27th combat engineer battalion vietnam

R. Roberts, Lieutenant Colonel Allen As the operations moved forward, the engineers built laager-type areas to be used as mini-bases for logistic, staging, and maintenance. Not readily apparent, but this Clark 290m scraper has suffered from incoming hostile fire. The Contractor Full Disclosure T-Shirt. Realizing this, it was then decided to send land clearing units into the Fish Hook area. We were stationed in Germany in 1975 through 1978. (Construction), Lieutenant Colonel James G. Delbridge. The battalion deployed with the 20th Engineer Brigade from 22 September through 5 November 1994. 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. Twenty years later, World War II erupted, and on 14 July 1941, the 37th Engineer Regiment was reactivated at Camp Bowie, Texas. 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. What a conversation we had. It was not uncommon to pull and replace D7 Caterpillar engines or final drives, or truck power packs as the construction went on nearby. . 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. M. Miller, Lieutenant Colonel Tenho C. Hunter, Jr. The radio-man hit the dirt just as the soldier was aiming. During the first several days of cutting resistance was light, but after the enemy had a chance to regroup, everyday meant contact. of Command, Lieutenant Colonel Phillip In 1991, the Construction Platoon of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27th Engineer Battalion created a small memorial to its own Desert Storm veterans outdoors near the unit's mess hall in Smoke Bomb Hill, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. If not, partly above ground and covered with sandbags or dirt. The supplies uncovered included X-ray equipment, plasma, antibiotics, surgical equipment and morphine. L. Crosby, Lieutenant Colonel Bruce The 35mm color slides are generally in remarkably good condition, with only a small percentage suffering from correctable color degradation. Thank you for signing up for the VetFriends Newsletter! L. Harris, Lieutenant Colonel Robert 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. D. Millward, Lieutenant Colonel Donald "But of course in an operation like this, we measure our success on what we find." H. Leiser, 25 February 1968-29 September C. Donovan, Lieutenant Colonel Charlie 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. The diagonal cant and the guide bar cause the trees and brush that are cut to fall off to the right of the dozer. I have Dave considered my brother for 65 years. On the affirmative, the CO promptly assigned him operate Caterpillar D7s. E. Cox, 4th Engineer Battalion (4th 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. 27th Engineer Battalion (C)(A) | Fort Bragg NC Lieutenant Colonel John February 18, 1968 - September 10, 1968. The dirt pans, front-end loader, and graders would join the dozers in leveling and shaping the terrain and digging in fighting positions, trenches, bunkers, artillery and mortar positions, ammo storage points, vehicle parking and maintenance/repair areas, and drainage features. While a part of Merrill's Marauders (6th Ranger Battalion-5307th Composite), it participated in the surprise attack to seize a critical Myitkyina airfield. Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to my email. Compare. F. Brandes, Lieutenant Colonel James of combat and construction battalions assigned. K. O'Connell, Lieutenant Colonel James 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 . Lieutenant Colonel Richard L. Harris, 16 December 1965-13 July 1966 Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Gilmore, 14 July 1966-5 July 1967 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. The most recent deployment was in response to Operation Uphold Democracy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I. Aguilar, Lieutenant Colonel Max B. Vietnam veteran, Sp4 David Flinn, 591st Engineers, left us with this photographic record of his units activities in the A Shau Valley. United States Army Center of Military History. At that time, A Shau Valley was a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) stronghold. C. Remson, Jr. C. Rhodes. C. Costanzo, Lieutenant Colonel Al S. Lieutenant Colonel James Subsequently, the 209th participated in the India-Burma Campaign. K. Randels, Lieutenant Colonel Wesley Lieutenant Colonel Elvin Seven combat engineers from 27th Engineer Battalion were killed when a pile of the BLU-97 duds they were tasked with clearing from the airfield detonated at once. Twenty years later, 2017 But after several hours of relaxation, it's back to work. E. Lane, Jr. The 984th, also a unit of the 62nd Engineer Battalion, was involved in a similar operation at Binh Son in support of the Thai's. Working at Camp Eagle, Bastone, Phu Thu, Phu Bai, and constructing Rt 547 into the A Shau Valley in support of the 101st Airborne Division. 