On 23 August 1990, the battalion was again called upon, this time to Saudi Arabia, to support Operation Desert Shield. Elements of these Rome Plow units moved into Cambodia May 3, two days after the first American troops crossed the border. V. Parish, Jr. The battalion deployed with the 20th Engineer Brigade from 22 September through 5 November 1994. Over those years, an OCE (Office of the Chief of Engineers) Liaison Officer routinely traveled to various locations in Southeast Asia to visit army officers and engineer troops and to gather information on the many activities and projects undertaken by army engineers in the region. Reactivation at Fort Bragg. While not professional shots, they provide a unique look into the daily activities of combat engineers. E. Eastburn, Lieutenant Colonel Carrol L. Sargent, Jr. 20 September 1965-16 August Twenty years later, World War II erupted, and on 14 July 1941, the 37th Engineer Regiment was reactivated at Camp Bowie, Texas. On 17 October 2008 all lettered companies of the 27th were inactivated at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Usually, they would establish a helicopter LZ (landing zone), as well. The high quality images depict the wide variety of activities and structures built by army engineers in Southeast Asia, from ports and airfields to barracks and latrines, from roads and bridges to offices and storage depots, from petroleum facilities to hospitals, cantonments to quarries. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively. Lieutenant Colonel Newman HQ located at Bien Hoa. C. Kelley, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm They found a bunker complex but couldn't get in because of heavy enemy contact, so the Rome plows were requested. Motto: OMNES RES BENE FACERE (To Do All Things Well). 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. FOR THE MEN WHO ARE FIGHTING THE WAR IN VIETNAM from the cab of a Rome Plow bulldozer, the work day begins at dawn and often ends sometime after midnight. "Our objective in this operation was to gain entry into active areas of the Fish Hook where enemy contact was heavy," Major Kerver added. THEY EARNED IT. Got my fish and parrots and hooks and beaks mixed up. 380 horsepower Clark-Michigan 290M scrapers with 20-yard pans moved dirt and Caterpillar Model 12 graders leveled the terrain to standard. 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. 27th Engineer Battalion :: Fort Bragg - United States Army 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 . Check out Popular Patch's collection of United States Army Combat Engineering Unit patches. W. Atwell, Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. Eineigl, Lieutenant Colonel Clifford SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS On 20 September 1921, the unit was organized and activated as an ordnance company at Fort Bliss, Texas. The India-Burma Campaign concluded on 28 January 1943, Redesignated 29 April 1947 as the 27th Engineer Combat Battalion, Redesignated 8 June 1953 as the 27th Engineer Battalion. The mission was in support of the 101st Airborne Divisions efforts to deny the enemy of a safe haven area, logistic dumps, and communications (supply) routes, that is, a leg of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Amazon.com: Combat Engineer Decal The 588th and 168th served with recognized distinction while in Vietnam." Sheard, Lieutenant Colonel Charles F. Boylan. Extended a runway at a municipal airport in North Carolina. D. Snoke, Lieutenant Colonel Allen Logistics prevented B Company from being relocated. Rush III. We put the plows out front, went in and cleared the area. W. Chapman, Jr. Brigadier General Edwin 10/68 assigned to the 35th Combat Engineers at Da Nang, Battalion sent me to B co at Camp Eagle, Company assigned me to 3rd Platoon at Hill 24, Lang Co. 61 MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION", 27th Engineer Battalion (C)(A), @27thENBNGovernment Organization, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=27th_Engineer_Battalion_(United_States)&oldid=1100045875, LTC Leslie Sandvall (Commander at Myitkyina), LTC Ron Stewart (Desert Shield/Storm), LTC Mike Crall (Afghanistan), LTC Al Dodd (Afghanistan), Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 20th Engineer Brigade, Description: A Silver color metal and enamel device, The motto translates to "To Do All Things Well.". Shrapnel was landing everywhere in the ops building and around it. R. Brinkerhoff, Lieutenant Colonel Richard 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (Mechanized) 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry [] He returned home and went back to the family farm. [2] The battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for their service. The typical procedure for establishment and development of night defensive positions up to and including complex fire support bases had similar protocols. L. Moore, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Potable water provided by purification platoons deployed to the hurricane Agnes ravaged Appalachians in 1972. Reunion Details The battalion's 50 year reunion will be held at the Elks Lodge at 640 E. Elva St. in Idaho Falls. Jim..11th LIB. They also built some airstrips way down in the delta where he encountered entertainer Martha Ray, to his great surprise. Lieutenant Colonel Colin E. Read, 7 October 1966-29 September The blade is "canted" to the right and there is a heavy guide bar about three feet above the blade. We were stationed in Germany in 1975 through 1978. L. Trayers, Jr. W. Wilkinson, Lieutenant Colonel Joe H. "We felt that by going in there we would run into heavy enemy activity," he said. [3], Among other things, the Construction Platoon of HHC 27th ENG (C)(A) has built the following: Commenting on the units accomplishments, Major Kerver said, "Results of the operation will be measured at a later date. I was unaware of this grouop. of combat and construction battalions assigned. 