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7th Army Support Command
Seventh Army

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History (1958 -1965)

History
(1965 -1969)

Pentomic

Organization and Mission
(1958)

COSTAR
(article)

COSTAR Reorganizations

Organization and Mission
(1967)

1st Support Brigade

2nd Support Brigade

3rd Support Brigade

Flight Det

7th ICC



Newspaper articles

Related Links




 
History
1958 - 1965
 
 
SEVENTH ARMY SUPPORT COMMAND ORGANIZATION - 30 JUNE 1958
Seventh Army Support Command
ADJUTANT GENERAL  
25th AG Postal Unit (Type W) Baumholder
26th AG Postal Unit (Type U) Wildflecken
27th AG Postal Unit (Type U) Neu Ulm
28th AG Postal Unit (Type W) Mannheim-Sandhofen
29th AG Postal Unit (Type U) Darmstadt
1st Replacement Bn, Hq & Hq Co Zweibrücken
525th Repl Co Zweibrücken
526th Repl Co Zweibrücken
CHEMICAL  
85th Chemical Bn, Hq & Hq Det Baumholder
9th Chem Co (Depot) Baumholder
59th Chem Co (Maint) Baumholder
275th Chem Det (Lab) Hanau
ENGINEER  
521st Engineer Gp (M&S), Hq & Hq Co Kaiserslautern
24th Eng Co (Fld Maint) Kornwestheim
24th Eng Plat (Map Depot) Kaiserslautern
27th Eng Co (Depot) Kaiserslautern
53rd Eng Co (Supply Point) Dachau
68th Eng Co (Parts Depot) Schwetzingen
261st Eng Co (Fld Maint) Fürth
587th Eng Co (Fld Maint) Hanau
589th Eng Co (Supply Point) Hanau
964th Eng Co (Fld Maint) Schwetzingen
984th Eng Co (Fld Maint) Kaiserslautern
8592nd Civ Labor Gp  
FINANCE  
17th Fin Sec (Disbursing) Baumholder
38th Fin Sec (Disbursing) Neu Ulm
39th Fin Sec (Disbursing) Garmisch
42nd Fin Sec (Disbursing) Würzburg
44th Fin Sec (Disbursing) Karlsruhe
MEDICAL  
30th Medical Gp, Hq & Hq Det Vaihingen
4th Surg Hosp (Mbl) (Army) Ludwigsburg
8th Evac Hosp (Smbl) Landstuhl
15th Evac Hosp (Smbl) Münchweiler
46th Surg Hosp (Mbl) (Army) Landstuhl
128th Evac Hosp (Smbl) Ludwigsburg
762nd Med Det Ludwigsburg
234th Med Det (Equip Maint) Ludwigsburg
274th Med Det (Hcptr Amb) Nellingen
485th Med Co (Prev) Ludwigsburg
8043rd Civ Labor Gp  
56th Med Bn (Sep), Hq & Hq Det Neu Ulm
8th Med Co (Amb) (Sep) Karlsruhe
47th Med Det (Hcptr Amb) Illesheim
417th Med Co (Amb) (Sep) Neu Ulm
546th Med Co (Clearing) (Sep) Neu Ulm
556th Med Co (Amb) (Sep) Neu Ulm
575th Med Co (Amb) (Sep) Neu Ulm
595th Med Co (Clearing) (Sep) Karlsruhe
31st Medical Gp, Hq & Hq Det Darmstadt
2nd Evac Hosp (Smbl) Bad Kreuznach
5th Surg Hosp (Mbl) (Army) Heidelberg
7th Evac Hosp (Smbl) Darmstadt
31st Surg Hosp (Mbl) (Army) Höchst
547th Med Co (Clearing) (Sep) Höchst
32nd Surg Hosp (Mbl) (Army) Würzburg
34th Med Bn (Sep), Hq & Hq Det Wertheim
95th Med Co (Amb) (Sep) Wertheim
557th Med Co (Amb) (Sep) Wertheim
655th Med Co (Amb) (Sep) Wertheim
53rd Med Det (Hcptr Amb) Darmstadt
58th Evac Hosp (Smbl) Idar Oberstein
62nd Medical Gp, Hq & Hq Det Bad Kreuznach
12th Med Co (Holding) Baumholder
517th Med Co (Clearing) (Sep) Bad Kreuznach
565th Med Co (Amb) (Sep) Baumholder
766th Dent Svc Det Baumholder
574th Med Det Kornwestheim
732nd Med Det Böblingen
734th Med Det Todendorf
735th Med Det Nellingen
757th Med Det Ludwigsburg
761st Med Det Knielingen
763rd Med Det Wiesbaden
ORDNANCE  
47th Ordnance Gp, Hq & Hq Co Ludwigsburg
8th Ord Bn (M&S), Hq & Hq Det Hanau
33rd Ord Co (Recov-Class) Hanau
88th Ord Co (Hvy Maint) Hanau
507th Ord Co (Hvy Auto Maint) Hanau
881st Ord Co (Hvy Auto Maint) Hanau
71st Ord Bn (M&S), Hq & Hq Det Dachau
6th Ord Co (Dir Spt) Neckarsulm
22nd Ord Co (Dir Spt) Munich
350th Ord Det (Bal-Tech Svc) Vilseck
556th Ord Co (Dir Spt) Zirndorf
569th Ord Co (Dir Auto Spt) Lidwigsburg
12th Labor Svc District Hq Vaihingen
8902nd Civ Labor Gp
85th Ord Bn (M&S), Hq & Hq Det Hanau
10th Ord Co (Dir Spt) Giessen
42nd Ord Co (Dir Auto Spt) Hanau
537th Ord Co (Dir Spt) Schweinfurt
557th Ord Co (Dir Spt) Aschaffenburg
87th Ord Bn (M&S), Hq & Hq Det Nellingen
124th Ord Co (Hvy Maint) Nellingen
521st Ord Co (Hvy Auto Maint) Nellingen
585th Ord Co (Rcvy-Class) Nellingen
903rd Ord Co (Hvy Auto Maint) Nellingen
51st Ordnance Group Mannheim-Sandhofen
19th Ord Bn (M&S), Hq & Hq Det Mannheim
40th Ord Co (Fld Sup) Mannheim
49th Labor Svc District Hq  
63rd Ord Co (Fld Sup) Mannheim
78th Ord Co (Fld Sup) Mannheim
182nd Ord Co (Fld Sup) Mannheim
334th Ord Co (Fld Sup) Mannheim
