Caserma Ederle
Encyclopedia
Caserma Ederle is an Italian post
where the U.S. Army has troops stationed located in Vicenza
, Italy
. A small number of members of other U.S. services are also stationed there. The post serves as the headquarters
of United States Army Africa
and the 173d Airborne Brigade. Caserma Ederle serves as the headquarters of U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza, an umbrella for all U.S. military properties in Vicenza. The post is named after Major
Carlo Ederle
, an Italian hero of World War I
and recipient of the French
Croix de Guerre (French War Cross), among other military honors.
at Caserma Ederle are normally permitted to bring family members when being reassigned there upon a Permanent Change of Station
. Still, many of the military personnel assigned to Caserma Ederle are unaccompanied.
The post offers virtually all of the standard amenities present on most U.S. military
installations, such as a Post Exchange
, commissary
, theater, etc. Single or unaccompanied junior enlisted soldiers live primarily in barracks
located on the post itself, or in leased government quarters in the local community. Depending on the availability of housing upon arrival, personnel accompanied by dependents can live in housing quarters
, Italian houses rented by the U.S. Government, government-owned housing units, or on the economy. Government-owned housing units for accompanied soldiers and their dependents are located in a separate and gated/secure area of Vicenza known as Villaggio della Pace (literally "Village of the Peace", but actually named after the street passing near the village and the camp - Viale della Pace). Single officers live on the economy.
, located in Pisa
, Italy.
In 1951, the U.S. and Italy signed an agreement that the U.S. would operate lines of communication across Italy, and that the U.S. would occupy land near Livorno
. This land became Camp Darby, named for Brigadier General
William O. Darby
, who was killed in action in northern Italy on 30 April 1945.
In 1955, all U.S. occupation forces
in Austria
were withdrawn upon the entry into force of the Austrian State Treaty
. Under provisions of the agreement with Italy, Camp Darby was the initial reception station for soldiers, equipment and supplies returning from Austria.
With Austria now neutral, northern Italy’s eastern flank became vulnerable to attack. To reduce the danger in that area, the U.S. agreed to establish a force there and on 2 October 1955, the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force was activated. SETAF’s first headquarters was on Camp Darby, but the largest number of soldiers has always been in Vicenza, Italy. Shortly after activation, USASETAF headquarters moved to Verona
, Italy. Troop strength reached 10,000 and USASETAF was formally established via a U.S.-Italian agreement.
In 1959, following President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
’s visit to Rome
, a third agreement brought significant changes to USASETAF. Italy’s military forces were re-established. As a result:
As a result of this agreement, the 62nd Engineers and an artillery company were moved to Caserma Passalacqua. Both companies had nuclear weapons. The artillery company’s Sergeant missiles
had nuclear warheads and the engineering company was an ADOM (Atomic Demolition Munitions) engineering unit.
The headquarters moved again in 1965 from Verona to Caserma Ederle. Caserma Ederele had already existed as an Italian post. Soldier strength dropped to 2,500 in 1970 and civilian employment went down 70 percent in a unilateral cost-reduction effort. The port opened by 8th Area Support Group in Livorno
was returned to Italian control.
On 20 October 1963, the 2nd Battalion (Sergeant Missile), 30th Field Artillery was activated in Caserma Ederle. LTC Ronald L. Little assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, which consisted of A, B, and Headquarters batteries. The 2nd Battalion, 30th Field Artillery was deactivated on 15 December 1975.
SETAF’s mission and geographical area of responsibility increased in 1972 when the command enlarged its signal support unit and took control of the 559th U.S. Army Artillery Group (USAAG) in Greece
and the 528th USAAG in Turkey
. These units had been in support of NATO since the early 1960s, along with the 559th USAAG, which had been a USASETAF unit in Italy since 1964. The 509th Infantry Regiment
(Airborne Brigade Combat Team - ABCT) was previously placed under the command of SETAF in 1973 and later deactivated in the mid-1980s; it was replaced by the 4/325th Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne Division). The 4/325th ABCT was composed of three line companies (including a COHORT company - Angry Alpha,the company adopted a dog who lived in the barracks for a month who was name Angry), a headquarters company, a combat-support company, and a 105mm artillery battery. A member of NATO's Allied Mobile Forces (Land), the 4/325th ABCT was the right flank element of the European front during the late Cold War and was deployable by parachute to anywhere in the region.
