VetFriends Members: 3,064,780

 
JOIN NOW

History of 19th Combat Engineer Battalion

The 19th Combat Engineer Battalion was originally constituted on 1 July 1940 in the Regular Army and activated on 15 July 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia. During World War II, the battalion participated in major campaigns in Europe, including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe, providing vital engineering support such as clearing obstacles, building bridges, and constructing defensive positions. After the war, the unit underwent several activations and inactivations, serving in various locations and supporting both combat and humanitarian missions. The 19th Combat Engineer Battalion has earned numerous commendations for its exemplary service and continues to play a key role in supporting U.S. Army operations worldwide.

Members

Load More

Gallery

More Unit Photos

ABOUT 19th Combat Engineer Battalion

  • World War II Origins: The 19th Engineer Battalion (Combat) was first constituted on 1 July 1940 in the Regular Army as the 19th Engineer Battalion and activated at Fort Ord, California.
  • North African Campaign: The unit participated in the Allied invasion of North Africa, landing in Morocco in November 1942 as part of Operation Torch.
  • Sicily and Italy: The 19th Engineers played a critical role in the Sicilian and Italian campaigns, conducting mine clearing, bridge building, and road repairs under enemy fire.
  • Distinguished Unit Citation: The battalion earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions in Italy, where it maintained critical supply routes through mountainous terrain under heavy enemy opposition.
  • Post-WWII Inactivation and Reactivation: The 19th was inactivated after WWII but reactivated several times, including during the Vietnam War era, to meet the Army’s operational needs.
  • Vietnam Service: During the Vietnam War, the 19th Engineer Battalion built and maintained roads, airfields, and bridges, and cleared jungle terrain, often coming under attack from Viet Cong forces.
  • Presidential Unit Citation: The battalion received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action during the Vietnam War.
  • Cold War and Beyond: After Vietnam, the 19th served in various engineering and construction missions, both in the continental United States and overseas.
  • Modern Deployments: In the 21st century, the unit has supported operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations, focusing on route clearance, construction, and infrastructure repair.
  • Legacy of Service: The 19th Engineer Battalion’s motto, “Constructione et Destructione” (“By Construction and by Destruction”), reflects its dual role in building critical infrastructure and clearing obstacles in combat zones.

Army Best Sellers

Go To Store