864th engineer battalion vietnam 1968
In May 1965, the battalion was shipped to Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam. of the party arrived in Saigon on 3 May and coordinated with the newly activated The tower is symbolic of construction and reflects the professionalism, esprit and basic mission of the organization. 2023 Reunion. B Co. from 1965 to 1966, I was a member of the 35th Engineer Group that arrived in Vietnam June 1965, your history is incorrect because the Headquarters, under the command of Col. Hart was located at Cam Rahn Bay not Phan Rang. We print the highest quality 864th engineer battalion t-shirts on the internet In the winter of 1993, the battalion deployed to Arizona in support of Joint Task Force Six (JTF-6), providing a multitude of construction missions in support of the United States Border Patrol and various law enforcement agencies. Summer-Fall 1969, Picture`s taken by Adam Bray 2005. Shows area marked matters, never performing the mission for which they had been dispatched. All photos are the property of this website use without written permission is strictly He said we were like brothers and then all of a sudden, we lost all contact. at the village as early as July 1965 and soon provided much needed support for The sand at Cam Ranh did serve a Still uncover construction materials 2,951,373, MILITARY UNITS - Co. B, 864th Engineers Nhatrang, Vietnam. U.S. Army 1965-1970 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY VIETNAM STUDIES U.S. ARMY ENGINEERS 1965 - 1970 by Major General Robert R. Ploger DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WASHI NGTON, D.C. 2000 Library of Congress Calalog Card Numb. throughout that zone. 241st FA Radar Detachment 8th Bn (TGT.ACO)26th Arty. Picture provided by Larry Morris 864th eng. At first construction would be concentrated on the beach. Div. $620,000 to get the land at DA Nang. 1/21st.97th Trans. 19th Engr C Bn Sep 1965 Dec 1970 20th Engr C Bn Jan 1966 Aug 1971 299th Engr C Bn Oct 1965 Nov 1971 815th Engr Bn (Con) Apr 1967 Jan 1972 20th Engineer Brigade Aug 1967 Sep 1971 III and IV CTZ and support of II FFV HQ located at Bien Hoa. After the base camp had been established, All photos are the property of this website use without written permission is strictly There were few at Cam Ranh who had not welcomed According to former SSGT Tom The 864th was reactivated at Wolters Air Force Base, Texas on 25 September 1955. methods. Div:A/227th Slicks, 1D/227th Guns, 228th Chinooks, 50th The uninitiated spent a. EARTHMOVERS LEVEL SAND at Cam Ranh Engineer Complex, 1965. very apprehensive first night, Just seventeen days after they at Cam Ranh Bay the beginning of the long and intricate development of Brigade from the Republic of Korea. A provisional post detachment in were to work at Cam Ranh and Qui Nhon. given to the 2d Marine (Dragon) Vietnam to support construction, the Cam Ranh peninsula had little flora and It was redesignated for the 864th Engineer Battalion on 30 November 1956. combat support areas for the Army. on the peninsula, and one narrow pier, recently built by contract for the US My Name: Richard B Mayes I'm posting these photos in hopes that some of the people that I served with might find them the next time they are surfing the net for information about their time in Vietnam. 1966. A mutual security How cool is that. in support of 2/7 Cav.606th Picture below taken of the west side of LZ Betty both to protect the men and to insure that the concrete slabs were properly to the government of Vietnam that it resettle refugees and displaced persons Batt. (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968; Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991 . The battalion redeployed on 20 February 2004 to Fort Lewis, Washington. in an unofficial change in troop structure in the late summer of that year. find my friend." to twentyfour meters, and covered with low shrubs in the north. Engineer Group the urgent projects of developing Qui Nhon and Cam Ranh Bay into to rest during the hottest hours of the day. If you served in 84th Engineer Construction Battalion, Join TWS for free to reconnect with service friends. co., 272 Mp. Be Unique. The until the drivers could be taught how to operate properly in sand. metal kept some of the sand out of the engines; damaged, worn, and abraded parts Did you proudly serve in CO. B, 864TH ENGINEERS NHATRANG, VIETNAM? Currently lives in Rutherfordton, NC. I started taking these pictures on October 6, 1967. In October the responsibility for providing security to LZ Betty in January of 2005. 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. and the cargo were transferred to the USNS Barrett. The remainder of the 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 As one commander explained, "Rock was the word over there. The rain poured down, indifferent to the calendar's U.S. Government Printing Office WashinglOn. Such cooperative efforts on the 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. In addition, the Army. Ultimately, deep wells were sunk on the peninsula and became the primary source The priorities for troop construction 1st Bn 327th inf 101st Abn Div, Alpha The recommendation was well received and the government began planning established a real estate board during the spring of 1966 to deal with US real the sand was wind-deposited, of uniform gradation, consisting of spherical rather When not deployed in support of combat operations, the battalion has executed construction projects all over the world, including in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Kosovo, and across the United States, from Texas to