USAREUR Units - 32nd AADCOM

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32nd Army Air Defense Command
US Army, Europe
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 email me (webmaster).

History

11th AD Sig Bn

3rd Ord Bn

10th ADA Gp/Bde

69th ADA Gp/Bde

94th ADA Gp/Bde

108th ADA Gp/Bde

REUNION - All HAWK Units

Sept 6 - 10, 2007

Newspaper articles

Related Links

Reunion Data

All HAWK Missile Reunion
is scheduled for 6 - 10 September 2007 at Fort Bliss, Texas.

All former HAWK missilemen and women are welcome to attend.

For more details and registration click here.

History

1950s

32nd Army Air Defense Command DI

(Source: 32nd AAA Brigade , Command Report 1952, Hqs EUCOM/USAREUR)

32nd AAA Bde, 1952

The 32nd AAA Brigade performed in 1952 the same mission as in 1951, namely, to provide "AAA and Chemical Smoke Defense of the medium bomber units of the Strategic Air Command and light bombers of the 49th Air Division." In July 1952 an additional mission was added, to provide antiaircraft and chemical smoke defense against low level attack on specified US Air Force installations in the United Kingdom, coordination to be affected by the Commanding General, Third Air Force, and appropriate British agencies.

In April and May 1952, three chemical smoke generator companies arrived in the United Kingdom, bringing to eight the number of companies of this type. The 1st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons (AAA AW) Battalion (Provisional), formed in July 1952, was to become the 92nd AAA AW Battalion in February 1953. The 53rd Ordnance Service Company was reorganized on 20 April 1952. School, support, and training facilities were organized into three provisional units (School Detachment, Range Detachment, and Support Detachment) in June 1952.

For organizational structure of the 32nd AAA Bde and Headquarters on 31 Dec 1945, see chart on left.

(Source: List of General Orders Naming Kasernes, USAREUR Military History web site)

General Order No. 32, 24 April 1951

Section I
Reorganization of Certain Antiaircraft Battalions

1. Pursuant to authority contained in DA letter, AGAO-I (7 Mar 51) G1-M, 12 March 1951, subject, "Activation, Redesignation and Reorganization of Certain Units in the European Command," the following units are reorganized as indicated below with an authorized strength of 39 officers, 7 warrant officers, and 841 enlisted men each, effective 1 May 1951.

UNIT	T/O & E	STATION
4th AAA Battalion (AW)(Smbl)	44-125, 21 Apr 50 w/Cl Plus: From T/O&E 8-500, 2 Mar 50: Colm KI	Wyton, Engl. APO 179.
39th AAA Battalion (AW)(Smbl)	44-125, 21 Apr 50 w/Cl Plus: From T/O&E 8-500, 2 Mar 50: Colm KI	Sculthorpe, Engl. APO 179
60th AAA Battalion (AW)(Smbl)	44-125, 21 Apr 50 w/Cl Plus: From T/O&E 8-500, 2 Mar 50: Colm KI	Lakenheath, Engl. APO 179

(Source: Emails from Theo Clark, USAF)

I was assigned to the 6th Signal Det. at RAF Shellingford, England in June 1956. This unit was located on an Air Force installation, namely 7568th Material Squadron. The members of 6th Signal Det. were a joint service organization, being commanded by an Army Warrant Officer, with a USAF MSgt as NCOIC. The Radar & Communication technicians were made up of US Army and US Air Force personnel.

Our function was to provide maintenance on search radar units operated by the US Army, with said info being provided to members of the 32nd AAA Brigade units attached to particular USAF bombers bases. At this time the air defense responsibility for the air base fell to the 32nd AAA Divison. In 1957, the 32nd AAA Division was deactivated in England and transferred to Germany.

