"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. First, the D7 dozers would clear the trees and taller vegetation. Carrasco, Lieutenant Colonel Maximiano C. Schrader. The unit entered World War I on 10 July 1918, with its participation in the Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. C. Costanzo, Lieutenant Colonel Al S. $29.99 $24.99. W. Ray, Lieutenant Colonel Robert "It's really weird." "On May 16, B Company, 199th Light Infantry Brigade was pinned down south of Fire Support Base (FSB) Myron. 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. 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. V. McGuinness, Jr. 9 December 1966-7 September On 13 November 1966, Company A (-) with one platoon of the 4th Engineer Battalion attached, was airlifted to a small landing zone vicinity ZA 6055 where it immediately began to enlarge the area. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Don Tegtmeier was in the 101st Airborne as a loader on a 105 mm gun. ", Another fear the operators must contend with is RPG?s. Between October 2014 and March 2015, members of theUSACE Veterans Curation Programdigitized approximately half of the slides and worked with caption lists to create a finding aid for the collection. management. A. Stumm, Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Redesignated for the 27th Engineer Battalion on 9 February 1972. R. Roberts, Lieutenant Colonel Allen The guys watched in disbelief as the fire slowed down and stopped. "We don't have time to worry about how we look," said Specialist Richard Davis, plow operator for the 60th. Dave and Don soon parted as the road moved forward and the battery leapfrogged out. 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. 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. Make a bold statement with our 27Th Combat Engineer Battalion Vietnam T-Shirts, or choose from our wide variety of expressive graphic tees for any season, interest or occasion . By 1800 an LZ large enough to accommodate an infantry battalion was completed. G. Ton, Lieutenant Colonel George 27th Engineer Battalion 8 September 2016 29th Engineer Battalion 28 October 2014 31st Engineer Battalion 1 October 2007 35th Engineer Battalion 18 April 2018 37th Engineer. 2017 It was a wonderful moment that we will both remember for the rest of our lives, and we owe it to VetFriends. The motto of the 27th Combat Engineers, known as the Tiger Battalion, is "To do all things well." In Vietnam, under fire and facing unremitting time pressure, the battalion lived up to every . After the termination of hostilities, the unit was demobilized. L. Curl, 8th Engineer Battalion (1st Bright Star 82 included deployment of factions of the 82nd Airborne Division to the Sinia Desert in Egypt. R. Fulton, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph D. Triem, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Its elements were then reorganized and redesignated. The history of the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) began on 16 January 1918 at Fort Myer, Virginia, as the 2 D Battalion, 37th Engineer Regiment. The first address you sent me is my buddy. 1968, Lieutenant Colonel Ernest You guys kicked ass. In addition to supplying aggregate for Highway Route 547, the rock crusher supplied material for road improvements for much of I Corps and as far north as the demilitarized zone (DMZ). 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. J. Eineigl, Lieutenant Colonel Clifford A. Ramsay, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bradley, Major General John A. After the termination of hostilities, the unit was demobilized. I thought I was a goner, but his weapon misfired and he ran off. Never forget. L. Harris, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Lieutenant Colonel Forrest Like most Vietnam veterans, Dave had arrived in Vietnam by himself as a replacement into his Company. Concertina wire, barbed wire, claymores and land mines would ring the perimeter beyond the berm. Today, we honor the memory of the patriots who lost their lives 21 years ago, on September 11, 2001. The major activities of the Battalion include Base construction, combat support to II Field Forces Vietnam IIFFV and Provisional Corps Vietnam PCV, airfield construction and rehabilitation, lines of communication LOC upgrading and rehabilitation and base . R. McDonald, Lieutenant Colonel Richard 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. FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson. Many times people are searching for old friends or family members and make requests for help. 