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US
Army Engineer Command, Europe
US Army, Europe
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 contact me .
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Research Request |
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1. Information on organizational changes of US Army Engineer Command, Europe
Requester: Webmaster
Subject: Looking for details regarding changes to the organization of USAENGCOMEUR during the late 1960s and early 1970s - e.g. inactivation of 7th Engr Bde; inactivation or return to CONUS of 32nd and 39th Engr Groups; and any other significant changes to the organization of USAENGCOMEUR or home station of subordinate units.
Contact: webmaster
2. Exact locations of HQ Engineer Districts in late 1960s
Requester: Webmaster
Subject: Looking for the name of the installation (kaserne) where each of the US Army Engineer Districts in Germany were located in the late 1960s. I have the city but not the installation itself.
Contact: webmaster |
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| Command
History |
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| 1957 |
| (Source: Annual
Historical Report, 1957-58, HQ USAREUR) |
US Army Construction
Agency, Germany
Effective 1 July 1957, the US Army Construction Agency, Germany, was
relieved from assignment to the US Army Engineer Command, Europe,
and placed under the operational control of the USAREUR Engineer Division.
Its mission was to execute US Army and Air Force construction in the
Federal Republic of Germany in compliance wth applicable directives
and programs. |
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Annex "B", IG Farben Complex, Frankfurt (ca. 1959)
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| 1966 |
| (Source: Annual
Historical Report 1966, USAREUR) |
The USAREUR
Engineer Command (Provisional) was organized at Frankfurt,
Germany on 1 November 1966. The headquarters of the command consisted
of personnel formerly assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company
of the 7th Engineer Brigade and to the USAREUR Engineer Element. By
combining the two, USAREUR unified the engineer construction effort,
since the provisional command supervised both troop and contract construction.
The principal missions of the new command were to exercise command
and control over assigned units -- specifically the 24th,
32nd and 39th Engineer Groups
-- to execute US Army and Air Force construction projects in Germany
and other specified areas, and to perform real estate functions in
the Federal Replublic.
On 1 December USAREUR discontinued, inactivated, redesignated, and
reorganized the engineer elements involved in the activation of Headquarters
and Headquaters Company, USAREUR Engineer Command. The authorized
strength of the new command totaled 66 officer, 7 warrant officer,
210 enlisted, 93 Department of the Army civilian, 279 local national,
and 1,094 Labor Service spaces. |
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US Army Engineer Districts in Germany, late 1960s ("Building For Peace") |
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| 1968 |
| (Source: USAREUR/7th ARMY STATION LIST, 30 June 1968) |
| USAENGCOMEUR (P) ORGANIZATION (1968) |
| UNITS ORGANIC / ASSIGNED TO US ARMY ENGINEER COMMAND, EUROPE (PROV) |
STATION |
| HQ US Army Engineer Command, Europe (Provisional) |
I.G. Farben Bldg, Frankfurt |
| 7th Engineer Brigade |
McNair Kaserne, Höchst |
| 24th Engineer Construction Group |
Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern |
| 39th Engineer Construction Group |
Wiley Barracks, Neu Ulm |
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| 79th Engineer Construction Battalion |
Wiley Barracks, Neu Ulm |
| 83rd Engineer Construction Battalion |
Wharton Barracks, Heilbronn |
| 94th Engineer Construction Battalion |
Nellingen Kaserne, Nellingen |
| 97th Engineer Construction Battalion |
Husterhoeh Kaserne, Pirmasens |
| 249th Engineer Construction Battalion |
Gerszewski Barracks, Knielingen |
| 293rd Engineer Construction Battalion |
Smith Barracks, Baumholder |
| 370th Engineer Company (Construction Support) |
Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern |
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| US Army Engineer District, Franconia |
Würzburg |
| US Army Engineer District, Hessen |
Giessen |
| US Army Engineer District, North Baden |
Mannheim |
| US Army Engineer District, North Bavaria |
Nürnberg |
| US Army Engineer District, North Wurttemberg |
Stuttgart |
| US Army Engineer District, Palatinate |
Kaiserslautern |
| US Army Engineer District, Rhineland |
Bad Kreuznach |
| US Army Engineer District, South Bavaria |
Augsburg |
| US Army Engineer District, Taunus |
Frankfurt |
| US Army Engineer District, Vogelsberg |
Hanau |
| US Army Engineer District, Grafenwoehr |
US Training Center, Grafenwoehr |
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| 3331st Labor Service Liaison Detachment |
Tompkins Barracks, Schwetzingen |
| 3336th Labor Service Liaison Detachment |
I.G. Farben Bldg, Frankfurt |
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| 6970th Civ Labor Gp Engineer Construction Battalion |
Rheinland Kaserne, Karlsruhe |
| 8252nd Lab Svc Engineer Construction Company |
Funari Barracks, Mannheim |
| 8361st Lab Svc Engineer Construction Company |
De La Marne Kaserne, Bingen |
| 8550th Civ Labor Gp Engineer Construction Company |
Murphy Barracks, Ludwigsburg |
