82ND HISTORY

82ND HISTORY

HISTORY OF THE 82nd ENGIMEERS IN WWII

The 82nd Engineer Combat Regiment was authorized as a unit of the United States Army on December 19, 1942 and activated in January 1943 at Camp Swift, Texas. Under the army's reorganization plan of March 1943 the regiment's battalions became separate units and regimental headquarters became the 1115th Engineer Combat Group.

The 82nd was ordered to Louisana for maneuvers on August 23, 1943 but within a few days the battalion was alerted for overseas service. Returning to Camp Swift on September 13th the battalion spent the next several weeks obtaining additional equipment and troop replacements. Then a series of confusing orders began. On October 24th orders were received designating Hampton Roads, Virginia or Los Angeles, California as ports of embarkation. The next day, October 25th, orders were received assigning the 82nd to the Los Angeles port. The battalions equipment, accompanied by the supply officer and assistant supply sergeant, sailed for India, the battalion's destination, on November 3, 1943.

A few days later the battalion received orders to proceed to Camp PatrickHenry, Virginia.....Hampton Roads would be the port of embarkation.

The 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion shipped overseas on November 23, 1943 from Hampton Roads, Virginia aboard the Liberty ships Conrad Weiser and the John Banvard as part of a 35 ship merchant convoy accompanied by 20 naval destroyers. The convoy sailed south around the Bahaman Islands and then northeast to the Strait of Gibralter. Although initially ordered to India the battalion, upon arrival in Oran Algiers Africa, was assigned to the European Theater of Operations. On January 5, 1944 the battalion traveled by a legendary 40&8 train from Oran to Casablanca. There the battalion boarded a converted British liner, "The HMS Andes". Running without escort the Andes sailed a ziz-zag course, into the north Atlantic, off the coast of Iceland and then south to Liverpool, England. The 82nd arrived at Liverpool England on January 20, 1944 to the strains of a military band and took up station at Frome, a small city in southern England. In February the battalion was attached to the 1115^th Engineer Combat Group, XIX Corps, United States First Army. The battalion, as it prepared for cross channel orders , consisted of 662 men; 28 officers, three warrant officers and 632 enlisted personnel.

First units of the Battalion touched down on Omaha Beach between June 10th and the 16th (depending on individual units) A severe channel storm, which extensively damaged docking facilities, delayed the landing of some of the of the battalion's units until June 25th.

Upon arrival, the 82nd was placed in support of the 29th Infantry Division. The battalions primary mission was to remove mines, open supply routes, construct bridges, establish water points and a myriad of other engineering duties. Because of the confined area of the beachhead, the battalion was under constant artillery and mortar attacks. The 82nd managed, however, to avoid casualties until July 13-16. During this time the battalion, while in support of the 29th Division's drive to capture the City of St. Lo, took its first battle casualties ..... one killed and seven wounded. Artillery and mortar fire was extremely heavy as the Germans resisted the St. Lo attack. On July 18th a combat command unit of the 29^th Division fought its way into the city. The city of St. Lo had been destroyed. Following its capture the division, which had been on line continuously for 43 days, was relieved by the 35th Infantry Division and pulled back for a short rest. The 82nd was now supporting the 35th.

On August 25th, General Bradley's "Operation Cobra" was launched, to break out of the hedgerow country, with a massive air attack on German positions. The attack was initially ordered for the the 24th but because some ground units had not achieved their objectives the attack was aborted. The recall, however, did not reach all planes and bombs were accidentally dropped on American troops killing several hundred including General McNair. The following day the thousands of planes, wave after wave, hit German positions continuously for five hours. Although the battalion was several miles from the target area, the ground trembled from impact. Two days later the 82nd, supported by the 234th Combat Engineers and the 992 Treadway Bridge Company, was assigned the mission of constructing bridges across the Vire River, south of St. Lo near the village of Candol, to launch the 29th into the breakout area. As the battalion moved toward St. Lo, in the early morning of July 28th, it came under a severe air attack and was forced to de-truck and proceed through the city on foot climbing over debris, to reach the bridge site.

At 900 hours construction of the first of two bridges began. Within hours traffic was moving and a second bridge was underway. One casualty was recorded during the air raid.

During the week after crossing the Vire River the battalion devoted its attention to mine sweeping and maintaining supply lines.

Then on August 4th the battalion was ordered in support of the Second Armored and 29th Infantry divisions in their drive to capture the city of Vire France. The battle for Vire was fierce as the Germans, occupying high ground, unleashed a steady barrage of artillery and mortar fire and units working to open routes through the city were constantly harassed by rear guard and snipers.

Two men were killed and 15 wounded by devastating fire and 128 of the enemy taken prisoner during the battle. The battalion would later be awarded the "French Croix de Guerre" for this mission.

By August 9th the city was secure and the battalion moved back for rest and re-grouping Allied command had selected Vire as the pivot on which all armies would begin a swing eastward toward the Seine River. Just east of Vire American troops were attacking north toward Argentan and British forces were attacking southward toward Falaise. It was in this pocket that the bulk of the German army, still in Normandy, would be destroyed. The boundary between British and American forces now ran through the eastern outskirts of the city of Vire. As the XIX Corps turned eastward it was squeezed out of front line positions. In an effort to cut off retreating Germans the Corps was ordered to move immediately in a northeasterly direction to seize the west bank of the Seine River.

The 82nd began it's move on August 15th with the longest motor march to date, covering 30 miles, to bivouac near Barenton. In succeeding days the battalion, made a series of long motor marches. Although there was little enemy resistance seven men were wounded by land mines and booby traps during the move.

The battalion arrived at the French city of Brevel, near the Seine River on August 26, 1944. Two days later Company-B was separated from the battalion and attached to the 113^th Cavalry Group. Company-B, with the Cavalry, crossed the Seine River over a partially damaged bridge at Le Pec, about 12 miles north of Paris, early on the morning of August 29th. Thousands of cheering civilians, who advised that the enemy had just left using every means of transportation available, greeted the column, the first troops to cross at this point.

