Vietnam War - America's longest War

A much larger version of the above plaque sits on a wall in the meeting room of the Engineer Museum at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The accomplishments shown on this plaque are not the results of attachment to old line infantry divisions dating back to the revolutionary war.  NO, this unit is a single battalion which was only activated sixty years ago in 1943, just in time for WWII.  Many similar units were activated at that time but very few are still active.  This plaque displays the activities of the 299^th Engineer Combat Battalion starting in World War II and continuing on through the Gulf War of 1991.

The 299^th worked with and was attached to many of the Old line divisions, engineer groups, and corps.  The battle history of the 299th starts with D-Day, June 6, 1944 and continues on to post war Germany, the cold war, Vietnam, the gulf war, and the current affair in Iraq.  The 299^th recently returned from Iraq with the fourth infantry division to Fort Hood Texas. The Battalion Flag is decorated with over 19 battle ribbons out lining its successful campaigns.

The plaque contains army patches for WWII and Vietnam positioned on either side of the battalion coat of arms which was designed by Col(ret) Fred E. Kohler, the last commander of the 299^th in WWII.  The linage and a brief history of the unit follows for the years 1943 to 1995.  This is all that was available at the time the plaque was dedicated in 1999.

Around the border of the plaque are the names of a series of important locations of WWII starting with the Beaches of Normandy and continuing to Nuremberg, Germany. This consumes about two thirds of the border with Hoest, Beirut, An Khe, Qui Non, Ia Drang, Dak To, Ben Het, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait filling the remaining spaces.

The Vietnam portion of this plaque is slighted due to the lack of information and space allotted by the WWII designers. This phase of the 299^th battalion history involved the years 1965 to 1971 when the unit was returned to Fort Lewis Washington and again deactivated.  There was sufficient battle field activity in Vietnam to warrant its own plaque for that period. Places like Ia Drang, Ky Son, Bin Dinh, Cheo Reo, Pleiku, Duc Co, Kontum, Tan Jhan, Phu Tal, Ben Me Thout, and Phan Thiet are all worthy of mention either as areas of operation or battle sites where the 299^th met Vietnam foes. These places should all bring back memories to veterans of the 299^th that participated in Vietnam .

The longest period of overseas duty was during the "cold war" when the 299^th was reactivated in Hoest, Germany in 1954. In 1958 the 299th was assigned support of Task Force 201, of the Marine Corps show of support for Lebanon. When the marines made their famous landing, the 299^th was already working at the Beirut Airport repairing runways which had been bombed so severely that it could not support landings by large airplanes.  These would be required to bring in supplies necessary to support the marines after their well publicized invasion. Mission Accomplished "Essayons" (The Proven Pioneers)

After a few months in Lebanon, the unit returned to Germany and participated in all exercises and alerts of the "cold war." In 1963 they were returned to the United States where they engaged in improvements to Fort Gordon, Georgia. This was apparently an assignment to prepare the battalion for posting to Vietnam which finally occurred in 1965.  

On 16 July 1965, the 299^th was alerted for movement overseas to Vietnam. The main body arrived at Qui Nhon on 22 October 1965, and was assigned to the 937th Engineer Group (Combat). Elements of the Battalion chiefly HHC Heavy Equipment were immediately assigned to support the 1st Air Cav in Ia Drang Valley. The battalion performed Combat Engineer and construction missions for more than six years in a hostile environment. Shortly after its arrival in the Republic of Vietnam, the 299th undertook many construction projects. The Battalion operated in the highlands where it completed base camp development projects; i.e. Engineer Hill, Camp Enari in Pleiku and Camp Radcliff in AnKhe while also rebuilding and maintaining roads, bridges, and airfields; with=in the AO and provided combat support to ALL units in the area. 

Co A with Heavy Junk support from HHC went to work right away to complete the Ky Son Mountain Road which led into the center of the rice-producing area of Binh Dinh Province They worked on the road from November 1965 till completion in April 1966. In March 1966, Co C moved to Cheo Reo and upgraded the airfield there. The battalion (minus Co A) remained in the Phu Tai Valley area, less than 10 miles southwest of Qui Nhon, until 29 July 1966 Elements of the battalion provided engineer and heavy equipment support to the 173rd Airborne Brigade at Dak To and to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobilke) in the Pleiku area throughout my Tours.  The battalion headquarters and HHC moved to Pleiku near the end of July 1966.  Co B remained in Phu Tai Valley to continue construction of the ammunition supply point.

The displacement of the battalion from Qui Nhon to Pleiku, RVN was completed on 22 August 1966 when B Company closed from Phu Tai.  An operation support mission to upgrade route 14 from Pleiku north to Dak To and repair the Dak To airfield began on 17 October 1966 .  Co C was involved in operational support at Duc Co, in Western Pleiku Province, from 23 September to 7 November 1966. The work involved partial reconstruction of an existing CIDG camp to enlarge it in order to accommodate a US Artillery Battery, the scope of work was very significant.

