Home, says Heath L. McCormick, referring to a US Army proverb, is where the army sends you. In the case of the colonel, i.e. a colonel in the US Army, this has been Europe’s largest military training area in Grafenwoehr in the Upper Palatinate for four years. McCormick lives on and around the military compound as one of more than 12,000 US soldiers. And, as one of them, is the focus of a photo exhibition that opened in Nuremberg on Monday evening and is entitled “Home-Based in Bavaria”.
“The exhibition provides insights that would otherwise never have been possible,” said Nuremberg’s Lord Mayor Marcus König (CSU) in praise of the work of the Landshut photographer Lila Hartig, who only spoke a digital greeting at the opening. She talks about her grandfather Heinz, who worked for the Americans after the Second World War, about her personal connection to the topic and her fascination. “There were countless US barracks and troop training areas all over southern Germany,” says Hartig. “For me, they are part of Bavarian-American history and culture.” Exploring the largest military training area “so deeply was a unique experience for me”.
Ricky Tyvone Gravely Sr. is a retired Command Sergeant Major. He works as a civilian for the US Army and is nicknamed the “Walking Stick Guy” because he uses, manufactures and gives away hiking sticks with stick nails.
(Photo: Lila Hartig)
Soldiers of the US Army and the Bundeswehr working together.
(Photo: Lila Hartig)
The end of the annual driven hunt on the grounds of the military training area is announced with the hunting horn.
(Photo: Lila Hartig)
The result is an exhibition of photos intended to show the “symbiosis of nature, communities and military” in Grafenwöhr: images from disposable cameras, with which the children from the vicinity of the military area photographed their favorite places. Moving images of traditional dance events such as square dance. Portraits of soldiers, images from the helicopter overlooking the countryside – many accompanied by audio tracks.
The exhibition – it is already Hartig’s second on the subject – can be visited until April 27, Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the foyer of the International House in Nuremberg, Hans-Sachs-Platz 2. Admission is free.