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V Corps
Seventh Army

Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please email me (webmaster).


V Corps History (19..-present)

V Corps Artillery
Target Acq Units

Special Troops Bn

84th Army Band

Long Range Patrol

Newspaper Articles




 
V Corps History
19.. - present
(Source: V Corps - official web site)

Unit History (3+ MB; PDF)
 
Link

 
(Source: Photo books given to Sp5 Thomas J. McDougal, Hq/Hq Co, 32nd Sig Bn, 1960)

Sp5 Thomas McDougal served as Senior Staff Photographer in liaison to the Information Section, Hqs, V US Corps, from Jan 1959 to June 1960. Besides several letters of appreciation from officers at V Corps and 32nd Sig Bn, McDougal was presented with two photo books containing copies of photos that he took during his tour with the HQ V Corps IO. Only a few are presented below.

V Corps
Frankfurt

 

1. V Corps ceremony in front of IG Farben Bldg (KB)

2. 69th Engr Co (Topo) barracks (KB)

3. Soldiers load Christmas presents for German children in front of 109th MP Pltn barracks (KB)


4. 4th Trans Co (MH) Mohave helicopters (KB)

5. Sp5 McDougal next to his jeep during a V Corps field exercise (KB)

 

 
1964
(Source: Norm Newhouse)

HQ V Corps, June 1964
 
I still have a 4 piece copy of the large desk pad from V Corps 1964 on my desk. Creighton Abrams is CG.

NOTE: The image was too large to try to display it as one image. So I have created an 800x660 image (click on thumbnail) that is divided into hotspots. By clicking on the desired headquarters section a large resolution snippet will be displayed with the organizational information. Or, you can just click on the desired section as listed below.

  Commanding Generals' Office (incl. Secretary)
  Judge Advocate Section
  Public Affairs Section
  Inspector General Section
  Asst Chief of Staff, G1
  Asst Chief of Staff, G2
  Asst Chief of Staff, G3
  Asst Chief of Staff, G4
  Adjutant General Section
  Chaplain Section
Headquarters Special Troops
Finance Section
Provost Marshal Section
V Corps Artillery
Aviation Section
Chemical Section
Medical Section
Ordnance Section
Quartermaster Section
Signal Section
Transportation Section
Emergency Numbers

 
1966
(Source: FM 100-15 Change 1, Field Service Regulations, Larger Units, March 1966)

Type Corps, FM 100-15 C1
 
The Type Corps organization shown on the left represents an example of how a corps could be tailored (in the mid 1960s) for combat on a large landmass such as Europe when serving as part of a US Army Field Army (Seventh Army).

The corps is a task force of combined arms and services with a composition that is not fixed. Some units (such as the HHC and the Sig Bn) are habitually assigned to provide the means needed to facilitate command and control. The Field Army assigns or attaches other units to the corps. The type and number of troop units assigned or attached to the corps are based principally upon the corps mission, the characteristics of the area of operations, the availability of units, the enemy situation, and the type of opertations contemplated.

In Europe during the mid-1960s, V Corps performed a peacetime mission and was organized with the following units:
 
V CORPS ORGANIZATION - 1966
V CORPS
HQ Company Corps HQ/HQ Company, V Corps IG Farben Bldg, Frankfurt
ASA Bn Attached 319th ASA Bn ? (507th ASA Gp) Rothwesten Ksn, Kassel
FASCOM Units in support
Corps Support Bde 2nd Support Bde Hutier Ksn, Hanau
MP Bde elements 709th MP Bn (15th MP Bde) Gutleut Ksn, Frankfurt
Trans Bde elements 181st Trans Bn ? (107th Trans Bde) Turley Bks, Mannheim
Ammo Bde elements 15th Ord Bn (Ammo) (57th Ammo Bde) Gutleut Ksn, Frankfurt
Medical Bde elements 31st Med Gp (7th Med Bde) Cambrai-Fritsch Ksn, Darmstadt
Corps Artillery  
HQ/HQ Company HHB, V Corps Artillery Cambrai-Fritsch Ksn, Darmstadt
FA Tgt Acq elements Btry A, 1st Bn (TA), 26th Arty Fiori Bks, Aschaffenburg
Btry B, 1st Bn (TA), 26th Arty Francois Ksn, Hanau
Btry C, 1st Bn (TA), 26th Arty Ludwig Ksn, Darmstadt
Avn Btry Corps Arty Btry F, 26th Arty Cambrai-Fritsch Ksn, Darmstadt
FA Groups 36th FA Group Babenhausen Ksn, Babenhausen
42nd FA Group QM Depot, Giessen
212th FA Group Fliegerhorst Ksn, Hanau
Signal Bn 32nd Sig Bn McNair Bks, Höchst
Aviation units 66th Avn Co (Corps) Gibbs Ksn, Frankfurt
Engineer units 37th Engr Gp (Cbt) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau
Engr Co (Topo)
Air Defense Artillery 10th AD Group (32nd AADCOM) Ludwig Ksn, Darmstadt
Divisions 8th Inf Div Rose Bks, Bad Kreuznach
  3rd Armd Div Drake Ksn, Frankfurt
Armored Cav Regt 14th Armd Cav Regt Downs Bks, Fulda
MI units 205th MI Detachment (Corps) 3804 Ksn, Frankfurt
The above list is not complete. I will update periodically as I gather more details.