7800 Ord Bn (M&S), Hq & Hq Det Knielingen
7796 Adv Wpns GM Co Kitzingen
157th Ord Det (GM DS) (CPL) Babenhausen
158th Ord Det (GM DS) (CPL) Ansbach
166th Ord Det (GM DS) (CPL) Kitzingen
525th Eng Det (Fld Maint) (CPL) Kitzingen
538th Eng Det (Fld Maint) (CPL) Kitzingen
7797 Adv Wpns GM Co Zweibrücken
195th Ord Det (GM DS) (NIKE) Knielingen
204th Ord Det (GM DS) (CPL) Zweibrücken
7798 Adv Wpns GM Co Mainz
39th Ord Det (GM DS) (CPL) Gonsenheim
172nd Ord Det (GM DS) (CPL) Gonsenheim
193rd Ord Det (GM DS) (NIKE) Wiesbaden
520th Eng Det (Fld Maint) (CPL) Gonsenheim
8900th Civ Labor Gp
66th Ord Bn (M&S), Hq & Hq Det Knielingen
150th Ord Det (IFCR) (M-33) Wiesbaden
151st Ord Det (IFCR) (M-33) Mannheim
152nd Ord Det (IFCR) (M-33) Kaiserslautern
169th Ord Det (IFCR) (T-38) Kaiserslautern
183rd Ord Det (IFCR) (T-38) Biebrich
223rd Ord Det (IFCR) (T-38) Wiesbaden
370th Ord Det (IFCR) (T-38) Mannheim
371st Ord Det (IFCR) (T-38) Wiesbaden
14th Ord Co (Dir Spt) Wiesbaden
18th Ord Co (Dir Spt) Knielingen
531st Ord Co (Dir Spt) Mannheim
546th Ord Co (Dir Spt) Kaiserslautern
81st Ord Bn (M&S), Hq & Hq Det Kaiserslautern
77th Ord Co (Hvy Auto Maint) Mannheim-Sandhofen
517th Ord Co (Hvy Maint) Mannheim-Sandhofen
533rd Ord Co (Rcvy-Class) Mannheim-Sandhofen
558th Ord Co (Arty Veh Park) Kaiserslautern
8901st Civ Labor Gp  
57th Ordnance Group (Ammo) Kaiserslautern
7877 US Army Air Rcn Kaiserslautern
9th Ord Bn (Sp Wpns Spt) Siegelsbach
15th Ord Bn (Sp Wpns Spt) Kirchheimbolanden
84th Ord Bn (Ammo) Kaiserslautern
2nd Ord Expl Disp Det Grafenwöhr
3rd Ord Expl Disp Det Hohenfels
20th Ord Expl Disp Det Kaiserslautern
48th Labor Supv Dist Hq
50th Ord Co (Ammo) Kaiserslautern
606th Ord Co (Ammo) Baumholder
663rd Ord Co (Ammo) Vilseck
2040th Labor Svc Ord Co (Ammo)
2041st Labor Svc Ord Co (Ammo)
QUARTERMASTER  
2nd Quartermaster Group, Hq & Hq Det Ludwigsburg
2nd Aug QM Gp Ludwigsburg
14th QM Bn, Hq & Hq Det Münster
22nd QM Co (Subs Sup) Hanau
134th QM Co (Bakery) Münster
506th QM Co (Petrl Sup) Hanau
7764 QM Co (DS) Hanau
15th QM Bn, Hq & Hq Det Mannheim-Käfertal
40th Trans Co (Med Trk) (Petrl) Mannheim
520th QM Co (Petrl Sup) Mannheim-Käfertal
526th QM Co (Petrl Sup) Karlsruhe
562nd QM Det (Svc) Mannheim-Käfertal
7762 QM Co (DS) Seckenheim
35th QM Bn, Hq & Hq Det Ludwigsburg
109th Trans Co (Med Trk) (Petrl) Ludwigsburg
510th QM Co (Bakery) Ludwigsburg
531st QM Co (Petrl Sup) Ludwigsburg
568th QM Co (Subs Sup) Ludwigsburg
7763 QM Co (DS) Ludwigsburg
56th QM Bn, Hq & Hq Det Kaiserslautern
157th QM Co (Petrl Sup) Kaiserslautern
561st QM Co (Petrl Sup) Idar Oberstein
565th QM Co (Graves Reg) Kaiserslautern
95th QM Bn, Hq & Hq Det Fürth
7765 QM Co (DS) Munich
7807 QM Co (DS) Würzburg
7808 QM Co (DS) Fürth
SIGNAL  
545th Signal Co (Depot) Mannheim-Käfertal
TRANSPORTATION  
8th Trans Gp (Mov Control) Oberschleissheim
2nd Avn Co (Army) Illesheim
3rd Avn Co (Army) Illesheim
11th Trans Co (Lt Hcptr) Nellingen
41st Trans Bn (A Acft Maint), Hq & Hq Det Mannheim-Sandhofen
30th Trans Co (Army Acft Maint) Hanau
153rd Trans Co (Depot) Mannheim-Sandhofen
245th Trans Co (Army Acft Hvy M-S) Mannheim-Sandhofen
247th Trans Co (Army Acft Maint) Hanau
205th Trans Bn (A Acft Maint), Hq & Hq Det Ludwigsburg
29th Trans Co (Army Acft Maint) Echterdingen
42nd Trans Co (Army Acft Maint) Illesheim
48th Trans Co (Army Acft Maint) Oberschleissheim
246th Trans Co (Army Acft Maint) Augsburg
10th Trans Gp (Hwy Trk), Hq & Hq Co Ludwigsburg
4th Trans Bn (Trk), Hq & Hq Co Ludwigsburg
32nd Trans Co (Med Trk) (S-P) Ludwigsburg
126th Trans Co (Med Trk) (S-P) Karlsruhe
590th Trans Co (Lt Trk) Ludwigsburg
6th Trans Bn (Trk), Hq & Hq Co Böblingen
5th Trans Co (Med Trk) (Cargo) Böblingen
12th Trans Co (Med Trk) (Cargo) Böblingen
96th Trans Co (Hvy Trk) Böblingen
379th Trans Co (Lt Trk) Böblingen
38th Trans Bn (Trk), Hq & Hq Co Worms
34th Trans Co (Med Trk) (Cargo) Worms
377th Trans Co (Hvy Trk) Mannheim-Sandhofen
594th Trans Co (Lt Trk) Worms
181st Trans Bn (Trk), Hq & Hq Co Mannheim
41st Trans Co (Lt Trk) Mannheim
51st Trans Co (Lt Trk) Mannheim
342nd Trans Co (Lt Trk) Mannheim
PROVOST MARSHAL  
385th MP Bn - less CID Kornwestheim
DETACHED TROOPS SEVENTH ARMY  
67th Med Depot (Army) Einsiedlerhof
385th MP Bn - CID
 