I can trace my command lineage from the 7568th Material Squadron, to the 7500 Air Base Group, which reported to the 3rd Air Force, a part of USAFE. But, I've been unable to determine the command lineage for the US Army 6th Signal Det. I've spoken to a member of the US Army, who was stationed with me at RAF Shellingford, England, and he did not know the command structure of the 6th Signal Det. I'm sure it reports back to a Signal Unit thru to higher levels of command. Any assistance with this endeavor would be greatly appreciated.

Can anybody assist in finding the military lineage of the 6th Signal Detactment?

AAA UNITS IN THE UK - 1950s

4th AAA Bn

39th AAA Bn

60th AAA Bn

STARS & STRIPES article about the 32nd AAA Bde in England, December 1956

(Sources: The 32nd AADCOM Story - From Caissons To Missiles, G-3 Sec, HQ, 32nd AADCOM, 1971;
various issues of the 32nd AADCOM News - 1980s; and personal notes)

On Feb 6 1951, the 32nd Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade was reactivated at Mildenhall, England. The Brigade was composed of four AAA battalions and one chemical smoke battalion. Its primary mission was to provide anti-aircraft defense for the area airbases operated by USAFE. The Brigade also served as the senior US Army headquarters in the United Kingdom.

Although a subordinate command of USAREUR, the brigade coordinated administrative policies with the US Third Air Force, was under the operational control of the British Fighter Command and maintained liaison with the Air Force, Navy and the British War Office.

During this period, the units of the 32nd AAA Bde were equipped with the 40mm ("twin forties") air defense gun systems. These systems were later converted to the 75-mm gun systems.

Units assigned to the 32nd AAA Brigade during this period (see AN&AFJ):

ORGANIZATION (1951-57):

UNIT DESIGNATION	LOCATION	COMMENTS
4th AAA Gun Battalion	RAF Upper Heyford	the 4th AAA Bn moved overseas in early 1951, arriving in the UK on February 9 1951. Initially, the 4th was equipped with 40-mm guns but converted to the 75-mm Skysweeper sometime in the mid 1950s.
39th AAA Gun Battalion	RAF Sculthorpe
60th AAA Gun Battalion	RAF Lakenheath	the 60th AAA Bn arrived in England in Jan 1951. The Bn was stationed at RAF Lakenheath and was inact there less HHB on June 17 1957.
92nd AAA Gun Battalion (?)		1st AAA AW Battalion (Provisional) was scheduled to be redesignated as the 92nd in Feb 1952

On October 1 1953, Headquarters, 32nd AAA Brigade moved from Mildenhall to Bushey Hall Military Reservation near London, England.

In the early part of 1957, the 32nd AAA Brigade's mission -- defending certain Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases in the UK with Skysweeper units -- was abolished. At the same time USAREUR headquarters planned to relieve Seventh Army of the responsibility for air defense in the rear of the combat zone (west of the Rhine River). Accordingly, on June 30 1957, the 32nd AAA Brigade was relocated from England to Kaiserslautern (Kapaun Barracks, Vogelweh) in West Germany. Under the new realignment of USAREUR air defense responsibilities, the 32nd assumed the theater army air defense role west of the Rhine River providing air defense of the vital installations located there. (Webmaster Note: The 34th AAA Brigade, stationed in Germany since 1951, retained the field army air defense role in the combat zone east of the Rhine.)

AOA Det Pocket Patch

At this time, the Bde's units were still equipped with the 75mm and 90mm gun systems. During the course of FY 1957, four of the AAA battalions equipped with 90-mm guns were converted to NIKE-AJAX missile battalions, while the other four battalions and two group headquarters were inactivated. The next eight years saw the end of the conventional antiaircraft gun systems as the primary AD weapon and the emergence of the NIKE and HAWK air defense missile systems.

In May 1958, the Brigade was redesignated as the 32nd Artillery Brigade (Air Defense).

On 6 August 1958 CINCUSAFE was assigned the air defense mission as it pertained to the US European Command, pending creation of an integrated NATO air defense system. At the same time the 32d Artillery Brigade and its six NIKE battalions were placed under the operational control of CINCUSAFE. (Webmaster Note: I am pretty sure that the 34th AAA Brigade was inactivated at about the same time and with its units passing under the control of the 32nd Arty Bde. Can anybody provide confirmation and details?)

