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4th Armored Division
(Page 2)
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please contact me.

Main Page

CCA "A" / 1st Bde

CC "B" / 2nd Bde

CC "C" / 3rd Bde

DivArty
1st Bn, 35th Arm

2nd Bn, 37th Arm

2nd Bn, 66th Arm

2nd Bn, 67th Arm

2nd Bn, 51st Inf

2nd Bn, 16th Arty
 
Combat Command "C" / 3rd Brigade
1958
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, March 14, 1958)
In March (starting on the 13th), Headquarters of Combat Comd "C" moved from Wharton Bks, Heilbronn to McKee Bks, Crailsheim. The move included combat services attached to CC C.

Several smaller units that previously were stationed at Regensburg, Munich and Crailsheim were moved to Wharton Bks to occupy the space vacated by Combat Comd C Hq.
 
4th Armored Division Artillery

Honest John launcher of "A" Battery during an open house held at Ferris Bks in 1967 (Weldon Ballard)

Additional DivArty equipment (M-109 and M-110 on far right) at the open house (Weldon Ballard)
1960
(Source: Artillery Handbook, US Army Infantry School, 1960)

Armd Div Arty, 1960
  

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
2nd How Bn (105mm)(SP), 14th Arty Fürth
1st How Bn (105mm)(SP), 22nd Arty Zirndorf
2nd How Bn (105mm)(SP), 78th Arty Crailsheim
2nd FA Bn (Rkt/How), 16th Arty Schwäbisch Gmünd A Btry -- 155mm How
B Btry -- 155mm How
C Btry -- 8in How
D Btry -- Honest John
1963
(Source: Email from David D. Caveny)
I was a Radio-Teletype operator with the 4th Armd Div. I arrived at Cooke Barracks about 17 Oct 1963 as a private E-2 and was assigned to DivArty in Furth but detatched to the G-3 Air at HQ and HQ Company 4AD in Goeppingen.

Our Division commander was Maj Gen John M Franklin Jr who was a martinet. He was replaced by Maj Gen Searle who was a soldier's General and one hell of a commander, not at all like Franklin.

Later those of US who provided signal support to the G-3 Air and the ALO and ran Corps Command Net One were transfered to Company A, 144th Signal Bn at Cooke Barracks. That moved entailed moving from HQ Co 4AD to Co A 144th Sig Bn 3 barracks toward the front gate.

I made SGT E-5 in January 1966. Those were the days of 4 DM/ $1.00 and gemuetlichkeit!

On 6 Jun 1966 I was transferred from Germany in the LBJ buildup of troops for Vietnam and was assigned to 587th Signal Company (Spt) at Fort Irwin CA. We then were sent to Cu Chi Vietnam to support the 25th Infantry.
2nd Battalion, 16th Artillery
2nd Bn, 16th Artillery DI
1963
(Source: Email from Larry W. McLerran)
I have been meaning to send you the information on a small part of history of this unit, but have finally got together a chronological account of its time at Pinder Barracks, Zirndorf, Germany. This is according to the USAREUR Origination Records (Active Army Units, Station List) from the period.

Your information on the website in the 4th Armored Division Records lists the unit at Schwab Gmuend, which it was until March of 1963. The unit consisted of Batteries, A,B,C,D,HH & SV (16 FA BN 2nd RKT HOW) Area Code 52 (= Southern Area Command), APO 326.

The website does not include the years the unit spent at PINDER Barracks. This is a period of 8 years, from its formation, until its move to Merrell Barracks and ultimate deactivation.

I was assigned to 1st BN 41st FA Missile, Kitzingen Area 51 (= Northern Area Command) APO 36, June 2, 1963, after arriving on the USNS Upshur, Bremerhaven, Germany, May 29, 1963. Upon arriving in Kitzingen and reporting, I was advised by a Captain, to return on June 3rd, because orders needed to be cut for my reassignment, due to the fact the 41st was rotating back to the States and all personnel with more than six months to ETS, would be assigned to other units. The rotation of the 41st is not covered in your website. It was not a Gyroscope move, but a deactivation, upon rotation. My orders were to join the group of 41st personnel moving to Pinder Barracks to form the 16th Arty? Since the 1/41st was an Honest John unit, we would take all equipment from the 41st to form the unit at Pinder Barracks.

So, when we arrived at Pinder, we were assigned the section of barracks in front of the AMMO Dump, facing the Parade Field, between HQ 4th Armored Division Artillery (the Post Host) and HQ 1st Battalion 22nd Artillery (SP105's). Our billet had been vacated by Units of the 22nd Artillery, to make room for the 16th.

From what I can tell from your website and USAREUR Records, the 16 FA BN 2nd RKT HOW, Schwab GD, no longer existed after the Station List of March 1963, or the 1st 41st Missile, at Kitzingen. The Station Records of December 1963 reflect the 16th FA BN 2nd MSL, Batteries HQ, A & B, at Pinder Barracks, after that date.