1965 - 1969
 

 
MAJOR SUBORDINATE UNITS - 1960s

7th Army SUPCOM Patch

1st Spt Bde Patch

2nd Spt Bde Patch

3rd Spt Bde Patch
 

7th Med Bde Patch

15th MP Bde Patch

57th Ord Bde Patch

107th Trans Bde Patch

COSTAR (Combat Service To the Army)
 
(Source: Army Information Digest, April 1965)
CO-STAR

By Lt. Gen. Dwight E. Beach, USA
Commanding General, US Army Combat Developments Command
As the Army enters the mid-sixties, it can look back on significant and far reaching changes during the past decade in the concepts for employment of combat forces to meet enemy capabilities and threats. Out of the advances in technology have come the doctrine and organizations which give the capability to employ combat forces in the full spectrum of warfare ranging from counterinsurgency to general war.

Current Supply and Maintenance Channels
 
Concurrently and particularly within the past several years, changes have also occurred in the Army's technical service structure. "Functional" realignment of technical missions is rapidly changing the logistic support concepts which have always been branch-oriented, especially in the supply, service and maintenance areas.
     

CO-STAR Supply and Maintenance Channels
  In 1962, adoption of the ROAD division introduced a consolidated support command with functionalized supply and maintenance units to replace the technical service special staff sections and branch-oriented units. Meanwhile, under Project 80, the responsibility for operation of the Army wholesale logistical system within continental United States (CONUS) was transferred from technical and administrative service chiefs to the U. S. Army Materiel Command. Thus at each end of the support system-the divisions and the CONUS logistic base-new systems have been introduced. However, in the middle, technical service units have continued to provide support.
The first step in bridging the gap between functionalized service support in our present ROAD divisions and the commodity-oriented materiel management now existing in CONUS will be accomplished with implementation of the U. S. Army Combat Developments Command study, "Combat Service to the Army (CO-STAR)," sometimes called CO-STAR II.

Basically, the CO-STAR concept centralizes control of all Field Army non-divisional combat service support resources (logistical and administrative) under a Field Army Support Command (FASCOM). The FASCOM commander is directly responsible to the field army commander for providing combat service support to all elements of the field army with the exception of that provided within the division. Medical, ammunition, transportation, military police and civil affairs support are provided on an Army-wide basis. Supply, services and maintenance are realigned along functional lines and are furnished on an area basis.

CO-STAR, which began as a conceptual study developed by the Command and General Staff College, was transferred to the U. S. Army Combat Developments Command in November 1962. The study had already received extensive world-wide review and staffing at oversea commands, CONARC and Department of the Army levels. However, the refinement of organizational and operational concepts by the CDC Combat Service Support Group, at Fort Lee, Virginia, required three revisions and almost two years before the Secretary of the Army in October 1964 decided to reorganize Army units under the CO-STAR concepts during 1965 and 1966.

Comparison of the service support structure found in the field army before CO-STAR with that found in the Korean War and World War II, reveals few changes. There were still vertical technical service organizations operating under the control of special staff officers at army headquarters. For example, the Quartermaster of a field army had two roles-first, he was a staff officer; second, he was an operator, controlling depots and groups which procured, received, stored, and distributed supplies. In addition, the Quartermaster supervised salvage operations, maintenance of quartermaster equipment, and service type operations such as graves registration. In other words, the Quartermaster Corps had a technical service chain or command from army headquarters down to the unit which provided direct service support to the customer.

This condition existed in all seven technical services. Thus, not only did a field army commander have to supervise several relatively independent chains of command, but in addition customers had to deal with relatively independent suppliers. The system, while operational and workable, did not have the flexibility and responsiveness required for today.

Since World War II and Korea, capabilities of tactical units have been improved. These advances can be attributed to improved weapons systems, greater mobility and better communications. Even within the service support area, the hand-processed requisition has been replaced by single line requisitions (MILSTRIP), electrical accounting machine equipment has been introduced, and automatic data processing systems will be adopted when it is to the Army's advantage.

With all these events taking place, it was inevitable that changes to the service support structures and operating procedures would occur. CO-STAR develops the structures and procedures required for the field army area. Subsequent studies will extend functionalized combat service support throughout the entire Theater of Operations.

Although CO-STAR contains some innovations, the doctrinal changes are relatively minor in many areas. Few changes, for example, are made in medical, military police, transportation, finance, civil affairs and replacement activities. However, significant differences are apparent in the supply and maintenance activities which, since the introduction of the ROAD Division, have represented the least compatible area within the service support system.

Division support commands, which provide the single source of supply and one-stop maintenance service to divisional units, still obtain back-up supply and maintenance support through a variety of technical service channels, as shown in Figure 1.

A reduced number of organizations support the division under CO-STAR concepts. In Figure 2, note that, with the introduction of the Field Army Support Command (FASCOM), the field army commander and his staff are no longer involved in day-to-day combat service support operations. This leaves the commander and his staff free to concentrate on tactical operations and broad planning and general staff supervision of overall combat service support operations.

The CO-STAR concepts establish a field army support command with the authority, the means, and the responsibility to provide combat service support (logistical and administrative) to combat and combat support troops located in the combat zone. Besides significantly reducing the span of control of the field army commander, the organization lessens the burden upon the field army staff in the area of combat service support.

The organization was designed to support a three corps, twelve division type field army. However, the organization is flexible and can be tailored to support forces of varying composition from a division force to field army size. The combat service support system is designed to improve responsiveness to requirements and provide a single source of support for user units to the maximum extent practicable. In addition, CO-STAR offers a system based, to a large extent, upon current organizations and procedures which can be adopted without serious disruption to current field army operations.

Organization of Field Army Support Command
The Field Army Support Command (FASCOM) consists of a headquarters, army-wide service units, and support brigades as shown in the graph above. Army-wide services for ammunition, medical, transportation, civil affairs, military police, replacement and certain administrative functions are prescribed. These critical services are organized vertically under centralized control because their use is variable, dependent upon combat intensity, decision or terrain. In some cases, the services are of an intersectional nature and can be operated more efficiently under centralized control.

