operated as a command organization in South Vietnam), Lieutenant Colonel William The 209th disembarked at Bombay, India on 23 October 1943, and immediately set to work on the Ledo Road. After he completed basic training at Fort Knox and was granted the welder MOS with no further training. J. Hatch. Unfortunately, many of the engineers and others serving alongside are still suffering from the effects. On one morning minutes after the cut began, the NVA hit five separate elements of the 11th ACR simultaneously, two fire support bases and three units on the road. So elusive was the enemy that officers speculated that all seven attacks could have been made by the same NVA soldiers. They got to spend a few evenings together on the bunker line watching the perimeter. . Like most Vietnam veterans, Dave had arrived in Vietnam by himself as a replacement into his Company. The Office of History is continuing to prepare the remainder of the slide collection and will post additional files to the Digital Library until the entire collection of 6000+ public domain slides is available to researchers to download. J. Corley, Lieutenant Colonel William Mines, snipers, and ambushes occurred even with the best of defensive efforts of armored gun trucks, personnel carriers, and the occasional tanks in addition to the ubiquitous helicopter air cover. Photo by Mark Sigrist. Every Vietnam veteran had more than enough on the job training filling sandbags. Occasionally, observation platforms or towers would be constructed. A. Howard, Jr. Lieutenant Colonel Andrew D. Peixotto, Lieutenant Colonel John As of October 1999, they had the last/only Airborne well-driller detachment/platoon left in the United States Army. ". V. McGuinness, Jr. 9 December 1966-7 September Not until the men head back to their night defensive position (NDP) do they feel the pressure ease off. Caterpillar D7 dozers led the way, clearing and initially shaping the ground for the roads, bases and revetments. L. Sutton, Lieutenant Colonel Donald L. Blalock, 864th Engineer Battalion The battalion was a Third Army unit attached to V Corps. M. Miller, Lieutenant Colonel Tenho The first address you sent me is my buddy. The photos were all taken by Sp4 David L. Flinn in 1968 and 1969. Built a rappel tower at a high school in North Carolina. The battalion closed for staging in the Bien Hoa - Long Binh area on 1 October 1966. . Lineage and Honors Information as of 8 September 2016, CHARLES R. BOWERY, JR.Chief of Military History, Constituted 16 January 1918 in the National Army at Fort Myer, Virginia, as the 2d Battalion, 37th Engineer Regiment, Demobilized in March 1919 at Camp Upton, New York, Reconstituted 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as the 2d Battalion, 37th Engineers, Activated 14 July 1941 at Camp Bowie, Texas, Redesignated 1 August 1942 as the 2d Battalion, 37th Engineer Combat Regiment, Reorganized and redesignated 15 March 1943 as the 209th Engineer Combat Battalion, Inactivated 27 November 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, Redesignated 29 April 1947 as the 27th Engineer Combat Battalion, Activated 18 September 1950 at Fort Lewis, Washington, Inactivated 26 October 1950 at Fort Lewis, Washington, Activated 1 March 1951 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Redesignated 8 June 1953 as the 27th Engineer Battalion, (Lettered companies inactivated 17 October 2008 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Support Company concurrently constituted and activated), Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered MYITKYINA, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1967, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970-1971, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2004, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2006-2007, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2009-2010, Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1990, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970. A. Ghormley, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh 35th Engineer Group Jun 1965 - Nov 1971. to Cam Ranh Bay. On 20 September 1921, the unit was organized and activated as an ordnance company at Fort Bliss, Texas. HQ located at Bien Hoa. Convoy passing local traffic on the hardtop road near Hue City. They don't have to worry about their hair being an inch to long or if they shave everyday. The army recognized that ability and sent him to sniper school. If there is an ambush, we are supposed to drop back so the security can move in, but a lot of times we are blocked by trees or stumps and we're forced to stay in the line of fire." Twenty years later, How cool is that. Lieutenant Colonel Robert 1968, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony J. Lieutenant Colonel Ernest The