On November 10 1958, US Army Signal Support Company (Air Defense) was act per USAREUR GO 345, dtd November 6 1958, with duty in Kaiserslautern. The Company was assigned to the 32nd Arty Bde (AD) with the mission of providing signal maintenance and relay communications to elements of the 32nd Arty Bde which at the time consisted of only one NIKE Artillery Group.

On 1 March 1960, the 32nd Arty Bde (AD) is assigned to Seventh Army.

On April 1 1960, the 94th Artillery Group was reactivated at Kaiserslautern. Also on April 1 1960, the 69th Artillery Gp was organized in Germany as the Army's first HAWK missile unit. In March 1961, the Bde's first HAWK battalion became operational. (4th Msl Bn, 57th Arty was the first operational HAWK unit in Germany.) On July 1 1961, a second HAWK group, the 10th Artillery Gp, was reactivated in Munich.

Per USAREUR GO 403, dtd December 11 1961, US Army Sig Spt Co was reorganized and redesignated as US Army Sig Spt Unit (AD), a bn size unit. Concurrently, three dets were activated:

Det A, Kaiserslautern, supporting 94th Arty Gp;

Det B, Würzburg, supporting 69th Arty Gp; and

Det C, Munich, supporting 10th Arty Gp.

Each detachment had a 3d Echelon Signal Maint Shop and operated a 3d Echelon Maint Tm at each battalion and group hqs to provide on-site support.

ORGANIZATION (April 16 1962):

UNIT DESIGNATION	LOCATION	COMMENTS
5th MSL Bn, 1st Arty (Nike)	Wiesbaden	94th Arty Gp (AD)
4th MSL Bn, 6th Arty (Nike)	Spangdahlem	94th Arty Gp (AD)
5th MSL Bn, 6th Arty (Nike)	Baumholder	94th Arty Gp (AD)
2nd MSL Bn, 56th Arty (Nike)	Pirmasens	94th Arty Gp (AD)
1st MSL Bn, 67th Arty (Nike)	Wertheim	94th Arty Gp (AD)
3rd MSL Bn, 71st Arty (Nike)	Kornwestheim	94th Arty Gp (AD)
3rd MSL Bn, 7th Arty (Hawk)	Schweinfurt	69th Arty Gp (AD)
6th MSL Bn, 52nd Arty (Hawk)	Würzburg	69th Arty Gp (AD); arrived in June 1961
4th MSL Bn, 57th Arty (Hawk)	Ansbach	69th Arty Gp (AD)
6th MSL Bn, 60th Arty (Hawk)	Grafenwöhr	69th Arty Gp (AD)
6th MSL Bn, 61st Arty (Hawk)		10th Arty Gp (AD)
6th MSL Bn, 62nd Arty (Hawk)		10th Arty Gp (AD)
6th MSL Bn, 517th Arty (Hawk)	Giessen	10th Arty Gp (AD)
6th MSL Bn, 562nd Arty (Hawk)	Butzbach	10th Arty Gp (AD)

On July 1 1964, Seventh US Army Sig Spt was reorganized as a Battalion and the dets as Companies, per USAREUR GO 119, dtd March 26 1964.

By 1964, the 32nd was equipped with both the HAWK and NIKE-HERC air defense missile systems.

By 1966, the 32nd had become the largest artillery brigade in the US Army. On May 11 1966, the 32nd AAA Bde was redes as the 32nd Army Air Defense Command. The 32nd at that time comprised the 10th, 69th and 94th Arty Groups (the 108th Arty Group was added in 1974). The 32nd was the largest air defense unit in the US Army. As part of USAREUR and Seventh Army, the 32nd maintained a constant watch over West Germany in support of NATO.

On Nov 21 1967, 11th AD Sig Bn was act, with no change in mission, per USAREUR GO 269, dtd Oct 26 1967.

