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18th
Field Artillery Group |
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| Group History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1951 - 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Sources: 18th Field Artillery Group, 37th Anniversary, 1954; 18th Field Artillery Group, 38th Anniversary, June 1955) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18th FA Group DUI
18th Arty Group Pocket Patch, 1950s (?) 18th
FA Group Pocket Patch (?)The 18th Field Artillery Group's present tour of active service began August 23, 1950 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, when it was re-activated under the command of Colonel C. Wesner. On September 19, 1951, the Group Headquarters, with no battalions attached, departed Fort Sill for Camp Kilmer and Germany. The unit arrived at its present station (Bleidorn Kaserne) in Ansbach on October 7, 1951 and was assigned to the Seventh Army. After alternate attachments to the 1st Infantry Division and the VII and V Corps, the Group was again attached to VII Corps in June of 1952, an attachment which is presently in effect. The 18th Field Artillery Group was inactivated in October 1958 (I don't have a confirmed date) and replaced by the 210th Field Artillery Group (activated on 15 October 1958 at Ansbach). |
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| (Source: 18th Artillery Group Yearbook (1957 or 1958) - submitted by Tony Altese) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Commanders of the 18th Field Artillery Group in Germany |
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CHRONOLOGY
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| Hqs Btry, 18th FA Group & 70th FA Bn - Ansbach, Germany, Christmas 1955 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Author's collection) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: 18th Field Artillery Group, 40th Anniversary, 1957 via Guy Petrillo) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 18th FA Group Unit Crests (1950s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PENTOMIC Changes - 1957/58 |
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| (1) Effective 1 July, 1957 - USAREUR's four FA Rkt Batteries were reorganized as battalions; 3rd FA Rkt Btry reorganized and redesignated as 1st Msl Bn, 33rd FA (HJ) (Source: 18th FA Gp Yearbook 1957) (2) 74th FA Bn inactivated in Germany on 23 Dec 1957 (3) 291st FA Bn and 36th FA Bn switched places under Operation Gyroscope, probably in Feb 1958 (Source: 18th FA Gp Yearbook 1957). |
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ORGANIZATION (30 June 1958): |
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| [1] STATION LIST, 30 June 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If you have more information on the history or organization of the 18th FA Group (or any of the subordinate units), please contact me. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from Jim Sandrin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim served with HHB, 18th Field Artillery Group, 1955-56) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 18th
FA Group Band (Source: Email from Bob Tanguay, Bleidorn Kaserne, 1955-1956) I arrived in Ansbach in July 1955 and was assigned to the 70th FA Bn at Bleidorn Kaserne. CO was James Click (from Seattle, I believe). The 70th was part of the 18th FA Group which was then commanded by Col. Vernon R. Rawie (from Indiana, I believe). Exec was Lt. Col Mulcahy. On staff was Lt. Thomas E. Dewey, Jr. I remember that Col. Rawie's favorite expression in addressing the troops was "remember men, there is nothing greater than the sound of a gun to a true artilleryman". One of the band members (Roland Washington) did a water color of a 105 on the door to the band quarters with those words beneath it. The Colonel loved it. Shortly after arrival at the 70th, I transferred, on indefinite TDY, to the 18th FA Group Band, also at Bleidorn. Band Director was Bill Steineger who was shortly thereafter sent home on emergency leave. I took on Director's job and stayed in that position until my departure for the ZI in August 1956. The band's major duties included playing at reveille and retreat each day. In addition, we played at each of the sporting events in which the 18th had a team - baseball, basketball, boxing, etc. It was also our responsibility to play at monthly "graduation" day at Crailsheim when the guys in the stockade were released. Bob Tanguay |
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| (Source: 18th Artillery Group Yearbook (1957 or 1958) - submitted by Tony Altese) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The band has
