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95th
Quartermaster Battalion |
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| 95th Quartermaster Battalion History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1950 - 1965 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Source: Quartermaster Foundation website accessed July 15, 2011) |
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Redesignated 9 February 1950 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 95th Quartermaster Service Battalion. Activated 15 April 1950 in Germany Reorganized and redesignated 20 October 1951 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 95th Quartermaster Battalion Battalion reorganized 14 September 1961 as 95th Quartermaster Battalion. |
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| (Source: Military History, 2nd Quartermaster Group, 1945-1965. Compiled by the 2nd QM Gp in the mid 1960s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HISTORY
OF THE 95TH QUARTERMASTER BATTALION
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 95th Quartermaster Battalion was constituted 1 May 1936 in the Regular Army and was activated on 6 April 1942 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland as the 95th Quartermaster Bakery Battalion. On 1 October 1943 as the 95th Quartermaster Battalion with its four lettered companies becoming numbered companies (A, B, C and D changed to 105, 106, 107 and 108 Quartermaster Bakery Companies respectively). The 95th served with distinction while participating in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central European Campaigns. For its participation in the Normandy Campaign it was awarded the French Crois de Guerre. The 95th Quartermaster Battalion was inactivated on 20 March 1948 in Germany but remained inactive only a short time as it was redesignated on 15 April 1950. Activated at Martburg, Germany the unit left soon afterward to Metz, France and supported depot operations there. While in Metz, France the unit was redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 95th Quartermaster Battalion on 20 October 1951. On 4 March 1955 the Battalion moved to Strassburg Kaserne, Idar Oberstein, Germany and there had three Quartermaster Companies attached to it. The mission of the Battalion was the support of Nahbollenbach Quartermaster Depot, Nahbollenbach, Germany. The three companies attached were the 85th Quartermaster Company (Depot) (C&GS), the 522d Quartermaster Company (Subs Dep) and the 561st Quartermaster Company (Pet Sup). This assignment continued until 14 December 1956. On that date the three companies were released from the Battalion and the Battalion was released from attachment to Nahbollenbach Quartermaster Depot. The Battalion's new mission became that of operational control for 10 Direct Support Platoons engaged in MASS (Modern Army Supply System). On 20 Februarv 1957 the 95th was attached to the 2d Quartermaster Group for administration and logistical support. On 28 March 1957 the Battalion moved by motor convoy to Autobahn Kaserne, Seckenheim, Germany. There, at the Autobahn Kaserne the 95th Quartermaster Battalion received instructions that the unit would be a part of the Quartermaster Section, 7th US Army for operational orders and instructions but would still be attached to the 2d Quartermaster Group for administration and logistics. This meant all orders regarding the 10 Direct Support Platoons would come from the Quartermaster Section, 7th US Army. On 6 September 1957 the Battalion Headquarters moved from Seckenheim, Germany to W. O. Darby Kaserne, Furth, Germany by motor convoy. There the 95th assumed command of three newly activated Quartermaster Direct Support Companies. There would be one company each located in Munich, Wurzburg and Nurnberg. The mission of these companies was to support approximately 25, 000 troops each with Quartermaster Field Maintenance, MASS repair parts and Class III support for all troop units gradually being phased out of support missions. On 1 July 1958, the 95th assumed operational control of three Class II and IV accounts located at Augsburg, Munich and Nurnberg. The Battalion also assumed control of eight clothing sales stores at Augsburg, Munich, Nurnberg, Grafenwohr, Ansbach, Regensburg, Straubing and Landshut. On 15 September 1958, the 7th Army Quartermaster Direct Support Company, Wurzburg was released from attachment to the Battalion and attached to the 14th Quartermaster Battalion. The 561st Quartermaster Company (Petrl) was attached to the Battalion with duty station in Nurnberg, minus one platoon. On 1 November 1958, the Class III accounts at Berchtesgaden and Garmisch were released from the 95th and reassigned to USAREUR units. On 1 January 1959 the Battalion assumed operational control of the maintenance platoon at Augsburg from the 35th Quartermaster Battalion. On 1 April 1960 a Self Service Supply Center for expendable supplies was opened in Munich under supervision of Class II and IV Accountable Officer, Munich. On 29 March 1963 the 95th Quartermaster Battalion received the Most Progressed Unit Award from Commanding General, 7th Army Support Command, which was presented by Colonel Stanek during the 2d Quartermaster Group conference hosted by the 95th Quartermaster Battalion. |
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| If you have more information on the history or organization of the 95th QM Bn, please contact me. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Members of HQ 95th QM Battalion, Nuernberg, (Maj Senior on left; Satterfield 3rd from left (top row)) |
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| 1958 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Orval Satterfield, HQ 95th QM Bn, 1958-1962) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Alvin Crispin, HQ Det, 95th QM Bn, 1960-1961) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was the S1 Clerk for the Hq. Det., 95th QM Bn., at W.O. Darby Kaserne in Fürth, Germany (near Nurnberg) from Jan. 1960 - Aug. 1961. We were located up on the 3rd floor of the building right near, I believe, what was the EES Laundry. There were only about 20 of us in the Hq. unit and we single G.I.'s lived on the same floor where we worked.
In my office there were three other personnel: Capt. Brooks, SgtMaj. Phelan and a female German civilian. The office next to the S1 office was the personnel records office and on down the hall were a couple more offices. On the 2nd floor there were German civilians who took care of the maintenance work of the buildings and on the 1st floor there was a gasthaus run by German civilians. We had two staff cars (55 Chevy & 55 Ford) for the two senior officers, a Major and a Lt. Col. Right down the street was the 561st QM Co. We had to walk down there each day for our meals. The 561st was a petroleum outfit. I remember going out to one of their sites on the outskirts of Nurnberg and seeing these giant inflatable fuel tanks, they must have held 10 - 15 thousand gals. of fuel. In addition to the 561st., we had a couple of units, (I believe 108th) down in Munich and Augsburg. We had two Courier Drivers (Henry & Green) who drove twice a week to these units. On the back of their jeep they had a large white sign that read "Courier Do Not Delay". In Nurnberg I remember the old wall around the center part of the city, the Nurnberg Castle and the Palace of Justice where the famous WWII Trials took place. I missed out on the Palace of Justice tours. Shortly after I arrive the tours were cancelled. Just on the outskirts of Nurnberg is Soldiers Field and the Coliseum that Hitler had built during the WWII era. Nurnberg and Furth are just one continuous city, when riding the Strassenbahn, I remember listening for the conductor to announce "Jakabinenstrasse" that was where we got off to walk back to the Kaserne.