In 1969, four of the 32nd's eight HAWK battalions converted to the self-propelled configuration (6/60th; ...). These units were deployed to the forward areas of Germany which vastly increased the 32nd's capabilities.

Also in 1969, in a program to streamline air defense assets in Europe, two NIKE-H battalions (1st Msl Bn, 67th Arty on Dec 26 1969; 4th Msl Bn, 6th Arty on Mar 26 1970) of the 94th Arty Gp were inactivated and two low-altitude CHAPARRAL/VULCAN air defense battalions were deployed to Germany to protect selected air bases. The C/V bns arrived in 1970 (2nd Bn, 60th Arty; 7th Bn, 61st Arty).

ORGANIZATION (1970/71):

UNIT DESIGNATION	LOCATION	COMMENTS
HHB, 32nd AADCOM	Kapaun Bks, Kaiserslautern
11th AD Signal Bn	Kapaun Bks, Kaiserslautern [1]
2nd Bn, 60th Arty	Air Base, Ramstein [2]
7th Bn, 61st Arty	Air Base, Spangdahlem [1,3]
10th Arty Gp (AD)	Ludwig Ksn, Darmstadt [1]
6th Bn, 59th Arty (HAWK)	Fliegerhorst Ksn, Hanau [1]
6th Bn, 517th Arty (HAWK)	Army Depot, Giessen [1]
6th Bn, 562nd Arty (HAWK)	Schloss Ksn, Butzbach [1]
69th Arty Gp (AD)	Emery Ksn, Würzburg [1]
3rd Bn, 7th Arty (HAWK)	Conn Bks, Schweinfurt [1]
6th Bn, 52nd Arty (HAWK)	Emery Bks, Würzburg [1]
4th Bn, 57th Arty (HAWK)	Barton Bks, Ansbach [1]
6th Bn, 60th Arty (HAWK)	Main Post, Grafenwöhr [1]
6th Bn, 62nd Arty (HAWK)	Jaeger Ksn, Aschaffenburg [1]
94th Arty Gp (AD)	Kleber Ksn, Kaiserslautern [1]
5th Bn, 1st Arty (NH)	WAB, Wiesbaden [1]
5th Bn, 6th Arty (NH)	Smith Bks, Baumholder [1]
2nd Bn, 56th Arty (NH)	Husterhoeh Ksn, Pirmasens [1]
3rd Bn, 71st Arty (NH)	Wilkin Bks, Kornwestheim [1]

[1] Source: US Army Station List, 30 June 1970

[2] Source: US Army Station List, 30 Sept 1971
[3] Source: Email from Michael P. Sebek

In Nov 1972, the first HAWK battalion (2nd, 62nd ADA) was converted to the I-HAWK system. Also, during the latter part of 1972, the Forward Area Alerting Radar system was introduced by adding FAAR platoons to the C/V units.

In July 1974, the commanding officer of 32nd AADCOM also assumed the role of community commander for Kaiserslautern.

On Aug 26 1974, the 108th ADA Gp was react at Kapaun Bks, Kaiserslautern as the Army's only C/V short range air defense group.

In Sep 1975, after HQ 32nd AADCOM moved to Darmstadt, the 108th moved to Kleber Ksn, Kaiserslautern.

ORGANIZATION (June 1976):

