"A Look Back ...

at the 59th Ordnance Brigade"

The Courier
1992

59th Ordnance Brigade: One for history books.

At one time, the 59th Ordnance Brigade was the largest brigade in the U.S. Army. The 59th
covered 95,000 square miles from the border of Denmark, south to Switzerland, west into the
Netherlands and spread throughout western Germany with over 7,000 soldiers.
The soldiers within the 59th came from a wide variety of different occupations. The vast
majority of soldiers were artillery, ordnance and military police, however, several support
occupations were included to fill out this well-rounded brigade.
One word stands out when describing the 59th Ordnance Brigade. Unique.
Unique in that this command successfully meshed three Army branches, the ordnance, artillery
and military police corps, and performed a mission that came to be known as the backbone of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Unique in that nearly one half of the personnel assigned to the command lived and worked on
installations throughout Germany, which were maintained by Great Britain, the Netherlands,
Germany and Belgium.

History
The history of the 59th Ordnance Brigade and its forerunners, the Advanced Weapons Support
Command (AWSCOM) and the Special Ammunition Support Command (SASCOM), reaches
back into the 1950s, several years before the command's headquarters was organized.
In April 1955, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 71st Ordnance Group was organized
and assigned to the Seventh U.S. Army and stationed in Pirmasens, Germany.
In June 1959, the 71st Ordnance Group was officially redesignated as AWSCOM as part of
Theater Army Support Group.
AWSCOM was redesignated as the 59th Ordnance Group (Ammunition) in March 1962. The
Group assumed a record of service that went back to 1943 with the Headquarters and
Headquarters Company. By May 1962, 21 units were assigned to the 59th Ordnance Group. In
June 1965, AWSCOM was authorized as the official abbreviation for the 59th Ordnance Group
(Ammunition).
While the 59th Ordnance Group was undergoing its 12-year metamorphosis, events were taking
place that were to have a shaping influence on the 59th Ordnance Brigade as it is known today.
In 1957 President Eisenhower offered certain special weapons to NATO. Congressional
restraints prevented this offer from becoming an outright grant. Instead, it was provided that
weapons should be positioned in allied countries but these weapons would remain United States
property.

June 23, 1958 marked the first, of what would be later called, Special Ammunition Support
Command (SASCOM) units on foreign soil (Turkey), and the first special weapons support
provided to an allied nation. The establishment of SASCOM was a slow process due to the types
of agreements that had to be concluded between the United States and the NATO nations before
special weapons could be made available and the program could get under way.
Once all agreements had been concluded the Special Ammunition Support Command, born on
April 15, 1960, became a significant part of the United States commitment to NATO.
Headquartered in Frankfurt, SASCOM, was organized with two types of units, artillery and
ordnance. The 1960s saw SASCOM grow at a tremendous pace as new groups were activated
and detachments assigned to them. By 1967, SASCOM was composed of 10 artillery groups
commanding 38 missile artillery detachments.
On Oct. 20, 1972, the command envisioned by the NATO Advanced Weapons Division 13 years
before came into being. The artillery detachments, the ordnance companies, and the depot
companies were combined into one command. The similar, but separate missions performed for
so long by SASCOM and the 59th Ordnance Group (Ammunition) AWSCOM, were now
assumed by one command - the 59th Ordnance Group, later to be officially called and accepted
as the 59th Ordnance Group (SASCOM).
The new command, headquartered in Pirmasens on Husterhoeh Kaserne, saw many changes
during the next few years. As a result of the formation of the new command, several artillery
groups inactivated and joined their forces under the new command, and two ordnance battalion
headquarters were activated.
Effective Aug. 22, 1977, the 59th Ordnance Group was redesignated as the 59th Ordnance
Brigade and increased its mission to include support of guided missile systems and land combat
systems used by the U.S. Army Corps in Europe.

Mission
The brigade's mission was to provide direct and general special weapons support for all U.S.
Army, Europe, and NATO forces. In reality, this mission was one of the most unique, complex
and difficult to be found in any army in the world.

Organization
At the time of the inactivation announcement, the brigade was composed of five artillery groups,
two ordnance battalions and a headquarters support battalion, totaling more than 2,900 military
and 100 civilian personnel.
The artillery groups consisted of an ordnance company, artillery detachments and a headquarters
detachment. The groups provided custody, control, maintenance, and supply of ammunition for
our NATO allies. Some detachments had the dual mission of performing technical support and
maintenance, while simultaneously performing custodial agent functions.

59th's role in NATO

During its many years of service, the 59th Ordnance Brigade provided a valuable link between
the peacetime readiness of U.S. forces and the ability to support forces of our NATO allies in the
event of war.
To provide for group self-defense, NATO has three major commands - Allied Command,
Europe, (ACE); Allied Command, Channel; and Allied Command, Atlantic.
In wartime, the 59th Ordnance Brigade would have come under the operational control of ACE
commanded by the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR). The mission given to
SACEUR by NATO is to contribute to the deterrence of all forms of attack against countries and
peoples in ACE and, should any attack occur, to take all military measures necessary to preserve
or restore the borders and security of Western Europe.
The more than 70,000 square miles for which SACEUR is tasked to defend is divided into four
commands - Allied Forces, Northern Europe; Allied Forces, Central Europe; Allied Forces,
Southern Europe; and the United Kingdom Air Forces. Within these commands there are various
other subordinate headquarters.
Allied Forces, Northern Europe (AFNORTH) is comprised of Norway, Denmark, Germany north
of the Elbe River, and the adjacent sea areas. A subordinate command of AFNORTH, Allied
Forces, Baltic Approaches (BALTAP) is the parent command for Allied Land Forces,
Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland (LANDJUT), which contains forces that were supported by
elements of the 59th Ordnance Brigade.
The largest of ACE's subordinate commands, Allied Forces, Southern Europe (AFSOUTH),
includes Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Black Sea, and the entire Mediterranean Sea.
The third subordinate command, United Kingdom Air Forces (UKAIR), is a single service
subordinate command - the Royal Air Force supplies all of the assets. It is a multi-role command,
spanning all functions of air power.
The fourth and last major command, Allied Forces, Central Europe (AFCENT), contained most
of the units supported by the artillery groups and ordnance battalions of the 59th Ordnance
Brigade. AFCENT's area of responsibility extends from the North Sea and the Elbe River to the
borders of Austria and Switzerland.
The major subordinate commands of AFCENT are Northern Army Group (NORTHAG), Central
Army Group (CENTAG), and Allied Forces, Central Europe (AAFCE).
NORTHAG is composed of four national corps from Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany,
and the Netherlands. The headquarters included an element from the 59th Ordnance Brigade to
assist in planning and coordination. The NORTHAG area of responsibility stretches from
Hamburg to Kassel, and from the inner German border to the Dutch and Belgian borders.

CENTAG, covering the middle and southern areas of Germany, consists of two German corps,
two U.S. corps, and a Canadian mechanized brigade. There was also a 59th Ordnance Brigade
staff element at CENTAG headquarters.
Exercising operational control over the 2nd and 4th ATAF, AAFCE is responsible for deterring
air attacks and responding if attack should occur.
As can be seen, Allied Command, Europe, is a complex organization combining the armed
forces of many nations and requiring close liaison to ensure cooperation and, ultimately, the
ability to respond in the event of war. The 59th Ordnance Brigade was an important part of this
command and an integral element in NATO's deterrence of aggression.

