27th In Regt L (B-W) T-Shirt. A. Stumm, Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. Lieutenant Colonel James After threats were made, Dave ended all future rat eradication by gunfire inside of inhabited bunkers. E. Bunch, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Division), Lieutenant Colonel Carroll H. Gray, Lieutenant Colonel John On 20 September 1921, the unit was organized and activated as an ordnance company at Fort Bliss, Texas. The 36th was inactivated in Vietnam 30 April 1972 and remains inactive.. "We felt that by going in there we would run into heavy enemy activity," he said. Lieutenant Colonel Pendleton J. Fiala, Lieutenant Colonel William Dillard 1, Brigadier General Robert Mud would get like grease, causing vehicles to slide off the road. Lieutenant Colonel Donald On 27 March 1991, the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Airborne) returned to its home at Fort Bragg, NC. The regiment was broken up in March 1943. G. Ton, Lieutenant Colonel George Scheider, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Following 2 years of carrying out combat engineering tasks . In January 2017, an initial complement of more than 700 unedited slides were made available on theUSACE Digital Libraryhosted by the Corps HECSA Library. 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. Daoulas, Lieutenant Colonel Russell C. Donovan, Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Lieutenant Colonel Robert 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. The history of the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Airborne) began on 16 January 1918 at Fort Myer, VA, as the 2d Battalion, 37th Engineer Regiment. 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. Dave visited the Engineer Museum at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, during the 2017 Route 66 MVPA Convoy and was surprised to find an exact duplicate of his baby, a Vietnam-era D7E with cage and plow. Engineers . Allis Chalmers 645M scoop loaders assisted in emplacement of drainage features, culvert pipes, and in digging in bunkers and defensive positions. C. Katt, Lieutenant Colonel Charles [1] The 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division comprising: On October 4, BLT 2/26 was just south of the DMZ and six miles north of a place called "The Rockpile" which was on Route 9. They lost two men before pulling back. It is referred to as a blade because it actually has a cutting edge which is sharpened daily. Along with a radio-man, we went to check out the bunker. Janairo, Lieutenant Colonel Paul They then used these materials to brief their leadership in country and the Office of the Chief of Engineers and other Washington-based officials. 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. An incident almost beyond belief occurred one evening. Some have time for writing letters, while others sit and stare blindly into the jungle wondering what Charlie has in mind. R. Heiberg, Lieutenant Colonel John (P) Selected for promotion before assuming command. R. McDonald, Lieutenant Colonel Richard posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its R. Hukkala, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas From my "perch",weather satellite read out at Tan Son Nhut,I observed the clouds in Cambodia. 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C. Ogilvie, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Change View. Thank you SAM for posting this, thanks to all who served our country. The equipment was salvaged. Your article piqued my interest, so to jog my memory, I went back and looked up the maps the 2 areas, and I found that Loc Ninh was in the Fish Hook not the Parrots Beak, so I was hooked and not pecked. 4th Combat Engineer Battalion 4th Dental Battalion 4th Engineer Battalion 4th Force Reconnaissance Company 4th Force Service Regiment . 27th Engineer Battalion Ladies Embroidered Moisture Wick Polo Shirt. This move known as Operation Blue Light was the longest and largest military airlift to a combat zone in history to date. As the operations moved forward, the engineers built laager-type areas to be used as mini-bases for logistic, staging, and maintenance. But after several hours of relaxation, it's back to work. The battalion deployed with the 20th Engineer Brigade from 22 September through 5 November 1994. F. Brandes, Lieutenant Colonel James Convoys of M35 and M54 cargo trucks, M131 fuel tankers and M127 semi-trailers were constantly on the road hauling everything from rations and spare parts to barb wire, ammo, and explosives. All Departments. You can now save a custom design or favorite a product. Lieutenant Colonel Richard L. Harris, 16 December 1965-13 July 1966 Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Gilmore, 14 July 1966-5 July 1967 Y. Epling, Lieutenant Colonel Richard There was doubt all the areas could be searched before President Nixon's June 30 deadline for the withdrawal of American troops in Cambodia. After he completed basic training at Fort Knox and was granted the welder MOS with no further training. H. Phillips, 31 January 1968-25 February Bradley, Major General John A. In November 2001, the battalion deployed to Kosovo in support of Operations Joint Guardian. Compare. L. Anderson, Jr. 27TH ENGINEER BATALLION IN PHU BAI VIETNAM Air Force Units Army Units Coast Guard Units Marine Corps Units Navy Units Become a VetFriends Member Site Map Search Veterans & Personnel Photos, Humor, Stories & More Military Records & Resources Reunions, Parades, & Events Online Catalog About VetFriends My Profile MetLife Veteran Insurance Discounts Rank, 14 August 1966-20 September Infantry Division. Reunion Details The battalion's 50 year reunion will be held at the Elks Lodge at 640 E. Elva St. in Idaho Falls. Wood, Jr. Lieutenant Colonel James A very few images depict scenery and local citizens. 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 a second he just stared at us, he raised his rifle. BATTALION 27TH INFANTRY. Lieutenant Colonel Newman 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. $29.99 $24.99. u.s. army special troops battalion, 1st bct, 3rd infantry division unit crest (dui) . F. Meador, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph P. Conover, Lieutenant Colonel Myron N. Schriever, Assumption or Duration A. "I've been in a lot of bad situations," commented Specialist Michael Bulceco, operator from the 60th, "but the worst is operating lead plow." Cutting began June 4. The insignia was redesignated for the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) on 15 July 1955. Sheridan, Illinois (late 1952). The most recent deployment was in response to Operation Uphold Democracy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Even the snakes would try to find some high ground. Categories. "Our job was to make the cache sites accessible by improving or widening any trails or roads we found," Lt. Parker said, but in several cases when the infantry couldn't go in, the plows would. exemption for fair use of copyrighted works. In January 2003, Company C deployed to Afghanistan and became the first counter-mine company in the entire US Army since the Vietnam War. Posted on 11/18/2002 5:37:27 AM PST by SAMWolf. After a lengthy exchange of fire, one of the VC stood up and ran to the rear. Typically, bunkers were completely underground. It was a wonderful moment that we will both remember for the rest of our lives, and we owe it to VetFriends. Although the overall story is accurate, the author cannot guarantee that every statement or photo caption is fully correct. Also found were water purification and malaria tablets, vitamins, two printing presses, 44 bicycles and 200 pounds of documents. Like most Vietnam veterans, Dave had arrived in Vietnam by himself as a replacement into his Company. All rights reserved. Years later I attended a 299th Reunion in Niagara Falls, New York in June . All of the maintenance on the 591st Engineers equipment was done under field conditions, that is, in the dust, mud, and high humidity. 