two regularly scheduled retreat parades weekly, one at the Signal
School and one at Bleidorn Kaserne. There are also any number of other
occasions when the band swings into action. In one week they may visit
the 599th in Erlangen and the 291st at Schwaebisch Hall, as well as
play their normal engagements. Before each one of these outings, however, the band spends many long hours practicing the specific numbers for the day and putting several extra layers of polish on their spit shines. Each day they practice for several hours in the theater adjacent to Bleidorn Kaserne's motor pool. Then, if the weather allows, they take a few turns around the kaserne practicing their marching. As one of their additional duties last August in Grafenwohr, the band acted as aggressors during the group's battalion tests. To add the oriental influence to their attacks they charged to the sound of the bugle and retreated only on the sharp notes of adjutant's call. On other problems the band has found itself holding down part of the group's perimeter defense in the still hours of the morning. At times they have put on an impromptu jam session at the mess hall after hours adding a little life to the normally somber Grafenwohr atmosphere. The band celebrated its first anniversary last December by continuing the hard work which got it to its present position. The men in the band are for the most part amateurs with a deep rooted love for music. Their forerunners, the 18th Field Artillery Regimental Band, had the same desire to play music as do the present band members. Their uniforms are different and the unit's crest have changed since the regimental band was deactivated at the beginning of World War II, but the spirit which marked the old artillery band is still present in their playing. |
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| 3rd Field Artillery Battery (762mm Rocket) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 3rd FA Battery (Rocket) Pocket Patch |
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| (Source: Yearbook of the 18th FA Group, June 1955) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 3rd
Field Artillery Battery was reconstituted, effective 23
May 1952, and allotted to the Regular Army. On 7 July 1952, the Battery
was activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Battery participated in Exercise Flashburn, the first Atomic Ground Force Maneuver, which was held from 23 April through 3 May, 1954, at Fort Bragg. On 29 November 1954, the Battery departed Fort Bragg to join NATO Forces, USAREUR. The Battery arrived in Ansbach, Germany, and was attached to the 18th Field Artillery Group on 13 December 1954. Webmaster Note: The 3rd FA Rkt Battery was the first Honest John unit in USAREUR. |
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| (Source: Lynwood B. Lennon, 3rd FA Battery, 1952-54 - prior to unit's departure for Germany) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I want to add some detail on the
3rd FA Battery. This detail begins with activation in July 1952 and
extends through departure for Germany. I was the first commander of the 3rd FA Battery at Ft. Bragg, NC. We were the second Honest John battery activated at Ft. Bragg, as the 550th was activated in May 1952, but was transferred to White Sands Proving Ground as the test unit for the Honest John system. When we were activated we had one officer (me), 1/SGT Elmer Denby, and six enlisted men. As we had no equipment we were used as augmentation to the 265th FA Bn (280mm Gun). I was the battalion S-2 and my men were members of the battalion recon & survey section. After some six months we received a full set of equipment and some 90 enlisted men, mostly returnees from the Korean war. By March 1953 we were at full strength and were preparing to participate in "Exercise Southern Pine," a major maneuver involving four divisions. We had a launcher platoon on the "Red" side and the rest of the battery on the "Blue" side. I had a special pass that allowed me to be a "line crosser." In the fall of 1953 we received two additional sets of equipment. Can you imagine 9 HJ launchers in a battery under the command of a First Lieutenant? We also received the cadre for two additional batteries. Our peak strength was close to 600, including 24 officers, 6 warrant officers, and 14 master sergeants, still commanded by a First Lieutenant. I was given the order to prepare for a troop test of the battery organization, prepare for support of both sides during "Exercise Flashburn," and prepare to activate two additional batteries. The six-week troop test over lapped the exercise by three weeks and there were frequent mix ups between the 65 troop