Headquarters Support Battalion

The Headquarters Support Battalion was organized as the Special Troops Battalion on October
1979, to command and control the four separate units assigned to the 59th Ordnance Brigade:
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 165th Signal Company, 22nd Aviation Detachment,
and the U.S. Permissive Action Link Detachment. These units provided the brigade headquarters
with administrative, logistical, communications, transportation, and classified support.
In May 1983, the Special Troops Battalion was redesignated Theater Support Battalion
(Provisional). The Headquarters Commandant was formed the following month to assume the
support mission responsibility. The four units were attached to the Headquarters Commandant
for administrative and logistical purposes.
In the spring of 1984, Headquarters Commandant was redesignated as Headquarters Command.
In August of that same year, Headquarters Support Battalion was created and it assumed
provisional status in February 1985.
Finally, in October 1985, Headquarters Support Battalion was activated with the Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 165th Signal Company, 22nd Aviation Detachment and the PAL
Detachment under its control. The Headquarters Support Battalion is scheduled to inactivate in
September 1992.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 59th Ordnance Brigade was constituted and activated
in the U.S. Army in 1943 as Headquarters Detachment, 331st Ordnance Battalion and activated
at Camp Livingston, La.
The following year, the battalion was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and
Headquarters Detachment, 59th Ordnance Group. The Group served with distinction as part of
the Ninth Army in World War II and was awarded battle credits for participation in the Central
Europe Campaign and the Rhineland Campaign.
Inactivated at Fort Jackson, S.C. in February 1946, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
was again active in Guam from April 1947 to December 1948.
Redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 59th Ordnance Group in 1951, the
unit served in Korea and took part in five campaigns. The Group was awarded the Meritorious
Unit Citation for its outstanding service in Korea. The unit was inactivated in Korea in May
1957.
In March 1962, the Group was activated in Germany as Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 59th Ordnance Group (Ammunition). Later that year, it was redesignated the 59th
Ordnance Group, Advanced Weapons Support Command (AWSCOM).

AWSCOW and the former Special Ammunition Support Command (SASCOM) were
consolidated and merged to form a "new" SASCOM in 1972. The new 59th Ordnance Group
(SASCOM) moved from Frankfurt to the old AWSCOM headquarters in Pirmasens.
On 22 August 1977, 59th Ordnance Group (SASCOM) was reorganized and redesignated as
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 59th Ordnance Brigade. HHC, 59th is scheduled to
inactivate in September 1992.

22nd Aviation Detachment

The 22nd Aviation Detachment was constituted in the regular Army as the 22nd Special Warfare
Aviation Detachment in March 1962 and activated at Fort Bragg, N.C. In June 1962, it was
reorganized and redesignated as the 22nd Aviation Detachment (Special Forces). The
Detachment was inactivated in December 1963.
The unit was activated in September 1965 as the 22nd Transportation Company in Pirmasens,
Germany and assigned to U.S. Army Communications Zone Transportation Command with
attachment to the U.S. Army Advanced Weapons Support Command. The 22nd replaced the
26th Transportation Company which was inactivated. The following month, the activation orders
were amended to designate the unit as the 22nd Aviation Detachment.
In May 1967, the detachment was assigned directly under U.S. Army Communications Zone
with attachment to AWSCOM. In 1971, and again in 1977, the 22nd Aviation Detachment was
named the USAREUR Region AAAA Aviation Detachment Size Unit of the Year. The 22nd
will inactivate in July 1992.

Permissive Action Link

In December 1963, the U.S. Army Permissive Action Link Detachment was organized and
assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Europe. The detachment was attached
to the Advanced Weapons Support Command for administrative and logistical support.
Prior to December 1963, the Army PAL Detachment had been known as the U.S. Army Control
Detachment, the U.S. Army Surveillance Detachment, and the U.S. Army PAL Surveillance
Detachment.
In September 1970, the PAL Detachment was assigned to the U.S. Army Theater Support
Command, Europe, and attached to AWSCOM. In July 1972, the PAL Detachment was placed
under the operational control of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, USAREUR, and in
May 1974, it was reassigned to the 59th Ordnance Group (Special Ammunition Support
Command).
The Permissive Action Link Detachment was the only unit of its kind in the U.S. Army,
consisting mainly of officers and noncommissioned officers. The PAL Detachment was
inactivated in June 1992.

165th Signal Company

The 165th Signal Company was constituted in February 1942 as the 165th Signal Photographic
Company. The 165th was activated in June 1942 at Camp Crowder, Mo. Serving in the European
Theater during World War II, the company received credit for five campaigns and was awarded a
Meritorious Unit Commendation.
After the war, the 165th was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, N.J. in March 1946. In February 1957,
the unit was redesignated as the 165th Signal Company and was activated at Camp Hood, Texas
the following month. The 165th was inactivated at Fort Carson, Colorado in August 1961.
The company was activated once again in August 1967 at Fort Bragg, N.C. and was inactivated
there in January 1971. In September 1975, the 165th Signal Company was activated in Germany
and assigned to the 59th Ordnance Group. The 165th Signal Company inactivated in June 1992.

Northern Army Group

Working as a part of the NATO team in the largest collocated military complex in Western
Europe, was the small group of men and women of the brigade's staff element at the Northern
Army Group/Second Allied Tactical Air Force Joint Headquarters in Rheindahlen, near the city
of Moenchengladbach.
This facility also served as the headquarters for the British Army of Rhine (BAOR) and Royal
Air Force, Germany.
The staff elements main mission was to advise and coordinate the planning of weapons support
to the four NORTHAG corps and to 2ATAF and provided a link between the brigade and its
administrative locations in northern Germany and Holland and with other NATO commands.
Part of the element's mission was to assist the NORTHAG/2ATAF staffs in planning exercises or
operations and to participate in joint exercises in support of various NATO units. In addition,
members of the element joined with other representatives of other commands to form NATO
evaluation teams which were used to test units of the northern artillery groups of the brigade.
Pinpointing problems at the groups and providing assistance comprised a large portion of the
element's peacetime mission. (See page 61 for history of NORTHAG.)

Central Army Group

In counterpoint to the Staff Element NORTHAG, the brigade established a brigade staff element
at Central Army Group/Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force (CENTAG/4ATAF) in Heidelberg.
Collocated with Headquarters, U.S. Army, Europe, and Allied Command Europe Mobile Forces
Land, this specialized staff section served as a focal point for coordinating actions and
maintaining a visible interrelationship between the brigade and the NATO headquarters for the
four separate corps located in central and southern Germany.

While they lived in Heidelberg, "the home of the general," members of the staff element were
often called upon to host as well as attend high level conferences, special functions, and be
specially trained to monitor, support and participate in major NATO exercises to accomplish
their mission while under direct supervision of the 59th Ordnance Brigade commander. (See
page 62 for history of CENTAG.)

