As a part of the general restructuring of engineer aviation units, the Army redesignated the unit as the 864th Engineer Battalion in May 1956. During this period, the 864th was responsible for construction of 290 miles of petroleum pipeline, the repair and maintenance of main supply routes, enemy prisoner of war camp construction, and provided emergency services restoration to Kuwait City. Consolidation III, airstrip of aluminum matting, identified in military parlance as AM2, the 35th estate officers, acquiring land continued to be an annoying problem for the engineers had or could collect went into the most essential projects. given to the 2d Marine (Dragon) HQ initially at Phan Rang, moving to Long Binh Oct 1966. While there, he left behind a photograph of David Marine, a friend and fellow soldier killed in Vietnam. officers. major logistical bases and supply depots in the Republic of Vietnam. The tower is symbolic of construction and reflects the professionalism, esprit and basic mission of the organization. According to former SSGT Tom Gill, LZ Betty April 70 to March of 71, after most of the American units had left the LZ the ARVN`s changed the name to LZ Bonson. and the cargo were transferred to the USNS Barrett. The battalion returned to the Contiguous United States in August 1971, after earning thirteen campaign streamers, the Vietnamese Civic Action Honor Medal, First Class, and two Meritorious Unit Commendations. breakdowns almost daily. U.S. Army Brig. When plans were finished, Colonel Haskins flew back to Saigon to complete the landing, acquisition of land, and organization of an indigenous labor force used it as a rest area. We print the highest quality 864th engineer battalion posters and art prints on the internet Office of History, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USACE LNO trip slides Vietnam 12.167: . combat support areas for the Army. Ultimately, deep wells were sunk on the peninsula and became the primary source The terrain analysts promptly became embroiled in real estate oceangoing vessels. The battalion is a subordinate unit of 555th Engineer Brigade. the 178th Engineer Company (Maintenance), and the 53d Engineer Company (Supply The battalion is a subordinate unit of 555th Engineer Brigade. Co 110 Lark Platoon14th Combat Engineers who replaced - B-Co87th EngineersUnits in support of the 7th Cav,1st Cav. on Cam Ranh peninsula, Colonel Hart had machine gun positions established and Shows area marked I served in the 39th, Company D, 1st Platoon. The battalion is a subordinate unit of 555th Engineer Brigade. 1970. and logistical complex. Saigon. the command decided to expand port and airfield capacities at Saigon, Qui Nhon, with all manner of nonengineer functions. Tet Offensive February 1968-- Michael Porter, 17:59:43 01/17/13 Thu I was in 84th Engineers A Company worked at third shop April 1967 - April 1968. In August, Alpha Company deployed to New York City to build a state-of-the-art classroom facility for the New York City Police Department. LZ Betty began taking incoming. The unit also earned the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Covers of canvas or sheet soldiers were to build one of the sessions for the Vietnamese operators hired by Raymond, Morrison-Knudsen to Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1970; Company A additionally entitled to: Presidential Unit Citation . the 53d Engineer Company, and the 22d Finance Detachment. Most of the Battalion's effort was directed toward construction in the A Shau Valley and construction of facilities and roadways to support the Vietnamese incursion into Laos. welcomed the blowing sand as a relief from the searing sunlight reflected off He said we were like brothers and then all of a sudden, we lost all contact. Money. [1] The Battalion served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, earning three campaign streamers for New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and Luzon. contact me at: masterbryan@hotmail.com. The 864th redeployed to Fort Lewis on 27 March 2006 and then deployed yet again ten months later in February 2007 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VI, VII, and VIII. Batt. but such an operation, it was feared, would aggravate the enemy and invite serious The 864th Engineer Battalion is a combat engineer battalion of the United States Army based at Fort Lewis, Washington. Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968; Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991; winds carried sand into kitchens, foodstuffs, and clothing. The battalion redeployed in October 2013. The first picture is an aerial shot from around April or May 1966 showing the southern . An Engineer Combat Battalion (ECB) was a designation for a battalion-strength combat engineer unit in the U.S. Army, most prevalent during World War II.They are a component of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.. Also known as "Combat Engineer Battalions", they were typically divided into four companies: A, B, C, and Headquarters and Service (H&S). resources. 14th Engr C Bn Oct 1966 Aug 1971 39th Engr C Bn Jan 1966 Apr 1972 84th Engr Bn (Con) Jun 1965 Jul 1972 937th Engineer Group Aug 1965 Sep 1971. The projects of immediate for the relocation of approximately 5,000 Vietnamese in a model village to be Not to be outdone, HSC deployed to Alaska for an Alaskan Roads improvement program that lasted from June 2002 through September 2002. In May 1965, the battalion was shipped to Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam. 1/21st.97th Trans. 86th Engr C Bn Oct 1966 Aug 1969 168th Engr C Bn Nov 1965 Apr 1970 554th Engr Bn (Con) Apr 1967 Mar 1972 588th Engr C Bn Nov 1965 Nov 1970 159th Engineer Group Oct 1865 Apr 1972. concern on the peninsula were the building of an airfield, assigned to Raymond, pushing it through the radiator at tremendous speeds. For its outstanding efforts, the battalion was awarded the distinctive designation "Pacemakers" by the United States Secretary of the Army in September 1968. In May 1965, the battalion was shipped to Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam. After some additional in Saigon ready to perform its customary mission of evaluating land forms, topography, In addition, the Army. Engineer Group the urgent projects of developing Qui Nhon and Cam Ranh Bay into on 22 April and was working with the government of the Republic of Vietnam and 241st FA Radar Detachment 8th Bn (TGT.ACO)26th Arty. The unit was deactivated in Japan on 30 June 1946. I started taking these pictures on October 6, 1967. With the arrival in June of the 35th throughout that zone. Other Links. Copyrighted2005 In the other three zones the Army was to arrange for reception Personal tools. 84th Engineer Battalion Construction-- S.D.Lubahn, 15:43:59 12/28 . And below in 1969. Army vet served with engineer battalion during Vietnam War. bring on exhaustion. chaplain, and medical services; operate a military police detachment; procure The battalion redeployed on 20 February 2004 to Fort Lewis, Washington. During this period, the 864th was responsible for construction of 290 miles of petroleum pipeline, the repair and maintenance of main supply routes, enemy prisoner of war camp construction, and provided emergency services restoration to Kuwait City. They learned that the group was to operate under the command of Colonel Robert not unusual for Philippine mahogany plywood, normally reserved for more sophisticated Counteroffensive Phase IV, prohibited. According to former SSGT Tom to meet an imposed deadline. I was assigned to B-Company and D-Company First Batallion Mechanized 50th Infantry. View Army News Articles, These reports were prepared by the units and submitted to battalion hearquarters. Bryan Lagimoniere/Frenchy, The first tank to crash through the main gate of the Presidential Palace at the By the same token the contractor lent assistance The 864th Aviation Battalion was activated in December 1942 at Camp Geiger, Washington near Spokane. incursions into enemy areas. section of the country, known as I Corps Tactical Zone. i was in Vietnam and with the 35th Engr. Still As the helicopters descend into the landing zone (LZ), enemy fire erupts from the tree line. In mid-2001 the battalion began to work closely with the President's counter-drug agency, JTF-6. If anyone knows the time or place, leave a comment! A major priority was assigned HQ located at Phan Rang until Apr 1966, when it moved to Cam Ranh Bay; it was at Qui Nhon JulDec 1968 and then returned to Cam Ranh Bay. 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: Such a system for ). As the shortage of lumber continued, all wood the In January 1991, the battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia for eight months in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The delay at Midway provided the men an opportunity for recreation attack, thus increasing the already demanding security requirements of the engineers. set before the intense heat of the day removed the hydration water. prohibited. These include the official unit command chronologies, after-action reports, message and journal files, various staff studies, oral histories, personal papers, and reference collections. Sand was everywhere and persisted U.S. Marines in Vietnam, The Defining Year, 1968 like the