test monitors from Ft. Sill and the 7 exercise umpires. Meanwhile we entertained almost every senior member of the US Army from the SecArmy, Ridgway as Chief of Staff, Gavin as DCSOPS, and many others. During one day 23 general officers signed our guest book (I wonder what happened to it?). Since we were blessed with such strength we were able to put a complete battery in support of the "Red" force. It was commanded by my XO, 1/LT Edward I Alexander and later became the 6th FA Battery. The 3rd supported the "Blue" force as a 6-launcher battery. A week or so after the exercise was completed the 6th FA Battery, commanded by 1/LT Alexander, and the 85th FA Battery commanded by 1/LT Larry Bostick, were activated and our strength suddenly decreased. Almost simultaneously we were ordered to prepare for a training proficiency test. Since no such test existed, the experts from Ft. Sill created a test by modifying a heavy artillery battalion test. We took the test in early 1954. During the test the rocket on the center launcher was being prepared for firing. When the section chief reached inside to plug in the spin rockets they ignited. That settled the question of whether such an incident would roll the rocket off of the launcher. It did not. It did blow the field jacket off the left shoulder of the chief of section and aged both him and me by several years. He was fortunate to be left-handed. Had he been right handed he would have gotten the full blast of two spin rockets in his face. The XXVIII Corps Artillery Commander, BG Paul Weyrauch, observed the incident. He and I arrived almost at the same instant. When we had determined that there was no injury he suggested that we proceed with firing two rockets and give the third one the average of those two in terms of accuracy. We had an "over left" and a "short right," so the third came out as almost a target hit. After the test was complete the test team told us that we had made an unexpectedly high grade. They decided that after all of the Honest John batteries had been tested, using our test scores as the passing mark, they would adjust the grades for all. Later, when I was a student at Ft. Sill, I learned that no other battery had surpassed our mark, so our adjusted score became 93 (What the hey, you can't be perfect all of the time) In August 1954 the battery received orders for deployment to Germany. My Group commander, Colonel Walter Downing, told me that did not feel comfortable sending the battery to Germany under command of a First Lieutenant and he was placing Captain Ray Cloninger in command and I could go as XO. I told the colonel that I did not feel like doing that after bringing the battery from birth, through motherhood, to maturity. So I became Group S-2 and Captain Ray Cloninger took the battery to Germany Lynwood B. Lennon |
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| (Source: Email from Anthony 'Tony' Altese who served with the 3rd Missile Btry, 18th Gp Headquarters from Oct '56 to Aug '58) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd Field Artillery Btry (Rocket) DUIThe 3rd Field Artillery Battery (Honest John 762mm Rocket) was commanded by Capt O'Grady. He formed the battery in the States at Fort Bragg. They arrived (in Oct 1954) and were stationed at Bleidorn Kaserne, Ansbach. When I arrived in October 1956, the unit only had 70 men in it. I was put in the Firing Battery, then later was put in Headquarters and trained as a Morse Code Radio Operator by the only other radio operator, Specialist Bell. Before I was completely trained we went on maneuvers - I believe it was called Sabre Hawk. During this time, the Hungarian Revolution started and we were put on alert for that. However, nothing happened. We then had a change of command in 1957 and were increased in size to a battlion. Were were called the 1st Missile Battalion, 33rd Field Artillery. I can't remember who the new officers were. I left the outfit in August 1958 and later that year, I believe, they were deactivated. |
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| (Source: 18th Artillery Group Yearbook (1957 or 1958) - submitted by Tony Altese) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You've heard
the name, and you've probably played the game - 'O'Grady Says'. Well,
that's the boss, Captain Eugene J. O'Grady, Third Rocket Battery,
Commanding. The men won't brag about the CO, but there has not been
an AWOL in six hundred days. Before hitting the USAREUR scene, the
Third was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The first rocket
battery of its kind established, the Third lost no time building a
reputation that outfits with a longer history would be proud to possess.
