USAREUR Units - 66th Ord/Maint Bn

Click on the image on the left to read Joe's UNIT HISTORY:

"68^th Ordnance Co., 66^th Ordnance Bn. Re-Flag to “B” Company, 66^th Maintenance Bn. A History 1965 through 1968."

The file is about 600 Kb and in Adobe PDF format (Abobe Reader is required to view the file).

Joe looks forward to any suggestions and feedback and invites former members to provide any additional unit information that will help expand on the unit's history and accomplishments.

Thanks, Joe! Great job on the research and compilation of this unit history!
Walter Elkins (webmaster,usarmygermany.com)

Click on the photo on the left to view Joe's Photo Gallery.

The file is about 1 Mb and in Adobe PDF format (Abobe Reader is required to view the file).

Photo: Sp4 J.A. Creati at the new "B" Company (66th Maint Bn) shops

AERBB-A

SUBJECT: Annual Supplement to the Unit History

Commander
US Army Center of Military History
Washington, DC 20314

Commander
USAREUR
ATTN: AEAGB-MH
APO New York 09403

Commander
21st Support Command
ATTN: AERSP-O
APO New York 09325

1. References:

a. AR 870-5, Chapter 9.

b. USAREUR Suppl 1 to AR 870-5.

2. The following report is for the period 1 January 1976 thru 31 December 1976.

a. Organization: The 66th Maintenance Battalion underwent another major reorganization/civilianization. The 91st Maintenance Company (Collection, Reclamation and Exchange) and the 43rd Maintenance Company were inactivated on 20 June 1976. The 8903rd Civilian Labor Group and the 8907th Civilian Labor Group were organized and activated on 1 April 1976. The 8901st Civilian Labor Group (Automotive Overhaul Support) was redesignated as a Maintenance General Support (Collection, Recovery and Evacuation) unit, while keeping the same numerical designation, on 1 April 1976.

b. Personnel Changes: As a result of the civilianization/reorganization the Battalion assigned strength decreased from 1622 on 31 December 1975 to 1554 on 31 December 1976. Approximately 50% of the Battalion personnel strength is now civilian. LTC Jerry N. Lindsay remained the Battalion Commander throughout the reporting period; CSM Leland Ellison remained the Battalion Command Sergeant Major. Major, then Captain, Michael E. King relinquished command of HHD to CPT James E. Birkhimer on 1 December 1976; CPT David W. Taylor relinquished command of the 5th Maintenance Company to CPT James G. Arnold on 28 December 1976; CPT Paul J. Hirt, Jr. relinquished command of the 546th Maintenance Company to CPT Kenneth H. Hayes on 16 December 1976; Major Chester W. Witczak assumed command of the 593rd Supply and Service Company on 20 June 1976 from CPT Timothy G. Eley, who served as acting commander from 16 January 1976; ZB-9 (Major, LS) Werner Jung assumed command of the 8903rd Civilian Labor Group, as its first commander, on 16 May 1976; and, ZB-9 (Major, LS) Edmund Midleja assumed command at the 8907th Civilian Labor Group as its first commander, on 16 May 1976.

c. Mission: The 66th Maintenance Battalion is responsible for providing supply and direct and general maintenance support, and limited field services, within the western portion of the 21st Support Command area of responsibility. Because this mission is so vast and diverse, a summary of missions by unit will be presented in this area.

(1) HHD - Composed of personnel assigned to the Battalion Headquarters; supports the mission requirements of the Battalion Headquarters.

