If you do NOT see the Table of Contents frame to the left of this page, then
Click here to open 'USArmyGermany' frameset

37th Engineer Group (Combat)
Seventh Army

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.


Group History (19.. - 19..)

9th Engr Bn

35th Engr Bn

63rd Engr Bn

299th Engr Bn

317th Engr Bn

1279th Engr Bn

516th Engr Co (PB)

568th Engr Co (LE)

814th Engr Co (FB)

Newspaper articles




 
Group History
37th Engineer Group DI
1950s
(Source: Email from Gabriel DeMartin)
I served with HQs Company from September 1955 to August 1957.

The 37th Engineer Combat Group was activated on 12 September 1950 at Fort Bragg, NC.

The following year saw a period dedicated to a concerted training program with occasional highlights such as Exercise Southern Pines. In this later venture, the 37th Group was given the opportunity to prove its mettle. The resulting performance received praise from many critical observers and gave each individual member a personal feeling of confidence and satisfaction.

An assignment overseas was the logical recognition of competence paid the 37th Group and it sailed from New York on 9 October 1951, bound for the European Command. Pioneer Kaserne in Hanau, Germany was the final destination for HQs Company of the 37th Engineer Group Combat.

The above historical information was part of a Program of Events for Organization Day on 12 September 1956, commemorating the 6th anniversary of the 37th's reorganization.

I have the roster of all officers and enlisted men of HQ Company and the 516th Engr Co as of that date. I also have several hundred photographs of the men who served in the mid 50's, and of their activities.
 
If you have more information on the history or organization of the 37th Engr Gp, please contact me.

(Source: Email from Weldon Gibson, Hq Co, 1951-53)
I served in Headquarters Company, 37th Engineer Combat Group, Pioneer Kaserne, Hanau from Sept. 1951 to Jan. 1953. My job in S-2 was to help develop the demolition plans for all highways, rail bridges & tunnels from the border of France to the Russian Zone.

Part of my time was spent in
aerial & ground photography and I built the first photo lab in the basement of Building 6. Our first aircraft, an L-5 (Stinson Voyager) was left over from WWII and had patches on top of patches. The next two were all metal Cessnas and finally we received a Bell Helicopter H-13E.

There are interesting stories connected with each of these aircraft, maybe we can share them some day. Right now I need to find some of the old 37th Engr info. 

(Source: Email from Warren Stroud, son of Donald D. Stroud, 143rd Eng Co FB, 1952-53)

Donald Stroud, 143rd Engr Co, 1952
  My father passed away over 10 years ago and left very little information about his time in Germany.

He grew up in East Texas. He did do basic in Oklahoma and then on to Fort Ord and then to Germany. I have a letter to his mother after he arrived in Bremerhaven but it does not have a date. All I know is that he was part of the 143rd Engineer Company, Hanau, Germany. He said that once in Germany they worked on bridges. Tearing some down as well as building others. He also talked about defusing non-exploded bombs and land mines left over from WWII. He also talked about umpiring for the GI World Series baseball games. He did not volunteer to play, so he got volunteered to umpire. I would like to try to locate anyone that he might have been with to provide them with the photographs he left me.

As for dates, he did return home sometime in 1953 after being in Germany for at least a year or so.

The 143rd Engr Co was a National Guard unit out of Oklahoma. Like many other Guard units, it was federalized during the Korean War (early 1950s) and sent to Germany where it was stationed in Hanau. The unit was attached to the 37th Engineer Group which was part of V Corps.
Warren Stroud

 
1954
(Source: Seventh Army Composition, June 1954, 7th Army Annual History)
ORGANIZATION - June 1954

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
HHC, 37th Engr Cbt Gp Pioneer Ksn, Hanau  
5th Engr Cbt Bn    
18th Engr Cbt Bn    
35th Engr Cbt Bn (1)    
317th Engr Cbt Bn    
1279th Engr Cbt Bn   replaced by 299th Engr Cbt Bn in Dec 1954
143rd Engr Co (FB) Hanau  
373rd Engr Co (PB)    
807th Engr Co (Lt Equip)    
The 35th Engineer Battalion was activated on 1 April 1951 at Fort Lewis, Washington. The Battalion sailed to Germany in March 1952. On 5 June 1953 the unit was redesignated as the 35th Engineer Battalion (Combat). The 35th served in Germany for five years, returning to Fort Lewis in April 1957 (Operation GYROSCOPE).