Support brigades provide Class I through IV supply and maintenance support, except for medical and missile items. The brigades are provided on the basis of one per corps plus one for the field army service area. They are essentially task organizations which consist of a headquarters and attached or assigned general support and direct support groups. General support groups provide wholesale supply, service and maintenance support to division support commands and the direct support groups. Direct support groups, which arc similar to the division support commands in the ROAD divisions, support the non-divisional troops of a field army.

Requirements for Class I, II & IV, and III supplies are placed by divisional units upon the division support command. Non-divisional units place their requirements on a direct support group. Delivery of these classes of supply is normally made by unit distribution. If the supplies cannot be furnished from resources of the division support command or the direct support group, the demands are passed to a general support group. If not available at the general support group level, the demands are forwarded to the Inventory Control Center (ICC) of the Field Army Support Command.

Utilizing automatic data processing equipment, the ICC locates and directs shipments from other general support groups within the field army or, when necessary, passes demands to the communications zone and arranges for shipments from that command. Insofar as possible, all shipments are made direct to the unit or the nearest forward supply point.

Class V supply operations do not differ materially from current doctrine. Requirements are passed rearward through command channels. Available supply rates and special ammunition allocations are announced through command and supply channels. Shipments of ammunition are made as far forward as practical, with most of it distributed to units by the supply point distribution method. Some of the conventional ammunition will be delivered direct to artillery units.

Medical supplies and equipment are obtained through the medical brigade.

Maintenance support, except for medical and ammunition/missile items, is provided to the divisions and non-divisional troops by the support brigades. The direct support groups provide direct maintenance support to nondivisional units in the same manner that the division support commands provide support to division troops. The maintenance battalions of the direct support group provide repair parts and use direct exchange procedures for both components and some end items. A maintenance float is carried in the maintenance battalion to replace major items of equipment, such as weapons and vehicles. Contact maintenance teams are used for on-site maintenance to reduce transportation demands and improve service.

General support groups provide both general support and back-up direct support for the divisions and the direct support groups. Repair parts at the general support level are in supply channels; however, general support maintenance units carry adequate shop stocks of repair parts to support their internal operations. Missile and ammunition maintenance is handled by the ammunition brigade and maintenance for medical equipment by the medical brigade.

Few changes to current doctrine are proposed in several areas of combat service support. Medical, military police, transportation, replacement and civil affairs services continue to be provided as prescribed in current doctrine. With the exception of replacements, these services are integrated into the field army support command for control rather than operating directly under field army control. Replacement units are assigned for administration to the field army support command but control of the flow of replacements is retained under the field army commander.

Other support within the combat service support structure includes special services, postal, judge advocate, finance, information and personnel service units. Functions of the personnel service units are new. They provide centralized and mechanized personnel administration in a manner similar to that within the ROAD divisions. These systems relieve the battalion and group commanders of the responsibility for maintaining personnel records.

In addition to support operations, the field army support command has responsibilities for rear area security and area damage control. The FASCOM commander will plan and conduct area damage control operations behind the rear boundaries of the corps and may be assigned the rear area security mission in the army service area.

This brief discussion only touches on the organizational and operational concepts which the CO-STrAR study develops. The necessary doctrine and advance copies of Tables of Organization and Equipment (TOE) to enable major army commands to plan for reorganization of active army units during 1965 have been distributed to the field. TOEs will be available in final form by April 1965, with the field manuals available about two months later.

Functionalized military occupational specialty (MOS) requirements are being identified and some officer MOS in the supply, maintenance and ammunition fields have already been approved. Noncommissioned officer supervisory type MOS and enlisted worker level MOS are under study. Training programs designed to qualify officers, noncommissioned officers and enlisted personnel in functional MOS are either under way or are being developed for introduction in the Army schools system.

(The remainder of the article summarizing the key CO-STAR features is missing.)

Organization and Mission, 1967
(Source: Organizations and Functions Manual, Seventh Army Support Command, 15 June 1967)

Seventh Army SUPCOM

HQ Seventh Army SUPCOM
 
MISSION:
1. To command, control and supervise all assigned or attached units.

2. To plan for, develop implementing policies and procedures on, and to supervise provision of combat service support to the field army (less replacement and chemical, signal, and engineer services other than supply and maintenance), including matters such as determining requirements for and recommending allocation of units, materiel, and personnel.

3. To exercise territorial control over the field army service area to include responsibility for rear area security operations and area damage control activities.

4. To coordinate combat service support operational matters with the supporting headquarters in the communication zone or base area.

ORGANIZATION:
  HHC & Special Troops, 7th Army SUPCOM
  57th Ordnance Brigade (AMMO)
  15th Military Police Brigade
  7th Medical Brigade
  1st Support Brigade (Rear)
  2nd Support Brigade (Corps)
  3rd Support Brigade (Corps)
  107th Transportation Brigade
 

DUI's of Major Subordinate Units - 1967

1st Spt Bde

2nd Spt Bde

3rd Spt Bde

57th Ord Bde (Ammo)

15 MP Bde

7th Med Bde

107th Trans Bde

(Source: STATION LIST, 30 June 1967)
1ST SUPPORT BRIGADE
ATTACHED UNITS - 30 June 1967

