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71st
Maintenance Battalion |
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| (1) before sewing on the 7th Army patch (in 1950?), it is probable that the 71st Ord Bn wore the old ETO Advanced Base patch which served as the SSI for Military Post Division units in the late 1940s. Can anybody confirm this or provide additional details? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71st Ordnance Battalion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1949 - 1965 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(Source:
History of the 71st Maintenance Battalion, Adjutant, HQ 71st
Maint Bn, 1991)
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71st Ordnance Bn DUIThe current chapter in the history of the 71st begins on 15 March 1949 when the 71st Ordnance Battalion reactivated (under GO #8, HQ Nurnberg Military Post) at Pinder Kaserne, Zirndorf (near Nürnberg), under the command of Major Ross R. Condit. As of this point, five assorted ordnance companies were attached (except for courtmartial jurisdiction) to the battalion, bringing it to a total authorized strength of 1240 soldiers. (The 563rd Ord Co (MAM) and 903rd Ord Co (HAM), both in Fürth, were probably among the subordinate units.) Immediate measures were taken to provide greater unit cohesion for the various widely dispersed companies and to mold them into a single, effective unit, to cope with a steadily increasing maintenance load. Although at times it became necessary to operate 24 hours a day, the Battalion worked in harmony by the end of the first summer's maneuvers. During the succeeding years, more units were attached to the 71st, until in January 1952, the total was 7 companies and one detachment. ORGANIZATION (30 June 1954): |
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[1]
The Ballistic & Technical Service unit's mission: to measure
muzzle velocity of all artillery weapons requiring such services;
to calibrate all types of artillery weapons for maximum effectiveness;
to render technical advice relative to the accuracy life of gun
and howitzer tubes; and to recommend replacement when needed; to
render technical advice on ammunition lots and to determine their
ballistic correctness.
The Ord Det (B&TS) is mainly concerned with calibration of artillery (fromthe 75mm AAA Gun to the 280mm Atomic Cannon) and determination of tube life. The 348th Ord Det was replaced by the 350th Ord Det on 9 February 1955. [2] The 334th Ord Depot Co was redesignated as the 334th Ord Co (Field Supply) on 20 November 1954. |
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The
Battalion Headquarters was moved from Zirndorf to Illesheim in 1951,
then to Dachau in 1956, Zuffenhausen in 1958, Munich in 1962, back
to Zirndorf in 1965, to Fürth in 1972, and finally to Nürnberg
in 1975. The number of subordinate units varied even more than the
location of the headquarters, and the unit spent much of its time
in the field.
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ORGANIZATION
(30 June 1958):
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On
5 August 1965, the 71st Ordnance Bn was reorganized as HQ and Company
A, 71st Maintenance Bn.
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| If you have more information on the history or organization of the 71st Ord Bn or the 71st Maint Bn, please contact me. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from Joseph M. Leseney) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
My father, LTC Joe M. Leseney, was the battalion commander of the 71st Ordnance Bn from mid 1955 to mid 1957. He came from the 47th Ordnance Group at Coffey Bks in Ludwigsburg and moved the battalion Hq to Dachau.
For your information the group commander of the 47th at the time was Col Sheridan. I also know that the next commander after my dad was LTC Lamoure and the previous commander was LTC Riddle. |
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| (Source: Email from Lawrence E. Stubbmann Jr.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I am not an expert
on the 4th Armd Div, but I was stationed in Pinder Barracks from 3/1962
to 10/1964. I was in the 556th Ordnance
Company, which was part of the 71st Ord Bn, which was located
in Munich. We were a small DS Maint unit in the rear area of Pinder Barracks. The rest of Pinder was the 22nd Artillery which was part of the 4th Armd Div. In the picture that you have on you website of the front gate to Pinder, you can see the 22nd Artillery sign over the entrance. That picture has 1958 as the year the picture was taken. Just after I rotated back to the US the 71st Ord Bn (apparently) moved from Munich to Zirndorf, into the area with the 556th, and the 556th became Co A of the 71st. |
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| 71st Maintenance Battalion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1965 - present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(Source:
History of the 71st Maintenance Battalion, Adjutant, HQ 71st
Maint Bn, 1991)
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71st Maintenance Bn DUIOn 5 August 1965, the 71st Ordnance Bn was reorganized as HQ and Company A, 71st Maintenance Bn. Organic elements were formed on 5 and 13 August 1965 by reorganization and redesignation of existing (subordinate) units. In 1966, the unit insignia was changed from that previously held by the 71st Quartermaster Battalion (Light Maintenance) to its present form, which symbolizes the mission of 71st Maint Bn. The 71st Maint Bn was assigned to the 2nd Support Command (Corps) on 16 April 1969. The Battalion deployed to Southwest Asia as part of Operation Desert Shield in December, 1990. The Battalion remained in the theater through Operation Desert Storm with parts of the Battalion working in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. On 15 June 1991, the 71st Maint Bn was assigned to 3rd Corps Support Command. |