72nd Ordnance Battalion

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 72nd Ordnance Battalion was constituted in the
regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 36th Quartermaster Regiment (Light
Maintenance) in May 1936.
In June 1940 it was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 72nd
Quartermaster Battalion (Light Maintenance). The battalion was activated at Camp Hulen, Texas
in March 1942.
During World War II, the battalion received credit for participation in one campaign. Following
the cessation of hostilities, the 72nd Ordnance Battalion was inactivated in France in November
1945.
The battalion was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 72nd Ordnance
Battalion (Maintenance and Supply) in March 1954. The unit was activated in May 1954 at
Verdun, France and assigned to the U.S. Army Communications Zone, Europe.
In 1972, the 72nd Ordnance Battalion was activated under the control of the 59th Ordnance
Brigade.
After a few years in Kaiserslautern, the 72nd Ordnance Battalion was moved to the Miesau
Army Depot. To be closer to its subordinate units, the battalion headquarters was moved to
Muenster-Dieburg in June 1990.
The 72nd Ordnance Battalion had, at the time of its inactivation, seven subordinate units. It was
inactivated in June 1992.

6th MP Company
The 6th Military Police Company was constituted in the national Army in November 1917 as the
6th Training Headquarters and Military Police, an element of the 6th Division. The unit was
organized at Camp McClellan, Ala. in February 1918.
The unit deployed to Europe and received credit for participation during World War I, the only
brigade unit to do so.
During World War II the unit was deployed to the Asiatic-Pacific, participated in two campaigns,
and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
The unit was inactivated in Korea in January 1949.
The 6th Military Police Company was activated at Muenster-Dieburg, Germany in September
1977 from elements of the 545th Ordnance Company and the 9th Military Police Detachment
which was inactivated. The company was assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion, 59th
Ordnance Group. The 6th was inactivated in June 1992.

525th Ordnance Company

The 525th Ordnance Company was constituted in the regular Army in May 1936 as Company K,
58th Quartermaster Regiment. The unit was converted and redesignated in August 1942 as
Company K, 3rd Battalion, 58th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Regiment. In September 1942, it
was redesignated as the 911th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company. The company was
activated at Atlanta, Ga. in February 1943.
The unit was redesignated in February 1947 as the 525th Ordnance Heavy Automotive
Maintenance Company and again in June 1959 as the 525th Ordnance Company.
In May 1961, the 525th was assigned to the 82nd Ordnance Battalion of the Advanced Weapons
Support Command. With the inactivation of the 82nd Ordnance Battalion in July 1965, the
company was assigned directly under AWSCOM. In November 1972, the 525th was assigned to
the newly activated 197th Ordnance Battalion.
The 525th was assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion in October 1990. The company was
located in Siegelsbach, Germany. The 525th was inactivated in June 1992.

545th Ordnance Company

The 545th Ordnance Company was activated in September 1942 at Camp Atterbury, Ind. as
Company M, 56th Quartermaster Regiment. The unit was converted and redesignated as
Company M, 56th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Regiment in August 1942. In October 1942, it
was reorganized and redesignated as the 895th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company and in
May 1943 as the 895th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance company.
In March 1950 the company was redesignated as the 545th Ordnance Co. and activated in
Yokohama, Japan. It received credit for participating in ten campaigns and was awarded two
Meritorious Unit Commendations.
From June 1957 through July 1958, the company was active in Germany. Finally, in June 1959
the 545th was activated in Muenster-Dieburg, Germany from what had been Company C, 15th
Ordnance Battalion. The 545th was assigned to the 15th Ordnance Battalion. In February 1977,
the 545th Ordnance Company was reassigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion. The company was
inactivated in June 1992.

556th MP Company
The 556th Military Police Company was constituted in the U.S. Army in June 1945 as the 556th
Military Police Escort Guard Company and was activated at Fort Custer, Mich. The unit was
deployed to Europe and received credit for participation in four campaigns during World War II
and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. The unit was inactivated in France in 1946.
The company was activated in Siegelsbach, Germany in May 1962 as a result of a physical
security force reorganization that detached the security platoon from the 525th Ordnance

Company. The company was assigned to the 82nd Ordnance Battalion of the Advanced Weapons
Support Command.
In July 1962, the 556th was reassigned to the 193rd Ordnance Battalion and then was assigned
back to the 82nd in June 1964. In July 1965, the company was assigned directly under
AWSCOM as a result of the plan to inactivate the 82nd Ordnance Battalion. Finally, in
November 1972, the 556th was assigned to the 197th Ordnance Battalion.
In October 1990 the 556th MP Company was assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion. The
company was located at Siegelsbach, Germany and inactivated in June 1992.

558th MP Company
The 558th Military Police Company was constituted in the U.S. Army as the 558th Military
Police Escort Guard Company and activated at Fort Custer, Mich. in June 1943. The company
was inactivated in March 1945 at Como, Miss., but was reactivated in the Philippines in April
1945.
The unit received credit for participation in two World War II campaigns and was awarded a
Philippines Presidential Unit Citation. Following several activations and inactivations, the unit
was allotted to the regular Army in October 1951.
The unit was deployed to Korea and was credited with participation in nine campaigns and
awarded three Meritorious Unit Commendations and two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
Citations.
In March 1962, the company was activated in Germany as the 558th Military Police Company
and assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion of the Advanced Weapons Support Command with
duty at the U.S. Army Special Depot, Kriegsfeld, Germany.
The 558th was inactivated on Nov. 1, 1991, at Kriegsfeld.

197th Ordnance Battalion

The 197th Ordnance Battalion was constituted in the regular Army as Headquarters and
Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, 58th Quartermaster Regiment in May 1936. The unit
was activated in February 1941 at Fort Lewis, Wa.
After a few reorganizations, the battalion was deployed to Europe during World War II and saw
action in Italy, France and Germany. The battalion received credit for participation in six
campaigns and received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service in Italy. Following
World War II, the 197th was inactivated in November 1945.
In January 1967, the battalion was reactivated at Tooele Army Depot, Utah. During the
consolidation of the Headquarters Special Depots in 1972, the Headquarters and Headquarters
Company and the 197th Ordnance Battalion were activated at the 59th Ordnance Group Special
Depot in Fischbach.
In 1977, the headquarters company along with the battalion headquarters was moved from
Fischbach to Muenchweiler. With the inactivation of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion in 1991, the
headquarters moved to Husterhoeh Kaserne in Pirmasens.
Prior to inactivation of the 59th Ordnance Brigade, the battalion's subordinate units included the
9th, 41st, 64th, and 563rd Ordnance Companies, the 164th and 165th Military Police Companies,
the 41st Ordnance Detachment, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and the 619th
Theater Air Support Company.
The 197th Ordnance Battalion, along with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, the 41st
Ordnance Company, and the 563rd Ordnance Company are the only 59th Ordnance Brigade
assets which are not being inactivated. They will now fall under operational control of the 21st
TAACOM.

9th Ordnance Company

The 9th Ordnance Company was organized in February 1921 at Fort Sill, Okla. using personnel
from the 9th Light Mobile Ordnance Repair Shop. In October 1939, it was redesignated as the
9th Ordnance (Medium Maintenance). The unit was redesignated as the 9th Ordnance Medium
Maintenance Company in 1942, and in November of that year, arrived in North Africa.
During World War II, the 9th served in Sicily, Italy and Central Europe and received credit for
participation in six campaigns. For its actions, the unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Commendation.
Following the cessation of hostilities, the 9th Ordnance returned to Camp Kilmer, N.J. where it
was inactivated in March 1946. In April 1949, the company was redesignated as the 9th
Ordnance Medium Automotive Maintenance Company and activated in Okinawa in June of that
year.