(2) 5th Maintenance Company - In the maintenance area, the company completed an average of 200 jobs per week while maintaining an average backlog of only 218 jobs. During the months of April and May the unit re-located its maintenance facilities from Rhein Ordnance Barracks and Kleber Kaserne to Panzer Kaserne and ESCK area on the east side of Kaiserslautern. During this period the company's living quarters were also moved to Daenner Kaserne. The move was completed without interuption to support our 105 customer units. On 1 JuIy 1976, this unit assumed the Direct Support repair mission of fuel and electric items from the 91st Maint. Co. During August 1976, customer technical assistance teams were provided to supported units to answer questions and provide assistance to maintenance problems concerning wheel vehicle, generator equipment, supply problems, and TAMM's procedures. Supported units readiness has improved due to the technical assistance provided. In the supply area, due to re-location of Air Force and Army units, this unit's supply support activity has an increase in customers from 95 to 138. During April 1976 this SSA underwent a major internal change of requisitioning procedures with the implementation of PUDS/DODAAC. Under this new system unit document numbers are perpetuated on supply passing actions to higher supply sources, instead of creating a document number by this SSA for supply passing actions. High Priority requisitions are usually passed to a higher percentage of customer satisfaction. During this year, the SSA processed approximately 82,000 supply requests, which include PEMA secondary items, direct exchange repairables and ASL/NSL items. This SSA maintained an average of 4,100 line items, 325 DX/DXW lines, and 60 PEMA items. This SSA maintained an average of 70% demand accommodation and 85% demand satisfaction during the year. In September and October 1976 the supply support activity conducted a cyclic inventory. This was the first time that such an inventory had been used. In the past years, complete shut-down wall-to-wall inventories were conducted with little support to customers during inventory periods. The results of the cyclic inventory were well within established goals of the 21st Support Command. The SSA actively engaged in Reforger 76 by operating a 24 hour basis and providing transportation of critical repair parts to troops in Belguim and Holland.

(3) 43rd Maintenance Company. - The reporting period is 1 January 1976 to 20 June 1976. The unit received 1267 work orders during the report period and completed 1903 work orders. The average work order completion rate was 380 work orders and a month backlog of 650 work orders was maintained. During May the transfer of work orders to the 8903rd CLG Co which is scheduled to assume the mission of the 43rd Maintenance Company was begun. A total of 526 open job orders was transferred during May to the 8903rd and the 43rd Shop office was closed out effective 28 May 1976 with the transfer of the last 28 work orders to the 8903rd CDG Co. As a result of the inactivation, the unit transferred its mission responsibility in all commodity areas starting the 10th of May with Shop Supply and Light Engineer platoon and concluding with the Commel platoon on 15 June 1976. Mission Shop space formerly utilized by the unit was realigned between the 5th Maintenance Company, ESC-K and 8903rd CLG Co. Bldg 3047, ESC-K which housed the 43rd Shop Office, Shop Supply, Heavy Engineer Equipment Repair Section, Automotive Repair Section, and Service Section was turned over to the 5th Maintenance Company. Bldg 3141, ESC-K which housed the Light Engineer Platoon was taken over by the 5th Maintenance Company and ESC-K for use of a Small Arms Repair Area and Refrigeration repair area respectively. Bldg 3057 which housed the Commel and Commel and Small Arms repair area for the 8903rd CLG Co, and the Commel Area for the 5th Maintenance Company. The Joint Services Security Intrusion Detection System in the Secure Area of Bldg 3057 has been non-operational since 1 March 1976, awaiting a decision by Kaiserslautern Community as to who will be responsible for the monitoring of the system. A decision directing this responsibility is planned to be made by 1 July 1976. Twenty-two (22) personnel from the 43rd Maint Co were assigned for duty with the 8903rd CLG Co to effect a smooth and efficient transfer of mission responsibility. These individuals will remain for periods varying up to 180 days in duration after the 43rd deactivation.

(4) 91st Maintenance Company - The reporting period is 1 January 1976 to 20 June 1976. During this period the company has continued the mission of the direct exchange facility of the component repair mission, and the Collection, Reclamation and Exchange (CRE) activities until 5 May 1976. As the result of unit inactivation, the unit's mission was transferred to the 8901st Civilian Labor Group. As a result of the unit inactivation the organization transferred all stockage of repair parts, stock record accounts and maintenance control system records to the 8901st Labor Service Company between the period of 30 April to 5 March 1976. On 20 March 1976, all mission and organizational equipment began it's identification and classification for turn-in and/or lateral transfer to various units within the 66th Maintenance Battalion and the 1st Support Brigade.

(5) 546th Maintenance Company - The unit provides Direct Support Maintenance Service on an area basis for military standard equipment, generally associated with Tank-Autommotive and Mobility Equipment and Electronic Commodity Command. In addition, the 546th Maintenance Company provides limited Recovery-Evacuation Support, a Contact Team in support of the 5th CEC at Miesau Army Depot, and Technical Assistance to supported customers. As a result of the increased work load, the Fual & Electrical Section was activated on 10 April 1976 to support the Automotive Shop. Due to the sensitive nature of Commel Equipment, the section was relocated to Bldg 4403, Husterhoeh Kaserne, on 10 September 1976. During the reporting period, the unit supported 54 customers; it received 9437 job orders and completed 8564 of them.