| 8551st Civ Labor Gp Engineer Construction Company |
US Training Center, Grafenwoehr |
| 8552nd Civ Labor Gp Engineer Construction Company |
Rheinland Kaserne, Karlsruhe |
| 8850th Lab Svc Engineer Construction Company |
Daenner Kaserne, Kaiserslautern |
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| 1973 |
| (Source: USAREUR/7th ARMY STATION LIST, 31 March 1973) |
| USAENGCOMEUR ORGANIZATION (1973) |
| UNITS ORGANIC / ASSIGNED TO US ARMY ENGINEER COMMAND, EUROPE |
STATION |
| HQ US Army Engineer Command, Europe |
I.G. Farben Bldg, Frankfurt |
| HQ Element, US Army Engineer Command, Europe |
Gibbs Kaserne, Frankfurt |
| 24th Engineer Construction Group |
Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern |
| Engineer Topographic Center |
Tompkins Barracks, Schwetzingen |
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| 79th Engineer Construction Battalion |
Gerszewski Barracks, Knielingen |
| 94th Engineer Construction Battalion |
Ernst Ludwig Kaserne, Darmstadt |
| 249th Engineer Construction Battalion |
Gerszewski Barracks, Knielingen |
| 293rd Engineer Construction Battalion |
Smith Barracks, Baumholder |
| 370th Engineer Company (Construction Support) |
Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern |
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| US Army Engineer District, Nord Bayern |
Merrell Barracks, Nürnberg |
| US Army Engineer District, Sued Bayern |
Reese Barracks, Augsburg |
| US Army Engineer District, Baden Wurttemberg |
Wallace Barracks, Stuttgart |
| US Army Engineer District, Hessen |
McNair Kaserne, Frankfurt |
| US Army Engineer District, Palatinate |
Pulaski Barracks, Kaiserslautern |
| US Army Engineer District, 7th Army Training Center |
US Training Center, Grafenwoehr |
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| 3336th Labor Service Liaison Detachment |
(Lübecker Strasse), Frankfurt |
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| 6970th Civ Labor Gp Engineer Construction Battalion |
Rheinland Kaserne, Karlsruhe |
| 8252nd Lab Svc Engineer Construction Company |
Funari Barracks, Mannheim |
| 8361st Lab Svc Engineer Construction Company |
De La Marne Kaserne, Bingen |
| 8550th Civ Labor Gp Engineer Construction Company |
Grenadier Kaserne, Stuttgart |
| 8551st Civ Labor Gp Engineer Construction Company |
US Training Center, Grafenwoehr |
| 8552nd Civ Labor Gp Engineer Construction Company |
Rheinland Kaserne, Karlsruhe |
| 8850th Lab Svc Engineer Construction Company |
Verdun Kaserne, Kaiserslautern |
| 8404th Lab Svc Engineer Utilities |
Frankfurt |
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24th
Engr Gp |
39th
Engr Gp |
370th
Engr Co |
6970th
CLG
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| If you have more
information on the history or organization of the Engineer Command,
Europe, please contact me. |
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| (Source: USAENGCOMEUR
Manual, 25 April 1969) |
ORGANIZATION
AND FUNCTIONS
SECTION I - GENERAL
1. Purpose: This manual prescribes
the organization and functions of the United States Army Engineer
Command, Europe, and sets forth the general responsibilities of
each organizational element.
2. Implementation:
a. The functions assigned to each organizational element are general
in nature. Directorates, divisions, branches, district engineer
elements and resident engineer offices will maintain detailed
organizational charts and functional statements as required for
their activities.
b. The organizational structure prescribed herein is directive
in nature and changes will not be made without the prior approval
of the Commanding General. Recommended changes will be submitted
to the Comptroller Directorate, Management Engineering Division,
which will be the coordinating activity.
c. Heads of directorates and activities directly responsible to
the Commanding, General are responsible for the accuracy and current
status of their organization and functional statements.
3. Mission Statement:
a. Acts as the Construction Agency for the Commander in Chief,
European Command.
b. Exercises command and control over assigned units and activities.
c. Executes the US Army and Air Force Troop Construction in Europe
as directed.
d. Executes US dollar funded and special peacetime construction
for the US Forces in Germany and other areas as directed.
e. Supervises the activities of LS/CLG construction units.
f. Supervises and inspects NATO and other non-US-FINANCED construction
programs.
g. Plans and executes the installation program in the Federal
Republic of Germany for United States Army, Europe.
h. Represents the United States Army, Europe, Power Procurement
Officer in all matters pertaining to the purchase and sale of
utilities.
i. Performs real estate functions for USAREUR in the Federal Republic
of Germany and other areas as directed.
j. Provides professional engineering and technical engineering
services to US agencies operating in United States Army, Europe
area of responsibility and upon request furnishes engineering
advice and assistance on infrastructure projects to other NATO
nations.
k. Provides materials testing service as directed.
l. Maintains the maximum degree of combat readiness.
m. Maintains capability to execute United States Army, Europe
general war and contingency plans.
n. Provides a liaison officer at Headquarters, United States Army,
Europe and maintains liaison on construction matters with United
States Army, Europe, United States Air Force, Europe, United States
Army Communications, Zone, Europe.
