slots for captains held by lieutenants and so on. I remember the shortage of field grade officers caused by the war in Viet Nam created a situation where many slots were under-filled, i.e. He was a true "redleg" and I am told he now resides in retirement in Lawton, OK, next door to Ft. In about March of 1968 I became the Exec of A Battery. We were in Henry Kaserne next door to the 3rd Engineers. The B Battery First Sergeant, Sergeant Clifton, was a great Top Kick, straight out of central casting for the role and the only guy I ever met who wore the 24th Infantry Division patch at the top of both sleeves, he'd been with the 24th in Korea. The Battalion Commander was LTC Lee, again I don't remember a first name. I remember my first Battery Commander was Captain Van Stone, don't remember his first name, but I do remember my first meeting with him it was the first time I heard the line: "We go by first names here, I will call you Brad and you can call me Captain." It stuck, I still don't remember any other first name, but I do remember he was married to a stunningly beautiful German woman named Renate. The unit was a self-propelled M-109 155mm howitzer outfit. I arrived in Munich in late February or early March 1967 after graduation from OCS at Ft. We were part of the 24th Infantry Division (Mech). ) I was the AXO of B Battery and later the XO of A Battery. Headquarters Battery, of course, included the administrative troops plus the battalion motor pool folks, etc. Three firing batteries in the Battalion: Alpha, Bravo and Charley. ( Six howitzers per battery, all M-109 155mm self-propelled. I was stationed with the 1st of the 35th Arty at Henry Kaserne, northeast Munich, during 1967 & 68. (Source: USAREUR STATION LIST, 30 June 1967)īrad Scheminske, 1st Bn, 35th Arty, 1967-68) The plan - which will take several years to complete - can be seen as an internal readjustment of tactical and support units within USAREUR and will not lead to any reduction in USAREUR troop strength (unlike the REFORGER program).Īfter the moves have been completed, Warner Kaserne and other troop installations in the northern Munich area as well as Infantry Kaserne in Augsburg will be returned to the German government. The plan includes the relocation of more than 80 other Army units (ranging from detachment to battalion in size) within Germany. The moves are part of a relocation plan that is connected with the larger REFORGER program (redeployment of the 24th Inf Div to the States) currently under way. USAREUR has announced that HQ 3rd (Rotation) Brigade of the 24th Inf Div and 1st Bn, 34th Arty will be relocated to Augsburg starting in May and June. (Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 19, 1968) Small elements of the signal battalion, MP company and other divisional support units would also remain.Ģ4th Inf Div (Fwd) Headquarters Building, Sheridan Kaserne, Augsburg (Barri Vickers) Other 24th Inf Div units that would stay on with 3rd Brigade: The reorganization would see 5th Bn, 32nd Arm and 2nd Bn, 21st Inf transferred to 2nd Brigade and 3rd Bn, 19th Inf (Henry Ksn, Munich) moved to 3rd Brigade from 2nd Bde. At the time of the announcement, 3rd Brigade was probably organized as follows: In preparation for the troop shift, 3rd Brigade would be reorganized to minimize the unit moves within the Munich area. The commanding general of the 24th Inf Div, Maj Gen Roderick Wetherill, explained that 3rd Brigade would remain in Munich as the forward deployed element of the division. (Under the plan up to 35,000 soldiers and airmen would leave Germany as part of an effort to cut US foreign exchange costs.) On HQ USEUCOM announced that most of the 24th Inf Div (division headquarters two infantry brigades division artillery division support command) as well as several other Army and Air Force units were to be redeployed to Fort Riley, Kansas as part of the REFORGER concept. 3rd Brigade - 24th Infantry Division (Fwd)
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