In July 1961, a month before I was to return to stateside, I took a trip to Berlin in my 1959 VW. All Military personnel were required to use this one autobahn that went through East Germany. Before leaving you were checked by the U.S. Military, then you drove through a gate that was operated by a German civilian. After going through the gate you were checked again by a Russian military person. This was a little bit eerie, you walked up to a small building, which you could not see inside. They opened a small cabinet type door for you to pass your paper work through, the door then was closed and a few minutes later they open the door and gave the papers back, then you were on your way. While driving through East Germany you were to positively stay on this one autobahn or they would come looking for you. When you reached Berlin you again went through a similar check point.
While in Berlin I took a bus tour of the east sector not knowing a month later they would be building the Berlin Wall, the same month I was to return stateside. I lucked out as my rotation date was not extended as I heard others had been extended. The USAREUR History Web Page confirms it, as it states: "1961 11 Aug. Sec.of Defense defines critical international situation (Berlin). 16 Aug. All duty tours are extended involuntarily". My ETS was 9 Aug. 61 and I was stateside in NYC in Aug. 1961. I had my VW shipped stateside and picked it up in NYC, I drove it for a few years. I still have the old POV license plates from it (white with maroon numbers). I display one of the plates on the front of my present car, "U-2621 US Forces in Germany 1961". My daughter in-law is from Germany, my wife and I visited her family in Germany in 1998. While there we visited Nurnberg and Furth. The place has really grown, I did not recognize the place. It wasn't until I found the old Nurnberg Wall did I find my sense of direction and was able to find my way to Furth and to the old Darby Kaserne. What I saw was sad, the old Kaserne was empty, deserted and weeds were growing up around many of the buildings. While there I ran into a U.S. employee who worked for "The Stars and Stripes" newspaper and he gave me a little background on the old Kaserne and said it was a very busy place during the 80's and early 90's until it closed. I pointed to a building telling him that use to be the bowling alley and he said it's still a bowling alley. I stood there for a moment reminiscing, the old Kaserne brought back a lot of good memories.
It would be nice to hear from the old gang, some of the names I remember are Brown, Dunsmore, Fitzerald, Gohr, Green, Herrera, Henry, Macy, Patton, Peck, Roche and Schlarb. I apologize for any that I missed. If anyone has any information on any of these people, please feel free to contact me by e-mail.
Alvin Crispin |
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| (Source: Email from Norman Doege, HHC, 95th QM Bn, 1961-62) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I came across your webpage on the 95th QM Battalion and the 85th and 522 QM Companies at GDNB (General Depot Nahbollenbach), Germany. Thought you might want to add the HQ & HQ Company, Strassburg Kaserne. I was assigned to HQs Co. I was with the Law Enforcement/Security section. Knew some of the guys from the 85th. While not being a menber of the 85th, but reading the history of the 85th on your web page, names long forgotten are coming back.
There was mention of a Major in one of your e-mail histories of the 85th, Bill Mueller, 1962 - 64. The major's last name was Deitz. If we are thinking about the same person.
There also was a CWO Barr but I can't remember if he was with the 85th or the 522.
A little info on Strassburg Kaserne. Feb. 1961 thru April 1963. Act Commander GDNB: Lt.Col. C.L. Staher.
 HQs & HQs Co.: Capt Rayburn. (Spelling ?) Barracks # 185th QM Co.: Lt. Gunther, Lt Klingensmith, and Capt Miller. Barracks # 1522 QM Co.: Barracks # 240th MMS: Moved over from Baumholder. Barracks # 3190th Med Evac Field Hospital. Barracks # 4MPs and Dispensary personnel we were on third floor of the 522. |
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| (Source: Email from Hank Dodson, HHC, 95th QM Bn, 1961-63) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thank you so very much for the 95th QM Bn web page. So great to refresh old memories. I arrived in Fuerth the spring of 1961. Assigned to the 95th Hq & Hq Co as a mechanic for the six vehicles for the Hq. Sgt Fred Brown was the motor sgt. The 95th was under the 2nd QM Group under 7th Army at that time. Yes, we were on the 3rd floor of the Hq Bld for billets. I remember a SP Eddy was a clerk, SP Olsen was also a clerk and PFC Comardo from Youngstown, Ohio, was the company mail clerk. Don't remember other names. The motor pool was combined with Co A and a Sgt Fields later that year, since we worked on our vehicles down there anyway. The commanding officer of Co A was a Capt Billy C. Holland who later went on to command the Army Logistics Command as a Lt General in Washington. We had a platoon at Merrell Barracks where I was assigned for about 3 months running the petro dump at Feucht Army Airfield. During this time we had the Berlin wall go up and went thru the Cuban Crisis. I left there in June of 1963 having married a German Girl and had a new daughter born at Nurnberg Army Hospital. Having some problems leaving I got to know the personal officer then, a Warrant Officer Teisen. He introduced me by mail to a Maj Waymant at my new assignment at Ft Benning. Maj Waymant got me a new job OJT as a computer operator. This led to a civil service career as a Computer Analyst and later I returned to William O. Darby Kaserne in 1981 as the Chief of the Computer Center in Building 1. I stayed this time until 1986. Returned to Kaiserslautern in 1987 and retired from there in 1988. |
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| (Source: Email from Steve du Bos, Company B, 95th QM Bn, 1962-1965) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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I was assigned
in 1962 thru 1965 with Company B, 95th QM Bn at Leighton Barracks
in Wurzburg, West Germany. The HQ Company and A Company were in
Nuremburg. |
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| 95th Supply & Service Battalion History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 95th Supply & Service Bn DI |
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| 1965 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Source: Quartermaster Foundation website accessed July 15, 2011) |
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The 95th QM Bn was reorganized and redesignated on 14 September 1965 (as part of the COSTAR Program) as the 95th Supply and Services Battalion. |