Meanwhile, infantry had moved in to secure a bridgehead on the east side of the Seine at Muelan, about 35 miles downstream from Paris. At 800 hours on August 29th A& C companies, supported by the 17th Armored Engineers, began construction of a treadway bridge to provide a XIX Corps supply route into northern France. Initial attempts to prepare the bridge launching area was temporarily halted by German fire but the bridge, 720 ft. in length, was opened for traffic at 1800 hours the same day.

Gasoline was in short supply at this time. Fuel priority was given to the 113th Cavalry and it's attached units. Company B, with the Cavalry, raced across Northern France, and Belgium, arriving at the Albert Canal near the Dutch border, on September 9th, 1944.

Although the column by-passed major pockets of resistance the enemy was engaged in a number of fire-fights. Near the Belgium town of Wavre the 2^nd platoon was attacked resulting in the death of one man. Hundreds of prisoners were captured along the way. Upon reaching the Belgiun town of Hasselt Company- B spent several days attempting to work patrols near the Albert Canal to locate possible crossing sites. On September 9th a patrol from the 3^rd platoon was attacked by an enemy ambush near the town of Kesselt. In the resulting action one man was killed and three were taken prisoner.

With the Germans well entrenched on the east side of the canal in this sector, the cavalry unit split with one column crossing the Albert Canal northward in an area under British control and a second column with, Company-B, making a dash south to cross the Muse River in the VII Corps sector at Leige. Once across the river the column attack northward into southern Holland.

The 113th Cavalry Group's two squadrons, the 113th and the 125th, each with elements of Company-B, fanned out to liberate towns throughout southern Holland. The enemy was engaged at Gulpen, Berg, Papenhoven, Illkhoven and Roostern before turning attention to German towns across the border.

On October 1st Company-B with Cavalry units crossed into Tuddern Germany. The Cavalry's attempt to dislodge the enemy from three small towns in the area was unsuccessful. Point blank 88s, mortar and small arms fire was heavy. During these actions Company-B suffered 11 casualties and two men were missing in action.

Meanwhile, the rest of the battalion with A&C companies crossed the Seine and traveled a route parallel with that of company-B, clearing roads, repairing bridges and taking prisoners. At the Belgiun town of Gembloux German small arms fire was encountered. In the firefight that followed one man was killed one man and another wounded. 26 German soldiers were captured. Upon reaching the Dutch border on September 12th the battalion was ordered to construct a bridge across the Albert Canal near the village of Kanne.

With elements of the 2nd Armored Division waiting to cross, the initial attempt to push a 140 foot Bailey Bridge across the canal resulted in the collapse of the far end of the structure.

The bridge was pulled back, repaired and re-launched the next day, September 15th. The armor, then, raced across the narrow throat of Southern Holland toward the German border. The battalion (less Company-B) moved across the canal to bivouac at Albeek Holland.

On September 27th the battalion (A & C Companies) was attached to the 7th Armored Division. Two days later all units moved north 78 miles, through a British held corridor near Eidenhoven, to bivouac at St Anthonis Holland. Their mission was to assist the British in pushing the Germans south and east, back across the Muse River. The 7th�s immediate target was the city of Overloon just a few miles to the south of St. Anthonis. The 82nd occupied trenches in defensive positions, constructed a treadway bridge and removed and laid mines. While laying a front line defensive minefield a squad from A- Company came under German fire. First, one man was killed by an exploding mine then, alerted to the mine laying activity, the Germans laid in machine gun and mortar fire seriously wounding the three other men in the mine laying party.

The 7th Armored could not penetrate fierce German resistance and the mission was suspended on October 6th The battalion returned to bivouac at Albeek on the 8th.

The battalion, with all companies intact, formally crossed into Germany on October 11th to bivouac at Sherpenseel, a small town just inside the border. The 82nd was again placed in support of the 2nd Armored Division who was now engaged in attacking German Seigfred line fortifications. It had now been 122 days since landing in Normandy and the Rhine River was only 40 miles away. Cautious feelings that the war might soon end were dashed shortly after crossing into Germany.

Once there, the first obstacle , the infamous Seigfried line, was quickly breached by Armor and engineers who covered the concrete anti-tank barriers with earth allowing traffic to drive across the top of the obstacles. The 82nd moved through the line on October 12, 1944. During the month of October 10 more men were wounded by scattered mortar and artillery barrages.

The next major objective was the Roer River just 15 miles to the east. During November and early December the battalion was engaged in extensive mine removal and road repairs, slowly working their way toward the river. As the Germans retreated back across the Roer they established fire patterns that blanketed the approaches to the river. This confined area, together with numerous mine fields, caused battalion casualties to mount rapidly.

Upon reaching the Roer, about December 12th, the battalion began preparations for bridging the river. The Germans still controlled large up-stream dams which had been constructed years before to flood the Roer Valley as a defensive measure. First Division troops, attacking toward the dams, were experiencing fierce resistance. The Roer crossing was being held, pending control of the dams.

Then, on December 16, 1944 the Germans launched their famous counter-offensive, the battle of the Bulge. Five divisions from the XIX Corps sector, just north of the Bulge, were transferred south to help stem the German breakthrough. The 9th Army, with the XIX Corps, was placed under the command of the British 21st Army Group commanded by General Montgomery. Front lines in this sector were now thinly held. During November and December, nine men were killed and 36 wounded by mines and constant shelling.