The primary missions of SETAF during the 1980s were the defense of the eastern Alpine passes in anticipation of a Soviet invasion, and command/control of the nuclear weapons stockpiles still located in northern Italy.
Also stationed here was the 45th Field Hospital, US Army Medical Activity (USAMEDDAC), part of the 7th Medical Command. The 45th Field Hospital was a 26 bed hospital supporting the troops stationed at Caserma Ederle. The health clinic at Camp Darby, Livorno, was supported by the 45th Field Hospital as well as the health clinic at Sinop, Turkey.
served in Vicenza (on Caserma Ederle) from April 1996 until it was reflagged as the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment in June 2006.
Until 1992, USASETAF was considered a logistical command. In addition to the infantry
units, SETAF operated a major depot at Camp Darby in conjunction with the 8th Area Support Group. With its designation as a support command and later a theater army area command, USASETAF was to be responsible for the reception, preparation for combat, and onward movement of forces entering the southern region for general war.
The political reorientation of Europe in 1989 and 1990 resulting from the end of the Cold War
caused major revision of U.S. and NATO military priorities. With the drastic reduction of the threat of general war, SETAF received new missions for regional tactical operations as command and control headquarters for U.S. Army and joint units. Its three artillery
groups were inactivated and the two support groups became support groups with unique missions. The 8th Area Support Group’s depot operation developed into the maintenance and issue of theater reserve stocks organized in unit sets sufficient to fully equip a heavy brigade
.
The 3rd Battalion of the 325th Regiment also served during this period and were successful in the campaign of "Operation Provide Comfort", during the first Gulf War in Iraq. They were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
(later General
) John P. Abizaid
, who later commanded U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
from July 2003 - March 2007.
's administration. The succeeding government, led by Romano Prodi
, initially opposed the expansion, but eventually agreed to the extension plan. The expansion to Dal Molin is led by engineer Kambiz Razzaghi and being constructed by the Naval Facilities Engineer Command, Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, William Whitmire, CDR, CEC, USN. The plan provoked many problems in Romano Prodi's coalition, although he concluded a new 12 point program with his allies . This was met by opposition from both the Italian left-wing and the nationalist right-wing, with an estimated 100,000 people marching in several protests in Vicenza against the extension plan on 17 February 2007. The Communist Refoundation Party
(PRC), the Party of Italian Communists
(PDCI), the Greens
, and a part of the Democrats of the Left
(DS) and of the Daisy parties opposed the plan by organizing a two-day-long opposition protest. Vicenza is eventually slated to be home to all six battalions of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Currently, only two infantry battalions and portions of the brigade's two support battalions are in Vicenza, and the move would bring the total number of stationed troops in Vicenza to 5,000 .
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
where the U.S. Army has troops stationed located in Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. A small number of members of other U.S. services are also stationed there. The post serves as the headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
of United States Army Africa
United States Army Africa
United States Army Africa , formerly known as the Southern European Task Force ', is the United States Army component command of United States Africa Command...
and the 173d Airborne Brigade. Caserma Ederle serves as the headquarters of U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza, an umbrella for all U.S. military properties in Vicenza. The post is named after Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Carlo Ederle
Carlo Ederle
Major Carlo Ederle was born in Verona, Italy in 1892. He attended the R. Ginnasio Liceo "Scipione Maffei" and received his diploma at the age of 17. He registered at the Engineer School at the University of Padua and was awarded the degree of Engineer "ad honorem" November 12, 1910.At Turin...
, an Italian hero of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and recipient of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Croix de Guerre (French War Cross), among other military honors.
Life on the Caserma (camp)
Soldiers assigned to a tour of dutyTour of duty
In the Navy, a tour of duty is a period of time spent performing operational duties at sea, including combat, performing patrol or fleet duties, or assigned to service in a foreign country....
at Caserma Ederle are normally permitted to bring family members when being reassigned there upon a Permanent Change of Station
Permanent Change of Station
In the United States armed forces, a Permanent Change of Station is the official relocation of an active duty military service member—along with any family members living with her or him—to a different duty location, such as a military base...
. Still, many of the military personnel assigned to Caserma Ederle are unaccompanied.
The post offers virtually all of the standard amenities present on most U.S. military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
installations, such as a Post Exchange
Base exchange
A Base Exchange is a type of retail store operating on United States military installations worldwide...
