In World War I & II, Women Ordnance Workers helped sustain the war effort at home. Women worked in numerous manufacturing jobs such as machine shops, ammo plants, and fabrication plants. Here we see WOWs working in Bldg 68 at Rock Island Arsenal on parts for BMG's, M1917A1's, and M1919's.
The Mark VIII Tank was the first tank produced by the United States. The Rock Island Arsenal was tasked with manufacturing 100 of these tanks in 1919, which it accomplished in just under one year.
During the Vietnam War, the Weapons Command was charged with finding a way to prevent ordnance systems from sinking in the mud in the jungle. The Rock Island Arsenal aided the development and production of he airmobile firing platform to combat this issue.
The original design for the airborne transport and artillery system was a multi-functional weapons platform. The aircraft could provide both close-air-support and field artillery support.
Members of Weapons Command (WECOM), including military and civilian observers, watch a test of the armored personnel carrier fitted with a flame projection system. This picture was taken at the Kingsbury Hardlot on Rock island Arsenal.

Welcome to the ASC History Office


Mission

The ASC History Office exists to preserve the history of the command and its installations. The office collects documents pertaining to almost every facet of the command including its ammunition plant and depot assets, forward commands, Army Prepositioned Stocks, Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), staff, and directorate offices.

Scope

In addition to Army Sustainment Command and the installation served by the command, the ASC History Office fulfills the role of the Rock Island Arsenal's historical section. This involves providing support for public events in the form of lectures, tours, and displays. The ASC History Office functions to tell the Army story, build espirit de corps, tell the history of supporting our Nation, our Army, and our Communities.

Functions

Some examples of products produced by this office include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Public Educational Briefings
  • Tours of Installation Sites
  • Requests for Information
  • Supervision for Archival Research
  • Answer Public Historical Inqueries
  • Support for Public Displays
  • Historical Briefings for New Employees
  • Facilitating Continued Education
  • Professional Readers Program
  • Military Fundamentals Courses
  • Military History Courses
  • Archival & Library Support
  • Nation Studies
  • Lessons Learned Programs
  • Legacy & Heraldic Preservation
  • Historical Advising to the Commander
  • Staff Rides
  • Event Support

In addition to the items listed above (and many more services), the ASC History Office has an active historical publication section that frequently composes materials for command, installation, and public consumption. Some of these products are highlighted below. Click on any of the images to view these publications.

Upcoming History Office Events


Date Time Title Location
8 APR 2023 10:00 AM CDT Quarters One Historic Tour Rock Island Arsenal, Quarters One
8 APR 2023 1:00 PM CDT Quarters One Historic Tour Rock Island Arsenal, Quarters One
12 APR 2023 2:00 PM CDT The Quad Cities Supports the Defense of the Nation Rock Island Library, Main
12 APR 2023 6:00 PM CDT The Quad Cities Supports the Defense of the Nation Davenport Public Library, Eastern
19 APR 2023 9:00 AM CDT Earth Week Tours of Quarters One Rock Island Arsenal, Quarters One
19 APR 2023 1:00 PM CDT Earth Week Tours of Quarters One Rock Island Arsenal, Quarters One
10 MAY 2023 2:00 PM CDT The 38th Parallel: The Pre-War Struggle on the Korean Peninsula Rock Island Library, Main
10 MAY 2023 6:00 PM CDT The 38th Parallel: The Pre-War Struggle on the Korean Peninsula Davenport Public Library, Eastern

 

In-Person Lecture
Tour
Arsenal-Wide Event
Online Event
Museum Event

Contact


AMAS-CEH
U.S. Army Sustainment Command
1 Rock Island Arsenal
Rock Island, Illinois, 61299-6500
Command Historian 309.782.5046
Assistant Historian 309.782.2178
Archivist 309.782.2139
Email Request Speaker

Products


Tours & Information

Rock Island Arsenal
Memorial Field
Residential  

Newsletter

Current Issue: 17 March 2023
The Logistics System of the Roman Armies
 

Third Party Links

These links go to an external site that is not affiliated with the U.S. Army.