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| 1967 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Donald E. Yates, HHC, 95th S&S Bn, 1967-70) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I served with the 95th from the end of 1967 to January 10, 1970. I was assigned to Headquarters as the Courts & Boards Legal Specialist. The commanding officer at that time was LT Colonel Lee C. Dickson. I worked for the adjutant of the battalion handling courts-martial, Article 15's, and conducted Article 32 Investigations. My main focus was keeping the concise record of trail for those that were charged and tried before a court martial. I promulgated orders for those officers serving as prosecutor and defense counsels. I also conducted Article 32 Investigation mainly for those servicemen charged with serious felony crimes. I worked for the following adjutants: 1) Captain Lawrence Gomez and 2) Captain Gerald Wills. I had much freedom as the Record of Trial for courts-martial were very involved, and too, nobody else knew what to do or what was going on. I remember a particular incident when a couple of my NCO friends and I were walking from our barracks to HQ. We passed a 2nd LT on the sidewalk but did not salute. The 2nd LT yelled at us and told us to stand at attention. We did so and went about our business. As soon as I arrived at the adjutant's office I looked at the promulgating orders for the next court martial. None of the officers wanted to be assigned to defense counsel, as it recquired more work than a prosecutor. The 2LT that had stopped us on the sidewalk and made us snap to attention and salute him was 2LT xxxxx. He had just gotten off of defense counsel on a prior court martial. With the incident fresh in mind, I deftly assigned the 2LT as defense counsel on the very next court martial that was nearing commencing. When the promulgating orders were posted, the 2LT rushed to my office and wanted to know why he was appointed back-to-back defense counsel. I asked if he remembered the incident where he called myself and the other NCO's to attention and made a spectacle of us saluting him. From that day on, I never had to salute him again. Sometimes, there is justice, be it small. My time at the 95th was enjoyable except for one person, a Captain xxxx. He was arrogant and pushed his weight around because of rank. One day, he and I received orders for Vietnam. Since I had two brothers already over there, the IG wanted to know if I wanted to go to Vietnam or stay at the 95th. When the Captain heard that I did not have to go to Vietnam, he harassed me and said I was a coward. This enraged me and I spoke to Captain Wills about the incident. Being impatient, I confronted xxxx and told him I would be waiting for him in the parking lot after work and we would settle this bad-blood between us. The captain never showed. After that, I dropped the situation with xxxx. The captain was sent to Vietnam. The 95th was good duty. My wife and I took every opportunity and traveled all over Europe. My favorite spot was the Costa Brava in Spain. The water in the Mediterranean was crystal clear. The wine in the night spots freely flowed. I remember spending 75 cents for a good bottle of champagne. We also took advantage of military hops. One of the trips was to England. We met a British couple in Spain and visited with them in Bradford, England. Every weekend, we visited small villages in the German countryside - every village had its own wine and beer - we had a great time taste-testing all of the spirits. I found the in-country beers and wines to be far superior to what we get stateside. The food was also good. I have fond memories of bratwurst and broetchen, wienerschnitzel, and the goulashes. Down the street from the 95th was a Gasthaus named Ziggy's. We would run a tab with him. He would place a pencil/pen mark on a coaster and when we would leave, he would pick up the coaster. At the end of the month, it was pay-up time at Ziggys. After paying the bill, I would have to drink a toast of either snapps or steinhager and do it in one gulp. I didn't mind the snapps, but the steinhager made my eyes roll back in my head. I enjoyed my time in the Army, and especially my time with the 95th. I wish there was someway to get in touch with those with which I served. |
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| (Source: STARS STRIPES, Dec 12, 1970) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hohenfels POL Storage Facility The Hohenfels POL Storage Facility was recently put into operation by POL Platoon, Company A, 95th S&S Battalion. The POL farm uses railroad tank cars to store more than a quarter million gallons of fuel. |
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| (Source: STARS STRIPES, Dec 18, 1970) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feucht POL Storage Facility The Feucht POL Storage Facility (  ) is operated by POL Platoon, Company A, 95th S&S Battalion. The POL farm stores more than 1 million gallons of fuel in ten storage tanks. 5 of the tanks are above ground, the remainder are underground.Fire prevention is important to a facility like this. A sign at the entrance to the facility requires that all personnel entering the site must surrender matches, lighters, nylon jackets and scarves to the gate guards. Nothing is allowed near the tanks or the four fill stands that might produce a flame or create an electrostatic spark. The facility's fire-fighting system consists of two undeground tanks filled with 30,000 gallons of water each. The tanks are connected to a fire-protected pumphouse. In the event of a fire, a man operating out of the pumphouse could spray water or high-expansion foam onto the fire at or near the storage tanks. Foam would be injected directly into the burning tank to smother the fire and a high-density water spray would be used to soak the surfaces of the neighboring tanks to keep their temperatures down. |
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| 1971 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ORGANIZATION (1971): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from James Hoover, B Company, 95th S&S Bn, 1971-73) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was stationed at Leighton Barracks in Company B 95th Supply and Services Bn, in 1971 to 1973. My CO at the time was Capt. Daily. When I arrived we wore the VII Corps patch (round with roman numerals) then near the end of 1972 we changed to the Second Support (Brigade) patch along with becoming the 493rd Combat Support Company. We inherited a Field Grade officer, a Major as I recall. But we still functioned as an supply and service company. I was the NCR-500 repairman. Our trailers were right outside the laundry in Faulenberg (Kaserne). After I left I heard that our unit went co-ed. To get to work we would walk down the hill instead of riding the busses. Right out our back door down the hill and cross the street and we were in Faulenberg. We did have some trouble with the Bader-Meinhoff group during my time there, bomb scares, and of course the Olympic alert in 1972. |
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| 85th QM Company (Depot) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Dave Willis, 85th QM Co, 1952-56) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I became a member of the 85th QM C & GS Depot Co (Webmaster: Clothing & General Supply) in 1952 as a replacement from the States. So I guess I was there before it was affiliated with the 95th QM Battalion. However, we were billeted at Strassburg Kaserne and worked at the Nahbollenbach Quartermaster Depot. I believe the original 85th came over as a unit from some place in Texas. I was a replacement for one of the original members who had been there long enough to rotate back to the States. I married a German girl while I was there and we had a son and came back to the States in Jan 1956. My son, Bruce, grew up to be a famous television and Hollywood actor. Last year my son took me to the south of France to vacation with him. Before we came home we took a one day trip to Idar-Oberstein and I showed him the house where he was born. We drove up to Strassburg Kaserne but didn't enter. It looked more like a "Fort" than the camp I remembered. It was hard to believe that I lived there nearly 50 years ago. When I was a member of the 85th, we were billeted in the same building as the 522nd, the third building in from the gate (85th in basement and 1st floor and 522nd on second floor and attic). The first building in was the Hq Bldg. The second building billeted a group that did accounting and inventory for the depot. The fourth building billeted a hospital group of some kind. The CO of the 85th when I left in 1956 was Capt Shuford (who had a son who was a PFC in the 85th). The Lt Hill mentioned by Bill Mueller was there when I left also. You have a very nice web site and I enjoyed my visit. |
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| (Source: Email from Richard O. Hahn, 85th QM Co, early 1960s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I just found your website which is extremely well done and enjoyed reading about some of the old times. I enjoyed the 85th QM Co and remember the NCOs as some of the finest I ever served with. I only ran into a few of them in later years. The organization of the depot was a little odd. You could have a "job" in the depot structure and also a position in the company and there never seemed to be enough time to get both done. I was the Motor Officer for the Depot working for 1LT Jim Mosely and the Executive Officer of the 85th QM Company working for CPT Al Miller at the same time. Norm Doege had some great pictures and yes, I was the Commander of the Honor Guard in that picture. The officer in Dress Blues is Al Miller. He was the one who directed the honor guard uniform where we tucked our blouses in and wore white pistol belts. Several of the other officers didn't think this was correct and let me know about it. Luckily, I could simply say that I'd been directed to do this by CPT Miller and they should speak with him about their concerns. Norm was a Corporal (for a time we had Unit Police (UPs) and later Military Police (MPs) and I was a LT and we rode together several times checking the various bars (gasthauses) around the Kaserne and in town. There was one club that had strippers around midnight and every officer and NCO assigned to Courtesy Patrol and the Military Police always arrived to "check" about five minutes ahead of the show. My wife, Mary and I were married at the Kaserne in 1963. We had a very interesting arch to pass under when we left the Chapel—four serving German Lieutenants from the Artillery School with their sabers, many of which were hundreds of years old, and several MPs (I was the Security Officer at the time) using their billy clubs instead of sabers.
The Warrant Officer Norm refers to was Walt Barr, a CW4 and his job was Motor Officer at the Kaserne; as a brand new Transportation Corps 2LT, I replaced him in September 1962. During most of my tour there, Colonel Ralph Hardiman was the Depot Commander. Al Miller gave up command of the 85th and become the Chief of Operations and Intelligence at the Depot and I later left the 85th and worked for him as the Assistant Chief and Security Officer. Miller and I ran into each other several more times. We met in Viet Nam, Washington D.C. and Germany. The last time he called me was in Germany when I was stationed in Bremerhaven. He had retired from the Army and was working as a civilian contractor. I ended up spending 30 years in the Army and retired in 1991. In 1978, I visited both the Depot and the Kaserne. The Depot had converted to a CEGE Site, where they stored the vehicles and other equipment for units that participated in REFORGER and might be deployed if the situation required it. The Kaserne was pretty much the same. Not much had been done to improve it (if we're honest we must say that it wasn't in great shape when we were there in the 1960s) and that horrible German sewer smell was still easy to find in every "latrine" on the Kaserne. Nonetheless, those were great times and for what we made in salary at the time, we could do a lot better in Germany with the D-Mark at four to one that we could have done in the States. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful old memories. |
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| (Source: Email from Bill Mueller, 85th QM Co, 1962-64) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was stationed with the 85th Quartermaster Company at Strassburg Kaserne from July, 1962 to around April, 1963. My company commander was Capt Charles Miller. I worked in the commissary warehouse area. I think the officer in charge was a Capt Hamilton with a Lt. Willy Hill and a Sgt Sanders. Most of my time was spent unloading rail cars. Every morning we would ride in trucks from the Kaserne to the depot and in the evening from the depot to the kaserne. As I remember the winter of 1962 - 1963 was very cold. In April I was sent to the 85th Quartermaster Company Platoon at Kaiserslautern to learn how to drive a truck. I drove a 5 ton tractor with a refrigeration van out of Ramstein cold storage. I worked in the long warehouses on the opposite side of route B41 the depot maingate intersection. I worked on the rail side of the building and approximately two days a week we had freight cars come in and we had to unload the cars so the items could be stored in the warehouse. If memory serves me correctly the freight cars arrived on Monday and (Wednesday (or Thursday)) AM. I think that it was the day after a troopship docked and unloaded at Bremerhaven. The items received were bulk boxes of cookies, cereal, Hawaiian Punch, large bags of flower and sugar that contained smaller bags, canned goods and other dry food goods. The rest of our time was spent stacking the goods in the warehouse and also, we would receive orders, walk around the warehouse with a forklift driver to fill the orders. Once the orders were filled they went to the loading docks on the other side of the building and loaded on flatbed trailers. The loading on the trailers was done by another group. The unloading, filling of orders and