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59th
Ordnance Brigade
US Army, Europe
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).
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| Brigade
History |
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| 1962
- 1992 |
 59th Ordnance Brigade DI |
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(Source:
A Look Back ... at the 59th Ordnance Brigade. Final issue
of the 59th COURIER, the command newspaper, published in 1992.)
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| 59th Ordnance
Brigade: One for history books. |
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At one
time, the 59th Ordnance Brigade
was the largest brigade in the U.S. Army. The 59th covered
95,000 square miles from the border of Denmark, south to Switzerland,
west into the Netherlands and spread throughout western Germany
with over 7,000 soldiers.
The soldiers within the 59th came from a wide variety of different
occupations. The vast majority of soldiers were artillery,
ordnance and military police, however, several support occupations
were included to fill out this well-rounded brigade.
One word stands out when describing the 59th Ordnance Brigade.
Unique.
Unique in that this command successfully meshed three Army
branches, the ordnance, artillery and military police corps,
and performed a mission that came to be known as the backbone
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Unique in that nearly one half of the personnel assigned to
the command lived and worked on installations throughout Germany,
which were maintained by Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany
and Belgium.
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History
The history of the 59th Ordnance Brigade and its forerunners,
the Advanced Weapons Support Command (AWSCOM)
and the Special Ammunition Support Command
(SASCOM), reaches back into the 1950s, several years before
the command's headquarters was organized.
In April 1955, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 71st
Ordnance Group was organized and assigned to
the Seventh U.S. Army and stationed in Pirmasens, Germany.
In June 1959, the 71st Ordnance Group was officially redesignated
as AWSCOM as part of Theater Army
Support Group.
AWSCOM was redesignated as the 59th Ordnance Group (Ammunition)
in March 1962. The Group assumed a record of service that went
back to 1943 with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
By May 1962, 21 units were assigned to the 59th Ordnance Group.
In June 1965, AWSCOM was authorized as the official abbreviation
for the 59th Ordnance Group (Ammunition).
While the 59th Ordnance Group was undergoing its 12-year metamorphosis,
events were taking place that were to have a shaping influence
on the 59th Ordnance Brigade as it is known today. |
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In
1957 President Eisenhower offered certain special weapons to
NATO. Congressional restraints prevented this offer from becoming
an outright grant. Instead, it was provided that weapons should
be positioned in allied countries but these weapons would remain
United States property.
June 23, 1958 marked the first, of what would be later called,
Special Ammunition Support Command (SASCOM) units on foreign
soil (Turkey), and the first special weapons support provided
to an allied nation. The establishment of SASCOM was a slow
process due to the types of agreements that had to be concluded
between the United States and the NATO nations before special
weapons could be made available and the program could get under
way.
Once all agreements had been concluded the Special Ammunition
Support Command, born on April 15, 1960, became a significant
part of the United States commitment to NATO.
Headquartered in Frankfurt, SASCOM, was organized with two types
of units, artillery and ordnance. The 1960s saw SASCOM grow
at a tremendous pace as new groups were activated and detachments
assigned to them. By 1967, SASCOM was |
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composed
of 10 artillery groups commanding 38 missile artillery detachments.
On Oct. 20, 1972, the command envisioned by the NATO Advanced
Weapons Division 13 years before came into being. The artillery
detachments, the ordnance companies, and the depot companies
were combined into one command. The similar, but separate
missions performed for so long by SASCOM and the 59th Ordnance
Group (Ammunition) AWSCOM, were now assumed by one command
- the 59th Ordnance Group, later to be officially called
and accepted as the 59th Ordnance Group (SASCOM).
The new command, headquartered in Pirmasens on Husterhoeh
Kaserne, saw many changes during the next few years.
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As
a result of the formation of the new command, several artillery
groups inactivated and joined their forces under the new command,
and two ordnance battalion headquarters were activated.
Effective Aug. 22, 1977, the 59th Ordnance Group was redesignated
as the 59th Ordnance Brigade and increased its mission to
include support of guided missile systems and land combat
systems used by the U.S. Army Corps in Europe.
Mission
The brigade's mission was to provide direct and general special
weapons support for all U.S. Army, Europe, and NATO forces.
In reality, this mission was one of the most unique, complex
and difficult to be found in any army in the world. |
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Organization
At the time of the inactivation announcement, the brigade
was composed of five artillery groups, two ordnance battalions
and a headquarters support battalion, totaling more than 2,900
military and 100 civilian personnel.