As the new year began snow and frozen ground made road maintenance and the removal of mines difficult and dangerous. Also, during this time, the 82nd along with other specialized units operated as front line infantry in the XIX Corps sector. The 82nd relieved the 234th Engineers on January 23, taking up front line positions in the vicinity of Billstein and Winden, Germany. Action was limited to artillery barrages which continually cut communication lines, The battalion sent out patrols nightly and on one occasion crossed the river (only about 50 feet wide at this time) to take prisoners but the Germans had slipped away. During the mission six men were wounded by flying shrapnel.

On February 4th 1945, the 82nd, was placed in support of the 30^th Infantry Division, and ordered to construct two bridges across the Roer River near Pier and Shophoven. With the 1st Army closing in on up-stream dams that controlled the water flow, the mission was scheduled for February 10th. Just hours before the scheduled crossing, the enemy sent a wall of water rushing through the valley. Although the First Army's V Corps had reached the dams on the 10th they discovered they could not control the rushing water because the Germans had severely damaged the discharge valves. The crossing was postponed. Although the valley was still severely flooded and the current very strong, the Roer crossing was re-set for February 23rd in an effort to create an element of surprise.

Bridging the Roer was one of the battalion�s most difficult missions. At 2 a.m. on the morning of February 23rd. 1945 a squad of men crossed the river in specially designed boats to secure guide cables. The swift current and enemy artillery destroyed the initial cable and small arms fire pinned the party to the waters edge. Several were wounded. Over the next eight hours four more attempts were made to get the guy cables across. Boats capsized and artillery was the snapping the cables. The final try looked good for a while but the swift current ripped the bridge apart. Men on the bridge scrambled but no one was lost. About mid-day the battalion moved to another site where the current was not as swift and successfully completed the bridge about 4 p.m.

Within minutes 30th Division infantrymen were racing across the bridge to reinforce the bridgehead. The battalion then turned its attention to building a treadway bridge to get the supporting armor into the bridgehead. The treadway bridge was completed without causalities. After crossing the Roer on February 28th the 82^nd bivouacked at Steinstrass and then began moving with the Corps, in a northeasterly direction, toward the Rhine River.

As the Germans were being pushed back across the Rhine the battalion spent several weeks, carrying out its engineering duties with little interference from from enemy gunners.

While the battalion, as a whole was not involved in the assault crossing of the Rhine River, 23 men had been assigned the special mission of assisting both the 30th Division Engineers and the 295th Combat Engineers in operating boats during the river assault. It should be noted here that the 9^th Army, at this time, was again under the command of British General Montgomery's 21st Army Group) The Rhine Assault was a coordinated effort with British and Canadian forces. The attack, in the Ninth Army sector just south of the city of Wesel, was carried out by the XVI Corps with the 30th and 79th Infantry divisions in the initial assault. Commencing at 1A.M. on the morning of March 24th one of the most intense artillery barrages of the war pounded German positions for over an hour as 2000 guns dropped over 65,000 rounds on on the far side of the Rhine. As a result of the heavy artillery concentrations a bridge-head was quickly secured with minimal casualties. Two 82nd boat crews lost their boats to enemy fire but no injuries were sustained. As soon as the Assault troops reached the far shore division engineers commenced bridge construction. Germany�s major defense line had been breached! The XIX Corps had been given the mission of breaking out of the bridgehead once across the river. The 2nd Armored Division was selected to spearhead the attack. On March 28th, the 82nd was placed in close support of the 2nd Armored and moved to the division assembly area at at Altfeld. Supporting the 82nd was the 992nd Treadway Bridge Co., the 512^th Engineer Light Pontoon Co., and the 611th Engineer Light Equipment Company.

At mid-day on March 29th, the 82nd, with the armor, crossed the Rhine River at the city of Wesel. The armor quickly broke through enemy defenses, and by next day had reached the Dortmund Ems Canal, where all bridges had been blown. At 1400 hours on the 30th, the 41st Infantry crossed the damaged bridge and secured a bridgehead.

The 82nd, with support from the 512th Engineer Light Pontoon Company, began immediately to construct a Bailey Bridge across the canal, sliding it through an existing, partially damaged bridge. In spite of harassing artillery fire and difficulty in preparing the approaches, the the bridge was completed and the armor was rolling by 400 hours the next morning. The column was now moving so fast the Germans had little time to prepare defenses.

The 2nd Armored Division now split with one column driving south to encircle the Ruhr industrial area to link up with the 3rd Armored Division at Paddernborn and the other column, with the 82nd, continuing the drive eastward toward the Elbe River. At one time XIX corps units were 125 miles apart. As a result the 82nd was detached from the 1115th Engineer Combat Group and re-assigned to the 1104th Engineer Combat Group.

On April 5th the battalion arrived at the village of Grass Berkel near the Weser River. All bridges had been blown. The next day, April 6th, Company-B moved several miles south to a position near the village of Grohnde. Germans occupied the far shore. Since the Infantry was occupied elsewhere along the river Company-B, with assistance from the 992nd Treadway Bridge Co., opened fire on the far shore troops. Within a short time the enemy began to flee. A patrol was then sent across the river to secure the area. Twenty six prisoners were taken.

Once secured, construction of a 400 foot floating treadway bridge began just before dark and continued throughout the night.The armor was rolling again at dawn. One man fell from the bridge in the darkness and was drowned.In the meantime, Companies A and C were ordered north to the village of Hameln to assist the 1104th Engineer Group and the 544th Heavy Pontoon Battalion in constructing a treadway bridge at that point. The Germans laid in heavy small arms and mortar fire, interrupting construction for nearly 24 hours until a bridgehead was secured. Four men from the 82nd were wounded during this mission.

By April 11th, forward elements of the 2nd Armored Division had reached the Elbe River south of Magdeburg. The 82nd moved, with the rest of the division, into an assembly area at Grass Ottersleben the next day. Preparations were immediately made for the battalion to assist the 17th Armored Engineers in construction of a bridge at Wester-Husen.

