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Biological Weaponry

Hotel Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade was made available to Fort Dietrich, and were often tasked with developing countermeasures for biological warfare, as well as receiving training on deployment. Unlike most units, 19th Chemical Regiment was part of the "First Strike" doctrine, intending on using NBC weapons against the enemy before it was used against them, in clear defiance of US policy. Hotel Company oversaw the testing of biological agents in live scenarios, often operating in Montana, and using sheep, cattle, and pigs as test subjects. Bravo Company, Second Battalion, Second Brigade was allowed sections of the New Mexico test ranges in order to not only test live biological agents, but take part in "live cleanup" of those agents. At this time the flame thrower was firmly established as part of 19th Chemical Regiment's Table of Equipment & Organization, as it was seen as a "man portable disposal platform" that could be used to destroy infected material.

Atomic/Nuclear Weaponry

19 Regiment took part in the atomic testing at this time. While the Air Corps/Air Force and Army was mostly concerned with delivery of the weapon, increasing its power, and minimizing the size of the weapon, 19th Regiment was more interested in surviving the initial blast and then fighting on the atomic battlefield. This led to heavy involvement in live detonations with 19th Regiment personnel exposed to the blast and then expected to take/defend objectives while the dust cloud was in there air.

Despite casualties from radiation sickness, 19th Regiment still took part in these objectives up to and during the Korean War.

Korean War

While most chemical soldiers were mainly handling 4.2 inch mortars and smoke rounds, 19th Regiment was responsible for handling chemical weaponry within the Korean Theater, as McArthur had insisted that chemical weaponry be present. Things would have went just fine until November of 1950, when the Chinese attacked across the border and overran the munition depot maintained by the 19th Regiment. At that time, 2nd Brigade had not only been overseeing the storage of Allied chemical weaponry but also captured Chinese, Russian, and North Korean chemical weaponry, as well as captured biological weaponry obtained by First Marine Expeditionary Force that had been tentatively identified as Anthrax.

During the fighting the Chinese managed to overrun the position, but before the Chinese forces could completely gain control of the depot it was destroyed by explosions. While official records claim that the facility was destroyed by B-52's tasked to destroy the place, the time of the explosion took place while the bombers were still over 200 miles from the depot. Once Chinese forces were pushed back from the site, it was discovered that 2nd Brigade's presence had been wiped out to the last man. This meant that the only members of 2nd Brigade remaining were coordinating operations with the Department of War back in the United States.

Formation of 2/19th Special Weapons Group

Reactivation orders for "Second Brigade, 19th Chemical Services Regiment" were cut on 19th October, 1956, and the unit was placed initially in Fort Leanordwood, Missiouri, although where exactly is not found in unclassified or unredacted records. During this time it was redesignated as Second of the 19th Special Weapons Group and was eventually placed in Europe, stationed in Fulda, West Germany. At that time the unit was put beneath the organization of V Corps and III CosCom, although it appears for public records that the unit was listed with the (deactivated) designator for reasons unknown.

2/19th SWG was heavily involved in first strike planning, with full support for 8th Infantry Division and III Armored Division, intended use to be in stopping Soviet Union human wave or tank rush attacks, particularly through the Fulda Gap. Additionally atomic weaponry was sited at Ammunition Supply Point #3, in Wildflicken West Germany, maintained by 144th Ordnance Company, for use by 2/19th Special Weapons Group to commit first strike actions against Soviet Forces during any invasion or counter invasion into East Germany. At this time "3rd Elements" were stationed with 144th Ordnance Company in order to ensure that the weapon was issued, deployed, and detonated.

Additionally 2/19th Special Weapons was tasked repeatedly to the Continuity of Government Program, as well as the CIA Office of Scientific Intelligence. With the CoG their missions primarily seemed to revolve around continental United States operations, scattered across many states and listed under "Structural Coordination and Consultation", while the CIA OSI work is still classified, despite the Church Committee demanding to know more about the unit's activities in Europe. British military records show that 2/19th SWG was often attached to the Ministry of the Interior, although their exact duties are still classified.

Vietnam

2/19th was sent to Vietnam in order to maintain flamethrower units, incendiary weapons, as well as coordinate Agent Orange strikes and watch out for Soviet chemical or biological weapons. Additional information hints at the fact that 2/19th might have been deployed to the Vietnam Theater in order to plan coordination of any nuclear strikes at North Vietnam.

During the 1968 Tet Offensive the Ammunition Supply Point run by 2/19th was overrun by NVA forces who were hoping to lay their hands on chemical or atomic weaponry. However the ASP exploded in the early morning hours, killing the entirety of 2/19th SWG, as well as destroying all stored ammunition.

The fact that an explosion had occurred each time an ammunition supply point controlled by 2/19th Special Weapons was overrun in three out of three times in addition to the fact that the contents of those supply points is still classified gives suggestion that the fact that 2/19th might use self-destruct charges to prevent NBC weaponry in their possession from falling into enemy hands.

