In 1965 the US Army decided to send engineers to South Vietnam for the influx of US troops. With the draw down from the Korean War they had to some adjusting with equipment and bases. They needed to train up all different engineer jobs and get the equipment from all the engineer reserve unit. With all the different MOS’s there were two engineer jobs that were an asset Bridge and Land Clearance Engineers.
There were many different missions for both types of engineers. There were miles and miles of new and old bridges that need to be constructed or repaired. Land Clearance teams had thousands of acres of dense jungles that needed to be cleared. With all the road blocks and hazards these engineers completed the impossible.
In January of 1965 Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara turned down the request from U.S command in South Vietnam for an engineer group. He approved 38 logistic planners and 37 operating personnel. On 28 July 1965 President Lyndon …show more content…
Clearance teams worked 12 to 18 hours a day before they could hit there racks they had to sharping there Rome plows with hand held grinders which could take a few hours depending on the damage. Theses Clearance teams were nicknamed the “JUNGLE EATERS”. The engineers played a huge role in the Vietnam War. Without the engineers many of the major events would never had happened and the living conditions would have been horrible. The wide range of engineer jobs from bridge building, road construction to land clearing, and yes of course breaching and minefield clearing would have held up many strategic missions for the US. Engineers are widely called upon for every theater of operations from WW 1 to the present day. Engineers are relied on very heavily for their vast knowledge and abilities to adapt to their
There were many different missions for both types of engineers. There were miles and miles of new and old bridges that need to be constructed or repaired. Land Clearance teams had thousands of acres of dense jungles that needed to be cleared. With all the road blocks and hazards these engineers completed the impossible.
In January of 1965 Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara turned down the request from U.S command in South Vietnam for an engineer group. He approved 38 logistic planners and 37 operating personnel. On 28 July 1965 President Lyndon …show more content…
Clearance teams worked 12 to 18 hours a day before they could hit there racks they had to sharping there Rome plows with hand held grinders which could take a few hours depending on the damage. Theses Clearance teams were nicknamed the “JUNGLE EATERS”. The engineers played a huge role in the Vietnam War. Without the engineers many of the major events would never had happened and the living conditions would have been horrible. The wide range of engineer jobs from bridge building, road construction to land clearing, and yes of course breaching and minefield clearing would have held up many strategic missions for the US. Engineers are widely called upon for every theater of operations from WW 1 to the present day. Engineers are relied on very heavily for their vast knowledge and abilities to adapt to their