preceding volumes in this series is largely based upon the holdings of the Marine Corps Historical Center. Thanks to John for these amazing photos, and to Rick Anderschat for the write-up. 222: Operation CEDAR FALLS 826 January 1967 . for other locations in South Vietnam. to support engineer operations. View Diary Pages, This page lists some of the names of the guys I was in Vietnam with. All photos are the property of this website use without written permission is strictly The first night the engineers stayed April 18, 2014. In June 1996, the Alpha Animals with a contingency from HSC (Concrete & Asphalt Equipment Operators 62H, General Construction Equipment Operators 62J and Medics 98W) deployed to Haiti (Operation Fairwinds) for a 6-month rotation to construct schools, renovate a hospital for the locals & improve living/working facilities for U.S. Service Members. I started taking these pictures on October 6, 1967. From time to time the group also allocated I was an aircraft maintenance officer in the 142nd Transportation Company. U.S. delay occasioned by the loading operation, the Barrett sailed for Vietnam 4th Engineer Battalion 4th Infantry Division, Vietnam. Between August 1944 and March 1945, the 168th Engineers fought in . were to work at Cam Ranh and Qui Nhon. looking south. built at Ba Ngoi across Cam Ranh Bay from the peninsula. In January 1991, the battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia for eight months in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. [Above information received in February of 2004.] Engineer units came to use airfield, north of Saigon, South Vietnam. Both types, red to brown in color, were in support of 2/7 Cav.606th are from Larry Morris of the 864th Eng. In reality, it is a collection of ideas, images, and information that enough people have chosen to preserve and disseminate. that section. My MOS was 11B20. Leave a comment if you recognize anyone. The 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) returned to Fort Lewis, Washington on 26 March 2006 and swiftly began preparing for Operation Enduring Freedom 2006-2008. also had the mission assigned by the Commanding Officer, 1st Logistical Command, It would have been expedient to set up a sawmill there, All photos are the property of this website use without written permission is strictly Initially responsible for port transportation and support facilities construction at Cam Ranh Bay, the battalion was also assigned missions of base camp construction and line of communication construction and maintenance. I served in the US Army as a combat engineer in Vietnam from March 1967 to February 1968. 50th of the party arrived in Saigon on 3 May and coordinated with the newly activated Meanwhile, Bravo and HSC were busy taking part in constructions missions that were vital to the Army's new Medium Brigade Transformation Project being conducted at Fort Lewis. co., 272 Mp. construction, to serve as form lumber in pouring concrete. After the base camp had been established, Just seventeen days after they were alerted, on 27 April 1965, the 35th Group headquarters and the 864th Battalion dispatched an advance party to the Republic of Vietnam. later. Men of the 15th Engineer Battalion Use an Airboat in the Delta . The matter of how best to apply the slim resources of Be Unique. This 96 likes. Company. 2,951,373, MILITARY UNITS - Co. B, 864th Engineers Nhatrang, Vietnam. D of the 84th Engineer Battalion, It was not unusual for an I have not seen much information on the Internet concerning my unit and its activities in Vietnam. Necessarily, more is lost to time than is remembered. The engineers resorted Consolidation II, provided little escape from the direct rays of the sun. I arrived at LZ Betty in early March 1970. Because of the absence of a local When a terrain analysis detachment of five officers and five enlisted men arrived Div. operations connected with airfield construction, the 35th Group provided training In 1987, the battalion was reorganized with a Headquarters and Support Company and three line companies, which included Charlie Company which was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco. on the peninsula, and one narrow pier, recently built by contract for the US Commanders encouraged their men the 864th reopened the quarry and soon began producing crushed granite for road In March 2003, the 864th Engineer Battalion deployed to Kuwait in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom. We were unable to locate a casualty listing for the 864th Aviation Engineer Battalion. to present by Bryan Lagimoniere. full advantage of the cooler night air. I left inNovember of the same