 
(Source: OPLAN 33001, Parallel History Project on NATO and Warsaw Pact web site)

V Corps GDP Sector, 1982
 
V Corps war planning document, Operations Plan 33001 (General Defense Plan), became effective on January 1, 1981 and served as the basis of action for V Corps to lead the defense within Central Army Group (CENTAG).

The plan consists of two parts, the so-called basic operations plan (OPLAN) and the relevant annexes. The OPLAN includes missions, goals and operational structure to defend CENTAG; detailed instructions for V Corps and its assigned combat and support troops; as well as general orders for cooperation and joint actions with other NATO forces.

The annexes refer to the operational structure of the corps, boundaries of corps and divisions areas for defense operations, guiding principles for conducting operations and ensuring implementation of orders. They also include guidelines for the use of nuclear weapons and chemical agents.

In addition, there are plans for outside reinforcements to V Corps.

 
V Corps Artillery
(Source: USAREUR STATION LIST, 30 June 1954)
V CORPS ARTY ORGANIZATION - 30 JUNE 1954

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
HHB, V Corps Arty Cambrai-Fritsch Ksn, Darmstadt
30th FA Gp    
HHB, 30th FA Gp Hanau  
452nd AFA Bn (155mm)(SP) Hanau ? released from active duty, 17 Jan 1955; (4)
465th FA Bn (8in)(Tow) Hanau ? released from active duty, 6 Jan 1955; (1)
816th FA Bn (8in)(Tow) Hanau ? released from active duty, 6 Jan 1955; (1)
36th FA Gp  
HHB, 36th FA Gp Babenhausen Ksn, Bab.
519th FA Bn (155mm)(Tow) Babenhausen Ksn, Bab prob replaced by Gyroscope unit
593rd FA Bn (8in)(SP) Büdingen inact 25 June 1958
594th FA Bn (155mm)(SP) Giessen (2) inact 25 June 1958
597th AFA Bn (155mm)(SP) Hanau prob replaced by Gyroscope unit
142nd FA Gp  
HHB, 142nd FA Gp Peden Bks, Wertheim
194th FA Bn (155mm)(Trac) Peden Bks, Wertheim released from active duty, 17 Jan 1955; (3)
393rd FA Bn (155mm)(SP) Harvey Bks, Kitzingen released from active duty, 7 Jan 1955; (5)
631st AFA Bn (155mm)(SP) Hammelburg released from active duty, 17 Dec 1954; (6)
756th FA Bn (8in)(SP) Würzburg released from active duty, 17 Dec 1954; (7)
(1) 760th FA Bn and 765th FA Bn may have replaced the 465th and 816th FA Bn in Hanau on 6 Jan 1955
(2) USAREUR Station List, Dec 1955
(3) 194th FA Bn was possibly replaced by the 254th FA Bn (155mm)(Tow)
(4)
452nd AFA Bn probably replaced by 288th AFA Bn
(5) 393rd FA Bn possibly replaced by the 282nd FA Bn
(6) 631st AFA Bn probably replaced by the 290th AFA Bn
(7) 756th FA Bn probably replaced by the 804th FA Bn

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 9, 1956; STATION LIST, 30 Sept 1956)

Headquarters, V Corps Artillery is located at Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne in Darmstadt. CG of V Corps Arty is Brig Gen John C. Hayden. Hayden assumed command of the organization in Nov 1955. (He replaced Brig Gen Donald Dunford.)