To secure the bridgehead, Company-A manned assault boats to ferry the 41st Infantry across the river. Once the Infantry was deployed Company-C began bridge construction.. Everything proceeded well until early morning when the enemy realized what was happening and began to shell the site. German accuracy was hampered for a while as A-Company laid down a smoke screen but as the bridge neared the far shore intense shelling was laying direct hits on the bridge forcing abandonment of the site shortly after mid-day.

Orders were then received for the 82nd to construct a bridge and a ferry at the village of Schonebeck, a few miles south of Wester-Husen. Before daylight the next morning, as the infantry pushed down from their previous bridge-head to secure the Shonebeck area, Company-C began construction of the bridge.

At 7:30 a.m. The Germans launched a counterattack on infantry troops holding the bridgehead and began shelling the bridge site. Bridging parties, on the near side, watched as the enemy surrounded 41st Infantry troops. The fight was intense and many of the infantry were forced to surrender. Faced with mortar and small arms fire and without bridgehead protection, work on the bridge was suspended.

The effort to get across the Elbe then centered on construction of a ferry at an existing ferry site in the center of Shonebeck. The ferry, powered by two outboard motors was a rigged to a steel guy cable. Loaded with a D-7 bulldozer the ferry made it to the far shore but grounded in the soft mud. An amphibious DUKW was sent across to free the ferry. Artillery and mortar fire had been extremely heavy all during the operation. As the ferry began it�s return trip a direct hit on the steel cable caused the ferry to float freely down stream into enemy area. The ferry was abandoned and the men returned aboard the DUKW without casualties. By contrast, just a few miles up stream, the 83rd Division supported, by the 295th Combat Engineers, managed to get a bridge across the Elbe, at the village of Barby, without serious resistance.

With this and other completed bridges downstream the infantry was now fanning out on the east bank of the river. The 2nd Armored Division,, assisted by the 30th Infantry Division then pushed into the city of Magdeburg on April 16th. The 82nd was ordered into the city to open up routes through the city particularly the access roads to the river. Within three days the Magdeburg was securely in American hands.

On April 17, 1945 the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion received its last combat mission.

Company-B was ordered to take over security of the 83^rd Division bridge at Barby. A and C companies were assigned bridge security on the Salle River. The Germans, in a last ditch effort made several attempts to demolish the Barby bridge. First a floating mine struck the bridge knocking out one float. A few days later an enemy frogman tried to blow the bridge . His charge floated under the bridge then exploded as it hit the shore causing more damage. The swimmer was captured. Finally, a lone jet fighter strafed men working on the bridge and then dropped a pair of bombs, all missing their target. During the month of April the battalion suffered 13 more casualties including three killed and another man missing in action.

At last the shooting stopped in the battalion's sector as the Soviet Army came closer to link up at the Elbe. Thousands of Germans were laying down their arms and surrendering with hundreds coming through the 82nd's lines during the month of April.

On May 6, 1945 the 82nd was directed to to cease operations and was ordered out of the line. Two days later came the formal announcement of the war's end. A total of 326 days had passed since Normandy. Of the 664 men who landed at Omaha, 160 had become casualties. Twenty-one had died, three were missing in action, three were prisoners of war and 134 men had been wounded, many seriously.

During ten and one-half months in combat the battalion:

Supported the 29th, 30th, 35th, 104th and 8th Infantry

Divisions; the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th Armored Divisions and the 113th Cavalry Group

Served as front line Infantry

Laid 2600 mines and removed 2800 mines and booby-traps

Constructed 26 bridges for a total length of more that 2200 feet and removed seven bridges

Distributed over 2,500,000 gallons of water

Destroyed 145 pillboxes

Used over 64,000 pounds of explosives

Used dozers and other equipment for 2000 hours to:

remove 105 roadblocks
dug 105 gun emplacements
remove 84 vehicles from main roadways
bury 142 head of livestock
laid over 6000 feet of concertina wire and5200 feet of snow fence

To keep supply lines open, trucks hauled 16,000 loads of material....40,000 tons

And along the way captured 469 of the enemy

The 82nd received three Unit citations:

The French Croix de Guerre - for the liberation of the city of Vire France, August 1944
The Belgiun Fourragere - For action along the Muse River, September 1944
The Presidential Unit Citation - For action at the Elbe River, April 1945
8 men received Silver Stars
55 men received Bronze Stars

The battalion returned first to Le Harve France and then to Rouen taking over administration of a German prisoner stockade.

To facilitate the return of over five million men who had entered the E.T.O since D-Day the army established a point system, based primarily on length of service. The 82^nd Engineer Combat Battalion was designated to receive men who had higher discharge points for early return to the States. The majority of the men, now serving with the battalion, had not accumulated sufficient points so most were transferred to other units.

Still at war with Japan some of the 82nd�s men were assigned to units that were under re-organization for additional training and shipment to the Pacific Theater. Others with limited service in the ETO, were already on their way.

With the surrender of Japan in August 1945 everyone could breathe easier. The war was finally over! By the end of 1945 most of the men who had served with the battalion returned home and were discharged. There were some, however, who had re-enlisted and continued on active duty.

On November 21, 1945, the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion was formally de-activacted at Camp Miles Standish. Within a year, however, the former 82nd was re-activated, but this time as the 1092 Engineer Combat Battalion. Then on January 30, 1947 the 82nd was born again as the army re--designated the former 39th Combat Engineers as the 82nd Engineer Battalion. The 82nd BAMBERG, Germany -- Soldiers and family members witnessed the end of an era at Warner Barracks here with the inactivation of the 82nd Engineer Battalion March 30 2006.