, commissary
Commissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
, theater, etc. Single or unaccompanied junior enlisted soldiers live primarily in barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
located on the post itself, or in leased government quarters in the local community. Depending on the availability of housing upon arrival, personnel accompanied by dependents can live in housing quarters
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
, Italian houses rented by the U.S. Government, government-owned housing units, or on the economy. Government-owned housing units for accompanied soldiers and their dependents are located in a separate and gated/secure area of Vicenza known as Villaggio della Pace (literally "Village of the Peace", but actually named after the street passing near the village and the camp - Viale della Pace). Single officers live on the economy.
1955-1990
On 25 October 1955, the Southern European Task Force was first established at Camp DarbyCamp Darby
Camp Darby is a United States military complex located between Pisa and Livorno. The base was formally dedicated on 15 November 1952 and is named in memory of Brigadier General William O...
, located in Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
, Italy.
In 1951, the U.S. and Italy signed an agreement that the U.S. would operate lines of communication across Italy, and that the U.S. would occupy land near Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
. This land became Camp Darby, named for Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
William O. Darby
William Orlando Darby
William Orlando Darby was an officer in the United States Army during World War II. Darby led the famous Darby's Rangers which evolved into the US Army Rangers and was also made famous as a major motion picture starring the American actor James Garner in the role of Darby.-Early life:Darby was...
, who was killed in action in northern Italy on 30 April 1945.
In 1955, all U.S. occupation forces
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
were withdrawn upon the entry into force of the Austrian State Treaty
Austrian State Treaty
The Austrian State Treaty or Austrian Independence Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state. It was signed on May 15, 1955, in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere among the Allied occupying powers and the Austrian government...
. Under provisions of the agreement with Italy, Camp Darby was the initial reception station for soldiers, equipment and supplies returning from Austria.
With Austria now neutral, northern Italy’s eastern flank became vulnerable to attack. To reduce the danger in that area, the U.S. agreed to establish a force there and on 2 October 1955, the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force was activated. SETAF’s first headquarters was on Camp Darby, but the largest number of soldiers has always been in Vicenza, Italy. Shortly after activation, USASETAF headquarters moved to Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, Italy. Troop strength reached 10,000 and USASETAF was formally established via a U.S.-Italian agreement.
In 1959, following President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
’s visit to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, a third agreement brought significant changes to USASETAF. Italy’s military forces were re-established. As a result:
- U.S. troop strength was cut in half;
- equipment from disbanded U.S. units was turned over to Italy; and
- Italian ArmyItalian ArmyThe Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
personnel were assigned to the USASETAF general staff to assist with unique bi-national responsibilities.
As a result of this agreement, the 62nd Engineers and an artillery company were moved to Caserma Passalacqua. Both companies had nuclear weapons. The artillery company’s Sergeant missiles
MGM-29 Sergeant
The MGM-29 Sergeant was an American short-range, solid fuel, surface-to-surface missile developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Activated by the US Army in 1962 to replace the MGM-5 Corporal it was deployed overseas by 1963, carrying the W52 nuclear warhead or alternatively one of high explosives...
had nuclear warheads and the engineering company was an ADOM (Atomic Demolition Munitions) engineering unit.
The headquarters moved again in 1965 from Verona to Caserma Ederle. Caserma Ederele had already existed as an Italian post. Soldier strength dropped to 2,500 in 1970 and civilian employment went down 70 percent in a unilateral cost-reduction effort. The port opened by 8th Area Support Group in Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
was returned to Italian control.
On 20 October 1963, the 2nd Battalion (Sergeant Missile), 30th Field Artillery was activated in Caserma Ederle. LTC Ronald L. Little assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, which consisted of A, B, and Headquarters batteries. The 2nd Battalion, 30th Field Artillery was deactivated on 15 December 1975.
SETAF’s mission and geographical area of responsibility increased in 1972 when the command enlarged its signal support unit and took control of the 559th U.S. Army Artillery Group (USAAG) in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and the 528th USAAG in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. These units had been in support of NATO since the early 1960s, along with the 559th USAAG, which had been a USASETAF unit in Italy since 1964. The 509th Infantry Regiment
509th Infantry Regiment
The 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment was the first combat paratrooper unit of the United States Army formed during World War II...