The command's 14 battalions and 4 special batteries are equipped with weapons that range from self-propelled 155mm howitzers to the 85-ton 280mm cannons as well as free-flight rockets and guided missiles. (In addition to the units directly assigned to V Corps Arty, artillery units of the V Corps combat divisions (4th and 10th Inf Div; 2nd Armd Div) are classified as "artillery with the corps.")

Besides various towed and self-propelled artillery weapons that fire conventional charges, V Corps Artillery also fields three systems that can carry a nuclear warhead: the 280mm cannon, the free-flight Honest John rocket and the Corporal guided missile.

To make sure that V Corps artillerymen are ready at any time to fulfill their mission, training is conducted 12-months-a-year. Garrison training is constant at the kasernes where the various subordinate units are located. Then, three times a year, each unit is sent to the gunnery ranges at either Grafenwoehr or Baumholder for field training. Work at the ranges is for three-weeks at a stretch and includes night marches, cross country drives, reconnaissance, selection and occupation of firing positions.

Each unit concludes the yearly training cycle with battery firing tests twice a year and battalion tests once a year. These tests determine the ability of the units to conduct simulated combat operations.

The Battery tests last half a
day in which units are given five missions (targets). They are expected to fire around 60 rounds. The Battalion test lasts 36 hours and includes 16 missions with an expenditure of around 250 rounds. Emphasis is on accurate and timely artillery fire.

 
V CORPS ARTY ORGANIZATION - APRIL 1956

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
HHB, V Corps Arty Cambrai-Fritsch Ksn, Darmstadt
30th FA Gp   CO is COL Bernard S. Waterman (1)
HHB, 30th FA Gp Hanau  
84th FA Btry (762mm Rkt) Hanau  
288th AFA Bn (155mm)(SP) Hanau  
593rd FA Bn (8in How)(SP) Armstrong Ksn, Büdingen  
594th FA Bn (155mm Gun)(SP) Giessen  
765th FA Bn (8in How)(Tow) Hanau  
36th FA Gp   CO is COL William H. Allen, Jr.
HHB, 36th FA Gp Babenhausen Ksn, Bab.
7th FA Btry (762mm Rkt) ELK, Darmstadt  
216th FA Bn (280mm Gun) ELK, Darmstadt  
267th AFA Bn (155mm How)(SP) Babenhausen Ksn, Bab.  
519th FA Bn (155mm How)(Tow) Babenhausen Ksn, Bab.  
531st FAM Bn (CPL) Babenhausen Ksn, Bab.  
553rd FA Bn (8in How)(Tow) ELK, Darmstadt  
72nd FA Gp   CO is COL James R. Winn (2)
HHB, 72nd FA Gp Peden Bks, Wertheim
1st FA Btry (762mm Rkt) Kitzingen  
97th FA Bn (155mm)(Tow) Peden Bks, Wertheim  
290th AFA Bn (155mm)(SP) Daley Bks, B Kissingen  
558th FAM Bn (CPL) Kitzingen  
804th FA Bn (8in How)(SP) Peden Bks, Wertheim  
516th FA Btry (Searchlight) Peden Bks, Wertheim  
532nd FA Obs Bn (8in)(SP) Karlsruhe  
(1) By Aug 1956, COL Gregory L. Higgins had assumed command of the 30th Group
(2) By Aug 1956, COL Thomas R. Bruce, Jr. had assumed command of the 72nd Group

 
(Source: Email from Joe Holicky)
I was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, V Corps Artillery in Darmstadt (Cambrai Fritsch Caserne) from 9/1970 to 9/1972.  I was the Battery Executive Officer.  At the time, there were two artillery groups assigned to us, 36th Field Artillery Group (Babenhausen and Hanau) and the 42nd Field Artillery Group (Giessen).  There were two Target Acquisition Batteries (A and B, 1/26th).  We also had a separate Sergeant Missile Battalion 5/77 stationed in Wiesbaden.
 
We had 8" Howitzers (self-propelled), 175mm Guns (self-propelled) and Honest John battalions (one in each of the Artillery Groups).  
 
Hope this helps in starting to piece together the history of V Corps Artillery.  The Corps Artillery's motto was "Steadfast and Strong."  Red border with evergreen tree in the center with the motto on either side of what could be described as a large parenthesis.  Lineage of VCA was the 13th Artillery Group (WW II).

