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516th Signal Group
Central Army Group
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please email me (webmaster).

1957 Annual History



 
Group History
(Source: Annual Historical Report - 1957, 516th Signal Group, APO 164)
Following WWII, the 3367th Signal Service Battalion was redesignated as the 516th Signal Service Battalion in Guam. It was re-designated as the 516th Signal Group in Germany on 10 February 1954. HHD, 516th Signal Group was located at Neureut Kaserne in Karlsruhe.

The mission of the Group was to support Central Army Group (CENTAG) with tactical communications during command post exercises and maneuvers and in the event of an emergency.

In 1957, the 516th comprised the following attached units:

UNIT DESIGNATION

DUTY STATION COMMENTS
HHD, 516th Sig Gp Karlsruhe
17th Sig Bn (Opr) (1) Karlsruhe
29th Signal Bn (Cons) (2)
447th Sig Bn (Cons) (3)
6980th CLG (Cons) (4)
6981st CLG (Cons) (4)
175th Sig Co (Svc) Angevillers, France
4038th LS Co (Cons)
125th Sig Co (French)

The above-listed units participated in normal and specialized training, operational missions, and in installing and maintaining fixed-plant communications facilities when not committed to their primary mission.

The 516th Sig Gp also operated and maintained, on a full-time basis, the minimum essential communications required at the Allied Alternate Radio Relay Site (AARRS) pursuant to instructions from CENTAG Signal Office. This mission was performed by the 175th Signal Company (Svc), augmented by personnel from the 17th Signal Battalion (Opr).

Also, this headquarters furnished personnel and equipment to Seventh Army, EUCOM, SHAPE, Com Z, 4th Signal Group, and various Military Army Advisory Groups (MAAGs) in support of their normal operations or field exercises.

In addition to that, the major signal construction effort was performed by elements of the US, German, and Polish signal construction units assigned to the Group for the installation and maintenance of fixed-plant facilities in Germany and France.

The Class IV signal projects included all types of signal construction and maintenance for Area Commands, Seventh Army, and USAREUR Signal Command.

The Commander of the 516th acted as senior commander at Neureut Kaserne and was responsible for the functions of Barracks Coordinator (Post Commander). This included participating in local German-American activities and providing special services to organizations in the American community.

In Fiscal Year 1957 plans were made and prepared for the objective layout and reorganization of AARRS. Wartime emergency plans of this headquarters and all subordinate units were completly reviewed and revised.

NOTE: The group was deactivated in Germany on 13 November 1967

(1) The 17th Signal Battalion was reactivated on July 5, 1950 at Karlsruhe, Germany.
It was inactivated September 25, 1965.

17th Signal Battalion DUI

NOTE: On March 16, 1981, the Battalion was reactivated under the 22nd Signal Brigade at Höchst, Germany, and entrusted with the mission of providing Command and Control Communications to the V Corps (US) Commanding General and subordinate units. In December of 1992 the Battalion moved to its current home on Larson Barracks in Kitzingen, Germany. More about this battalion will be posted in the future on the 17th Signal Battalion Page.
(2) Redesignated 15 August 1949 as the 29th Signal Construction Battalion.
Allotted to the Regular Army on 31 October 1950.
Redesignated 20 October 1953 as the 29th Signal Battalion (Construction).
Inactivated 12 August 1963 in France.

29th Signal Battalion DUI

NOTE: More about this battalion will be posted in the future on the 29th Signal Battalion Page.
(3) HHD, 447th Sig Bn was located at D'Isley Kaserne, Pirmasens, APO 189, in 1956.
The battalion's mission was to support the 516th Signal Gp in the construction and maintenance of various types of wire and cable projects in both germany and France. Also provided support to the 516th on various maneuvers.
The battalion was reorganized under TO&E 11-250 on 13 February 1956.

447th Signal Battalion DUI

NOTE: More about this battalion will be posted in the future on the 447th Signal Battalion Page.

NOTE: 447th Signal Battalion website contains a very nice Picture Archive from the mid 1950s.
(4) See the 6981st Civilian Support Center Page for more historical details on the 6980th and 6981st CLGs.
 
If you have more information on the history or organization of the 516th Sig Gp, please contact me.
 