The artillery groups consisted of an ordnance company, artillery
detachments and a headquarters detachment. The groups provided
custody, control, maintenance, and supply of ammunition for
our NATO allies. Some detachments had the dual mission of
performing technical support and maintenance, while simultaneously
performing custodial agent functions. |
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| (Source: USAREUR/Seventh Army STATION LIST, 1 June 1976) |
| 59th ORD AMMO GP ORGANIZATION - 1 JUNE 1976 |
UNIT DESIGNATION |
LOCATION |
COMMENTS |
| HHC, 59th Ord Ammo Gp |
Husterhöh Ksn, Pirmasens |
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| US Army PAL Det |
Husterhöh Ksn, Pirmasens |
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| 563rd Ord Co (Maint)(GS) |
Camp Pieri, Wiesbaden |
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| 579th Ord Co (GM Maint) |
Nelson Bks, Neu Ulm |
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| 165th Sig Co |
Husterhöh Ksn, Pirmasens |
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| 41st Ord Co (Ammo Convl) |
Kaiserslautern |
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| 72nd Ord Bn (Ammo) |
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 HHD, 72nd Ord Bn |
Army Depot, Miesau |
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| 4th Ord Co (GM Maint) |
Army Depot, Miesau |
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| 9th Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(Dep Spt) |
Army Depot, Miesau |
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| 164th MP Co (Phy Scty) |
Ammo Depot, Miesau |
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| 619th Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(Dep Spt) |
Ammo Depot, Kriegsfeld |
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| 558th MP Co (Phy Scty) |
Ammo Depot, Kriegsfeld |
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| 197th Ord Bn (Ammo) |
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| HHD, 197th Ord Bn |
Fischbach Ksn, Fischb. |
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| 64th Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(Dep Spt) |
Fischbach Ksn, Fischb. |
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| 165th MP Co (Phy Scty) |
Fischbach Ksn, Fischb. |
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| 525th Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(Dep Spt) |
Ord Area, Siegelsbach |
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| 556th MP Co (Phy Scty) |
Ord Area, Siegelsbach |
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| 5th Arty Gp (Wh Spt) |
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| HHD, 5th Arty Gp |
Stöckerbusch Ksn, Büren |
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| 27th Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(GS) |
Stöckerbusch Ksn, Büren |
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| 4th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Werl |
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| 33rd FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Dellbrück |
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| 43rd AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Düren-Drove |
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| 66th AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Soest-Büecke |
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| 85th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Geilenkirchen |
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| 507th AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Hinsbeck |
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| 294th Arty Gp (Wh Spt) |
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| HHD, 294th Arty Gp |
Flensburg |
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| 99th Ord Det (Wh Spt) |
Flensburg |
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| 13th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Liliencron Ksn, Kellinghusen |
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| 75th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Flensburg |
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| 512th Arty Gp (Wh Spt) |
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| HHD, 512th Arty Gp |
Günzburg |
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| 510th Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(GS) |
Günzburg |
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| 2nd FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Pfullendorf |
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| 24th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Landsberg |
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| 36th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Hemau |
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| 74th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Airfield, Lechfeld |
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| 84th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Großengstingen |
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| 552nd Arty Gp (Wh Spt) |
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| HHD, 552nd Arty Gp |
Mühlenberg Ksn, Sögel |
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| 162nd Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(GS) |
Mühlenberg Ksn, Sögel |
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| 5th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Schill Ksn, Dünsen |
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| 8th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Steenwijk, NE |
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| 23rd FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
T'Harde, NE |
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| 25th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Barme |
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| 32nd FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Nienburg |
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| 35th AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Hohenkirchen |
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| 42nd AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Barnsdorf |
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| 51st AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Adelheide |
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| 557th Arty Gp (Wh Spt) |
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| HHD, 557th Arty Gp |
Aartal Ksn, Herborn |
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| 96th Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(GS) |
Aartal Ksn, Herborn |
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| 3rd FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Salm Ksn, Phillipsburg |
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| 7th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Hardt Ksn, Treysa |
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| 30th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Army Depot, Giessen |
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| 52nd AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Lippe |
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| 83rd FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Montabaur |
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| 501st AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Kilianstädten |
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| 570th Arty Gp (Wh Spt) |
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| HHD, 570th Arty Gp |
Handorf |
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| 583rd Ord Co (Sp Ammo)(GS) |
Handorf |
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| 1st FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Schill Ksn, Wesel |
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| 15th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Paderborn |
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| 22nd FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Dempsey Bks, Sennelager |
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| 69th FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Hemer |
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| 81st FA Det (Msl Wh Spt)(HJ) |
Dülmen |
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| 509th AD Det (Msl Wh Spt) |
Vörden |
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| Headquarters,
Advanced Weapons Support Command |
| (Source: Al Galbraith,
served with HHQ Co, 59th Ordnance Group - a.k.a AWSCOM, 1967-68) |
1. Sign
in front of HQ building, Husterhoeh Kaserne (43
KB)
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2. Several
buildings and a motor pool on Husterhoeh Kaserne (86
KB)
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3. Building
4618 housed HQ AWSCOM, Husterhoeh Kaserne (97
KB)
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4. Building
4618 in 2002 (36
KB)
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| Webmaster
Note: I mistakenly identified the above building (photo #3
and #4) as Bldg 4611. Al says it was and is Bldg 4618. |
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| (Source: Clem Akins,
529th Ord Co, 1966-67 and 1971-73; 64th Ord Co, 1967-69 and 1973-75) |
Found your article on the Ordnance Companies interesting but lacking when it came to the special weapons units. Here is some information on the SW units in Europe when I was there. Took me a while to find where I had put this stuff.
The 529th Ord Co was a general support/depot company for most of the Theater. It was located in a cave complex in a small valley near the town of Masswieler a few minutes drive from Pirmasens. The cave complex was built and used by the Germans in WWII and still had the Eagles over the doors. I was there from Dec 66 till Sep 67 and again from Oct 71 till Nov 72 when they closed the unit. The 529th was under AWSCOM (Advanced Weapons Support Command) located in Pirmasens. The 529th had most of the load test mission for the theater and was a parts depot for SW test and handling equipment. We had one MP company collocated with us for security.
I was stationed at the 64th Ord Co at Fischbach from Sep 67 to May 69 and again from Oct 73 to Aug 75. During the 67-69 time there was a Sergeant GS Company (575th Ord Co) I think and two MP companies (193rd & 564th ?) that were assigned to the depot. The 64th was a SW GS Company for the southern half of Europe, the 9th Ord Co having the other half. The 64th had a mission for all SW, rocket motor support for Nike Herk and a full load 8” mission for the SW rounds. There were no extra facilities located at Fischbach so all traveled to Pirmasens for their needs, Commissary, PX, Gym, & clubs. The 64th was a stockpile site and the storage platoon had over 100 people assigned. MAJ Ron Finkbiener was the commander during the 73-75 time frame.
The 197th Ord Bn was created about Nov 72 and was located at Fischbach and had control over the 64th and 525th Ord Co. The commander was LTC Lynn Stevens. By this time the 575th Ord Co was gone. |
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| (Source: Joe
Luongo, 59th Ord Bde, 1985-88) |
I was assigned
to the 59th Ord Bde from Dec 1985 to Nov 1988. I started at the Bde
staff in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Surety. I
was a physical security inspector. I inspected sites all over the
Bde. I went from Flensburg in the north to Füssen in the south.
