Description
Storck Barracks is part of the United States Army Garrison (USAG) Franconia. It is named after Colonel Louis J. Storck, who served as Executive Officer for the 4th Armored Division, Commander of Combat Command A and the 37th Armor Regiment, and S-3 and Commander of the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion in World War II. Colonel Storck was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for his gallantry in action near Raids, France from July 17 to 25, 1944.
It is the home of the 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, and the 3rd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, both equipped with the Boeing AH-64 Apache; D Co 412th Aviation Support Battalion (all units part of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade) and the 3rd of the 58th Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB). It has a commissary (to be closed in March 2016), gas station, and shoppette. It also has an elementary school and family housing.
The Illesheim Military Community is located in Germany in Northern Bavaria, approximately 45 minutes from the historic city of Nuernberg and two hours from Frankfurt, Germany. Storck Barracks occupies about 415 acres just outside of the Village of Illesheim. It is a subcommunity of USAG Ansbach. Illesheim, founded 1283 AD, is a municipality in the district of Neustadt (Aisch)-Bad Windsheim in Bavaria in Germany. The earliest leader affiliated with Illesheim’s foundation was Götz von Berlichingen, known as “the Knight with the Iron Hand.” Also known locally as “Illesa”. This small town adjoins the northwestern edge of the U.S. Army’s Storck Barracks and the Illesheim AAF, a U.S. Army helicopter airfield. The airfield previously belonged to the Luftwaffe until its capture in 1945.
Since 2001, units from Storck Barracks have been deployed to the Middle East and other combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism. It is suspected that many personnel and much of the equipment assigned to Storck are in deployed status, as aerial photographs of the facility show an almost empty ramp, with just a few Apache helicopters present. Now Illesheim AAF is home to rotational Combat Aviation Brigade sized units from bases in the continental United States-some 50-65 helicopters at any one time. Helicopters from these units are forward deployed to locations in Eastern Europe to train with allied partners and deter Russian aggression.
This handsome challenge coin is bronze and given an antique finish, and is imbued with durable and attractive enamel.
Each coin measures 1 3/4 inches, (44mm) in diameter.
This is a surplus NWTM item.
