By U.S. ArmyApril 28, 2016
The 70th Engineer Battalion traces its lineage back to 15 July 1941 when it was constituted as the 2nd Battalion, 35th Engineer Regiment. The 35th was deployed to the northern Yukon, playing a vital role in the development and construction of more than 250 miles of the Alaskan-Canadian Highway. The battalion received a Meritorious Unit Commendation on 4 June 1948 in recognition for its work on the ALCAN Highway. On 25 September 1943, the 35th was restructured as the 145th Engineer Combat Battalion (ECB) at Camp White, Oregon.
The 145th ECB arrived at Cannington-Somerset, England on 20 May 1944; participating in Operation Overlord. The battalion entered World War II via the Normandy-Utah beachhead on 7 July 1944 and successfully participated in the Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaigns.
Inactivated in 1946, this proud unit was once again recalled to active service on 1 April 1949 as the 70th Engineer Combat Battalion. The unit spent eight years closing out the US Army presence in Europe before it settled at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as part of the 937th Engineer Group.
In August 1965, the Battalion arrived at the port of Qui Nhon to become the first US combat engineer battalion in Vietnam. The 70th's mission was to deploy with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in positions around An Khe and help establish a foothold for US ground forces. Following two years of combat operations around An Khe, the Battalion moved to Pleiku and then to Ban Me Thuot, the third and final base of operations, continuing to perform numerous combat engineering missions. The battalion was again inactivated on 30 November 1969 at Ft Lewis, WA. The 70th's exemplary performance during the Vietnam War resulted in numerous accolades, to include three Meritorious Unit Citations and the Presidential Unit Citation for Extraordinary Heroism in Military Operations.
The battalion opened another chapter of its history 24 years later on 2 September 1993, when it became a part of the 1st Infantry Division (ID). The deployment of the 1st ID to Europe, and the activation of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, at Fort Riley, Kansas made the 70th Engineer Battalion a vital member of the "Bulldog Brigade" in America's oldest tank division.
Deploying to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003, the battalion relieved the 3rd Infantry Division in place, and began the task of rebuilding the infrastructure of the shattered nation. During OIF I, thousands of pounds of unexploded ordnance, munitions, and explosives were disposed of by Sapper platoons, while simultaneously rebuilding schools, bridges, power stations, and sewer systems throughout Northern Baghdad. The 70th's performance during OIF I earned the unit the Valorous Unit Award.
In 2005, the battalion deployed again to Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division. Operating as a Maneuver Task Force, the battalion fought as infantry, securing routes and conducting combat operations resulting in the capture of almost three hundred insurgents and the discovery and destruction of caches totaling nearly 100 tons of munitions. The battalion also provided security for Iraq's constitutional referendum and the historic national elections in December 2005. The 70th Engineer Battalion was nominated to receive the Meritorious Unit Citation for their performance during OIF III. After being inactivated on 15 October 2008 at Fort Riley, KS, this historic unit is once again being called to service and will be activated at today's ceremony.
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
World War II
Streamer without inscription
Counteroffensive Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
War on Terrorism
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PLEIKU PROVINCE
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered ALCAN HIGHWAY
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965-1966
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1967
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2007-2008