Redesignated as the 9th Ordnance Company (Direct Automotive Support) in November 1952,
the unit was inactivated in March 1953. The 9th Ordnance was again activated in November
1953 at Fort Bragg, N.C., but was inactivated there in March of the following year.
The company was again active from January 1955 through March 1958 at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
The unit was activated as the 9th Ordnance Company (Special Weapons and Missile) (Depot
Support) in December 1958 at White Sands, N.M. In June 1959, the company arrived in West
Germany and was assigned to the 82nd Ordnance Battalion, Advanced Weapons Support
Command, with duty at Miesau Army Depot.
In May 1961, the 9th Ordnance Company was transferred to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion, and
then in September 1965, the company was assigned directly under AWSCOM when the 72nd
Ordnance Battalion was inactivated.
In January 1971, the 9th Ordnance Company, along with the 4th Ordnance Company and the
164th Military Police Company, was made part of the Miesau Special Depot under AWSCOM.
In June 1972, the unit received the Best Mess Award from the Theater Army Support Command.
In November 1972, the Miesau Special Depot was disbanded when the 72nd Ordnance Battalion
was activated, the 9th was assigned to the 72d. Finally, in June 1983, the 9th Ordnance Company
was reassigned to the newly organized Theater Support Battalion (Provisional) which in June
1985 was redesignated as the 3rd Ordnance Battalion.
During the historic chemical retrograde, the 9th Ordnance Company was responsible for the
vehicular to rail transload phase of the operation.
On July 26, 1990, the 9th Ordnance Company received the first 20 vehicles to download at the
Reserve Support Activity, Miesau. All 100,000 chemical rounds where staged and accounted for
28 days later.
The company was also responsible for the upload of the munitions onto the trains which would
transport them to the port at Nordenham.
On July 17, 1991, the Meritorious Unit Award was presented to the 9th Ordnance Company for
distinguishing itself during the Chemical Retrograde.
In February 1991, the 3rd Ordnance Battalion was inactivated and the 9th Ordnance Company,
still located in Miesau, was assigned to the 197th Ordnance Battalion.
The 9th Ordnance Company will again inactivate in August 1992.

41st Ordnance Company

The 41st Ordnance Company was constituted in the regular Army in May 1936 as Company C,
1st Battalion, 32nd Quartermaster Regiment. In June 1940, the unit was redesignated as

Company C, 70th Quartermaster Battalion and moved to Camp Gordon, Ga. in May 1942. In
August 1942, the company was converted and redesignated as the 3419th Ordnance Medium
Maintenance Company.
In January 1943, the company was reorganized as the 3419th Ordnance Medium Automotive
Maintenance Company. The unit deployed to Europe and received credit for participation in four
campaigns during War World II. Reorganized and redesignated as the 41st Ordnance Medium
Automotive Maintenance Company in June 1947, the unit was inactivated in Germany in
September of that year.
The company was activated in Japan in March 1950 and deployed to Korea where it received
credit for participation in one campaign. In November 1951, the unit was inactivated in Japan.
Activated at Fort Bragg, N.C. in May 1952, the company was reorganized and redesignated as
the 41st Ordnance Company in November of that same year. The 41st was inactivated in
Thailand in September 1966.
In September 1975, the 41st Ordnance Company was again activated, this time at Weilerbach,
West Germany, and was assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion of the 59th Ordnance Group.
Two years later, in September 1977, the company was reassigned to the 3rd Ordnance Battalion.
The 41st Ordnance was transferred to Special Troops Battalion (Provisional) when the 3rd
Ordnance Battalion moved to the 32nd U.S. Army Air Defense Command. The company was
then assigned to the Theater Support Battalion (Provisional) when it was organized and then to
the 3rd Ordnance Battalion in June 1985 with its return to the 59th Ordnance Brigade.
The 41st Ordnance Company was reassigned to the 197th Ordnance Battalion in October 1990
when the 3rd Ordnance Battalion was inactivated.

64th Ordnance Company

The 64th Ordnance Company was constituted in the regular Army in October 1933. It was
activated in February 1941 at Savanna Ordnance Depot, Ill. as the 64th Company (Ammunition).
In October 1942, the company was redesignated as the 64th Ordnance Ammunition Company.
The 64th deployed to North Africa in November 1942 and went on to participate in six
campaigns during World War II. In September 1946, the unit was redesignated as the 64th
Ordnance Base Depot Company and activated in Adak, Ark. in April of that year. The company's
existence was short, however, as it was inactivated two months later.
The 64th was redesignated in October 1958 as the 64th Ordnance Company (Special Weapons
and Missile) (Direct Support). It was activated in December 1958 at Fort Sill, Okla. and tasked to
provide support to the U.S. Army Artillery and Missile School.
The 64th Ordnance Company deployed to West Germany and arrived in Fischbach in October
1959. The company was assigned to the 82nd Ordnance Battalion of the Advanced Weapons

Support Command with the mission of commanding and operating the Fischbach Ordnance
Depot.
In April 1962, the unit was reorganized as the 64th Ordnance Company (Special Ammunition)
(Depot Support). As a result of plans to inactivate the 82nd Ordnance Battalion in September
1965, the 64th was assigned directly under AWSCOM in July. The AWSCOM Special Depot,
Fischbach, was organized in December 1970, creating a headquarters to command the 64th as
well as the other AWSCOM units at Fischbach.
With the merger of AWSCOM and the Special Ammunition Support Command in November
1972, the Headquarters, Special Depot, Fischbach, was disbanded and the 64th was assigned to
the newly activated 197th Ordnance Battalion.
The 64th Ord. Co. inactivated in June 1992.

164th MP Company
The 164th Military Police Company was organized and activated as the 164th Military Police
Prisoner of War Processing Company in January 1944 at Fort Custer, Mich. The 164th arrived in
New Guinea in August 1944 and then on Leyte in the Philippines in October of the same year.
For its actions in World War II, the company was awarded a Philippine Presidential Citation and
received credit for participation in three campaigns. The unit was inactivated in January 1946 on
Leyte.
The 164th was activated and assigned to the 8th U.S. Army in Korea in 1951. During the Korean
War, the company participated in five campaigns and was awarded two Republic of Korea
Presidential Unit Citations. It was inactivated in Korea in December 1953.
The unit was redesignated and activated as the 164th Military Police Company in March 1962 in
Kaiserslautern, West Germany. In the fall of 1962, the 164th was assigned for duty at Miesau
Army Depot. In March 1967, the 44th and 100th Military Police Detachments were attached to
the 164th.
From January 1971 through November 1972, the 164th was part of the Miesau Special Depot, a
command subordinate to AWSCOM. In March 1971, and again in March 1972, the 164th
received the AWSCOM Commander's Trophy for having the best sports program in the
command.
In November 1972, the company was assigned to the newly activated 72nd Ordnance Battalion.
In August 1975, the military police detachments were inactivated and the personnel transferred
to the 164th.
In June 1983, the 164th was transferred to the new Theater Support Battalion (Provisional)
which became the 3rd Ordnance Battalion in June 1985.

The 164th was assigned to the 197th Ordnance Battalion in October 1990 after the inactivation
of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion.
The 164th MP Co. will be inactivated in August 1992.

