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Pirmasens
Signal Depot |
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| Depot History | |||||||||||||
 Pirmasens Signal Depot was located in the northern half of D'Isly (Husterhoe) Kaserne |
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 Pirmasens Signal Depot headquarters building, 1952 (William Ahlborn) |
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| 1955 | |||||||||||||
| (Source: Annual Historical Report, 1 July 1955-30 June 1956, APO 189) | |||||||||||||
| Pirmasens
Signal Depot (7773 Army Unit) The cessation of hostilities in Europe in 1945 found many signal supply dumps throughout Holland, France, Italy and Germany. In July 1946, a concerted effort was made to consolidate the signal stocks in Europe at Hanau/Main in a former German air training site (see Hanau Signal Depot history). The initial stockage at Hanau consisted of various types of American, German, French, and English equipment. For six years the signal supply personnel at Hanau were confronted with a supply and maintenance mission as well as an extensive re-identification and reclamation program. In June 1952 the depot shifted its stocks and operations to Pirmasens. MISSION (PSD): - responsibile for the receipt, storage, issue, and repair of Signal Corps equipment used by all elements of US Army, Europe and USAFE except for those elements based in the USAREUR Communications Zone (France), as well as - for the accounting and disposal of all Foreign Excess Personal Property generated by the Signal Division, HQ USAREUR. The Pirmasens Signal Depot was included in the Army Stock Funding Program in July 1955. The concept of the Modern Army Supply System (MASS) is to be implemented later in the Seventh Army. MASS leans heavily upon the Stock Control Division (PSD) for EAM support. |
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If you have more
information on the history or organization of the Pirmasens Signal
Depot, please contact me . |
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| 1953 | |||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Al Lemus, PSD, 7773 AU, 1953-55) | |||||||||||||
I was stationed at Pirmasens Signal Depot from October 1953 to March 1955. I was there when it changed from 512th Signal Base Maintenance Co. to 7773 Army Unit. The photos of the fire station, service club and the long march 4 times a day to and from the depot brought back many memories.
I took basic training and attended Signal School (SWSS) at Camp San Luis Obispo, California. We spent about three weeks at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey before shipping out to Europe. We spent one night in Bremehaven and boarded a train to Zweibruecken the next morning. Upon arrival at Pirmasens we were greeted by some Cpl. wearing those silly 3-D glasses.
I was assigned to the 4th (heavy weapons) platoon. They referred to us as the heavy weapons platoon because we were issued M-1's instead of carbines like everyone else. Captain Abrogast, I think I misspelled the name, was C.O. at the time. Not long after that Captain Swayze took over as C.O.
Because of my civilian background I was assigned to the Electric Section under Cpl. Wallis. We were the only 2 G.I.'s in the section, all the rest were L.S.C.'s. When Wallis Z.I.'d I was left as Section Chief. CWO Herman A. Cheatwood was Shops Branch OIC.
We hoisted many Parkbraus at the Snake Pit, the Atlantic Club, the Green Salamander, the Turnhalle and many other places.
My best friend was Oren L. Williams. We got together a couple of times in the Los Angeles area and I lost track of him in 1956 or 1957. If you see this Oren, drop me an email. Also chummed around with Fred S., Willie S., Ralph K. and others. By the way, I still have my permanent pass.
There were only two Sections Chiefs below the rank of Sgt. That was Tim Harris in the wood shop and myself. We were both Pfc's.
Please keep me informed if you hear from any more Pirmasens "alumni". |
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| 1954 | |||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Ronald Smaller, 7773 AU Sig Co, 1954-56) | |||||||||||||
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I was stationed
with the 7773rd Army Unit in Pirmasens from 1954 to 1956 and worked
at the depot repairing AN/GR3-8 radio units. |
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| 1955 | |||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Terence P. Keliher, 7773 AU Sig Co, 1955) | |||||||||||||
| I was stationed
at Pirmasens from Jan.1955 to Dec. 1955. I was in the 7773 A.U. Signal
Corps. I believe I was in the 2nd. Platoon. I had received Radio receiver
and transmitter training in Ft. Monmouth, N.J. Then shipped out on
the Private Thomas. It was a bad crossing as it was normally
7 days. Due to a storm, it took 14 days. Sea Sick? Yes sir. Real GREEN.
The first 2 months, I repaired tube type Walkie-Talkies. Transister?? Never heard the word. Boring!! Asked for other work. Got assigned to work with German civilian techs. They worked for the US Army. Their unit was called the LSC's These guys taught me a lot about generators. It was like the basic training for my career. (I spent 40 years as a generator tech. with Caterpillar dealers ). Dec.1955, I shipped out for home on the Gen. Brukner. Big change from the trip over. Didn't even get sick. My anecdote: While in Pirmasens, 6 of us privates asked for and received permission to purchase motorcycles. We made grave promises to the C.O. that we would be carefull and not get into any trouble. He was a trusting soul. By the time I was to ship out, all 6 of us had accidents. One guy derailed a street car in downtown Pirmasens by wedging himself and bike under it. He did survive. I missed a turn onto a bridge one nite and landed it a canal. Got a broken arm and knocked out. Spent time in a US hosp. in Landstuhl. While healing, I helped put casts on other GI's. Also learned to play guitar with arm in cast. My best buddy was Eldon Viner. He lived in Davenport, Iowa. We lost track of each other in 1956. I hope he has done well, he was a good guy. Terence P. Keliher |
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| (Source: email from Donald R. Smith, 7773 AU Sig Co, -1956) | |||||||||||||
| Was interested in seeing your web site about the Pirmasens Signal Depot.
The pictures of the fire station, movie theatre, etc brought back some real
memories.Also the picture of the troups leaving the area for work. I
remember that mile "march" four times a day very well. I entered the Army in March, 1953. After basic training at Fort Knox, Ky, I went to the Ordnance School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md to be a fire control repairman. Upon arrival in Germany (Zweibrucken) they didn't know what to do with me so they sent me to the Signal Depot at Pirmasens. Again, they didn't know what to do with me there so I was assigned to the camera repair section in the Maintenance section. There I leaned from scratch to repair cameras (mechanical). We repaired many PH-47's (Speed Graphic press cameras), and a few mechanical 35mm Eyemo movie cameras and a few other cameras. There also was a projector repair shop there but it wasn't used much. We also had a dark room there where we did some other photo work. The photo section was located in the corner room of the maintenance building closest to the gate where we used to march in and out of the Depot. When I first arrived in Pirmasens I was assigned to the 512th Signal Base Maintenance Company. Some time during my first year there the 512th was "sent back" to the States (without us) and we were reassigned to the 7773rd Army Unit (The "triple seven third"). We stayed in the same buildings - only changed the name of the Company. We were in the first two buildings across from the 417th. After many months as a pfc, I was finally promoted to Corporal for one month and was almost immediatedy made a Specialist third class, along with all the other Corporals. I shipped out in February, 1956 to return Stateside. |
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