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37th Transportation Group
4th Transportation Command

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.


Group History (1949-1989)

Data Processing Unit

9th Trans Gp

28th Trans Gp

2nd Trans Bn

24th Trans Bn

28th Trans Bn

53rd Trans Bn

106th Trans Bn

148th Trans Bn

154th Trans Bn

70th Trans Co
(1954-55)

83rd Trans Co
(1958-62)






Group History
(Source: Email from Hermann Piehler, 37th TRANSCOM)
37th Transportation Command will be inactivated on July 17, 2007.
37th Transportation Gp/Comd Commanders:
COL Burton Miles Aug 1953 - Jul 1954
COL Luis Greenfield Jul 1954 - Aug 1956
COL John A. Martin Aug 1956 - Apr 1957
COL George R. Russell Apr 1957 - Oct 1958
COL Erman M. Newmann Oct 1958 - Aug 1961
COL Floyd G. Burch Aug 1961 - Feb 1963
COL Mark C. Knox Feb 1963 - Feb 1965
COL John E. Murray Feb 1965 - May 1967
COL William C. Applegate Jun 1967 - Dec 1968
COL A. P. Howland Dec 1968 - Jun 1970
COL A. J. Glunn Jun 1970 - Jun 1972
COL John K. Henderson Jun 1972 - Jan 1974
COL James Lampros Jan 1974 - Jun 1975
COL Edward Honor Jul 1975 - Jun 1976
COL Phillip Smiley Jun 1976 - May 1978
COL James B. Barron May 1978 - Apr 1980
COL George A. Brown Apr 1980 - Apr 1983
COL Raymond L Stearns Apr 1983 - Aug 1985
COL Roy D. Yamachika Aug 1985 - Aug 1987
COL Joseph W. Power III Aug 1987 - Aug 1989
COL Roger G. Thompson JR Aug 1989 - Aug 1991
COL Charles D. Posta Aug 1991 - Aug 1993
COL H.A. Curry Aug 1993 - Aug 1995  
COL Robert Kubiszewski Aug 1995 - Aug 1997
COL William E. Wolf Aug 1997 - Aug 1999 
COL Donald P. Hart Aug 1999 - Jul 2001 
COL Joseph L. Garnes Jul 2001 - Jul 2003 
COL Susan R. Sowers Jul 2003 - Jun 2005 
COL Michael H. MacNeil Jun 2005 - dtd

1. Standard line haul truck (KB)

2. M915A3 and XL trailer (KB)

3. XB trailer with M-1114 Humvees (KB)
 

4. XB with 463L pallets
     

5. IHC 2000D (KB)

6. IHC 4070 (KB)

7. 4070 and trailer (KB)
 
(Source: PowerPoint slides prepared for presentation as part of the 50th Anniversary ceremonies - 6966th Transportation Truck Terminal, Kaiserslautern)

1. 50th Anniversary, Page 1 (KB)

2. 50th Anniversary, Page 2 (KB)

3. 50th Anniversary, Page 3 (KB)
 

(Source: National Archives, College Park (Md.), accessed 09-04-2020)
Administrative History:
(Webmaster note: for historical information prior to July 1, 1955, click here)

On July 1, 1955, the 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division became the 37th Transportation Motor Transport Command. It was reassigned to the United States Communication Zone-Europe on November 1, 1956, the Headquarters then moved to Samac, France (near Orleans).

The 37th Transportation Motor Transport Command, on November 15, 1956, was redesignated as the 37th Transportation Highway Transport Command.

On February 1, 1965, it was placed under the U.S. Army Communications Zone Europe's new Transportation Command. The headquarters remained in France until April 1965 when it relocated to Kaiserslautern, Germany as part of the withdrawal of US Forces from France.

In October 1965, the 37th Highway Transport Command became the 37th Transportation Group, also known as the 37th Motor Transportation Group.

It was part of the U.S. Army Communications Zone Europe's Transportation Command, until it's abolishment on February 5, 1968.

Later in February 1968, the Transportation Command was reestablished with the control over the 37th Transportation Group.

The 37th was transferred on December 2, 1968 to the new U.S. Army Transportation Command, Europe (Provisional), of which the provisional was dropped on March 3, 1969 and was redesignated as the 4th Transportation Brigade on May 9, 1975 and the 4th Transportation Command on February 16, 1981.

During August of 1976 the 37th Transportation Group Headquarters moved to Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

The 37th was responsible for the operation of the highway line of communications within Western Europe for the support of U.S. Forces.

On December 15, 1989, the 37th Transportation Group became the 37th Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) by assuming the functions of the 4th Transportation Command. The 37th Transportation Command consisted of two line haul transportation battalions: one U.S. Army battalion and one German Civilian Support Center.

The 37th TRANSCOM was inactivated on March 29, 2007.

1949 - 1952
(Source: 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division, Germany, 1952. Yearbook 1952)

Yearbook, 1952


While assigned to COMZEUR, the 37th and attached units wore the COMZ patch
  37th Transportation Highway Transport Division
Turley Barracks, Mannheim

It was only as late as 5 September 1952 that the 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division celebrated its first anniversary as an operational highway transport command.

This organization was activated (at Lager Hammelburg) on 15 October 1949 to meet a requirement under emergency plans for a major highway field headquarters. At the time of activation, there were only two Transportation Truck Battalions under Headquarters, USAREUR. These were assigned to the Military Posts in which they were located. For this reason it was not feasible to assign sufficient units to the 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division to permit daily operation in keeping with the mission for which a transport division is basically organized. Because of this, the 37th was assigned an occupation mission of running the USAREUR Transportation Training Center (at Lager Hammelburg), with a secondary mission of training for operation as a Transport Division in the event of an emergency.

The Transportation Training Center was organized in January of 1948 for the purpose of effecting the rehabilitation of Transportation Truck Companies to include maintenance and driver training, the rehabilitation of personnel and equipment, and the correction of related administrative records. The 37th operated the USAREUR Transportation Training Center from 15 October 1949 until 31 March 1951, on which date the Center was discontinued.