Co C with support from HHC Heavy Junk, completed work at Duc Co Special Forces Camp on 7 November 1966 and returned to Base Camp in Pleiku.  Brigadier General Ploger awarded Lieutenant Lehea, Commanding Officer, Co C, 299^th Engineer Battalion (Combat) the Bronze Star Medal, for Meritorious Achievement for the engineering effort.  On 24 December 1967 an inquiry was received by the battalion as to the classification of bridges on Highway 19E, to determine whether or not a class 100 vehicle could make it from Pleiku to Qui Nhon.  The Battalion said no, that bridge 30 would not take the load.  On 25 December a Veh Tank Retriever and Tank collapsed bridge 30! A recovery mission was assigned to HHC Heavy Junk which very successfully completed.

On 1 February 1967, in support of 4th Infantry Division elements, Co C with HHC Heavy Equipment Support was tasked to replace a timber bridge on route 14. The First Platoon completely replaced all bridge members, and made significant repairs to the concrete abutments, by 7 February 1967.  There was also a requirement to reconfigure an important Bailey Bridge crossing on Route 19 east of Pleiku to class 78.  It was necessary to change from triple-single to a double-double configuration.  Co B was tasked to accomplish this mission on 17 February 1967 with the 509^th Engineer Company (FB) in support.  The bridge was opened to Class 80 traffic by 20 February 1967.  As a result of a mortar attack against Polei Kleng Special Forces Camp in Kontum Province, four holes and many peripheral tears were created in the membrane surface of the Polei Kleng Airfield.  Co A with HHC Heavy Equipment support, dispatched equipment and personnel sufficient to make repairs from 16 to 19 April 1967 .

The battalion continued with operational support.  Companies B, C, and D, plus the 15^th Engineer Company (LE), provided general engineer support to the 4th Infantry Division in Operation Greely and its successor, Operation MacArthur. The battalion concentrated on restoring roads running north, east, and west of Kontum and even opened a section of road running west from Dak To toward the frontier with Laos and Cambodia.  A Co was sent back to Polei Kleng SF Camp to patch their runway on 3 August 1967.  They were extracted on 22 October 1967 by Chinook helicopters after an expansion in the scope of work.  The dispersion of the battalion for the next several months was as follows:Companies A, C, D and 15th Engineer Company (LE) minus were located in the vicinity of Dak To.  B Co was located in Kontum. For this reason a forward CP was established at Dak To which contained elements of all the battalion staff sections.

Co A was assigned the mission to support the 173^rd Airborne Brigade (Sep) upon its arrival at Dak To on 7 November 1967.  They also assisted in the construction of the Brigade tactical operations center and protective revetments for operations tents.  It was also during this period that one of the battles of Dak To took place.  During the battle the 299^th provided constant equipment support to and hauled ammunition for the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sep).  The 299^th Engineer Battalion (Combat) was in the forefront of much heavy fighting in the II Corps Tactical Zone.  The battalion participated valorously in the Battles of Dak To and Kontum, and despite many casualties, including the loss of a fine Soldier and great  Battalion Commander, LTC Domingo Aguilar, in an aircraft accident, it rendered continuous combat support in the Kontum - Dak To area.  Meanwhile the battalion continued improvement lines of communication, perimeter defense and airfield maintenance at the Dak To base camp.  Work also continued at Tan Canh, Pleiku and the Dak Pek Special Forces Camp.  The TET offensive conducted during late January and early February inflicted considerable damage on the village of Tanh Canh and in the Dak To base camp.  Enemy activity continued to increase in the Dak To area all through 1968.  The battalion encountered mines almost daily during road construction, and mortars fell frequently inside the fire base.

By October 1968 the battalion headquarters had completed its move to the Dak To-Tanh Canh area from Pleiku.  Only a few soldiers, comprising a rear processing detachment and supply and maintenance liaison teams, remained in Pleiku on a permanent basis.  During August 1968 through October 1968 a total of 81 mines were found in the battalion's area of operations; vehicles struck 19, the Voluntary Informant Program located another 19 and 43 were discovered by battalion mine sweeps.  Enemy action damaged 8 engineer vehicles and wounded 13 engineers.  This represented almost a one hundred percent increase in enemy activity over the previous three months.

Near the end of January 1969, major shifts in unit locations occurred.  The moves were precipitated by the departure of the 1^st Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division from Dak To Firebase.  The 299^th Engineer Battalion (Combat), as the only major US troop unit maintaining a base camp of any size in northern Kontum Province, was given the mission of general defense of Dak To Firebase. This was basically an infantry mission. To accomplish this mission, and also to redistribute assets to better complete the construction backlog in Kontum, it was necessary to move several elements of the battalion. Battalion Headquarters w/HHC, along with Companies A and D were located at Dak To Fire base, Companies B and C were located at Kontum.