Some of the units that I remember inspecting are the 162nd OD CO,
the 74th USAFAD, the 510th OD CO, the 619th OD CO and the 1st USAFAD.
There were alot more but those are the one's I remember most.
After 6 months on the surety team and being TDY 3 weeks of the month
I took command of the 164th MP CO at Miesau in July of 1986. The 164th
was then part of the 3rd OD BN that was headquartered in Pirmasens.
The 164th was the biggest MP CO in USAREUR. We had a authorized strength
of 284 soldiers. We secured one of the largest nuclear storage sites
in Europe. We provided security for air missions all over West Germany.
Between air missions, inspections, demos for visiting VIPs and the
day to day mission it never stopped. It was a tough command and pretty
stressful but it was the highlight of my career. Nothing I did before
or after has equaled it. I was very lucky I had great soldiers who
always accomplished the mission no matter how bad things got.
After 21 month of command I went to the 3rd ORD to be the S-2.
I retired in 1996 and was called back to active duty in 2002.
I often run into people who served in the 59th. And its alway fun
to listen to the stories. Everyone always agrees that there was not
doubt what your mission was. Hopefully there will be more comments
from other people
Joe Luongo |
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| If you have more
information on the history or organization of the 59th Ord Bde, please
contact me. |
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| (Source: Email
from Bob Eccles) |
I joined the
Army in January of 1982. I served in the 59th Ordnance Brigade from
roughly April of 1982 to January of 1985. I started out with the 164th
Military Police Company based at Miesau Army Depot, where
I performed nuclear physical security duties. I am proud to have participated
in a couple of events of historical note, specifically securing Pershing
Two missiles arriving at Ramstein AFB, and what I believe was the
first land convoy of nuclear weapons in Germany since the 1950's.
The second half of my time with the 59th was spent as the driver for
the Commanding General, BG Harry Walker. I drove the Commanding General
and Command Sergeant Major in an unmarked Mercedes sedan, following
the convoy vehicles. We spent a lot of time in the armor-plated and
bullet-proof BMW 733-i criss-crossing Germany (West Germany, at the
time) and Belgium visiting units of the 59th.
On our way back to Brigade headquarters in Pirmasens, we listened
as local radio newscasters reported the convoy. Our CSM spoke fluent
German, so he could translate what was being said.
Transporting nukes around Germany (and occasionally Belgium) was pretty
interesting by helicopter, too. We flew around in "Chinook" helicopters.
I remember once we had to land in a field in the middle of the German
countryside, and rush out and set up a perimiter around the chopper.
I overheard the pilot say that he had lost hydrolic pressure. Kinda
scary!
Bob Eccles |
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(Source:
A Look Back ... at the 59th Ordnance Brigade. Final issue
of the 59th COURIER, the command newspaper, published in 1992.)
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| 59th's role
in NATO. |
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During
its many years of service, the 59th Ordnance Brigade provided
a valuable link between the peacetime readiness of U.S.
forces and the ability to support forces of our NATO allies
in the event of war.
To provide for group self-defense, NATO has three major
commands - Allied Command, Europe, (ACE); Allied Command,
Channel; and Allied Command, Atlantic.
In wartime, the 59th Ordnance Brigade would have come under
the operational control of ACE commanded by the Supreme
Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR). The mission given to
SACEUR by NATO is to contribute to the deterrence of all
forms of attack against countries and peoples in ACE and,
should any attack occur, to take all military measures necessary
to preserve or restore the borders and security of Western
Europe.
The more than 70,000 square miles for which SACEUR is tasked
to defend is divided into four commands - Allied Forces,
Northern Europe; Allied Forces, Central Europe; Allied Forces,
Southern Europe; and the United Kingdom Air Forces. Within
these commands there are various other subordinate headquarters.
Allied Forces, Northern Europe (AFNORTH) is comprised of
Norway, Denmark,
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Germany
north of the Elbe River, and the adjacent sea areas. A subordinate
command of AFNORTH, Allied Forces, Baltic Approaches (BALTAP)
is the parent command for Allied Land Forces, Schleswig-Holstein
and Jutland (LANDJUT), which contains forces that were supported
by elements of the 59th Ordnance Brigade.
The largest of ACE's subordinate commands, Allied Forces,
Southern Europe (AFSOUTH), includes Italy, Greece, Turkey,
the Black Sea, and the entire Mediterranean Sea.
The third subordinate command, United Kingdom Air Forces (UKAIR),
is a single service subordinate command - the Royal Air Force
supplies all of the assets. It is a multi-role command, spanning
all functions of air power.
The fourth and last major command, Allied Forces, Central
Europe (AFCENT), contained most of the units supported by
the artillery groups and ordnance battalions of the 59th Ordnance
Brigade. AFCENT's area of responsibility extends from the
North Sea and the Elbe River to the borders of Austria and
Switzerland.
The major subordinate commands of AFCENT are Northern Army
Group (NORTHAG), Central Army Group |
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(CENTAG),
and Allied Forces, Central Europe (AAFCE).
NORTHAG is composed of four national corps from Belgium, the
United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. The headquarters
included an element from the 59th Ordnance Brigade to assist
in planning and coordination. The NORTHAG area of responsibility
stretches from Hamburg to Kassel, and from the inner German
border to the Dutch and Belgian borders.
CENTAG, covering the middle and southern areas of Germany,
consists of two German corps, two U.S. corps, and a Canadian
mechanized brigade. There was also a 59th Ordnance Brigade
staff element at CENTAG headquarters.
Exercising operational control over the 2nd and 4th ATAF,
AAFCE is responsible for deterring air attacks and responding
if attack should occur.