The 1951 EUCOM troop augmentation program not only provided sufficient truck units to justify utilization of the 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division in keeping with the mission for which it was basically organized, but created the necessity for placing highway transport units under a centralized field headquarters to ensure proper coordination, training, and utilization which were lacking under the decentralized (Military) Post control.

From the end of March until September 1951, the 37th remained at Lager Hammelburg and was assigned interim responsibility for organizing and training three light Transportation Truck Companies from casual replacements received in the Command during April. On 4 September 1951, the 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division was physically moved from Lager Hammelburg to Mannheim. At the same time, two Transportation Truck Battalions and ten Transportation Truck Companies were assigned and it became operational in accordance with its basic organization. During the remainder of that year, three additional Transportation Truck Battalions and ten Transportation Truck Companies were assigned as they were organized or arrived in the theater.

Initial efforts of the Division Headquarters were directed towards clarification of command channels, orientation of newly arrived units, obtaining permanent billet assignments, and the development of SOPs designed to assure effective reporting and control procedures. Preliminary action was taken to generate movement of cargo by highway with emphasis placed on long-haul convoy movements. The subsequent development of this organization can probably be best appreciated by citing a few basic statistics.

During the calendar year 1951, Transportation Truck Battalions moved a total of 70,517 tons while traveling a total of 2,164,520 miles. Of these figures, 41,162 tons and 1,131,510 miles were logged after 5 September, the date that the 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division became an operational headquarters. Highway operations were generally of the standard types: long-haul convoys and short-haul or shuttle operations. Two operations merit special attention: Operation Drive-Away, and the Military Express and Passenger Service now operating between Heidelberg, Germany, and Verdun, France.

Operation Drive-Away was organized to move new replacement vehicles from Bremerhaven Port of Embarkation to various Military Posts and Depots throughout the US Zone of Germany and COM-Z. This operation realized a saving of $1,044,570, for the cost of blocking and bracing a motor vehicle on a rail car was alone as great as the entire cost of movement of that vehicle by highway from the port to its destination. Beginning 14 April 1952, every morning at 0545 hours, Monday through Friday, a sixty-vehicle convoy left Bremerhaven bound through the British Zone for Kassel. Here it spent the night at a temporary billet site established to accommodate the soldiers who manned the convoy. The next day they would set out again; before night fall, they would have reached their destinations at the Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Rhine and Stuttgart Military Posts - or, only one day later, at any remaining posts or COM-Z. Fourteen Companies participated, delivering 7,500 vehicles and 604 trailers, with only forty-seven accidents during the 3,620,000 miles driven. The training derived from this operation were invaluable.

The other noteworthy operation, the Heidelberg-Verdun Express and Passenger Service, is unique to military highway transportation, and is designed to reduce cost and delay of movement of personnel, express, and less-than-carload freight shipments. The type of bus employed is arranged to operate with up to sixteen passengers and two and a half tons of cargo. During the first month of operation - October 1952 - this operation encompassed 12,420 miles, during which 437 passengers and 57.5 tons of cargo were handled.

The 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division is composed of the 28th and 154th Transportation Truck Battalions, stationed at Mannheim; the 24th, at Hanau; the 53rd at Kaiserslautern; and the 148th, at Ludwigsburg. Each Battalion consists of four assigned Companies equipped with either light (2½-ton personnel or cargo) or heavy (10-ton tractor-semitrailer) equipment; at least one heavy Company is included in each Battalion.

 

This ashtray from the 37th THTD from the 1952-53 period, displays the following subordinate transportation battalions:

24th Trans Bn
28th Trans Bn
53rd Trans Bn
148th Trans Bn
154th Trans Bn


The 148th and the 154th Trans Bn, both National Guard units federalized as part of the Korean War build up in the early 1950s, would be returned to the US in late 1954 and early 1955 respectively and replaced by active Army units.


Sugar van operated by the 574th Trans Co in Metz, 1966 (Alain Dailloux)
Vehicular equipment of units in the Division by the end of 1952 either had been or was in the process of being replaced by newer types. The Division and Battalion Headquarters Companies and the eleven Transportation Light Truck Companies were completely equipped with new M-type vehicles.

Division Headquarters is located at Turley Barracks, in Mannheim. Prior to World War II, the Barracks were known as Kaiser Wilhelm Kaserne. This Kaserne was one of the oldest in Germany, having been erected some sixty years ago to house Horse Artillery units of the German Army. Exterior walls of many of the buildings still retain, as souvenirs of their former occupants, scale-drawings of Allied tanks which were used in the Germans' tank-recognition training. A number of the present buildings, including the mess hall and the chapel, have been reconverted from stables. Another distinction of the chapel is its electric carillon, the only set of bells of this kind in the Command. The carillon was brought with voluntary contributions by the men and officers, who oversubscribed by $762 the $1,800 which was needed.

The Kaiser Wilhelm Kaserne was taken over by American forces shortly after VE-Day, and the name was changed soon after that to Turley Barracks. This was done in honor of Samuel J. Turley, A First Sergeant killed in action in France in 1944. When his Company was pinned down by enemy fire near Metz, Sergeant Turley stood erect with a machine gun in his hands and fired at the enemy while his Company withdrew. This gallantry cost him his life, and he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His memory is honored and perpetuated by the Turley Barracks installation, which today bears his name, and by the officers and men now stationed there, alert and prepared to meet and counter any military emergency.


Additional information on the subordinate units and some photos will be added in the near future.

37th Transportation Gp DUI (approved July 31, 1969)
1949 - 1989
(Source: 37th Transportation Command History, 37th TRANSCOM web site, 1997)
The 37th Transportation Command was organized as a Regular Army unit on February 10, 1936 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, 22nd Quartermaster Regiment (Truck Corps).

Redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company on April 1, 1942, the unit supported the national mobilizations effort at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts.

On Christmas Day 1943, shortly before its deployment for wartime service in the European Theater of Operations, the Headquarters was organized and designated Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 37th Quartermaster Battalion (Mobile). The 37th served with distinction throughout the remainder of World War II, earning battle streamers for four major campaigns: Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; North Appenines; and the Po Valley.

Inactivated upon completion of its wartime service in Southern Europe on November 27, 1945 at Fevorola, Italy, it was again redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 37th Transportation Corps Battalion on August 1, 1946.

Safe Driver Pin
  Redesignated once again on July 8, 1949 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 37th Transportation Highway Transport Division, the unit was designated for service in Central Europe where it was activated on October 15, 1949 at Lager Hammelburg, near Schweinfurt, Germany.

Providing continuous service to US Forces in Central Europe since that time the 37th Headquarters relocated first to Mannheim and on July 1, 1955 became the 37th Transportation Motor Transport Command.

Reassigned to the United States Communication Zone-Europe on November 1, 1956, the Headquarters then moved to Samac, France (near Orleans) and 14 days later became the 37th Transportation Highway Transport Command. The headquarters remained in France until April 1965 when it relocated to what is currently Kapaun Air Station in Kaiserslautern as part of the withdrawal of US Forces from France.
In October 1965 the Highway Transport Command became the 37th Transportation Group.

During August of 1976 the 37 Transportation Group Headquarters moved to its current location at Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern.

On December 15, 1989, the 37th Transportation group became the 37th Transportation Command by assuming the functions of the 4th Transportation Command with the designation of TRANSCOM.

The 37th Transportation Command consist of two line haul transportation battalions: one US Army battalion and one German Civilian Support Center. The US Army is the 28th Transportation Battalion with headquarters in Mannheim, Germany. The German Battalion is the 8986th Civilian Support Center located at Pulaski Barracks, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Germany
 
1954
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Dec 12 1954)
The 37th Trans Highway Transport Div recently made some changes to its operations by shifting battalions and companies around. The objective was to return some National Guard unit designations back to the States (see also the chapter on Release of RC Units on the 7th Army Page) as well as to place some transportation units in locations for better economic utilization.

Hq & Hq Co, 148th Trans Bn and its subordinate unit, the 721st Trans Light Truck Co, both at Ludwigsburg, and the 3583rd Trans Light Truck Co (part of the 53rd Trans Truck Bn) are to be inactivated and returned (less personnel) back to their respective stateside National Guard commands.

The 76th Trans Medium Truck Co (24th Trans Truck Bn), Zweibruecken, will be sent to the Com Z, less personnel.

The 24th Trans Truck Bn will be relocated to Ludwigsburg. The battalion will be comprised of:
Hq & Hq Co, 24th TTB
68th Trans Medium Truck Co
70th Trans Medium Truck Co
109th Trans Medium Petroleum Co
501st Trans Light Truck Co

The 53rd Trans Truck Bn will also be reorganized (but remain in Kaiserslautern) and comprise:
Hq & Hq Co, 53rd TTB
67th Trans Medium Truck Co, Kaiserslautern
83rd Trans Medium Truck Co, Kaiserslautern
41st Trans Light Truck Co, Kaiserslautern
254th Trans Light Truck Co, Zweibruecken (formerly under the 24th TTB)
388th Trans Bus Co , Zweibruecken (formerly under the 24th TTB)

1955 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Sep 5, 1955)
The 37th Transportation Motor Transport Command, commanded by Col Louis Greenfield, is comprised of four battalions located in three different cities in southern Germany.
 
ORGANZIATION (September 1955):
UNIT LOCATION COMMENTS
37th Transportation Motor Transport Comd  
HQ & HQ Co Turley Bks, Mannheim  
24th Trans Trk Bn Turley Bks, Mannheim  
28th Trans Trk Bn Krabbenloch Ksn, Ludwigsburg  
53rd Trans Trk Bn (Kapaun Bks), Kaiserslautern  
181st Trans Trk Bn Turley Bks, Mannheim  
     
The 37th TMTC is tasked with hauling nearly 100,000 tons of supplies every month. With only limited rail and air facilities available for military transportation in Western Europe, the Army has largely turned to the autobahn and back country roads for moving its supplies.

A typical day would have 150 vehicles leaving from the command's 28th and 181st Transportation Truck Battalions in Mannheim, another 75 from the 24th Trans Trk Bn in Ludwlgsburg and 75 more from the 53rd Trans Trk Bn in Kaiserslautern.

The Operation Section at HQ 37th Comd serves as the hub of the vast system that is operated by the command. Enlisted men in the section man a battery of telephones accepting commitments from the 8th Transportation Group (MC) and passing them on to the appropriate battalion for relay to the transportation companies. Each member of the section is an expert on the facilities at Army depots, road conditions, limitations of vehicles and the many other tasks required for selecting the appropriate battalion to make the haul.

A huge map of France and Germany covers the walls of the operations section. On one side of the room is a large chart that shows location and utilization of every task vehicle of the 37th.

The most recent improvements and projects in USAREUR transporation activities include the following:

Less Than Truckload Line Haul Express Service (LTL)
This service was initiated by Brig Gen B. F. Modisett, USAREUR Transportation Officer, five months ago to speed military cargo faster then ever over the highways of Europe.

Operational control of the LTL program lies in the hands of the 37th TMTC but has recently been extended into the Communications Zone (France) where other highway units now participate in the program.

The program allows military shippers to move their shipments immediately from warehouse to depot to receiver without waiting for the ususal 'truckload' of cargo to accumulate.

Trailer Transfer Point (TTP)
Under this concept, the 37th operates three TTPs - one at Mannheim, another at Ludwigsburg and a third at Kaiserslautern.

The tractors of line haul transportation companies bring in loaded trailers to the TTP. The trailers are unhooked and left there to be later hooked up to new tractors for transportation to the receiver.