 
(Source: USAREUR/Seventh Army STATION LIST, 30 June 1967)
V CORPS ARTY ORGANIZATION - 30 JUNE 1967
 
 

 
(Source: USAREUR/Seventh Army STATION LIST, 1 June 1976)
V CORPS ARTY ORGANIZATION - 1 JUNE 1976

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
HHB, V Corps Arty Cambrai-Fritsch Ksn, Darmstadt
41st FA Gp  
HHB, 41st FA Gp Babenhausen Ksn, Bab.
2nd Bn, 5th FA (175mm) Babenhausen Ksn, Bab.
1st Bn, 32nd FA (LANCE) Fliegerhorst Ksn, Hanau
2nd Bn, 75th FA (8in) Fliegerhorst Ksn, Hanau
2nd Bn, 83rd FA (8in) Babenhausen Ksn, Bab.
Btry B (TAB), 26th FA Cambrai-Fritsch Ksn, Darmstadt
42nd FA Gp  
HHB, 42nd FA Gp Rivers Bks, Giessen
6th Bn, 9th FA (175mm) Rivers Bks, Giessen
3rd Bn, 79th FA (LANCE) Rivers Bks, Giessen
2nd Bn, 92nd FA (8in) Rivers Bks, Giessen
1st Bn, 333rd FA (LANCE) Eschborn Ksn, Wiesbaden
Btry A (TAB), 26th FA Pendleton Bks, Giessen
212nd FA Gp   REFORGER unit
HHB, 212th FA Gp Ft. Sill, OK REFORGER unit
2nd Bn, 18th FA (8in) Ft. Sill, OK REFORGER unit
3rd Bn, 18th FA (155mm) Ft. Sill, OK REFORGER unit
 

Target Acquisition Units

529th FA Bn (Obsn)
Pocket Patch




1st Observation Battalion, 26th Artillery
1st Observation Battalion, 26th Artillery DI

1st Obs Bn, 26th Arty

 

1. Headquarters sign (KB)

2. Loaded weapons carrier with trailer (KB)

3. Abbreviated summer khaki uniform (KB)


4. Honor guard assembling for a ceremony (KB)

5. Long line at the mess hall (KB)

6. (KB)
 

7. Training at Graf (KB)

8. (KB)
   

(Source: Email from "Sonny")
Man...Info on this unit -- 1st TAB 26th FA -- gets a bit "confusing"....almost "boggles" the mind.

If i read your Webmaster note correctly.... HHC and C Btrys were not listed on USAREUR SL in 1965. and likely de-activated. Which coincides with my memories in 1967-69..

Only A Btry in Darmstadt, B Btry in Hanau. Oral transcript from General Keith shows C Btry in Darmstadt on 30 June, 1968. SL.. Has the General possibly transposed A and C Btry...or perhaps a "typo"??? Am about 99% positive that A Btry was in Darmstadt.

I still have no recollections of there being a C Btry being active in our area or HHC for that matter...between 1967-69.

Think i have stated that B Btry moved from Hanau to Babenhausen in Aug/Sept 1968 timeframe. Am thinking that it may possibly have been as early as July 68. "WHO" did B Btry replace at Babenhausen??? Someone had to move "out" so that we could move in!!.....

It Could not have been more than Btry size! C Btry??? or possibly even A Btry??

I can see now, "why" you haven't posted a unit history on 1st TAB 26th FA.....

B Btry, 1st TAB, 26th FA
Hanau

 

1. B Btry HQ Bldg (KB)

2. Francois Kaserne, 1968 (KB)

3. B Btry motor park (KB)


4. Lamboy Strasse (KB)

5. Sergeant of the Guard (KB)

6. Impact Area, Graf Training Area (KB)
 

7. DME ... tape measure style (KB)

8. WWII era bunker (KB)

9. The real DME (KB)
 

10. Rifle Range (KB)

11. Motor pool (KB)

12. Survey Pltn marching to billets (KB)
 

13. Babenhausen EM Club (KB)

14. 1st Sgt Hunsacker (KB)
   

 
84th Army Band
 
(Source: Email from James Rogers)
The 84th Army Band was the regimental band of the 14th Armored Cavalry, for how long I don't know. However, as a flute and piccolo player in that band (1953-54), I can say with some conviction that the 84th Army Band was stationed at Fulda, Ludendorff Kaserne, while I was there, and not in Wildflecken (as stated in the 7th Army Troop List, June 1956).