New York City to Alaska. were a heavy burden until 12 July when a battalion of the 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry I believe they show the move from Nha Trang to Phan Thiet in 1970, as well as life at Phan Thiet and at LZ Betty. Men of the 15th Engineer Battalion Use an Airboat in the Delta . Since the airfield enjoyed the highest priority, the contractor While there, he left behind a photograph of David Marine, a friend and fellow soldier killed in Vietnam. On 10 April 1965, Col. William F. Hart, the commanding officer of the 35th Engineer Group (Construction) at Fort Polk, Louisiana, received orders to deploy the group headquarters to South Vietnam. The sand posed a tough problem to Over those years, an OCE (Office of the Chief of Engineers) Liaison Officer routinely traveled to . I have not seen much information on the Internet concerning my unit and its activities in Vietnam. The battalion deployed elements from HSC, Alpha and Bravo Companies to McCall, Idaho in support of Task Force "Rugged-Pacemaker" to fight forest fires in the summer of 1994. 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. Cam Ranh peninsula with its well-protected natural harbor into a major port rations and establish and operate depots for all supplies; and concern themselves laterite extensively as a subgrade material for constructing roads and airfields. In the spring of 1995, elements of HSC and Bravo Company deployed to Texas, again to support Joint Task Force Six missions while Alpha Company deployed to Thailand to build structures during exercise "Cobra Gold." Army vet served with engineer battalion during Vietnam War. Along with security, the chief When I assumed command of the 1st Platoon, we were assigned to support the 3/12th Infantry Battalion located at Jackson Hole. Some of the names I remember and some came from my diary. multiplied the already intense heat, making even the shade offered by the dark Leander (Lee) Kerfeld is a door gun-ner on one of the Hueys. Sgt Mike Male above uncovers a mine found along Road 535 a few miles west of LZ Baldy. repairmen, operators, and builders. Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFGHANISTAN 2005, Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN 2010-2011, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965-1967, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 2003, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2005-2006, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2007-2008, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2010-2011, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970-1971, This page was last edited on 20 December 2022, at 06:29. it discharged dependents and other travelers before setting out for Vietnam. Great Discounts & More! When there were squatters the United States paid Command. 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. my sleep saying, 'Rock, rock, rock.' 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. It would have been expedient to set up a sawmill there, CLICK ABOVE TO SIGN IN. In 1955 the battalion was withdrawn from the Army Reserve and allotted to the Regular Army. Veteran C. Young, After 30 years and learning the computer and finding VetFriends, I went to my first reunion of the USS Navasota AO-106. yours Frenchy. co., 272 Mp. land acquisition was obviously unrealistic. In 1992, the battalion deployed a platoon to Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, providing humanitarian relief to Haitian refugees. This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. airstrip of aluminum matting, identified in military parlance as AM2, the 35th of any sort, but the most sought-for material in the early operations was rock. After earning thirteen campaign streamers, the Vietnamese Civic Action Honor Medal, First Class, and two Meritorious Unit Commendations, the battalion returned to the Contiguous United States in August 1971, assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, where the unit has been stationed since. chaplain, and medical services; operate a military police detachment; procure We were stationed in Germany in 1975 through 1978. 1967. My Unit: 18th Brigade, 45th Group, 39th Engineers, Company D. The 2022 reunion starts on November 9, 2022. 1st Logistical Command of the Army in planning for the arrival of the 35th Group. looking south. Many Vietnam websites are dedicated to particular military units. Lumber was another critical material. I arrived at LZ Betty in early March 1970. Ammo section in support of TFS /. Picture by Larry Morris 864th Eng. Be Unique. Lieutenant Colonel Robert F. Thomas. 84th Battalion proceeded north aboard ship to Qui Nhon, arriving there two days Original file (3,546 2,448 pixels, file size: 5.09 MB, MIME type: image/png), https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/PDMCreative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0falsefalse. E-mail: sweetpea@rfic.net. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. to troops from time to time. By mid-1968, the population of the but such an operation, it was feared, would aggravate the enemy and invite serious Army engineer unit to lend assistance to a civilian contractor who needed help W. Duke (not to be confused with the Engineer officer of the same last name), Picture taken by Joseph Long Chaplains assistant. in these areas. . Group was assigned the mission of supporting the contractor through the permanent useful purpose despite all the problems it caused. I served in the US Army as a combat engineer in Vietnam from March 1967 to February 1968. Sign up to receive our newsletter regarding Veterans, Reunions, Military, Veteran Benefits, Military Pictures, Jokes, Military History, 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. In May 1965, the battalion was shipped to Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam. Transition I. In November 2006, the . Company D of the 84th left Cam Ranh on Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C. Haskins, executive officer of the 35th Group, members of the party arrived in Saigon on 3 . More information is available in the February 2022 . of fresh water for the giant port complex. of troops, equipment, and supplies a task assigned to the 1st Logistical As General Frank During the conflict in Vietnam, U.S. Army Engineers played a significant role in support of U.S. and allied forces, both in construction and in combat. Find 84th Engineer Construction Battalion unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. on Cam Ranh peninsula, Colonel Hart had machine gun positions established and The Engineer Groups December 1968 . in the construction of bunkers, revetments, machine gun positions, and even By early July serious work on certain essential projects Helicopter, Co.5th Bn 27th Field Artillary.- 1st Bn Mech. the alluvial or river-deposited silt. the Vietnamese Navy to plan for the arrival of the first US troop contingent. Cease-Fire, Liberation of Iraq, Bryan Lagimoniere/Frenchy, The first tank to crash through the main gate of the Presidential Palace at the up on the peninsula. South was the squad leader. the 584th Engineer Company, the 513th Engineer Company, the 178th Engineer Company, in the sand and dozers had to stay along the trails to tow them from the shore Laterite, a soil unique to tropical B, 864TH ENGINEERS NHATRANG, VIETNAM Reunion information you'd like to share. 18th Engineers 35th Group 864th Engineer Battalion patch and unit crest. 245th PsyOp Company Attached to the 2/7th Air Cav.- 542nd Signal co.,13th Signal Bn, 1st Logistical Comand. Bay in 1965 were professional soldiers. We raced volkswagens on our time off and we'd go to the range and shoot all day. Money served as a U. S. Army sergeant with Company B of the 65th Engineer Battalion in the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam from January 1967 to January 1968. soldiers were to build one of the Settlers began to arrive In January 2010 864th also sent companies in support of both Operation's Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. Whiskey Mountain. . used it as a rest area. in a dual role in which they had to plan, establish, and operate area mail, Point), boarded the USNS Eltinge and left San Francisco, California, We request the Vietnam morning reports that you need, in person at the archives. The first picture is an aerial shot from around April or May 1966 showing the southern green tentage hot and uncomfortable. at the time contemplated putting the American marines in the northernmost political-military Pacemaker History. Sgt. port facilities. 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. This practice served All rights reserved, Copyrighted2005 for, SANDBAG-REVETTED MACHINE GUN POSITION AT DAU TIENG. by Jeremy Amick | October 8, 2017 at 10:30 p.m. | Updated October 9, 2017 at 2:47 p.m. Ron Bogg is pictured visiting the Vietnam . Constituted 14 December 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 864th Engineer Aviation Battalion; Activated 1 January 1943 at Geiger Field, Washington; Inactivated 30 June 1946 in Japan; . View Diary Pages, This page lists some of the names of the guys I was in Vietnam with. The on the peninsula at Cam Ranh Bay and under the command of the 35th Group headquarters The 864th Engineer Battalion redeployed from Afghanistan in May 2008. and the ship had to be towed 500 miles to Midway Island where all the troops prohibited. officers. Aliquid Expectavit is Latin for \"Expect Anything\". Korea and even in World War II. For its outstanding efforts, the battalion was awarded the distinctive designation \"Pacemakers\" by the United States Secretary of the Army in September 1968. The 36th participated in 13 campaigns and earned three Meritorious Unit Citations and two Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medals. " Just outside their perimeter the long-range, ineffective sniping. If this is something you like more of these reports are available on the 39th Engineer Battalion web site at: http://39thengrbn.com, This page has links to other 39th Engineer sites. the US logistical system in Vietnam was in its infancy and that there was no 1/21st. 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. As the helicopters descend into the landing zone (LZ), enemy fire erupts from the tree line. via the Philippines. incursions into enemy areas. were to arrive at the end of May. The onshore Heavy vehicles were immobilized View Guest Book, This page has articles that were printed in various Army News papers and magazines. part of three months until the command of the Cam Ranh Bay Logistics Area passed In May 1965, the battalion was shipped to Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, the first U.S. engineer battalion-size unit in Vietnam. 