USAREUR Units - 2nd QM Group

Quartermaster General Order #15, Headquarters United States Army Europe, dated 12 December 1950 brought about the activation of the 2nd Quartermaster Group at Giessen, Germany less than a month after Seventh Army's assignment to the NATO team. Activated on 20 December 1950, the Group provides the logistical support necessary for the deterent capability of 7th Army and the NATO Allies in the defense of Western Europe.

Differing greatly from its mission during World War II (transporting Class I and Class V supplies and miscellaneous transport missions), the demands of modern warfare vastly increased the Group's mission. With its increased capability the Group was charged with providing Class I, Class II and IV, Class III supplies and Quartermaster Maintenance and Services to the 3rd Infantry, 4th Armored, and 24th Infantry Division, VII Corps and 7th Army troops and USAREUR units in Germany.

Commanding the Group during its initial period of reactivation was Colonel Floyd C. Harding who commanded from 20 December until April of 1951.

On 1 June 1951, the 35th Quartermaster Battalion was activated and attached to the Group at Roth, Germany. The 56th Quartermaster Battalion at Nürnberg, the 14th at Hanau and the 15th at Munich were attached to the Group in October 1951.

Later, the 35th Quartermaster Battalion moved to Coffee Barracks in Ludwigsburg where it was later to be joined by the 2nd Quartermaster Group Headquarters.

Coming to the Group from Seventh Army Headquarters where he was Deputy Quartermaster from December 1950 until April 1951, Colonel Maxwell Emerson took command on April 1951. He entered the service in August 1941 and serviced with the Post Quartermaster, Fort Devons, Massachusetts, and Fort Adams, Rhode Island. With this unit of Fort Adams, he went to the South West Pacific Theatre to participate in the New Guinea and Papuan Campaigns. Colonel Emerson won the Silver Star Medal in the campaign at Burma and holds the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon with two Bronze Stars and a Bronze Arrowhead.

Colonel Emerson took command the same date that 7th Army took control of the 2nd Quartermaster Group from the Giessen Depot. At the end of March 1951 the Group was charged with the command and operation of Camp Y-79. This Camp, at which the 2nd QM Group set up the entire operation, was for the processing of all new Divisions and odd Battalions arriving from the United States. Later the Camp was placed under the control of 7th Army Transportation Group. Later, during 1951, the 2nd Quartermaster Group was moved from Giessen Depot to Karls Kaserne in Ludwigsburg.

On 23 July 1952 Colonel Beuford E. Pittman took command of the Group. Before joining the Group, Colonel Pittman fought in the Mediterranean Theatre in 1944-45, assigned as Deputy Quartermaster of the 91st Infantry Division. Later, after completing his work for a degree from Yale University, he served in the Far Eastern Theatre as a member of the G-4 Division, GHQ.

During Colonel Pittman's command the Group developed a bulk gasoline dispenser using a powerdriven front end pumper which allowed refuelling of four tank vehicles at one time. Two removable 750 gallon skid-type tanks were used on standard 2-1/2 ton trucks. This experiment proved very successful at the time.

On 10 October 1954 Colonel Kenneth M. Hurst took command of 2nd Quartermaster Group.

Adequate records not being available to pinpoint the exact date the Group moved from Karls Kaserne to Coffey Barracks, it can be given as sometime between 1952 and October 1954. This move to Coffey Barracks placed the Group and the 35th Quartermaster Battalion on the same post.

Colonel Hurst was Quartermaster of the 5th Infantry Division before coming into the Group. He is a veteran of the European Theatre with four campaign credits in France and Germany. He served initially with the 49th Quartermaster Battalion and later with the 474th Quartermaster Group. His collegiate studies were completed in Western Illinois State College and the University of Virginia.

During Colonel Hurst's command he advocated the concept of using Direct Support Companies along with General Hodes (Commanding General of Seventh Army) idea of alternate-multiple supply points in the field. A test of these two concepts proved them workable and they were both adopted.

Following Colonel Hurst was Colonel James D. Ogletree who took command of the 2nd Quartermaster Group on 13 April 1956. During Colonel Ogletree's command the 95th Quartermaster Battalion was attached to the Group on 20 February 1957. Then located at Strassburg Kaserne, Idar Oberstein, Germany, the Battalion was the first to take operational control of Direct Support Platoons engaged in MASS (Modern Army Supply System).

During the month of July 1958 an exchange of command placed the Group under command of Colonel Roland F. Hartman. During his command the 6th Quartermaster Group was activated thus giving the 7th Army two Quartermaster Groups in support of the two Tactical Corps. The 6th Quartermaster Group was originally organized as the Hanau Quartermaster Group (Provisional), effective 17 July 1958, with duty stations at Hanau, Germany. The Group had the responsibility of providing Quartermaster support in USAREUR Northern and Western Area Commands. On 1 October 1958, Hanau Quartermaster Group (Provisional), with two attached battalions, the 14th and the 15th Quartermaster Battalions, became fully operational under the command of Colonel Clifford T. Riordan. The Group was redesignated the 6th Quartermaster Group on 1 December 1958. This Group was originally constituted as the 535th Quartermaster Group on 15 June 1944.