 
1956
(Source: Seventh Army Composition, June 1956, 7th Army Annual History; USAREUR STATION LIST, 30 Sept 1956)
ORGANIZATION - June 1956

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
HHC, 37th Engr Cbt Gp Hanau  
5th Engr Cbt Bn Giessen  
18th Engr Cbt Bn Giessen  
35th Engr Cbt Bn Kitzingen replaced by the 9th Engr Cbt Bn in March 1957, Op GYROSCOPE
299th Engr Cbt Bn Frankfurt-Höchst  
317th Engr Cbt Bn Frankfurt-Höchst  
516th Engr Co (PB) Hanau  
568th Engr Co (Lt Equip) Hanau  
814th Engr Co (FB) Hanau  

 
1958
(Source: Seventh Army Composition, June 1958, 7th Army Annual History, 1958; USAREUR STATION LIST, 30 June 1958)
ORGANIZATION - June 1958

UNIT DESIGNATION

LOCATION COMMENTS
HHC, 37th Engr Cbt Gp Hanau  
9th Engr Cbt Bn Aschaffenburg  
63rd Engr Cbt Bn Giessen  
299th Engr Cbt Bn Frankfurt-Höchst  
317th Engr Cbt Bn Frankfurt-Höchst  
516th Engr Co (PB) Hanau  
568th Engr Co (Lt Equip) Hanau  
814th Engr Co (FB) Hanau  

 
814th Engineer Company (FB)
 
814th Engineer Company (FB) DUI
 
(Source: Email from Larry Sirmans, 814th Engr Co (FB), 1960-63 & 1967-69)
I was a proud member of the 814th Engineer Co. from 1960 through Sep. 1963 and returned in 1967 until spring 1969.

I was 17 years old when I joined the unit; I was 21 when I left. The 814th in memory has a kinship of home to me. I regard it like most people do their high school years.

The 814th Engr. Co. (FB) primary bridge was the Class 60 floating bridge - about 640 feet of steel tread-way connected to pneumatic rubber pontoons. some of our secondary equipment was the light tactical raft which was used for ferrying light equipment (2-1/2 ton truck or less); it could also be used as a bridge. We also had two sets of aluminum foot bridge 100 foot each. Each platoon also carried 70 each 15-man pneumatic assault boats with 25 hp outboard motors.

Other required equipment included for construction was 10 each 27-foot bridge erection boats; 3 each 20-ton cairns (?) and two D8 Dozers; 6 each lcm air compressors and many other tool sets and hand tools.

Our TO&E at one time required more than 240 wheel vehicles, most of witch was 5-ton bridge trucks that transported the class 60 bridge.

The company was based at Pioneer Kaserne, Hanau, Germany.

The unit conducted its training in various parts of West Germany much of it around Hanau, such as Campo Pond and the Main in River (In Mullein (?), a city near Hanau). When conducting combined unit training, we joined with other units at a bridge site near Leeheim, Germany. We would build a bridge across the Rhein River. This would require at least two bridge companies, one combat engineer battalion and other support units. The bridge would be about 1200 feet from near shore ramp to the far shore ramp. It was placed on pontoons sitting side by side stretching across the river anchored in place with 100 lb. cage anchors and an over head cable system also anchored at both ends with 7/the dips cable upstream and down stream near and farshore.  

814th Engr Co (FB), 1962
  We would cussedly begin construction about midnight Saturday night and be finished 10 or 11 a.m. Sunday. After a complete inspection the bridge would be disassembled and placed back on its vehicles.

Small arms and crew served weapons training was conducted on firing ranges in Wildflecken or Graf, Germany. Through the years we had meany great times at company parties and sports events and great friendships. At the time Germany was a fun place for any young man. The exchange rate was 4 D Marks to the dollar; gas was $0.12 a gallon and the Germans made the best beer in the world.

814th Engr Co
Hanau

 

1. (KB)

2. (KB)

3. (KB)


4. (KB)

5. (KB)

6. (KB)
 

7. (KB)



 

8. (KB)

9. (KB)

10. (KB)


11. (KB)


 

12. (KB)

13. (KB)




 
(Source: Email from Alan Bloom, 814th Engr Co (FB) and 547th Engr Bn, 1962-64)

I was stationed in Hanau and Darmstadt, Germany, 1962 to 1964. The first unit I served in is the 814th FB and I see you have no info or pictures just the crest. The second unit was Company "D," 547th Engineer Battalion. 

I have many picture I took on my tour and would like  to share them with you for your web site.

IF I recall when I was first in the 814th FB it was part of V Corps and later changed to 7th Army. not sure on that but I am sure you have access to the info. 


814th Engr Co
Hanau

 

1. (KB)

2. FB convoy (KB)

3. 814th barracks (KB)


4. 5-ton bridge truck (KB)

5. 280mm gun on a heavy raft (KB)

6. 280mm gun participates in a bridging exercise (KB)
 

7. Inflatable float (KB)

8. (KB)

9. (KB)
 

10. (KB)

11. (KB)


 

 
Newspaper Articles
 
 
 

 
Related Links: