All units were barracked at Gibbs. Along with the 45th Medical Battalion which was part of 3rd Armored Division. Obviously no aircraft were at Gibbs. I do not recall the name of the airfield. But it was not far away. Just north of Drake-Edwards Kaserne as I recall. (The City of Frankfurt is turning Gibbs into a new emergency center for the fire department.)

Basically this battalion was a conglomeration of various unrelated units assigned to direct support for the Corps Headquarters staff. The battalion was "provisional". Meaning that it had no TOE. Battalion staff and equipment was drawn from the units assigned to V Corps. Many years later the Corps were given a TOE for their Special Troops Battalions.

Hq Company did what Hq companies still do I guess. Provide personnel and equipment and some mobility to Corps staff. 35th TC (light truck) had 60 2½-ton trucks with trailers for moving Corps staff to the field. 66th Aviation Company had a small variety of light aircraft to support Corps staff. 69th Engineer Company provided complete mapping services to Corps staff. 92nd TC (Car) had 20 each jeeps/trlrs, ¾-tons w/trlrs, and sedans (Fords if I remember correctly). 109th MPs provided security and traffic control around Corps areas. LRRP Company was airborne. They were sort of secretive but I understand they were trained as small teams to be air dropped behind enemy lines as listening posts/intel types.

During my 3 years assigned to V Corps I was assigned to the 35th Transportation Company (Light Truck). My last 18 months or so I was assigned to battalion staff as S-4. My duties as platoon leader in the 35th were suspended except for when we went on ready alerts and field maneuvers. Battalion S-1 came from the 92nd Transportation Company. Battalion CO and the S-2 and S-3 came from Corps HQ somewhere.

For one year of my three years I had the pleasure to serve under Creighton Abrams. What a difference from the other 3 star generals. Less spit and polish and parades and more training and useful experience.

One parade of note was in June 1963 (I think) when the 3rd Armored Division (a V Corps unit) stood for inspection by President Kennedy. He went on to Berlin where he made is famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Five months later I was just going off duty when I heard that he had been shot and killed.

I greatly value my 3 years service in Germany (out of total service time of 40 months). Back then you could get 4 deutschmark for a dollar, gas was 19 cents at the PX, and life was pretty good. And we were all doing our little part to help keep those commies on their side of the wall that they put up to keep their own people in.

Almost 30 years later that system sure crashed.

Activated 3 December 1954 in Germany

Inactivated 19 December 1955 in Germany

I was in the 69th Topo from 1-1959 – 2-1961.

I was in those Barracks for 2 yrs. The troops lived in the main level floor and the weapons room, meeting rooms etc were located in the basement.

Our map production building was located towards the front of the post. We had a complete production facility including cameras, printing presses, paper cutter, film processing unit, and some specialized equipment we used to process the U-2 shots taken by Gary Powers mostly over Russia.

The NCO and EM club was directly across the street from our barracks; the NCO club was on the bottom floor and the EM club was upstairs.

On the top floor of our barracks was, if I remember right, the 32nd Signal.

I don’t how true it is but we were always told that the 69th was one of five units that had their own company crest. I know that we worked directly under the V Corps command and we were not attached to any unit.

My last name is Gibbs and I never had a problem with my name until I got short and some of the Officers from the other companys thought I was being a smart ass by putting the Kaserne’s name on my fatigues.

I hope this will provide you some insight into the 69th Topo.

The 85th was located on the 3rd floor of Bldg. 403. At that time, the 92nd Trans (Sedan) was located on the 2nd floor. At the time, the 92nd enjoyed some notoriety because its platoon leaders were also trained as lawyers, and would eventually be transferred to V CORPS JAG. If my memory is correct, Bldg. 402 was occupied by the HHC V COSCOM. It was a large unit since its EM staffed the IG Farben Bldg. At that time, the 4th floor was reserved for unaccompanied NCOs above E-6. Bldg. 401 was housing for HHC V CORPS and its MP Platoon. Bldg. 418 housed the V COSCOM Data Processing Company and the V COSCOM Materiel Management Company. The basements of Bldgs. 402 and 403 were used as company arms rooms, supply rooms, NBC equipment rooms etc. The 4th floor of Bldg. 418 was quarters for the guest worker KPs. Because of the VOLAR initiative at the time, GIs were no longer pulling KP. The mess hall was located in Bldg. 404A.