Thus the tired driver and his tractor both get a chance to rest without holding up the cargo.

New Off-shore Discharge Exercise (NODEX)
Elements of the 37th participated in a recent NODEX exercise, in which the Communications Zone practices unloading incoming military cargo from the US using a mobile port along the coast of France and the subsequent onward movement of that cargo to Army depots.

The 28th Trans Trk Bn and the 41st Trans Trk Co (53rd Trans Bn) were tasked with hauling the incoming cargo to depots inland.

The two units hauled more than 14,000,000 pounds over 250,000 miles during nearly a month of operation. They proved that the Transportation Corps can be as effective in delivering supplies from a mobile port as from a fully developed port.

France
 
1958
(Source: The Transportation Movement System in USAREUR - 1958, report prepared by the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, for the US Army Transportation Research Command, Fort Eustis, VA, 1958)
  37th Transportation Highway Transport Division
Organization Chart, 1958


1959
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, June 29, 1959)
  37th Transportation Highway Transport Command

Article about the 780-mile line of communication operation by the 37th THTC

Section 1, 2, 3


1964
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Jan 24, 1964)
The 37th Trans Comd is composed of four Army transportation battalions and one battalion-size civilian labor group:
2nd Trans Truck Bn, Toul, France
28th Trans Truck Bn, Poitiers, France
53rd Trans Truck Bn, Kaiserslautern, Germany
106th Trans Truck Bn, Bremerhaven (1), Germany
6966th Civilian Labor Group (Trans Truck), Kaiserslautern, Germany

The 106th Trans Bn is responsible for the LOC between the western ports in France (La Rochelle to St. Nazaire) and Ingrandes.

The 28th takes it from Ingrandes through Orleans to Vatry (near Chalons).

The 2nd Trans Bn covers the last leg of the LOC in France, from Vatry across the German border to Kaiserslautern.

The 53rd in Kaiserslautern handles the long haul tasks in Germany.

The 53rd Trans Bn has two transportation companies with unique missions: the 595th Trans Co and the 501st Trans Co. The 595th is the only heavy truck company in USAREUR and transports heavy equipment such as tanks, armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery. The 501st hauls supplies along the autobahn up to Berlin.

(1) According to the USAREUR Station List for Dec 1963, the 106th was located in Bremerhaven and not in western France as indicated by the article.

Germany
1966 (Relocation from France of COMZEUR)
Source: FRELOC, Volume I, Final Report (Phase I).

In 1966, USACOMZEUR Transportation Command, APO US Forces 09041, was an 'assigned unit' of HQ, USACOMZEUR.

The 37th Transportation Highway Group and the Movement Control Center in Frankfurt were subordinate units of the TRANSCOM.

In France during 1966, virtually all movements were handled commercially. The 37th Truck Transportation Command operated primarily in Germany making runs from German ports to COMZ ports in Germany, and from these ports to customers located primarily in Germany.

With the shift in workload caused by FRELOC (the master movement plan called for the maximum use of 37th TMTC assets in moving equipment and supplies from France), the 37th TMTC (Truck) was ordered to relocate its truck fleet (to France).

The 37th Trans Highway Gp was the line-haul highway operator for Central Europe. It consisted of 18 truck companies and approximately 1,200 tractors, 2,400 trailers and 100 other trucks of various types. In addition to movements during FRELOC, the Group continued its normal mission of line-haul transportation in support of Seventh Army and other USAFE and USAREUR units in Germany.

At the outset of FRELOC, the Group was spread out entirely across France and north to Bremerhaven. As FRELOC progressed, units were gradually withdrawn from Western France and into Eastern France to assist in the task. In the final phases, Seventh Army truck units were tasked to assume some of the line-haul mission in support of Seventh Army units, thus releasing more of the 37th Group capability for FRELOC.

The 37th Trans Gp was used for approximately 23% of the total FRELOC movement requirement. Statistically, the 37th Group made 24,000 lifts, drove 162,000,000 ton miles, carried 230,000 short tons, maintained a tractor-trailer availability of 89.5% against a norm of 75%, lowered its accident rate 36%, and dropped its ton mile cost from 1.7 to 1.4 cents.

 
1972
(Source: Email from Clinton Kirkland, HHD 37 Trans Gp, Dec 1972 thru Oct 1974)

Group tractor trailers, early 1970s
  I have been looking for a 37th Trans Gp website for over two years.

I was assigned to HHD 37 Trans Gp. I served from Dec 72 thru Oct 74. I did the daily deadline report, that consisted of keep track of the trucks that were down for the day. The report told why a truck was down.
Example: parts - what part, when would the part be in.
maintence - how long would it be down.

That was the best time of my life. I miss all the guys and ladies.

1973
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Feb 22, 1973)
IHC 2000D Fleetstar

IHC 205 tractor being replaced by ...


IHC 2000D tractor
  The International Harvester Company (IHC) 2000D Fleetstar tractor is in the process of replacing the IHC 205 diesel-cab-over (DCO) tractor as the mainstay of the truck fleet at the 37th Transportation Group. By May 1973, 656 Fleetstar tractors, at a cost of more than $7 million, will replace the 1,200 IHC 205 tractors in all but one of the subordinate battalions of the 37th.(The 205 DCO's were purchased by the US Army eight years ago as the replacement for the M52 five-ton tactical vehicles in the 37th Gp.)

The 1st Support Brigade is responsible for processing receipt of the new tractors. (The unit provides maintenance suport for the 37th Trans Gp.)

One of the first units to receive the IHC 2000D (in Jan.) was the 89th Trans Co, 53rd Trans Bn, in Kaiserslautern.

The list of improvements over the older tractor include a design that allows easier access for maintenance to all engine components; smoother riding as the driver sits back a few feet from the front wheel axle; more power and pick up; a 10-speed gear selection; better visibility with a windshield that is made of one piece of glass; improved mirrors that allow a better view of the road beside and behind the driver.