(6) 593rd Supply and Service Company - The Field Service mission increased this year with the Laundry and Bath Platoon receiving over 50 mission requirements during the year. Support was provided throughout Western Germany and included support of Brigade 76, Reforger 76 and many smaller field and CPX exercises. During the entire year the Platoon also maintained a bath point at Miesau Army Depot to support a platoon of infantry troops who have been detailed to augment the regular depot guard force. The Reefer Detachment provided extensive support for not only community affairs but for field exercises as well. The Detachment received extensive praise for its efforts during the Nijmegen Marches and the Able Archer CPX. Although these were two of the most noteworthy and extensive support requirements the detachment provided outstanding support in all assigned missions and was able to maintain an operational rate of 80% or better at all times. The Class II, IV, and VII supply activity formerly AK4424 was redesignated WK4GBW and the number of supported customers has risen to well over 200 due to many unit reorganizations and moves during the year. The Class Ill supply activity formerly AK4949 was redesignated W4GBO and the amount of petroleum product distributed increased by approximately 10% over the last CY. The Tank Farm was placed back in operation after being idle for nearly 14 months during August 1976 after completion of work to replace valves and minor pipe line repair. Plans were initiated during the fall of the year for a FRG funded upgrade program to improve the Tank Farm during CY 1977. Improvements will consist of new pumps, new berms around the storage tanks, improvement of the rail point, repair of the package ramp and many other minor but sorely needed repairs to the entire yard. A new mission support requirement was added to the 593rd with the attachment of the Troop Issue Support Activity Pirmasens, effective 1 October 1976. All other mission assignments were retained and support activity continued to increase during the year.

(7) 8901st Civilian Labor Group - During the reorganization/civilianization, the unit was assigned the mission to hire and train personnel for the two new Civilian Labor Group units. Approximately 320 individuals were hired and trained, for this purpose, between January 1976 and June 1976. Starting in March the unit took over the mission previously assigned to the 91st Maintenance Company. Effective 1 May 1976 the unit fully assumed the mission of the 21st Support Command centralized direct exchange facility in support of Support Command Stock Record Accounts. At present, 230 line items of components are available at the 8901st D/X point. To support the direct exchange activity, the maintenance shop was rearranged and the component repair section enlarged. In the average 2400 items are being repaired by this section per month. Under the TARP program the 8901st repaired 954 1¼ ton gasoline engines and 231 multi fuel engines during 1976. In June 1976 the unit fully assumed the mission of the 21st Support Command Equipment Collection and Classification Activity. During 1976 the inspection and major item section received, inspected and processed 3228 pieces of equipment. The major item section of SSA WA4GBZ conducted 5711 paper transactions to obtain disposition instructions for the items received by this section. The Disassembly and Salvage mission of the former 91st Maintenance Company was picked up in May 76. Through the efforts of unit self-help, the cann-point was relocated and organised, and began to be fully operational in July. In 1976, 1267 different pieces of equipment were processed through the cann-point and were made available to customer units to obtain repair parts and components.

(8) 8903rd Civilian Labor Group - The unit provides General Support and back-up Direct Support for military standard equipment generally associated with the tank-automotive, engineer, electronic and armament commodities and also provides support for the Theater Army Repair Programs (TARP) and for the Combat Material Upgrade Programs (CHU). During the period 1 April 1976 thru 31 December 1976, the unit received 2,887 job orders and completed 2,359 of them.

(9) 8907th Civilian Labor Group - The unit provides General Support maintenance, overflow direct support maintenance, and supply support for tactical wheeled vehicles. The unit is commodity loaded to support ¼ T, 5/4 T, 2½ T, 5 T Trucks and all Trailers under repair program (i.e.: ERC, TARP, CMU and Special Projects). During the reporting time the 8907th CLG has received 309 work orders for major items in the ECC 33 and has completed 144. Favorable work output was accomplished for the CMU and ERC programs. The following tactical wheeled vehicles were overhauled or repaired: 20 ea ¼ T Trucks, 11 ea 5/4 T Trucks, 13 ea 5 T Trucks, 66 ea 5 T Dump Trucks, 8 ea 2/2 T Trucks, 19 ea other and 7 Trailers.