'Exercise Flashburn', the first atomic exercise held, was the scene
of the first launching of an 'Honest John'. Three guesses as to who
fired it. The high brass was a little worried about firing the 'John' on the East Coast, and gave the Third the job of experimenting. Third Rocket not only proved it safe, but set a record for the 'Honest John' that has never been beaten: eight yards short, thirty-five yards left. The Army doesn't use the term 'Business picked-up', but before leaving the land of the big PX, the unit entertained them all, Robert E. Stevens, Secretary of the Army on down. The Third is a mobile outfit; from Fort Bragg to the "Hindenberg Alps", to the Commissary Building and finally Bleidorn Kaserne, the battery's present home. Where next?? Bleidorn has a rather interesting background; it was constructed in 1935 and first occupied on 13 December 1936 by Hitler's 17th Obsn. Bn. During Bleidorn's construction it was known as the "Kaserne at the Water Tower" due to its proximity to the water works, but was named Bleidorn Kaserne in honor of a German Artillery Officer who commanded an observation battalion shortly after World War I. Perhaps the most surprising factor concerning Third Rocket is the daily routine, whereby a small battery functions as a battalion. Personnel, Operations and Supply all work on a battalion level, directly under 18th Group. It may sound simple, however check the gray hairs on Sp 3 Rogers' head, and you'll know better. It's easier to understand an outfit by looking at it through the eyes of the men, so 'Spec Magoo' McGreevey and 'Hi Guy' Baugh teamed up to give the history of the Third Rocket as they've seen it for the past two years. Battery history, huh; we're making the battery's history. Weren't we the first to fire an Honest John on the Atlantic Coast, and of all the present units, weren't we the first to fire an HJ in Europe? |
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| 74th Armored Field Artillery Battalion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: 18th Artillery Group Yearbook (1957 or 1958) - submitted by Tony Altese) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
74th Armd FA
Bn DUI |
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| The Battalion
was inactive until December 15, 1948 when the 27th Constabulary Squadron
at Landshut, Germany, was redesignated as the 74th
Field Artillery Battalion and assigned to the 2nd Constabulary
Brigade as part of the occupation forces. (Webmaster Note: The 74th was attached to the 7732d Field Artillery Group which had been formed on July 20, 1948, at Sonthofen. Eventually, the Group was comprised of one medium and three light field artillery battalions (105mm How, Towed: 70th, 74th, 517th FA Bns; 155mm How, Towed: 519th FA Bn). On April 1, 1951 the 7732d was disbanded and two new FA groups were formed in its place: 35th Field Artillery Group (April 1) with home station at Munich (later relocated to Schwäbisch Gmünd) and the 36th Field Artillery Group (April 1) with home station at Babenhausen. For a brief period, April - late 1951, the 74th was attached to the newly formed 35th FA Group.) A further redesignation took place on October 15, 1951, when the unit became the 74th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. As the occupation phase in Germany came to a close, the battalion's mission changed to the protection of Western Europe. In keeping with the triangular concept of modern warfare, the 74th AFA Bn was assigned directly to the 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment late in 1951 with a direct support mission. It remained in this capacity until April 10, 1954 when it was assigned to the 35th (FA) Group although it retained its mission of direct support of the 6th A/C. On April 4 (1955), the battalion was inactivated at Landshut and its three firing batteries were designated howitzer companies and assigned to the 6th A/C. On this date the 690th FA Battalion at McKee Barracks, Crailsheim, was redesignated the 74th. (Webmaster: although it is not stated in this yearbook, the reorganization most likely coincided with an concurrent attachment to the 18th FA Group.) Commanding Officer of the 74th from that date to February 1, 1956 was Lt Col Victor A. Stefanowicz. Current CO of this 155mm towed howizter battalion is Lt Col William M. Hughes. |
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| 291st Field Artillery Battalion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: 18th Field Artillery Group, 40th Anniversary, 1957 via Guy Petrillo) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The battalion (291st FA Observation Bn) was redesignated the 291st FA Battalion, withdrawn from the Army Reserve and allotted to the Regular Army 28, October 1954, with authorization to be activated 17 December 1954 in Europe. (The 291st replaced the 426th FA Battalion which was a subordinate battalion of the 18th FA Gp.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| On June 2, 1957, the battalion commander, Lt Colonel Hugh G. Brown, left for reassignment in the United States. Colonel Brown had served with the battalion for over 18 months, and was replaced by Major Ejner J. Fulsang Jr. Major Fulsang, previously the executive officer of the 287th FA Battalion, is planning the next big event in the history of the 291st: gyroscope exchange of stations with the 36th FA Battalion at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, scheduled to take place in February 1958. |
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| 426th Field Artillery Battalion (8-inch How, Hv, Towed) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 426th Field Artillery Battalion DI |
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| (Source: Email from Kenneth O. Bruce) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was in the 426th FA in Germany from 1953 to 1956. The battalion was under the 18th FA Group and located at Schwaebish Hall, close to Hessental, Germany. I do have many pictures.
