Ray Barracks was a United States Army installation in Friedberg, Germany until it was closed by the U.S. government in 2007 and returned to the German government. Located in the southern part of the city near the industrial area, the barracks had numerous facilities. The barracks included a firing range for personal weapons qualification, an Urban warfare training site, vehicle maintenance facilities and various recreation facilities. After World War II the barracks were named after First Lieutenant Bernard J. Ray, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. Ray sacrificed himself to destroy a wire obstacle that was blocking his unit’s path. The base was closed in August 2007.
The Aartal-Kaserne was a location of the Bundeswehr and the US Army in Herborn-Seelbach in central Hesse from 1966 to 1993.
In March 1962, the then Minister of Defense Franz Josef Strauß had decided to build a Bundeswehr site near the central Hessian town of Herborn to protect the Bellersdorf special ammunition depot, where both German and American soldiers were to be accommodated. The former municipality of Herbornseelbach was then chosen as the location.
In May 1966, the first soldiers moved into the new barracks, which had not yet been completely completed. They were advance soldiers of the Transport Battalion for Special Weapons SW 83 and the Fernspähkompanie 300. The official handover of the site took place on 6 September 1967 and the Aartal barracks were closed on 30 September 1993.
The Aartal barracks consisted of two parts, the German one in the west and the American one in the east. Under the barracks there is still a large bunker complex. For the soldiers and their families, a new housing estate of multi-family and terraced houses was built in the 1960s between Aartal-Kaserne and Herborn-Seelbach. There was also an American school.
Today, the former barracks are used as a commercial and residential area.
The Aartal barracks consisted of two parts, the German one in the west and the American one in the east. Under the barracks there is still a large bunker complex. For the soldiers and their families, a new housing estate of multi-family and terraced houses was built in the 1960s between Aartal-Kaserne and Herborn-Seelbach. There was also an American school.
Today, the former barracks are used as a commercial and residential area.
(Source: USAREUR Military History Office – Online Medical Histories, 2002)
The 97th was selected for special service to aid in the Berlin air-lift in 1948-49; for its support of the operation, it was awarded the “Army of Occupation Medal with the Berlin Air-Lift Device”.
On 1 January 1954, the hospital was redesignated US Army Hospital, Frankfurt operated by the 97th General Hospital with a total expandible bed capacity of 1,000.
The 97th General Hospital and the Frankfurt Army Regional Medical Center (FARMC) is the largest and busiest in Europe. Comprised of 11 troop medical clinics, 22 dental clinics, 3 veterinary detachments and numerous other field and TO&E units spanning a 100 mile radius. The 97th General Hospital is authorized an operating bed level of 330 plus 30 remaining overnight beds for evacuation patients. The hospital functions as the medical evaluation center for patients being evacuated to the United States. It also operates a regional neonatal intensive care unit for the dependents of US Army Forces in Europe. The hospital provides specialized treatment in 22 areas to include: allergy, audiology, cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, dentistry, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, pediatrics, pulmonary disease, psychiatry, rheumatology and urology. The 97th General Hospital and the Frankfurt Army Regional Medical Center continues to function as the home of concerned care.
ARMY BARRACKS 