The troops thought we had it made, and they were right. Thanks for the opportunity to contribute.

 
(Source: Email from Larry Roberts )
I was a musician with the 84th Army Band, stationed at Downs Barracks...Fulda...from 1964 to early 1966.
We were not at Wildflecken, as stated. The band at Wildflecken was the V Corps band.
 
The 84th was primarily involved in German-American relations...performing in concerts, parades and other special events all over Europe....such as NATO Taptoe, the 1000th anniversary of the city of Bremen, Fasching in Bonn, etc.
 
All in all, a great way to spend 2 years.

 
(Source: Email from Stephen Gilbert)
I was a musician stationed in Fulda with the 84th Army Band from the fall of 1964 to the spring of 1967. The email from Larry Roberts describes some of the activities of the band during that time, but one correction should be made, I think. There was no Band in Wildflecken during that time. The 84th Band was the V Corps band. It was stationed in Fulda so that it was central to the area in which V Corps units were stationed and was attached to the 14th AC for rations and billeting. The V Corps Headquarters was in Frankfurt at that time, and under the usual circumstances, the band would have been stationed there.

I remember Larry Roberts as a Tuba player with the 84th Band. I played the flute and Piccolo with the band for close to 30 months. I agree with him when he says that it wasn't a bad way to spend your military time.

I have returned to Fulda a few times since I left in 1967. The most recent visit was in 1998 when my mother-in-law died and my wife and I had to close out her estate. By that time, all of the American troops had long since left the area. The Downs Barracks are no longer used for military purposes. The kaserne has been converted into a complex for refugees from Eastern Europe. With the fall of the Soviet system, Germany allowed all ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe to return to Germany as a means of correcting the problems created for them by WWII. Most of the refugees were German in ancestry only; the vast majority couldn't even speak German. The Downs Barracks then became housing for them as well as a training center in which they learned German and obtained skills necessary to enter the German work force. In addition, shops were constructed in the buildings so that they can sell some of the wares they manufacture in the converted kaserne.

 
V Corps Special Troops Battalion
 
(Source: Email from Norm Newhouse, Special Troops, 1962-65)
I served (as a 1LT) with Special Troops, V Corps, 1962 -65. Back then Special Troops was a pretty big battalion with the following units:
Hq & Hq Company Gibbs Barracks  
35th Transportation Company Gibbs Barracks (3 platoons 2 1/2 ton trucks)
66th Aviation Company Gibbs Barracks aircraft located at Bonames AAF
69th Engineer Company (Topo) Gibbs Barracks  
92nd Transportation Company Gibbs Barracks (1 platoon each jeeps, 3/4 ton trucks, sedans)
109th MP Platoon Gibbs Barracks  
LRRP Company Gibbs Barracks (Airborne recon for our 3 star)
 

All units were barracked at Gibbs. Along with the 45th Medical Battalion which was part of 3rd Armored Division. Obviously no aircraft were at Gibbs. I do not recall the name of the airfield. But it was not far away. Just north of Drake-Edwards Kaserne as I recall. (The City of Frankfurt is turning Gibbs into a new emergency center for the fire department.)

Basically this battalion was a conglomeration of various unrelated units assigned to direct support for the Corps Headquarters staff. The battalion was "provisional". Meaning that it had no TOE. Battalion staff and equipment was drawn from the units assigned to V Corps. Many years later the Corps were given a TOE for their Special Troops Battalions.

Hq Company did what Hq companies still do I guess. Provide personnel and equipment and some mobility to Corps staff. 35th TC (light truck) had 60 2½-ton trucks with trailers for moving Corps staff to the field. 66th Aviation Company had a small variety of light aircraft to support Corps staff. 69th Engineer Company provided complete mapping services to Corps staff. 92nd TC (Car) had 20 each jeeps/trlrs, ¾-tons w/trlrs, and sedans (Fords if I remember correctly). 109th MPs provided security and traffic control around Corps areas. LRRP Company was airborne. They were sort of secretive but I understand they were trained as small teams to be air dropped behind enemy lines as listening posts/intel types.

During my 3 years assigned to V Corps I was assigned to the 35th Transportation Company (Light Truck). My last 18 months or so I was assigned to battalion staff as S-4. My duties as platoon leader in the 35th were suspended except for when we went on ready alerts and field maneuvers. Battalion S-1 came from the 92nd Transportation Company. Battalion CO and the S-2 and S-3 came from Corps HQ somewhere.

