Cold War village receives Army Aviation Award

By Capt. Jaymon Bell (12th Combat Aviation Brigade)December 20, 2016

Cold War village receives Army Aviation Award
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Chistopher Waters, the commander of 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, congratulates Lorenz Knecht during an Army Aviation Association of America award ceremony in the Village of Steinstücken near Berlin, Germany Dec. 14, 2016. The Order of Sain... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cold War village receives Army Aviation Award
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pictured from left to right, Col. Chistopher Waters, the commander of 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Lorenz Knecht, Brigetta Rossnagel, and Command Sgt. Maj. Osvaldo Martell, pose for a picture after an Army Aviation Association of America award cerem... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BERLIN-- Col. Christopher Waters, the commander of 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, presented the Order of Saint Michael to Günter Rossnagel and the residents of Steinstücken, Dec. 14, here, at the Steinstücken community center.

The Order of Saint Michael is an award given by the Army Aviation Association of America and recognizes individuals and or groups who have contributed significantly to the promotion of Army Aviation. Town representative Lorenz Knecht accepted the award on behalf of the Steinstücken citizens and Frau Brigetta Rossnagel accepted the award on behalf of her husband Günter.

Both Günter Rossnagel and the residents of Steinstücken have a long history and relationship with Army Aviation dating back to 1961 when East German soldiers occupied the village.

Retired Gen. Lucius D. Clay and aviators from the Berlin Brigade spearheaded the defense of Steinstücken by landing a helicopter in the village to ensure the citizens of U.S. protection.

Daily flights of Steinstücken continued until the construction of an access road in 1972.

For 11 years the village remained a small island of freedom in sea of communism.

Rossnagel has held an active leadership and partnership role with the United States Army Berlin Aviation Detachment and the "Checkpoint Charlie" chapter of the Army Aviation Association of America since relocating to Steinstücken in 1980.

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The 12th Combat Aviation Brigade trains and conducts aviation support across the full spectrum of unified land operations for United States Army Europe, European Command and our allied and NATO partners.

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