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. History [ edit] The base was established in mid-1965 and was located approximately 35 km north of Bin Ha in Phc Thnh Province. As the operations moved forward, the engineers built laager-type areas to be used as mini-bases for logistic, staging, and maintenance. V. Cole, Lieutenant Colonel Richard [1] The 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division comprising: Thanks for the compliment on my profile page. Unfortunately, many of the engineers and others serving alongside are still suffering from the effects. Elements of the 101st Airborne made clearing sweeps in the mountains and valleys along the route. America's Dark History of Killing Its Own Troops With Cluster Munitions In another situation, a UH-1 slick, the primary utility helicopter in Vietnam, was carrying a higher engineer officer over the area at a very low altitude. First, the D7 dozers would clear the trees and taller vegetation. Lieutenant Colonel James 27 SPT History - 1st Cavalry Division Association United States ARMY 1st Engineer Battalion Military Patch VIETNAM 4742 $9.85. Lieutenant Colonel Elvin D. Triem, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew 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. of Command, Lieutenant Colonel Amos You can now save a custom design or favorite a product. Every Vietnam veteran had more than enough on the job training filling sandbags. The army recognized that ability and sent him to sniper school. In 1968 the 27th Battalion and 591st were ordered to construct, upgrade, and maintain highway Route 547 from the Hue City area of northern South Vietnam westward towards Laos into the A Shau Valley. A land clearing company consists of 30 Rome plows and approximately 100 men, including operators, maintenance men, NCO's and officers. The battalion colors bear a Presidential Unit Citation for action at Myitkyina Airfield, five Meritorious Unit Commendations for actions in Vietnam, one Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions in Southwest Asia, the Superior Unit award for AHAUS TAURA '90, the Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal (1st Class), and 19 campaign streamers. 27th engineer batallion in Phu Bai Vietnam? - VetFriends Usually operators aren't ordered to go on dismount but this time I was. A mock shoot-house for urban actions training. Security could also pull back into these areas at night. The battalion was a Third Army unit attached to V Corps. Brigadier General Andrew The 209th disembarked at Bombay, India on 23 October 1943, and immediately set to work on the Ledo Road. If you want clothing that reflects who you are, shop our extensive t-shirt collection today. Thanks for making it possible, Thanks so much VetFriends.com for your help and genuine concern for locating this long lost buddy of mine, Please Enter a Valid email address with no spaces, VetFriends Members: 36th Engineer Battalion Association Viet Nam P. Conover, Lieutenant Colonel Myron L. Sutton, Lieutenant Colonel Donald Well-worn Caterpillar D7 undergoing maintenance near Firebase Blaze in 1968. G. Rockwell, Jr. VIETNAM The 3rd Brigade was the first 25th Division element alerted for Vietnam service. The roots of the 27th Support Battalion can be traced back to 1 September 1921 when its predecessor, the 27th Ordnance Company which was constituted in the Regular Army of the United States and assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. "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. Combat engineers in Vietnam: the first year Correspondents who covered the Vietnam War typically concentrated on the more glamorous branches of the combat . Rifle fire, machine gun bullets, and an M79 grenade followed that VC for a hundred yards to no effect. Then, Don watched as Dave pulled motor stables maintenance on his D7. I. Aguilar, Lieutenant Colonel Max B. Well done bro. L. Burns, Lieutenant Colonel Wilson 25th Infantry Division - US Army - Vietnam I really hope some other people can find this service and get in touch with people like I did. "We found a bunker about 30 meters off the trail. The 57th Sapper Company (Combat)(Airborne)(Rough Terrain) of the 27th is the only company in the United States Army that specializes in rough terrain airborne insertion.