|
Ray Nesbit shared
his memories and added several names to the Personnel Roster:
More information about Lloyd
Battista was provided by Ray
Nesbit, in response to an old query by Jim
Burrus. Ray told Jim, "I noted on the APC website you
wanted info on Lloyd Battista. Just Google him and you can find
many hits with all kind of info. I was at APC from 1961-1964 in
the TV Division. Lloyd was a SP4 who worked in the studio
as a production specialist. He and Peter Bonerz were
our experienced actors and both went on to successful careers. LT
Tom Morton was assigned to the Mobile TV Unit,
so you probably worked with him". Jim had previously
inquired, "I was at APC in 1961-1962, There was a soldier
names Lloyd Battista there. I
believe he was an actor. Do you have any information after
leaving APC?" Jim also wrote, "I was assigned to the first
mobile color tv unit at APC. We did a segment about basic
training at Ft. Monmouth. This was in 1961-1962. I really would
like to hear from anyone on that job." Jim (diamond jim)
Burruss, Jim@alliedphotocopy.com,
256-539-2973, (Updates February 16, 2011, and
January 15, 2006)
Missing from the personnel
list was SP4 Lloyd Battista, who was in the
TV Div as a production technician from 1962-64. He was an actor
before joining the Army, and had quite a career in the movies
and on TV. He and Peter Bonerz worked
for me. One of the officers left off was MAJ
Dorothy Sherba, also assigned to the TV Div. She was still
there when I left in 1964.
I
was there from 1961-1964. Started out as a Project Officer as
2LT and after promotion to 1LT, and the departure of CPT
Jim Lane, I was promoted to Chief of Production, Operations
Br., TV Div.
A
contract hire we used for several years, was a Director, George
Keathley. 1962-?. He won an Emmy in 1963-64 for "One Life to
Live". He also directed on Broadway. His major effort for us in
TV was the Bomb Shelter Series we did for The Department of
Civil Defense. George was directing a revival of Tennessee
Williams' "The Glass Menagerie ". His lead actress was Celeste
Holm. She was filming a PSA downstairs in Motion
Picture. George took me to her dressing room and introduced me.
It was memorable: she had a cigarette dangling out of mouth and
every other word was not something you hear in Sunday School.
For someone who played a nun in so many movies, I was a little
shocked by her behavior. We lost George on 9-12-2010.
One
of the local actors we used in the Shelter Series was Bob
Ludlum and his wife Mary. In 1975, Robert Ludlum published
his first book and became an instant success. The Jason Borne
movies are still being made.
Before I left, I had a farewell party and was privileged to have
had a caricature drawn by Yukio Tashiro from
the Animation Branch. His name was missing from the personnel
list too. (Thomas
Guinee remembered Tashiro as well.)
I
just remembered another tidbit from my tour at APC. I don't
remember whether it was COL Randle or Patterson who
initiated it, but one of my "additional duties" was to be Club
Officer of the APC Officer's Club. Both men enjoyed a little
cocktail before our carpool journey to East Meadow. (Sometimes
the Club opened before 5 p.m.) SGT John Bowman was
my head bartender. I am sure you imbibed in our little cellar.
I
continue with my stream of consciousness. After looking at
several of the sites, there are various photographic units
mentioned that covered the Vietnam War. I was under the
impression that my old company in Kaiserslautern, Germany was
THE primary source of still and motion picture coverage. We sent
many still and motion picture teams on TDY to VN. We even had
some KIA. Somehow the 69th Signal Company
(Photo) should be credited in a proper location
on the site. Thanks.
Here
is another actress, courtesy of George Keathley: Salome
Jens. She is now 75 and is best known to younger fans as the
female changeling in Star Trek-Deep Space Nine.
I
just thought of two actors we used on occasion. However, we
never used them in the same films. Ironically, they were brother
and sister: Susan Strasberg and John
Strasberg. Their father was the famous acting coach, Lee
Strasberg. Susan died in 1999. John Strasberg follows in his
father's footsteps and runs the John Strasberg Studios in NYC.
I
just connected with former LT Steve Winnick for
the first time since 1964. Hopefully he will have some memories
to add to the APC site. I just thought of two actors I used: Chris
Bohn as an actor in several films. Alexander
Scourby was used as a voice-over narrator
on a film. He is already listed in the personnel roster.
I thought
of another TV, stage, and movie actor we used several times:
Anthony Zerbe. Will help add to the light "Z" column.
I
left in Nov 1964 for duty as the Director of the Central Audio
Visual Exchange in Karlsruhe, Germany. Ironically, this was the
film library for distribution to USAREUR (United States Army
Europe) of the training films we made in NY, along with 16mm
projectors to show them. Half way through my assignment there I
was promoted to CPT and was assigned as CO of the 69th Signal Co
(Photo). I split my time between Karlsruhe and Kaiserslautern
for several months until they forced a PCS move. The 69th was in
direct support to the Photo Officer at USAREUR HQ in Heidelberg.
He was Major Cecil Stoughton, who had just
finished his assignment at the White House as the official
photographer to President Kennedy and later to President
Johnson. Those pictures of Jackie, John John and Caroline were
his. The 69th, being the only combat photography unit in the
Army, sent motion picture and still photographers on TDY to
Vietnam to document the war.
My last few months in the Army was spent
as the Adjutant of the 440th Signal Battalion. Returned to the
land of round door knobs in Nov 1967 and became a civilian
again.
You are welcome to use all of this or
what you feel is pertinent. I have the site bookmarked and look
forward to seeing more postings from others. Thanks for
investing your time to create this archive from our lives. APC
was one of the most enjoyable times in my 71-years.
Ray Nesbit
(Posted October 17, 2010;
updated September 16, 2020.)
|