A Short History of the 82nd Engineer Battalion

The Battalion's parent unit was constituted in the Regular Army on 15 July 1940 as the 39th Engineers (General Service). The Battalion was activated at Camp Bowie, Texas on 8 April 1942 as the 1st Battalion, 39th Engineer Combat Regiment. The battalion participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers from July – November 1942. On December 27, 1942, the entire regiment arrived Ft. Dix, New Jersey and later departed the United States on January 13, 1943 from the port of New York bound for North Africa. The battalion landed at Oran, North Africa in January 1943. Where it continued to train until July 1943 when it received its baptism under fire.

The Invasion of Sicily
The battalion assaulted the beachs at Gela, Sicily in the early hours of July 7, 1943 with the 1st Infantry Division in the first assault wave under the command of LTC William O. Darby and his 1st and 4th Ranger Battalions. After landing on a hostile shore in Sicily, they had repelled several counter-attacks, forced the enemy to withdraw, and relentlessly pursued him over sun-baked hills until the island was theirs, all in just thirty-eight days. The Sicily Campaign also marked the first time in World War II that a complete U.S. Field army had fought as a unit. The group went on to serve in Naples-Foggia, Anzio and Rome-Arno in 1943 and 1944.
Reorganized and Recognized
On 1 March 1945, the 39th Engineer Combat Regiment was reorganized and re-designated the 39th Engineer Combat Group. The 1st Battalion of the regiment was named the 404th Engineer Combat Battalion and the 2nd Battalion became the 643rd Engineer Combat Battalion.
The 404th Engineer Battalion supported operations in the Po Valley Offensive in April 1945. During the attack which ruptured the German winter line at the approaches to the Po Valley, the battalion operated in support of the 6th South African Division. By the end of the month the newly formed battalion had played an important role in the spring offensive which destroyed enemy resistance in Italy.
On 2 May, the 39th Engineer Group moved from Vicenza to Bassano, and after one day there, went on to Forasso. By 6 May it was in Trento. After the Adrige River was crossed, the main effort was opening up the routes of supply in northern Italy. Victory in Europe Day (VE) was celebrated throughout the battalion on May 9, 1945.

The battalion was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque for superior performance of duty in the accomplishment of exceptionally difficult tasks from 1 October 1944 to 1 May 1945 in Italy. The Bronze Arrowhead was awarded to the personnel of the battalion who had participated in the Gela, Sicily Amphibious Operation. Two additional Battle Participation Awards in the form of Bronze Service Stars were authorized for participation in the North Apennines and Po Valley campaigns. <BR
With the end of combat operations in Italy, the battalion was inactivated on 13 October 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
Back Again
On 30 January 1947, the Battalion was re-designated the 82nd Engineer Combat Battalion, then subsequently re-designated the 82nd Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Army) on 23 November 1954.
On 17 January 1955, the battalion was re-activated at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and deployed to West Germany in October 1961 as

part of the Berlin build up. The battalion was located at Warner Barracks in Bamberg, Germany. The Battalion was assigned to the 7th Engineer Brigade in support of VII (U.S.) Corps.

Recent History
In May 1985, the 535th Engineer Company (Combat Support Equipment), Grafenwöhr was attached to the Battalion, giving it a personal strength of over 900 men. On 16 January 1986, the battalion became the first Corps Combat Engineer Battalion in the VII Corps and only the second in the United States Army to mechanize. The "BLUEBABE" habitually supported the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) in its border mission in the defense of Western Europe.

Desert Shield/Desert Storm
The ‘BLUEBABE’ was officially notified of their deployment to Southwest Asia on 9 November 1990. The Battalion was selected as the first unit in Bamberg to POM and deploy, becoming the first VII Corps combat unit to deploy and close in SWA under the reinforcing buildup.

Bamberg, Germany
On 15 June 1991, the Battalion was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) and on 16 February 1992, the battalion was reorganized as a Divisional Combat Engineer Battalion. In February of 1996, the (Rock of the Marne) 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) re-flagged as The (Big Red One) 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized). The 82nd Engineer Battalion provides support to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) stationed in Vilseck, Germany.

Bosnia-Herzegovina
From March through October 1997, the battalion served in Bosnia-Herzegovina as a part of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) during peacekeeping operations in the Balkans. The battalion served in Kosovo for six months and redeployed to Bamberg in June 2000. In November 2002, the battalion deployed again to the Balkans with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Joint Guardian KFOR 4B. HHC, A Company and C Company served in Kosovo for six months. The battalion redeployed to Bamberg in May 2003.

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FROM THE USS PATCH

SHIP MOST OF THE 82ND WENT TO GERMANY ON IN 1961

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(OTTEVAERE PHOTO)LtCol Boerger, Sgt Maj. Lindsay & D Co Cpt. Chapman (Converting D-237th to D-82th) end of 1963

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2006

1ST INFANTRY DIVISION’S 82ND ENGINEERS TAKE ON NEW ROLE AS BATTALION INACTIVATES

By Spc. Joe Alger

BAMBERG, Germany -- Soldiers and family members witnessed the end of an era at Warner Barracks here with the inactivation of the 82nd Engineer Battalion March 30.

The battalion, which was activated as the 1st Battalion, 39th Engineer Combat Regiment in April 1942, was only the second combat engineer battalion in the United States Army to mechanize. During their time serving the Army, the “Blue Babe” participated in World War II, Operation Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo and Operation Iraqi Freedom before receiving their orders to inactivate. The unit is transforming as it inactivates.