year. of Saigon close to the international airport at Tan Son Nhut. Picture provided by Larry Morris 864th eng. 241st FA Radar Detachment 8th Bn (TGT.ACO)26th Arty. The seriousness of the difficulties as early as 1965 is reflected were alerted, on 27 April 1965, the 35th Group headquarters and the 864th Battalion Thus Colonel Hart and his staff found themselves NEW LZ BETTY GUEST BOOK IS UP AND RUNNING. As more engineer battalions were assigned to Vietnam, the unit was assigned missions of base camp construction and line of communication construction and maintenance. AHB & D/227th AHB 1st Cav. August 1999 - February 2000, Consolidation I, There were too few South Vietnamese military forces nearby to encourage any The supply point company remained at Cam Ranh but later passed from var tf=document.forms.TellAFriend; the reflection from the white sands, soldiers were issued sun helmets and allowed This Jim B. to present by Bryan Lagimoniere. The time of arrival was set as 30 May; This included erecting 2 k-span buildings for a helicopter hanger & barracks, quarrying operations & replacing closed culverts with open fjord-type culverts. In March Bravo, Company was also busy planning for and then executing a training facility for JTF-6 in San Diego, California. at the village as early as July 1965 and soon provided much needed support for and appeared unable to meet the prescribed operational date for the initial the control of the 35th Group to that of the Cam Ranh Bay Logistics Area. 155Th, Trans 27th Engr C Bn Oct 19666 Jan 1972 35th Engr C Bn Nov 1966 Sep 1970 36th Engr Bn (Con) Sep 1967 Apr 1972 69th Engr Bn (Con) May 1967 Nov 1971 93rd Engr Bn (Con) Jun 1967 Jul 1971 79th Engineer Group Jul 1966 Dec 1970. HQ at Qui Nhon, moving to Pleiku Nov 1966 and Phu Tai 10 Mar 1970. This unprogrammed stop for the engineers permitted the leader of the advance Laboring in daytime heat of 120 degrees, intensified by View Roll Call Page, This page has comments that people have sent me over the years. 70th Engr C Bn Aug 1965 Nov 1969 87th Engr Bn (Con) Aug 1965 Mar 1969 116th Engr C Bn Sep 1968 Aug 1969 577th Engr Bn (Con) Jul 1966 Jan 1972 589th Engr Bn (Con) Apr 1967 Nov 1971 864th Engr Bn (Con) Jun 1965 Aug 1971 45th Engineer Group Jun 1966 Jan 1972. The first requirement was to get the equipment to This site is dedicated to all who served at LZ Betty from the early 1960's to the early 1970's. We came and left at different times . HQ at Dong Ba Thin, moving to Tuy Hoa 15 Oct 1966, Qui Nhon Dec 1966 and Phu Bai in Feb 1968. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents pro Lieutenant Colonel James W. Ray. The 36th was inactivated in Vietnam 30 April 1972 and remains . via the Philippines. 230: . relieve port congestion had begun. The Conflict That Was A War Edited by Jim B. regions, occurred extensively in Vietnam both as a hard massive crust and in address. My Unit: 18th Brigade, 45th Group, 39th Engineers, Company D. The 2022 reunion starts on November 9, 2022. The 864th was reactivated at Wolters Air Force Base, Texas on 25 September 1955. These documents cover unit activities during a specific time period. Check out this photo set from Colonel (retired) John Thomson! Traveling short distances by foot through deep sand could E-mail: sweetpea@rfic.net. and held by the government of Vietnam, which lacked the financial resources Some of the names I remember and some came from my diary. As one commander explained, "Rock was the word over there. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. 183rd RAC,- 247th Med Ha Dust off, 198th Med Det Attached to 192nd AHC.- laterite extensively as a subgrade material for constructing roads and airfields. 1 talking about this. were a heavy burden until 12 July when a battalion of the 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry the alluvial or river-deposited silt. at the time contemplated putting the American marines in the northernmost political-military Group headquarters and headquarters company left Fort Polk, Louisiana, on 12 I served in Vietnam from March 1970, until March 1971. . 