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47th
Ordnance Group (Maint & Supply) |
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| 47th Ordnance Group History (formerly 7837th Ordnance Group) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1950 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 7837th Ordnance Group history |
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| 1951 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from W.S. "Bill" Pryor) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I was a member of subject unit from March 1951 thru August 1952. We were stationed at Fromann Kaserne which became Coffey Barracks sometime in 1951. There was a big ceremony commemorating the change. General Coffey's daughter attended. I found another site with pictures of Coffey Barracks, sadly in poor condition. Coffey has probably been razed by now. |
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| 1956 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, May 23, 1956) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The 47th Ord Gp (Maintenance & Supply) is a 7th Army unit and is located at Ludwigsburg, Germany. Group strength is 200 officers, approx. 3,000 enlisted personnel and 200 German employees. The Gp is organized as follows: |
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ORGANIZATION (1956): |
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| The Group is commanded by Col John B. Sherden and is responsible for providing ordnance maintenance and supply support to 7th Army and corps units located east of the Cologne Autobahn from Darmstadt in the north to Stuttgart and Munich in the south. Units supported include combat divisions, field artillery groups, armored cavalry regiments, armored groups, special forces regiments, armored infantry battalions and engineer groups. Equipment supported by the group include artillery, combat vehicles, general purpose (wheeled) vehicles, trailers, small arms, instruments and guided missiles. Rockets such as the Corporal and Honest John are also supported. The only ordnance supply not provided by the group is ammunition. Directly or indirectly, the Group maintains equipment worth $3 billion. Equipment assigned to the Group for its mission of maintenance and supply is worth $11 million. |
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| 1961 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Michael A. Brown (Kennedy) -- ex DL4LZ (Ham Radio in Germany)) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I was stationed with the 124th Od Co, GS from Jan-May. 1961 when transferred to the 47th Ord Gp Hqts. Life in the 124th was much as Paul Smith recalls, and I remember him well and share his memories of the unit. Not to be deminished are my memories of Capt. Billie E. Searles as being an outstanding officer; West Point grad, Airborne, and "standing tall". Also to be remembered is First Sgt. Carmen J. Duckworth. I believe learned how to drink beer in "La Paloma's"... remember the place well...!!
I was transferred to the 47th Ord Gp Hqts, Hqts Co. in May, 1961, which at that time was located on Grenadier Kaserne, Zuffenhausen (just below Robinson Barracks). The 47th was commanded by Col. Wm. L. Drennen at that time along with Lt. Col. Lamm & Lt. Col. Quinn. Shortly after arriving I was moved into Communications which suited my interests and background well. Also got to see Bad Tolz and Lenggries, both very beautiful areas. I enjoyed my time in the Army, in Germany, and the opportunities I had to travel. The company was commanded by Capt. Billie E. Searles and the First Sergeant was E-8 Carmen J. Duckworth. Capt. Searles was a West Point graduate, Airborne, and "Standing Tall". First Sgt. Duckworth was the "man" to be with Capt. Searles. I will never quite understand what brought his wrath down on me but on my first day in the company I made the trip over to the PX for three (yes, three) haircuts... It didn't take long to figure things out there... It was good duty and Nellingen was pretty nice too. I clearly recall "tipping" a few beers with Paul Smith (see hs email in 124th Ord Co section), Pete Wages, and a couple of the other guys, it brings a smile to my face. I was fortunate enough to be interviewed for another job at the 47th Ord. Gp. Hqtrs. located on Grenadier Kaserne, Zuffenhausen (outskirts of Bad Constatt) and just below Robinson Barracks (where there was a "main" PX. I got assigned there in May, 1961 to work in the "Operations" Ofice under M/Sgt. Walter Duffey. Life did certainly change at Group Hqts. from what it had been out in Nellingen and I was soon reassigned to the Communications Section where I was much more suited to be and more in line with my interestes and skills. I was further trained at the CW Op's School and also at the 7th Army Signal School at Lenggries, Germany where I also passed my Amateur Radio Op's license with the assistance of M/Sgt. Francisco Canida, DL4XG. I enjoyed operating as DL4LZ and the friendship of WO Dale G. Borror, DL4DS. The 47th Ordnance Group was under the command of Col. William L. Drennen, with the assistance of Lt. Col. Hillrie M. Quin and Lt. Col. Willis D. Lamm, and to be long remembered was SMaj. Evans (1st name slips my mind) and to Lt. Richard Dushaine. I was "where I belonged" working with transmitters & receivers and all that stuff... I arrived as an E-3 PFC and departed in July, 1963 a SGT E-5. I offered to "extend in my own position" for another year but that was evidently not what SFC Cecil Mounts wanted to hear... I have often wondered how things would have worked out had I stayed. I made the trip to New York on the USNS Gen. Wm. O Darby in July, 1963, seasick for 5 of the 8 days, but I made it. I enjoyed my time in the Army, and especially my time in Germany. I am greatfull for the training, the experiences, and the travel. |
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