59th Ordnance Brigade

• 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.