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| (Source: Email from John Ballard, Co "D," 71st Maint Bn, 1965-68) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(John has also provided comments on his assignments to 66th Maint Bn and the 504th Sig Bn)
As I was surfing I came across a website for the 71st Maintenance Battalion. The one glaring error that I saw was that there was no reference to Company D, 71st Maintenance Battalion (DS). In February 1965 I arrived in Germany aboard the troop ship USNS Buckner. I rode a train to Mannheim and a truck to the 504th Signal Battalion. I was assigned to Company C in Heilbronn with further assignment to Detachment 2, Company C, 504th Signal Battalion at Merrell Barracks, Nuernberg. Then came COSTAR II and the 504th was deactivated. At this time I was assigned to Company D, 71st Maintenance Battalion (DS) sometime in August 1965. For about three weeks myself and others were trucked to Pinder Barracks in Zirndorf, daily to help set up their Tech Supply (I set up the Editor section). Then we opened up Company D's Tech Supply. My platoon sergeant was Staff Sergeant Cleveland (whom we referred to as "Wimpy" from Popeye comics). The platoon leader was a brand new second lieutenant named Carter. We set up on the first floor of the building that housed the EM Club on the second floor and it was on the end across the motor park from the company motor pools near the mess hall. The building was in the shape of an H and the other part housed the Gym and Bowling Alley. The post SP's were in the basement under the Bowling Alley. Company D had Maintenance Platoons in Bindlach, Amberg and Bamberg and each had a PLL clerk that came out of Tech Supply. I was on various occasions Editor, Assistant Editor, Deck Manager and Warehouseman. I also was one of the "Bluestreak" clerks (Priority 02 requisitions) for a while. Our Company Commander was Captain Fred Nunziata and the First Sergeant was Starbird. We had some interesting times and some good times. I left in April of 1968 and went back to the US. When I returned to Germany in December of 1969 I tried to get reassigned to Company D again but was assigned to the 66th Maintenance Battalion (DS) in Kaiserslautern. Since Nuernberg was the home of my wife we traveled there often and visited Merrell several times. Company D was still there. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION We began building the company at Merrell Barracks, Nuernberg, FRG in August/September 1965. I am not certain what unit was the nucleus for Company D but one of the things that sticks out in my mind is that it must have been an Ordnance Company as we were way over strength with Wheeled Vehicle mechanics. Tech Supply was very short on MOS qualified supply personnel so we were supplemented with mechanics that we had to OJT in supply procedures. I started as a Deck manager but when the Platoon Sergeant found out that I had Editor experience I was moved into the Editor position. That changed within a few months when an E4 came along and was put into that position and I was moved back to the Decks. The Editor complained that he had too much work so I was moved back to be his assistant (but that is another story). We supported the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 2/34th Field Artillery Battalion, 3/17th Field Artillery, and several other units with Direct Support (3rd Echelon) Maintenance. Company D also supplied a Wheel and Tracked Vehicle Maintenance Platoon to each of the three Squadrons of the 2nd ACR at Amberg, The 71st Maintenance Battalion Headquarters was located in Pinder Barracks, Zirndorf which was west of Nuernberg. The next higher headquarters was 3rd Support Brigade; if memory serves they were located at Nellingen Barracks. I also served time as a PLL Clerk with 1st Maint Platoon in Bindlach. The Platoon Sergeant was Staff Sergeant Holmes. In 1967 we were involved in the largest exercise that I had been involved while there; Operation Merry Mood (I believe) took us to northern |
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| (Source: The Champion, May 10, 1989) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 71st Maint
holds proud heritage The history of the 71st Maintenance Battalion dates back to May 1, 1936 with the activation of the 35th Quartermaster Regiment in the regular army. The parent unit was disbanded in 1940, with the exception of its first battalion which was redesignated as the 71st Quartermaster Battalion (light maintenance). In 1942 the battalion was converted to the United States Army Ordnance Corps, and was simultaneously redesignated as the 71st Ordnance Medium Maintenance Battalion. The battalion proceeded to serve with honor during World War II in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, Ardenned-Alsace, and Central Europe. The first chapter of the history closes with the reactivation of the battalion at Chaumont, France on 12 November, 1945. The present chapter begins on 15 March 1949, at Flak Kaserne, in Zirndorf, Germany, with the reactivation of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Battalion. In the