Army Sustainment Command 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 esprit de corps, and tell the history of supporting our Nation, our Army, and our Communities.

Latest News & Publications

The Army in the Interwar: Training a Professional Army in a Turbulent Era

The interwar period was defined by dramatic technological advancements and drastic military drawdowns. Hyperinflation gripped the global economy and led to significant budget cuts within the Army. In addition, public fear of maintaining a large standing Army persisted (though that sentiment was gradually fading). Even with a reduced force, the Army struggled to sustain itself in the face of the Great Depression, yet it persevered.

The Cold War was an era of great uncertainty and technological marvel. It’s somewhat romanticized today as a period where novel ideas were formulated out of the minds that pushed us over the next echelon in technology. And why wouldn’t it? After all, the Cold War era of thinkers helped us push beyond the threshold of standing on Earth and finally make it onto the Moon. However, the ever-present threat of war meant that weapons systems also required innovation and attention.

The big guns: High-Caliber and Long-Range Artillery in the U.S. Army during the Cold War

Imagine driving down highway 95 in southwestern Arizona. It’s sunset, not quite twilight yet, but you can see that night is quickly approaching. You’ve just passed a sign saying, “Yuma Proving Ground.” You’re near one of the most isolated military installations in the continental United States. You come up on Imperial Dam Road and taking it would take you head-first into the military installation. On the side of the road, you’re greeted with a “big” atomic cannon. You take a moment to marvel at this atomic marvel before driving north. Suddenly, you notice a large white barrel off to your right. It’s a cannon, something that looks like it’s from a video game, much larger than the one you just passed. What on earth could this be for? Is this for asteroids?

The U.S. Army as an Expeditionary Force

Three conflicts from 1846 to 1898 encapsulate the rapid innovations in the Army’s ability to project power. The Mexican-American War (1846-48) tested the Army’s ability to project power into foreign territory while ensuring that it was supplied, trained, and manned. The American Civil War (1861-65) tested the Union Army in projecting its force deep into enemy territory while engaging in conflicts on two fronts. The Spanish-American War (1898) was the next greatest test for the American Army, adding the dimension of oceans and fighting in battles half-way around the world. When we think of the Army’s ability to project its power today, however, it is the Spanish-American War that stands out.

Forged by fire, the reinvention and modernization of the U.S. Army in the Civil War

For 250 years, the US Army has adapted as a living organization composed of operating units and institutional organizations that generate combat power. Institutional strategy, the mechanism by which senior Army leaders guide the department over the long term, establishes policy and prioritization for resourcing and gives coherence to the Department of the Army’s purpose—to provide trained and ready forces for employment.

Impact of the enlightenment on the American Revolution

As with most major events in history, the start of the American Revolution can be traced back years before the shooting conflict began. In addition to the commonly discussed causes — such as taxes on commodities and lack of representation — there were deeper reasons and influences. One of the greatest influences on the British colonists’ thoughts and passions was the Enlightenment. This intellectual movement, which found its origins in the development of science and art, challenged the authority of established religion and monarchial regimes, which had long held power over laws and political decisions that affected society.

Supporting fire: Stabilizing firepower in a swamp

The year was 1966, and for several years the Soldiers in Vietnam had been using the same howitzer that their fathers had used in World War II. The M101 (known in World War II as the M2) was a 105-mm howitzer that was known for its accuracy and destructive power. So, why, in the middle of a war in the jungle, was the Army changing these well-known and tried-and-true fire breathing monsters with a lighter M102?

It wasn’t just napalm: A tale of the Huey and Cobra in Vietnam

When thinking about the Vietnam War, what comes to mind? Perhaps it is the sights and smells of napalm or the harrowing scenes in magazines or newspapers. Maybe it is watching the fall of Saigon unfold in dramatic fashion on TV or the massive anti-war protests in the United States. These are all scenes of the same war, but for others the thought travels to sounds. Specifically, the sounds of helicopters.

