What was the 4th USAFAD?

The 4th USAFAD was a small, fratenity like unit, one of many throughout Europe, whose primary mission was to support a NATO agreement to allow "host" countries to cooperate in the delivery of "special weapons" in the event of war with the (then) U.S.S.R.

The mission of the soldiers at these and units like it across Europe was to maintain "custody" of said weapons up until such a time that they were released by higher command(s) to the "host" nations so that they could then be utilized in warfare.

The NATO Component

While things did change from time to time in the command structure of the NATO and U.S. commands, during the cold war the 4th USAFAD primarily supported the Belgian 3rd, 14th, and 20th Artillery Corps.

What this meant for those who served at the 4th USAFAD was that their support structure, or at least a large amount of it, was also supplied by the Beglian command to which they were attached. Some educational support (for dependents), some medical support (for most smaller issues such as day to day sicknesses), and even what would be considered normal support functions at a larger US Base - such as NCO clubs, Officer Clubs, Motor Pools and major equipment maintenance- was provided or sustained by the Belgian Army. Many or most of the vehicles and equipment used to support the special weapons were in fact US made, but the Belgian military provided the day to day support and control of such equipment.

The U.S. soldier at the 4th dealt daily with Command and Control of the Special Weapons- "Custody". Others, from special US units (Ordnance Companies) provided techinical and maintenance support for the special weapons themselves.

It is important to note that while NATO's agreement for allowing the involvement of 'host' nations to be 'involved' in the special weapons component during the Cold War, that at NO TIME did any NATO 'host' have 'custody', control, or unsupervised (by U.S.) access to special weapons.

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