With a longer wheelbase and self-adjusting front brakes, the new tractor should also prove to be safer.

 
1974

Mannheim Trailer Transfer Point, 1974

1986
(Source: Email from Sheryl Prophett)
I saw where you asked for input about 37th TG in K-town, ge. I was stationed there from July 1986 to Oct 1989. I was soldier of the year for ’88 at TRANSCOM level.

At first I was assigned to COMMO (I was 31K, Combat Signal) for the first year, then moved to S3 for OJT as Training Clerk under 1LT Pam Kadlubek.

The 37th Trans Gp was under 4th TRANSCOM, and located in K-Town on Kleber Kaserne. COL Powers was Group Commander.

That was when the OD Green fatigues were fazed out. Our unit patch was a gold trident on a brick red background. I can't remember exactly to the Pfennig, but I think the currency ratio was 3 Marks 25 to the dollar, I forget.

We had telex and facsimile in the the Commo Shop and a RATT rig close by. I trained in the rig a few times but I was 31K10 Combat Signaler. My first line also trained me on land line installation. Our office had a rotating on call roster to hand carry classified documents prepared by S3 upstairs above the commo shop, to the message center on another Kaserne. I can't remember the name of the kaserne. If there were any mistakes on it we had to take it back to Kleber for corrections then back to message center. Sometimes 3 times. We weren't the ones typing most of them so we had to wait on someone else to do it.

We did Crested Eagle and REFORGER, I want to say '88, but again I forget. We set up the TOC in the main conference room, and a group of National Guard came for their annual training.

The unit barracks was across the lawn in front of S1 with a wide walk way in the center. The orderly room and the arms room were in the basement of the barracks. We did commanders call in the theater.

I'd been there a little over a year when I was told by my 1st line that I would be competing in soldier competition boards in '88 and I was given a 1 1/2 inch thick study guide. So I studied and was grilled by everyone from supervisors and co-workers to friends after work. I went through 9 boards winning all...except the last one! I couldn't believe a person could draw such a complete blank as I did on it, lol, but I did!

I won soldier of the month 4 times against others in different sections of Group & that's what got me selected for boards against 28th, 106th and I think the other was 53rd but I can't remember. Then on to 4th Transcom and won soldier of the year for '88. But the last one (#9) I was so burnt out on boards that I drew a complete and total blank! I couldn't remember ANYTHING!! A couple of the judges on the board said I threw it on purpose because they were on some of the other boards and knew for a fact that I knew the answers to the questions. I was so embarrassed! However, I had a good run while it lasted and I won certificates of achievement, 3 AAM's, 2, 3 and 4 day passes, AAFES gift certificates, savings bonds and a couple of trophies that had a semi on it. Unfortunately I also forget the nomenclature of the year truck (?).

Thanks for asking me about my old unit. I reminisce about to those days ever so often and remember all the fun I had over there and the friends that became my new family.

Webmaster note: The Communications Sec, HHD, 37th Trans Gp, is responsible for operating a secure network between Hqs and the subordinate transportation battalions, movement regions, HQ 4th TRANSCOM, and the 205th Avn Co. It also handles transmission of commitments for the Highway Fleet Management Section and Highway Operations Section (both part of HHD), as well as classified messages on deployment and movements.


Change of command ceremony at Kleber Kaserne, 1999, 37th TRANSCOM (Everette Coppock)

Change of Command ceremony at Kleber Kaserne, 1999, 37th TRANSCOM (Everette Coppock)

Change of Command ceremony at Kleber Kaserne, 1999, 37th TRANSCOM (Everette Coppock)
1999
(Source: Email from Everette Coppock)
The 37th TRANSCOM Change of Command ceremony in August 1999, Days of Thunder as the 37th and its subordinate units stand tall. Kleber Casern, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Out bound, COL William E. Wolf, Aug 1997 - Aug 1999. In bound, COL Donald P. Hart, Aug 1999 - Jul 2001.
       

1. Kleber Kaserne
     

UNIT HISTORY - MISC. INFORMATION

Source: Unit History, 4th Transportation Command PAO, February 29, 1980.
COMZEUR Transportation Command was provisionally formed on February 1, 1965 from the former HQ COMZ, Transportation Division. The 37th Transportation Command, at that time headquartered at SAMEC in France, was subordinate to the new command.

Source: WFE Notes.
The 82nd Transportation Company, 2nd Transportation Bn, 37th Transportation Highway (Transport) Command, APO 87, was inactivated on September 25, 1962.

Source: Email from Bruce E. Richards (personal website)
I was in the 37th in the 1960's, and have been trying to track down the companies I was in. I was in the 77th Trans. Co in LaRochelle, Fr. in 1963. In 1964, we moved to Kassel, Germany with the 106th Trans. Bn. which was located in Bremerhaven. I was latter assigned to the 598th Trans. Co in Kassel, also part of the 106th.
If you have more information on the history or organization of the 37th Transportation Group/Command, please contact me.

 
Data Processing Unit
 
(Source: Email from Bill McClelland)
This link depicts the 37th Transportation Group logo/emblem as approved in 1969.

We were told the English translation is: "Forever Rolling."

At the time, I was in charge of the DPU, which was the data processing department, and was located in Pulaski Barracks, Vogelweh. (1968 - '70)

I really liked the recognition on the website for the 6966 Civilian Support Center. There was no room for our data processing equipment, so we were housed with the 1966 in Pulaski Barracks. It is a tremendous bit of history, as the men that originally served in the unit escaped the Russians after the war, and many were from Lithuania, Estonia, & Latvia. Many I met were highly educated, spoke several languages; but all took extreme pride in their work. At the time the unit was referred to as the 6966 Civilian Labor Group (CLG).

37th Transportation Group
Data Processing Unit

What follows is a brief description of early efforts to computerize operational aspects of the U.S. Army line haul transportation in Europe.

