History of the US Army Ordnance Corps | US Army Ordnance Corps & School

Background

The Ordnance Corps has a proud tradition dating back to colonial America when Samuel Sharpe was appointed as Master Gunner of Ordnance in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629. For the next four hundred years, the Ordnance Corps served a pivotal role in the American Army: it built the weapons for the Union Army in the Civil War, it established forward maintenance as a key tenet during WWI, and organized the first Bomb Disposal Units in WWII. Through Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, up to its current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the men and women of the Ordnance Branch maintain its dedication to the spirit of "Service To The Line, On The Line, On Time!"

In 1940, The Ordnance School consolidated officer and enlisted training at the newly dedicated school buildings at Aberdeen Proving Ground. This became the center for Ordnance soldier training in WWII.
The Bomb Disposal School, established in 1942 at Aberdeen Proving Ground under the leadership of Colonel Thomas J. Kane, trained 219 seven-man teams in WWII.
Commissary General of Military Stores, Colonel Benjamin Flower, led the Ordnance effort during the American Revolution by establishing laboratories, arsenals, foundries, and magazines in places such as Springfield, MA and Carlisle, PA.
During the Korean War, the Ordnance Replacement Training Center (boot camp) was reestablished following its closure after WWII. By the time it closed its doors in May 1954, it had trained 74,000 soldiers.
During the Civil War, the M1861 Rifle Musket was the basic infantry weapon for the Union Army. Springfield Armory produced 805,538 Rifle Muskets during the war.
Women's Army Corps test firing M-3 submachine guns at Aberdeen Proving Grounds during WWII. During the war a WAC detachment of 568 women worked at the Ordnance Research and Development Center participating in research on all types of armaments and munitions at all the APG test areas, including the country's first supersonic wind tunnel.
The 42nd Infantry Division Mobile Ordnance Repair Shop formed part of the emerging echelon maintenance system developed by the Ordnance Department during WWI. The 50-man unit assisted the organic ordnance personnel assigned to the lower echelon commands.
In 1887, the Ordnance Department established its first federal cannon foundry at Watervliet Arsenal. In the emerging age of steel, breechloading artillery, experimenting with and producing cannon was an increasingly complicated and expensive proposition that civilian industry was reluctant to perform.
The Detroit Tank Arsenal, built in eight months while engineers simultaneously designed a new medium tank, the M3, to be produced there. The plant, operated by the Chrysler Corporation, produced the first M3s in April 1941. The Detroit Tank Arsenal built 22,234 tanks by war's end, roughly 25 per cent of the country's tank production in World War II.
In the early years of Vietnam, many combat units were deployed ahead of their supporting logistics units. Logistics infrastructure had to be built up while the fighting was ongoing. This M578 Light Recovery Vehicle is doing its work with two (vice the standard one) .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the cab.
Civilian Women Ordnance Workers (WOW) made a vital contribution in WWII working in the arsenals, armories, depots, and proving grounds. About 85,000 of the 262,000 civilian ordnance workers were WOWs during the war.
During WWI, Ordnance base shops and repair shops were fixed sites which could completely rebuild or overhaul weapons and equipment. The largest base shop, at Mehun, France, covered 50 acres and employed 2,000 American and French soldiers and civilians.

Image 1.

In 1940, The Ordnance School consolidated officer and enlisted training at the newly dedicated school buildings at Aberdeen Proving Ground. This became the center for Ordnance soldier training in WWII.

Image 2.

The Bomb Disposal School, established in 1942 at Aberdeen Proving Ground under the leadership of Colonel Thomas J. Kane, trained 219 seven-man teams in WWII.

Image 3.

Commissary General of Military Stores, Colonel Benjamin Flower, led the Ordnance effort during the American Revolution by establishing laboratories, arsenals, foundries, and magazines in places such as Springfield, MA and Carlisle, PA.

Image 4.

During the Korean War, the Ordnance Replacement Training Center (boot camp) was reestablished following its closure after WWII. By the time it closed its doors in May 1954, it had trained 74,000 soldiers.

Image 5.

During the Civil War, the M1861 Rifle Musket was the basic infantry weapon for the Union Army. Springfield Armory produced 805,538 Rifle Muskets during the war.

Image 6.

Women's Army Corps test firing M-3 submachine guns at Aberdeen Proving Grounds during WWII. During the war a WAC detachment of 568 women worked at the Ordnance Research and Development Center participating in research on all types of armaments and munitions at all the APG test areas, including the country's first supersonic wind tunnel.

Image 7.