[1]. The cutting also uncovered communication equipment, small arms, automatic weapons, rocket launchers, 10,000 pounds of various caliber small arms ammunition and 500 mortar rounds. D. Stipo, Lieutenant Colonel Early Len Ignatowski - 2011 (Same Location for both photos) Bob Hartman - 1966. D. H. Berry, Lieutenant Colonel James Lieutenant Colonel Ames Add to Cart. Major Kerver felt the high contact rate was a good indication the operation was headed in the right direction, but there wasn't enough time to complete the job. He served in Korea from 1950-1952 in B Company, 65th Combat Engineers, 25th. J. Hatch. Share Lieutenant Colonel George Convoy passing local traffic on the hardtop road near Hue City. M. Miller, Lieutenant Colonel Tenho C. Ogilvie, Lieutenant Colonel Edward SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to my email. Lieutenant Parker was proud of his men as he explained their mission during May. While in Somalia the 27th performed various infrastructure improvement projects for the Somali people. 1968, Lieutenant Colonel Henry E. Rogers, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin [5] 20th Engineer Brigade insignia, with "Airborne" tab. Daoulas, Lieutenant Colonel Russell All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the Rosin, Lieutenant Colonel Donald Lieutenant Colonel Thomas G. Madison, Jr. "You feel helpless. D. Gabe, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Thank you so much again for helping me We talked on the phone several times in the last few years, and finally we were able to meet in El Paso, TX for a short visit. M. Kiernan, Lieutenant Colonel Thorwald Lieutenant Colonel John $59.99 $45.00. Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Division), Lieutenant Colonel Matthew We work all day and then we have to work all night to get the dozers ready for the next day.". 1968, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph As it turned out, I the author of this piece was the third spoke of this brotherhood trio. Unknown to the other two, I was in Vietnam in the south. It was a wonderful moment that we will both remember for the rest of our lives, and we owe it to VetFriends. The 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) was organized on 16 January 1918 in the National Army at Fort Myer, Virginia, as the 2nd Battalion, 37th Engineer Regiment. Operations into the A Shau Valley, 1968-69 - Military Trader/Vehicles Not until the men head back to their night defensive position (NDP) do they feel the pressure ease off. In 1957 Battery A was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 1st Battalion, 27th Artillery. His buddy, Bob, scrounged some appropriate welding rod for Dave to cut and weld the M2 mounts as desired by the tankers. Compare. The first address you sent me is my buddy. You're out front by yourself and you know if there's an ambush you'll be the first one hit," Bulceco added. At that time, A Shau Valley was a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) stronghold. We raced volkswagens on our time off and we'd go to the range and shoot all day. 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. P. Kelley, Lieutenant Colonel George CORPS OF ENGINEERS UNITS - CBI History The battalion colors bear a Presidential Unit Citation for action at Myitkyina Airfield, five Meritorious Unit Commendations for actions in Vietnam, one Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions in Southwest Asia, the Superior Unit Award for AHAUS TAURA '90, the Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal (1st Class), and 19 campaign streamers. I served with Charlie Compan, 299th Combat Engineer Battalion in Kontum and in Bong Son, Republic of South Vietnam from October 20th 1968 to October 19th 1969. For website corrections, write to hqwebmaster@usace.army.mil. Associated Units - 25th Infantry Division Association 1966, Lieutenant Colonel George During the Vietnam War, the brigade numbered over 13,000 officers and enlisted men organized into three engineer groups, with 14 battalions and 31 separate companies and detachments. Interesting article. Note the M35 cargo truck in background. 45th Engineer Group Jun 1966 - Jan 1972. On occasions we made "Thunder runs" on highway 13 to clear the road. Office of History, Mar. 65th Engineer (Combat) Battalion - 25th Infantry Division - US Army The large unit was still housed in tents, which raised some eyebrows, and was tasked with building a national road including many bridges. Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm23 Dec 68-14 May 69, RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal, FC25 Oct 68-2 May 70. Bradley, Major General John A. Whether you want a sarcastic t-shirt or a geeky t-shirt to embrace your inner nerd, CafePress has the tee you're looking for. The diagonal cant and the guide bar cause the trees and brush that are cut to fall off to the right of the dozer. Combat Action Badge For Vietnam Vets - Second Infantry Regiment There was doubt all the areas could be searched before President Nixon's June 30 deadline for the withdrawal of American troops in Cambodia. Dillard 1, Brigadier General Robert A. Selleck, Jr. 26 September 1967-29 August N. Andrews, Lieutenant Colonel Gwynn Cleared land mines and other unexplored ordinance on and around, This page was last edited on 23 July 2022, at 23:43. Flanigan, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Lieutenant Colonel Coleman T. Robinson, Lieutenant Colonel Charles (P) Selected for promotion before assuming command. L. Blalock, 864th Engineer Battalion The soldiers are in Kosovo as part of the peace-keeping mission, Operation Joint Guardian. L. Anderson, Jr.