With the completion of Operation FRELOC and the transfer of the HQ to Kapaun Barracks, Vogelweh, it was determined that computerization of the day-to-day operations of the newly organized 37th might provide a more effective utilization of the tractor trailer fleet.

The manual method was rather inefficient. Operations personnel kept track of hundreds of trailers on wallboards surrounding the Operations room. Upon entering the HQ building in Kapaun Barracks, Operations personnel were often heard screaming over the dysfunctional Army phone system while communicating with units all over Germany.

Prior to my arrival, a trailer load of IBM equipment arrived at HQ. Little was known about the data processing equipment, and it remained in the storage trailer for a period of time. The humid Germany climate was unkind to the mechanical card handling equipment, so when the equipment was off-loaded the mechanisms were rusted, and the equipment was determined to be inoperable.

Fortunately, a 37th staff lieutenant worked for IBM prior to entering the Army. With his efforts and contacts, the equipment was replaced at no cost to the Army, and the DPU began its work. As there wasn't enough space in the HQ building, the DPU was set up in Pulaski Barracks, and was incorrectly referred to by HQ personnel as 'IBM.'

When I arrived the unit was in the capable hands of Master Sgt. Jennings and Staff Sgt Parker. 16 enlisted men worked around the clock to provide updated trailer locations by tracking tractor trailer movement throughout Germany and the Benelux countries.

Soon thereafter, Sgt. Jennings and I hired a German civilian as the programmer for the DPU. Volker Biehl lived in the US and Canada for a period of time, gaining programming experience with Canadian Kodak. It was a perfect fit, as Volker was familiar with board wiring (early programming), and had an excellent command of the English language. Over time the process was refined by enhancing the reports, and systems were developed to enhance the DPU support of the 37th mission.

The punch card equipment surrounded the walls of a 30' x 30' room, and consisted of sorters, a collator, a justifier, and a 407 accounting machine which was used to print the various reporting sequences. A separate room housed 3 keypunch machines for data entry, and a card verifier.

The process:
Each night company drivers checked in at their destination and submitted daily trip tickets. Locations were noted to show the spotted location of the trailers. The logs were hand-carried to the 37th HQ; or in the case of outlying units, 'twixed' to HQ.

The keypunch operators would wait to get the updates, and then enter the information on a new set of 80 column punch cards. Once completed, the update cards were given each night to the machine room crew to be mechanically sorted and merged in order to create updated location reports which were then 'hand carried' from Pulaski to Kapaun Barracks for use by Operations personnel.

When trailer locations were not reported for 10 days or more, the DPU published a 'Lost Trailer Report' to allow Operations to initiate actions to determine where these trailers were last seen (reported). Understandably these reports generated significant command interest, and were therefore unpopular.

Being a good typist was a plus for a data entry person, but being careful to not misspell the unique names for the 100 or so German towns all over Germany was a must! If the town names were misspelled, the areas were not totaled correctly, which drove S-3 personnel NUTS!! As with any new data system, input requirements and report usage required education and re-training of the unit truck masters.

As the DPU became more efficient, reports to assist with inventory accountability and vehicle maintenance were created for command use.

Fun tidbits:
A number of trailers disappeared during FRELOC which precipitated the transfer of the unit from Samac, France to COMZEUR. Several trailers were never found. 3-day passes were offered to drivers reporting the location of the lost trailers. GI ingenuity was alive and well. Using a stencil and black spray paint, some of the drivers changed the trailer numbers to get a 3 day pass. This created havoc with maintenance records designed to match trailer numbers with serial numbers; and also resulted in a list of different 'missing' trailers. Needless to say, the reward system was short-lived.

Once in awhile experienced operators would get wild and crazy and pick up an entire deck of punch cards (~2000 cards) by compressing them between their hands for the purpose of moving them from one machine to another. When things didn't go right, the cards would 'pop out' and fall to the floor. Ingenuity then took over. Since folded, crinkled cards wouldn't meet the tight tolerances of the mechanical equipment, the damaged cards needed to be 're-punched.' Not wanting to take the time to create new cards, the operators used a steam iron to straighten out the cards, with only a re-sorting operation required to resume where they left off.

The nearby CLG personnel built a swimming pool behind our Pulaski building. They agreed to allow us the use of the pool, provided we pay for pool paint.

With the equipment available today, one operator knowledgeable as to the spelling of the names of the German towns could do everything in a 8 hr work day that we completed with 16 operators working around the clock. Reports would now be transmitted to the various units over modern data lines.

About the author:
I received a commission as a Transportation Corps Officer. Upon completing an advanced computer management class at Fort Monmouth, and a consultation with officer assignment personnel at Fort McNair, I was offered the opportunity to head the 37th Transportation Group DPU. I arrived in Germany with my family on February 10, 1968, and reported to Colonel William C. Applegate, Commanding Officer of the 37th Transportation Group.

I left the Army in January 1970, and soon established a mountain real estate company in Colorado. My interest/commitment to computer systems continued, and in 1978, we purchased computers to support our real estate work. I consider my 37th experience to be invaluable in our systems approach to the business. I can be reached by emailing bill@cabin-country.com.


 
TransCommunicator Articles
 
Meeting the 37th Transportation Group, Compiled by PFC Ernest Jones; March 25, 1982

The 37th Transportation Group, 4th TRANSCOM, is the largest truck transportation organization of the free world. The mission of the Group is to provide line haul highway transportation for military cargo varying in size from one ounce letters to a 60-ton M1 Abrams tank. To accomplish this mission, Group vehicles travel throughout Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxemborg and occassionally Denmark and the United Kingdom.

The 37th Transportation Group is comprised of the Group Headquarters, three US Army Battalion Headquarters, one battalion-sized German Civilian Support Center Headquarters, 19 truck companies and nine Trailer Transfer Points. The Group headquarters, commanded by Col. George A. Brown, is located at Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

The nerve center of the group headquarters is the Highway Operations Section which receives and monitors until completion all of the Group's vehicle commitments.

