293rd Engineer Battalion

• World War II Origins: The 293rd Engineer Battalion was first constituted on 25 February 1943 in the Army of the United States and activated on 20 April 1943 at Camp Swift, Texas. • European Campaign: The battalion played a crucial role in the European Theater during World War II, participating in major campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. • Operation Overlord: Elements of the 293rd landed on Utah Beach in June 1944 shortly after D-Day, supporting the Allied advance through France by constructing bridges and clearing obstacles. • Crossing the Rhine: In March 1945, the 293rd helped to build the first tactical bridge across the Rhine River at Remagen, supporting the rapid Allied advance into Germany. • Postwar Inactivation: The battalion was inactivated in Germany on 1 June 1946 following the end of World War II. • Cold War Service: The 293rd was reactivated in 1949 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and has since served in various capacities during the Cold War and beyond. • Vietnam War Support: Though the battalion itself was not deployed to Vietnam as a unit, soldiers from the 293rd supported engineering missions in Southeast Asia. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: Elements of the 293rd deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing critical engineering, construction, and route clearance services. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The battalion’s insignia, featuring a bridge and pickaxe, symbolizes its engineering mission and its historic achievements in bridging operations. • Motto: The unit’s motto, “We Make the Difference,” reflects its ongoing commitment to enabling mobility and survivability for U.S. Army forces worldwide.