For one year of my three years I had the pleasure to serve under Creighton Abrams. What a difference from the other 3 star generals. Less spit and polish and parades and more training and useful experience.

One parade of note was in June 1963 (I think) when the 3rd Armored Division (a V Corps unit) stood for inspection by President Kennedy. He went on to Berlin where he made is famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Five months later I was just going off duty when I heard that he had been shot and killed.

I greatly value my 3 years service in Germany (out of total service time of 40 months). Back then you could get 4 deutschmark for a dollar, gas was 19 cents at the PX, and life was pretty good. And we were all doing our little part to help keep those commies on their side of the wall that they put up to keep their own people in.

Almost 30 years later that system sure crashed.


 
92nd Transportation Company (Car)
 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, March 1, 1968)
The 92nd Trans Co (Car) is a V Corps unit tasked with providing transportation for personnel from V Corps headquarters and also serving as a backup to Com Z's transportation unit in Frankfurt (HQ Trans Comd, COMZ in Oberursel?). The car company also has 12 personnel and 10 sedans attached to the 2nd Support Brigade headquarters.

Car companies are assigned only to headquarters of corps or larger commands. Divisions and other smaller units have car squads from transportation companies assigned to them.

According to the article, there are three such car companies (incl. the 92nd) in USAREUR. However, the USAREUR STATION LIST for 15 Oct 1968 shows four:
85th Trans Co (Car), Böblingen
92nd Trans Co (Car), Frankfurt (HQ V Corps)
519th Trans Co (Car), Heidelberg (HQ USAREUR)
527th Trans Co (Car), Möhringen (HQ VII Corps)

Only one-third of the 92nd's vehicles are sedans -- the other two-thirds are jeeps and ¾- trucks.

Assignments are given by the company's Dispatch Office. Sedans and other vehicles re dispatched on a priority basis. The passenger's mission and the number of miles he must travel to fulfill that mission are important criteria for considering assignment of a vfehicle.

1st LT Terry O. Phillipson is the company CO.

 
V Corps LRRP
 
(Source: Email from Bob Murphy, V Corps LRRP Co (Abn) 3779, 1964-67)
THE FIRST AND THE LAST LRRPS

A SHORT HISTORY OF V CORPS LRRP-A/75 RANGERS 1961-1974
WILDFLECKEN, FRANKFURT/MAIN, FORT BENNING, FORT HOOD



V Corps Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Company, later Co. A, 75th Infantry (Ranger), was the longest serving DA authorized LRRP/Ranger Company in the US Army.

The USA LRRP Co (Abn) 3779 was activated at Wildflecken, Germany by 7th Army on 15 JUL 61 to serve as V Corps LRRP Company in Germany.

It was deactivated on 19 DEC 74 at Ft Hood as Company A, 75th Infantry (Ranger) where it was performing Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol work for the 1st Cavalry Division.

The company was initially assigned to the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment for administration and court-martial jurisdiction. At that time the company wore the 7th Army shoulder patch with blue and white Airborne tab and was the only unit near the East German border on jump status.

The first Commanding Officer was Major Reese Jones and first 1st Sergeant was Gilberto M. Martinez.

V Corps was deployed across the West German states of Hesse and the Bayern (Bavaria), facing four of the six most likely Soviet penetration corridors into West Germany. Company field training exercises included extensive patrols in the Bad Heisfeld-Giessen, Fulda-Hanau, Bad Kissingen -- Wurzburg and Coburg - Bamberg corridors to include rehearsals for deep penetration missions against Thuringian targets typically including Soviet Weimer - Nobra air installation and Army facilities around Ohrdruf and Jena. The Company would be used also for special missions of infiltration that included team placement of T-4 Atomic Demolition Munitions and locating enemy battlefield targets for Army tactical nuclear delivery systems.

In autumn 1962 LRRP LT Robert C Murphy flew to England and purchased maroon berets for the company from his own funds. They were authorized for wear by the CG of 7th Army for both V and VII Corps LRRP Companies.

The company crest was designed at that time by then Sgt Mike Martin and the motto "Cum Animus Et Successus" (Through Courage, Success) added by Murphy.

