "Piscine", and a survey for skiing opportunities in the Vosge Mountains. The local village and town cafes and bars were popular with the staff. Tours did not begin until the spring of 1953. The Recreation Centre complex did not start until 1953 although plans were being worked of from opening day of the Station. The Post Exchange (PX or Commissary) set up was undertaken in conjunction with Central Warehouse, the American PX System, local suppliers, etc. opened in early 1953.