About this Unit
The 59th Ordnance Brigade is a distinguished unit of the United States Army with a lineage dating back to World War II. Originally constituted in 1942 as the 71st Ordnance Battalion, it was redesignated as the 59th Ordnance Group in 1955 and later as the 59th Ordnance Brigade in 1959. Throughout the Cold War, the brigade was primarily based in Germany, where it was responsible for the storage, maintenance, and security of U.S. nuclear and conventional munitions in Europe. The unit played a critical role in NATO’s defense posture until its inactivation in 1992, though it was later reactivated at Fort Lee, Virginia, focusing on advanced ordnance training and support.
Historical Facts
• Origins in World War II: The 59th Ordnance Brigade traces its lineage back to World War II, with its earliest predecessor, the 71st Ordnance Battalion, activated in 1942.
• Cold War Mission: During the Cold War, the Brigade was a key U.S. Army unit responsible for the storage, maintenance, and security of nuclear and conventional munitions in Europe.
• Headquarters in Germany: The Brigade’s headquarters was located at Pirmasens, Germany, a major logistics and supply hub for U.S. Army Europe.
• Guardians of Nuclear Weapons: The 59th Ordnance Brigade controlled several Field Artillery Detachments and was responsible for nuclear weapons depots across Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
• Iconic Shoulder Patch: The Brigade’s shoulder sleeve insignia features a yellow flaming bomb, symbolizing its ordnance mission, with red and blue background colors denoting artillery and infantry heritage.
• Support for NATO Allies: The 59th Ordnance Brigade worked closely with NATO allies, providing nuclear weapons for dual-key arrangements with host nations, including Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
• Involvement in the Pershing Program: The Brigade played a significant role in the deployment and security of Pershing and Pershing II nuclear missiles during the height of the Cold War.
• Deactivation After INF Treaty: With the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987 and subsequent withdrawal of U.S. nuclear missiles from Europe, the Brigade was inactivated in 1992.
• Reactivation for Training: The Brigade was reactivated in 1994 at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, to serve as the headquarters for the Ordnance Missile and Munitions Center and School (OMMCS).
• Enduring Legacy: Many former members of the 59th Ordnance Brigade recall their service as part of the “forgotten guardians” of the Cold War, working in high-security, often secretive conditions to maintain peace through deterrence.
