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This website is dedicated to those who served at the 4th USAFAD during the COLD WAR.

Is this a 4th USAFAD Blog? Nope! Our 'accomplishment' here goes much deeper than a simple Blog. However, there are a variety of websites that we have linked together here for Alumni of the 4th USAFAD.

Below you will find links containing pictures, histories, links to the best 4th USAFAD message board *, complete with games, sports pools, OFFICIAL ** 4th USAFAD reunion plans, photo galleries... And at those links you will find the latest 4th USAFAD news, and updates on reunions from 4th USAFAD almni.

* at least the only message board site we would endorse...

** Currently slated for June, 2008 - join/click message boards below for more information.

For those who are just browsing and stumbled across the site, the 4th USAFAD was a special weapons artillery unit located in Werl, Germany. USAFAD stands for "United States Army Field Artillery Detachment". More info for those interested in the links below.

This site was created for the rememberance of those who served in the Cold War, specifically within the 59th Ordance Brigade - which was at one point, the largest Brigade in the US Military. The duty was often mundane, but the camaraderie was generally high in these smaller units, charged with special weapons custody.

Observations from a 4th USAFAD Vet...

"Basically, what you had was, kids who were very carefully vetted, security-wise, from all walks of life, guarding nuclear warheads (oft referred to as "special weapons"). These warhead depots were apparently spread across much of Western Europe.

Being a Vet of such a unit myself, I still have a hard time not operating under the principle "neither confirm nor deny"... which is why I suppose I say these warhead depots were "apparently" spread across much of Western Europe. "Neither confirm nor deny" was the tenet taught us about what we were supposed to say if we fell into the not so friendly hands of the enemy. Some of it seemed very "Spy vs. Spy.", but I can assure you that our day to day operations as soldiers with clearances never approched James Bond status. About the closest it ever came were the words "Top Secret" or "Secret" stamped on pages, or the fact we carried loaded M16's, or at least the ammo to load them at the drop of a hat.

What was different about Germany for the common 4th USAFAD soldier? Everything, just about. Here is a list: Nearly ALL food; cars (Mercedes Taxicabs, find THAT in the US) plus other cars that you don't find in the US often like Renault, Pugeot, Citroen, etc...

Money and language of course; clothing styles; building architecture; historical background (Germany has architecture that makes Plymouth and Boston look young... dating back to the Roman empire); music (both modern AND Classical... think about it... the US does not have a Bach or Beethoven... Europe does...)

Anyway- the point is not that the European continent or Germany or England out class the U.S.--- but rather to say it is a very very different world. Much like you would experience if you went from growing up in Lawton Oklahoma to living in Los Angeles, or vice- versa...

So- needless to say, here you have these American boys (and the occasional girl) showing up in a special weapons unit in Germany... or even Italy or Greece... the 59th Ord. Brigade, which covers this chain of command, had units in all of those areas. Now, you have all of these kids coming from the US for the first time, seeing taxis that are Mercedes (yes, a Taxi that is a car your parents cannot afford back home); drinking age is - well... as they say... "can you see over the bar?" Nearly every other sign of American life is gone... no 7-11's, no Taco Bell, no McDonald's, no Burger King, no normal signs of life.............................................

Some of you who served in Germany might be saying "hey, wait a minute... they had Taco Bell and Burger King and McDonald's..."

Not so very prevalent where the "special weapons" soldier served. We were tucked away, for the most part. Small units, small families... Most USAFAD's supported a NATO component, and at the 4th USAFAD, we supported the Belgian military.

And because of our unique small unit status and remote locations, we were also afforded a unique look at the world of Germany- a look you did not get if you were stationed in the larger Armor units, or Air Force units... Ramstein, Fulda gap units, Stuttgart, Munich, Giessen, Frankfurt, etc...

No- the duty of a special weapons soldier was unique... and like all other things, had its own positives, and negatives..."

All friends of the Units of the 570th USAAG (and other units are welcome as well) are encouraged to go to the following links:

570th Website

4th USAFAD reunion forum