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. D. Sellers, Lieutenant Colonel Robert After the termination of hostilities, the unit was demobilized. Shrapnel was landing everywhere in the ops building and around it. The mission also included establishment and construction of firebases, helicopter and artillery revetments, and other facilities along the route which went over and through the dissected landscape of mountains and small valleys. A paper change was made and we became C Company, 168th Combat Engineer Battalion. P. Rollins, Jr. Brigadier General Willard Dave could not remember the origins or nomenclature of the rock truck. E. Lynch, Lieutenant Colonel Clarence E. Rogers, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin [5] 20th Engineer Brigade insignia, with "Airborne" tab. Security could also pull back into these areas at night. 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Avery . 2023 Copyright VetFriends.com. These liaison officers wrote reports, took photographs, and captioned the images. W. Wilkinson, Lieutenant Colonel Joe H. The Vietnam Trip Briefing slide collection provides a valuable historical visual record of army, especially army engineer, activity during the Vietnam years. It did occasionally rain hard enough that in the daytime, you could hold your hand out at arms length and not see it for several minutes. Here, Dave photographed this staging area that shows, right to left, an M123 10-ton tractor attached to M15A1 40-ton trailer, M37 3/4-ton truck, unidentified apparatus on wheels, batch concrete mixer on wheels, and unidentified. In 1974 they transferred the set to the Engineer Museum, part of the U.S. Army Engineer School. 35th Engineer Group Jun 1965 - Nov 1971. to Cam Ranh Bay. 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. Veteran L. Prickett, "Dear VetFriends, Thanks so much for your help! A. Selleck, Jr. 26 September 1967-29 August 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. Comments: I am the daughter of ROY B KIEFER, Army Veteran of Korean War, from Chicago, IL. L. Lammie, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Lieutenant Parker was proud of his men as he explained their mission during May. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Their vehicles included shop vans, M56 contact maintenance trucks, wreckers, and an M578 light recovery vehicle. Concertina wire, barbed wire, claymores and land mines would ring the perimeter beyond the berm. The equipment was salvaged. Please remember to check our Guestbook occasionally. If you need assistance, please call 1-833-393-0784. An official website of the United States government, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website, About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website, Vietnam So Many Years Later: Remembering Army Engineer Activities in Southeast Asia, 1966-1972, Deactivated Nuclear Power Plant Program (DNPPP), Regional Environmental and Energy Offices REEOs, Industry Information Re: COVID-19 Support, Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity, G-1 Reserve Component Augmentation, Office of Human Resources Directorate, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. If you want clothing that reflects who you are, shop our extensive t-shirt collection today. A land clearing company consists of 30 Rome plows and approximately 100 men, including operators, maintenance men, NCO's and officers. Thanks,Sam. Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. G. Rockwell, Jr. All Departments. THEY EARNED IT. You're out front by yourself and you know if there's an ambush you'll be the first one hit," Bulceco added. Design Type Personalized Designs. Segal, Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Rock crusher site with D7 dozer and heavy rock truck. Even the snakes would try to find some high ground. of Command, Lieutenant Colonel Amos While in Somalia the 27th performed various infrastructure improvement projects for the Somali people. When we got there, we ran into a NVA soldier. The battalion was a Third Army unit attached to V Corps. As the road construction progressed, other military units moved forward in unison with the 591st. E. Gray, Lieutenant Colonel Marion They don't wear shirts because it's murderously hot under the flak jackets they must wear for protection against exploding mines and rocket propelled grenades (RPG?s). In 1983, units from of the battalion deployed in response to the Invasion of Grenada by Cuban forces. Thank you so much again for helping me "We had been in Fish Hook about 10 days," Bulceco said. | Save Up to 35% Sitewide!| Price as marked | See Details | Shop All Deals. Disclaimer: 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. A. Howard, Jr. This is the official public website of the Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These major effort-type of operations required a huge amount of support and supplies. L. Anderson, Jr. (P) Selected for promotion before assuming command. Along with a radio-man, we went to check out the bunker. Sheridan, Illinois (late 1952). But after several hours of relaxation, it's back to work. The materials were in turn given to theOffice of History, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, upon the museums closure at Fort Belvoir when the Engineer School moved to Fort Leonard Wood. Hansen, Lieutenant Colonel Laurence Artillery batteries from the 101st artillery including 105mm, 155mm towed and self-propelled, 8-inch self-propelled, and the huge 175mm self-propelled guns. E. Hays, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Sells, Lieutenant Colonel Dale C. Schrader. HE WAS KILLED MAY 11TH 1968. . Dave walked over to the stream to wash up and saw a guy he had known since the second grade and called, brother.. After chatting for a few minutes, they got a fire mission, and Dave watched as Don loaded his gun for a maximum effort shoot. N. Andrews, Lieutenant Colonel Gwynn Thank you SAM for posting this, thanks to all who served our country. B. Smith. 