USAREUR Units

US Army Industrial Center, Europe
Communications Zone
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 contact me.

USAMP BÖBLINGEN

MISSION
- Depot Maintenance Light Combat Vehicles
FY-64 PROGRAM MAJOR ITEMS
- 181 APC's
- 28,215 Canvas Items
- 105 Tank Retrievers (VTR)
- 143 Missile Support Items
- 871 Power Train Assy's
- 821 Tac Vehicles
FACILITIES
- 33 Buildings
- 270 Acres
SPECIAL CAPABILITIES
- Vehicle steam clean, de-rust, sand-blast & paint facilities
- Complete sheet metal facilities & carpenter shop
- Canvas fabrication & repair
- 6-light engine dynamometers
- Vehicle test track with 30/60 percent slop

USAMP MAINZ

MISSION
- Depot Maintenance Combat Vehicles
FY-64 PROGRAM MAJOR ITEMS
- 303 Tanks
- 203 Artillery
- 1355 Fire Control Items
- 2279 Power Train Assy's
- 28 VTR's
FACILITIES
- 54 Buildings
- 55 Acres
SPECIAL CAPABILITIES
- Metal plating & metal spraying
- Heavy vehicle test track with 30/60 percent slope
- 6-heavy engine dynamometer test cells
- Complete machine shop incl. crankshaft grinders
- Gun tube magnaflux

USAMP OBER-RAMSTADT

MISSION
- Tire Recap & Manufacture of Rubber Items
FY-64 PROGRAM MAJOR ITEMS
- 103,823 Pneu Tires
- 28,200 Solid Tires
- 65,700 Misc. Rubber Products
FACILITIES
- 25 Buildings
- 20 Acres
SPECIAL CAPABILITIES
- Mixing of special rubber compounds
- Manufacture of specialized extruded & molded rubber dies

USAMP SCHW.-GMÜND

MISSION
- Depot Maintenance Major Assemblies
FY-64 PROGRAM MAJOR ITEMS
- 10,300 Vehicle Engines
- 10,240 Power Train Components
FACILITIES
- 56 Buildings
- 25 Acres
SPECIAL CAPABILITIES
- Tool & die fabrication, forging, metal plating & metal spraying
- Induction heat treating
- Component magnafluxing
- 33-light engine dynamometers
- Complete machine shop incl. milling & boring machines

USAD GERMERSHEIM

MISSION
- Receives, Stores, Issues Supplies & Materiel
FY-64 PROGRAM MAJOR ITEMS
- Received -- 58,000 Tons
- Stored -- 44,000 Tons
- Issued -- 58,000 Tons
FACILITIES
- 60 Buildings
- 365 Acres
SPECIAL CAPABILITIES
- Vehicle processing for overseas shipment
- Vehicle storage capacity of 6,000 tracked or 12,000 wheeled vehicles
- OVM processin

US Army Depot, Germersheim, 1962.

(Source: Email from Melvin Bielawski, ORDIC, 1959-1965)

I am a WW II veteran, albeit non-combat. I was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. I volunteered for immediate induction into the Army when I was drafted for my first physical. I spent two years in Germany from November, 1945, to October, 1947. My first assignment in Germany was with the 633rd Medical Clearing Company, although I was trained as an infantry GI. I was placed in charge of the hospital in "P.O.W. Camp 78, Zuffenhausen, Germany". My book on that experience, so titled, was published in 2002. (It can be previewed at www.1stbooks.com.)

After obaining my degree from the University of Toledo, thanks to the G.I. BIll, and during my employment at Rossford Ordnance Depot, located just outside of Toledo, I accepted a DAC (Department of the Army Civilian) job July, 1957, in Bremerhaven, Germany, in Management Services, Office of Comptroller.

In August, 1959, I accepted a position with ORDIC in Management Services and remained with ORDIC, eventually as Chief of Management, until I transferred to the Directorate of Management, Comptroller of the Army, in April, 1965. I retired from Pentagon in 1982. Began new careers as consultant, writing books, etc., plus travel with my Bavarian wife, golf, fish, etc.,etc.

As the web site summarizes, ORDIC was the Headquarters responsible for the command and control of ALL operations of the four principal Ordnance Corps army depots in Germany, namely Ober-Ramstadt, Boeblingen, Mainz, and Schabisch-Gmuend. ORDIC reported to COMZ, located in Orleans, France. All funding, reporting, etc., followed these lines of authority.

Mainz, primarily responsible for the Army's tanks overhaul, and Boeblingen, responsible for light combat vehicles, etc., were GOCO plants, i.e., Govenment Owned-Contractor Operated. Mercedes Benz had Boeblingen and Mainz had Luther Works-Jordan (this contract later change hands). Sch. Gmuend and Ober-Ramstadt were GOGO plants. Both were Government Owned-Government Operated.

The ORDIC Headquarters was located in Coleman Barracks, just outside of Mannheim, Germany. All of the assigned military and DACs lived in Benjamin Franklin Village, near Kaefertal. The ORDIC Headquarters was abolished in the summer of 1965. A COMZ team comprised of Army, DACs, and French LN's (local nationals) recommended this action in their final management and manpower analysis of ORDIC. The COMZ team included the recommendation that the FIVE installations report directly to COMZ. The installations were allocated slight increases in their staffs to accomodate the new missions.

Germersheim (GOGO) Depot was assigned to ORDIC about 1963. But it too was assigned to COMZ in 1965. In 1959, Col. Woods was the CO, followed by Col. Dennis, followed by Col. Katz, followed by Col Shepard. The organization was typical of an Army Ordnance depot, i.e., Administration, Depot Maintenance and Supply, Engineering, Inspection, Procurement, and Comproller Divisions. A Finance and Accounting (TO&E) unit was assigned to ORDIC. The Heidelberg Post CPO (Civilian Personnel Office) provided the services for DACS. A CPO in Mannheim provided ORDIC support services for Local Nationals (LNs).

I still maintain contact with several military and civilians, American and Germans, who were assigned to ORDIC during my time with the organization. Mel Bielawski

ORDICEUR org chart