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1st Infantry Division
Big Red One
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.

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Div Trains

122nd Trans Bn

701st Ord Co

122nd Transportation Truck Battlion
 
1948
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Dec 18, 1948)
The 122nd Transportation Battalion with six transportation truck companies is assigned to the 1st Inf Div for logistical support of the division's infantry troops.

The battalion headquarters is located at South Kaserne (later known as Merrell Kaserne). Attached units are the 24th, 57th, 58th, 63rd, 544th and 590th Truck Companies.

In a combat situation, two truck companies would be attached to each of the three infantry regiments in the 1st Division to transport them.
(Source: Email from Everette Coppock)

122nd TC Trk Bn patch
worn during the 1948 mission		   The first challenge to the US Army during the Cold War came when the Soviet Union closed off freight traffic of its former Allies into Berlin hoping that they would turn their portion of the capitol over.

The Russians imposed a blockade of Berlin on 21 June 1948.

The US Army and Air Force responded by delivering supplies to Berlin through the air corridor. Operation Vittles had its airborne birth on 26 June 1948.

Rhein-Main and Wiesbaden became the Airports of Embarkation (APOE) with TC Airhead Tempelhof in Berlin the Airport of Debarkation (APOD).

The 2nd Traffic Control Group opened another APOE at Wiesbaden Air Base on 29 June 1948.

The 122nd Truck Battalion consisted of the 24th, 58th, 59th, 63rd, 544th, 590th Transportation Companies and would add the 76th Transportation Company to the Berlin line haul in August 1948.
 
1951
 

122nd Trans Trk Bn, 1951 (The American Traveler)
 
ORGANIZATION (1951):

UNIT DESIGNATION

DUTY STATION COMMENTS
HHD, 122nd Trans Trk Bn Merrell Bks, Nürnberg  
24th Trans Trk Co Nürnberg  
58th Trans Trk Co Bamberg  
59th Trans Trk Co Nürnberg  
63rd Trans Trk Co Nürnberg  
544th Trans Trk Co Hammelburg  
590th Trans Trk Co Hammelburg  
701st Ordnance Company
 
1952
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Nov 9, 1952)
The 701st Ord Co is located at Würzburg and commanded by Maj Homer D. Smith, Jr.

The company's mission is to issue and maintain all types of ordnance equipment, including vehicles, tanks, artillery, small arms and fire control instruments.

Supplying the division's needs for spare parts is the responsibility of the Supply Platoon. In order to carry out its supply function in the field, the platoon takes with it 20 trucks and trailers that it uses as mobile warehouses. Each truck houses certain spare parts so when a requisition is made to the platoon, it can find the part quickly.

The company's two maintenance platoons only handle third echelon maintenance.

For a 1st Inf Div unit to have a vehicle repaired, it must send the damaged vehicle to the 701st and submit a job order to the 701st shop office. The requisition form must state as nearly as possible the amount of work involved to repair the vehicle.

The next step is a complete technical inspection on the vehicle to determine if the 701st has the parts and facilities available for the repairs. If the 701st does not have the parts, the vehicle will be held by the company while the supply platoon requisiitons the parts. If the parts are available or once the requisitioned parts are received, the vehicle is moved into the automotive shop where technical workers take over.

After the repair work is completed, the vehicle is sent to the Service and Recovery section, if necessary. This is were carpenters, painters, and battery repairmen do their job.

After the vehicle is back in serviceable condition, it is picked up by the user unit.
 

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