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION TOE
HHC, 1st Spt Bde Taylor Bks, Mannheim 54-022F65
11th Fin Sec (Disb-Acctng) Funari Bks, Mannheim 14-500E63
12th Cbt Spt Co (Gen Sup)(GS) Spinelli Bks, Mannheim 29-118F65
14th Cbt Spt Co (Gen Sup)(GS) Spinelli Bks, Mannheim 29-118F65
16th Cbt Spt Co (Fld Svc)(GS)(A) Spinelli Bks, Mannheim 29-124F65
17th Fin Sec (Disb-Acctng) Smith Bks, Baumholder 14-500E63
25th AG Postal Unit (Type W) Smith Bks, Baumholder 12-605E65
28th AG Postal Unit (Type Y) Coleman Bks, Sandhofen 12-605E65
43rd Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Daenner Ksn, Kaisersl. 29-137F65
44th Fin Sec (Disb-Acctng) Smiley Bks, Karlsruhe 14-500E63
45th Fin Sec (Disb-Acctng) Panzer Ksn, Kaisersl. 14-500E63
48th Trans Co (Acft GS) Cooke Bks, Göppingen 55-458E65
51st Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(DS) Sullivan Bks, Mannheim 29-500D65
51st Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(DS) Sullivan Bks, Mannheim 29-500D65
51st Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(DS) Sullivan Bks, Mannheim 29-500D65
51st Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(DS) Gerszewski Bks, Karlsruhe 29-500D65
56th Cbt Spt Bn (S&S)(DS) Kleber Ksn, Kaisersl. 29-215F65
56th Cbt Spt Bn (S&S)(DS) Kleber Ksn, Kaisersl. 29-215F65
56th Cbt Spt Bn (S&S)(DS) Kleber Ksn, Kaisersl. 29-215F65
56th Cbt Spt Bn (S&S)(DS) Baumholder. 29-215F65
66th Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(DS) Rhine Ord Bks, Kaisersl. 29-205F65
66th Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(DS) Rhine Ord Bks, Kaisersl. 29-205F65
66th Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(DS) Rhine Ord Bks, Kaisersl. 29-205F65
66th Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(DS) Smith Bks, Baumholder 29-205F65
77th Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Gerszewski Bks, Karlsruhe 29-137F65
81st Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(GS) Taylor Bks, Mannheim 29-136F65
81st Cbt Spt Co (Lt Equip Mnt) Sullivan Bks, Mannheim 29-134F65
91st Cbt Spt Co (Lt Equip Mnt) Pulaski Bks, Kaisersl. 29-134F65
97th QM Bn (Petrl Sup)(A) Funari Bks, Mannheim 10-476F65
97th QM Bn (Petrl Sup)(A) Funari Bks, Mannheim 10-475F65
97th QM Bn (Petrl Sup)(A) Turley Bks, Mannheim 10-475F65
97th QM Bn (Petrl Sup)(A) Funari Bks, Mannheim 10-475F65
97th QM Bn (Petrl Sup)(A) Coffey Bks, Ludwigsburg 10-475F65
HHC, 115th Cbt Spt Bn (S&S)(A) Spinelli Bks, Mannheim 29-126F65
171st Ord Co (GM)(DS) Rhine Ord Bks, Kaisersl. 09-500D62
HHD, 205th Trans Bn (Acft M-S) Coleman Bks, Sandhofen 55-066F63
245th Trans Co (Acft Gen Spt) Finthen AAF, Finthen 55-458E65
279th Sig Pltn (Spt Bde) Taylor Bks, Mannheim 11-500D62
340th QM Det (Prcht Pack) Colemans Bks, Sandhofen 10-500D61
508th Cbt Spt Co (Col Cls-Salv) Pulaski Bks, Kaisersl. 29-139F65
517th Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Tompkins Bks, Schwetzingen 29-137F65
575th AG Co (Pers Svc)(Type B) Taylor Bks, Mannheim 12-067E65
619th Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Matl Sup) Coleman Bks, Sandhofen 29-127F63
620th Cbt Spt Co (Rep Part Fwd) Neureut Ksn, Karlsruhe 29-119F64
627th Cbt Spt Co (Rep Part Fwd) Spinelli Bks, Mannheim 29-119F64
661st Trans Co (Acft Gen Spt) Schleissheim AAF, Munich 55-458E65
856th Ord Det (Explos Disp) Spinelli Bks, Mannheim 09-500D62
(Source: STATION LIST, 30 June 1967)
2ND SUPPORT BRIGADE
ATTACHED UNITS - 30 June 1967

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION TOE
HHC, 2nd Spt Bde Hutier Ksn, Hanau 54-022F65
HHD, 8th Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(GS) Grossauheim Ksn, Hanau 29-136F65
HHC, 14th Cbt Spt (S&S) (Fwd) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 29-116F65
18th Cbt Spt Co (Gen Sup)(GS) Ludwig Ksn, Darmstadt 29-118F65
HQ & A Co, 19th CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Pendleton Bks, Giessen 29-205F65
B Co, 19th CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Camp Pieri, Wiesbaden 29-205F65
C Co, 19th CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Downs Bks, Fulda 29-205F65
21st Ord Det (Explos Disp) Support Cen, Giessen 09-500D62
24th Cbt Spt Co (Fld Svc)(Fwd) Babenhausen Ksn, Bab. 29-114F65
30th Trans Co (Acft DS) Fliegerhorst Ksn, Hanau 55-457E64
39th Fin Sec (Disb-Acctng) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 14-500E63
42nd Trans Co (Acft DS) Fliegerhorst Ksn, Hanau 55-457E64
HQ & A Co, 85th CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 29-205F65
B Co, 85th CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Fioir Bks, Aschaffenburg 29-205F65
C Co, 85th CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 29-205F65
88th Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 29-137F65
155th Sig Pltn (Spt Bde) Hutier Ksn, Hanau 11-500D62
172nd Ord Co (GM)(DS) Downs Bks, Fulda 09-500D62
275th Chem Det (Lab Mbl) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 03-500E62
296th Cbt Spt Co (Col Cls-Salv) Hutier Ksn, Hanau 29-139F65
HHC, 308th Cbt Spt Bn (S&S)(DS) Support Cen, Giessen 29-215F65
A Co, 308th CS Bn (S&S)(DS) Support Cen, Giessen 29-215F65
B Co, 308th CS Bn (S&S)(DS) McNair Bks, Höchst 29-215F65
C Co, 308th CS Bn (S&S)(DS) Gibbs Ksn, Frankfurt 29-215F65
507th Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Grossauheim Ksn, Hanau 29-137F65
543rd Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 29-137F65
574th AG Co (Pers Svcs)(Type B) Hutier Ksn, Hanau 12-067E65
621st Cbt Spt Co (Gen Sup)(GS) Hutier Ksn, Hanau 29-118F65
622nd Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Mat Sup) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 29-127F65
626th Cbt Spt Co (Rep Part)(Fwd) Pioneer Ksn, Hanau 29-119F65
881st Cbt Spt Co (Lt Equip Mnt) Hesse-Homburg Ksn, Hanau 29-134F65
(Source: STATION LIST, 30 June 1967)
3RD SUPPORT BRIGADE
ATTACHED UNITS - 30 June 1967