years that followed, the battalion headquarters moved to Illesheim in 1951, then to Dachau in 1956, where it was redesignated Headquarters and Company A, 71st Maintenance Battalion. In 1972, the battalion moved to Fuerth, and was redesignated the 71st Supply and Maintenance Battalion. Current identity was assumed on Feb. 6, 1974, the battalion moved to Merrell Barracks in Nuernberg. In November 1986, the 71st Maintenance Battalion moved to its current location which is W.O. Darby Kaserne, in Fuerth. Today the battalion consists of a headquarters and headquarters detachment, the 45th Ordnance Company, the 156th Maintenance Company, the 317th Maintenance Company, and the 240th Supply and Service Company. Its present mission support area includes most of Northern Bavaria. The current authorized strength of the 71st Maintenance Battalion and its subordinate units is 1084 men and women. |
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| (Source: The Champion, May 10, 1989) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ORGANIZATION (1989): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 6th Ordnance Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1946 (3rd Army) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Bob Furley, 6th Ord Co & 531st Tank Maint Co) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was a Small Arms mechanic in the 6th Ord. Co. (Medium Automotive Maintenance) at Fürth, Germany, August to about October 1946. I believe it was part of either the 69th or 70th Ord. Group located in the same compound. There were other Ord. units also at some time in that period. While away on an inspection trip I was transferred to the 531st Tank Maint. Co. We wore the 3rd Army patch. Due to trouble that Tito was causing at Trieste, President Truman created what we were told was a secret organization. Believe this or not the group I was with was designated as "Company X'. All mail outgoing was censored. It was collected and sent back to Furth to be mailed from the APO there. We moved out by 2½ - ton GMC's and were told we would pick up equipment later. We finally arrived outside Munich close to Dachau and "Control Point A" whatever that was. It was a German Army kaserne across from a major DP camp and next to a very large minefield where some type of prisoners were probing for the mines and often goofed exploding the mine. I think I have some documents issued and marked Company X -- that is, if the 2004 hurricanes did not destroy them. We found all our shop trucks lined up in a field next to the kaserne. The rear doors of my Small Arms truck was sealed by 3 spot welds and when opened was fully equipped. Several days later we moved out in large convoys each truck hauling a 1 ½ - ton loaded trailer. It would have been a fairly simple movement except for the fact that each truck was fully loaded and pulling a loaded trailer. All, and I mean all, bridges large and small had been blown by the Germans. One large detour south of Munich required us to decend down into a valley on a dirt road bulldozed by our engineers. Slippery going down, murder climbing back up and out of the valley. My serial stalled on the way up and I started to slide backwards but stopped by the truck behind me. This allowed me to get into compound low with front wheel drive engaged. We were headed for Regensburg then to join the British troops on the Morgan Line guarding Trieste. Somewhere along the way south of the climb out we were diverted to a U.S. Constabulary compound (the 66th) at Deggendorf, Germany. After about a month we returned to Munich then back to Furth. On the way back to Furth I was driving a M26 tractor, the front half of a tank transporter, and was stopped by a full Colonel who broke down in his staff car. He probably got the ride of his life. Shortly after I got back to Furth I was ordered to drive a 1942 Plymouth staff car to 3rd Army Hqtrs at Seckenheim, Germany, outside of Heidelberg. I reported to Col. Nixon, G4 3rd Army, same guy I picked up on the road. Stayed with him and his French wife at their villa in Heidelberg. Never saw Hqtrs. Co. at Patton Barracks. Was told my CO was Col. Nixon. This was true of all General Staff drivers and also all General Officers drivers. When 3rd Army was deactivated in Feb. 1947 Lt. Gen. Keyes, 3rd Army C.G. was ordered to replace Gen. Clark as C.G. of the United States Forces in Austria. He took Col. Nixon with him and Nixon eventually took me to Vienna too. But not before I was made part of U.S. Constabulary Hqtrs who took over from 3rd Army. Then transferred to 7791 Hq. Co. Vienna and was assigned as chief driver and section chief for Lt. Gen Keyes. Nov. 1948 to Bremerhaven and troop ship back to the States for discharge. Stayed with the reserves and commissioned as a Infantry Officer 1953. |
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| 19.. - 19.. (87th Ord Bn) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from Ron Irwin, 6th Ord Co, 1959-61) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was stationed at the Artillery Kaserne, Nekarsulm, Germany with the 71th Ord. Battalion 6th Ord. Co. (DS) from 1959 - 1961. Here are some pictures from that time. I came over on the USNS Buttner and went home on the USNS Patch. One of the pictures is the Buttner docking in South Hampton, England and from there we went to Bremerhaven, Germany. Then an overnight train ride to Heilbronn where I was picked up and taken to Neckersulm. These are just pictures of the kaserne. One or two pictures of Operation Winter Shield.