UNIT DESIGNATION	LOCATION	COMMENTS
HHB, 32nd AADCOM	Kapaun Bks, Kaiserslautern [1]
11th AD Signal Bn	CFK, Darmstadt [1]
10th ADA Gp [2]	Ludwig Ksn, Darmstadt [1]
1st Bn, 1st ADA	Schloss Ksn, Butzbach [1]	SP HAWK
2nd Bn, 2nd ADA	Army Depot, Giessen [1]	SP HAWK
3rd Bn, 59th ADA	Fliegerhorst Ksn, Hanau [1]	IHAWK
2nd Bn, 62nd ADA	Air Base, Spangdahlem [1]	IHAWK
69th ADA Gp	Emery Bks, Würzburg [1]
3rd Bn, 7th ADA	Conn Bks, Schweinfurt [1]	SP HAWK
6th Bn, 52nd ADA	Emery Bks, Würzburg [1]	IHAWK
2nd Bn, 57th ADA	Barton Bks, Ansbach [1]	IHAWK
3rd Bn, 60th ADA	Main Post, Grafenwöhr [1]	SP HAWK
94th ADA Gp	Kleber Ksn, Kaiserslautern [1]
2nd Bn, 1st ADA	McCully Bks, Wackernheim [1]	NIKE-H
5th Bn, 6th ADA	Neubrücke Hosp, Baumholder [1]	NIKE-H
2nd Bn, 56th ADA	Husterhoeh Ksn, Pirmasens [1]	NIKE-H
3rd Bn, 71st ADA	Wilkin Bks, Kornwestheim [1]	NIKE-H
108th ADA Gp	Kleber Ksn, Kaiserslautern [1]
6th Bn, 56th ADA	Air Base, Spangdahlem [1]	C/V
2nd Bn, 60th ADA	Air Base, Ramstein [1]	C/V
2nd Bn, 67th ADA	Kapaun Ksn, Kaiserslautern [1]	C/V

[1] Source: US Army Station List, 1 June 1976

[2] 2nd Bn, 55th ADA (MBL HAWK) at Fort Bliss is a REFORGER unit earmarked for the 10th ADA Gp

ADA Magazine, JUL-SEP 1979

Source: US Army Air Defense Artillery School website

The July-September 1979 Issue of ADA Magazine featured a story of the 32nd Army Air Defense Command and its role in the NATO international arena, compiled by the staff of ADA Magazine.

Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

In Oct 1981, the 32nd AADCOM was deployed over 56,000 sq mi of the FRG and had a strength of 16,000 soldiers.

ORGANIZATION (1982):

UNIT DESIGNATION	LOCATION	COMMENTS
HHB, 32nd AADCOM	Darmstadt
Börfink MCC
Lauda MCC
32nd AADCOM NCO Academy
11th AD Signal Bn	Darmstadt
247th Chem Det	Darmstadt
10th ADA Gp	Darmstadt
1st Bn, 1st ADA	Wildflecken	IHAWK
2nd Bn, 2nd ADA	Giessen	IHAWK
3rd Bn, 59th ADA	Hanau	IHAWK
69th ADA Gp	Würzburg
3rd Bn, 7th ADA	Schweinfurt	IHAWK
6th Bn, 52nd ADA	Würzburg	IHAWK
2nd Bn, 57th ADA	Ansbach	IHAWK
3rd Bn, 60th ADA	Grafenwöhr	IHAWK
94th ADA Gp	Kaiserslautern
2nd Bn, 1st ADA	Wackernheim	NIKE-H
5th Bn, 6th ADA	Baumholder	NIKE-H
2nd Bn, 56th ADA	Pirmasens	NIKE-H
3rd Bn, 71st ADA	Kornwestheim	NIKE-H
108th ADA Gp	Kaiserslautern
6th Bn, 56th ADA	Spangdahlem	C/V
2nd Bn, 60th ADA	Ramstein	C/V
2nd Bn, 62nd ADA	Spangdahlem?	IHAWK
2nd Bn, 67th ADA	Mannheim	C/V

The 108th ADA Bde was redes from Gp to Bde on July 16, 1983.

ADA Magazine, Summer 1983

Source: US Army Air Defense Artillery School website

The Summer 1983 Issue of ADA Magazine featured a special 15-page section on the 32nd Army Air Defense Command, compiled and edited by ADA Magazine associate editor, Brian R. Kilgallen.

Page: 1, 2, 3, 4

The NIKE-H missile system completely left the 32nd AADCOM inventory in 1984. (The last NIKE battalion in Germany was the 3rd Bn, 71st ADA.) The last missile fired off Crete was in the summer of 1985.