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION TOE
HHC, 3rd Spt Bde Grenadier Ksn, Zuffenhausen 54-202D60
3rd Ord Det (Explos Disp) Infantry Ksn, Augsburg 09-500D62
25th Cbt Spt Co (Gen Sup)(GS) WO Darby Ksn, Fürth 29-118F65
27th AG Unit (Postal)(Type V) Warner Bks, Bamberg 12-605E65
29th Trans Co (Acft DS) Stuttgart AAF, Echterdingen 55-457E64
HHC, 35th Cbt Spt Bn (S&S)(DS) Coffey Bks, Ludwigsburg 29-215F65
A Co, 35th CS Bn (S&S)(DS) Coffey Bks, Ludwigsburg 29-215F65
B Co, 35th CS Bn (S&S)(DS) Coffey Bks, Ludwigsburg 29-215F65
C Co, 35th CS Bn (S&S)(DS) Kelley Bks, Möhringen 29-215F65
42nd Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Merrell Bks, Nürnberg 29-137F65
42nd Fin Sec (Disb-Acctng) Leighton Bks, Würzburg 14-500E63
55th Cbt Spt Co (Gen Sup)(GS) Leighton Bks, Würzburg 29-118F65
66th Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Harvey Bks, Kitzingen 29-137F65
HQ & A Co, 71st CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Pinder Bks, Zirndorf 29-205F65
B Co, 71st CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Conn Bks, Schweinfurt 29-205F65
C Co, 71st CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Ammo Depot, Bamberg 29-205F65
D Co, 71st CS Bn (Mnt)(DS) Merrell Bks, Nürnberg 29-205F65
78th Cbt Spt Co (Lt Equip Mnt) Panzer Ksn, Böblingen 29-134F65
HHD, 87th Cbt Spt Bn (Mnt)(GS) Nellingen Ksn, Nellingen 29-136F65
HHC, 95th Cbt Spt (S&S) (Fwd) WO Darby Ksn, Fürth 29-116F65
124th Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Nellingen Ksn, Nellingen 29-137F65
152nd Trans Det (Cargo Hel)(F-M) Nellingen Ksn, Nellingen 55-510T56
179th Sig Pltn (Spt Bde) Grenadier Ksn, Zuffenhausen 11-500D62
182nd Cbt Spt Co (Lt Equip Mnt) WO Darby Ksn, Fürth 29-134F65
206th Ord Co (GM)(DS) Merrell Bks, Nürnberg 09-500D62
HHC, 242nd Cbt Spt (S&S) (Fwd) Texas Area, Munich 29-116F65
353rd QM Det (Prcht Pack) Storck Bks, Illesheim 10-500D61
538th Cbt Spt Co (Col Cls-Salv) Nellingen Ksn, Nellingen 29-139F65
564th Cbt Spt Co (Rep Part)(Fwd) Nelson Bks, Neu Ulm 29-119F65
569th AG Co (Pers Svcs)(Type B) Flak Ksn, Ludwigsburg 12-067E65
572nd Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Wharton Bks, Heilbronn 29-137F65
591st Trans Co (Acft DS) Storck Bks, Illesheim 55-457E64
602nd Cbt Spt Co (Gen Sup)(GS) Infantry Ksn, Augsburg 29-118F65
613th Cbt Spt Co (Fld Svc)(Fwd) Alabama Area, Munich 29-114F65
628th Cbt Spt Co (Fld Svc)(Fwd) WO Darby Ksn, Fürth 29-114F65
656th QM Co (Pet Sup)(Fwd) Merrell Bks, Nürnberg 10-458F65
657th QM Co (Pet Sup)(Fwd) Texas Area, Munich 10-458F65
903rd Cbt Spt Co (Hvy Equip Mnt) Nellingen Ksn, Nellingen 29-137F65
(Source: STATION LIST, 30 June 1967)
57TH ORNANCE AMMUNITION BRIGADE
ATTACHED UNITS - 30 June 1967

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION TOE
HHD, 57th Ord Ammo Bde Rhine Ord Bks, Kaiserslautern 09-032E65
to be continued    
(Source: STATION LIST, 30 June 1967)
107TH TRANSPORTATION BRIGADE
ATTACHED UNITS - 30 June 1967

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION TOE
HHC, 107th Trans Bde Flak Ksn, Ludwigsburg 55-062F65
HQ, 4th Trans Bn (Trk) Flak Ksn, Ludwigsburg 55-016F64
12th Trans Co (Lt-Med Trk) Panzer Ksn, Böblingen 55-067F65
15th Trans Co (Lt-Med Trk) Flak Ksn, Ludwigsburg 55-067F65
HQ, 29th Trans Bn (Trk) Panzer Ksn, Böblingen 55-016F64
32nd Trans Co (Med Trk Cargo) Flak Ksn, Ludwigsburg 55-018F64
34th Trans Co (Lt-Med Trk) Panzer Ksn, Böblingen 55-067F65
HQ, 38th Trans Bn (Trk) Coleman Bks, Sandhofen 55-016F64
41st Trans Co (Lt-Med Trk) Turley Bks, Mannheim 55-067F65
HHD, 49th Trans Mvt Con Cen Funari Bks, Mannheim 55-006F64
51st Trans Co (Med Trk Cargo) Turley Bks, Mannheim 55-018F64
96th Trans Co (Hvy Trk) Gerszewski Bks, Karlsruhe 55-028E64
104th Trans Co (Med Trk Cargo) Turley Bks, Mannheim 55-018F64
126th Trans Co (Med Trk Cargo) Gerszewski Bks, Karlsruhe 55-018F64
HQ, 181st Trans Bn (Trk) Turley Bks, Mannheim 55-016F64
377th Trans Co (Hvy Trk) Turley Bks, Mannheim 55-028E64
396th Trans Co (Lt-Med Trk) Panzer Ksn, Böblingen 55-067F65
513th Trans Co (Med Trk Cargo) Coleman Bks, Sandhofen 55-018F64
533rd Trans Co (Lt-Med Trk) Reese Bks, Augsburg 55-067F65
590th Trans Co (Lt-Med Trk) Flak Ksn, Ludwigsburg 55-067F65
594th Trans Co (Med Trk Cargo) Coleman Bks, Sandhofen 55-018F64

1st Support Brigade
(Source: Annual Supplement to the Unit History of the 1st Support Brigade, 1974)
The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Support Brigade was activated on 23 June 1965, as a subordinate maintenance support headquarters under the Seventh Army Support Command. The Seventh Army Support Command was an organization reactivated during the summer of 1965 as part of the program to realign the Seventh Army logistic structure in accordance with the new COSTAR concept of operations. This concept of operations centralized the control of all field Army non-divisional combat service support resources. The 1st Support Brigade was one of the support brigades so designated under the Seventh Army Support Command.