I hope this helps you with your 6th ord. history. I was mechanic/currier/tank transport escort driver. I guess I am just like all the other G.I.'s, unhappy and lonely while I was there and today I wouldn't trade anything for the fond memories and friends I have made while there in Germany. I am proud to have served my country during the Cold War. |
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| (Source: Email from Steve Pace, 6th Ord Co, 1961-63) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 19.. - 19.. (71st Ord Bn) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Jon Lang) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was stationed at Artillery Kaserne in Neckarsulm, home of 6th Ord Co of the 71st Ord Bn, late 1963 to early 1965. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Jon Lang next to company sign |
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| 8th Ordnance Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (Source: Email from Jim Miller, 8th Ord Co (DS), 1961) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was assigned
to the 8th Ordnance Co. (DS) from 1962 through late 1964. I was transferred
to the 22nd Ord. Co (DS) in Munich until February 1965 when I was
discharged as an RA. The 8th Ord Co. supported the 11th A/C Regiment with troops in Straubing, Landshut and Regensburg, Bavaria. We had border duty at camps in Regen and Rohrbach on the Czech border that I can recall. The 11th Cav was rotated back to the States in 1964. In 1966, the 11th was deployed to Viet Nam where it served proudly. The crest on your website was the one I wore when I was discharged from the Army. The crest I wore in 8th Ordnance was a yellow shield with 3 swords pointed upward with the tips touching. Under the shield was a small dark blue banner with the latin words "Ad Alta" which means "To the Highest". I believe the Army moves crests around and have heard of this crest being used by other units as well. Jim Miller |
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| 22nd Ordnance Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1950 - 19.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 22nd was activated on 22 May 1950 as the 22nd Ordnance Company (Medium Maint)(US Cons) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22nd MAINTENANCE COMPANY MISSION: The 22nd Maintenance Company provides DS maintenance and technical supply support to up to 56 company sized non-divisional units, on an area basis. |
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SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION: The unit was activated at Augsburg, Germany on 20 July 1950 and assigned to the United States Constabulary. It was attached to the 19th Ordnance Battalion in Munich in October 1950 and to the 80th Ordnance Battalion at Dachau in October 1951. On 15 November 1951 it was reorganized and redesignated 22nd Ordnance Company Direct Support and attached to the 71st Ordnance Battalion at Munich in January 1953. The unit joined Army Task Force 201 on 18 July 1958 and sailed to Bierut, Lebanon, where it remained until 13 October 1958. On 2 July 1965 the 22nd Ordnance Company moved to Camp Dachau, Germany, where, on 5 August, through consolidation with the 78th Engineer Company, it was reorganized and redesignated as Company B, 1st Maintenance Battalion. On 21 December 1972 the company (B Co, 1st Maint Bn) was redesignated as 22nd Maintenance Company, Direct Support. During the early 1980s, two detachments of the 22nd Maint Co were located at Craislheim and Neckarsulm. Later, the detachments were expanded to four teams and relocated to Augsburg. |
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| 1953 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Bruce Samoore, 22nd Ord Co, 1953) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On July 4th 1953,
I arrived in Munich, Germany after arriving from Zweibrucken by train.
The Co. was billeted in Will Kaserne, north east of the city, just
across the road from Warner Kaserne. There were 150 men in the unit
and we were in direct support of 18 armoured units. I don't remember the number of our Battalion, but it was located in Illesheim, a former Luftwaffe air base. The village was nothing more than a small farm village, but it had a railhead. I remember when I was up there in Illesheim for a few days. They tried to send me up there to work in the office as a typist. I was settled in back at the Co., in parts supply working in the warehouse, and that place (Illesheim) didn't look to good, so I knew that if I didn't get out quickly, I'd be stuck. Fortunately I did, and was in the jeep on the way back in about two days. One thing that I do remember about the hangers around the airstrip (which was all grass) was the war time camouflage which had been painted on those buildings. Trees, etc which blended in well, and as you stood way out on the airstrip, you could hardly tell anything was there. And that was 8 years after the war was over! Would like to find someone who might have an aerial view of Will Kaserne. Really enjoyed my duty there. We worked hard, many times, 24 hours straight in order to get the tanks back out, as well as the 105s and 155's. Survived two Octoberfest's! Bruce Samoore Follow Up I've been thinking of some of the men that were with me in the company, most of whom were in Parts Supply. Thomas B. Holmes who was from Georgia, he is now deceased. Ryan S. Bailey, from Clarksville, TN, also deceased. Harvey Pack of Oklahoma, and still lives there. Jim White from Georgia. Jack Kidder of Pittsburgh, PA. I have forgotten many of the first names of so many, although I still remember their last names. Silva, Roche, Owens, Murphy. Just rambling now, but will get back to you. Can't remember for sure if our C.O.s name was Captain Gilbert Thomas, or Thomas Gilbert. He was a good man. |