Maj. Joel Quinn, the 82nd Engineers executive officer, said the battalion will officially become the Special Troops Battalion for the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, following its inactivation. The battalion, Quinn said, will consist of about 30 Soldiers from the 82nd who are either airborne qualified or have the desire to go to airborne school. The battalion will be made up of four companies: a Headquarters and Headquarters Company; an engineer company; a military intelligence company, and a signal company. Quinn said the battalion will “provide combat multipliers for the brigade.” The transformation has been an ongoing process which began around September of 2005 when the 82nd Engineer Soldiers began turning in their 4,839 pieces of equipment. Some of that equipment, Quinn said, was turned in to U.S. Army Europe for them to “rebuild and redistribute” to other units. Other equipment the 82nd Engineers will need as the Special Troops Battalion was laterally transferred to that unit, and the remaining equipment was laterally transferred to the 82nd's sister battalion, the 9th Engineer Battalion, to help prepare them for an upcoming deployment to Iraq. The equipment turn-in was complete in January. At the same time, many of the battalion's Soldiers were reassigned. Over the past several months, Soldiers who did not wish to stay with the Special Troops Battalion have been assigned to other units in USAREUR or throughout the Army. Since returning form Iraq in early 2005, the battalion is down from around 418 Soldiers to 138.

Lt. Col. Gerald P O’Connor, assumed command of the 82nd just as the unit was preparing for deployment to Iraq. He said his 26 months as the battalion commander have been very rewarding. “I’m proud to have had the honor to command a great battalion with a great history,” O’Connor said. “It’s been very rewarding facing the challenges of having to command in two totally different environments; first being in Iraq for a year and then coming back and going through the process of turning in equipment and taking care of Soldiers and helping them with their reassignment process.” While O’Connor said retiring the colors of the 82nd for the final time was a bittersweet moment, he knows it is necessary for the advancement of today’s Army. “Watching all the Soldiers leave and casing the colors is very emotional and sad, but at the same time, it’s necessary to support the transformation goals of our Army.”

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ESSAYONS"Is a French word meaning-"Let Us Try"

It's History: THE ENGINEER BUTTON: The Corps of Engineers' oldest and most time honored insignia is the exclusive Essayons Button. It has not been changed in the basic design since the war of 1812. It is still the required button for the Army Engineers' uniform. Evidence which could establish the actual facts concerning the designing and adoption of the Essayons Button probably burned at West Point in 1838, when the building containing the library and earliest official Corps of Military Academy records caught fire. However, while early Army regulations mentioned the "button of Engineers... with only the device and motto heretofore established", apparently no authoritative detailed description of the button appeared until 1840. The Army prescribed new uniforms on February 18, 1840, in General Orders 7, AGO, which officially described the button as follows: An eagle holding in his beak a scroll with the word, 'Essayons,' a bastion with embrasures in the distance, surrounded by water, and rising sun; the figures to be of dead gold upon a bright field." In 1902, when the Army adopted "regulation" buttons, it allowed only the Corps of Engineers to retain its own distinctive Essayons Button in recognition of the distinguished traditions that it symbolized.Song:

THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BRANCH SONG:

"ESSAYONS" Essayons, sound out the battle cry Essayons, we'll win or we'll die Essayons, there's nothing we won't try.. We're the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.. Pin the castle on my collar I've done my training for the team. You can call me an engineer soldier, the warrior spirit has been my dream We are builders, we are fighters! We are destroyers just as well There've been doubters who met with the sappers..

We know our sappers will never fail OR

And then we blew them all straight to hell Our brothers fighting on the battlefield Look to us to point the way We get there first and then we take the risks To build the roads and the air strips And bridge the mighty river streams We don't care who gets the glory We're sure of one thing, this we know Somewhere out there an engineer soldier Designed the plan for the whole darn show Essayons whether in war or peace We will bear our red and our white Essayons we serve America And the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.. Essayons!! Essayons!!

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HISTORY OF Camp Swift

In 1940 and 1941, the United States government began the process of selecting sites for new military camps. During this time, Colonel Pat Perrine stated, "We cannot dodge this war. In preparing for it there is no reason why Austin should not have a military camp, Austin can have one if it wants it." After much lobbying by the Texas members of the House and the Senate, Camp Swift was chosen in July of 1941 to be one of the 14 new military camps to be built. However, in September of that same year, Lyndon B. Johnson announced that, due to lack of funds, the camps would probably never be built. It took the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 to force the building of the camp. Fifty-two thousand acres were purchased for the construction of the camp. It was located 28 miles due east of Austin, Texas, halfway between Bastrop and Elgin. The general topography of the site's 56,000 acres was hilly uplands and flat lowlands. The site was chosen because of its prime location: between two small towns (Bastrop and Elgin), near a railroad (for troop transport), and near a large city (Austin). It was also important that the site have access to plenty of clean water (the Colorado River) and a climate favorable to year-round training. Named after Texas native Major General Eben Swift, who fought in the Indian wars of 1876 and during World War I commanded Allied forces in Italy, the building of the camp required over 18,000 civilian men and women. With its 2,750 buildings, its streets, and its utilities, it was a complete mini-city which cost $25 million and was built in the amazingly short time of four months. In June of 1942, Camp Swift opened its doors to the first troops.