(Source: 516th Sig Gp stein, 1957-59 - found on eBay, May 2005)
Commemorative stein probably given to a Maj. Francis C. Moore (?) in 1959

LIST OF OFFICERS ON SIDE OF STEIN
Col. Wm. A. Glass Jr, - Gp CO
Lt. Col. P.W. Mirras, - Gp. Exec.
Lt.Col. D.R. Hodges, - Sp. Asst.
Lt. Col. G.A. Welde, - Gp. S-3
Capt. J.B. King, - Asst. S-3
Capt. W.H. Lowrey, - Asst. S-3
1st Lt. R.A. Ironside Jr. - Asst. S-3 (?)
Maj. B.E. Richardson - Gp. S-4
Capt. D.E. Noble - Asst. S-4
Capt. C.B. Poston Jr. - Gp. Adj. S-1
CWO T.F. Schatzman - Gp. Pers. Off.
1st Lt. W.B. Valen - Gp. Sp. Svc. Off.

UNIT CRESTS DISPLAYED ON SIDE OF STEIN
17th SIG BN (OPN)
447th SIG BN (CONS)
29th SIG BN (CONS)
6980 LS SIG CONS BN
6981 LS SIG CONS BN
 
(Source: Email from David R. Paul)
I was assigned to 516th Signal Group in June of 1956 and returned to Conus in July 1957.

I voluntered for the draft in October 1955, took basic training and clerk's school at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. In March 1956 I was assigned to Repl Co at Fort Leonard Wood and was levyed to Germany in May 1956. I was one of several new privates to arrive at Neureut Kaserne. I will have more information when I review my file copy of orders.

I was assigned as S1 clerk and had responsibility for personnel records of the 516th Group, including all enlisted and officer personnel. Captain Poston was adjutant at the time. Lt Mears was assistant adjutant. I also, had responsibility for assembling applications to marry German nationals and section 8 discharges. Eventually, I was responsible for all orders for transportation back to Conus. Not suprisingly, all the Hq detachment personnal from the 516th flew back!

Also, I became responsible for all TDY funds and made many trips back and forth to Heidelberg, to coordiante with the DA civilian.

I learned quickly about the bureaucratic process of spending all the money before the fiscal year end, so the next year's allocation would not be reduced. As a result many officers (mostly) and a few enlisted went on TDY to Thionville, with side trips to Luxembourg and Paris!

I'll stop for now, but I have some other (amusing, at least to us at the time, stories) about my time with the 516th Signal. I stayed in the reserve after returning. The money helped getting through Iowa State. I got a reserve comission in 1962 and retired as a Major in the Adjutant General Corps. Now 68 years old and enjoying the retirement pay and benefits since age 60.
David R. Paul
 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, May 1963)
Photo Van Serves Grand Slam II

KARLSRUHE, Germany (Special) -- A unique and self-sustaining photo laboratory on wheels from the USAREUR Pictorial Center and attached to the 516th Signal Gp is providing photo coverage for NATO's exercise Grand Slam 11.Primarily intended to process aerial reconnaissance photos for Army intelligence during wartime, the laboratory's peacetime mission encompasses photographic coverage of field exercises, disaster areas,and temporary duty with such units as the 516th Signal Gp.The laboratory but itself, mounted on the bed of a 2?i-ton truck consists of three compartments, the largest being no morethan 6 feet in length, separated by lightproof and sliding doors.Each compartment is so designed as to perform a separate film processing operation. In the front of the van, the film is developed. The negatives then go to the center compartment where prints aremade and enlarged. Finally, the prints are washed and dried in a compartment in the rear of the lab.
Within the interior is an intricate plumbing and electrical system where all mechanical operations can be performed and controlled without leaving the confines of the laboratory.
Hot and cold running water are continuously supplied from a 50gallon water tank to four large photo processing sinks located throughout the lab.
In winter, a gas heater keeps the compartments at a comfortable temperature. During hot and humid weather, a half-ton air conditioner circulates cool air.
Although the laboratory usually hooks up to commercial electrical and water outlets, it can function with its own generator and water purificator.
In the most severe cases, the lab can operate in the absence of e generator, obtaining limited power from the truck's battery.
On priority assignments, the van can turn an exposed film into a finished print in less than five minutes.
The three-man photo lab team who operate the van are one group of continuously rotating teams from the USAREUR Photographic Center on temporary duty with the 516th and stationed with the 69th Signal Co.
For the past 11 months, the vanIhas been in continuous operation, providing photo coverage for the 516th.
During this period, it has accompanied the 516th on three field exercise, producing more than 500 photographs for PIO and home. town news releases as well as reference photos.