1968. As of October 1999, they had the last and only Airborne well-driller detachment/platoon left in the United States Army. Wisdom, 7 September 1968-7 February A crazy coincidence occurred one evening. Every Vietnam veteran had more than enough on the job training filling sandbags. 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. Division), Lieutenant Colonel Gerhard The Combat action badge should be retro active to Vietnam. They got to spend a few evenings together on the bunker line watching the perimeter. But the plow operators of a land clearing company are experts and take pride in their job. Its elements were then reorganized and redesignated. Lieutenant Colonel Colin the 79th assumed command of the newly arrived 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat), and in October the 86th Engineer Battalion (Combat). 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. F. Wall, Jr. The soldiers are in Kosovo as part of the peace-keeping mission, Operation Joint Guardian. J. Fiala, Lieutenant Colonel William The brigade had expanded 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Shield: Gules, a rock Argent within a garland of oak leaves and acorns Proper within a bordure of the second. The platoon is filling sandbags a seemingly never-ending chore that everyone complained about doing but frequently were very glad to have for cover. Dillard 1, Brigadier General Robert (P), Brigadier General Henry R. Manning, Lieutenant Colonel John 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 Twenty years later, World War II erupted, and on 14 July 1941, the 37th Engineer Regiment was reactivated at Camp Bowie, Texas. During the operation, 56 separate contacts was reported. P. Gardiner, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Andrews, Lieutenant Colonel Pleasant 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines Marker. IN VIETNAM, 1965-1970-Continued, Assumption or R. Fulton, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Lieutenant Colonel John 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. 27th Engineer Battalion Dickies 8 oz. We raced volkswagens on our time off and we'd go to the range and shoot all day. 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Again S-3 requested the plows and we went in and secured the area." D. Gilkey, Lieutenant Colonel James 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. The sun was usually hot enough to heat the drums enough to provide lukewarm showers. 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. The 19th Combat Engineer Battalion developed 20 miles of roads and a 25-unit permanent heliport near Qui Nhon in preparation for the arrival of South Korea's Tiger Division, which would . E. Leonard, Lieutenant Colonel Vito Lieutenant Colonel Joseph The 588th was placed under the operational control of the 25th . They are launched from a bazooka-like device held by one man. The 27th had been in Vietnam since February. [220] SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS IN VIETNAM, 1965-1970-Continued [221] SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS IN VIETNAM, 1965-1970-Continued [222] SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS IN VIETNAM, 1965-1970-Continued [223] The state of the 20th Engineer Battalion upon reactivation was desperate. Brigadier General Andrew L. Trayers, Jr. Although the intent was to keep the roadway at less than 6 percent slopes, some locations were well in excess of the prescribed slope due to the mountainous terrain. The history of the 27th Engineer Battalion (COMBAT) (AIRBORNE) began on 16 January 1918 at Fort Meyer, VA, as the second battalion of 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.". 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. Unit arrived in India on 12 October 1943, where it immediately participated in the India-Burma Campaign. The Office of History maintains copies of these slides and captions in its research collection. Get Military Unit/Ship Histories and After Action Records (AAR) We offer access to after action reports and operational records from all branches of the U.S. Military. 1968, Lieutenant Colonel Maurice 4th Battalion 77th Artillery, Valorous Unit Award8 Feb-8 Apr 71, RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm18 Apr-31 Aug 71 and 6- 19 Sep 71; 1 Mar-9 Oct 71. Reactivation at Fort Bragg. They found a bunker complex but couldn't get in because of heavy enemy contact, so the Rome plows were requested. While in Somalia the 27th performed various infrastructure improvement projects for the Somalian people. 