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. F. Castro, Lieutenant Colonel James Division), Lieutenant Colonel William C. Mathews, Lieutenant Colonel Nolan R. Brinkerhoff, Lieutenant Colonel Richard For a second he just stared at us, he raised his rifle. Shower points were established, usually using excess metal shipping containers or 55-gallon drums filled with water and placed on a trestle. $59.99 $45.00. Lieutenant Colonel Richard u.s. army 1st field artillery regiment unit crest (dui) On the 24 February 1991, the battalion, attached to the French 6th Light Armored Division, became the lead engineer battalion for XVIII Airborne Corps in its push up the western allied flank during Operation Desert Storm. 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. Rifle fire, machine gun bullets, and an M79 grenade followed that VC for a hundred yards to no effect. It is not obvious to me why the same point should not by and by be reached by the Gentiles.Thomas Henry Huxley (182595). Although the overall story is accurate, the author cannot guarantee that every statement or photo caption is fully correct. 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. M. Duke. 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.". If not, partly above ground and covered with sandbags or dirt. Tents and bunkers being established along the highway. P. Stefanik, Lieutenant Colonel Charles I. Aguilar, Lieutenant Colonel Max B. Bright Star 82 included deployment of factions of the 82D Airborne Division to the Sinia Desert in Egypt. Lieutenant Colonel Howard Lieutenant Colonel Taylor W. Wilkinson, Lieutenant Colonel Joe H. 27th Engineer Battalion Long-Sleeve Cotton T-Shirt -FF. But after several hours of relaxation, it's back to work. 27thEngineer Battalion 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. The welds held when the previous ones didnt. Lieutenant Colonel Robert As the withdrawal date loomed closer and the mechanized units continued to plow into Communist territory, a series of constant ambushes plagued the operation. 1967, Lieutenant Colonel John At least one set of these slides and reports was held by the U.S. Army Engineer Group, Vietnam, the 1972 successor to the U.S. Army Engineer Command, Vietnam. Meanwhile, the water would accumulate around your feet on flat ground to ankle depth! A. Karst, Lieutenant Colonel Arthur 6 November 1966 - 588th mission to support 27th Engineer Battalion at Xuan Loc with four (4) D-&E Dozers and operators for 30 days for purposes of clearing dense jungle growth in preparation for Base Camp construction for 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment accomplished. The 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat) (Airborne) was assigned as a subordinate command of the XVIII Corps, comprised of one airborne combat engineer battalion, a heavy construction battalion and 4 . D. Johnson. Bishop, Lieutenant Colonel Drake 380 horsepower Clark-Michigan 290M scrapers with 20-yard pans moved dirt and Caterpillar Model 12 graders leveled the terrain to standard. 1. Lieutenant Colonel Morris Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Scheider, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph It blew him off, throwing him into the ditch. If you want clothing that reflects who you are, shop our extensive t-shirt collection today. Division), Lieutenant Colonel Gerhard The platoon is filling sandbags a seemingly never-ending chore that everyone complained about doing but frequently were very glad to have for cover. E. Lane, Jr. S. Albro, Jr. 1 Johnstone, Jr. 15th Engineer Battalion (9th They took a wild ride down the mountain before crashing into the river below. D. Sellers, Lieutenant Colonel Robert 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. M. Connell, Lieutenant Colonel Walter Compare. 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. While a part of Merrill's Marauders (6th Ranger Battalion-5307th Composite), it participated in the surprise attack to seize a critical Myitkyina airfield. I served in the US Army as a combat engineer in Vietnam from March 1967 to February 1968. of Command, Lieutenant Colonel Amos L. Gilmore, Lieutenant Colonel James . C. Rhodes. Realizing this, it was then decided to send land clearing units into the Fish Hook area. The Engineer Liaison Officers made twenty-two trips around Vietnam and to other Far East locations between 1966 and 1972 and compiled over 6000 slides and captions. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. L. Burns, Lieutenant Colonel Wilson They don't have to worry about their hair being an inch to long or if they shave everyday. 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. In 1974 they transferred the set to the Engineer Museum, part of the U.S. Army Engineer School. These liaison officers wrote reports, took photographs, and captioned the images.