The units in Bldgs. 402. 403, and 418 were V COSCOM units, and tended to work together such as for property book transfers, report of surveys, police call etc. The 85th often became the home for 92nd drivers who did not work out as sedan drivers for VIPs. I remember the weekly QM laundry run to Marburg was staggered, so that the 85th loaded up and drove on Monday mornings, with the other units following suit on alternate days.

Bldg. 412 was used for unit classrooms, and at one point had an EM bar. There used to be a small concrete bldg. around Bldg. 413 where you pulled your TA-50 back then. Bldg. 417 was HQ, Special Troops Bn. The gym/bowling alley was in Bldg. 408A. Bldg. 405 contained an AFFES movie theater, dry cleaning/tailor shop, shoe repair, barber shop, and snack bar. On the 2nd floor were craft shops etc. There were no volley ball courts. At that time, the drill field was sand covered, and was used for morning PT.

There was a guard mount each day, occupying Bldgs. 414, 415, and 445. It was during/after the Bader-Meinhof bombings, so each guard mount carried a magazine of three rounds. The guard mount was assembled and assigned in strict accordance with FM 22-6. The OG had the unpleasant task of coaxing the 1950s era Wollensack reel-to-reel recorder to play Reveille, Taps etc. As I recall, Bldg. 407 was the motor pool for the 85th Trans., and Bldg. 406 was for the 92nd Trans. It was said that these buildings were used by the German cavalry pre-WWII. I recall that at the time, the 92nd used one-half of an OD green GI bus that was cut in half as its dispatch shed. It was definitely an eye sore to the citizenry because it was visible on Marbachweg.

As was the case mentioned for the 92nd Trans, the 85th Trans was also unceremoniously deactivated in September 1972. The deactivation was classified secret until July 1972. There was no time to properly transfer the property book or to conduct a unit fund audit etc. GIs with less than 180 days received a pleasant surprise because they were discharged. Those less fortunate ended up with the 181st Trans Bn. in Mannheim, at that time, Coleman Barracks. A lucky few ended up as reefer drivers for TASCOM. This was considered a plum assignment because it was all Autobahn travel in a civilian Ford Semi, hauling PX merchandise on the Bremerhaven to Frankfurt run. It was also beneficial because TASCOM was a three-star command, and its drivers enjoyed the resulting perks not found in a one-star COSCOM command.

As was mentioned for the 92nd Trans, the Army leadership did a disservice to the many drivers and mechanics in the unit. Some of the 2.5-ton trucks were Korean War vintage, and would fail V COSCOM roadside spot inspections immediately after organizational, Level 1 maintenance had been performed. This resulted in the unit’s entire chain of command having to attend Saturday morning remedial classes. Some of the 5-Ton drivers were seldom seen because they were constantly on commitment, often sleeping in the truck because no kaserne barrack housing was available. Many of the drivers were draftees, performing the necessary but mundane transportation duties required of a support command, for which they were neither thanked nor recognized.

I commanded that unit from December 1981 until its inactivation on 15 September, 1982.

At the time, it was assigned to the Special Troops Bn of the 3rd Support Command (much later to become the 3rd COSCOM). It was still at Gibbs Kaserne and had the same mission as stated on your website: that of providing the “wheels” for the V Corps staff, as well as to the 3rd SUPCOM staff.

At the time of our inactivation, we had a platoon of Ford Mavericks, a squad of VW Vanagons attached to that platoon, a platoon of M151A1s and A2s, and a cargo platoon of M880s (Dodge RAM pickups). For the platoon and attached squad that operated the non-tactical stuff, there was an equipment set of M151s maintained in Hanau, in “long term storage”.

Even though we had a full year’s advance notice that we would inactivate on 15 September 1982, we kept getting replacements until the 1st of September 1982. We even got “commitments” for drivers and vehicles from HQs, V Corps a week before our inactivation, for missions AFTER our inactivation. V Corps wasn’t pleased when we declined, indicating we would no longer exist after the 15th. We had been provided zero guidance on who would perform our mission after our inactivation, so we couldn’t even refer them to anyone.

Inactivations were rare for that timeframe, and there was virtually no guidance anywhere regarding our inactivation. I, my Supply Sergeant, and my Maintenance Tech were tasked to “find a home for our equipment”. If there were an E-Bay or Craigslist at the time, it would have probably been listed there. Soldiers were transferred throughout the 3rd SUPCOM (mostly to the 181st Trans Bn in Mannheim) – usually with only one day’s notice, and some (like me) just stayed at Gibbs doing odd-jobs until we PCS’d. For me, I was slotted as the 3rd SUPCOM Special Troops Bn S-4 but really operated as the assistant Bn XO and S2/3 adviser until I left in December for CONUS. To me, it was a shameful end to a great, honorable company.