Long range radio communications received a major boost with the issue of the AN/TRC-77 CW Radio to the Company in 1962. Civilian technicians from Sylvania trained LRRPs to use the new radios which served both V & VII Corps LRRPs faithfully until mid-1968. Few LRRPs knew there were six "burst coders" for the TRC-77s locked up in the company EDP (Emergency Defence Plan) safe with other classified equipment.

The company moved to Edwards Kaserne outside of Frankfurt with Captain William Guinn assuming command from Major Edward Porter in January 1963. The shoulder patch was changed from 7th Army to V Corps with blue and white airborne tab.

The company moved yet again on 9 MAY 63 to Gibbs Kaserne in Frankfurt and became part of the V Corps Special Troops (Provisional) working directly for V Corps G-2.

General Creighton Abrams assumed command of V Corps in 1963 and revoked the company's maroon berets when he found out they had not been authorized by Department of the Army.

1964 saw the issue of AN/PRC-25s FM voice radios to replace the AN/PRC-10s with their infamously poor German-made batteries. Those batteries were so weak that it was often necessary to keep the radios in sleeping bags to keep them from going dead in cold weather. The change to PRC-25s was a major improvement and made it possible to communicate properly with both Army and Air Force aircraft for the first time.

The company also traded in its M-14 rifles for the new "XM16E1" 5.56mm rifle in the autumn of 1964 (Yes, they had a high malfunction rate even when new in Europe, as well as RVN).

The company was often assigned to Honor Guard duties in garrison during this period. It was chosen as an Honor Guard to represent the US Army Airborne at the 20th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion in France on 6 JUN 64 which it did with 122 enlisted men and four officers. C.O. Capt Norm Carlton even paid for the non-issue white gloves for the Honor Guard out of his own pocket on that occasion.

Under Captains Guinn and Carlton, the V Corps LRRP's developed and perfected aspects of Long Range Patrol operations that resulted in the issue of the first LRRP TO&E (Table of Organisation & Equipment) 7-157E and the publication of the first Long Range Reconnaissance Company Field Manual, FM 31-16.

The issue of the TO&E in 1965 saw the end of Provisional status for V and VII Corps LRRPs and the re-designation of both companies.

The company name was officially changed to Company D, (LRP), 17th Infantry on 15 MAY 65 with the issue of the new TO&E. The company continued with the same personnel, mission, barracks, and continued to wear its unique crest.

But the TO&E did result in an increase of authorized strength to 208 men, 24 five man patrols (formerly four man), and a new transportation section (the company formerly used 2.5 ton trucks from the 35th Transportation Company located in the same barracks at Gibbs Kaserne. Who could forget "Romeo" the bespectaled truck driver who fell hopelessly in love with everything in a skirt and once got hypnotised by the windshield wipers on his own truck and had to be brought to by the LRRP riding shotgun as he started to run off the road?).

The TO&E also formalized the trend towards Ranger status with a requirement for 24 Patrol Leaders, three "Killer" Platoon Leaders, the Ops Officer, Exec Officer, C.O. and 1st Sergeant to be Ranger qualified. All 208 LRRPs had to be parachute qualified.

The company continued its constant training cycles of Soviet Order of Battle, camouflage, CW radio operator training, and frequent FTXs, most of them in winter but big changes were happening in the Army as the Vietnam war escalated.

In 1967 popular C.O. Charlie Wertenberger announced a "levy" of the company for Vietnam. Carl Mancini recalls, "When Khe Sanh got hit (Marines and 173rd) they had a levy come down for airborne personnel. The C.O. got the entire unit down to the theater and told us what was going on. He made the married personnel and the people who were short leave. That left about 60 guys and they need 50 so he asked for volunteers. He got killed after about three weeks in country but to me he was a great guy. I looked him up at the wall."

In 1968, the Army began a massive pullout from Europe as part of a mutual reduction of forces with the Warsaw Pact. It was code named " OPERATION REFORGER ". (Redeployment of Forces Germany) and the company relocated from Frankfurt, Germany to Fort Benning Georgia in July, with Captain Harry W. Nieubar as the company commander.

The Ft Benning barracks was on Kelley Hill and the company was the only active duty Airborne unit on the post. They still wore the V Corps patch with airborne tab and were used as Aggressors at all three Ranger Training sites. "Our patrols used to make life miserable for the students", Terry Roderick recalls. "And we had legg outfits all around us on Kelley Hill and we thought we owned the place." Commanding Officers there included Thomas P Meyer and Dennis Foley. About half of the company consisted of Vietnam combat veterans at that time, most of them from the 101st and the 173rd.