(Webmaster Note: the 426th was either a NG or Army Reserve unit and was replaced in Germany by the 291st FA Bn in Dec 1954.) |
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| 557th Field Artillery Missile Battalion (Corporal) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: 18th Artillery Group Yearbook (1957 or 1958) - submitted by Tony Altese) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
557th
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| The history of
the 557th Field Artillery Battalion dates
back to 25 February 1943, when it was constituted at Camp Gruber,
Oklahoma. During World War II the Battalion took part in four campaigns
which are symbolized by the four fleur-de-lis situated on the Unit
crest; Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.
Upon completion of WWII hostilities, the 557th was inactivated at
Camp Cooke, California. On 1 April 1955, the present 557th Field Artillery Missile Battalion originated at Fort Bliss, Texas. Two months later the 557th, or 'Nickel-Nickel-Natural' as the Unit is informally referred to, was joined by a large group of personnel just graduated from the Corporal Missile Technical Training School at Fort Bliss. However, when the Table of Organization and Equipment for all Corporal Battalions was slashed on 10 September 1955, many of the personnel were transferred to other organizations. At that time a number of specially trained men arrived from various Army Training Centers throughout the United States to provide additional strength and skills for the 557th. After Headquarters and Service (batteries) had been combined into a single unit, and A and B Batteries had likewise joined to form Firing Battery, the Battalion resumed its ATP, an intensive 16 week Army Training Program. During the initial half of ATP the time was chiefly devoted to separate section training. In Headquarters and Service Battery, 'Communications' was busy familiarizing themselves with radio technique, wire-laying, and field transmission; 'Fire Direction' was engaged in the much-needed practice of computing fire missions; the Maintenance section was readying all rolling stock for the final eight week drive and Army Training Test; 'Survey' was out on reconnaissance missions setting up possible launching sites for mock shoots; and the 'Ammo Train' was preparing to pick up and deliver both missiles and warheads. Meanwhile in Firing Battery, the Assembly and Test section was making constant guidance checks on the internal components of the missile; 'Ground Guidance' was setting up their external guidance equipment which includes the ground radar, the doppler, and the computer; the Launching section was familiarizing themselves with their principle piece of equipment, the launcher; and the Fueling section was practicing the proper fueling procedure of acid and aniline from the weirdly-shaped storage tanks to the missile itself. Half of ATP having elapsed and the respective Batteries familiar with their responsibilities, the Battalion was ready to co-ordinate itself into a single, efficient Unit. The final eight weeks, most of which was to be spent on the desert of New Mexico, would put the 557th to a test. During most of the field work the Battalion engaged itself in a series of mock shoots. Harrassed consistantly by desert sand storms and aggressor forces the 557th improved itself with each mock shoot. Time was then drawing near for the actual firings. The `Nickel-Nickel-Natural' was required to launch four missiles, two during the final part of ATP and two during the Army Training Test. In their fourteenth week of ATP the Battalion was prepared to attempt its first missile shoot. Countdown commenced. -- The tension mounted as the countdown continued. -- "X-6o seconds." -- The results of many weeks of intensive training were about to be tested. -- `X-to seconds' -- 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0,' and then `Missile Away.' For several seconds the enormous missile appeared to simply hover approximately 20 feet above the launcher. With a thunderous roar amid a gigantic mushroom of dust and smoke the missile, gaining tremendous speed, darted upwards. Within seconds it was out of sight. In the final week of ATP the 557th successfully launched its second missile. |
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| At the conclusion
of the test a letter from the Battalion Commander was read to the
troops giving the umpires' results. The Unit was given a high rating
and thus was ready for its next assignment. At the close of the letter
the final words,' ... upon your return from Christmas leaves, be prepared
to travel', gave the men a hint as to just what was in store for them.