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. Compare. A challenge for all drivers, many heavily traveled roads by heavy trucks were entirely too narrow by many of todays standards! Not everyone was able to exit the crashed bird. Again S-3 requested the plows and we went in and secured the area." Bright Star 82 included deployment of factions of the 82D Airborne Division to the Sinia Desert in Egypt. "In July 1966, our 588th Combat Engineer Battalion was placed under command control of the 25th Infantry Division. Since the time when he was a kid, Dave was a phenomenal shot. L. McNeill, Lieutenant Colonel Elbert Lieutenant Colonel Richard The unit entered World War I on 10 July 1918, with its participation in the Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. Enlarge This series primarily consists of command chronologies of U.S. Marine Corps units that served during the time of the Vietnam Conflict, and includes the records of those units that served in Vietnam as well as domestically and throughout the world. Plows have names like "The Living End" or "Hey Jude" and "The Iron Coffin." I served in the US Army as a combat engineer in Vietnam from March 1967 to February 1968. 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.". Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to my email. In August 1965, the Battalion arrived at the port of Qui Nhon to become the first US combat engineer battalion in Vietnam.The 70th Engineers' mission upon arrival was to prepare for Operation Highland, the deployment of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) to positions around An Khe. They found a bunker complex but couldn't get in because of heavy enemy contact, so the Rome plows were requested. Convoy passing local traffic on the hardtop road near Hue City. I was unaware of this grouop. These provided some protection for the operator and critical components from hostile fire. Brigadier General Curtis SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS IN VIETNAM, 1965-1970 1 Killed in Action, May 1970. Comments: I am the daughter of ROY B KIEFER, Army Veteran of Korean War, from Chicago, IL. Gray, Jr. R. Fulton, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Read, 7 October 1966-29 September 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 army recognized that ability and sent him to sniper school. Not all helicopter crashes were shot-downs. M51 series dump trucks hauled aggregate and dirt. G. Delbridge. A mock shoot-house for urban actions training. But after several hours of relaxation, it's back to work. With roots that can be traced back to WWII, the 591st Engineer Company (Light Equipment) was inactivated in Vietnam on 1 January 1972 (the Company was reactivated 16 September, 2007 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky). On 23 August 1990, the battalion was again called upon, this time to Saudi Arabia, to support Operation Desert Shield. The diagonal cant and the guide bar cause the trees and brush that are cut to fall off to the right of the dozer. 1969, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert The 20TH Engineer Brigade currently consists of four engineer battalions headquartered throughout the eastern United States. Commanders of the 20th Engineers in Vietnam. Thus, what is have written here was dredged up from small fragments of memory of past conversations. 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. I really hope some other people can find this service and get in touch with people like I did. Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. 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. C. Kelley, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm The unit entered World War I on the 10 July 1918, which its participation in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. 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. Division), Lieutenant Colonel William The 588th and 168th served with recognized distinction while in Vietnam." The welds held when the previous ones didnt. St. Patrick's Day Sale! 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. J. Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch of Service: Army Unit of Service: Headquarters Company, 27th Combat Engineer Battalion Location of Service: Fort Ord, California; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Long Binh, Vietnam Highest Rank: E-5 Dates of Service: 1965-1968 Entrance into Service: Enlisted Military Status: Veteran Materials (P) Selected for promotion before assuming command. D. Patterson, 15 February 1967-16 October A. Seelye, 17 January 1966-5 September 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. These liaison officers wrote reports, took photographs, and captioned the images. 1966, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Malley, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Lieutenant Colonel Harlan Lieutenant Colonel Homer L. Kelly, 17 January 4966-23 December The 2022 reunion starts on November 9, 2022. F. Fraser, 20 September 1967-28 February 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. While attached to the 5307th Composite Unit "Merrill's Marauders", it participated in the surprise attack to seize a critical Myitkyina airfield. Johnstone, Jr. 15th Engineer Battalion (9th He said we were like brothers and then all of a sudden, we lost all contact. "Sometimes we work 18 to 20 hours a day.". 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. K. O'Connell, Lieutenant Colonel James If you need assistance, please call 1-833-393-0784. They told farm and school stories and speculated on who else from their very small high school class might be in country.. R. Redman, Lieutenant Colonel Philip "On May 16, B Company, 199th Light Infantry Brigade was pinned down south of Fire Support Base (FSB) Myron. While not professional shots, they provide a unique look into the daily activities of combat engineers. We wonder about the rest that served with us in the artillery unit we served in. When a bunker was left completely above ground, the engineers would completely surround it (including the roof) with multiple layers of sandbags.