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Fort Leonard Wood’s History

Fort Leonard Wood’s history began with a modest ground-breaking ceremony on 3 December 1940. From that moment until May, 1941 by the thousands, together with their tools and equipment sprawled the budding army camp — to be one of the largest in the country. Work progressed through one of the wettest seasons the area had known muddy conditions attracted great publicity.
The new Camp was designated the VII Corps Training Area at first. When the administrative officers arrived it was named after Major General Leonard E. Wood. He had gained fame in the campaign against Geronimo and during the Spanish-American War. He was chief of Staff, United States Army from 1910 to 1914.
Lt. Col. Leo Grabbs was the first Post Commander, with his Headquarters at 11th and Colorado Avenue. The Post then consisted of four barracks for enlisted men and one for Officers. No modern facilities were available and baths would only be obtained in local towns. Construction of buildings continued and early in the spring of 1941 there was enough housing for the first cadres. The Engineer Replacement Training Center was organized under the command of Brigadier General U. S. Grant, III.
More and more barracks were being built and the railway was extended from the town of Newburg, 21 miles away. The 6th Infantry Division arrived from Minnesota by train in May, 1941 and the 72th Field Artillery Battalion came by motor convoy from Fort Knox.
After the 6th Division ( not to be confused with the 6th Armored Division ) came the 8th, the 75th, the 97th and the 70th, all of which trained one after the other to either maneuvers or overseas shipment.
The ERTC continued to function and was later called the ASFTC ( Army Service Forces Training Center ). The Post trained more then 300,000 men between 1941 and 1946. At one time the population was around 50,000. In 1946 the Post was reactivated.
Some 50 civilians and about 5 officers remained to safeguard the buildings and property. Soon the buildings began to fade and grass grew wild over the once busy training areas. For four years the Post lay dormant.
The Korean conflict brought demand for more trained troops and Fort Leonard Wood sprang to life once more. It was reactivated in August, 1950., and the 6th Armored Division was designated as a replacement training division. On 16 March 1956, after more then five years of training the division was deactivated and Fort Leonard Wood became the home of the United States Army Training Center, Engineer. The Program now includes basic military training advanced engineer training, specialist training and the leadership school.
Fort Leonard Wood continues to function mainly as an Engineer Training Center. Its location and its terrain features make it well suited for the training of Engineer Troops. On 21 March 1956, the Post was given permanent status.
In 1956 a modern 4-lane highway makes the approach to Fort Leonard Wood a pleasant one. The reservation is now more than 70,000 acres in size. It was part of the Mark Twain National Forrest until its acquisition as a military reservation. It is in the northern end of the Missouri Ozarks.

With the deactivation of the “Super” Sixth Armored Division, the First Basic Training Regiment was born on March 16, 1956. Its battalions were derived from the 5th Heavy Tank Battalion, the 6th Quartermaster Battalion, the 61st Anti-Aircraft Battalion, the 6th Quartermaster Battalion, the 86th Reconnaissance Battalion, and the 128th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion. From the diverse parentage, the new unit began to furnish the Army with outstanding soldiers. The Regiment has undergone several redisignations, to include the 3d Training Regiment (Basic), the 3rd Basic Combat Training Brigade, and the 3rd Basic Training Brigade. The unit adopted its current nickname, “Blue Devils,” in 1960. In 1965 the unit was redesignated as the 3rd Basic Combat Training Brigade. In 1987 the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th Battalions of the 10th Infantry Regiment were activated as part of 3rd Brigade. 3rd Brigade reached a milestone in its history in 1991, when it trained its first female soldier. From 1991 through 1999 the Brigade went through several major changes, to include the inactivation of 1-10 IN and 2-47 IN, and the movement of 577th and 35th Engineer Battalions to the 1st Engineer Brigade. Also during that period 4-10 IN reflagged as 1-48 IN.
Today 3rd Training Brigade consists of 1-48 IN, 2-10 IN, 3-10 IN, and the Training Support Battalion. The Brigade conducts Basic Combat Training to TRADOC standard to produce soldiers fully prepared for Advanced Individual Training. Over the past 40 years the Brigade has continued to train inspire and develop well-disciplined, highly motivated, mentally, physically and morally fit soldiers qualified and competent in basic combat skills and tasks. The Brigade produced over 13,000 soldiers per year, who are fully prepared to attend military occupational specialty training and join combat ready units.

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HISTORY OF WARNER BARRACKS

Warner Barracks has been occupied by American forces since the end of World War II. Prior to WWII, almost every branch of the German Army was stationed at Warner Barracks at some time. After World War II, the headquarters of the U.S. Constabulary was located in Bamberg. The Constabulary was a highly mobile unit made up of the 28th Infantry Regiment and the 1st Infantry Division. The unit was responsible for patrolling the American occupied quarter of Germany. In June 1948, the Soviets imposed the Berlin Blockade changing the United States' role in Germany from occupier to defender. The Constabulary was eventually phased out. The current Warner Barracks complex was appropriated in 1950 by U.S. forces and renamed in honor of CPL Henry Warner. Warner was killed in action in 1944 after his heroic anti-tank actions in Dom Budgenbach, Belgium. In 1991, the Bamberg military community became the 279th Base Support Battalion, under the 99th Area Support Group in Nuernberg, and in 1993, joined the 98th Area Support Group, based in Wuerzburg.

Bamberg is located in the center of Germany, approximately 30 miles north of Nuernberg and 126 miles east of Frankfurt. The U.S. Army Garrison Bamberg is on Warner Barracks, located on the east side of Bamberg.

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THIS IS SOME HISTORY OF THE 82ND FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT!

IN JANUARY OF 1967 A CO. WAS SENT TO ENGLAND FOR 100 DAYS TDY. DEGAUL KICKED NATO TROOPS OUT OF FRANCE. THEY SENT TWO ORDINANCE CO FROM THE STATES. A CO WAS THE ONLY OUTFIT FROM EUROPE TO GO. THEY BROUGHT ARTILERY SHELLS OUT OF FRANCE, AND STORED THEM OLD COAL MINES IN ENGLANG. WE TOOK OUR EQUIPMENT AND PUT IT ON A SHIP IN FRANCE. THEN THEY FLEW US ON OVER TO ENGLANG. ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHEN WE GOT OUR EQUIPMENT THE FRENCH HAD STOLEN US BLIND. THE ONLY CLOTHES I HAD WAS WHAT I HAD ON AND A LITTLE HAND BAG. WE WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK BUT WE STILL FOUND TIME TO ENJOY OURSELVES. THIS IS SOME HISTORY OF THE 82ND FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT.

BY ED KEEN

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History Of Daley Barracks

   In December 1934, the Lord Mayor of Bad Kissingen began negotiations to have a garrison of troops in town for the purpose of improving the economic situation, especially during the winter months when no spa guests were present. The city provided an area of approximately 20.262 acres for the garrison, and as training grounds, an area near Reiterswiesen was selected. The barracks were constructed between August 1936 and May 1937 by the German Army. The construction of the Officer's Club (now the NCO Club) on the Kaserne was started in April 1937. For this another 28.78 acres of land were acquired.