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| (Source: Email from James D. Henry, 22nd Ord Co, 1953-56) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I arrived in Munich in Sept 1953. I was assigned to the 22nd Ordinance DS at Will Kaserne. We were part of the 71st Ord Battalion at Landshut. The shop foreman was MSGT. George Forester, from Georgia. He could remember the vehicle USA numbers of each of the trucks which were in the shop for repair. The Company clerk was Cpl Geipe. He had a photographic memory also. He could recite the entire company's Army serial numbers. I was in the Fire Control Instrument Repair Section. Sgt. A. J. Kyle was section chief. Msgt Bailey from Louisiana was head of the Artillery and Inst. Repair Section. Sgt. Crouch was the watch repairman. SFC Lang was over the Small Arms section. Some of the instrument repairmen were: Paul F. Corder, Flasqerud (from Iowa), one from Louisville KY and Lake Charles LA and others whose name I can't remember. Sometime in 1954 or 1955, our company Recovery Section recovered an ATOMIC Cannon which overturned in southern Bavaria (probably the first ever atomic cannon wreck). I left the 22nd in February,1956 and mustered out in Ft. Smith AR. |
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| 1956 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Marvin Ashmen, 22nd Ord Co, 1956-58) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was with the 22nd Ord Co from May 1956 to Oct 1958. My picture is the ninth down (see 22nd Ord Co group photo in Edward L. Sanders post) on the far left -- PFC Ashmen. I worked in the Instrument Section. I would like to post some pictures if possible. I found some old slides wrapped in tin foil taken back 1956/58. They look good for being so old. The 22nd Ord barracks was right behind the bomded out building (Photo #1). My old car is parked out front on the left. I was able to look out my window and see my car. The picture of the four buddies we were roommates; L to R: Charlie Peck* MacMillan Me Marvin Ashmen* and Loesch* ( the * means that these are in the Co. picture). The picture of me at the back gate shows a small village. I don't see the village in Google. Little history of me; after I was discharge from the Army in Nov 1958. I enlisted in the Air Force in Jan 63 and retired from the AF in 1980. I have a list of assignments on the classmates web page under my name school Gloucester High NJ. I have some pictures of downtown Munich at nite should you be interested. Oh, the tank picture was taken at Henry Kaserne.... |
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| (Source: Email from Edward L Sanders, 22nd Ord Co, 1956-59) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was assigned to the 22nd Ordnance Company from May 1956 until May 1959, we were in the Will Kaserne in Munich.
When I arrived the Company Commander was 1st Lt Baker, 1st Sgt was Kelsey. I also went to Beriut in 1958. I have a Unit picture taken in 1956 or 1957, there are 4 Commisioned Officers, 5 Chief Warrants and 165 Enlisted men. I was a private when I arrived and left a SP5, I retired in 1976 as a CWO 3. |
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| (Source: Email from Marlen Hagen, 22nd Ord Co, 1957-1958) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was assigned
to the 22nd Ordnance Company while completing
my training in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. I arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany
in July 1957 and traveled via train to Munich. The 22nd Ordnance was
located at Will Kaserne in the northeast section of Munich across
from the Warner Kaserne and was part of the 71st Ordnance Battalion.
I worked in the Orderly Room and the Personnel Department. Sometime after I arrived I went to Personnel School in Lenggries, Germany in the Bavarian Alps. I remember fellow soldiers like George C. Ward and Thomas Green III. Sgt. Carl Forte was our 1st Sargeant. Capt. Gadde was our company commander. In July 1958, the 22nd Ordnance Company became part of the American Land Forces and was transferred to Beirut, Lebanon. We stayed there about three months and then returned to Munich. I was transferred to Battalion Headquarters in Dachau for awhile. In December, I left for home via ship and was discharged at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. I spent two years in active reserve and two years inactive reserve. I understand (but not sure) that the 22nd Ordnance Company does not exist any longer. I was going to travel to Germany again but I understand that Will Kaserne is gated shut and weeds are growing all over. Marlen Hagan |
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| 1983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Heilbronn Community Circle, July 4 1983) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Farewell, Double Deuce "It's the last job we have for 3/84th ," says Second Lieutenant William Hargrave of 22nd Maintenance Company, as he points to a two and a half-ton truck "Double-Deuce." 22nd Maintenance provided direct support to 3/84th FA Bn for the past four years. As of June 20, 1983, 55th Maintenance Batalion in Neckarsulm will provide repairs such as engine and transmission problems for 3/84th. "We service about 25 jobs per month here," said Chief Warrant Officer Robert Ewing. 22nd Maintenance provides repair support for 53 companies. Their next assignment is in Augsburg, where the company will provide service for three Field Artillery Battalions. |
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| 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Heilbronn Eagle, Oct 25 1985) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supply stores keep customers operating By Mike Novogradac The 22nd Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion, wouldn't have any problem commercializing its supply operation, should it ever want to do so. According to Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Stone, the 22nd's supply technician, the unit actually contains three "stores" where its 37 customer units can "buy" Class IX repair parts. And like an auto parts supplier, customers can exchange items like batteries and brakeshoes for quality rebuilt parts. In their Quick Supply Store, the maintenance unit's customers can choose from over 640 items - nuts, bolts, windshield wipers, light bulbs, etc., on a walk-in basis. "They're free to customers," said Stone. "We call it `instant gratification.' " The heart of the 22nd's complex operation, however, is a fully mobile computer system. Known as the DAS-3 (Decentralized, Automated Service Support System), the computer is capable of operating in many different environments and it even goes to the field during lengthy exercises. |