Marine recounts his experience with an atomic giant

The 946-acre island in the middle of the Mississippi River is home to many sights and scenes that tell the story of the Army’s resilience, sustainability and manufacturing power. Perhaps one of the most notable of these is the gun display at Memorial Field here, but few guns on display capture as much awe as the M65 Atomic Cannon on display. On April 18, ASC historians had the honor of hosting Marine Pfc. Bill Wieberg (1956 – 1958), a machine gunner, who was stationed on Okinawa following the Korean War.

Italian POWs worked on RIA during World War II

Many people at Rock Island Arsenal are familiar with the Confederate Prison Barracks that existed here during the Civil War. But far fewer know about the role of Italian prisoners of war who lived and worked on RIA during World War II.

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Upcoming History Office Events

When	Location	Name
8/7/2025 @ 5:30 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[RIAHS Speaker Series] D-Day Medic SSG Waverly Woodson
8/13/2025 @ 12:00 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[Lunch & Learn] 1912 Cavalry Board
8/13/2025 @ 2:00 PM	Rock Island Public Library	[Army 250th Presentation] World War II, Reorganization, and the Dawn of the Atomic Age
8/13/2025 @ 6:00 PM	Davenport Public Library - Eastern	[Army 250th Presentation] World War II, Reorganization, and the Dawn of the Atomic Age
8/20/2025 @ 12:00 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[Army 250th Presentation] World War II, Reorganization, and the Dawn of the Atomic Age
9/3/2025 @ 12:00 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[Lunch & Learn] Rock Island Prison Barracks, 1863-1865
9/10/2025 @ 2:00 PM	Rock Island Public Library	[Army 250th Presentation] 1949-1975: The Army in East Asia
9/10/2025 @ 6:00 PM	Davenport Public Library - Eastern	[Army 250th Presentation] 1949-1975: The Army in East Asia
9/24/2025 @ 12:00 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[Army 250th Presentation] 1949-1975: The Army in East Asia
10/1/2025 @ 12:00 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[Lunch & Learn] Museum Collection Highlights
10/8/2025 @ 2:00 PM	Rock Island Public Library	[Army 250th Presentation] DESERT SHIELD & DESERT STORM
10/8/2025 @ 6:00 PM	Davenport Public Library - Eastern	[Army 250th Presentation] DESERT SHIELD & DESERT STORM
10/15/2025 @ 12:00 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[Army 250th Presentation] DESERT SHIELD & DESERT STORM
11/5/2025 @ 12:00 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[Lunch & Learn] The 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy
11/12/2025 @ 2:00 PM	Rock Island Public Library	[Army 250th Presentation] Building the Army of the Future
11/12/2025 @ 6:00 PM	Davenport Public Library - Eastern	[Army 250th Presentation] Building the Army of the Future
12/3/2025 @ 12:00 PM	Rock Island Arsenal Museum	[Army 250th Presentation] Building the Army of the Future

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

Army 250th Series Presentations & Newsletters

During 2025, the U.S. Army will celebrate its 250th birthday. The ASC History Office will be observing this celebration all year long with lectures and publications catered to this monumental milestone. Our focus will be on the evolution of logistics from just before the birth of the Nation to the Army of the future. More information can be found in the event list above. Join the ASC History Office for the lectures at the Rock Island Public Library, Main Branch, or the Davenport Public Library, Eastern Branch. These programs will also be run at the end of each month at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum.

The ASC History Newsletter will also feature a focus on 250 years of Army logistics, with periodic expanded articles published to army.mil. Keep an eye out for these upcoming publications and join us as we celebrate the 250th birthday of our U.S. Army.

Current Issue:

The Army in the Interwar: Training a Professional Army in a Turbulent Era

DVIDS Digital Archive
Trivia Answers & Citations
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ASC History Minutes (WQPT)
Rock Island Arsenal Museum

Other History Resources

Contact Information

Army Sustainment Command
AMAS-PCH, History Office
1 Rock Island Arsenal
Building 390
Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, 61299

Command Historian: 309.782.5046
Assistant Historian: 309.782.2178
Archivist: 309.782.2139
Archive: 309.782.8149
usarmy.ria.asc.list.history@army.mil
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