***image1***On June 8, U.S. Army, Europe celebrated 65 years of unbroken service to the nation.
The command known as USAREUR was first activated June 8, 1942, as European Theater of Operations, United States Army.
Throughout World War II, ETOUSA served as the theater army, providing a full range of support to U.S. Army combat elements in Europe.
After the war, July 1, 1945, the command was re-designated as U.S. Forces, European Theater, and then re-designated again as European Command March 15, 1947.
With the establishment of the Department of Defense and a separate U.S. Air Force, a new joint-service command was established in Europe Aug. 1, 1952: the United States European Command, which now has its headquarters at Stuttgart. On the same date, the residual Army command in Europe – the former EUCOM – was re-designated as U.S. Army, Europe. After the build-up of forces in 1950-52 to meet the threats of the Cold War, at its peak USAREUR commanded Seventh Army, V Corps, VII Corps, five divisions, three armored cavalry regiments, a separate infantry regiment in Berlin, Southern European Task Force in Italy, and a logistical command that operated a line of communications stretching from the west coast of France into the heart of Germany. Peak assigned strength reached more than 277,000 in the summer of 1962.
In 1966, the field army echelon was eliminated, with the two corps becoming directly subordinate to USAREUR. Effective Dec. 1, 1966, the headquarters of Seventh Army and USAREUR merged, creating United States Army, Europe, and Seventh Army. The most recent change came Oct. 16, 2006, when USAREUR/7A was designated an Army Service Component Command as part of the Army’s modular conversion process.
Gen. David D. McKiernan assumed command of USAREUR/7A Dec. 14, 2005, and had this to say on the command’s anniversary: “Over the last 65 years, the name, mission and area of operations of what is now U.S. Army Europe have changed a number of times. What hasn’t changed is the command’s unmatched ability to work with friends and allies to meet challenges and defeat common enemies.
***image2***“USAREUR was born in the intense combat of World War II, and stood tall along the inter-German border during the long years of the Cold War. In the 1990s, the missions in Bosnia and Kosovo required the command to begin its transformation into an expeditionary Army that trains, equips and commands deployable forces in support of combatant commanders.
“Today, USAREUR is playing an essential role in the worldwide fight against terrorism. Our history is a distinguished one, and each of you carries forward that tradition of proud service. I offer my thanks and congratulations to all of you on the USAREUR team. Happy anniversary, U.S. Army, Europe!”
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***image1***On June 8, U.S. Army, Europe celebrated 65 years of unbroken service to the nation.
The command known as USAREUR was first activated June 8, 1942, as European Theater of Operations, United States Army.
Throughout World War II, ETOUSA served as the theater army, providing a full range of support to U.S. Army combat elements in Europe.
After the war, July 1, 1945, the command was re-designated as U.S. Forces, European Theater, and then re-designated again as European Command March 15, 1947.
With the establishment of the Department of Defense and a separate U.S. Air Force, a new joint-service command was established in Europe Aug. 1, 1952: the United States European Command, which now has its headquarters at Stuttgart. On the same date, the residual Army command in Europe – the former EUCOM – was re-designated as U.S. Army, Europe. After the build-up of forces in 1950-52 to meet the threats of the Cold War, at its peak USAREUR commanded Seventh Army, V Corps, VII Corps, five divisions, three armored cavalry regiments, a separate infantry regiment in Berlin, Southern European Task Force in Italy, and a logistical command that operated a line of communications stretching from the west coast of France into the heart of Germany. Peak assigned strength reached more than 277,000 in the summer of 1962.
In 1966, the field army echelon was eliminated, with the two corps becoming directly subordinate to USAREUR. Effective Dec. 1, 1966, the headquarters of Seventh Army and USAREUR merged, creating United States Army, Europe, and Seventh Army. The most recent change came Oct. 16, 2006, when USAREUR/7A was designated an Army Service Component Command as part of the Army’s modular conversion process.
Gen. David D. McKiernan assumed command of USAREUR/7A Dec. 14, 2005, and had this to say on the command’s anniversary: “Over the last 65 years, the name, mission and area of operations of what is now U.S. Army Europe have changed a number of times. What hasn’t changed is the command’s unmatched ability to work with friends and allies to meet challenges and defeat common enemies.
***image2***“USAREUR was born in the intense combat of World War II, and stood tall along the inter-German border during the long years of the Cold War. In the 1990s, the missions in Bosnia and Kosovo required the command to begin its transformation into an expeditionary Army that trains, equips and commands deployable forces in support of combatant commanders.
“Today, USAREUR is playing an essential role in the worldwide fight against terrorism. Our history is a distinguished one, and each of you carries forward that tradition of proud service. I offer my thanks and congratulations to all of you on the USAREUR team. Happy anniversary, U.S. Army, Europe!”