My Maintenance Warrant, CWO Frank Valleca, had served in just about every position in that company short of platoon leader and commander. Most of his career was in that company. As sad as it was for me to inactivate the company, it was heartbreaking for him. He was able to read the inactivation orders at the inactivation ceremony, but his voice faltered several times. When I think of that company, I think of Frank.

The Military History folks expressed no interest in any of the company’s unit-specific heritage-related gear. I was told by the CMH that if I sent the company guidon and its five WWII campaign rings, they would go in the trash. So, I still have them as well as all of the company’s partnership mementos, plaques, certificates, etc. I had been saving them in the event that someday, the Army would activate a transportation company designated as the 92nd, and then I would send all of this to the new commander. That hasn’t happened yet, and probably never will.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The 92nd motor park was in the lower right hand corner of the Gibbs map you attached (above). Building 410 was where our maintenance bays and dispatcher’s office, TAMMS clerk, PLL clerk and storage, and the maintenance officer’s office were located. It is also where each platoon had an office.

Vehicles were located in the “parking lot bituminous” below and to the right of building 410. The structure marked A4 to the right of building 410 was our washrack. We also had a storage room in the basement of building 405 (the PX and learning center) for the maintenance section – mostly tentage but other tactical items we didn’t use normally. It was a step back in history when we cleared that out in preparation for inactivation. I still have a 3’ by 2’ tin sign I found in that basement: ATTENTION! PASSAGE OF MEMBERS OF THE SOVIET MILITARY LIAISON MISSION IS PROHIBITED. It also had that in Cyrillic and German. A real piece of history saved from being dumped. That storage room had also been used as a convenient hiding place for excess equipment we had. It wasn’t marked at all.

The “parking lot bituminous” to the left of building 410 was the motor park for HQs, V Corps, with buildings 408 and 409 being their maintenance bays. For the life of me, I can’t recall what bldgs 406 and 407 were used for, but I suspect one of them housed the maintenance bays for the MPs.

I cannot say for certain where the consolidated dining facility was, but am pretty sure it was in either bldg 406, 407, or 409A. Somewhere in that area and I’m inclined to think it was 409A just because of the orientation.

I don’t recall the “gas filling station” (A1) being where it was indicated on the image (to the left of the PX, between 405 and 406), but I may be wrong. My recollection was that it was in the lower left hand corner of the image somewhere. There was no AAFES gas station there.

The Frankfurt area PMO was located in bldg 417. The vehicle impoundment lot was behind it as well as a little to the right.

I have no idea what bldg 413 housed, but it seems to be about the right location for the POL point.

I have no idea what bldg 404A housed. I suppose it is remotely possible that 404A was where the dining facility was but I have a pretty firm recollection it was in the area of/around bldg 409A.

I believe the maintenance bays for HHC, 3rd SUPCOM, were in building 411 with their motor park to the left of it. It may have also housed what few vehicles the 19th MMC, 502nd MCC, and the 17th DPD had. The 17th DPD’s computers were in trailers behind the Abrams Bldg.

The CIF was in bldg 412.

The 19th MMC was located in bldg 404.

HHC, 3rd SUPCOM had their offices, supply room, arms room, and billeted their soldiers in bldg 418. I don’t know for certain if soldiers from the 19th MMC, 17th DPD, and 502nd MCC were billeted there: it was either bldg 418 or 403.

HQs, Special Troops Bn offices were on the first floor and part of the basement (S4 shop) in bldg 403. That is also where the 92nd had its company offices (second floor); arms room, NBC room, and supply room (basement); and is where its soldiers were billeted (2nd and 3rd floors). The 4th floor was the attic and not used. When I was there, the attic was declared a health hazard due to the copious amount of pigeon droppings.

The flag pole was where indicated on the image you sent (in front of bldg 403).

I’m not sure which is which, but HHC, V Corps had it offices, arms room, supply room, NBC room, billets, etc. in either bldg 401 or 402, with the MPs in the other bldg.

The large “drill field gravel” indicated above bldg 403 was grass when I was there. It is where the 92nd Trans had its inactivation ceremony.

Hope this helps.