I started working for the 435th SPS on May 1st 1985. I thought it was good opportunity to bypass the German Military draft. I had no problem serving my country, but not for 300 DM per month. My father in-law at that time told me they were looking for employees at Rhein-Main Air Base. The only problem I had was that my english wasn't too good. In fact it was really bad. I remember Mr. Grohman, the CSU Commander at that time, gave me a folder with all kinds of regulations (I guess). I didn't understand a word.

I learned english very quickly. Everyone on my flight helped me. Fortunately, my Flight Desk Sgt spoke fluent german. His parents were German. The more english I learned to understand, the more I liked the job. After working 3 years for the law enforcement side of the house, I (my ex-wife) decided to move on to the Passtelle. It was not the same. I found new friends with SSgt Lesslie and Sgt Davis. In 1989 I moved over to the 435th Supply Squadron. You know how it is... moooonnnney. I made about 500 DM more than working as a cop. I worked there until 1993 as a Stock Control Clerk. We supported the maintenance team for the C-5 and C-141. That's where I worked during the first Gulf War. I divorced my wife in 1991. In 1993 I worked as a Technical Translator in Base Supply. In 1995 we all lost our jobs because of the reduction in forces of American troops in Germany.

In 1996 I found a job at Mannheim-Seckenheim working for the U.S. Army as an Administration Clerk. They called it DRMO. I called it a junk yard. This was only a temporary job, so in 1997 I came back to Frankfurt. I started working in a radio station near the Walldorf sand pits. That station was in the middle of the woods. In 2005 the radio station was closed. Since then I've been working as the Inbound Manager in a German warehouse. We run the logistics for the American telephone company Avaya. In 2001 I married my second wife. And in November of that year our beautiful daughter was born. It was one of most exciting moments in my life.

If you're up on your Duetsche, please visit my German web page. It will soon be available in English.

-Stefan Nardelli

This site is a work in progress. Please tell other 435 SPS members to contact me and add their info. Let's all reconnect. Thanks! I really appreciate it.