As can be seen, Allied Command, Europe, is a complex organization
combining the armed forces of many nations and requiring close
liaison to ensure cooperation and, ultimately, the ability
to respond in the event of war. The 59th Ordnance Brigade
was an important part of this command and an integral element
in NATO's deterrence of aggression. |
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(Source:
A Look Back ... at the 59th Ordnance Brigade. Final issue
of the 59th COURIER, the command newspaper, published in 1992.)
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| Headquarters
Support Battalion |
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The Headquarters
Support Battalion was organized as the Special Troops Battalion
on October 1979, to command and control the four separate
units assigned to the 59th Ordnance Brigade: Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 165th Signal Company, 22nd Aviation
Detachment, and the U.S. Permissive Action Link Detachment.
These units provided the brigade headquarters with administrative,
logistical, communications, transportation, and classified
support.
In May 1983, the Special Troops Battalion was redesignated
Theater Support Battalion (Provisional). The Headquarters
Commandant was formed the following month to assume the support
mission responsibility. The four units were attached to the
Headquarters Commandant for administrative and logistical
purposes.
In the spring of 1984, Headquarters Commandant was redesignated
as Headquarters Command. In August of that same year, Headquarters
Support Battalion was created and it assumed provisional status
in February 1985.
Finally, in October 1985, Headquarters Support Battalion was
activated with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
165th Signal Company, 22nd Aviation Detachment and the PAL
Detachment under its control. The Headquarters Support Battalion
is scheduled to inactivate in September 1992.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 59th Ordnance Brigade
was constituted and activated in the U.S. Army in 1943 as
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Headquarters Detachment, 331st Ordnance Battalion and activated
at Camp Livingston, La.
The following year, the battalion was reorganized and redesignated
as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 59th Ordnance Group.
The Group served with distinction as part of the Ninth Army
in World War II and was awarded battle credits for participation
in the Central Europe Campaign and the Rhineland Campaign.
Inactivated at Fort Jackson, S.C. in February 1946, Headquarters
and Headquarters Detachment was again active in Guam from April
1947 to December 1948.
Redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 59th
Ordnance Group in 1951, the unit served in Korea and took part
in five campaigns. The Group was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Citation for its outstanding service in Korea. The unit was
inactivated in Korea in May 1957.
In March 1962, the Group was activated in Germany as Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 59th Ordnance Group (Ammunition).
Later that year, it was redesignated the 59th Ordnance Group,
Advanced Weapons Support Command (AWSCOM).
AWSCOW and the former Special Ammunition Support Command (SASCOM)
were consolidated and merged to form a "new" SASCOM in 1972.
The new 59th Ordnance Group (SASCOM) moved from Frankfurt to
the old AWSCOM headquarters in Pirmasens.
On 22 August 1977, 59th Ordnance Group (SASCOM) was reorganized
and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 59th
Ordnance Brigade. HHC, 59th is scheduled to inactivate in September
1992.
22nd Aviation Detachment
The 22nd Aviation Detachment was constituted in the regular
Army as the 22nd Special Warfare Aviation Detachment in March
1962 and activated at Fort Bragg, N.C. In June 1962, it was
reorganized and redesignated as the 22nd Aviation |
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Detachment (Special Forces). The Detachment was inactivated
in December 1963.
The unit was activated in September 1965 as the 22nd Transportation
Company in Pirmasens, Germany and assigned to U.S. Army Communications
Zone Transportation Command with attachment to the U.S. Army
Advanced Weapons Support Command. The 22nd replaced the 26th
Transportation Company which was inactivated. The following
month, the activation orders were amended to designate the unit
as the 22nd Aviation Detachment.
In May 1967, the detachment was assigned directly under U.S.
Army Communications Zone with attachment to AWSCOM. In 1971,
and again in 1977, the 22nd Aviation Detachment was named the
USAREUR Region AAAA Aviation Detachment Size Unit of the Year.
The 22nd will inactivate in July 1992.
Permissive Action Link
In December 1963, the U.S. Army Permissive Action Link Detachment
was organized and assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel
Command, Europe. The detachment was attached to the Advanced
Weapons Support Command for administrative and logistical support.
Prior to December 1963, the Army PAL Detachment had been known
as the U.S. Army Control Detachment, the U.S. Army Surveillance
Detachment, and the U.S. Army PAL Surveillance Detachment.
In September 1970, the PAL Detachment was assigned to the U.S.
Army Theater Support Command, Europe, and attached to AWSCOM.
In July 1972, the PAL Detachment was placed under the operational
control of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, USAREUR,
and in May 1974, it was reassigned to the 59th Ordnance Group
(Special Ammunition Support Command).
The Permissive Action Link Detachment was the only unit of its
kind in the U.S. Army, consisting mainly of officers and noncommissioned
officers. The PAL Detachment was inactivated in June 1992. |
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165th
Signal Company
The 165th Signal Company was constituted in February 1942 as
the 165th Signal Photographic Company. The 165th was activated
in June 1942 at Camp Crowder, Mo. Serving in the European Theater
during World War II, the company received credit for five campaigns
and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
After the war, the 165th was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, N.J.
in March 1946. In February 1957, the unit was redesignated as
the 165th Signal Company and was activated at Camp Hood, Texas
the following month. The 165th was inactivated at Fort Carson,
Colorado in August 1961.
The company was activated once again in August 1967 at Fort
Bragg, N.C. and was inactivated there in January 1971. In September
1975, the 165th Signal Company was activated in Germany and
assigned to the 59th Ordnance Group. The 165th Signal Company
inactivated in June 1992.
Northern Army Group
Working as a part of the NATO team in the largest collocated
military complex in |
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Western Europe, was the small group of men and women of the
brigade's staff
element at the Northern Army Group/Second Allied Tactical Air
Force Joint Headquarters in Rheindahlen, near the city of Moenchengladbach.
This facility also served as the headquarters for the British
Army of Rhine (BAOR) and Royal Air Force, Germany.