The Group's largest battalion is the 28th Transportation Battalion located at Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim, Germany. The 28th is the only battalion within the Group to have all six truck companies located with the battalion headquarters. The 40th and 109th Transportation Companies, are two units in the 28th that are unique in that they are the only truck companies in Europe whose primary mission is line haul bulk POL.

The 28th also has one of the two Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) units within Europe.

  The M911 (HET) tractor with the M747, 60 ton (HET) trailer are primarily to transport heavy armored vehicles, by highway to and from US Army Europe training areas, reducing the costly use of the Deutsche Bundesbahn.

The 53rd Transportation Battalion is colocated with the Group Headquarters in Kaiserslautern. Three Truck Companies of the 53rd are colocated with the battalion headquarters and its fourth at Husterhoeh Kaserne, Pirmasens. The 53rd has the 89th Transportation Company, the only truck company in Europe with the primary mission to transport by highway the 59th Ordnance Brigade's Special Weapons under the Nuclear Surety Program.

The most geographically dispersed of the Group's US battalions is the 106th Transportation Battalion located at Azbill Barracks, Russelsheim. The 106th has only one company colocated on the same kaserne. The other three companies are located at Carl Schurz Kaserne, Bremerhaven; W.O. Darby Kaserne, Fuerth; and Giessen Army Depot, Giessen. The 106th in addition to its line haul mission is responsible to transport cargo designated for movement by military highway from the ocean ports located located in Germany and Holland.

The equivalent to a US Army battalion is the 6966th Civilian Support Center (CSC). One company is responsible for transporting most of the frozen of perishable foods consumed by US personnel in Europe. Another transports almost all of the conventional ammunition movements by military highway.
  The 6966th has one company that is divided between two locations, with two platoons at Idar Oberstein and one platoon at Boeblingen. The 6966th also has the other HET Company in Europe located at Taylor Barracks, Mannheim.

The nine Trailer Transfer Points (TTP) are dispersed throughout Germany, located at Rhein Main Air Base; Bremerhaven; Ramstein Air Base; Giessen Army Depot; Panzer Kaserne, Kaiserslautern; Coleman Barracks, Mannheim; Johnson Barracks, Fuerth; Boeblingen Maintenance Plant and Idar Oberstein. TTP's are essential to the efficient operation of the trailer relay system. The Trailer Relay System enables the Group to shuttle trailers loaded with general cargo between TTP's instead of direct delivery. This system reduces the number of drivers remaining overnight, away from their home station and increases the amount of cargo transported on the Line of Communication (LOC).

Another important function of the TTP's is the accountability of the Group's 1,668 central semi-trailer fleet, whether they are located at a TTP or with one of the over 4,100 customers serviced. The TTP's are also responsible to insure that the trailers are mechanically safe for operation on the most dangerous highways in the world and that scheduled maintenance services are performed.

The men and women who drive the Group's vehicles work long hours and sometimes seven days a week. However, there are many other men and women in the Group that are just as important to the mission. These people are the mechanics, cooks and clerks whose daily performance of duty has a direct impact on the Group's successful accomplishment.
 

 
Taking a closer look at the 6966th CSC, By Sp4 Toni Christiano; March 25, 1982

They could boast of being the FIRST and ONLY, part of the BIGGEST, and of having some of the BEST. They are the 6966th Civilian Support Center (CSC), 37th Transportation Group, located at Pulaski Barracks in Kaiserslautern.

The 6966th was activated in June 1953 when railways were the primary means of transport. But, now they are engaged in motor highway line haul transportation. They transport general cargo, heavy equipment, explosives, refrigerated cargo, and they operate trailer transfer terminals.

THE FIRST . . . The 6966th was recently recognized by the German government for an outstanding record of accident free miles driven on motor highways. It was the FIRST time the German government gave this award of achievment to a group within the U.S. Forces.

THE ONLY . . . The CSC is the ONLY civilian truck transportation organization within USAREUR. 97 percent of its members are German nationals and three percent are citizens of other countries.

THE BIGGEST... As part of the 37th Transportation Group, it is a member of the LARGEST Transportation outfit, not only in Europe, but in the entire U.S. Army.

THE BEST . . . To further distinguish the CSC, for the past two years, the CINC's Top Driver award for the highest accident/incident free miles driven by an individual, of ALL

  drivers under USAREUR, went to two members of the 6966th. The CINC award for FY 81 was earned by Leonard Bardtke, and for FY 80, the Top Driver was Fritz Klein, both are with the 8364th Group.

"Dependable service is what MAKES a Transporter," said Hans Bovensiepen, CSC superintendent. When a driver shows up for work at the CSC he rarely knows in advance where he's driving that day. "It's a security precaution," Bovensiepen said. The destination could be within the Federal Republic of Germany, France, or the Benelux.

"Seventy percent of the CSC's commitments are deliveries of priority one cargo," according to Bovensiepen. The statistics: "All priority one and two cargo is delivered on time 99.7 percent of the time," Bovensiepen said.

There are three basic rules which the Superintendent insists that drivers abide by. "First: Don't lie to me. Second: Stay within the route mapped out for delivery. Third: While on duty, don't be under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance. Breaking any of these rules means a discharge within two hours," Bovensiepen said.

It's not difficult to enforce these rules, according to Bovensiepen, because the drivers are proud and monitor each other. "For instance," he stated, "There are no drug problems within the CSC because if a driver
  did get involved that way, the others would not tolerate it. He'd soon be the outcast, and out of the organization. There's a lot of peer pressure to perform at the highest standards." Bovensiepen himself is the highest decorated non-American working for the U.S. Forces.

The average age of a driver within CSC is 30 years old. 51 percent of the drivers are between 21 and 32, and there are more married men than single men. There are no female drivers.