The 42nd Infantry Division Mobile Ordnance Repair Shop formed part of the emerging echelon maintenance system developed by the Ordnance Department during WWI. The 50-man unit assisted the organic ordnance personnel assigned to the lower echelon commands.

Image 8.

In 1887, the Ordnance Department established its first federal cannon foundry at Watervliet Arsenal. In the emerging age of steel, breechloading artillery, experimenting with and producing cannon was an increasingly complicated and expensive proposition that civilian industry was reluctant to perform.

Image 9.

The Detroit Tank Arsenal, built in eight months while engineers simultaneously designed a new medium tank, the M3, to be produced there. The plant, operated by the Chrysler Corporation, produced the first M3s in April 1941. The Detroit Tank Arsenal built 22,234 tanks by war's end, roughly 25 per cent of the country's tank production in World War II.

Image 10.

In the early years of Vietnam, many combat units were deployed ahead of their supporting logistics units. Logistics infrastructure had to be built up while the fighting was ongoing. This M578 Light Recovery Vehicle is doing its work with two (vice the standard one) .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the cab.

Image 11.

Civilian Women Ordnance Workers (WOW) made a vital contribution in WWII working in the arsenals, armories, depots, and proving grounds. About 85,000 of the 262,000 civilian ordnance workers were WOWs during the war.

Image 12.

During WWI, Ordnance base shops and repair shops were fixed sites which could completely rebuild or overhaul weapons and equipment. The largest base shop, at Mehun, France, covered 50 acres and employed 2,000 American and French soldiers and civilians.

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Ordnance Soldier's Creed

As an Ordnance Soldier of the United States Army, I will utilize every available talent and means to ensure that superior mobility, firepower, and communications are advantages enjoyed by the United States Army over its enemies. As an Ordnance Soldier, I fully understand my duty to perform under adverse conditions and I will continually strive to perfect my craft. I will remain flexible so that I can meet any emergency. In my conduct, I will abide by the Soldier's code. In my support mission in the field, I will use every available skill to maintain superiority; I will always be tactically and technically proficient As an Ordnance soldier, I have no greater task.

Ordnance Corps Crest

The earliest evidence we have for the design of the Ordnance Regimental Crest dates back to a uniform button from 1833. The origin of the design is unclear, but by the mid-19th century it was used on almost all official Ordnance Department documents. Additionally, the design was used by the former federal armories and arsenals. It is one of the oldest insignia designs used by the U.S. Army.

In 1950, the wording was changed to read 'Ordnance Corps U.S.A.'. With the reestablishment of the Ordnance Corps on 28 October 1985, it was an obvious insignia to choose as the regimental crest.

According to the Army Institute of Heraldry, the crossed cannons represent the Ordnance Corp's early relationship to the Artillery. The Shell and Flame (a.k.a. the Flaming Bomb) represents the armament of days gone by, while the energy it connotes is applicable to the weapons of our own day. The cannoneer's belt, which encircles the flaming bomb and crossed cannons, is embossed with the words 'ORDNANCE CORPS U.S.A.' and represents the traditional association between munitions and armament. The white background symbolizes the Ordnance Corp's motto, 'ARMAMENT FOR PEACE.'

Ordnance Corps Flag

The regimental crest is displayed above a yellow scroll inscribed with "ARMAMENT FOR PEACE", the official Ordnance Corps' motto. The background of the flag is crimson and the fringe is yellow. Crimson and yellow have been the colors of the Ordnance Corps throughout its history, except for a short period between 1902 and 1921, when the official colors were black and scarlet.

Ordnance Corps Prayer

Our Father, we pray for the strength of mind, heart and body to continue to serve our Army and our Nation. Help us remember and emulate the heritage of excellence set by those who established, nurtured and led the Ordnance Corps before us. May the shell and flame continue to light the way toward selfless service, dedicated professionalism and passionate patriotism as we support our Nation's role as a leading force toward peace and liberty in the world.

Oh Lord, we ask that you provide us the wisdom to continually take charge of change and shape the Ordnance Corps to provide service to the line, on the line, on time. Guide us as we seek to establish our own heritage of courage and honor through our daily duties. Give us the strength to accept our responsibility to our fellow soldiers as we seek to fix and arm the force.

Oh God of Our Fathers, bless our efforts to provide the "Armament for Peace" and protect us if we must answer the call to arms to defend our faith, our liberty and our freedom. Teach us not to mourn those who have died in the service of the Corps, but rather to gain strength from the fact that such heroes have lived. Teach us to stand together in Your Name so that we may remain strong and that the Ordnance Corps shall remain the architect of readiness for our Army and our Nation.