165th MP Company
The 165th Military Police Company was constituted in October 1944 in the Army of the United
States as the 165th Military Police Prisoner of War Processing Company and activated at Fort
Sam Houston, Texas. The unit was reorganized and redesignated in March 1945 as the 165th
Military Police Escort Guard Company, and was inactivated in October of that year at
Vancouver Barracks, Wash.
In September 1951, it was allotted to the regular Army and the following month it was activated
in Korea. The company was reorganized and redesignated as the 165th Military Police Company
in February 1953. For its actions in Korea, the 165th was credited with participation in five
campaigns and was awarded two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations. The 165th was
inactivated in Korea in April 1954.
In March 1962, the 165th was activated in West Germany and assigned to the 193rd Ordnance
Battalion of the Advanced Weapons Support Command. In April 1964, it was reassigned to the
82nd Ordnance Battalion, and then directly under AWSCOM in July 1965 as a result of the plans
to inactivate the battalion.
The 165th was assigned to the Special Depot, Fischbach, in December 1970, and then to the
197th Ordnance Battalion upon the battalion's activation in November 1972.
The 165th MP Co. was relocated to Pirmasens in January 1992, and is scheduled to be
inactivated in September 1992.

563rd Ordnance Company

The 563rd Ordnance Company was activated as Company G, 57th Quartermaster Regiment at
Camp Livingston, La. in June 1941. In August 1942, the company was reorganized and
redesignated as Company G, 57th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Regiment, and the following
month, it was redesignated as the 900th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company. In October
1943, the unit was redesignated as the 900th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance
Company.
During World War II, the company received credit for participation in five campaigns in Europe.
The company was inactivated in England in 1946.
The unit was redesignated in February 1947 as the 563rd Ordnance, Heavy Automotive
Maintenance Company, and in May 1947 as the 563rd Ordnance Medium Automotive
Maintenance Company.

Activated in Germany in June 1947, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 563rd
Ordnance Company in April 1953, only to be inactivated two years later in France.
The 563rd was activated in June 1964 at Fort Dix, N.J. and then inactivated there in 1967.
Activated once again at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. in September 1969, the company arrived at
Camp Perry in Wiesbaden, West Germany in March 1970 and was assigned to the Advanced
Weapons Support Command.
In August 1970, the 563rd assumed operational control of the 255th Ordnance Detachment and
its mission of Chapparal/Vulcan support. In September 1971, the 563rd assumed responsibility
for Redeye support for the Berlin Brigade. The 255th Ordnance Detachment was inactivated in
March 1973, but the support mission remained.
In September 1977, the 563rd was assigned to the 3rd Ordnance Battalion and then to Special
Troops Battalion (Provisional) in November 1982, Theater Support Battalion (Provisional) in
May 1983, and finally 3rd Ordnance Battalion in June 1985.
The 563rd was assigned to the 197th Ordnance Battalion in October 1991 due to the inactivation
of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion.

619th Theater Air Support Company

The 619th Ordnance Company was constituted in the Army of the United States as the 619th
Ordnance Ammunition Company in October 1942. The company was activated at Fort Knox,
Ky. in November 1942 as an organic part of the armored force and was transferred to the
European Theater in November 1943. For action in World War 11, the 619th was credited for
participation in four campaigns and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. After the
war, the unit was inactivated in February 1946 at Camp Kilmer, N.J.
In June 1949, the 619th was reactivated in Japan and later transferred to Korea where it
participated in 10 campaigns and was awarded another Meritorious Unit Commendation and a
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
The unit was redesignated as the 619th Ordnance Company in April 1954, and in June 1955, it
was inactivated in Korea. The 619th was reactivated in June 1959 at the U.S. Army Special
Depot, Kriegsfeld, when Company A, 15th Ordnance Battalion was redesignated as the 619th
Ordnance Company. The 619th was assigned to the 72nd Ordnance Battalion of the Advanced
Weapons Support Command in May 1961. (The 15th Ordnance Battalion was activated in April
1942 and was inactivated in - February 1946, receiving credit for one campaign in World War
II.)
With the inactivation of the 72nd Ordnance Battalion in September 1965, the company was
assigned directly under AWSCOM. The 619th was again assigned to the 72nd Ordnance
battalion when the battalion was reactivated in November 1972.

In November 1991, the 619th Ordnance Company was reassigned to the 197th Ordnance
Battalion, relocated to Hahn Air Base, and redesignated as the 619th Theater Air Support
Company (Provisional).
The 619th TASC is scheduled to be inactivated in August 1992.

294th US Army Artillery Group

The 294th U.S. Army Artillery Group was constituted in the Army of the United States as the
294th Field Artillery Observation Battalion in February 1944. The battalion was activated in
April 1944 at Fort Jackson, S.C.
Following training, the 294th went to Europe and received battle credit for the Central Europe
Campaign. After returning to the United States, the 294th was deactivated in October 1945 at
Camp Bowie, Texas.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 294th Field Artillery Battalion was reorganized and
redesignated in January 1966 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 294th U.S. Army
Artillery Group. The group was activated in May 1966 at Itzehoe, Germany as part of the 515th
U.S. Army Artillery Group (sic). (Webmaster Note: Should be the 514th USAAG.)
The 294th Artillery Group relocated from Itzehoe to Flensburg, Germany in November 1974.
The 294th USAAG inactivated in June 1992.

13th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 13th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized in August 1960 as the 13th U.S.
Army Missile Detachment at Fort Sill, Okla. Arriving in Germany in 1961, the 13th was
assigned to the Special Ammunition Support Command and further attached to the 552nd U.S.
Army Artillery Group.
The detachment was reassigned to the 294th U.S. Army Artillery Group in June 1966. The
detachment was located in Kellinghusen, Germany.
The 13th USAFAD inactivated in May 1992.

75th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 75th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized in May 1965 as the 75th U.S.
Army Missile Detachment at Fort Sill, Okla. The unit departed the United States and arrived in
Germany in November 1965.
Assigned to SASCOM's 552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group, the detachment became operational
in April 1966. The unit was transferred to the 294th U.S. Army Artillery Group in June 1966.
The detachment was located in Flensburg and inactivated in May 1992.

99th Ordnance Company

The 99th Ordnance Detachment was constituted in the regular Army as the 59th Ordnance
Company in January 1922. It was reorganized and redesignated as the 59th Ordnance

Ammunition Company in March 1943. The company served in the Asian-Pacific Theater during
World War II and received credit for the New Guinea Campaign.
It was inactivated in 1947, but was activated again in 1950 in Korea as the 59th Ordnance
Ammunition Renovation Platoon. The unit received credit for eight campaigns during the
Korean War.
It was redesignated as the 99th Ordnance Detachment in November 1954 and deactivated in June
1955.
After serving in Vietnam and receiving credit for 11 campaigns, the 99th was deactivated there
in November 1972.
The 99th Ordnance Detachment was reactivated in Germany in November 1974 in Flensburg,
then inactivated in May 1992.