Several HAWK battalions were withdrawn from Europe to pave the way for the deployment of the PATRIOT system. In Jan 1985, the 4th Bn, 3rd ADA became the first PATRIOT missile bn deployed to Europe (see CORRECTION). The PATRIOT quickly became the cornerstone of air defense in the central region of Germany. PATRIOT grew from four bns in 1987 to seven in the summer of 1989. Additional firing batteries were added in the fall of 1990.

32nd AADCOM was operationally under the control of 4ATAF (along with the 1st Canadian Air Gp, 1st and 2nd German Air Divs, and the 3rd and 17th US Air Forces). The collapse of communism in Europe in the late 1980s removed the need for massive concentration of defensive assets, such as air defense artillery units in Germany. Thus the 32nd AADCOM, as other commands in Europe, began a process of trimming back to a leaner, more mobile organization.

On Sep 13 1991, the 69th ADA Bde and 3rd Bn, 44th ADA became a part of V Corps. 4th Bn, 7th ADA (P) deployed to I Corps in the US. 1st Bn, 1st ADA, 5th Bn, 44th ADA, 8th Bn, 43rd ADA and several batteries have been inactivated.

1st Bn, 7th ADA and 5th Bn, 7th ADA deployed to Saudi Arabia for "Operation Determined Resolve". The command continued to modernize its equipment with the PIP III upgrade of HAWK equipment, constant evaluation and upgrade of PATRIOT equipment, programming.with Raytheon Corp, and the standardization of gunnery tables and personnel training at the new 32nd AADCOM Battle Simulation Cen in Darmstadt.

On July 15 1992, the 10th ADA Bde was inactivated in Darmstadt.

On July 15 1995, 32nd AADCOM was inactivated in Darmstadt. HHB, 94th ADA Brigade and the 413th Sig Co were subsequently relocated from Kaiserslautern to Darmstadt.

CORRECTION:

(Source: Email from Michael D. Lindsey)
The first Patriot battalion that was deployed to Germany in Jan 1985 was the 4th Bn 3rd ADA; it was re-designated to 4th Bn, 43rd ADA at a later date. I have first hand knowledge as I was assigned to A Btry 4-3 as the system maintenance supervisor and was with the unit for its first 3 years in Germany. (Webmaster: I had originally reported that the first Patriot battalion was 4th Bn, 43rd ADA.)

(Source: Army Navy & Air Force Journal, 11 Nov 1950)

Four Army antiaircraft artillery units will be stationed in the United Kingdom during the early winter to complement existing Air Force establishments in England.

Scheduled for overseas movement are the following units:

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 16th AAA Group, Ft. Bliss, Texas

4th AAA Battalion, Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland

39th AAA Battalion, Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland

60th AAA Battalion, Ft. Scott, San Francisco, California

(Source: Bob Gunnarsson)

Nondivisional air defense organization, late 1957

In June 1957, the 32nd AAA Brigade was deployed from England to the Federal Republic of Germany. Up to that time, the Army's nondivisional air defense assets in the FRG were under the command of the 34th AAA Brigade with headquarters at Käfertal near Mannheim.

In May 1957, a USAREUR realignment of air defense responsibilities based on a Rhine River geographic division was implemented. The 32nd assumed a theater army air defense role and was composed of the 1st and 12th AAA Groups, the 34th continued its field army air defense role and retained the 8th AAA Gp. The 69th AAA Group was inactivated.

(Source: Email from Rich O'Connor, 7th Bn, 67th Arty (CV)(SP))

Moved Rich's email to the 108th ADA Gp/Bde Page.

(Source: Email from Michael P. Sebek, 6th Bn, 56th ADA)

Moved Michael's email to the 108th ADA Gp/Bde Page.