The staff elements main mission was to advise and coordinate
the planning of weapons support to the four NORTHAG corps and
to 2ATAF and provided a link between the brigade and its administrative
locations in northern Germany and Holland and with other NATO
commands.
Part of the element's mission was to assist the NORTHAG/2ATAF
staffs in planning exercises or operations and to participate
in joint exercises in support of various NATO units. In addition,
members of the element joined with other representatives of
other commands to form NATO evaluation teams which were used
to test units of the northern artillery groups of the brigade.
Pinpointing problems at the groups and providing assistance
comprised a large |
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portion
of the element's peacetime mission. (See page 61 for history
of NORTHAG.)
Central Army Group
In counterpoint to the Staff Element NORTHAG, the brigade established
a brigade staff element at Central Army Group/Fourth Allied
Tactical Air Force (CENTAG/4ATAF) in Heidelberg.
Collocated with Headquarters, U.S. Army, Europe, and Allied
Command Europe Mobile Forces Land, this specialized staff section
served as a focal point for coordinating actions and maintaining
a visible interrelationship between the brigade and the NATO
headquarters for the four separate corps located in central
and southern Germany.
While they lived in Heidelberg, "the home of the general," members
of the staff element were often called upon to host as well
as attend high level conferences, special functions, and be
specially trained to monitor, support and participate in major
NATO exercises to accomplish their mission while under direct
supervision of the 59th Ordnance Brigade commander. (See page
62 for history of CENTAG.) |
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(Source:
Welcome to the 59th Ordnance Brigade, 59th Ord Bde special
orientation brochure, no date (probably 1982))
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| 3rd Ordnance
Battalion |
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One
Of A Kind
The 3rd Ordnance Battalion is a one of a kind unit.
It is the only battalion in the U.S. Army with a general support
missile maintenance mission. Its units have the unique advantage,
at least as far as the 59th is concerned, of being in or very
close to military communities.
The 3rd is also a notable battalion in that it sends its servicemembers
to far away places such as Crete (Greece), Italy, Berlin,
Grafenwoehr, and Garlstedt in Germany for support of missile
firings.
A former 3rd Ord commander once remarked that the average
soldier in his battalion was "not only very technically oriented
but also liked to get out and enjoy the attractions of Germany".
The 3rd Ordnance Battalion has a wide ranging mission. It
provides general support and some direct support maintenance
for every type of missile system the Army uses in NATO: Hawk,
Nike-Hercules, Pershing, Chapparral, Redeye, Stinger, Lance,
Tow, Dragon, Shillelagh, Vulcan gun system and Forward Area
Alerting Radar (FAAR).
Although the 3rd's mission is centered around missile maintenance,
it has a wide variety of jobs within its ranks with over 68
MOS's among its 942 members.
A little history: The 3rd began as an automotive support unit
in the Pacific theatre during World War II (note the cog and
palm tree on its crest) and was deactivated after the war.
During the Vietnam conflict the 3rd Ord served as a conventional
ammunition battalion until its deactivation in April 1972.
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The 3rd's recent history has been dotted with honor, as it became
the first unit in USAREUR in 1981 to store and maintain the
advanced Stinger missile. That same year, the 3rd also underwent
inspection from none other than the Vice-Chief of Staff of the
U.S. Army, Gen. Thomas Vessey.
The 3rd also fielded a fine Nijmegen (Netherlands) March team
in 1980 which went on to place among the top 10 percent of the
10,000 soldiers that trecked the famous 1000 mile route.
The battalion sends soldiers to the Armed Forces Recreation
Centers in Garmisch every year for adventure training. There
they are instructed in survival techniques under adverse conditions.
When the 59th underwent a reorganization in 1977, the 3rd reactivated
and took under its wing the 4th Ordnance Company in Miesau;
the 41st Ordnance Company in Kaiserslautern; the 563rd Ordnance
Company in Wiesbaden; and the 579th Ordance Company in Neu-Ulm,
which has since been transferred to the 56th FA Brigade.
In providing general support it repairs, maintains, stores,
renovates and issues missiles to direct support units around
USAREUR, a complicated mission to say the least.
The 3rd also provides direct support for units such as the Berlin
Brigade, the 2nd Armored Division Forward and the 7th Army Training
Center.
Part of the 3rd's mission is to maintain an 'Operational Readiness
Float' in which a reserve of missiles, generators and other
support equipment are kept for use by other units when their
equipment breaks down.
The 3rd's organic companies, in brief:
The Headquarters and Headquarters Company
of the 3rd is situated on Taukkunen Barracks in historic Worms,
city of the Protestant Reformation. Soldiers in Worms, when
not involved in the affairs of operating a battalion, have ample
opportunity to visit the Martin Luther monument, roam through
Romanesque and Baroque churches, attend a winefest, or see the
opera in this city of 80,000 along the Rhine River. The headquarters
also plays host to battalion tournaments in basketball, football
and softball each year. |
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The
4th Ordnance Company at the Miesau
Army Depot near Kaiserslautern services Nike-Herkules and Improved
Hawk missiles for the 32nd Army Air Defense Command. Its members
take advantage of the many volksmarching (German for "people's
walk") and hiking trails in the Miesau area.
The 4th distinguishes itself through an active suggestion awards
program that contributed over $ 144,000 in savings during the
first five months of 1981 alone.
The 4th is part of the Zweibrucken Military Community and its
members have close access to all the benefits of Kaiserslautern
as welI.
As a note, the 4th's location is the scene of a yearly gathering
of Miesau's Protestants under an oak tree in a sensitive part
of the Miesau Army Depot. The tradition is a centuries old token
of the religious defiance of the town's citizens.
The 41st Ordnance Company in Vogelweh,
near Kaiserslautern, performs ammunition storage, issue, and
maintenance functions on a wide variety of missiles, mostly
at its two storage facilities in Fischbach and Weilerbach. It
also features a Dedicated Delivery Service program whereby missiles
are exchanged on site at artillery batteries.