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| Another more important marvel of the DAS-3 is how it assists the 22nd's customer units. "On a quarterly basis it suggests to our customers what they should stock," Stone said. "It looks at what they've ordered in the past and provides them with a suggested prescribed load list of what they should keep on hand." Stone explained that when this load list is reviewed and followed by customers, jobs at both ends of the supply channel could be honed to a fine edge. "We've got a good system here, and the people who run it are good too," said Stone. "At times, I believe that some customers think we're a K-Mart and they want to go up and down our aisles to get what they want." |
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| 156th Maintenance Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: JOBBER, Sept 22, 1986) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance company supports variety of units By Robert Mitchem "I feel the performance and unit support of the soldiers assigned I to this unit is superb," said SFC Willy Hightower, acting first sergeant of the 156th Maintenance Company, 71st Maintenance Battalion. "This company is the second largest in the battalion and its mission is that of automotive. communications, engineering and electronic maintenance, supply and recovery." The 156th Maint. Co. is made up of four Maintenance Support Teams and the base company. Its primary customer unit is the 210th Field Artillery Brigade (1) according to Capt. Jon Provost, the company commander. Two of his 15-man teams are located at Herzo Artillery Base while the other two are at Ansbach and Merrell Barracks. The remainder of his company is stationed at Pinder Kaserne in Zirndorf. "Beside the 210th FA," he continued, "we support 46 other VII Corps units because the 614th Maintenance Company, 71st Maint. Bn. used to be the only other maintenance support unit for the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment until we absorbed part of their load. "We get customers coming to us from Regensburg, Grafenwoehr and beyond," he said. "It seems every month I get another customer and I have no idea where they came from." "I'd say we work between 55 and 90 hours a week," said SP4 Aaron Williams, a storage handling specialist who works in the unit's parts supply warehouse. "Last night, for example, at about 9 o'clock, we had a shipment come in to the warehouse and the CQ had to get one of the warehouse people from the barracks up to receive the load. We are also required to have any shipment we receive, stocked and processed through the computer within 24 hours of receiving it," said Williams. "Practically the only time you won't find somebody in the warehouse is on major holidays like Christmas or Easter," Williams continued. Besides the time spent in the warehouse shipping, receiving and processing nearly 3,500 repair parts, Williams said the warehouse and maintenance crews spend a fair amount of time in the field. "Every time one of the artillery units goes to the field we have to support them there. There seems to be somebody going out about once a month for about two weeks each month," he said. "I used to be a cannon crewman on an M109 (Howitzer) at Fort Stewart before I changed my MOS and came here. I thought I had it rough there. That's why I changed career fields. Actually the hours are longer and the work is harder here," said Williams. "I belong to one of the mobile repair teams that goes out from the base company at Pinder," said Pvt. 2 Craig Trotter, an artillery repairman. "We have people that can repair everything that might go wrong from truck air conditioners to jeeps, Vulcans to small arms. We can do anything -- we even built two concession booths used at our Organization Day," said Trotter. Although his troops work long, hard hours, Provost claims the morale within the unit is good and seems to be constantly improving. According to Pvt. 2 Ken Warriner, an artillery repairman on the Ansbach support team, his good morale has a lot to do with how his team does business. After explaining that it was his job to fix "gun-dog" mistakes, "everything in the turret that makes the gun shoot," he added, "When we have a job that is held up because parts aren't available, we scrounge for what we need." "We don't wait if we can help it. If we know of someplace where a particular part is (available), we order the part like we are supposed to, but we also arrange to borrow or trade for what we need. We don't just wait around for parts. We get things fixed and gone as quick as we can. We're squared away," he said. On October 1, the 182nd Maintenance Company, 7lst Maint. Bn., is reorganizing to become the 317th Maintenance Company, 71st Maint. Bn. Provost said that when that happens, the new unit will be "picking up our non-combat arms customers. This will remove those 46 other customers we have and then we can concentrate on the 210th FA." (1) At this time, the 21th FA Brigade is comprised of four field artillery battalions: 2nd Bn, 12th FA (LANCE) (former 2nd Bn, 377th FA); 5th Bn, 17th FA (former 3rd Bn, 37th FA) at Herzo; 3rd Bn, 17th FA (former 2nd Bn, 28th FA) at Bleidorn Bks, Ansbach; and 3rd Bn, 5th FA at O'Brien Bks, Schwabach. |
