WIESBADEN, Germany -- When Wolfgang Kuhl, a German local national, begin his career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Europe, he could not have imagined the impact his 44 years of service would have on generations of U.S. Soldiers.
Over a span of more than four decades, Kuhl's work led to the successful completion of numerous multi-million dollar constructions projects in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey.
His latest projects were design modifications that will improve the qualify-of-life for the Soldiers and their families as they move into the Wiesbaden townhouses in late 2012.
"The work that Kuhl did here was very important," David Peng, Hessen Area engineer said. "On the surface, it may appear to have been just paperwork, but what he really did was to improve safety, add storage space, and increase the closet sizes in the new townhouses. For the families, these improvements will be immeasurable," Peng said.
According to Peng, Kuhl also worked on modifications for the Wiesbaden Army Lodge, the entertainment center, and Aukamm housing.
After his years of service, Kuhl said he will always have good memories of his time spent with USACE.
"I really enjoyed working in Frankfurt because there was such a diverse group of people and customers there," Kuhl said. "I worked with more than 80 nations, and I did a lot of traveling to their countries. I really liked the cultural diversity."
Kuhl said he cannot recall the number of commanders he has worked for over the years, but if he had to guess, he thinks it has been more than 12. Col. D. Peter Helmlinger, district commander, is his last.
Helmlinger said Kuhl has supported generations of U.S. Soldiers and helped to bridge the cultural gap between the U.S. and Germany.
"Every time he drives pass a caserne or a building that he worked on while at the Corps, I hope he knows it is a lasting monument to his work here," Helmlinger said. "I thank him for his great service. He will always be a part of the Corps' family."
After decades of getting up early, Kuhl said he is looking forward to retirement and sleeping in a little.
"On the first day of my retirement, I am going to get up late, go for a walk, and start my wife's 'honey-do' list. Then, I am going to enjoy my life and travel with my wife," Kuhl said.
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