(Airborne Brigade Combat Team - ABCT) was previously placed under the command of SETAF in 1973 and later deactivated in the mid-1980s; it was replaced by the 4/325th Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne Division). The 4/325th ABCT was composed of three line companies (including a COHORT company - Angry Alpha,the company adopted a dog who lived in the barracks for a month who was name Angry), a headquarters company, a combat-support company, and a 105mm artillery battery. A member of NATO's Allied Mobile Forces (Land), the 4/325th ABCT was the right flank element of the European front during the late Cold War and was deployable by parachute to anywhere in the region.
The primary missions of SETAF during the 1980s were the defense of the eastern Alpine passes in anticipation of a Soviet invasion, and command/control of the nuclear weapons stockpiles still located in northern Italy.
Also stationed here was the 45th Field Hospital, US Army Medical Activity (USAMEDDAC), part of the 7th Medical Command. The 45th Field Hospital was a 26 bed hospital supporting the troops stationed at Caserma Ederle. The health clinic at Camp Darby, Livorno, was supported by the 45th Field Hospital as well as the health clinic at Sinop, Turkey.
1990s-Present
The 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment508th Infantry Regiment
During World War II, the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was a regiment of the 82d Airborne Division which in turn became part of XVIII Airborne Corps of the United States Army.-World War II:...
served in Vicenza (on Caserma Ederle) from April 1996 until it was reflagged as the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment in June 2006.
Until 1992, USASETAF was considered a logistical command. In addition to the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
units, SETAF operated a major depot at Camp Darby in conjunction with the 8th Area Support Group. With its designation as a support command and later a theater army area command, USASETAF was to be responsible for the reception, preparation for combat, and onward movement of forces entering the southern region for general war.
The political reorientation of Europe in 1989 and 1990 resulting from the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
caused major revision of U.S. and NATO military priorities. With the drastic reduction of the threat of general war, SETAF received new missions for regional tactical operations as command and control headquarters for U.S. Army and joint units. Its three artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
groups were inactivated and the two support groups became support groups with unique missions. The 8th Area Support Group’s depot operation developed into the maintenance and issue of theater reserve stocks organized in unit sets sufficient to fully equip a heavy brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
.
The 3rd Battalion of the 325th Regiment also served during this period and were successful in the campaign of "Operation Provide Comfort", during the first Gulf War in Iraq. They were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
(later General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
) John P. Abizaid
John Abizaid
John Philip Abizaid, AO is a retired General in the United States Army and former Commander of the United States Central Command , overseeing American military operations in a 27-country region, from the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, to South and Central Asia, covering much of the Middle...
, who later commanded U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
from July 2003 - March 2007.
Dal Molin Planned Post Annex
In 2004, the U.S. military announced plans to extend the military footprint in Vicenza to include all elements of the 173rd ABCT. The new base annex was planned to be located on the disused civilian Dal Molin airport, roughly two miles from Caserma Ederle. The plan was first agreed by Italian Prime Minister Silvio BerlusconiSilvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
's administration. The succeeding government, led by Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
, initially opposed the expansion, but eventually agreed to the extension plan. The expansion to Dal Molin is led by engineer Kambiz Razzaghi and being constructed by the Naval Facilities Engineer Command, Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, William Whitmire, CDR, CEC, USN. The plan provoked many problems in Romano Prodi's coalition, although he concluded a new 12 point program with his allies . This was met by opposition from both the Italian left-wing and the nationalist right-wing, with an estimated 100,000 people marching in several protests in Vicenza against the extension plan on 17 February 2007. The Communist Refoundation Party
Communist Refoundation Party
The Communist Refoundation Party is a communist Italian political party. Its current secretary is Paolo Ferrero....
(PRC), the Party of Italian Communists
Party of Italian Communists
The Party of Italian Communists is a communist political party in Italy. Its long-time leader is Oliviero Diliberto.-Foundation and early years:...
(PDCI), the Greens
Federation of the Greens
The Federation of the Greens is a green political party in Italy, which includes also a large eco-socialist faction. Since 2009 the party leader is Angelo Bonelli.-Early years:...
, and a part of the Democrats of the Left
Democrats of the Left
The Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
(DS) and of the Daisy parties opposed the plan by organizing a two-day-long opposition protest. Vicenza is eventually slated to be home to all six battalions of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Currently, only two infantry battalions and portions of the brigade's two support battalions are in Vicenza, and the move would bring the total number of stationed troops in Vicenza to 5,000 .