There are seven transportation groups under the 6966th CSC. Three are located at the headquarters, Pulaski Barracks, and one each at Mannheim, Nahbollenbach, Boeblingen and Panzer Kaserne.

In addition to the pride, the very nature of REEFER and AMMO missions demand responsible and dependable drivers. Dangerous cargo must be delivered expediously for security and safety reasons, and refrigerated cargo because it's perishable.

The drivers are selected for duty matching job requirements with their experience and driving record, according to Bovensiepen. It's no coincidence that both TOP Milers are with the Ammo hauling group. But whatever the cargo, their "dependable service . . . " might be the key to being the FIRST and ONLY, BIGGEST and the BEST.
 

Civilian Support Center celebrates 30th anniversary, By Sp4 Toni Christiano; July 1983

"The baby has matured and it is now a strong person," said Hans Bovensiepen, Superintendent of the 6966th Civilian Support Center (CSC), 37th Transportation Group.

"In 1953 we were treated like the infants of the transportation industry. Now we can take almost any sensitive commitment in the whole transportation family," he said.

In June, the 6966th celebrated their 30th anniversary. Bovensiepen recalled some of the prominent history of the organization. "We were forced to cooperate after the war, but today it is a real cooperation. We share the same goal with our allies: peace in Europe," said Bovensiepen.

Time and a history of success in what often seemed to be impossible situations brought the 6966th to a position of respect in the industry.

Difficult beginnings: 1953
Bovensiepen related the difficult circumstances surrounding the birth of the 6966th. "At first only 10 percent of the personnel were transportation trained and the unit was given three months to get fully operational," he said. Obstacles? "It must be remembered that there were only American or U.S. Army regulations pertaining to motor transportation available, said Bovensiepen. "The former German Army had nothing to compare with anything the U.S. Army Transportation Corps had available. Consequently, all training publications had to be translated to German," said Bovensiepen.

With their difficult objective of being operational in only three months clearly defined, the 6966th reached their goal and they were ready. Their trucks reached a daily availability rate of 85 percent.

In 1953 there were 180 task vehicles (vehicles actually used for the missions); 20 quarter tons; 3 wreckers; 5 three-quarter tons; and 12 two-and-a-half ton M34s. All the trucks were new, taken out of Army stock. Two hundred fifty-two task drivers were hired. Today the 6966th has 371 task drivers performing the tansportation mission.

"Back when we were first formed, operations were controlled by a hierarchy, a pinpoint type leadership," said Bovensiepen. "That was a more centralized management

  system. Today it's decentralized. We have work councils and we are able to adopt modern industrial management and still keep the military concept. We used to travel in convoy, for example, but now we use a system of individual dispatch," said Bovensiepen.

The whole operational concept changed in 1960 when the 2½ ton truck was replaced by tractor/trailers. "The Air Force had some new diesels just sitting in storage and they gave them to the Army. We got them operational for our purpose (motor highway transportation) at a cost of $68 a vehicle," said Bovensiepen. "At this time the trailer transfer points became more vital.

"The diesels were easier to maintain and spare parts were easier to come by. We were also authorized up to fourth echelon maintenance," said Bovensiepen. Today the 6966th uses commercial vehicles.

Bovensiepen relates a memorable mission in the history of the 6966th: "Operation: SNOW BOUND."

Operation SNOW BOUND was an effort to help the people of northern Italy. Bovensiepen recalls, "They were snowed in and could only receive supplies by air. The U.S. Air Force flew in supplies of food, fuel, blankets, and clothing that were so badly needed. The 6966th had drivers on the road around the clock bringing supplies from Nahbollenbach/Idar Oberstein to Ramstein Air Base." Bovensiepen said, "No one would drive under such icy conditions unless they were on a mission of mercy. In recognition of the vital role the 6966th played in Operation SNOWBOUND, the U.S. Ambassador to Italy wrote a letter of appreciation to the 6966th for this extraordinary humanitarian effort.

Drivers school organized
Bovensiepen noted that safety is a preoccupation of the 6966th CSC. "The Army had so many safety programs. The fact was that there were no such programs of this type for Germans. I adopted everything I could get my hands on and enforced American style safety programs. In 1953-54 we organized a central drivers academy for the 6966th and its subordinate units. Today, every driver hired, regardless of any equivalent German drivers license, must be trained and licensed by our
  drivers academy at Pulaski Barracks." Bovensiepen said, "This system is something I strongly believe in. In addition to classroom teaching, the school has a program to road test its drivers." The 6966th has come along way from the days of no safety programs and the dedicated efforts of the personnel of the 6966th has had a dramatic effect on the safety standards.

From labor to support
In remembering the many milestones that the 6966th has passed in its dedicated service to NATO, the CSC can look back on a colorful past which includes:

- June 25, 1953. The HHC, 6966th Labor Service Transportation Truck Battalion (German) was established with the mission to supervise operations of three light truck companies in depot and convoy operations transporting ammunition, cargo and personnel.

- May 1957. The Battalion was redesignated Civilian Labor Group (Transportation Truck).

- 1959. The light trucks were replaced by German diesel tractors and consequently the unit became medium truck organization with the revised mission of line haul motor transportation.

- 1960. The first trailer terminal at Boeblingen was organized and activated.

- 1975. One HET company and one refrigerator company had been activated with equipment provided by the 28th and 53rd Transportation Battalions. Also, the 6966th took responsibilrtyfor TTP F in Kaiserslautern.

- January 1982. The 6966th was again redesignated. The new designation, as it is called today, is the 6966th Civilian Support Center.

The shared goal of peace in Europe remains the same for the 6966th as it does for all NATO partners. The 6966th has shown itself to be ready and capable to stand side by side with its partners in peace, united by the strong hand of friendship. There is absolutely no doubt that the "baby has matured" and that the 6966th Civilian Support Center can review what the past 30 years with pride and satisfaction that they have shared in the maintenance of freedom in Europe.
 

 
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