512th US Army Artillery Group

The 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group was constituted in the Army of the United States in
February 1943 as the 512th Field Artillery Battalion. The 512th was activated at Camp Rucker,
Ala. in June 1943.
Following training, the battalion went to Europe where it participated in four World War II
campaigns.
After the cessation of hostilities, the 512th returned to the United States and was inactivated in
December 1945 at Camp Kilmer, N.J.
In September 1948, the battalion was redesignated as the 463rd Field Artillery Battalion and
allotted to the Organized Reserve Corps. Redesignated as the 512th U.S. Army Artillery
Battalion in March 1952, the unit was withdrawn from the Army Reserve and allotted to the
regular Army in December 1952.
The 512th was active in Japan from March 1955 to March 1956.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 512th Field Artillery Battalion was redesignated in
September 1959 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 512th U.S. Army Artillery
Group.
The group was activated in October 1959 at Fort Bliss, Texas and moved to Italy where it was
inactivated in November 1961.
The 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group was reactivated at Fort Sill, Okla. in March 1962. The
512th arrived in Germany in July 1962 and was assigned to the Special Ammunition Support
Command with further assignment to the 548th U.S. Army Artillery Group.
In April 1965, the group headquarters and the 510th Ordnance Company relocated from Urlau to
Guenzburg.
In 1970, the 512th was moved permanently under operational control of the 59th Ordnance
Group, which was later redesignated the 59th Ordnance Brigade.
The 512th inactivated in June 1992.

2nd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 2nd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized and activated at Fort Sill, Okla. in
September 1962 as the 2nd U.S. Army Missile Detachment. In January 1963, the detachment
moved to Germany and was assigned to the 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group. The detachment
was inactivated in June 1991.

24th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 24th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized and activated in January 1961 as
the 24th U.S. Army Missile Detachment at Fort Sill, Okla. Upon arrival in Europe in July 1961,
the detachment was assigned to the 548th U.S. Army Artillery Group and then to the 512th U.S.
Army Field Artillery Group in July 1962. The detachment was inactivated in May 1992.

36th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 36th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized and activated in October 1959 at
Fort Sill, Okla. as the 36th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. Upon completion of training, the
36th Detachment moved to Germany in 1960. The unit was assigned to SASCOM upon its
organization. The detachment was further assigned to the 548th U.S. Army Artillery Group and
then to the 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group in July 1962. The unit was inactivated in May 1992.

74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized and activated in April 1965 at
Fort Sill, Okla. as the 74th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. The detachment moved to Germany
in June 1966 and was assigned to the 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group in support of the German
Air Force's 1st Surface-to-Surface Missile Wing.
In January 1971, the two U.S. missile detachments assigned to the 512th, the 74th and 82nd U.S.
Army Missile Detachments, were combined. The 82nd was merged with the 74th and
redesignated as the 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment. The 82nd had supported the 1st
SSMW from November 1969 until January 1971, and was the first U.S. Army unit to receive a
unit to unit streamer from the German Air Force.
Since its deployment in 1966 the 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment had provided
continuous support of its strategic NATO mission along with the 1st SSMW. In 1990 the 74th
and the 1st SSMW close working relationship was recognized with the USAREUR Partnership
award.
With its formal inactivation on 15 July, 1991, the 74th completed over 25 years of service in
support of the NATO alliance.
The 74th was one of only two Pershing IA units in the world.

84th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 84th U.S. Army Artillery Detachment was organized and activated in December 1966 at
Fort Sill, Okla. as the 84th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. The 84th moved to Germany in
January 1967 and was assigned to the 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group. The unit was inactivated
in May 1992.

510th Ordnance Company

The 510th Ordnance Company was constituted in the Army of the United States as Company F,
54th Quartermaster Regiment in May 1936.
The company was activated in June 1941 at Fort Dix, N.J. and in June 1942 it moved to Fort
Meade, Md. The unit was redesignated as Company F, 54th Ordnance Regiment in August 1942,
and in October 1943 it was redesignated as the 872nd Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company.
In April 1943, the 872nd was transferred to Dawson Creek, Canada. Later that year, the company
was redesignated as the 872nd Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company.
The 872nd moved to Fort Ord, Calif. in April 1944 and was alerted for overseas movement.
Departing the United States in January 1945, the 872nd arrived in France in January 1946. For its
service in the European Theater of Operations, the company received credit for two campaigns.
After the war, the 872nd remained in Germany until March 1946 when it returned to the United
States for inactivation later that month.
In February 1947, the unit was redesignated as the 510th Ordnance Heavy Automotive
Maintenance Company.
The company was redesignated in April 1959 as the 510th Ordnance Company for assignment to
the Armed Forces Weapons Project. The 510th was activated in June 1959 at Sandia Base, N.M.
as a special weapons and missile general support company.
In August 1962, the 510th arrived in Germany and was assigned to the 512th U.S. Army
Artillery Group. The 510th was inactivated May 1992.

514th US Army Artillery Group

The 514th US Army Artillery Group was constituted in February 1943 in the Army of the United
States as the 514th Field Artillery Battalion, (155mm Gun)(Tractor Drawn). The battalion was
activated later that year at Fort Lewis, Wash.
After completing unit training, the battalion departed Fort Lewis and traveled to Fort Bragg, N.C.
where it was assigned to the XVIII Corps for further training in May 1943.
The 514th arrived in Europe in October 1944 and received credit for participating in four
campaigns.
In August 1945, the 514th returned to the United States where it was inactivated in February
1946.
In September 1948, the 514th Battalion was redesignated as the 958th Field Artillery Rocket
Battalion and allotted to the Organized Reserve Corps. The battalion was active from September
1948 through August 1950 at Fresno, Calif.
In March 1952, the 958th Field Artillery Rocket Battalion was redesignated as the 514th Field
Artillery Battalion and it was allotted to to the Regular Army later that year.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 514th Field Artillery Battalion, was redesignated as
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 514th US Army Field Artillery Group in May 1961.
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 514th US Army Artillery Group was activated in
Germany and stationed at Mnchengladbach in December 1961. The Group was subordinate to
the Special Ammunition Support Command. The 514th Group's mission was to implement the
SASCOM Special Ammunition Support Program in cooperation with the Northern Army Group
(NORTHAG) and Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF).
With the merger of SASCOM and AWSCOM in October 1972, the 514th USAAG was
deactivated.
The personnel and spaces made available from the deactivation were used to establish the 59th
Ordnance Group Staff Element at NORTHAG. The staff element at NORTHAG was inactivated
in April 1992.

552nd US Army Artillery Group

The 552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group was activated in August 1943 at Fort Bragg, N.C. as the
552nd Field Artillery Battalion.
The battalion deployed to Europe and participated in five campaigns during World War II.
Following the cessation of hostilities, the battalion returned to the United States and was
inactivated at Camp Myles Standish, Mass. in November 1945.
The 552nd was redesignated as the 471st Field Artillery Battalion in June 1947 and allotted to
the organized reserves. The 471st was active in Chicago, Ill. from June 1947 through November
1950.
In March 1952, the battalion was redesignated as the 552nd Field Artillery Battalion. In
December it was withdrawn from the Army Reserve and allotted to the regular Army.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 552nd Field Artillery Battalion, was redesignated as
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachments, 552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group in September
1959. The batteries of the former battalion were concurrently disbanded.
The 552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group was activated at Fort Sill, Okla. in October 1959.
Five months later, in March 1960, the 552nd arrived in Germany and moved into its new
headquarters in Ludensheid, Germany.
The 552nd was assigned to the 514th U.S. Army Artillery Group when the 514th was established
as a SASCOM intermediate subordinate headquarters in December 1961.
In August 1963, the 552nd Artillery Group Headquarters moved to Soegel, Germany.
The 552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group was the only 59th Ordnance Brigade artillery group with
detachments located outside of Germany.
The 552nd USAAG inactivated in June 1992.

