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Army Engineer Depots (Com Z)
Communications Zone
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).

COMZ Main Page

Rhine Engr Depot

Kaiserslautern Engr Depot

Chinon Engr Depot

Toul Engr Depot

Related Links

 
Chinon Engineer Depot
1952
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Aug 3, 1952)
The Chinon Engineer Depot held its first military review recently, The following units participated (giving us an idea of which units were stationed at the depot at that time):
(HQ/HQ Det) 523rd Engineer Service Bn
52nd Engineer Parts Supply Co
581st Engineer Field Maintenance Co
80th Engineer Company
986th Engineer Pipeline Co
355th Engineer Company
7925th Labor Service Det (Polish)

The STATION LIST for 13 June 1952 identifies the 80th as a Depot company. The List also states that the 355th, also a Depot company, is located at Kaiserslautern, but on TDY at Chinon.
1953
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, March 28 & December 29, 1953)
 
The Chinon Engineer Depot () was established in December 1951. It began as a sub-depot of the Rhine Engineer Depot in Kaiserslautern, but has been elevated to a Class I installation and is now assigned to Poitiers Disrtict.

Today, the depot is still in a construction phase. When completed, the depot will fill more than 2,600 acres of warehouses, sheds and hardstands with everything from nails to cranes. The installation has over 10 miles of rail tracks and 18 miles of asphalt roads.
Facilities at the depot are still primitive. Hutments, tents, coal stoves and mud still characterize the living conditions for the 1,200 troops stationed at the depot. However, some of the amenities are coming along. Headquarters troops have just moved into brand new concrete buildings with oil heat. A new EM service club has opened at the depot.

Movies are still in a 250-seat tent theater, but a PX, commissary and library have recently been completed. Before, soldiers and dependents had to make a 180-mile round-trip to Orleans to do their shopping in a commissary or PX.
1957
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, March 6, 1957)
Com Z Pipeline Training School

The Pipeline Training School at Chinon, the only school of its kind in USAREUR, is completing its second year of operation. The 543rd Engineer (Pipeline) Company at Chinon serves as the school's permanent cadre.

The school runs a month-long course that teaches the ins and outs of oil pipelines to construction engineers from Army engineer battalions throughout France and Germany. With the most recent class to go through the training cycle, several representatives of other NATO armies also attended the course. The 30-day course is comprised of an accelerated curriculum and a minimum of class time with a maximum of practical work. The 543rd runs four cycles through the school each year. (Plans call for each company that has graduated from the Pipeline Training School to return to the school for a refresher course.)

Among the subjects covered are tank construction; hydraulics; safety measures with combustible fuels; pipeline and pump station construction; and the operation of special engineer equipment used in pipeline construction. The three weeks of lectures, training films and practical work are followed by a five-day field problem during which the company in training will build, operate and then dismantle an entire pipeline system.

Unlike most other USAREUR training centers, the pipeline school teaches and entire engineer company in each class. (The most recent unit to be put through the course was Company B, 97th Engr Bn from Toul.) The 543rd provides no logistical or administrative support to the incoming class (company). Each incoming class moves into a vacant company area at the depot where it continues to function as an integral unit, with its own officers, mess and supply personnel.
If you have more information on the history or organization of the Chinon Engineer Depot or Chinon Army Hospital, please contact me.
 
Toul Engineer Depot
1951 - 1966
 
The Birth and Growth of the Toul Storage Site

The US Army Engineer Depot Toul () was activated on 26 September 1951 under the Command of Lt Colonel H. Dejarnette, III, then Commanding Officer of 552nd Engineer Service Battalion. There was little evidence that the area was once an airfield used during World War I and II.
The third platoon of the 83rd Engineer Depot Company and the first platoon of the 420th Engineer Field Maintenance Company were given the task of clearing the area of mud and debris.
 
Facilities at the time of activation consisted of only 15 buildings. Storage facilities were inadequate and trained personnel mere insufficient to handle the supplies as they arrived in November 1951. A tent city had been established by the 83rd Engineer Depot Company and 420th Engineer Field Maintenance Company upon their arrival and construction started on covered working space, storage pads, and roads. Lack of trained personnel hampered early construction efforts.

In the latter part of 1951, contracts were let to European construction firms for the construction of warehouses, rail spurs, permanent roads, storage areas and administrative buildings to make the US Army General Depot, Toul, a thriving military establishment.
The growing pains were many, the hours long and the first phase of construction of troop housing and rail spurs was not completed until late May 1952. More and more units arrived for integration into the mission of the Depot, and in December 1952, the US Army Engineer Depot, Toul, was changed from a Class II installation to a Class I installation.

Initial plans for the US Army Engineer Depot, Toul contemplated a relatively inactive type depot, since the supplies to be stored were to be primarily reserve stocks.

In 1955, plans were changed as the depot was to become the primary engineer issue depot for all of France and Germany. However, plans were again revised in 1956, providing for the depot to have a distribution mission for France only.

On 19 June 1959, the Toul Depot was redesignated as a General Depot with an Ordnance as well as an Engineer Supply Mission. On 1 May 1960, the depot was consolidated with the US Army General Depot, Nancy under COMZ GO #71.

On 1 November 1961, Toul Post was deactivated and Post responsibilities transferred to Nancy General Depot.
(Source: THE MILITARY ENGINEER, Nov-Dec 1955)
American Engineer Depot in France

When Caesar's Legions were in France, they established an occupation post, called Tullum, and on that same site is now located the Toul Engineer Depot of the United States Army -- storing, classifying, and distributing engineer equipment for the Advance Section and furnishing support for other commands in Europe.

Four years ago the site was a huge barren field of mud and rubble. After lying idle since the devastation of World War II, the area was turned over to the United States Army under terms of an agreement with the French signed in November 1950. The task of transforming this ancient Roman "post" into a modern military establishment was largely a battle against mud and obstacles. A network of truck roads and railroads to transport the equipment and supplies was a first requirement. While they were being constructed modern prefabricated troop billets were built to replace the hastily-erected tents and hutments originally used (Figure 1). Old buildings were reconstructed wherever possible. New ones were built and a coat of paint gave an air of permanence and beauty to the installation.

Warehouses, offices, and buildings for troop support activities were started to place the depot in operational condition.

Although the project is not yet completed, four years of continuous effort have resulted in an active depot with men and machines loading, unloading, classifying and processing thousands of tons of material annually (Figure 3). Modern maintenance shops and neatly parked equipment give evidence of the orderliness and efficiency that has been achieved.

In the development of military efficiency, the welfare of the troops has not been overlooked. New buildings house various clubs, a crafts shop, and dispensary. A new chapel, theater, and post exchange under construction were scheduled for opening this fall.

Morale of the troops is high -- an outstanding example of it being the baseball team, the Toul-Nancy Dodgers, that finished first in the Eastern Com Z League this year. Toul Engineer Depot also produced the five best netmen in the 1955 ADSEC Tenis Tournament, and the track team captured second place in the ADSEC meet. The Toul-Nancy football team also offers heavy competition to any challenger.

1. The early days

2. Toul Engineer Depot Main Gate, 1955

3. Maintenance on heavy equipment
If you have more information on the history or organization of the Toul Engineer Depot, please contact me.
 
Related Links:
  Chinon APO 256 - Larry Randall's website features US Army hospital, Chinon and Chinon Army Depot.