loading orders was done by troops and German (civilian) labors. Depending on workload we worked 5 or 6 days per week and after regular shift. I can only remember that happening a few times and mostly when shipping of orders was behind schedule. The truck-tractors parked in the approximate location of area 70 of the map on the website until they picked up their load. Also, the drivers were civilians driving military OD green trucks. They were German manufactured trucks. When I was there the bridge going over the tracks to what is designated Carl Schurz Kaserne was used by the German (civilian) labors. There was a building on the top of the hill that they went to for lunch and after their shift. There are three civilians I remember very well. I don't remember their names though. One was a young man, he and I worked on the same team. His name was something like Kneicht. One was an amateur boxer, we would spare around and he would tell me how good I was but every once in a while he would actually show a little of his skill and there was no doubt he could have torn me apart, but he was also a nice guy. The last man was around my dad's age and he wanted me to come for a visit to meet his family. I think he was looking for an American husband for his daughter. While I was there we went on alert and had to setup a perimeter around the depot. We were woken up in the middle of the night and were told to get our field gear and weapon and taken down to the depot. We setup on the hill on the opposite side of the Nahe River. We were there for the rest of the night and than went to the depot for our regular shift. I can't remember how long this went on but believe it may have has been because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. I do remember it was cold and I got pretty grumpy. As I said in my first email to you there was a Capt. Hamilton, Lt. Willy (Willie) Hill, Sgt Sanders (E6) at the depot. Since than I remember there was a Sgt (E5) Robinson and a Major, I don't remember his name and he was not in our building, and they were in charge of the operation. I think Capt Hamilton was the officer in charge and Sgt Sanders was the NCOIC. Capt. Miller was CO of the 85th. When I first arrived there was a Lt. Klingensmith (spelling?) was CO but command changed in a month or so and I never knew him. Capt. Miller was a pretty tough officer but he also took care of his people. In December of 1962 he arranged for a bus trip to Berchtesgaden and Garmisch recreation areas. He also arranged for a number of people to spend Christmas with German families. When I first arrived we had civilian KP's at the Kaserne. It cost each person so much a month so sometime between my arrival and transfer to Kaiserslautern there was a polling of the troops and the civilians were replaced by GI's. I had KP once before leaving. The only other duty I had was one day of school bus guard. That was an interesting and very long day. I agree with Mr. Nowlin's description of where the 85th and 522nd buildings were located. The mess hall building was located approximately across the street from the 522nd building. Also, if you walked into the Kaserne just past the maingate there was a road that T'd into that road. In front of the 85th building, from the left that if you walked up the road it took you to the commissary building and dental office. There was a road that T'd in to that road to the right that I believe the movie theater was on. I didn't go to Idar-Oberstein too many times. I did go to town for a festival and Rosen Montag. I went to church service at the Church in the Hill. I spent most of my time a local Gasthaus right by the Kaserne. It was not a GI bar. I would drink a couple of beers, eat and play a 10 Pfennig slot machine. I was in Germany last October and did get to Idar-Oberstein but it was a guided tour without enough time to visit anything. We went to the gem museum, had lunch walked the shopping area and say the church and castle. We did not have time to walk the steps up to the church though. As Mr. Nowlin said Idar-Oberstein has changed very much. I found the Germany itself has changed very much from the 1962 - 1964 timeframe. Bill Mueller |
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| (Source: Email from Wayne Barlow, 85th QM CO Reefer Pltn) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
I arrived in Germany in Feb 1965 and was assigned to HQ CO, USAGDK (General Depot Kaiserslautern) with an MOS 64B20 (heavy truck driver). I lived at Daenner Kaserne and worked in the depot. My job was wire brushing, scraping, and painting rust spots on military vehicles stored in the depot.
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| 522nd QM Company (Subs Dep) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1957 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Anonymous, 522nd QM Company, 1957-1959) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was stationed at Strasbourg Kaserne from Aug 1957 to March 1959. I was in the 522nd QM. Co. and worked at the Nahbollenbach Depot for a short time in the main building on one of the upper floors. NCOIC was a Sgt. Aldo Antonelli. There were 14 others with us, all German Nationals. It was mostly boring, repetitious duty, and we had a lot of free time. Sgt. Antonelli had a car and he used to let me use it occasionally. I loved the place. After training for advanced infantry in Fort Dix, and taking the USS Upshur to Bremerhaven, it was a treat to be placed in a QM outfit. The CO of the entire Depot was a Col. Meyer. He never bothered too many of us with chickenshit. He was OK. I was sent TDY to Kaiserslautern and attached to the 509th QM Co. and spent some time at a facility filtering gasoline that had been shipped over years before, probably in the late forties, or early fifties. It was situated about a half mile from the end of the runway of Ramstein AFB. We used to be able to see the pilots faces when they were landing the jet fighters. It was a drastic change from quiet Ider-Oberstein. Capt. Plummer was the CO. and he had a 1st Sgt. who was supposed to have been a recalled personnel. The 1st Sgt ran a POW camp during the war, and was recalled during the Korean War, and stayed in to get his 30 years in for a full retirement, but he treated everyone like prisoners. From there, I was stationed in Pirmasens, with a small detachment of 522 guys with a Sgt. Overhalser, and a Spec 6, who was a pain in the ass from the get go. There were 18 of us, and the Spec 6 thought he had a division. But we had it made, and had the run of the place for the most part. There were caves all around the area, that were built by the Germans during the war, and they were used for Ammo, food, fuel, and one was supposed to have been a hospital. But they were filled with C rations and we had to maintain them and send truckloads out of the caves to the troops in the field. We also sent tons of them to Lebanon when they had the crisis there in 1958. I went back for a visit in 1996 and visited all three