With the ongoing public outcry and rejection of US Army Chemical Corps going on at the time, 2/19th was quietly swept under the rug following the complete destruction of the unit. The unit was listed as "Inactive", the colors cased, and they were put back into the TO&E of the 19th Chemical Regiment.

Cold War

In 1984 2/19th was decided to be reactivated and placed back within III CosCom's TO&E, although the unit faced many problems getting reactivated. In the winter in 1984 the unit's barracks burned to the ground, killing six soldiers and injuring 14 others. The Forward Storage & Transportation Sites that were supposed to be under the control of NATO observers and handlers proved to have been lost following the complete destruction of the unit in 1968. This proved to be a problem with the unit that was supposed to take over 2/19th's duties in Europe following 2/19th's deployment to the South East Asian Theater. The unit had only just arrived in Western Europe when they were immediately sent to Thailand to handle Agent Orange for the Air Force.

This led to 2/19th SWG spending until late 1985 refitting and rearming the ammunition sites. Afterwards they provided not only storage for the nuclear and chemical arsenal of 8th Infantry Division and 3rd Armored Division, but also were involved in deployment planning, defensive planning, and first strike planning against Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc forces.

The unit was given a secure area known only as "Alfenwehr", and listed as a former Nazi SS training base. The Nazi motorpool, barracks, and dining hall were refurbished, however the barracks burned down in 1984, was severely damaged in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989. The dining hall was severely damaged in 1986, was partially destroyed in 1987, and completely destroyed by an avalanche in 1989. A medical facility was built in 1985, but was destroyed by an avalanche in 1986, as well as being severely damaged on multiple occasions. Information points at the unit possessing extensive and well supplied underground bunkers and facilities.

Organization and Mission

While originally a Brigade, when 2/19th was reformed in 1984 it was listed as a Group, and as such was quite smaller than a Brigade, but much larger than a company. It consisted of five platoons, each heavily over-strength compared to standard platoons by having fifty to eighty soldiers per platoon. The platoons were:

Headquarters Platoon: The largest platoon, it handled supply, personnel, security, operational planning, and communication.
Motor Pool Platoon: Handled the repair and maintenance of the massive number of vehicles at the unit area, as well as the vehicles stored at the FSTS Areas.
Support Platoon: Added in 1985 support platoon handled radio operations, medical, and mechanic support for the "Magazine Platoons" at their FSTS areas.
First Mag: In charge of "Cold Sites" where no chemical or nuclear rounds were carried, these were "rear support sites" designed to supply units fighting against the Soviet Union.
Second Magazine Platoon: Handled the smaller "Hot Sites" where either chemical or nuclear rounds were located, but not both.
Third Magazine Platoon: Handled the larger "Hot Sites" where both chemical and nuclear weaponry was located.

At full strength the unit had over 300 members, but was often plagued by retention problems. Most notably was the unit's inability to retain any Commanding Officer for any length of time. By 1985 many officers would resign their commission or retire rather than assume command of 2/19th SWG. By mid-way through 1985 problems began to surface keeping competent upper level enlisted in place.

Controversy

2/19th Special Weapons was controversial within both NATO and the US for those who had been read into the unit's mission and TO&E. More than once the unit was brought up to a closed session of the Senate or Congressional Armed Services Committees, as well other problems.

*Despite treaties against nuclear proliferation as well as deployment of chemical or nuclear weapons into Western Europe by NATO forces 2/19th Special Weapons maintained large stockpiles of those forbidden weaponry.
*The unit suffered extensive casualties of the enlisted personnel each year, often surpassing combat casualty numbers during peace time.
*Despite official inquiries, including Senate investigation following the deaths of 62 members of the unit due to unknown causes, the problems were apparently never resolved until the unit's deactivation.
*A large number of soldiers assigned to "The Mags" suffered long term health effects from radiation and chemical exposure.
*Following the deaths of several CIA agents CIA investigation of the unit was hampered by agents of the Defense Intelligence Agency, resulting in deaths of agents from both agencies as well as the deaths of active duty military soldiers of the unit.
*Several times members of the unit intended on selling classified data to the press or the Soviet Union, but in each case the soldier died while awaiting transport to proper authorities.
*In 1985, 1986, and again in 1988 FSTS areas held by 2/19th suffered detonation of stored munitions. While the military denied any chemical or radiation leaks examination of the sites in 1998 showed high levels of radiation and toxic chemicals.
*Possession of incendiary weaponry proscribed by the Geneva Convention was often cited, including possession of flame throwers.
*Persons or persons unknown managed to list the unit's motto as "Because fuck you, that's why!" in DoD and DoA databases, resulting in an investigation that was called off after the deaths of the investigating officers due to a freak blizzard. In June.