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1. Org
chart, HQ USAENGCOMEUR, 1969
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2. Org
chart, USAENGCOMEUR, 1969
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| 1966 |
| (Source: Email
from Steve Jensen) |
I was in the
unit at the command level during the transition. I arrived in June
of 66.
We originally moved from Rhein Main Air Base to Annex B which was
located by the IG Farben Building. I was a glorified clerk who was
responsible for getting people new MOS"s . I was not there when the
Annex burnt badly in 1968. I was on leave in Spain. The fire was caused
because the coffee pot never was unplugged. Im 56 yrs old and would
like to here from you.
Col Robert P. Young was the CO. It was a very exiting time for an
18-year old kid to have the opportunity to work in an office and have
nites and week-ends off, not to mention the fun of traveling thru
out Europe and seeing places one would normally only see in books.
Germany was a fantastic and most memorable experience.
Steve |
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| 1968 |
| (Source: Email from Thomas H. Sprague) |
| I was assigned to the Engineer Command in early August 1968 as a young LT. Since I was in the Chemical Corps, I was the Command's only Chemical Staff Officer working out of the Operations and Training Section of the Operations Directorate. My boss was the C, O&T, another CmlC officer, CPT John Dowdy. He left for Vietnam in May 1969 and I became the C, O&T where I remained until I PCS'd in early August 1971.
The organizational structure depicted on your web site fits my recollection. The two subordinate engineer groups were the 24th (Kaiserslautern) and the 39th (Neu Ulm). Subordinate Engr Bns included the 249th (Karlsruhe), the 293rd (Baumholder), the 79th (Neu Ulm) and the 94th (Nellingen). The first two were subordinate to the 24th and the last two to the 39th. The 370th Engr Co belonged to the 24th and was located in Kaiserslautern.
The battalions were all Construction Engineer Bns. The 370th was a POL Construction Co (I think). I don't recall the numbers of the REFORGER battalions but one was located a Ft Rucker and the other at Ft Riley.
We wore the "Eschenheimer Tor" shoulder patch (the one shown at the top of the page) the entire time I was there.
Two weeks after I arrived, the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia and it was an exciting time for us as USAREUR had just issued a new alert system and not many subordinates in theater responded to the alert as no one was very familiar with it. The Engineer Command was the first subordinate to respond to the alert message!
HQ USAENGCOMEUR occupied all of Annex B of the I.G. Farben Building. The only thing outside Annex B was HHC which was located in McNair Kaserne, Hoechst. Annex B burned down in November 1968. The fire started in my office and was not due to an unplugged coffee pot but in a bag of sawdust in a floor sander. Annex B was rebuilt and was a very nice new facility which I imagine is still there. We were temporarily relocated to an old office building not far from the red light district near the Kaiserstrasse and the Frankfurter Messe. We were not squeezed badly and the loss of files in the fire provided lots of excuses as did the fire at the records center on Page Ave in St Louis did!
During my time there, the big deal was the restationing that occurred following the French kicking us out of France in 1966 when they partially withdrew from NATO. The US had to relocate the LOC to Bremerhaven. Things were otherwise pretty quiet. We supported the 3rd AD moving to the border when the Soviets closed the land routes to Berlin and we sent water purification to Jordan when the Palestinians fomented a civil war there in 1970. It was a good thing that all was pretty quiet in Europe since our readiness was so poor as a result of the efforts in Vietnam. There were too few Majors & Lieutenant Colonels in theater and most of the Captains had been in the Army less that two years. I did a liaison visit to our two Reforger Bns in December 1970 and they were in even worse shape than the units in Europe!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
My first job was to read the new USAREUR alert plan. It came in as I got to work. It was a complete overhaul with new code words. As I was completely unfamiliar with the previous system, I cannot give you a comparison. I only know it was implemented for real before it had been exercised throughout the command. Almost no one had internalized it so the response was very poor when the alert messages went out.
ENGCOM's temporary quarters were in an old multi-story office building located on the corner of Theodor-Heuss-Allee and Emil-Sulzbach-Strasse. I don't think the building is there anymore as there has been a lot of redevelopment in that part of Frankfurt.
We were there for nine months following the fire until the new Annex B was finished. The entire HQ ended up in the new Annex B which was a nice improvement over the old Annex B and the temporary location.
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Related Links:
79th
Engineer Battalion (Construction) - Bruce Christman's wonderful
site dedicated to the veterans of the 79th Engineer Battalion and
the memory of the 79th's accomplishments in Germany and Korea. |
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