posts. Pirmasens was closed to us for security reasons and we could get only as far as the front gate, but nothing was recognizable. The town has changed and there is very little GI presence. K'town was changed and we were allowed to go on the post, and drive around, but things have been changed around and it was hard to get my bearings. It seem that the only thing that remained the same was the chapel in Kapaun Barracks. The city looks beautiful and there are very few military personnel or equipment in sight. The bars and restaurants are all reverted back to pre-war condition, and the place was loaded with flowers, and the people were even more friendly than I remember them being when I was there in the late 50's. Back at Strassburg, I went into the same room that I used to sleep in and walk the halls and visit all the rooms, and walk the post, but it has changed drastically. Now, they have German Civilian guards at the front gate, and the 522 building is now a missile battery. I did go up to the mess hall and it is more like a cafeteia than the mess hall I remember, but I showed the fellows a map that I made of the place in 58, and I met some of the officers and I even had lunch, looking out the same windows that I looked out, so long ago. (And the chicken was a lot better too). All in all, it was an incredible trip, and one that I dreamed of making for years and finally did it. I heartily recommend it to anyone who served over there. It's magic and the people are friendly, and willing to talk, and help with directions, etc. The Co. of the 522nd, was a Lt. Charles Prettyman, from Baltimore md. a real class guy. He played quarterback on the company football team, and we very rarely had to tell the opposing team that he was an Officer as everyone liked to take a shot at officers then, but he was aces. If anyone out there reading this was there at the same time as I, it would be good to hear from you. Also, they had a big parade in the depot in 1957 and as I was taller than most of the guys, they put me in the front rank, a picture was taken, and I got a copy from the post photographer, and sent it home, but it never arrived. It would be great to find another copy of it out there somewhere. |
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| 1963 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Charles Nowlin, 522nd QM Company, Oct 1963-Oct 1965) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strassburg Kaserne
was my home away from home, from approx Oct ' 63 to Oct ' 65. I hope
to be someday able to return for the sake of nostalgia, before I pass
on. Strassburg Kaserne was definitely home to the 85th and 522nd during those years. Entering the main gate, to the right (straight ahead, took one to the housing area), there was a circular MP gatehouse. I remember that the first bldg on the right was the 85th and the next, was the "five double deuce" (522nd) whose troops worked together at the Nahbollenbach Depot. The MP's were bunked on the "attic" floor of the 522nd bldg. We spent some off hours, in Idar Oberstein's "Schloss Shenke's" a nightspot on the second floor, over a gasthaus, under the "Kirchenstein" (Church in the Rocks). I remember the steep narrow stairway to the entrance. None of the "BAR-Girls" here, just a band on Wed, F & S nights. Bier, and Bratwurst were also served. Current photo's of the town, bring back only a few memories, as the town has changed immensely in the 38 years since I left. Most notably, the new (to me, anyway) superhighway running through the town. Our daily trip to the depot, was made by 45, and 28 passenger busses, through the winding streets of I.O. I remember the fire in the Outdoor Storage Area, (OSA) used for storage of tents, tarps, poles etc across from the depot, in the Winter of ' 64. Even with the help of the German Fire Department the fire resulted in the loss of the entire yard. I served as duty driver at the time, and was taking trips to and from the Kaserne, in a 5-ton dump truck, for supplies etc. I also relieved the D-8 operator who was spreading the burnt and smoldering stock, so the fire hoses could wet and extinguish the flames. The smoke was horrible and could be seen for tens of miles away. The fire burned for almost four days, with our crews, both Military and civilian, working round the clock for the duration. Charles Nowlin |
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| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The bug finally got to me last spring (2002) and I decided "Now, or Never"! Booking my flight, rail, car, and accommodations on the "net", I returned to the duty stations of my youth.
I visited Strassburg Kaserne, Nabollenbach Depot, and Giessen Depot as part of a 3-week European tour, thanks to the efforts of the PAO-HQUSAREUR, the 104th ASG PAO, and the 222nd BSB PAO, who not only arranged on-base visits, but also arranged for me a guided historical tour by a former German National Liaison (Ret.) now charged with the depot archives and base museum, of the Giessen Depot, where I did TDY. Thank you all!
Strassberg Kaserne, hasn't changed too much, except for some 38 years of tree growth, and some upgrades. This included: some new additions to accommodate the current inhabitants, upgrade of the old leaky windows, and doors, with the addition of new thermal units, in all buildings. Gone are the 85th, and 522nd QM's, replaced now by Artillery units. |
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Kaserne BUILDINGS
The abandonment of the old French built buildings that housed the "USO Club", and "Snack Bar", in 1963-65, saddened me, as I spent lots of "off time" in them. I was told the buildings got no care, for the last 10 years due to the question of the base's return to the Germans. This was a question for a number of years. The "USO Club" had a DIY "photography lab", where I developed many rolls of b/w film, to send home to the relatives. It had in a "music room," an older upright piano, and a drum set. I taught myself how to play both. The snack bar was a mini-luncheonette, open from 10am-10pm. A great place to get a meal when the Mess served something you disliked. For me, it was liver.
There are some small prefab buildings, erected, next to the street, across from the old USO Club Bldg, contents unknown.
The old "EM Club", is gone, the building now housing the new PX.
The "Officers Club", is now shared with the base Post Office. Mail was originally delivered from APO 34, to the Baumholder P.O, then to the kaserne's units.
The "BOQ" (Bachelor Officer's Quarters) remains intact.
The "Gym," remains exactly the same, as it was in 1964, right down to the weight room. But now, you get clean towels (required) at the door. In the 60's you brought your own.
The "Gas Station", across from the chapel, has undergone renovation. The fueling island, used to be at an angle to the intersection, and now, it is squared to it. Used to be able to refuel POV's there, when gasoline was 19 cents/Gallon, (sigh) ........but now it's diesel fuel.