unit will be meeting Sept. 14 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for an ice breaker and . Check out Popular Patch's collection of United States Army Combat Engineering Unit patches. According to Major Kerver, the initial plan was for the two units to start several miles inside Cambodia and cut, in a Y pattern, toward the border, but due to the weather and the numerous amounts of supplies uncovered. Infrequently, these observation towers would be equipped with a searchlight. The battalion deployed again in August 1992 to Dade County, Florida, for hurricane Andrew relief. Then, Don watched as Dave pulled motor stables maintenance on his D7. "You feel helpless. Theyre certainly not of professional quality, but do tell the story from the point of view of a self-described equipment operator. One of Daves regrets was that most of the photos he took were lost a few days before his DEROS (Date Expected to Return from Over Seas) as a result of a rocket destroying his bunker (he was on the perimeter berm), so the photo story is somewhat incomplete. Sanders. G. Olentine, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Thank you for your registration! The 209th was inactivated at the conclusion of World War II, and in 1947 was redesignated as the 27th Engineer Combat Battalion. Bunkers would fill with water. According to Major William A. Hokanson, S-3, 62nd Engineer Battalion, each plow requires 60 to 70 gallons of gas and 70 gallons of water a daily. In 1983, units of the battalion took part in the Invasion of Grenada. Cuban engineers blew craters in Grenada's airport runways. What a conversation we had. R. Needham, Lieutenant Colonel Harry Bright Star 82 included deployment of factions of the 82D Airborne Division to the Sinia Desert in Egypt. Thank you so much again for helping me Though he suffered from what has come to be known as PTSD and from the effects of the defoliants, he only recently turned to the Veterans Administration for assistance. Thanks. The diagonal cant and the guide bar cause the trees and brush that are cut to fall off to the right of the dozer. 102nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 27th Infantry Division: 4127th Quartermaster Truck Company: 102nd Engineer Regiment, 27th Division: 4128th Quartermaster Service Company: 102nd Evacuation Hospital: 412th Motor Truck Company: 102nd Field Artillery Battalion: 412th Telephone Battalion, Signal Corps: 102nd Field Artillery Battalion, 26th Infantry . We were based in An Loc, near Loc Ninh which was in the Parrots Beak, another jumping off point for the Cambodian incursion. R. Hukkala, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas L. Moore, Lieutenant Colonel Charles 380 horsepower Clark-Michigan 290M scrapers with 20-yard pans moved dirt and Caterpillar Model 12 graders leveled the terrain to standard. S. Kem, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Learn how and when to remove this template message, 5307th Composite Unit "Merrill's Marauders", 19th Engineer Battalion (Construction Effects), Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, United States Army Center of Military History, "Lineage and Honors - 57th Engineer Company", "The long road home for Fort Bragg's 27th Engineer Battalion", "General Orders No. Lined Eisenhower Jacket. Upon arrival in-country, the Company CO (commanding officer) asked Dave if he could drive heavy equipment since he was a farm kid. "It's really weird." Dave and Don soon parted as the road moved forward and the battery leapfrogged out. There's no discipline problem, they look out for each other. Got my fish and parrots and hooks and beaks mixed up. At that time, A Shau Valley was a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) stronghold. For example, a vehicle in which he was riding struck a landmine. Lieutenant Colonel Harlan R. Redman, Lieutenant Colonel Philip L. Harris, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Lieutenant Colonel Richard Engineers from the 27th repaired the runways, among other responsibilities. P. Rollins, Jr. Brigadier General Willard My Unit: 18th Brigade, 45th . Never forget. These provided some protection for the operator and critical components from hostile fire. N. Hutchison. Lieutenant Colonel Taylor M. Roper, Jr. Check your Inbox for exclusive savings and the latest scoop. After days of trying to trap or poison rats, Dave scared the heck out of his bunker mates by waking them with gunfire. Usually operators aren't ordered to go on dismount but this time I was. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Monsoon rainstorms can be difficult to describe. A paper change was made and we became C Company, 168th Combat Engineer Battalion. They may be deployed in any number from a single plow to the entire company, depending on the size and priority of the operation. Thanks for the compliment on my profile page. In 1999, the Construction Platoon of HHC 27th ENG (C)(A) created a small memorial to its own Desert Storm veterans outdoors near their mess hall in Smoke Bomb Hill, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He found his niche therein, did his duty assignment to the best of his ability, and, after 16 months (he extended his in-country tour to get an early out), Dave left Vietnam by himself. The battalion sustained 71 killed in action and 179 wounded in action during the 70-day-long battle. Veteran C. Young, After 30 years and learning the computer and finding VetFriends, I went to my first reunion of the USS Navasota AO-106. Tents and bunkers being established along the highway. L. Jorns, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin The 19TH Engineer Battalion (Construction Effects) is located at Fort . One platoon of the 591st was had a portable rock crusher assigned for quarry/crushing operations. A rock drill and an American Hoist Model 2380 20-ton Rough Terrain Crane lifting a bucket or a pile driver were occasionally used to clear rock formations and stabilize stream crossings. In November 2001, the battalion deployed to Kosovo in support of Operations Joint Guardian. 1966, Lieutenant Colonel Ray S. On 21 July 1966, the battalion entered the Vietnam War, serving honorably and effectively in 13 campaigns, received five Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal (1st Class), with 19 campaign streamers for actions in Vietnam. After a lengthy exchange of fire, one of the VC stood up and ran to the rear. We raced volkswagens on our time off and we'd go to the range and shoot all day. G. Madison, Jr. . In 1974 they transferred the set to the Engineer Museum, part of the U.S. Army Engineer School. They took a wild ride down the mountain before crashing into the river below. The 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry was transferred to the 3rd Brigade as its third battalion and the 2nd Battalion, 9th Artillery was attached as the direct support artillery battalion as well as Troop C, 3/4th Cavalry as the brigade's reconnaissance element. Compare. Operation Cedar Falls, the first in a series of U.S. offensives in 1967, was about to violate this sanctuary. Renovated several offices in their own company. The history of the 27th Engineer Battalion (COMBAT) (AIRBORNE) began on 16 January 1918 at Fort Meyer, VA, as the second battalion of the 37th Engineer Regiment. A platoon of the 60th, led by Lt. Parker, was called in to open roads to the cache sites The City and Rock Island East. Lieutenant Colonel Richard L. Harris, 16 December 1965-13 July 1966 Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Gilmore, 14 July 1966-5 July 1967 Flanigan, Lieutenant Colonel Robert 2nd Battalion became as the 209th Engineer Combat Battalion. 5th Battalion 27th Artillery, OPCON to 1st Brigade (Seperate) Nov 65 - Jun 67 Troop A, 2/17th Cavalry (Airborne) (OPCON to Tiger Force 327th Infantry) (aka; 4th Provisional Rifle Company while assigned to 1st Bde Sep) July 65 - Feb 72 101st Support Battalion (Provisional) Departed 19 Dec 67 Support Battalion (Airborne) (Provisional)Jul 65 - Nov 67 The battalion was again deployed to Afghanistan in December 2009 where it was on route clearance duty, responsible for clearing roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices that were planted by Taliban insurgents. After that I was with the 27th Eng. "We found a bunker about 30 meters off the trail. P. Gardiner, Lieutenant Colonel William Soldiers of the battalion have received numerous decorations in both theaters to include Rashe Hall - Silver Star (Afghanistan) and Scott Smullen - Soldier's Medal (Afghanistan) as well as individual companies receiving unit citations. C. Driscoll, Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Gay III, 326th Engineer Battalion (101st Lieutenant Colonel Carl Lieutenant Colonel Newman In effort to reduce risks to hostile fire, heavy airborne applications of defoliants (which later became be known as agent orange) covered wide swaths of the route way and potential firebase locations. A pair of ARVN (Army, Republic of Vietnam) dump trucks. 1968, 26th Engineer Battalion (23d Subsequently, the 209th participated in the India-Burma Campaign. C. Costanzo, Lieutenant Colonel Al S. Photos and memories from a tour in Vietnam as a combat medic with the 2/2nd Infantry (Mechanized) Ramrods (April - Sept. '67) and 2/28th Infantry Black Lions (Sept. '67 - April '68), 1st Infantry Division. Redesignated for the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) on 15 July 1955. We don't how much damage we did, we did limit the enemy's capabilities but the extent of damage and destruction is difficult to measure at this point.". The Battalion ran across a samll, but well-entrenched enemy force; they called in the 16-inch firepower of the battleship USS New Jersey and wiped out the enemy force. Typically, bunkers were completely underground. 