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. The research for this After Action Report included OPERATIONAL REPORTS, DAILY STAFF JOURNALS and DUTY OFFICER S LOGS at the Battalion, Brigade and Division levels located in the National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. After he completed basic training at Fort Knox and was granted the welder MOS with no further training. Sheard, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Division), Lieutenant Colonel William Johnstone, Jr. 15th Engineer Battalion (9th $29.99 $24.99. Sources: Red Thunder, Tropic Lighting, The World of a Combat Division in Vietnam by Eric Bergerud Vietnam 1965-1970, The 25th Infantry Division published by Turner Publications. A. Karst, Lieutenant Colonel Arthur The 209th disembarked at Bombay, India on 23 October 1943, and immediately set to work on the Ledo Road. The Rome Plow is a custom designed blade built by the Rome Plow Company of Cedartown, Georgia, and used on the powerful D7E bulldozer, organic to engineer units. Built FSC Company Area After Battalion Transformation. The 36th was inactivated in Vietnam 30 April 1972 and remains inactive.. 372d Engineer Aviation Battalion 342.9 412th Telegraph Battalion 111.7 445th Quartermaster Depot 338.11.4 465th Bombardment Wing 342.9 500th Military Intelligence Group 319.23 513th Military Intelligence Group 319.23 593d Engineer Depot 338.11.4 601st Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion 338.13, 338.14 693d Radar Squadron 342.9 The unit entered. Categories. After that I was with the 27th Eng. Inscription. The most recent deployment was in response to Operation Uphold Democracy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They know their mission is important and the consequences of a second rate job are costly. 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. Thanks for the compliment on my profile page. mounts. F. Miley. 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. Many times people are searching for old friends or family members and make requests for help. This move known as Operation Blue Light was the longest and largest military airlift to a combat zone in history to date. 66 machine shop truck with gull wing doors alongside temporary work area with troops working on an undefined project. There's no discipline problem, they look out for each other. Military Catalog, Sales, Discounts & more. Cavalry Division), Lieutenant Colonel Robert During one period, a platoon of M48 tanks provided security for the 591st and other co-located elements. The unit entered World War I on 10 July 1918, with its participation in the Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. Engineer Battalion Just 20 miles north of Saigon, the "Iron Triangle" was a near impenetrable stronghold where the jungle protected a labyrinth of enemy staging areas and resupply points. All of these units required heavy resupply efforts, the beans-and-bullets necessary for the mission. Authors Note When Sp4 David Flinn arrived at his assigned unit in Vietnam in 1968, his first thought was, There is nothing Light about this Company.. We work all day and then we have to work all night to get the dozers ready for the next day.". find my friend." Compare. The photos were all taken by Sp4 David L. Flinn in 1968 and 1969. "It's really weird." J. Andre, Lieutenant Colonel Connelly D. Peixotto, Lieutenant Colonel John D. Patterson, 15 February 1967-16 October J. 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. Potable water provided by purification platoons deployed to the hurricane Agnes ravaged Appalachians in 1972. Dave Flinn found an exact duplicate of his baby a Vietnam-era D7E Caterpillar dozer at Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri, during the 2017 MVPA Route 66 Convoy. Lieutenant Colonel John Y. Epling, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Before the decision to send troops into Cambodia was made, the 60th Land Clearing Company was operating in the Michelin Rubber region near Minh Than, clearing vast tracts of jungle in an area of repeated enemy activity. Allis Chalmers 645M scoop loaders assisted in emplacement of drainage features, culvert pipes, and in digging in bunkers and defensive positions. It can go through the cab of a Rome Plow. Never forget. The dozers would push earthen berms around the perimeter of the base. W. Ray, Lieutenant Colonel Robert When they can get away with it, they don't wear boots or socks. 