1st U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 1st U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized in October 1963 as the 1st U.S.
Army Missile Detachment. The 1st USAFAD was activated at Fort Sill, Okla. in September
1964. In March 1965, the unit arrived in Germany and was assigned to the Special Ammunition
Support Command. The 1st was further assigned to the 570th U.S. Army Artillery Group which
was Army Artillery Group subordinate to the 514th U.S. Army Artillery Group.
In October 1978, the 1st U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was assigned to the 552nd U.S.
Army Artillery Group. The 1st was located in Wesel, Germany and inactivated June in 1992.

5th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 5th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated at Fort Sill, Okla. in June 1962 as
the 5th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. The detachment arrived in Germany in February 1963
and was assigned to the 552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group. The 5th was located in GrossDunsen, Germany and inactivated in May 1992.

8th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 8th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated at Fort Sill, Okla. in December
1961 as the 8th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. After successfully completing training, the 8th
USAFAD arrived in Germany in June 1962. The unit was assigned to the 552nd U.S. Army
Artillery Group and temporarily located with the 26th U.S. Army Detachment.
In February 1963, the 8th moved to Havelterberg, Netherlands. In September 1964, the 8th
USAFAD was reassigned to the 570th U.S. Army Artillery Group, but returned to the 552nd in
June 1966.
The 8th was one of only two 59th Ordnance Brigade units stationed in the Netherlands and was
inactivated in June 1992.

23rd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 23rd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was organized at Fort Sill, Okla. between
February and December 1958 as the 23rd U.S. Army Missile Detachment. Activated in January
1960, the 23rd USAFAD arrived in Germany in June 1960. Although initially assigned to the
570th U.S. Army Artillery Group, the 23rd Detachment was transferred to 552nd U.S. Army
Artillery Group in June 1966. The 23rd, located in T'Harde, was one of only two brigade
detachments located in the Netherlands.
The 23rd USAFAD was inactivated in June 1992.

25th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 25th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated in January 1961 at Fort Sill, Okla.
as the 25th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. Arriving in Germany in May 1961, the 25th
USAFAD was assigned to the 552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group.
The 25th was located in Barme and inactivated in May 1992.

32nd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 32nd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated in March 1951 at Fort Sill, Okla.
as the 32nd Field Artillery Counter-mortar Radar Detachment. It deployed to Korea and
participated in the UN Summer-Fall Offensive. For its service, the 32nd USAFAD was awarded
the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. The 32nd was activated at Fort Sill in 1959 and

arrived in Germany in March 1960. The unit was assigned to the 552nd U.S. Army Artillery
Group.
The 32nd was located in Nienburg and inactivated in June 1992.

81st U.S. Army Artillery Detachment

The 81st U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated at Fort Sill, Okla. in February
1966 as the 81st U.S. Army Missile Detachment.
The unit arrived in Germany in June 1966 and was attached to the 26th U.S. Army Missile
Detachment of the 570th U.S. Army Artillery Group.
In August 1966, the 81st moved to Duelmen, Germany. The detachment was reassigned to the
552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group in October 1978.
The 81st inactivated in June 1992.

162nd Ordnance Company

The 162nd Ordnance Company was constituted in the Army of the United States as the 162nd
Ordnance Platoon and it was activated in June 1942 at Camp Edwards, Mass. Following training
at the Amphibious Training Center, Corabeele, Florida, the unit moved to Brisbane, Australia.
The 162nd was redesignated as the 162nd Ordnance Company, 2nd Engineer Brigade. The unit
served in two campaigns in the Asian-Pacific Theater. After the war, the 162nd returned to the
United States in October 1946 and was stationed first at Fort Ord, Calif. and then at Fort Warded,
Wash.
With the outbreak of the Korean War, the unit was transferred to Japan and it later deployed to
Korea earning credit for seven campaigns. The 162nd was redesignated as the 162nd Ordnance
Company, Amphibious Assault Brigade and allotted to the regular Army in August 1952.
The company was inactivated in Japan in July 1955. It was reactivated in May 1959 at Sandia
Base, N.M. as the 162nd Ordnance Company (Missile) (General Support). The unit arrived in
Germany in April 1960 and was assigned to the 552nd U.S. Army Artillery Group.

557th US Army Artillery Group

The 557th U.S. Army Artillery Group was constituted in the U.S. Army in February 1943 as the
557th Field Artillery Battalion. The battalion was activated in May 1943 at Camp Gruber, Okla.
Following training, the battalion travelled to Europe where it received credit for participation in
four campaigns.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 557th Field Artillery Battalion was redesignated as
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 436th Field Artillery Group in June 1947, and activated
in Chicago, Ill. The group was inactivated in Chicago in December 1948.
Redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 557th Field Artillery Missile Battalion
in July 1952, the unit was allocated to the regular Army.
In February 1955, the battalion was redesignated as the 557th Field Artillery Missile Battalion
(Corporal), and it was activated at Fort Bliss, Texas in April.
The battalion was inactivated in Germany in June 1958 and the battalion, less the headquarters,
was disbanded.
The Headquarters was redesignated in June 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment,
557th U.S. Army Field Artillery Group. The group was activated at Fort Sill, Okla. in December
1965.
In December 1965, the 557th U.S. Army Artillery Group received reassignment orders to the
Special Ammunition Support Command in Germany. The 557th proceeded to Herbornseelbach,
where it remained until it inactivated in June 1992.

3rd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 3rd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated in September 1962 at Fort Sill,
Okla. as the 3rd U.S. Army Missile Detachment. The detachment was assigned to the 4th U.S.
Army and attached to the 1st Field Artillery Missile Brigade, Field Artillery Missile Training
Command.
With subsequent mission assignment to provide special ammunition support to selected nonU.S.-NATO units, the 3rd USAFAD departed the United States and arrived in Germany in
February 1963.
In June 1970, the detachment was reassigned to the 557th U.S. Army Artillery Group. The 3rd
was located in Phillipsburg and inactivated on Feb. 15, 1992.

7th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 7th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated in December 1961 at Fort Sill,
Okla. as the 7th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. The detachment was assigned to the 1st Field
Artillery Brigade, Field Artillery Missile Training Command. The unit satisfactorily completed
training in March 1962 and subsequently arrived in Germany in May of that year.
The 7th USAFAD was assigned to the 512th U.S. Army Artillery Group until June 1966 when it
was reassigned to the 557th U.S. Army Artillery Group and located in Treysa. The unit
inactivated in June 1992.

30th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 30th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated in March 1951 at Fort Sill, Okla.
as the 30th Field Artillery Counter-mortar Radar Detachment. The detachment served in Korea,
receiving credit for one campaign and was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
Citation. The unit was inactivated in Korea in October 1951.
In September 1959, the 30th was redesignated and activated as the 30th U.S. Army Missile
Detachment. The detachment arrived in Germany in March 1960 and was assigned to the 557th
U.S. Army Artillery Group in June 1966 and sent to Giessen. It inactivated in June 1992.

83rd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 83rd U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated in December 1966 at Fort Sill,
Okla. as the 83rd U. S. Army Missile Detachment. The detachment was assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 38th Artillery for command and support and further to the 9th Field Artillery Missile
Group of the III Corps.
The 83rd arrived in Germany in August 1970 and was assigned to the 557th U.S. Army Artillery
Group. The 83rd was located in Montabaur and inactivated in June 1992.