1. Elements of the 101st Airborne made clearing sweeps in the mountains and valleys along the route. Gray, Jr. United States Army Center of Military History. Lieutenant Colonel Richard 1967. At that time, they didnt know that the other was in Vietnam. Carrasco, Lieutenant Colonel Maximiano I was with the 630th Engineers in Vietnam in 1969-'70. . With sporadic, incoming rifle fire, a medic sat on Daves chest to stitch up the deep gash in his head of course, without the benefit of any pain killer other than adrenalin. W. Ray, Lieutenant Colonel Robert A. Poteat, Jr. Realizing this, it was then decided to send land clearing units into the Fish Hook area. They know their mission is important and the consequences of a second rate job are costly. 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (Mechanized) 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry [] H. Sievers, Jr. F. Fraser, 20 September 1967-28 February $29.99 $24.99. The Contractor Full Disclosure T-Shirt. find my friend." The Office of History maintains copies of these slides and captions in its research collection. IN VIETNAM, 1965-1970, Assumption or Duration of of Command. Visit the full collection on the Digital Library. The 27th Engineer Battalion (COMBAT)(AIRBORNE) "Tiger Battalion" and its subordinate companies have often used the Fort Bragg/XVIII Airborne Corps standard of "Airborne!" Bishop, Lieutenant Colonel Drake It was a wonderful moment that we will both remember for the rest of our lives, and we owe it to VetFriends. Maj. Sean Goodridge ( far right) , the senior noncommissioned officer assigned to 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, speaks during the change of responsibility ceremony at Fort Drum, NY, Nov. 7 at when he assumed responsibility of the 152nd BEB from outgoing command sergeant major, 27th Engineer Battalion Dickies 8 oz. G. Willard, Lieutenant Colonel Robert In January 2017, an initial complement of more than 700 unedited slides were made available on theUSACE Digital Libraryhosted by the Corps HECSA Library. The fatal accident did not happen . E. Bunch, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Lieutenant Colonel James Mason. This article incorporates public domain material from .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}27th Engineer Battalion Lineage and Honors. It can go through the cab of a Rome Plow. "We started in the areas we knew would be hot and then planned to work south near the border, but we ran into so much stuff, and the weather bogged down our tracks to the point where our progress was very slow," Major Kerver said. C. Wisdom, Lieutenant Colonel Authur COMBAT AFTER ACTION REPORT, VIETNAM 1969. Material was packaged in waterproofed paper and boxes and frequently then placed in plastic bags, then nailed in wood boxes and loaded into steel shipping containers called CONEXs. Dave and his bunker buddy were transporting a Cat road grader on a lowboy when the recently installed brakes failed. Each slide is linked to its detailed explanatory caption and has also been provided keywords, subject headings, and geographic locations, when known, thus providing users several ways to search the images on the Digital Library. The Vietnam Trip Briefing slide collection provides a valuable historical visual record of army, especially army engineer, activity during the Vietnam years. 39th Engineer Battalion Newsletters - May 2021, February 2022. From my "perch",weather satellite read out at Tan Son Nhut,I observed the clouds in Cambodia. In December of 1965, over 5000 infantrymen of the 25th Infantry Division deployed to the highlands of Northwest South Vietnam at Pleiku. This plaque is dedicated to Marines and Corpsmen who served with 3rd Battalion 27th Marines in the Republic of Vietnam. The state of the 20th Engineer Battalion upon reactivation was desperate. Lieutenant Colonel John By 1800 an LZ large enough to accommodate an infantry battalion was completed. A. Yore, Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence L. Gardner, Lieutenant Colonel Fred management. Division). 937th Engineer Group Aug 1965 - Sep 1971. BLT 2/26 . Compare. u.s. army special troops battalion, 2nd brigade combat team, 1st armored division unit crest (dui) $11.99. The regiment was broken up in March 1943 and its elements were then reorganized and redesignated. THEY EARNED IT. Cutting began June 4. mounts. B. Since the time when he was a kid, Dave was a phenomenal shot. In April 1966 the Tiger Battalion was alerted for duty in the Republic of Vietnam.
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