The company also ran the RVN Orientation at Ft Benning. Walter Buchanan says the Orientation gave the troops opportunities to run obstacle courses including a rope bridge built by another LRRP, Daniel Pope. Half of the troops would fall off the bridge and the Captain would say, "Congratulations. You've just passed the Orientation", and tell them to always remain on their toes in 'Nam and expect the unexpected, never drop their guard. Then they would all get in the back of their trucks and head for the barracks. "We used to ambush them on the way home in the back of the deuce and a halfs", Walter says. "We used a LOT of det cord and artillery simulators on them." Walter and Daniel later did a 'Nam tour together in C/75.

The company also assisted Indiana National Guard LRP Company D/151 to get ready for Vietnam in 1968. Calvin Everhart remembers about a dozen who were short timers or otherwise ineligible to go who stayed in D/17 when D/151 left for 'Nam.

The company had left its long range AN/TRC-77 Morse Code radios behind in Germany and carried only AN/PRC-25s in the field. CW capability rapidly atrophied until 10 LRRPs were sent to Ft Jackson for CW training at the end of 1968.

By that time, D/17 was training for both European and RVN operations and then the Army added Riot Training. The latter caused some spectacular events which made the Army re-think LRRP suitability for crowd control and that task was dropped.

FTXs supported the RVN mission and in 1969 the company began sending trained LRPs to other LRP Companies in Vietnam weekly. By this time the company was fielding six man teams as had become standard practice in RVN.

Co D, LRP, 17th Inf underwent a name change to A/75 Rangers on 1 FEB 69 with Captain Thomas P. Meyer as Commanding Officer. There was no ceremony according to several people who were there. Ranger unit crests were issued and the company was required to adopt a 197th Infantry Brigade shoulder patch with Airborne tab and a new jump wings background.

Despite those changes, the company retained its REFORGER mission as V Corps LRRP and that is the main reason why it was never deployed to Vietnam. A/75 was now a Ranger company but it had very few tabbed Rangers and it stayed that way. "It was a sore spot, but the company just could not get the training slots", Terry Roderick remembers. "Here we were, the big Ranger company at Ft Benning, but we weren't Rangers, we were LRPs. It was a crock and we knew it."

One benefit of being at Ft Benning was proximity to the jump and Pathfinder schools and many A/75 people made "recreational jumps" at the schools.

But most of the guys who had served in Vietnam had not jumped in more than a year. Many had never even made their cherry jump. Richard McClung was assigned to the company after his Vietnam tour and recalls that when he reported in July 1970, he was pencilled in for a jump on Rapido DZ. He asked when his refresher course was and 1st Sgt Vick replied, "When make your jump, Stud."

A/75 transferred from Ft Benning to Ft Hood early in 1970, arriving on February 3 under the Command of Captain Johnathan Henkel and was assigned to the 1st Armored Division. The primary mission until June 1972 was to support MASSTAR (Mobile Army Sensor Systems Test, Evaluation, and Review ). The program dealt with surveillance, target acquisition, seismic intrusion detector and night observation equipment which paved the way and benefited the Army in its performance in the Gulf War twenty years later. The job wasn't as dull as it sounds because the company was mostly used in an Aggressor capacity against troops using the test devices.

The mission changed again in July 1972, to provide Long Range Reconnaissance capability for the First Cavalry Division. The secondary mission was to stay in a high state of training for the original mission of V Corps LRRP. A/75 did, in fact, deploy to Germany on an annual Reforger exercise in 1973 to do exactly the same work as their predecessors did in the early and mid 60s. By that time more than 80 percent of A/75 personnel were Vietnam Veterans.

1974 was the beginning of the end for A/75 with the new Ranger battalions forming around a nucleus of key people, many of them former A/75 members. The 1st Ranger Battalion sent former A/75 CO Captain Clark and former A/75 1st Sergeant Romo to the company and they recruited a lot of company personnel who left in mid-1974.

Second Battalion CO LTC A.J. Baker also came to Ft Hood with his CSM and recruited another 2 or 3 dozen guys.

The company was deactivated and its guideon cased for the last time at a fixed bayonet parade on 19 DEC 74.

The last A/75 Commanding Officer was Captain James P. Fitter and last 1st Sergeant was Gary Carpenter (later to become the first Regimental Sergeant-Major of the 75th Ranger Regiment).