2,951,275, MILITARY UNITS - 27th engineer batallion in Phu Bai Vietnam. After the termination of hostilities, the unit was demobilized. Note the M35 cargo truck in background. Qui Nhon Dec 1966 and Phu Bai in Feb 1968. Jim..11th LIB. I'm the first to ever contact him. D. Gabe, Lieutenant Colonel Charles You guys kicked ass. H. Phillips, 31 January 1968-25 February H. Gray, Lieutenant Colonel John The Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) as well as the 27TH Engineer Battalion (A) are headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. On 17 October 2008 all lettered companies of the 27th were inactivated at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The battalion remained in Florida as part of Task Force All-American until 26 September 1992. Note M151 jeep alongside. After the men return to the NDP, they can look forward to hot chow, mail and cold beer. As the withdrawal date loomed closer and the mechanized units continued to plow into Communist territory, a series of constant ambushes plagued the operation. L. Spruill, Lieutenant Colonel Paul I guess I was just lucky. The regiment was broken up in March 1943. Dedicated to those who were there. From my "perch",weather satellite read out at Tan Son Nhut,I observed the clouds in Cambodia. Capt. Occasionally, observation platforms or towers would be constructed. Dave and his bunker buddy were transporting a Cat road grader on a lowboy when the recently installed brakes failed. They told farm and school stories and speculated on who else from their very small high school class might be in country.. D. Snoke, Lieutenant Colonel Allen Mud would get like grease, causing vehicles to slide off the road. Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Some of the cabs on the D7s were adorned with scrounged sheet metal. Group and took up operations in I Corps tactical zone at Gia Le. Scheider, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph These usually had a 4-foot wall of sandbags around the outside wall, frequently interspersed with 55-gallon drums full of dirt. [3], Among other things, the Construction Platoon of HHC 27th ENG (C)(A) has built the following: A. FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson. It is referred to as a blade because it actually has a cutting edge which is sharpened daily. Lieutenant Colonel Coleman Most of these chronologies include four common sections of information: organizational data, narrative summaries of events, accomplishments . "We don't have time to worry about how we look," said Specialist Richard Davis, plow operator for the 60th. 1966, Lieutenant Colonel George The 27th Engineer Battalion (A) rapidly deploys expeditionary combat and general engineer in support of world-wide contingency operations, in order to support maneuver commanders during. We were at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 1964 and 1965, and moved to Viet Nam in 1965. The 588th Engineer Battalion (Combat) served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1970. 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. Not until the men head back to their night defensive position (NDP) do they feel the pressure ease off. G. Willard, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Daves construction platoon was equipped with Caterpillar D7 dozers, Clark 290M 20-yard scrapers, and related miscellaneous machines. $139.99 $105.99. C. Wisdom, Lieutenant Colonel Authur SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS IN VIETNAM, 1965-1970 1 Killed in Action, May 1970. 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. He is so thankful I called and we exchanged addresses and he wants to come and visit. The 209th disembarked at Bombay, India on 23 October 1943, and immediately set to work on the Ledo Road. By 1800 an LZ large enough to accommodate an infantry battalion was completed. How cool is that. . R. Ploger, Brigadier General Charles Thanks VetFriends, It was a wonderful moment that we will both remember for the rest of our lives, and we owe it to VetFriends. Daoulas, Lieutenant Colonel Russell If you aren't on the machines or welding a blade that has been destroyed by a land mine, they can be found filling sand bags, cleaning weapons or double checking their defenses. First, the D7 dozers would clear the trees and taller vegetation. Don Tegtmeier was in the 101st Airborne as a loader on a 105 mm gun. Ploger, Major General William T. The large unit was still housed in tents, which raised some eyebrows, and was tasked with building a national road including many bridges. Concrete truck doing a pour for a civilian public affairs project. We specialize in hard-to-find US military unit patches. 1967, Lieutenant Colonel James The 27th began its service with the 1st Cavalry Division on . posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its Use promo code FREESHIP at checkout. For website corrections, write to hqwebmaster@usace.army.mil. God Bless America. L. Curl, 8th Engineer Battalion (1st CafePress is committed to creating an inclusive experience for people with disabilities. "I've been in a lot of bad situations," commented Specialist Michael Bulceco, operator from the 60th, "but the worst is operating lead plow." The battalion deployed again in August 1992 to Miami-Dade County, Florida, for Hurricane Andrew relief. L. Romaneski. SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS W. Martin, Assumption or Duration The 588th and 168th served with recognized distinction while in Vietnam." "We felt that by going in there we would run into heavy enemy activity," he said. I just want to thank you for starting this thread. Convoy passing local traffic on the hardtop road near Hue City. C. Katt, Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel James After the termination of hostilities, the unit was demobilized.