   On June 1, 1937, the Motorcycle Machine Gun Battalion #2 Battalion (Kraftradschuetzen-Bataillon #2), light infantry, which formerly had been stationed in Eisenach, Thuringia, moved into the barracks with about 900 men. The battalion was part of the German tank troops and carried the tradition of old German cavalry regiments, especially of the Dragoon Regiment #5, led by "Baron (Freiherr) von Manteuffel." The barracks were named "Manteuffel Kaserne" in his honor. On October 17, 1937, the population of Bad Kissingen was invited to an Open House to view the newly completed Post installations.

   When Austria was occupied in 1938, the Battalion left Bad Kissingen on March 11 and arrived in Vienna, together with other units of the 2nd Tank Division, during the night of March 12 to 13, 1938.

   During the War, Bad Kissingen with all its sanatoriums, hotels, and nursing homes was a rest center for the German Army. Between three and four thousand sick and injured military personnel were accommodated. As an 'open city', it escaped the aerial assaults directed against most German cities.

   On the evening of April 7, 1945, the last of the German troops withdrew from the spa and the first units of General Patton's Third U.S. Army arrived in the town, which had surrendered. The pursuing U.S. troops passed on through the town for days afterwards. It was a peaceful occupation and no fighting occurred in the neighborhood.

   On November 1, 1945, the XII Tactical Air Command moved to Bad Kissingen from Erlangen and consolidated with the 9th U.S. Air Force. Early in 1948, the Air Force left Bad Kissingen.

   From 1948 to 1950, Manteuffel Kaserne was headquarters of the International Refugee Organization (IRO) for Europe. In 1951, the Kaserne was completely renovated and reoccupied by the U.S. Army.

   In 1949, an additional 30 acres of land were requisitioned and added to the Kaserne, at which time the buildings PX, EM Club, gym, bowling alley, Commissary and ammunition storage area were constructed. In 1952, 23.651 acres of land were requisitioned on which the buildings for dependent housing were constructed.

   General Order #1, Headquarters U.S. Army, Europe, dated February 17, 1953, was published, redesignating Manteuffel Kaserne to "Daley Barracks" in honor of Technician Fifth Grade William T. Daley, of Headquarters and Service Troop, 94th Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), U.S. Army. Daily was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against the armed enemy near Greussen, Germany.

   U.S. Army units that have been stationed in Bad Kissingen have included the 35th Engineer Combat Battalion; Company B, 1st Engineer Battalion; 1st Platoon, Company C, 18th Engineer Battalion; 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron (formerly 2nd Battalion, 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment); 501st Armored Medical Company; 31st Medical Service Detachment; 534th Armored Field Artillery Battalion; Company B, 10th Engineer Battalion; 1st Howitzer Battalion, 92nd Artillery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion (now the 37th Artillery); Military Police Highway Patrol; U.S. Constabulary; 14th Military Police Criminal Investigation Detachment; 66th Military Intelligence Group; 176th Signal Company; D Battery, 3rd Missile Battalion; 7th Artillery; Company A, 82nd Engineers; 3rd Division Long Range Recon Patrol (MS); Company D, 3rd Medical Battalion; 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 37th Artillery; and at present the principal units are: 2/11th ACR; 2/41st Field Artillery; A Battery, 1/1st Air Defense Artillery; Company B, 10th Engineer Battalion; 15th Maintenance Battalion (sic); and the Military Police.

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HISTORY OF BAYREUTH SUB-POST

Bayreuth Sub Post, also named Röhrensee Kaserne and the original name was Hans Schemm Kaserne until the end of the war.

Hans Schemm was a top Nazi in Bayreuth.

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HISTORY OF Bindlach Christensen Barracks

Overlooking Bindlach from the east, a large American military base was maintained on top of the hills east of Bindlach. Its official name was Christensen Barracks but it was jocularly called The Rock by the personal stationed there. The main function of the base was securing the borders to the GDR and Czechoslovakia, both borders being only 70 km (43 mls) away. The base closed down in the early 90s after German reunification and the opening of the borders to the east.

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Paul Bunyan is a figure in American folklore, a mythical lumberjack in tall tales , originating with an American newspaperman.

Lumberjack legends

Paul Bunyan is said to be a lumberjack of gargantuan size and titanic strength. In stories about him, it is said that he and his blue ox, Babe, were so large that their footsteps created Minnesota's ten thousand lakes including Lake Bemidji, which resembles Paul's giant footprint. Babe measured 47 axe handles between his horns. He was found during the winter of the blue snow. Once, he helped Paul to straighten a river by freezing it with two blizzards that they captured in bags, then Paul hitched Babe up to the foot of the river and had him pull it straight.

Like most myths, this explains a physical phenomenon. Bunyan's birth was strange, as are the births of many mythic heroes, as it took 5 storks to carry the infant (ordinarily, one stork could carry several babies and drop them off at their parents' home). When he was old enough to clap and laugh, the vibration broke every window in the house. Paul and Babe dug the Grand Canyon by dragging his axe behind him, and created Mount Hood by piling rocks on top of their campfire to put it out.

He is a classic American "big man" who was popular in 19th century America. Further, the Bunyan myths sprang from lumber camp tales, sometimes bawdy ones, to put it mildly. In one such tale, extreme cold forced bears to look for food; one wandered into a lumber camp. It chased the lumberjacks up a tree on which they had a ladder. To keep the bear from climbing after them (despite the fact that bears do not need ladders to climb trees), they kicked down the ladder. This saved them from the bear, but trapped them in the tree. To escape, the lumberjacks urinated in unison and created a frozen pole, which they slid down. Such tall tales, though later watered down, were attributed to a single character, Bunyan, and became the stories known today.

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