The newly formed Brigade Headquarters was organized around the nucleus of the headquarters of the recently inactivated 521st Engineer Group. The Headquarters was established at Taylor Barracks, Mannheim-Käfertal, Germany. The activation and reorganization of the subordinate units of the Brigade occurred during the period 25 May 1965 through 21 December 1965. Upon reorganization, the Brigade had operational and administrative control of the following units: 51st Maintenance Battalion (DS), 56th Supply & Service Battalion (DS), 66th Maintenance Battalion (DS), 81st Maintenance Battalion (GS), 97th Quartermaster Battalion (PETR), 115th Supply & Service Battalion (GS) and the 205th Transportation Battalion.

As a result of the Command Control Logistic Study - 1970 (CCLS-70) the Seventh Army Support Command was dissolved with two support commands, one assigned to V Corps and VII Corps respectively. The 1st Support Brigade was reassigned as a major subordinate headquarters under the United States Theater Army Support Command (TASCOM).

(Source: Ltr, Seventh Army to Battalion Level, 1 Jul 1966)
ORGANIZATION - 1 July 1966

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
51st Maint Bn (DS) Sandhofen [1]
66th Maint Bn (DS) Kaiserslautern [1]
81st Maint Bn (GS) Sandhofen [1]
56th Sup & Svc Bn (DS) Kaiserslautern [1]
115th Sup & Svc Bn (DS) Seckenheim [1]
97th QM Bn (Petrl) Mannheim [1]
205th Trans Bn (Acft Maint & Sup) Sandhofen [1]  
[1] STATION LIST, United States Army, 15 Dec 1965

2nd Support Brigade
 
(Source: History of the 2nd Support Command (Corps))
The 2nd Support Brigade was activated on June 24, 1965. The Brigade was one of three support brigades assigned to the Seventh Army Support Command. The nucleus of the 2nd Spt Bde came from the fusion of the 6th Quartermaster Group and the 51st Ordnance Group.

Its mission was to provide direct and general supply, maintenance and field services to units within the V Corps sector of the Seventh Army.

After supporting the forces of V Corps for four years, the brigade was deactivated on June 2, 1969, and transferred to the Department of the Army.

The support of V Corps was taken over by the concurrently activated V Corps Support Command (V COSCOM).

(Source: Ltr, Seventh Army to Battalion Level, 1 Jul 1966)
ORGANIZATION - 1 July 1966

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
8th Maint Bn (GS) Hanau [1]
19th Maint Bn (DS) Giessen [1]
85th Maint Bn (DS) Hanau [1]
14th Sup & Svc Bn (DS) Babenhausen [1]
308th Sup & Svc Bn (DS) Giessen [1]
[1] STATION LIST, United States Army, 15 Dec 1965

3rd Support Brigade
 
The 3rd Support Brigade was reorganized and redesignated as VII Corps Support Command (VII COSCOM) in March 1969.

(Source: Ltr, Seventh Army to Battalion Level, 1 Jul 1966)
ORGANIZATION - 1 July 1966

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
1st Maint Bn (DS) Stuttgart [1]
71st Maint Bn (DS) Zirndorf [1]
87th Maint Bn (GS) Nellingen [1]
35th Sup & Svc Bn (DS) Ludwigsburg [1]
95th Sup & Svc Bn (DS) Fürth [1]
242nd Sup & Svc Bn (DS) Munich [1]
[1] STATION LIST, United States Army, 15 Dec 1965

(Source: Email from Earl Bonenblust )
657th QM Company (Petroleum Supply)(Fwd),

I was reading about the different units that were in the Munich, Augsburg, and Ulm areas, but have never been able to find anything on the unit I was in: the 657th QM Co (PS).

It was in a place on the outskirts of Munich, Unterpfaffenhofen-Germering, also known as Texas Area-Freiham. We were part of the 7th Army. We ran the Class III Pol facilities at Texas Area Freiham, Augsburg, and a small detachment at Ulm.

I was originally in Texas Area Freiham in late 1967, then was Permanent TDY in Augsburg, attached to the 602nd GS Co. Then, when the 602nd left, A Co 35th S&S Bn from Ludwigsburg came in to assume 602nd's duities, and was attached to them.

I have searched the internet and have failed to find anything listed about the 657th. The only thing that I've found is a mention of when our bombers bombed the POL yard at Freiham, and that is very brief.

I have a page on Military.com listing the 657th, 602nd, and 35th S&S, with a short history on Unterpfaffenhofen-Germering, and the POL yard.

I do have a few pictures of the signs there, so I know that it's not a figment of my imagination that I was there.

HISTORY: 657th Q.M.CO.(PS); 602nd GS Co. ; 35th S&S Bn.
On the outskirts of Munich is the town of Unterpfaffenhofen-Germering. This area housed a vital part of Hitler's war machine. It was a petroleum storage area to keep his equipment running.

In later years, the US Army used it for a Class III POL facility. It was called Texas Area-Freiham.

The 657th Pet.Sup.Co. manned it, providing Petroleum, Oil & Lubricants to US installations. It housed approx. 60 men, a mess hall, barracks, a small movie theater, and was close proximity to Munich's night life.

The 657th also operated other POL sites in area. The 602nd GS Co. in Augsburg was one site. There was a platoon that was permanent TDY there (such as the author of this history). They also ran a small one in Neu Ulm, with the personnel billeted at Wiley Bks. The 602nd was billeted at Infantry Kaserne in Augsburg, in a tall dark brown brick bldg (#301). Prior to being redeployed to the States, they moved to Bldg #52 at Reese Kaserne. The comapny left on 9/10/68.

The 35th S&S Bn (from Ludwigsburg) came in to take over 602's duties. The 35th moved from Bldg 52 to Bldg #1 (still on Reese Kaserne). The 657th was now attached to 35th S&S Bn. The 35th S&S is listed as the parent headquarters, but in reality, the 657th was part of the 242nd S&S Bn.

I was in these units from late 1967-August 1969. From what I understand, but I can find no official records, is that in the mid-1970's, we turned the area back to the Germans. One person that I met online tried to see it and was turned away.
Earl F.Bonenblust
On a side note: I am the co-founder of a Berlin veterans group - the Berlin Brigade Wall Watchers
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/berlinbrigadewallwatchers/). Doug Bottalico started the group several years ago. I started being active in it and was made a co-founder (it was a Yahoo Club then). Then Yahoo changed us from a club to a group, because of our size. They left Doug as the founder, made myself and Matt moderators.