MAJOR SUBORDINATE UNITS - 1980s

10th ADA Brigade Patch	69th ADA Brigade Patch	94th ADA Brigade Patch	108th ADA Brigade Patch
10th ADA Group DI	69th ADA Group DI	94th ADA Group DI	108th ADA Group DI

NIKE-HERCULES UNITS - 1960s

5th MSL Bn, 1st Arty	4th MSL Bn, 6th Arty	5th MSL Bn, 6th Arty	2nd MSL Bn, 56th Arty
1st MSL Bn, 67th Arty	3rd MSL Bn, 71st Arty

2nd Bn, 1st ADA

5th Bn, 6th ADA

HAWK UNITS - 1960s

3rd MSL Bn, 7th Arty	6th MSL Bn, 52nd Arty	4th MSL Bn, 57th Arty	6th MSL Bn, 59th Arty
6th MSL Bn, 60th Arty	6th MSL Bn, 61st Arty	6th MSL Bn, 62nd Arty	6th MSL Bn, 517th Arty
6th MSL Bn, 562nd Arty

3rd Ordnance Battalion

1982 - 19..

3rd Ord Bn DUI

(Source: The News, November 1982)

Ordnance battalion joins command

By John Ann Floyd
Members of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion had to rip off old patches and sew on new ones Nov. 1 after their unit became an official part of 32d AADCOM in reorganization ceremonies here.

Two elements of the battalion, the 3rd Ordnance Headquarters and 4th Ordnance Company, were formerly part of the 59th Ordnance Brigade.

The November ceremony marked the beginning of a long awaited reorganization which will eventually lead to a complete support command, said Maj. Kurt Frey, Plans and Management Division, G-4, 32d AADCOM.

"On Nov. 1, the 3rd Ord Bn headquarters and the 4th Ord Co. were re-assigned to the 32d AADCOM from the 59th Bde. That battalion headquarters will become the Command and Control headquarters for the support command," said Frey.

"When fully complete, this will be a support command with about 12-14 direct support companies, one general support company, and a material management center - all under the 3rd Ord Bn."

Some of the guests at the 10:30 a.m. ceremony were: Maj. Gen. William E. Cooper, commander, 32d AADCOM; Brig. Gen. Harry D. Walker, 59th Ord Bde. commander; Col. Marvin E. Simmons, 32d AADCOM Deputy for Support; LTC Donald C. Fischer, commander, 3rd Ord Bn, members of the Worms community, 5th Signal Command, and the 32d AADCOM staff.

The ceremony was held at the Bouwkamp Gym at Taukkunen Barracks. Participating in the ceremony were about 50 soldiers from HHC and 4th Ord Co., commanded by Capt. James Fowler and Capt. Jose Hidalgo. The unit's command sergeant major is Charles C. Freshnock.

Members of the color guard were: Sgt. Dwight Lord, SSgt. Larry Montandon, Sgt. Edouard John and Sgt. Theodus Green. Guidon bearers for HHC and 4th Ord Co. were Sp5 Darrell Floyd and Sp4 Alton Winters.

A reception for selected guests was held after the ceremony.

Planners believe the reorganization will improve readiness within the command and upgrade the support functions.

"In the past, the Direct Support Units were scattered, not integrated, and we had little control over them," explained Frey.

Under the control of the support command, the DSUs (soon to be Direct Support Companies), won't be as inaccessable to the command as they were in the past.

"Instead of 32d management getting information after the fact," said Frey, "we'll now be able to take steps to influence the action."

This can be done, said Frey, through the creation of the MCC, which gives the command better management in the logistics area -- the ability to control logistics expenditures, requisitions -- in all, to better improve readiness.

Among other things, MCCs can automate the property books and cross-level parts.

"It will help us to keep a handle on what is in the command," continued Frey, "For example, now we may have a unit that is turning a part in. Less than 100-kilometers away, we may have another unit which has just put the same part on requisition -- but we don't know about it."

Use of computers could ease problems like these, Frey said.

"The skeletal work will begin on the MCC in January, and we'll build on as slots and people become available;' he said. Frey estimates that the process should be completed by January 1985.