(10) Equipment Support Center, Kaiserslautern (ESCK) - The average number of work orders completed per month was 976, while a constant backlog of 950 was maintained. Supply Support Activity WK4GB6 became the theater DX point for the LD 465-1 engine as of 8 June 1976. The following FY 77 repair programs were assigned effective 1 October 1976: 220 trailers M127A1 and M127A2; 1044 multifuel 2½ ton engines LD 465-1, 2½ ton; 42 truck vans M109A3; 9600 side boards for semi-trailers; 191 reefer vans M349; and 1097 reefer slip-in units. These programs were adopted without increase in personnel, as the maintenance support for Facilities Engineer Kaiserslautern and the school bus program for TMP Kaiserslautern were eliminated. The major assembly stop was reorganized to line production decreasing the engine repair time from 68 to 55 hours. The engine test room lodging 4 test stands was reconstructed by partition walls into 4 cabins providing better working conditions for mechanics and inspectors by reducing the noise. Based on the Quick Return Investment Program the following equipment was obtained: 2 electrical vehicle lifts; 1 wheel balancing machine; 1 argon welding set; 4 sewing machines; 1 refrigeration unit servicing machine; and 1 torque wrench set. The modernization of shop equipment provides for safe operation and resulted in an excellent service to our customers by reducing the turn-around time.

d. Exercises: Units of the Battalion participated in three major exercises - REFORGER 76, Brigade 76 and NATO CPX ABLE ARCHER.

(1) REFORGER 76 - All units, with the exception of ESCK, participated in REFORGER 76. Normal supply, maintenance and convoy support was provided to REFORGER 76 units. The Battalion was tasked to operate the Line of Communications (LOC) Headquarters in the Netherlands. Members of the Battalion Staff were used to man the LOC. In addition, the 5th Maintenance Company provided a maintenance team to support REFORGER 76 vehicles of the 101st Airborne Division (air mobile) to Belgium while the 546th Maintenance Company provided similar support in the Netherlands. These maintenance teams also provided Class II IV and IX supply support. Overall performance was judged to be a success by the many favorable comments received and by the formal recognition rendered.

(2) Brigade 76 - The 5th Maintenance Company provided maintenance support for the 1st Infantry Division and the 2nd Armored Division enroute from COMZ to predetermined training sites. Maintenance and convoy support was provided for over 400 vehicles; all established convoy time tables were met. The 593rd Supply and Service Company provided extensive laundry and bath support. Again, the mission was judged a success by the many favorable comments received.

(3) ABLE ARCHER - The 546th Maintenance Company provided support to elements of the 91st Infantry Division, the 81st Airborne Brigade and the 1st US Cavalry Division. An eight man contact team provided technical assistance for Organizational and Direct Support maintenance around the clock. In addition, the 546th Maintenance Company provided convoy/recovery support during the deployment and redeployment phases. Commanders, at all levels, commended the contact team for excellent support rendered and for its technical expertise.

e. The emphasis on individual and group training remains consistent. Particular emphasis is placed on civilian schooling and english as a second language. In March 1976 the Battalion began german language training. Training is only required for E7s and above; as many service members as possible will be trained, however. In November, the Battalion began english language training for members of the Civilian Labor Groups who need the training. The chaplain has been conducting Personal Effectiveness Training for personnel at supervisory levels. The training concentrates on communications with others in an attempt to foster understanding and concerned leadership in our supervisors.

f. Significant Events: The Battalion units celebrated a consolidated Organizational Day on 30 July 1976. ESCK celebrated its 25th Anniversary in May 1976. HHD and the Civilian Labor Groups jointly sponsored the 262nd HEM Company, a Delaware National Guard unit. The support rendered enabled the 262nd HEM Company to have its best, most productive summmer camp ever. On 9 July 1976, a formal activation ceremony was conducted for the three Civilian Labor Group units. BG Robert C. Gaskill, CG of 1st Support Brigade, and LTC Jerry N. Lindsey, Battalion Commander, participated in the ceremony. Each of the unit's colors were formally presented to the unit commanders. The units were officially welcomed into the 66th Maintenance Battalion.

g. Host Country Relations: Overall relations between US military and local nationals remain good with a low incident rate. Each US unit has a German partnership unit with which various activities are performed jointly.

h. Welfare, Recreation and Morale: Morale throughout the Battalion remains high. Two units have moved into billets recently renovated under the MOUSF project. Recreation is good with units actively supporting community sports programs. The intra-Battalion sports program continues with active support from the units.

FOR THE COMMANDER