I was assigned to HQ Battery, first floor and Batteries A and B were on floor 2 & 3. The basement housed Rifle Storage and S4. The Unit was assigned the Motor pool section by the Mess hall and Dispensary, with the Comm.. Section by the Mess hall. We were the FIRST soldiers to occupy Pinder with the 16th Arty Crest. All Launchers and support equipment were parked in the Motor pool Square. I do not remember if sections of the Unit at Schwab GD were assigned to us, and I don't remember any equipment or personnel joining us from that location?

I was stationed at Pinder from June of 1963 until August of 1965. The Unit spent a lot of time in the field, mostly at Grafenwoehr. I was a Radio Teletype Operator MOS 053.20 and I spent time TDY at the Comm. Center at 4th Armored Arty. I also attended the 4th Armored NCO Academy at New Ulm.

The Station List of December 1969 shows the 14 FA BN 2nd 155MM SP HQ,A,B,C,SVC at Merrell Barracks, Nurnberg and the 16 FA BN 2nd, HH,A,B at Pinder Barracks, Zirndorf.

The Station List of September 1970 shows the 14 FA BN 2nd 155MM SP HQ,A,B,C,SVC at Pinder Barracks, Zirndorf and the 16 FA BN 2nd, HH,A,B at Merrell Barracks, Nurnberg. (A swap)

The Station List of July 1973 Show the 17 FA BN 3rd SP, HQ,A,B,C,SVC at Merrell Barracks, Nurnberg and NO listing for the 16th FA after that date.

This follows your website information on the deactivation of the 16th FA in March of 1973. Many Honest John Units were retired and some Units were re-equipped and converted to the LANCE (missile system). Thus reducing the Station List.

Pinder Barracks over the span of years, like all kaserns, has had many units assigned. This was the norm for the Army as it positioned itself to defend Western Europe during the Cold War.

You have spent an amazing amount of time to reconstruct this period, so it is up to some of us who visit the Site to help supply information on that time. I have always been puzzled by the fact that few personnel form that 8 year period at Pinder respond to their time at the 16th Arty. Maybe its a vacuum between the pre-computer years of the Cold War and the present, or could it be that we were not as important as other Units stationed there? Maybe the numbers have thinned to the point where there is no one left to remember, sad?

Some of the Officers, NCO's and Enlisted:
LTC. Helgrin - BN CO
Maj. Skidmore - XO
Cpt. Milsak - HQ
Cpt. DeWeese - HQ
Cpt. Wendt - B Bt.
Lt. Howard - B Bt.
Lt. Pollard - HQ
Lt. Keith - A Bt.
Lt. Isley - A Bt.
Mr. Walls - Maint
1st. Sgt. Winger - B Bt.
SFC Mays - S4
SFC Kenji - Survey
SFC White - Comm
SSG Baker - Comm
SSG Lawson - Maint
SSG Pruitt - Survey
Sgt. Bloom - B Bt.
Sgt. Gault - Cook
SP4 Tamm - S4
SP4 Waddell - S4
SP4 Heisey - Maint
SP4 Fife - Maint
SP4 Roman - Mailroom
SP4 Steves (Rod) - B Bt. Survey

Hope this helps to add to the site and clear up the picture on part of the 16th Arty's Mission in Europe, during the Cold War!

"MACTE NOVA VIRTUTE" (Go Forth With New Strength)

CMSgt Larry W McLerran (Ret)
1st Battalion, 35th Armor
1967
(Source: Email from Dennis Reel, brother of the late Nathan Reel, 35th Tank Bn, 1967-69)
I love this web site.  My brother, Nathan K. Reel, of Salisbury, NC was in the 4th Armd. Div. in the late 1967-1969 timeframe.  I'm not exactly sure of the dates, but I do know that my mother was relieved that he didn't go to Vietnam.  He passed away unexpectedly 2 years ago at the age of 54.

I know that he really loved the unit. His rank was Spec 4 and he was a driver of an M-60 tank with Company B, 35th Bn, 4th A.D. This I know for certain. I have a map he brought back of West Germany at the time, he circled an area that looks to be just a few miles southwest of the town of Windsheim between Reichelsheim and Oberdachstetten. (Webmaster Note: that would have been Storck Barracks at Illesheim). He circled this area and made a black dot on the map. I assume this is where he was stationed at.

I do remember him telling me about the Czechoslovakia incident that he was ordered along with all of his tank company to the border in 1968.  He said that they actually thought that we were about to go to war.  The only time in his life that he was actually worried about it.

I remember finding information for him online showing how that the 4th was under the overall command of 3rd Army Gen. George S. Patton Jr. during WWII. He was very interested in the history of the 4th. And I enjoyed learning from him about it as well as helping him to learn more about it.

I'm going to attach a photo of him from that time period. I would really enjoy hearing from anyone that may have served with him (you can contact Dennis at deno4reel(at)aol.com).