The only outside units the command will gain will be HHC, 4th Ord Co, and the MCC. The DSUs at the air defense battalions will simply reflect an organizational change which would put all support units under the support headquarters. No units will be physically moved, so there's no need for anyone to pack his or her bags.

In addition, the Direct Support Companies will be able to perform maintenance on most of the day-to-day equipment at the units, to include trucks, communications equipment, masks, rifles, generators, as well as missile maintenance.

"Well get most of our support from the battalion," Frey concluded. "We'll finally have one shop place for maintenance and most supply functions."

For more on the 3rd Ord Bn under the 59th Ord Bde, see "59th Ord Bde, Page 1."

(Source: BANNER, September 1983)

Army's biggest battalion; Worm's smallest company

There's something about 3rd Ordnance (Battalion) that is just a little bit different from the rest of us soldiers here in Worms. Sometimes the differences are hard to pinpoint, like a snappier salute, shinier boots or maybe a lower, military tip of the hat. And sometimes the differences are more obvious like their 6:00 am physical training program. Whatever the differences are, 3rd Ord remains somehwat mysterious (although not secretive) to most of the Worms community.

When the Banner asked 3rd Ordnance's (headquarters) company commander, 2nd Lt. John Green to speculate on these differences, Green's response was instantaneous and decisive.

"Well, for one thing we're combat oriented and everyone else here is Worms is staff oriented," Green said. "We're headquarters for all of 3rd Ordnance Battalion in the Federal Republic of Germany."

Stretching from the Luxembourg border to the Czechoslavokian border, 3rd Ord. professes to be the largest battalion by composition in the United States Army with approximately 1400 soldiers and 14 companies.

Of the 1,400 soldiers only about 69 are stationed here in Worms. According to Green, half of the 69 are usually on TDY. Ironically, while 3rd Ord. may be the largest battalion in the Army, it is one of the smallest companies on post.

Where's the equipment
Third Ordnance is said to deal with Army equipment, but there are few large pieces of Army equipment here in Worms.

"As headquarters, we direct the supply and maintenance efforts for air defense missile systems in 32d AADCOM. We provide technical contact teams to fix the equipment on site," Green explained.

The Battalion provides command and control to Direct and General Support Missile Companies supporting all 32nd Army Air Defense Command fielded missile systems.

"Combat readiness, of course, becomes an essential part of our mission," Green added.

Newspaper articles

Related Links:
Bushey Hall 1953-55 (U.S. Army Base; 32nd Brigade Headquarters; 34th AAA Operations Detachment) - A very nice website
4th AAA Battalion - a unit page on the VERY well presented RAF UPPER HEYFORD Memorial Web Site.
94th Group Veteran's Website (dead link!) - a great site dedicated to the veterans of the 94th Air Defense Artillery Group and hosted by Joe Williams; superb Guestbook
NIKE AJAX and HERCULES ORDNANCE Support Units - Doyle Piland's very informative website dedicated to the men and women, both military and civilian, who served in the various Nike Ajax and Hercules support shops throughout the world.
NIKE Homepage - Rolf Goerigk, a former member of a German Air Force Nike unit, has put together the premier website on the deployment and history of NIKE air defense system in Germany, manned by all nations. Lots of information!
B Btry, 2nd Bn, 52nd ADA, Landau

- Danny L. Carter's very well designed website covers many aspects of life at a HAW site in Germany
D Btry, 6th Bn, 52nd ADA, Hardheim - very nice site with an interesting history of the arrival in Germany in June 1961
Hahn Air Base - great website dedicated to the 50th FBW's history and USAFE's second largest nuclear air base, Hahn Air Base, West Germany.
Hohe Warte Patriot Site - great page on the first PATRIOT site to be established in Germany near Giessen. The site was a tactical site of 4th Battalion, 3rd ADA. Page is authored by Alex Leib, Lich, Germany.
Active Duty ADA Regiments -