MESS HALL
The mess hall has changed too, with the elimination of the "milk machine", a refrigerated box, that held a cardboard encased, clear polyethylene bladder, with a rubber hose, clamped off by a 3 pound weight you'd lift to serve yourself. It's been replaced with a vending machine, serving one pint containers. The layout too has changed some. The Main dining room, remains the same, but the kitchen has been rearranged. I remember two old black cast iron ovens, where there is now, a salad/condiment bar available to the diners. The big dishwashing area is still at the rear of the
dining room. The food, is still as good as ever. I had Lunch, and dinner there, compliments of some ranking officers.
BARRACKS
In my old 522nd barracks, there have been a few changes. The showers, once located in the basement, ( I was showering, when I learned of the assassination of Pres. Kennedy,) have now been converted to store rooms, and a first floor (bed) room, was converted with the latest in shower stalls. The wash basin rooms retain the clay red, and off white, slip resistant, raised tile, flooring, but the individual porcelain sinks, have been replaced with one piece, room length, stainless steel basins. Third floor, no longer houses the former detail, of M.P.'s They have never paved in back of the barracks... it still remains dirt, and scattered pebbles.
An aside: One day I received punishment, for allegedly kicking up some of the above pebbles, with the vehicle I was assigned, just as a Warrant Officer was coming out the back door. He said, that he got sprayed with rocks! I didn't realize anything had happened, till after he reported the incident to my C.O. Next AM, I was called "On the carpet" and my denial, to the charge of "purposefully hotrodding a military vehicle" didn't help my case.
Sentenced to: Seven days restriction to post. (Apparently, the WO's charges, had more weight than my denial.).. 8^)
Nabollenbach Depot no longer exists. So, I offer this in it's memory
Sadly, for me, the Depot has been returned to the German Government, and except for "Warehouse 4," which is now a tire warehouse for a German tire company, and the 5-story "Headquarters Building", which was currently undergoing interior renovation. Everything else within the perimeter fence, as of April/03 has been torn down, or removed.
The entire depot, has been converted to a shopping center, with the first tenants, open for business, a "Baumarkt" home improvement center, and to the east of the "truck gate", there is a McDonalds restaurant.
Still under construction when I was there, is a new "mall" style road that dissects the depot from the east to west gates. Just about where the truck loading dock for whse 6-1 to 6-8 had once existed. The rest of the depot, remains earthen, bulldozed flat, and waiting for improvement / new construction.
I was just six months too late, to see the old place as it used to be. There are two excellent aerial photos, and a map, on this website though... look under "Army Depots / Nahbollenbach AD"
Area 32, and 33, are the fire areas I described previously. Area 36, (Tarmac) was used for outdoor, pallet storage.
Area 39, and 40 were used for trailer storage, and German civilian articulated tandem trucks (Mercedes Benz) waiting to be loaded. As Mr. Mueller said (on the 95th Qm Bn Page), there were also OD painted German tractors driven by German civilians, pulling military trailers. I had occasion to drive these difficult, back breaking tractors, around the depot, spotting trailers at the loading docks, when we were short handed. No power steering, or synchro transmissions! Most times these 35 foot long trailers were docked with as little as two inches clearance between them, without damage. A testament to the skill of these drivers!
The map shows warehouses labeled as 1-1, 1-2 .-- 6-1, 6-2. etc. When I was there they were numerical, whse 1, thru 22, starting with 1-1 thru 1-3, 2, to 3-7, 5, then 6-1 thru 6-8, and finally 4-1 to 4-3. On the map, the small squares attached to the loading dock show the locations of the whse roll up doors. whse 6-8 had three additional doors not shown, on the eastern (map's right) side
Whse 1-1 thru1-3, and whse2, stored military uniforms, extreme weather (Mickey Mouse) boots, field jackets, regular boots, and steel helmets, etc.
Whse 6-1 thru 6-8 were strictly branded civilian goods, from Macadamia nuts, cookies, cereals , to soap powders,
bleach, and cleansers, as Mr.Mueller described.
Whse 3-1 thru 3-7 held blankets, sheets, pillows, mattresses, frames bunks etc. We shipped these in large orders, with the"Redball Express, (truck, and train) and via "Blue Streak " (air) twice, during earthquake damage in various eastern country disasters. (Turkey?) ( India?) I'm not sure of the destinations, 40 years later.
I don't know the contents of whse 4-1 to 4-3, or whse 5. Anyone else remember these?
OFF DUTY
In Oberstein, "Schloss Shenke's" still remains. The original owners retired, and with the 2nd Gen. as the cook, it Is currently owned by the 3rd generation, ( an infant when I was there last,) and the fourth gen waits the tables. The upstairs dance club, has been changed into a catering hall, The balcony is closed off, but the old stage remains. I got a private tour of the upstairs which was closed to the public. I must say, their hospitality hasn't changed a bit!
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| (Source: Email from Bill Hartman, 522nd QM Company, Oct 1969-Jan 1971) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was stationed at Strassburg Kaserne from October of 1969 to Jan of 1971. My CO was Captain Joseph O. Phlanz and the First Shirt was Theadore Willoughby (sp).
Well do I remember being bused from Rhein Main AB to 21st Replacement. I was wide eyed and innocent. It took forever to get thru 21st Replacement and from there I lost count of just how many stops it took, by train, until I reached my final destination, Headquarters Company at Strassburg Kaserne. We were not allowed to leave HQ Company for several more days. Finally I received orders that assigned me to the "five double duece" 522 QM Company and finally, FREEDOM!
As you came through the Main Gate, to your right was Headquarters Company, then the 85th QM Co., then it was the 522nd QM Co., 557th Airborne, and next to them were billets but I am not sure for whom, maybe POL personnel. Directly across from the 522nd was the Mess Hall. Huge structure. Also had a dry cleaners and some other vendors, maybe a Barbershop, not sure.
But I do remember at the end of the Company Street was a Gasthaus. And it was in this particular establishment that I was introduced to German Beer and Liquor. Mind you I was a recent High School grad from Kansas who only drank 3.2 beer and occasionally Bourbon. A local spotted me bragging about who I could drink under the table, and started sending me Wine, Beer, Schnapps you name it!! He'd send a drink to my table and I would toast him, pretty soon here would come another round. Sick, I was one sick soldier! I remember walking out the door and hugging a Fussball Goal, but the rest of my trip back to the 552nd was forever lost in my subconscious. I was so naive.