The departure of 1^st Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division from Dak To created problems for completion of the engineer mission.  Manpower resources, already committed on road projects stretching from Kontum through Dak To to Ben Het Special Forces Camp, were further thinned by security requirements. Enemy activity increased sharply again, with 82 separate incidents of mines, small arms, mortar or rocket attacks and infiltrations of base camps in the sector between November 1968 and January 1969.  Vietnamese civilians informed the battalion about some of the mines, and most of them were detonated without injury.  Casualties in the battalion remained light (21).  The 299^th Engineer Battalion (Combat) continued to provide direct combat support to American and ARVN units in the Dak To-Ben Het area into July 1969, countering heavy enemy activity.  For its part in the battle of Dak To-Ben Het, the Battalion received the Valorous Unit Award

  with the following citation:

"Elements of the 299th Engineer Battalion (Combat) and its attached unit distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations during the period 9 May­1969 to 1 July 1969. Assigned the tasks of securing the Dak To airstrip and fire base and of keeping vital roadways open to convoy traffic, unit personnel conducted daily mine sweep operations and ensured the movement of much needed water and ammunition to the isolated outpost of Ben Het.  In the course of completing their primary mission, the men of the 299^th Engineer Battalion (Combat) were continually subjected to attacks and ambushes by a numerically superior enemy force operating in the area.  On the morning of 7 June 1969, a Co D mine sweep party was ambushed by a well-equipped and determined foe using automatic weapons. Courageously returning the fire, the engineers held the enemy at bay as they awaited assistance. A reaction force quickly joined their gallant and besieged comrades, and through their combined efforts they successfully battled their way to the location of their dead and wounded. This spirited counterattack inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy, causing him to break contact and flee. Demonstrating exemplary bravery and fortitude, battalion members repeatedly prevented and overcame similar enemy efforts. The men of the 299^th Engineer Battalion (Combat) displayed extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty which are in 'keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect distinct credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the United States.

The battalion redeployed on 20 July 1969. It moved back to Binh Dinh Province with HHC and Co B at Phu Tai near the port of Qui Nhon, Companies A and D in upland An Khe and Co C at LZ North English some 50 miles north of Qui Nhon.  The Battalion continued to consolidate within Binh Dinh Province and provided combat and operational engineer support for the 173^rd Airborne Brigade and the 4^th Infantry Division.

In November 1969 Co B was reduced to zero strength as a result of a 142-man reduction in Battalion strength.  When Co D returned to An Khe in December 1969, a Battalion Headquarters (Forward) was also established there to coordinate the extensive construction effort required for the Camp Radcliff Upgraded Defense System (CRUDS).  In addition to the CRUDS project, the battalion continued construction efforts on QL-19 maintenance between An Khe and Mang Giang Pass (33 miles); did maintenance work on QL-19 from An Khe Pass down to Qui Nhon and on QL-1 from Qui Nhon north to Tam 'Quan: and support of the 173^rd Airborne Brigade Pacification Program with construction of MACV facilities in the vicinity of Bong Son.  On 26 February 1970 , Co B was reorganized at Phu Tai when the first squad of the first platoon was mustered.  The remainder of the first platoon was operational by mid-March, and the Headquarters platoon was refilled in May.

The Battalion's mission to provide combat and operational support within Binh Dinh Province to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, under Operation Lee, and the 4^th  Infantry Division, under Operation Hines, continued through April of 1971. In August 1971 began a rapid and extensive reduction of engineer units within Military Region II. The Battalion mission changed to provide combat engineer support to the entire Military Region II.  Additionally, the battalion was tasked to complete construction projects other engineer units were unable to finish due to standing down.  This resulted in the fragmentation and wide dispersion-of subordinate elements.  The battalion was assigned various emergency road repair missions on QL-1 from the MR II border in the north to that in the south, on QL-19 from Qui Nhon to Mang Giang Pass on QL-21 from Ninh Hoa to Ben Me Thout, and on QL-II from Phan Rang to Goodman Pass. Platoon sized elements were stationed at LZ English, Qui Nhon, Pleiku, An Khe, Tuy Hoa, Ben Me Thout, Cam Ranh Bay, Phan Rang, Don Doung, Vinh Hoa and Phan Thiet at various times during October 1971.

After an illustrious and heroic six years of combat in the Republic of Vietnam, reminiscent of the famous "Fighting 299^th Combat Engineer Battalion" of WWII, the 299th Engineer Battalion (Combat) was deactivated on 17 November 1971 at Fort Lewis Washington.

As mentioned previously, six years of battlefield operations finally ended in 1971 at which time the unit was again deactivated and assigned to reserve status.

In 1976 the 299^th was once again reactivated and assigned to the third corps at Fort Sill, OK They spent several years in support of Third Corps and constantly prepared for the possibility of war should it occur.  Several rotations to the national training center at Fort Irwin, California proved to be valuable when the unit was assigned to Kuwait in 1990.

They supported the 197^th Infantry Brigade of the 4^th Infantry Division during the build up of desert shield.  For the subsequent entry into Iraq, the 299th hauled tracked vehicles for the 4^th Infantry Division and breached the double berm along the Iraq border at H-Hour of the ground war.

After fourteen months in Iraq, the 299^th returned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and handled several engineering tasks for Third Corps. In 1992 the unit moved to Fort Carson, Colorado and became a support unit of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Another move in 1995 with the same unit placed the 299th in Fort Hood, Texas where its headquarters remains today. After several more years of training and rotations to the desert training center in California it was sent as a unit of the 4th Infantry Division to Iraq. They were in Iraq from 2003 to 2004, only recently they returned to headquarters at Fort Hood, Texas .

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.

C RATIONS