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Advance Section, USAREUR Com Z |
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| Advance Section, Com Z (ADSEC) | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Recent satellite view of former Maginot Caserne, Verdun (Wikimapia) |
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 Aerial photo of Maginot Caserne, Verdun, Jan 1966 (IGN website) |
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 VIP visit at Maginot Caserne, home of HQ ADSEC, 1958 |
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| 1956 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Dec 9, 1956) |
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Verdun Air Section To Get New Field French forces will join U.S. troops Dec 16 to mark the opening of the new Verdun Army Airfield. The Verdun air section has long anticipated the move to new quarters and less antiquated flying facilities for Advance Section L19s, L20s and helicopters. The new air terminal, officially named Verdun-Rozelier, will feature a modern administration building, and two spacious hangars, replacing the one small hangar and offices at the former locale, a French flying club. |
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| (Source: Army Aviation Digest, February 1957) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1957 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 8, 1957) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In an article about a farewell parade held at ADSEC headquarters (Brig Gen William R. Woodward, ADSEC CG, is returning to the US), a list of units represented at the mass review was provided. These units are all part of the ADSEC organization: 61st Medical Group 32nd Engineer Group Vitry-le-Francois Medical Depot Verdun Signal Depot Sampigny Chemical Depot Toul Engineer Depot Kaiserslautern Engineer Depot Nahbollenbach Quartermaster Depot Giessen
Quartermaster Depot Einsiedlerhof Medical Depot 72nd Ordnance Battalion 15th Ordnance Battalion Pirmasens Signal Depot 53rd Chemical Laboratory
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| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 15, 1957) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The Advance Section, Com Z, headquartered at Verdun stretches from Giessen in Germany to Sommesous east of Paris. Recently, the area of responsibility for ADSEC expanded into Germany with the addition of the Quartermaster depots at Giessen and Nahbollenbach. At a later date, other depots in Germany will be added to the ADSEC command. ADSEC is the forward section of the Line of Communications (LOC) across France. The ADSEC supply system is decentralized, with each technical service depot in the east (West Germany) having a counterpart in France. The Giessen QM Depot in Germany has its double in Metz. The Rhine Engineer Depot in Kaiserslautern has an ADSEC counterpart in Toul. The main Army airfield serving ADSEC is the newly constructed Verdun Army Airfield (with a 2,460-foot runway; 33,000 square feet maintenance hangar; and large storage warehouse). Before the airfield was completed, the aviation section used the Verdun municipal airfield for its L-19's. ADSEC CG until very recently was Brig Gen William R. Woodward. |
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| 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, July 30, 1958) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Advance Section The Communications Zone is divided into the following major subordinate commands: |
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| The command supervises a vast network of depots and communications stretching across northeastern France and into Western Germany. The purpose of the supply depots in France is to provide wartime support of the 7th Army and USAFE. The depots in ADSEC serve as backup for like depots in Germany -- Toul Engineer Depot backs up the Engineer Depot in Kaiserslautern; the Metz QM Depot supports the Giessen QM depot in Germany... Advance Section was originally set up in Paris in 1950 as part of the major effort of organizing a new, more secure line of communications through France to replace the Bremerhaven line of communications which had been established during the early days of the Occupation Period. ADSEC units employ 16,000 French workers. In Verdun, site of the headquarters and other activities, one of every five working adults is employed by the US Army. |
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The two above issues of THE ADVANCE were submitted by Donald M. Ricks, 97th Engineer Battalion (Construction) website |
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| Verdun Garrison (ADSEC) | ||||||||||||||||||||
 US Army installations in Verdun (Google Maps/Walter Elkins) for additions and corrections, please contact the webmaster |
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 US Army installations in Verdun, 1960 (Source: Harry Puncec) |
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| 1954 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Guy Thomas) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| I am from Houston, Texas. I was drafted into the Army at Ft. Bliss in January 1954. Did QM training at Ft. Lee, VA. I was later sent to Verdun, France in April, or May 1954. 7804 QM base Verdun France. Was there till December 1955. Rank E3. The 7804 Station Complement Unit was a supply depot dispensing food for surrounding troops, both American and RAF. I worked at the cold storage facility. We also provided supplies for dependents and the PX. | Evidently the post had not been open for long when I arrived in early 1955. It was an old Johndarm (?) billets, hot water 3 days a week, C rations several times a week. I'm trying to piece together my shoulder patches. And I want to see if there are any old timers that might remember. I have some pictures. Three years ago I went to Verdun to the old location and it was occupied by a French special unit training facility. I was stationed on the quad, and I talked to the guard at the gate. Showed him a picture I had. No deal, no English.. |
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| Gribeauval Caserne, Verdun | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Recent satellite view of former Gribeauval Caserne, Verdun (Wikimapia) |
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 Aerial photo of Gribeauval Caserne, Verdun, Jan 1966 (IGN website) |
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| If you served in Verdun or worked for the Americans and have additional details on Gribeauval Caserne units/activities, please contact me (see email link at top of page). | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Click here for article on the 72nd Ordnance Battalion, Gribeauval Caserne, Verdun, in 1956. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago Area, Verdun | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Recent satellite view of former Chicago Area, Verdun (Wikimapia) |
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 Chicago Area storage complex, Verdun, Jan 1966 (IGN website |
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| If you served in Verdun or worked for the Americans (incl. French civilians and Polish Labor Service personnel) and have additional details on the Chicago Area units/activities, please contact me (see email link at top of page). | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Verdun US Army Hospital | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Army Hospital at Verdun or what's left of it (Google Earth) |
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 US Army Hospital, Verdun, Jan 1966 (IGN website) |
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| If you served in Verdun and have additional details on the Army Hospital at Verdun (or any other activities located there such as the American high school), please contact me (see email link at top of page). | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, August 12 1963) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The 319th Station Hospital is only one of the occupants at the $6 million hospital complex on the eastern end of Verdun, France. The complex was designed as a wartime 1000-bed hospital, but only a 100-bed medical facility is operational today. The remaining wings are used to house other units such as the 26th Transportation Company (an Army aviation unit) and the 32nd Engineer Group. The Verdun American High School and an elementary school are also located at the complex as well as a dormitory for students who live too far away to commute daily. The hospital's role is to provide primary medical care for all eligible persons in the Verdun area - it serves a population of 18,000 scattered over an area the size of West Virginia. The hospital also serves as command headquarters for several attached units that are stationed in the general area: 16th Field Hospital, Vitry-le-Francois 505th Medical Company, Vitry-le-Francois 591st Medical Company, Vitry-le-Francois 80th Medical Train, Toul 60th General Dispensary, Toul 158th Medical Detachment, Metz General Dispensary, Metz 105th Medical Detachment, Verdun 767th Medical Detachment, Verdun
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| 313th Engineer Group / 32nd Engineer Group | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 313th Engineer Construction Group | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1955 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 9, 1955) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The 313th Engr Const Gp located at Verdun, France has been redesignated as the 32nd Engr Const Gp. The unit designation and colors of the 313th are being returned to reserve status at the group's home station in St. Louis, Mo. The 313th Engr Gp has been in France for the past three years. |
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| Related Links: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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- Frank Santoro's website featuring military installations and units in the Verdun, France, area from 1950-1967.