18th Engineers 35th Group 864th Engineer Battalion patch and unit crest. The 864th Engineer Battalion deployed again on 28 March 2005 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom IV, V, and VI to Afghanistan. My Name: Richard B Mayes had begun. It is 1968, and the war is at its peak. for permanent structures and to build roads. Joseph J. Webster, with the 864th Engineer Battalion, assigned to 131007-A-WQ129-012.jpg 3,213 2,732; 2.7 MB. All photos are the property of this website use without written permission is strictly multiplied the already intense heat, making even the shade offered by the dark 86th Engineer Battalion (Combat Engineers) The Viking Sapper says . Enter subhead content here Enter content here . [222] SENIOR ENGINEER COMMANDERS IN VIETNAM, 1965-1970-Continued. The 864th Engineer Battalion is a combat engineer battalion of the United States Army based at Joint Base LewisMcChord, Washington. of fresh water for the giant port complex. In March 2010 the 864th Engineer Battalion deployed to Afghanistan, and also sent one subordinate company to Iraq,in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn, returning in 2011. find relief, and here they relaxed in off-duty time. preparations for landing and deploying troops when they reached Vietnam. hot, confined air, the sand moved uninhibited through the modest engineer homes. In some places it dictate for the dry season. Meanwhile, HSC and elements of Bravo Company deployed to Hanford, Washington, with one day notice, to combat fires in that area. Once the invoice is paid the scanned copies are sent right to your email address. The mine was exploded in place using TNT explosives. For its outstanding efforts, the battalion was awarded the distinctive designation Pacemakers by the United States Secretary of the Army in September 1968. My recall is that the 84th Engineer Bn was located at Phan Rang at that time, looking for patches from 809th and 815th engr btl. May 1965, and along with the 84th Battalion, the 864th Battalion, the 513th were the group headquarters company and the 864th Battalion, as well as the Korea and even in World War II. by seasonal runoff from the monsoon rains. This site is dedicated to all who served at LZ Betty from the early 1960's to the early 1970's. 1968: 1967: 1966: The following pictures are from Larry Morris of the 864th Eng. The remainder of the History is not a fixed set of facts. Div:A/227th Slicks, 1D/227th Guns, 228th Chinooks, This page lists all the photos from past reunions, I kept a diary while in Vietnam. " Just outside their perimeter the to LZ Betty in January of 2005. 2nd/7thCav 1st Air Cav Div.- 3/506th Currahee`s 101st Abn Div272nd MP Co support of 3/506th.- 630MP Company363rd Aviation 1/21st.97th Trans. We request the Vietnam morning reports that you need, in person at the archives. I had a friend who was killed February 11, 1968 at the rock quarry. The lieutenant and the advance parties concluded arrangements for security for The party that disembarked on Check out this photo set from Colonel (retired) John Thomson! We took one lane roads from the French era and made panoramic highways all through the south, We built culverts for water flow and many bridges still being used today. Explore 864th Engineer Battalion's 20,660 photos on Flickr! When we have the Vietnam morning reports copied and scanned we will send an invoice to your email address. tenant had arrived at Cam Ranh Bay that was mostly shrubs. Winter-Spring 1970, The peninsula was bleak and barren, but from this The 864th Engineer Battalion deployed again on 28 March 2005 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom IV, V,and VI to Afghanistan. 568th Medical Company.- MACV.- 254th Med (HA).- 36th Sig Bn D-Co 1st Sig Bde.- 136th to wear T-shirts at their work. It's been nearly 40 years since we parted. Do you have CO. B, 864TH ENGINEERS NHATRANG, VIETNAM Reunion information you'd like to share, "When I Joined VetFriends, I read about the email locator service, and sent an email to my old friend. Lumber was another critical material. The engineers conducted an extensive reconnaissance to. The Battalion supported V Corps in the attack to liberate Iraq and during post-hostilities conducted extensive airfield construction and general engineering in support of CJTF-7 Operations. Defense, reformed into a construction battalion. In October the responsibility for providing security until the drivers could be taught how to operate properly in sand. More information is available in the February 2022 Newsletter. Abn Div.- 834th Air Division-Tactical Airlift S.E. Across the bay were forests that could have supplied Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968; Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991; 1966. $620,000 to get the land at DA Nang. Counteroffensive Phase III, The main body of the 35th Engineer plan was worked out and coordinated locally with the commander of the Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to my email. As a first step it was necessary to stop everyone from driving Vietnam to support construction, the Cam Ranh peninsula had little flora and Shop 864th engineer battalion posters and art prints created by independent artists from around the globe.