1. Main gate to Texas Area-Freiham.






2. Company sign at the Texas Area.

3. Installation sign near gate.


 

4.
This was taken at Christmas time 1967 at the Texas Area Freiham. The guy in the picture was my best buddy when I was there, Ronald L. Frank, originally from California. He was sent Permanent TDY to Ulm at our Class III Pol yard there. I lost contact with him in the mid 1970's and have been trying to find him for the last 10 years or so.

5. Barracks at Texas Area in 1968.
   

6. Earl standing next to the tractor that he drove.

7. Earl gravity loading a 5000-gallon trailer at the Class III POL Yard in Augsburg.
   

8. Earl checks the oil on a deuce and a half at the Augsburg motor pool. The bumper markings are nicely visible:
3BG 242SS -- PET 87

Translation: 3rd Spt Bde, 242nd S&S Bn, Petroleum supply company, 87th vehicle
     

Flight Detachment, Seventh Army SupCom
1966 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Dec 11, 1966)
On Dec 1, 1966 Flight Detachment of the Seventh Army Support Command was activated. The formation of a flight det for SupCom had become a necessity after the 60th Aviation Company was inactivated. The 60th had previously provided direct flight support to the support command (and other major Seventh Army units).

The Flight Det is stationed at Stuttgart Army Airfield and comprised four helicopters (UH-1Bs?) and two fixed-wing aircraft. Personnel and aircraft were previously part of the 60th Avn Co.

7th Inventory Control Center
 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, June 9, 1967)
(See COMZEUR Page for more information on the 7th ICC and MOBIDIC)

Mobile Digital Computer (MOBIDIC)

The 7th Inventory Control Center, Seventh Army Support Command, moved from Kreuzberg Kaserne, Zweibrücken to Gerszewski Barracks, Karlsruhe in Dec 1966. With that transfer to a new home station, the unit's MOBIDIC computer complex needed to be moved also. The MOBIDIC computer is used to automate the processing of supply requisitions from throughout 7th Army.

At Zweibrücken, the computer complex originally consisted of four vans that were interconnected with a stationary, permanent structure. With the move, a modification was applied once it was set up in Karlsruhe. The permanent structure was replaced by a fifth van. Four connecting doors were cut into the intervan structure and it was sealed to prevent humidity, snow, rain and dust from interfering with the sensitive computer components. Also, generators were set up to power the complex as the post had no commercial power.

With the modification, the MOBIDIC has now become 100 percent mobile.

(Source: Email from
My Recollections of Army service:
In March of 1967 I was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. through the ROTC program at Eastern Washington State College in Cheney, Washington. In April I reported to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland for Basic Ordnance Officer School and Maintenance Officer School before reporting to HQ & A Co, 51st Maint Bn (DS) at Sullivan Barracks, in Mannheim, Germany in late September 1967.

While there I was assigned as Svc & Evac Plt Ldr, but most of my workload was as Motor Officer. During that fall we were involved in a project to return 10-ton trucks to the owning units. It seems that a large percentage (60+) of these trucks were sitting in maintenance yards like ours with bad/broken engines, some for over a year. (Reference Col Hobar’s comments on the logistics problems moving from France in Operation FRELOC.) Lost engines had been located and a 1st Spt Brigade decision was made to work overtime to get the majority of trucks roadworthy and back to units before Christmas. I remember our personnel working 12 hr days – 6 days a week for 8-10 weeks. Our Battalion alone (in Mannheim and Karlsruhe) had about 180 of the trucks in our repair yards “awaiting parts”, but it was a theater-wide problem. The next May I was sent for classes to Oberammergau and Vilseck, and the week I returned I got orders to 7th ICC, with 3 days to report.

In May 68 the Materiel Management Company was formed by 7A SUPCOM at 7th ICC as an offshoot of the previous year’s problems with losing/finding repair parts. It was located in the 4th floor/attic of the building, and a footnote to the 7th ICC primary mission. The theory was that owning units would send in punch cards with maintenance data to 7 ICC to identify problems with all types of equipment. We would compile and prepare reports to be sent back through their commands to the units. The goal was that on a weekly basis each level of command would see a report on their assets’ maintenance status and could highlight problem areas with specific pieces of equipment. My initial task was to come up with a code that could identify all the units and their levels of command. It ended up being a 6-digit code as there were 6 levels of command. It was used to sort the data reports to go back to the units for updating. The rest of the time was spent correcting errors on the equipment lists and redoing them before sending them out. In January of 1969 I was sent to Oberammergau again to an ADP orientation class. In March the unit was split in two, half supporting V Corps, and half supporting VII Corps.

I went with VII COSCOM-MMC when it relocated to Panzer Kaserne in Boeblingen in May. The V COSCOM-MMC stayed at Karlsruhe and would go to the IG Farben Bldg in Frankfurt later with the “stationary” IBM 360-40 computer. The “mobile” 360-40 unit came to Boeblingen.

In Karlsruhe I had been living off post with another officer who I originally met at APG, and we scouted out another off-post apartment in Boeblingen. But when we actually moved the housing office wouldn’t give us a statement of non-availability, so we ended up in the BOQ by the O’Club sharing a bathroom. Later I was able to move to an empty field grade BOQ which was in the water tower. I had the lowest apartment of 5.

Again in November 1969, I was given a 3 day notice move to become CO of C Co, 71st Maintenance Bn in Bamberg. In February 1970 I was detailed to command a detachment “Task Force Breech Block I” supporting a VII Corp Arty exercise, “Carmine Leg” at Graf. We operated at the Vilseck side of the training area, and the detachment was made up of personnel from all over the VII Corp area. This year REFORGER was canceled so VII Corp Arty grabbed the time slot. I spent many evenings at the Graf O Club doing liaison with the commanders of the units we supported. Our most exciting occurrence was finding our maintenance tent on top of a tracked gun in the middle of the hardstand one morning. It had been staked at the edge of the hardstand and used to shelter engineering equipment brought in for repairs. During the night a strong wind came up from behind it and “flew” it onto the gun.

I remained in Bamberg as CO until relieved in Aug 1970, when my 3-year active duty commitment was completed. After returning to CONUS, I converted to inactive reserve status until discharge in March 1973.


7th ICC
Karlsruhe

 

1. MOBIDIC computer complex (220 KB)

2. MOBIDIC computer complex (284 KB)


 

TF Breech Block 1
VII Corps FTX

 

1. (KB)

2. (KB)

 

Newspaper articles
 
 
 
 

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