85th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 85th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was constituted in the U.S. Army in November
1966 at Fort Sill, Okla. as the 85th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. The detachment was
assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 79th Artillery. In November 1968, the unit was reassigned to the
2nd Battalion, 44th Artillery.
In August 1969, the 85th moved to Europe and was assigned to the 5th U.S. Army Artillery
Group in November of that year.
In October 1979, the detachment was reassigned to the 557th U.S. Army Artillery Group. The
85th was one of only two Pershing 1A warhead detachments in the world. The 85th U.S. Army
Field Artillery Detachment was inactivated in April 1991 in Geilenkirchen, Germany.

96th Ordnance Company

The history of the 96th Ordnance Company dates back to the activation of the 8th Mobile Repair
Shop in August 1914 at Camp Hancock, Ga. The unit was reorganized as an inactive Army unit
in the 1930s and in 1939 it was disbanded and renamed the 96th Ordnance Company. The
company was activated in World War II and saw service in the Asian-Pacific Theater, earning a
Meritorious Unit Citation.
Deactivated in Hawaii in 1948, the company was reactivated in 1952 at White Sands Proving
Ground, N.M. where it remained until its deactivation in 1957. (1)
On Jan. 6,1959. the 96th Ord. Co. was activated as a Special Ammunition, General Support unit
at Sandia Base, N.M.
In January 1961, the 96th moved to Red River Army Depot, Texas where it remained until July
1966. At that time, the company moved to Germany and was assigned to the 548th U.S. Army
Artillery Group with further assignment to the 557th U.S. Army Artillery Group. The 96th was
collocated with the group headquarters in Herbornseelbach. The 96th inactivated June 1992.

548th US Army Artillery Group

The 548th US Army Artillery Group was constituted in the Army of the United States as the
548th Field Artillery Battalion in March 1944.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 548th Field Artillery Battalion was redesignated as
Headquarters and Headquaters Detachment, 548th US Army Artillery Group in May 1961. The
548th US Army Artillery Group (Provisional) was organized and assigned to the Special
Ammunition Support Command in August 1961.
In October 1961, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 548th US Army Artillery Group
was (officially) activated and assigned to SASCOM. In April 1962, the group was further
attached to the US Army Element (Support Command), Headquarters, Central Army Group
(CENTAG). Consurrently, the 548th Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment moved to
Seckenheim (Hammonds Barracks).
With the merger of SASCOM and AWSCOM in October 1972, the 548th USAAG was
inactivated and its subordinate groups assigned directly under the new 59th Ordnance Group.
The liaison role performed by Hqs 548th became the responsibility of the 59th Ord Gp Staff
Element at CENTAG which was composed of spaces from the 548th. The staff element at
CENTAG was inactivated in June 1992.

570th US Army Artillery Group

The 570th U.S. Army Artillery Group was organized in May 1922 as the 570th Field Artillery
Battalion under the 218th Brigade in the Organized Reserves. In March 1944, the battalion was
allocated to the Army of the United States, and activated in April 1944, at Fort Jackson, S.C.
The unit deployed to the Pacific Theater and participated in combat operations for which it
earned the Asiatic-Pacific battle streamer.
In July 1947, the battalion was redesignated the 946th Field Artillery Battalion and allotted to the
Organized Reserves.
In August 1955, following the Korean conflict, the 570th was redesignated the 570th Field
Artillery Missile Battalion and activated as a Corporal Missile unit at Fort Bliss, Texas, in
September 1955.
In February 1964, the battalion headquarters was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters
Detachment, 570th U.S. Army Artillery Group, the rest of the battalion's subordinate units were
disbanded, and the new group headquarters was activated at Fort Sill, Okla.
In July 1964, the group arrived in Germany and the headquarters was established in MuensterHandorf.
The 570th was inactivated on 15 June 1992.

27th Ordnance Company

The 27th Ordnance Company was constituted in the Army of the United States in February 1943,
as the 176th Ordnance Depot Company.
The company was activated in April 1943, at Fort Lewis, Wash. The 176th deployed to the
European Theater and received credit for five campaigns during World War II. The company
was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for action in the European Theater.
In January 1962, the 176th Ordnance Depot Company was redesignated as the 27th Ordnance
Company (Special Ammunition) (General Support) and allotted to the regular Army. In March,
the 27th was activated at Sandia Base, N.M., and the following year the company was assigned
to the 5th U.S. Army Artillery Group in Germany.
In July 1988, the 27th Ordnance Company, located in Bueren, was assigned to the 570th U.S.
Army Artillery Group. The 27th Ordnance Company was inactivated in June 1992.

26th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 26th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was constituted in the regular Army, February
1951, as the 26th Field Artillery Counter-mortar Radar Detachment. The unit activated at Fort

Sill, Okla. in March 1951 and deployed to Korea, where it received the Republic of Korea
Presidential Unit Citation. In October 1951, the unit deactivated in Korea.
The detachment was redesignated the 26th U.S. Army Artillery Detachment in May 1958, and
activated a month later at Fort Sill, Okla. The detachment was assigned to Special Weapons
Support Command in June 1960, and assigned to the 5th U.S. Army Artillery Group, located in
Germany, in November 1963.
The 26th U.S. Army Missile Detachment inactivated in Germany, February 1967, only to be
activated again in Germany in November 1976. In March 1988, the unit was reorganized and
renamed the 26th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment.
During this reorganization the unit was assigned to the 570th USAAG and moved from
Paderborn to Sennelager. The 26th inactivated in Sennelager in May 1992.

4th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 4th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was activated in September 1962 at Fort Sill,
Okla, It was originally designated the 4th U.S. Army Missile Detachment and assigned to the 5th
U.S. Army Artillery Group.
In January 1963, the 4th Missile Detachment, along with other units of the 5th USAAG, left for
Germany and arrived in Bremerhaven in February 1963.
In September 1970, the 4th Missile Detachment was redesignated the 4th U.S. Army Artillery
Detachment. In October 1978, the 4th was reassigned to the 570th USAAG.
The unit was inactivated in June 1992.

69th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

The 69th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment was constituted in April 1963 in the regular
Army as the 69th U.S. Army Missile Detachment. It was activated in September 1963 in
Menden, Germany.
It was then reorganized and redesignated as the 69th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment in
June 1970 and assigned to the 570th USAAG.
The unit was inactivated in May 1992.

583rd Ordnance Company

The 583rd Ordnance Company was activated in May 1940 as Company C, 100th Ordnance
Battalion at Camp Sutton, NC. The unit departed the United States in February 1944 and served
in five European campaigns during World War II. Company C was redesignated as the 583rd
Ordnance Ammunition Company in April 1950.

In January 1953, the company was redesignated as the 583rd Ordnance Company and
reorganized as an ammunition depot. The company was inactivated in December 1954.
In January 1959, the 583rd was activated in Dahn, Germany and assigned to the U.S. Army
Communications Zone. It was later assigned to the Advanced Weapons Support Command,
headquartered in Pirmasens.
Effective Dec. 1, 1964, the 583rd Ordnance Company was assigned to the Special Ammunition
Support Command, and it was further assigned to the 570th U.S. Army Artillery Group. The
583rd Ordnance Company was inactivated in May 1991.