On 10 November 1958 Colonel Howard F. Kuenning assumed command of the 2nd Quartermaster Group. Following Colonel Kuenning was Lt Colonel Dave Price who was in temporary command from December 1959 to January 1960.

On 3 January 1960 the Group command was assumed by Colonel Robert M. Stegmaier. One day later, on 4 January 1960 the 56th Quartermaster Battalion was transferred to the 6th Quartermaster Group.

By authority contained in USAREUR General Order #304, 29 September 1961, the 242nd Quartermaster Battalion was reactivated at Freiham, Germany. Based on the modern concept of Direct Support, the mission of the Battalion was to provide a single source of Quartermaster supply, services and field maintenance to units of USAREUR and Seventh Army.

On 28 July 1961 Colonel Frank J. Stanek assumed command of the 2nd Quartermaster Group. Colonel Stanek was quite active in, and did much to further the cause of German-American relations in the Ludwigsburg area. He is the sole possessor of two records which point to his outstanding capability. Colonel Stanek has the distinction of not only commanding the group for the longest period but also for being the youngest Colonel in command.

Soon after Colonel Blackwell assumed command of the Group, it was called upon to supply critical support to one of the United States most significant operations, operation "BIG LIFT. " During October and November of 1963 the 2nd Quartermaster Group gave a real challenge and a chance to show what they could do during 'round the clock operations.' Supplying 20 tanker drivers, a fuel system supply point for the 2nd Armored Division and a Class III railhead for refuelling all aircraft at the three air bases utilized, the Group rendered the efficient support necessary for the smooth function of operation "BIG LIFT."

In late 1963 a devastating earthquake shook the town of Scopje, Yugoslavia. To help in the rebuilding the 39th Engineer Group from Karlsruhe was called on to render their assistance, and to support the needs of the Engineers the Bath Section of the 35th Quartermaster Battalion and the Laundry Section of the 242nd Quartermaster Battalion supplied their services in Scopje.

During the period between 15 May 1964 and 15 March 1965, 2nd Quartermaster Group was given the task of testing 16 GOER Vehicles for the Department of Army. This test included 7 - 5, 000 gallon tankers, 7 - 2, 500 gallon tankers, 1 - 10 ton wrecker and 1 - 20 ton wrecker. The Group provided 20 drivers from all battalions and 6 mechanics for the duration of the test.

On 5 June 1964 the 2nd Quartermaster Group displayed and demonstrated all types of POL handling equipment within and in support of Seventh Army. Presented especially for General William W. Quinn, Seventh Army Commander, all unit commanders in Germany came to view the demonstration or sent a representative of the unit. Among the visitors were General Pierce, Asst Division Commander of the 4th Armored Division, General Hines, USAREUR Quartermaster and General Enemarck, Asst Division Commander of the 24th Infantry Division.

In September of 1964 Brigadier General Case, USAREUR Quartermaster visited the Group Headquarters and was given a briefing of the Group by Colonel Fredric C. Bott. Brigadier General Case received a tour of all units in the Ludwigsburg area; Class II and IV Supply Point, the ICD, Class I and III yard and the Maintenance Shop.

Coming into the service on 14 October 1940 and rising from the rank of Private to that of Major by the end of hostilities, Colonel Fredric C. Bott became the 2nd Quartermaster Group's new Commander on 18 July 1964. Colonel Bott saw action during World War II in North France, Central Europe, the Ardenes and in the Rhineland Campaign.

During 1964 the 2nd Quartermaster Group held two all-Group competitions. The Driver Rodeo in August was won by the excellent driving ability of the men in the 35th Quartermaster Battalion. In November the sharpshooters of the 95th Quartermaster Battalion placed number one in the competition garnering 24 out of 29 trophies.

Although too numerous to mention but too important to evade are the many Field Training Exercises and Army Training Tests which the Group participated in. The Group supported all Seventh Army Quartermaster needs up until the time the 6th QM Group was formed in 1958 and all of Seventh Army's needs in Southern Germany after the formation of the 6th QM Group.

The 2nd Quartermaster Group was inactivated at a very stirring ceremony at Coffey Barracks, Ludwigsburg, Germany on 25 June 1965. Participating in the ceremony were troops from the 35th, 95th, 242d QM Battalions and the 109th Medium Transportation Company which was attached to the 35th QM Battalion. The colors and guiden were retired and mailed to the Quartermaster Corps Museum at Ft Lee, Virginia. Personnel from the 2d Quartermaster Group joined with personnel of the 47th Ordnance Group to form the 3rd Support Brigade, one of the three brigades formed under COSTAR. The 6th Quartermaster Group at Hanau, Germany and the 51st Ordnance Group formed the 2nd Support Brigade.