We were a novelty, the only Americans for 200 miles, and home base for me was 400 miles to the South. My CO was gone most of the time, due to marital problems...leaving me in charge. LOL, by then I'd been a platoon leader and XO for 2 1/2 years, it was no big deal.
I had great senior NCOs that handled the day to day stuff, leaving me free for twice weekly 3 hour trips to Bremerhaven, and shadowing visiting Battalion Commanders the rest of the time. Shortly after arrival, we correctly determined that if we did our jobs right, we'd be working 4 day weeks.
I was lucky, there was no combat during 76-84, and I can't recall any "hairy situations", even during REFORGER 77.
John Denver could have written a song:
Almost heaven, Westphalia...
Invasion of and taking of Grenada 1983.