Amen.

The Ordnance Corps Regimental Prayer was written by Edward C Starnes and adopted officially by Major General John G. Coburn on March 4, 1994.

Shell and Flame

The Shell and Flame (a.k.a. Flaming Bomb) has been used by European armies for several centuries before adoption by the U.S. Army. In fact, it is still used by many countries in Western Europe, i.e. the Grenadier Guards in Britain. The insignia represents not a bomb, but an iron hand grenade with a powder charge and a fuse which had to be lit before throwing.

U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Branch plaque (graphic courtesy of Serge Averbukh) The Shell and Flame is considered the oldest branch insignia in the U.S. Army. The use of the Shell and Flame by the Ordnance Branch dates back to 1832. It was also used by the Artillery Branch until 1834 when the Artillery branch adopted the crossed-cannons as its branch insignia.

The Shell and Flame continued to be used by a wide variety of Army organizations, not just the Ordnance branch until 1851 when the new 1851 Uniform Regulations dictated the Ordnance Branch would be the sole users of the Shell and Flame.

Despite its sole ownership by the Ordnance Branch, multiple designs of the Shell and Flame existed. Different designs accompanied different uniforms. The 1851 Uniform Regulations, in addition, granted enlisted personnel the opportunity to wear the Shell and Flame, previously only Officers wore the emblem. The dress uniform, the forage cap, the enlisted uniform, and many other uniforms had their unique design. Most Officers emblems were sewn onto their uniform, while Enlisted soldiers had brass insignia affixed onto theirs.

The multiplicity of designs continued through WWI. Indeed, with the deployment of the American Expeditionary Forces in France and the advent of collar disks with branch insignia, a dizzying array of designs existed. Even today, it is still unknown how many different designs were produced. Designs in the U.S. had a tenure of approximately ten years before a new insignia was designed for a particular uniform. In France, however, soldiers employed a wide-array of French manufacturers to make their uniform items.

In 1936, the Army Institute of Heraldry redesigned and standardized the design of the Shell and Flame. This stylized Shell and Flame remains the current version. Interestingly, all older versions were allowed to be grandfathered out of use. It is not uncommon to see photos of WWII Ordnance soldiers still wearing the pre-1936 design. There are portraits of Officers wearing the pre-1936 design up until 1962.

Ordnance Corps Song

Army Ordnance Arsenal Day, June 10, 1941, served a double function: it honored the 40,000 workers in the various arsenals, and it introduced to a nationwide audience Irving Berlin's new Army Ordnance song, "Arms for the Love of America."

Maj. Gen. C. M. Wesson, Chief of Ordnance, had designated June 10 as Arsenal Day to commemorate the traditional role of the ordnance arsenals as the cornerstone of armament productions since post-Revolutionary War days. The program was broadcast by the National Broadcasting Company and the Columbia Broadcasting System over coast-to-coast networks from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The soloist was Barry Wood, accompanied by the Lynn Murray Singers and the Army Band.

Berlin composed "Arms for the Love of America," a rollicking, snappy march, for Wesson at the request of Lt. Col. John B. Bellinger, executive assistant to the Chief of Ordnance. Bellinger suggested that the song symbolize the need for production and at the same time serve an inspirational purpose in defense industries.

All profits from the sale of copies by the publishers were donated to Army charitable and relief purposes.

In May 2020, the lyrics to 'Arms for the Love of America' were updated with the approval of the Chief of Ordnance and the Irving Berlin Company. The adjusted lyrics reflect the diversity of the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and recognizes all the dedicated professionals who provide service to the line, on the line, on time.

Arms For The Love Of America

On land and on the sea and in the air
We've got to be there, We've got to be there.
America is sounding her alarms
We've got to have arms, We've got to have arms.
Arms for the love of America
They speak in a foreign land, with weapons in every hand.
What ever they try we've got to reply in language that they understand.
Arms for the love of America
And for every mother's cherished one
Who's depending on the work that must be done
By the force, behind the force, behind the gun
They're in the camps and in the training schools
Now give them the tools, they've got to have tools.
We called them from the factories and farms
Now give them the arms, They've got to have arms.
Arms for the love of America.
We've got to get in the race, and work at a lively pace.
They say over here we've nothing to fear but let's get ready just in case.
Arms for the love of America.
And for every mother's cherished one.
Oh the fight for freedom can be lost or won
By the force, behind the force, behind the gun