John Ross

The 558th U.S. Army Artillery Group (USAAG) was a United States Army unit stationed in Elevsis, Greece during the Cold War. Established as part of NATO commitments, the 558th USAAG was responsible for the custody and control of U.S. nuclear warheads assigned to Greek missile units, ensuring their security and readiness. The unit played a crucial role in maintaining deterrence and supporting allied defense strategies in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The 558th USAAG was deactivated following the reduction of U.S. military presence in Greece and changes in NATO’s nuclear posture during the late 1980s.

The 19th United States Army Field Artillery Detachment (19th USAFAD) was a unit of the U.S. Army assigned to NATO during the Cold War. Stationed in Werl, West Germany, the 19th USAFAD was responsible for the custody, maintenance, and security of nuclear warheads assigned to Belgian Army artillery units under the NATO nuclear sharing arrangement. The detachment worked closely with Belgian forces equipped with Honest John and later MGM-52 Lance missiles. The 19th USAFAD was inactivated in the early 1990s following the end of the Cold War and the withdrawal of U.S. nuclear weapons from Western Europe.