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| 317th Maintenance Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 - 19.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: JOBBER , Dec 1, 1986) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 317th Maint. Co. on new mission BUDS, MCEP by Robert Mitchem On October 2, the 182nd Maintenance Company, 71st Maintenance Battalion at Merrel Barracks, rolled up its old company guidon for the last time and unfurled its new guidon, the symbol of its new designation, the 317th Maintenance Company. With the change in designation came a new mission for the company of over 300 soldiers. It shed its nomer as a direct support/general support unit, and became an intermediate direct support asset to all VII Corps units in and around Nuernberg. According to company commander, Capt. Karl M. Friedman, the unit has, in concept, two distinct missions. Yet, in actuality, there are four. "First, we provide what is called Back-Up Direct Support, or BUDS, to the 1st Armored Division, the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the 210th Field Artillery. We reinforce their direct support assets," he said. "Then, we provide direct support to `all other' Corps units within a 500-square-kilometer radius of Nuernberg. "These two conceptual missions break down into four more specific mission," Friedman continued. "Number one, we provide direct support maintenance for our customers' fire control systems, power generators, engineer equipment, communications, electronics equipment, radar, radios, night vision devices, teletype, and we provide support in the allied trades, such as carpentry, machine work, welding and fabrication with metals. "Number two, we have a Supply Support Activity, a warehouse full of Class IX repair parts for all motor pools and Direct Support Shops of our customer units," said Friedman. The two remaining missions are the responsibility of the 60-man Material Collection and Exchange Platoon (MCEP). "MCEP runs what is basically a holding operation," said Friedman. The platoon "takes in all excess serviceable and unserviceable Class VII and Class II (control) items from Corps. The parts and/or systems we get either end up going through redistribution, lateral transfer to another unit, cannibalization, or they become part of our Class IX stock," Friedman continued. The Forward Storage Site, which stocks the Class IX major repair parts an some high priority components, is the other half of the platoon's mission. Programs that the company has implemented to augment their support of the community and the Corps are a scrap metal for money program, and, as part of BUDS, forward support teams provide on-the-spot support to elements of the 1st Armored Division when they go to the field. "Most people don't understand what MCEP is or what it does," said SSgt. Barrington Mullins, the platoon's senior inspector. "There are people in our company who don't understand what we do, or at least the specifics involved. And nobody can understand why we claim to work as hard and as long as we do, when all we do is 'operate the Cann Point.' " Although the Cannibalization Point is one of the platoon's most popular sections, it is far from being the unit's only operation. For example, before a condemmed truck ever reaches the 'junkyard,' it must be inspected, documented, classified, disassembled, stored, and stripped of all salvagable major assemblies. MCEP's purpose is to return serviceable and unserviceable items to the supply system and dispose of scrap metal. The first step to oblivion for any piece of equipment which comes to the MCEP for disposal is the inspection station. "We're the ones who verify for the Army that a particular piece of equipment is worthless," said Mullins. "When the unit brings in the equipment, we check the paperwork to make sure the stock number matches the equipment. We also verify the equipment condition code and insure all parts issued with the equipment (as listed in the operations manual) is there. " Mullins explained that the major condition codes are A, B, F, G, H and P. "Sometimes, due to a Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) change, a unit may turn in equipment that has never been removed from its box. These essentially new items are classified as code A," he said. Code B items are used items which are good and serviceable. Code F items are unserviceable, but economically repairable. Code G's are equipment, such as trucks, which are missing items. Code P's are items which are uneconomically repairable by Army standards, yet are still repairable. And at the far end of the scale are Code H items, which are condemned nothing recoverable. Mullins said that even when a piece of equipment is listed Code G, every missing item must be accounted for. "When equipment is turned in, all items listed in the operators manual must accompany it," he said. "For example, a truck that gets turned in must still have a jack, spare tire, steering wheel, etc. Or, they must be accounted for in the paperwork. Even then, " he continued, "when the value of the missing items exceeds $100, the company commander and the battalion commander must sign for it. If not, equipment will be turned in that's been stripped and rendered totally useless. "We never know what's going to happen with a piece of equipment when we get it," said Mullins. "That decision isn't up to us, it's up to the 800th (Corps) Material Management Center in Nellingen. The 800th tells us where it's to be shipped, stored or transferred to." Using a computer hookup with the 800th, the MCEP may receive word to 'scrap' a particular piece of equipment. But before the truck finds itself rotting away in the cannibalization point, it will most likely spend some storage time in the unit's Class VII yard. Later, it will spend a few more hours in the platoon's motor pool, where it will be stripped. According to CW02 Ores W. Moore III, the MCEP's new platoon leader, "The Cannibalization Point cannot provide major assemblies or their integral components, but is an excellent source of supply for body and suspension parts, air and hydraulic lines and fittings, electrical components, and other hard to get items. There