Upon arrival back at Post after Christmas leaves the men were informed that they were destined for Ansbach, Germany, to join the 18th Field Artillery Group. Throughout the following four weeks the hours were long and the work was hard. All equipment had to be prepared for travel. Trucks had to be processed. An IG inspection was slated for the latter part of January. Conex containers had to be packed. Systematically, each man contributing his part, the 'Nickel-Nickel-Natural' prepared for shipment. The freight train having departed a week before, the Unit boarded the troop train on the evening of 25 March (Webmaster Note: should be February) 1956 at Fort Bliss. Three days later the 557th was aboard the USN Goethals moving slowly away from the Brooklyn Army Terminal. After a comparatively calm 10 day crossing of Atlantic the Battalion landed at the Bremerhaven Port of Debarkation on the morning of 9 March 1956. That night the 'Nickel-Nickel-Natural' made the final leg of its journey to Ansbach by train. Now a part of VII Corps Artillery and attached to the 18th Field Artillery Group, the 557th Field Artillery Missile Battalion, with one mock shoot already behind them, looks forward to future training with both enthusiasm and determination. |
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| (Source: 18th Field Artillery Group, 40th Anniversary, 1957 via Guy Petrillo) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In early November, Colonel Vernon R. Rawie, Commanding Officer, 18th Field Artillery Group, presented the Group Commander's Trophy to the 557th. On 11 January 1957, VII Corps Artillery awarded the VII Corps Artillery Commanders Trophy to Lt Col John F. Stephens, Commanding Officer, 557th Field Artillery Missile Battalion. It was during this period of awards and parades that the battalion began to mature. Certainly by now preparedness was indicated. |
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| HEADQUARTERS & SERVICE BATTERY Headquarters and Service Battery plays an integral part in the missile team. Though they aren't the actual firers, there would be absolutely no firing without them. Each section of H & S Battery has a vital function to play before the Firing Battery can actually put a missile in the air. Survey, under the direction of 1st Lt Julius A. Horvath and Sfc Raymond D. Gender, has a key mission to perform. They must establish the exact location of the missile in order to give the projectile the accuracy needed for a successful shoot. Fire Direction Center computes and sends vital data to the firing unit, without which there would be no mission. Chief Computer, Master Sergeant Harold G. Jessen, has two exceptional computers in Sp 3 Robert A. Urban and Pfc Charles A. Levis, who he says he' II match against any in Europe. Maintenance, with CWO Peter P. Panagopoulos and Master Sergeant Bill W. Franklin of the helm, keeps everyone on wheels under the worst of conditions. Particularly, during FTX Warhawk, the Maintenance Section showed its real worth. Working under the very worst conditions possible, Sgt Franklin and his men received special commendation for the manner in which they kept the battalion running. Sgt George M. Williams keeps his Mess Section in shape and does a very laudible job, particularly in the feld, where meals remain above standard. Personnel gets a message to all of the men of least once a month when that hard earned cash is doled out. Sgt Ewell B. Blakey Jr., keeps his section constantly of peak effciency, and has one of the top fnance clerks in Sp2 Joseph M. Matusek. Communications Section lays those miles and miles of wire in even the most adverse conditions, effectively linking the sections of the battalion into a single, unifed combat unit. 1st Lt Edward M. Reed and Sfc Jesse M. Thomas have molded their VHF, Radio, and Wire Sections i |
ROSTER OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN:
291st FA Bn 
8. Kenny next to his car in 1955.
557th FA Missile Bn