Both the 41st and the 4th are located close to the Kaiserslautern
Military Community, which contains approximatelys 50,000 servicemen
and has several large exchanges, auto garages, pizza huts, camera
and stereo shops, parts stores, and other spacious facilities
operated by the Army/Air Force Exchange Service.
The 563rd Ordnance Company in Wiesbaden
maintains ten different missile systems. It competes strongly
in sports activities within its military community and within
the Battalion. During off-duty time soldiers of the 563rd enjoy
the many sights in Wiesbaden on the Rhine River and take in
an occasional round of golf at a course located adjacent to
its Kaserne.
The 3rd Ordnance Battalion isn't the largest battalion-sized
unit in the 59th, but it has one of the strongest traditions
of excellence to be found in any unit. |
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(Source:
A Look Back ... at the 59th Ordnance Brigade. Final issue
of the 59th COURIER, the command newspaper, published in 1992.)
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| 72nd Ordnance
Battalion |
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Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 72nd Ordnance Battalion was constituted
in the regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
36th Quartermaster Regiment (Light Maintenance) in May 1936.
In June 1940 it was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters
Detachment, 72nd Quartermaster Battalion (Light Maintenance).
The battalion was activated at Camp Hulen, Texas in March
1942.
During World War II, the battalion received credit for participation
in one campaign. Following the cessation of hostilities, the
72nd Ordnance Battalion was inactivated in France in November
1945.
The battalion was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters
Detachment, 72nd Ordnance Battalion (Maintenance and Supply)
in March 1954. The unit was activated in May 1954 at Verdun,
France and assigned to the U.S. Army Communications Zone,
Europe.
In 1972, the 72nd Ordnance Battalion was activated under the
control of the 59th Ordnance Brigade.
After a few years in Kaiserslautern, the 72nd Ordnance Battalion
was moved to the Miesau Army Depot. To be closer to its subordinate
units, the battalion headquarters was moved to Muenster-Dieburg
in June 1990.
The 72nd Ordnance Battalion had, at the time of its inactivation,
seven subordinate units. It was inactivated in June 1992.
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6th MP Company
The 6th Military Police Company was constituted in the national
Army in November 1917 as the 6th Training Headquarters and Military
Police, an element of the 6th Division. The unit was organized
at Camp McClellan, Ala. in February 1918.
The unit deployed to Europe and received credit for participation
during World War I, the only brigade unit to do so.
During World War II the unit was deployed to the Asiatic-Pacific,
participated in two campaigns, and was awarded a Meritorious
Unit Commendation and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
The unit was inactivated in Korea in January 1949.
The 6th Military Police Company was activated at Muenster-Dieburg,
Germany in September 1977 from elements of the 545th Ordnance
Company and the 9th Military Police Detachment which was inactivated.
The company was assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion, 59th
Ordnance Group. The 6th was inactivated in June 1992.
525th Ordnance Company
The 525th Ordnance Company was constituted in the regular Army
in May 1936 as Company K, 58th Quartermaster Regiment. The unit
was converted and redesignated in August 1942 as Company K,
3rd Battalion, 58th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Regiment. In
September 1942, it was redesignated as the 911th Ordnance Heavy
Maintenance Company. The company was activated at Atlanta, Ga.
in February 1943.
The unit was redesignated in February 1947 as the 525th Ordnance
Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company and again in June 1959
as the 525th Ordnance Company.
In May 1961, the 525th was assigned to the 82nd Ordnance Battalion
of the Advanced Weapons Support Command. With the inactivation
of the 82nd Ordnance Battalion in July 1965, the company was
assigned directly under AWSCOM. In November 1972, the 525th
was assigned to the newly activated 197th Ordnance Battalion.
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The
525th was assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion in October
1990. The company was located in Siegelsbach, Germany. The 525th
was inactivated in June 1992.
545th Ordnance Company
The 545th Ordnance Company was activated in September 1942 at
Camp Atterbury, Ind. as Company M, 56th Quartermaster Regiment.
The unit was converted and redesignated as Company M, 56th Ordnance
Heavy Maintenance Regiment in August 1942. In October 1942,
it was reorganized and redesignated as the 895th Ordnance Heavy
Maintenance Company and in May 1943 as the 895th Ordnance Heavy
Automotive Maintenance company.
In March 1950 the company was redesignated as the 545th Ordnance
Co. and activated in Yokohama, Japan. It received credit for
participating in ten campaigns and was awarded two Meritorious
Unit Commendations.
From June 1957 through July 1958, the company was active in
Germany. Finally, in June 1959 the 545th was activated in Muenster-Dieburg,
Germany from what had been Company C, 15th Ordnance Battalion.
The 545th was assigned to the 15th Ordnance Battalion. In February
1977, the 545th Ordnance Company was reassigned to the 72nd
Ordnance Battalion. The company was inactivated in June 1992.
556th MP Company
The 556th Military Police Company was constituted in the U.S.
Army in June 1945 as the 556th Military Police Escort Guard
Company and was activated at Fort Custer, Mich. The unit was
deployed to Europe and received credit for participation in
four campaigns during World War II and was awarded a Meritorious
Unit Commendation. The unit was inactivated in France in 1946.
The company was activated in Siegelsbach, Germany in May 1962
as a result of a physical security force reorganization that
detached the security platoon from the 525th Ordnance Company.
The company |
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was
assigned to the 82nd Ordnance Battalion of the Advanced Weapons
Support Command.
In July 1962, the 556th was reassigned to the 193rd Ordnance
Battalion and then was assigned back to the 82nd in June 1964.
In July 1965, the company was assigned directly under AWSCOM
as a result of the plan to inactivate the 82nd Ordnance Battalion.
Finally, in November 1972, the 556th was assigned to the 197th
Ordnance Battalion.
In October 1990 the 556th MP Company was assigned to the 72nd
Ordnance Battalion. The company was located at
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Siegelsbach,
Germany and inactivated in June 1992.