35th Tank Bn
Illesheim, Germany

1. Nathan in front of barracks

2. Clowning around (Nathan on right)

2nd Battalion, 37th Armor
37th Tank Bn DI
1968
(Source: Email from John Bogardus, 2nd Bn, 37th Arm, 1968-1970)
I served with the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor, 4th Armored Division (Montieth Barracks) from 1968 to 1970.
  1968 Tank Crew Qualification Course Patch

This patch was issued for Qualification on Table VIII for tank units to be combat ready.  This patch could be sewn on your field jacket right pocket or on your utility shirt right pocket. 

The Qualification course was held at Grafenwoehr Training Area.

Copy of Certificate of Proficiency awarded to Sp5 Bogardus, TCQC 1969
Co B, 2nd Bn, 37th Arm 1969
 
Co B, 2nd Bn, 37th Arm 1970

2nd Bn, 37th Arm
Monteith Bks
 

1. Colonel's Orderly

2. Grafenwoehr 1970

3. Company Commander's driver
  

4. Post headquarters

5. Post theater

6. Company clerk
 

7. On road to Tennenlohe

8. Tank convoy on Autobahn

9. Arms room, Graf
  

10. Railhead operations

11. Orderly Room

12. Hohenfels
  
       

4th Armd Div
Göppingen
 

13. 504th Repl Co, Cooke Bks

14. 504th Repl Co, Cooke Bks


 
2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry

2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry, Ford Kaserne, Ulm, 1960

Mechanized infantry - 2nd Bn, 51st Inf, Ulm, c. 1963 (Billy Robinson)
1960
The protagonist of some of the photos that I recently acquired seems to be a Pvt Drayton of the 2nd ARB, 51st Inf at Ford Bks, Ulm in 1960 -
does anybody remember him?

Ford Barracks
Ulm, Germany
 

1. Ford Barracks, Ulm (85 KB)

2. M59s in motor pool, Ford Bks (125 KB)

3. Field problem (69 KB)
  

7. Parade field with motor pool on the left (KB)
8. Another photo of the parade (KB)
9. Flag pole, barracks and consolidated mess (upper left) (KB)		  

10. Retreat ceremony (KB)
11. In the field (KB)
12. Barracks room at Ford Bks (KB)		  

13. Pvt Drayton - this was one squared-away soldier (KB)

14. Members of the 2nd ARB in front of the Consolidated Mess (KB)
 
1962
(Source: Email from Billy Robinson, 2nd Bn, 51st Inf, 1962-1965)
I was stationed with the 2nd Bn 51st Inf from 1962 until 1965.

I have a few pictures I would love to share.

Ford Barracks
Ulm, Germany
 

1. ..

2. ..

3. ..
  

4. ..
5. ..
6. ..		  

7. ..
8. ..
9. ..		  

10. ..
 
1963
(Source: Email from Bill Black, HHC, 2nd Bn, 51st Inf, 1963-1965)
Glad I found your site. I was stationed at Ford (Barracks) Kaserne in Ulm, Germany from Jan 1963 til May 1965 at HQ/HQ Co 2nd Bn, 51st INF, 4th ARM DIV as the Chaplain's Asistant under Chaplain (Captain) James T. Hyatt.

It was great to see pictures of the HQ/HQ Co building etc. Brought back memories.

Can't seem to find much on the units history anywhere? Where did 2nd Bn 51st INF go during the Nam era etc. Perhaps someone out there can help us. I was also told that this was the Kaserne where Rommel returned to carry out Hitlers orders to kill himself or else.

Loved Germany and the Southern German people. One of my best friends was a German soldier who served in the Bundeswehr S2 by the name of Volker Shultze (Fokker) whose father was in WW11. We toured Germany and had a great time. Am looking for anyone who might have served then and there during Nam.
2nd Battalion, 66th Armor
1959
(Source: Email from Walt Sebastian)
I spent 18 months in Illesheim, from June 1959 - May 1961. I was in HQ Company (2nd Battalion, 66th Armor) and I drove the Battalion Commander Car, Jeep and Tank.

We moved from Ulm. I was in the first group to go to Illesheim. Man what a bummer - Ulm was wonderful and two men to a room! In Illesheim we were billeted in an airplane hangar (see pic #1). We were told that this was temporary. Many men wrote their Congressmen about the conditions. We had 1000 men in this hangar!

Thanks for the web site. Keep up the good work.

Illesheim Airfield
Illesheim, Germany
 

1. Garcia and Sebastian at Illesheim (KB)

2. Winter's day at Illesheim (KB)

3. (KB)
  

4. Accident at the railhead (KB)
5. Sebastian with Bn CO's jeep (KB)
 
2nd Battalion, 67th Armor

Signs in front of 2nd Bn, 67th Armor on Monteith Bks, Fürth, c. 1964 (Robert Mitchell)
 
Related Links:
4th Armored Division Yearbook 1958 - the entire book (200 pages) is posted in the 2nd Bn, 5th FA Wiley Bks website.