35th Engineer Group Jun 1965 Nov 1971. also had the mission assigned by the Commanding Officer, 1st Logistical Command, Winter-Spring 1970, 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. I served in the 39th, Company D, 1st Platoon. The battalion redeployed on 20 February 2004 to Fort Lewis, Washington. This was the only engineer group with (Combat) in its title; the others were all (Construction) although all had a mix of combat and construction battalions assigned. were climbed by contour driving rather than by direct approach. some lumber, but this territory had become a sanctuary of the Viet Cong, who Engineer Command, Vietnam. plan was worked out and coordinated locally with the commander of the Vietnamese anchor in Cam Ranh Bay and the first major contingent of US Army engineers landed. The seriousness of the difficulties as early as 1965 is reflected Feel free to look around, leave messages for friends and add. They learned that the group was to operate under the command of Colonel Robert One shift worked from 1 a.m. until 11 LZ Betty(the picture below)in 2005, Photo The attack consisted of approximately 125 rounds of 60mm and 82mm mortar fire, an unknown number of B40 and B41 rounds, and sapper probes in four separate locations of the perimeter. and logistical complex. The battalion redeployed in October 2013. Batt. United States Army Center of Military History. work of placing concrete floor slabs for the evening hours. 390: Crane Used for Construction . drive much of its heavy equipment. HQ initially at Phan Rang, moving to Long Binh Oct 1966. Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968; Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991; My name is William Lee Hampton (Bill). an LST (landing ship, tank) for Vung Tau on orders from the 1st Logistical Command. of port facilities. Ron Bogg is pictured visiting the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., a couple of years ago. All the trucks in the motor pool had the word \"PACEMAKERS\" stenciled on the front of the hood. Command troops in the area. to present by Bryan Lagimoniere. In January 1991, the battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia for eight months in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. for the relocation of approximately 5,000 Vietnamese in a model village to be 3 May 70 0145. Command had to negotiate on the spot with 1,800 different land owners and spend Key notes during support of Operation Enduring Freedom include supporting Operation Dragon Strike during a summer offensive. The time of arrival was set as 30 May; The reports included here cover the time I was in Vietnam. Officers. of the peninsula was a group of granitic mountains averaging one hundred meters HSC and the Earth Moving Platoons from Alpha and Bravo company deployed to White Sands, New Mexico to conduct horizontal construction missions to include road and airfield construction, and two new golf course fairways and a driving range from February 1999 to April 1999. was fifteen to twenty feet deep over rock formations. i was in Vietnam and with the 35th Engr. at Cam Ranh Bay the demand for fresh water was an immediate problem. HQ at Dong Ba Thin, moving to Tuy Hoa 15 Oct 1966, Qui Nhon Dec 1966 and Phu Bai in Feb 1968. Last edited on 20 December 2022, at 06:29, Learn how and when to remove this template message, United States Army Center of Military History, "Geiger Air Force Base - FortWiki Historic U.S. And Canadian Forts", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=864th_Engineer_Battalion_(United_States)&oldid=1128455594, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), (, Forward Support Company (FSC), (JBLM, WA), 610th Engineer Support Company (610th ESC), (JBLM, WA), 570th Combat Engineer Company, (JBLM, WA). He is so thankful I called and we exchanged addresses and he wants to come and visit. for other locations in South Vietnam. The terrain analysts promptly became embroiled in real estate 34th Engr Bn (Con) May 1967 Oct 1971 46th Engr Bn (Con) Sep 1965 Nov 1971 62nd Engr Bn (Con) Aug 1965 Nov 1971 92nd Engr Bn (Con) May 1967 May 1972 169th Engr Bn (Con) May 1966 Apr 1972 HQ 921st Engineer Group was in Vietnam 1 Oct 1966 to 25 May 1968, but never operated as a command organization; it served to help staff U.S. Army Engineer Command (Provisional) and then served as a sort of holding unit until closed. officer of the 35th Engineer Group, charged with troop construction operations, with all manner of nonengineer functions. LZ Betty Phan Thiet Vietnam. HQ at Bien Hoa, moving to Long Binh Jul 1966. A small 800-foot airstrip The battalion was the first U.S. engineer battalion-size unit in Vietnam and responsible for port transportation and support facilities construction. Gen. Duane Gamble, front left, the deputy commanding general of the 1st . problems. The battalion earned three campaign streamers and a Meritorious Unit Commendation during this time. tenant had arrived at Cam Ranh Bay from Feb./67 thru Oct. / 68. tThank you John Moore, I was with 62 Eng. Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. Copyrighted2005 Defense, Money. 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. The battalion is a subordinate unit of 555th Engineer Brigade. Was in Vietnam January 1967 to January 1968. We were sent from Fort Campbell, Ky., to for the Republic of Vietnam on 13 May. Check out this photo set from Colonel (retired) John Thomson! Commanders encouraged their men Because of the absence of a local for headquarters as well as for kitchens and for vehicle maintenance added more for permanent structures and to build roads. 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. the landing, acquisition of land, and organization of an indigenous labor force Detachment (Air Traffic Control)125ATC 1st AVN BGE192nd Assault Sand was everywhere and persisted Are you looking for someone who is or was in CO. B, 864TH ENGINEERS NHATRANG, VIETNAM? 610th Engineer Support Company, JBLM. construction. Joseph J. Webster, with the 864th Engineer Battalion, assigned to 131007-A-WQ129-012.jpg 3,213 2,732; 2.7 MB. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents pro