558th MP Company
The 558th Military Police Company was constituted in the U.S.
Army as the 558th Military Police Escort Guard Company and activated
at Fort Custer, Mich. in June 1943. The company was inactivated
in March 1945 at Como, Miss., but was reactivated in the Philippines
in April 1945.
The unit received credit for participation in two World War
II campaigns and was awarded a Philippines Presidential Unit
Citation. Following several activations and inactivations, the
unit was allotted to the regular Army in October 1951.
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The
unit was deployed to Korea and was credited with participation
in nine
campaigns and awarded three Meritorious Unit Commendations and
two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations.
In March 1962, the company was activated in Germany as the 558th
Military Police Company and assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion
of the Advanced Weapons Support Command with duty at the U.S.
Army Special Depot, Kriegsfeld, Germany.
The 558th was inactivated on Nov. 1, 1991, at Kriegsfeld. |
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(Source:
A Look Back ... at the 59th Ordnance Brigade. Final issue
of the 59th COURIER, the command newspaper, published in 1992.)
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| 197th Ordnance
Battalion |
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The 197th
Ordnance Battalion was constituted in the regular Army as
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, 58th
Quartermaster Regiment in May 1936. The unit was activated
in February 1941 at Fort Lewis, Wa.
After a few reorganizations, the battalion was deployed to
Europe during World War II and saw action in Italy, France
and Germany. The battalion received credit for participation
in six campaigns and received a Meritorious Unit Commendation
for its service in Italy. Following World War II, the 197th
was inactivated in November 1945.
In January 1967, the battalion was reactivated at Tooele Army
Depot, Utah. During the consolidation of the Headquarters
Special Depots in 1972, the Headquarters and Headquarters
Company and the 197th Ordnance Battalion were activated at
the 59th Ordnance Group Special Depot in Fischbach.
In 1977, the headquarters company along with the battalion
headquarters was moved from Fischbach to Muenchweiler. With
the inactivation of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion in 1991, the
headquarters moved to Husterhoeh Kaserne in Pirmasens.
Prior to inactivation of the 59th Ordnance Brigade, the battalion's
subordinate units included the 9th, 41st, 64th, and 563rd
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Ordnance
Companies, the 164th and 165th Military Police Companies,
the 41st Ordnance Detachment, the Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, and the 619th Theater Air Support Company.
The 197th Ordnance Battalion, along with the Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, the 41st Ordnance Company, and the
563rd Ordnance Company are the only 59th Ordnance Brigade
assets which are not being inactivated. They will now fall
under operational control of the 21st TAACOM.
9th Ordnance Company
The 9th Ordnance Company was organized in February 1921 at
Fort Sill, Okla. using personnel from the 9th Light Mobile
Ordnance Repair Shop. In October 1939, it was redesignated
as the 9th Ordnance (Medium Maintenance). The unit was redesignated
as the 9th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company in 1942, and
in November of that year, arrived in North Africa.
During
World War II, the 9th served in Sicily, Italy and Central
Europe and received credit for participation in six campaigns.
For its actions, the unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Commendation.
Following the cessation of hostilities, the 9th Ordnance returned
to Camp Kilmer, N.J. where it was inactivated in March 1946.
In April 1949, the company was redesignated as the 9th Ordnance
Medium Automotive Maintenance Company and activated in Okinawa
in June of that year.
Redesignated as the 9th Ordnance Company (Direct Automotive
Support) in November 1952, the unit was inactivated in March
1953. The 9th Ordnance was again activated in November 1953
at Fort Bragg, N.C., but was inactivated there in March of
the following year.
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The
company was again active from January 1955 through March 1958
at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The unit was activated as the 9th Ordnance
Company (Special Weapons and Missile) (Depot Support) in December
1958 at White Sands, N.M. In June 1959, the company arrived
in West Germany and was assigned to the 82nd Ordnance Battalion,
Advanced Weapons Support Command, with duty at Miesau Army Depot.
In May 1961, the 9th Ordnance Company was transferred to the
72nd Ordnance Battalion, and then in September 1965, the company
was assigned directly under AWSCOM when the 72nd Ordnance Battalion
was inactivated.
In January 1971, the 9th Ordnance Company, along with the 4th
Ordnance Company and the 164th Military Police Company, was
made part of the Miesau Special Depot under AWSCOM.
In June 1972, the unit received the Best Mess Award from the
Theater Army Support Command.
In November 1972, the Miesau Special Depot was disbanded when
the 72nd Ordnance Battalion was activated, the 9th was assigned
to the 72d. Finally, in June 1983, the 9th Ordnance Company
was reassigned to the newly organized Theater Support Battalion
(Provisional) which in June 1985 was redesignated as the 3rd
Ordnance Battalion.
During the historic chemical retrograde, the 9th Ordnance Company
was responsible for the vehicular to rail transload phase of
the operation.
On July 26, 1990, the 9th Ordnance Company received the first
20 vehicles to download at the Reserve Support Activity, Miesau.
All 100,000 chemical rounds where staged and accounted for 28
days later.
The company was also responsible for the upload of the munitions
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the
trains which would transport them to the port at Nordenham.
On July 17, 1991, the Meritorious Unit Award was presented to
the 9th Ordnance Company for distinguishing itself during the
Chemical Retrograde.
In February 1991, the 3rd Ordnance Battalion was inactivated
and the 9th Ordnance Company, still located in Miesau, was assigned
to the 197th Ordnance Battalion.
The 9th Ordnance Company will again inactivate in August 1992.
41st Ordnance Company
The 41st Ordnance Company was constituted in the regular Army
in May 1936 as Company C, 1st Battalion, 32nd Quartermaster
Regiment. In June 1940, the unit was redesignated as Company
C, 70th Quartermaster Battalion and moved to Camp Gordon, Ga.
in May 1942. In August 1942, the company was converted and redesignated
as the 3419th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company.
