Gary Bautell at the American Forces Network studio in Mannheim, Germany, in 2014. Bautell died Nov. 23, 2022, at age 80. (U.S. Army)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — The American Forces Network Europe recently acknowledged the loss of a legendary figure whose voice resonated with U.S. troops across Europe for many years.
Gary Bautell, who was 80 years old, passed away on November 23 due to injuries sustained in a car accident, as reported by staff members from the U.S. military’s broadcast network.
With over 60 years of service at AFN Europe, Bautell played a vital role in bringing American rock music to postwar Germany and conducted numerous interviews with military and national leaders. His varied career spanned roles as a radio DJ, news producer, station manager, head of network news, and a staff trainer.
A memorial service honoring Bautell was conducted on Monday at Hainerberg Chapel in Wiesbaden. He is survived by his wife, Anna, along with three children and several siblings.
“Gary was cherished by American service personnel and the German audience alike, and he had great affection for them and the broadcasting profession, dedicating his entire adult life to it,” stated Lt. Col. Adam Hallmark, AFN Europe commander.
Gary Bautell joined the American Forces Network in 1962 as an Army private and became known as the voice of the U.S. military in Europe for his decades of service. Bautell died Nov. 23, 2022, at age 80. (U.S. Army)
Born in Bay City, Michigan, on May 31, 1942, Bautell began his journey with AFN Europe in November 1962 after previously serving as an Army engineer in Germany, where he was first introduced to AFN radio.
Having demonstrated to his recruiter that he had experience as a commercial DJ in Michigan, he reenlisted to be part of the military network. His first day at AFN headquarters in Frankfurt involved a series of tests, including voice auditions and assessments on foreign affairs, all of which he successfully passed.
After leaving the Army in 1966 for a time working in construction with his father, Bautell returned to Europe and AFN as a civilian government employee, remaining a rare U.S. civilian not required to rotate back to the U.S. during his service.
Bautell hosted several popular DJ shows, including “The Dufflebag Show” and “Midnight in Europe,” which introduced American music genres to a German audience that had been largely exposed to state-run radio. His influence helped reshape German pop culture, bringing in rock, country, and jazz music.
On the last day of broadcasting, Oct. 28, 2004, at the American Forces Network studio in Frankfurt, Germany, Gary Bautell, left, and Herb Glover talk about the station’s history. Bautell died Nov. 23, 2022, at age 80. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Transitioning from DJ work, Bautell moved into news broadcasting, leveraging his fluency in German to interview a range of significant figures, including every German chancellor from Willy Brandt to Angela Merkel, along with U.S. defense secretaries and presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Throughout his career, Bautell worked at AFN stations in Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, and Mannheim. Former U.S. Army in Europe Commander Gen. Carter Ham referred to him as “the voice of the U.S. military in Europe” for his distinctive presence during the radio broadcasts.
Posts shared on social media by AFN Wiesbaden and AFN Europe commemorated Bautell, accumulating over 120 comments in remembrance, with many fans recalling their treasured moments of tuning into his voice.
Hickman remarked on Bautell’s renowned voice, noting that he would be remembered for his calm, composed character and his deep enthusiasm for broadcasting, along with his trademark salt-and-pepper mustache.