Back at the main gate there was a street to your left as you entered that ascended to a row of buildings that housed the Service Club. Onoosh and her able bodied assistant Gilley were in charge, and later a young lady by the name of Phyllis took Miss Gilley's place. Oh the times we had! The Service Club was 'home to all'! Upstairs from the Service Club was a library and a wood working shop run by two German Locals. I was assigned to the Service Club as a gofer. I opened the doors and assisted in checking out musical equipment, magazines and books, stereos and tape recorders as well as records. We would organize bus trips to various cities in Germany, France and Austria. Well, in short, it was an entertainment center that threw it's doors open to everyone. Everyone enjoyed the Service Club.
The Chapel was run by a Major Love and his Chaplains Assistant Larry Greer. Across the street was the Post Movie Theater. The PX was right around that area as well.
Behind the Main Gate was a local Cemetery that had some very beautiful stonework. Nothing at all like our American cemeteries.
A street outside the gate to your right, led up to housing. A bus stop just before you got to housing took you to Baumholder. Never did go to the city of Baumholder. I always ended up at the PX (in Baumholder) and shopped, ate and took the bus back home. The PX was much larger than that of Strassburgs. It even had a grocery store, I believe.
Behind the Kaserne was a system of caves, that were mined for semi-precious stones that that region was most famous for. The caves, I believe were man made. There was a major walking trail that connected these caves and the trail was very busy with German families who hiked this trail. Gasthaus' were scattered all over. By this time I was not too keen on drinking after my trial by fire when I first arrived. But I did develop a love for Weiss Wurst, a sausage made out of Veal. They had one of these wagons on every street corner in town. And I would hit them all. Pomme Frits and Weiss Wurst. Man what I would not give for one right now. A real one.
We had several lock downs in each of the billets while I was stationed there. There was quite a bit of racial tension that would cause us to be restricted to barracks and even to our rooms. Did not last long it seems, but it was pretty scary.
Battallion Commander was a Colonel Arthur Greg, he was the First Black Flag Officer in the US Army. Just a wonderful guy. As Post Santa, I always had to make he and his family my last stop on my list. Throw open his doors, ring my chimes and create copious amounts of merriment.
I wish I could go back to that time. It was my 'coming out' of sorts. Prior to that I was just existing on a day to day basis. The people I met, most I liked, some I did not. But it was at this point in my life that made a quantum leap
I was also a Company Clerk for the 522nd. Again this was Oct 69 to Jan 71. Not hardly enough time. But there was a lot of action packed in there.
I was assigned to the 557th Airborne, the last remaining months of my tour. At one point there was talk of training 'legs' to jump!! Mumar Kadefy was rearing his ugly head at that time. I did not even know what the Middle East was at that time. But we were on Red Alert and was about to dropped right into his lap. The only time I have been truly scared in my lifetime. I am not sure which I was the most scared. Jumping out of a plane, or into the enemy's lap. But we were up for several days and nights, there was rigging going on. This was some serious business. But a stand down came about and I went stateside not long after that.
There will always be a place in my heart for my comrades at the 522nd QM Co. Those were some happy times and miserable time as well. Guard Duty at the Motor Pool in the middle of the night, it might as well have been 50 degrees below zero. There is no cold like Germany in the middle of winter. |
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| 561st QM Company (Pet Sup) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1954 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, Sept 19, 1954) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 561st QM Petroleum Supply Company at Nahbollenbach Depot is one of the POL supply units in Germany responsible for supplying petroleum products to front-line troops. The company is equipped with collapsible 3,000 and 900-gallon containers and hand-operated and power-driven pumps. During field problems and maneuvers, the company takes its collapsible tanks and pumps and deploys to wooded mountain areas in Rhineland-Palatinate to set up shop and gain experience in handling their equipment under tactical conditions. During these exercises the company issues packaged lubricants and five-gallon cans and 55-gal. drums of fuel to division and attached corps and army units. During peacetime, the 561st operates bulk reduction points and Class III supply points in forward areas. One task that the 561st performs (with the help of the 509th QM Depot Co) is rotation of stock, a important factor in static POL storage. POL is stored in lots and rotated in lots. At Nahbollenbach, the rotation method used is de-canning the old product and shipping it out in bulk; the replacement gasoline is received in bulk. Another unit located at Nahbollenbach Depot is the 509th QM Petroleum Depot Company. In a theater of operations, petroleum is received at a terminal (marine or inland) that is operated by a petroleum depot company. This company consists of 167 officers and enlisted men. The company can operate up to 2,000,000 barrels of petroleum storage tankage; store up to 20,000 five-gallon cans or 5,000 (55-gallon) drums each day; and ship up to 700,000 gallons of bulk fuel each day by rail, barge, or tank truck to petroleum supply companies (such as the 561st). The 509th at Nahbollenbach usually issues products to local military commands. The POL Supply companies take over where the depot supply company leaves off. |
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| 1959 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Derrill Young) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was 17 years old in November, 1958 when I reported to my first permanent
assignment with the 7808 QM Co. I remember Cpt Emelio E. Aponte being the
company commander. He was a fiery old guy but fair to everyone. In the spring of 1959 I was reassigned to the 561st QM Co under Cpt Rivers. Being young and inexperienced, I ran with the wrong crowd and got into trouble that summer. The 95th QM BN XO, Major Senior, had a policy of talking to soldiers in trouble to determine if they could be rehabilitated. Major Senior decided I was worth saving and reassigned me back with the 7808th. I took advantage of this break and began to soldier my way back to PFC before rotating home. I retired from the Army in 1981 and live in Raleigh, NC. I'm trying to locate Major Senior to thank him for taking the time to change a soldier's life. If you, or anyone who was assigned to the 95th QM Bn, can assist me in my search, I would be grateful. |
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