I was the V Corps Staff Judge Advocate in 1983 to 85.  Two of our great friends were Ken and Barbara Teel.  We had some wonderful times with them, including a few days right before Christmas in Nuernberg.  When they let us know that they were getting ready to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary, I wrote the following poem.

Oh, the RAFT came from the first letters in our last names (Rice, Arwood, Fitzgerald and Teel).


Teel Times Forty

Ken and Barbie, Barbie and Ken,
Forty years and back again.
Some people are special, some people are kin,
Ken and Barbie, Barbie and Ken.
We’re not talking dolls, no this is for real,
They’re warm, loving people, with the last name of Teel

Just one assignment with the Teels, but memories to cherish.
Sometimes formal with our Deutsche Freunde, and sometimes downright garish.
We formed a social group, with Fitz and Arwood staffed.
Restaurants in Frankfurt were invaded by the RAFT.
We stuffed four trees in the red wagon, the holiday was a treat,
But turning the wagon around proved a very difficult feat.

Memories of Deutschland in l983,
Christmas in Nuernberg was all that it could be.
Could breakfast really last three hours?
I can’t believe it’s true.
But it takes time to laugh that hard,
and we laughed till we were blue.
We visited the Christkindlesmarkt, that capped an incredible year,
We ate bratwurst and sauerkraut, and washed it down with beer.
The restaurant had four stars, but the waiter was a bore,
We ended up with couscous, and then we laughed some more.

So here’s to the Teels in their fortieth year,
To their family, their church, and to all who can hear.
This couple is special, the salt of the earth,
For working together or just making mirth.
We are better and happier because we’ve known them,
So we’ll stop this poem and sit down and phone them.