In January 1943, the company was reorganized as the 3419th Ordnance
Medium Automotive Maintenance Company. The unit deployed to
Europe and received credit for participation in four campaigns
during War World II. Reorganized and redesignated as the 41st
Ordnance Medium Automotive Maintenance Company in June 1947,
the unit was inactivated in Germany in September of that year.
The company was activated in Japan in March 1950 and deployed
to Korea where it received credit for participation in one campaign.
In November 1951, the unit was inactivated in Japan.
Activated at Fort Bragg, N.C. in May 1952, the company was reorganized
and redesignated as the 41st Ordnance Company in November of
that same year. The 41st was inactivated in Thailand in September
1966.
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In
September 1975, the 41st Ordnance Company was again activated,
this time at Weilerbach, West Germany, and was assigned to the
72nd Ordnance Battalion of the 59th Ordnance Group.
Two years later, in September 1977, the company was reassigned
to the 3rd Ordnance Battalion. The 41st Ordnance was transferred
to Special Troops Battalion (Provisional) when the 3rd Ordnance
Battalion moved to the 32nd U.S. Army Air Defense Command. The
company was then assigned to the Theater Support Battalion (Provisional)
when it was organized and then to the 3rd Ordnance Battalion
in June 1985 with its return to the 59th Ordnance Brigade.
The 41st Ordnance Company was reassigned to the 197th Ordnance
Battalion in October 1990 when the 3rd Ordnance Battalion was
inactivated.
64th Ordnance Company
The 64th Ordnance Company was constituted in the regular Army
in October 1933. It was activated in February 1941 at Savanna
Ordnance Depot, Ill. as the 64th Company (Ammunition). In October
1942, the company was redesignated as the 64th Ordnance Ammunition
Company.
The 64th deployed to North Africa in November 1942 and went
on to participate in six campaigns during World War II. In September
1946, the unit was redesignated as the 64th Ordnance Base Depot
Company and activated in Adak, Ark. in April of that year. The
company's existence was short, however, as it was inactivated
two months later.
The 64th was redesignated in October 1958 as the 64th Ordnance
Company (Special Weapons and Missile) (Direct Support). It was
activated in December 1958 at Fort Sill, Okla. and tasked to
provide support to the U.S. Army Artillery and Missile School.
The 64th
Ordnance Company deployed to West Germany and arrived in Fischbach
in
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October
1959. The company was assigned to
the 82nd Ordnance Battalion of the Advanced Weapons Support
Command with the mission of commanding and operating the Fischbach
Ordnance Depot.
In April 1962, the unit was reorganized as the 64th Ordnance
Company (Special Ammunition) (Depot Support). As a result of
plans to inactivate the 82nd Ordnance Battalion in September
1965, the 64th was assigned directly under AWSCOM in July. The
AWSCOM Special Depot, Fischbach, was organized in December 1970,
creating a headquarters to command the 64th as well as the other
AWSCOM units at Fischbach.
With the merger of AWSCOM and the Special Ammunition Support
Command in November 1972, the Headquarters, Special Depot, Fischbach,
was disbanded and the 64th was assigned to the newly activated
197th Ordnance Battalion.
The 64th Ord. Co. inactivated in June 1992.
164th MP Company
The 164th Military Police Company was organized and activated
as the 164th Military Police Prisoner of War Processing Company
in January 1944 at Fort Custer, Mich. The 164th arrived in New
Guinea in August 1944 and then on Leyte in the Philippines in
October of the same year. For its actions in World War II, the
company was awarded a Philippine Presidential Citation and received
credit for participation in three campaigns. The unit was inactivated
in January 1946 on Leyte.
The 164th was activated and assigned to the 8th U.S. Army in
Korea in 1951. During the Korean War, the company participated
in five campaigns and was awarded two Republic of Korea Presidential
Unit Citations. It was inactivated in Korea in December 1953.
The unit was redesignated and activated as the 164th Military
Police |
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Company
in March 1962 in Kaiserslautern, West Germany. In the fall of
1962, the 164th was assigned for duty at Miesau Army Depot.
In March 1967, the 44th and 100th Military Police Detachments
were attached to the 164th.
From January 1971 through November 1972, the 164th was part
of the Miesau Special Depot, a command subordinate to AWSCOM.
In March 1971, and again in March 1972, the 164th received the
AWSCOM Commander's Trophy for having the best sports program
in the command.
In November 1972, the company was assigned to the newly activated
72nd Ordnance Battalion. In August 1975, the military police
detachments were inactivated and the personnel transferred to
the 164th.
In June 1983, the 164th was transferred to the new Theater Support
Battalion (Provisional) which became the 3rd Ordnance Battalion
in June 1985.
The 164th was assigned to the 197th Ordnance Battalion in October
1990 after the inactivation of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion.
The 164th MP Co. will be inactivated in August 1992.
165th MP Company
The 165th Military Police Company was constituted in October
1944 in the Army of the United States as the 165th Military
Police Prisoner of War Processing Company and activated at Fort
Sam Houston, Texas. The unit was reorganized and redesignated
in March 1945 as the 165th Military Police Escort Guard Company,
and was inactivated in October of that year at Vancouver Barracks,
Wash.
In September 1951, it was allotted to the regular Army and the
following month it was activated in Korea. The company was reorganized
and redesignated as the 165th Military Police Company in February
1953. For its actions in Korea, the 165th was credited with
participation in five campaigns and was awarded two Republic
of Korea Presidential Unit Citations. The 165th was inactivated
in Korea in April 1954.
In March 1962, the 165th was activated in West Germany and assigned
to the 193rd Ordnance Battalion of the Advanced Weapons Support
Command. In April 1964, it was reassigned to the 82nd Ordnance
Battalion, and then directly under AWSCOM in July 1965 as a
result of the plans to inactivate the battalion. |
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