is also a good supply of serviceable tires and rims available for issue." Major components, such as engines and transmissions, are first removed for rebuild or salvage. "We turn as much as we can back into the Army supply system," said the outgoing platoon leader, Ist Lt. Martin E. Adams. The 'Cann Yard' is the big saver. By reusing parts that are still good, a unit doesn't have to waste time and money ordering from the manufacturer, and the Army saves on transportation costs. "If you run a `Cann Yard,' you become a pretty popular guy," Adams added: "The word gets around on the things you have, especially if you carry some low density (rare) items." When a truck's skeleton has been picked bare and appears totally useless, that's when it gasps its last breath and turns into money for the Army. "What we do is take our scrap metal to the Defense Reutilization Marketing Office, which, in turn, sells it to German contractors," said Friedman. "Those funds are then poured back into the community's Non-appropriated Fund account. "Taking on the new mission added approximately 30 names to our list of customers," said Friedman. "We had to take existing areas and existing personnel, shuffle things around, and accept the challenge. Well these soldiers knew they were on the cutting edge of something new. They met the challenge, and I think defeated it. We are now known as having the best of the three MCEPs in the Corps, and I'm very proud of my people. "Our goal is that we want to be the best company in 2nd SUPCOM," he added. "We want to be known as having the best leaders, the best admin, and doing the best mission." |
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| 334th Ordnance Company (Field Service) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1955 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Dennis Daly) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dennis Daly was an Army dependent in 1955 living in Illesheim, Germany. His father, Capt. Lawrence R. Daly, was assigned to the 71st Ordnance Bn. from 7/1955 - 9/1957 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 504th Maintenance Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1958 - 19.. (87th Ord Bn) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Bill Specht, 504th Ord Co, 1958-61) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I served with the 504th Ord Co from 1958-1961 in Nellingen Kaserne, Germany. Has the 504th been phased out or where are they now? Just a lot of proud memories . Here's what I remember about the 504th. It was at Ft. Bragg, N.C. as the 504th Ord. Co. (HAM). Under Operation Gyroscope in 1958 the company was transferred to Germany and placed under the 87th Ord. Bn. at Nellingen Kaserne, Nellingen, Germany. The 87th Ord.Bn.was part of the 47th Ord.Group, 7th U.S.Army. In 1959 company was redesignated as the 504th Ord. Co (GAS) {General Automotive Support}. My last C.O. was Capt.Phillip Tieman, 1st. Sergeant was Bobbie R. McGuire. Hope this help's |
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| 19.. - 19.. (71st Ord Bn) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from George Sleboda) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was stationed with 504th Ord Co from 1963 to 1966. In 1965 we moved from Nellingen to the Ammo Dump at Bamberg and reorganized as C Company, 71st Maint Bn. You may want to correct your "comments" under "organization". Webmaster Note: According to the above information, the COSTAR changes (in 1965) for the 71st Ord Bn would have included the following reorg & redes actions:  556th Ord Co ---> A Company, 71st Maint Bn537th Ord Co ---> B Company, 71st Maint Bn504th Ord Co ---> C Company, 71st Maint Bn |
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| (Source: Email from Ray Connole) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Since I was searching for info on Nuernberg I decided to try my old unit. I found the 71st Maint Bn. I served in the 504th Maintenance Company in Bamberg from 1975 to 1978. We lived on that God forsaken site called Muna Kaserne. The only thing bright about that place was the park and the pond in the middle of the site. I recall from outgoing personnel that it was C Company until 1974 and had the distinction of the last draftee posted there. Muna was a world of its own and was isolated almost like MASH. Warner Barracks was a couple of miles away and we did the repair and resupply to the artillery, engineer and cavalry units posted in Bamberg. I spent many a day in Graf and Vilseck supporting them. My most vivid memory of that time was the MIG that flew in circled the city and left. That was in 1976 and on a Saturday. While hanging around the barracks area a bunch of us heard the roughest sounding jet roar none of us knew what it was. After looking around it came back around and we saw this low flying jet with red stars heading back east. Talk about pucker factor. This was the stuff you only see on TV or the movies. Now you may ask why the sight of a jet would cause such and uproar? Muna housed the ammo bunkers, fuel depot for Bamberg and an Army HAWK missile battery. Just the thought of that going up in a fireball was an adrenaline rush. From then on a few of us wore sun glasses on our pockets as an in-joke. When asked we would reply we didn't want to hurt our eyes from the big flash when our site goes up. From then on sunglasses were the norm until asked to discontinue it or else. Probably the worse thing about being in Germany at that time was the prevalence of drugs. Bamberg was a hub and it was a shame. It even made Parade magazine as a top narcotics delivery point after I got out. That the use of drugs was such accepted behavior and not cracked down on by the Army was criminal. I know that a few guys who started out good, lost their way due to easy access and the casual attitude about it. To this day I remember a sergeant telling me as long as you're straight for formation no one will hassle you. |
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