A HISTORY OF THE
35TH ENGINEER BATTALION (COMBAT)
Following the initial reduction of armed forces after the First World War, the United States Military Services grew to an unprecedented peacetime size. As part of this peacetime buildup, the Army created certain inactive Regular Army Units. The 35th Engineer Regiment (General Service) was created under this plan on 1 October 1933, with a designation change to the 35th Engineer Regiment (Combat) (Corps) on 16 December 1940. As the world situation deteriorated in the months prior to World War II, the need for more active units became apparent and the 35th Engineer Regiment was activated on 15 July 1941, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
Japan's unchecked advances in the Pacific were causing considerable concern in the United States during 1941. As the possibility of invasion by the Japanese grew greater, the logical target for such an invasion seemed to be that of the territory closest to the Japanese homeland-----Alaska. To supply the American military installations there in the event of an invasion the Alcan Military Highway was conceived. Among the many engineer units called upon to complete this difficult engineering and construction feat was the 35th Regiment.
The first task confronting the Regiment upon its arrival at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, in the winter of 1941 was the immediate preparation of men, supplies, and equipment for the 300 mile convoy to Fort Nelson (map of Alcan Highway) the Regiment's construction starting point. It was necessary to unload the equipment from the railroad cars and start it moving toward Fort Nelson with all possible speed for two reasons; first, to take advantage of the better traveling conditions afforded by the frozen ground, and second, to be in position and ready to start construction as soon as spring weather would permit. Despite the treacherous mountain trail used to convoy the equipment to its destination, the Regiment was ready to begin construction by the middle of March, 1942.
Two sections of road construction were assigned to the Regiment. One, a part of the Alcan Highway itself, extended approximately 309 miles north from Fort Nelson to a point of contact with the 340th Engineer Regiment. The other section was a 350 mile access road from Fort Nelson to Forth Simpson on the Mackenzie River. The Regiment was responsible for laying the backbone of the road with the 341st Engineer Regiment and the Public Roads Administration following behind to improve it. Clearing, filling, grading, and building temporary bridges were all normal duties as the 35th hacked and blasted its way forward along the construction route.
By 25 September 1943, the 35th Regiment had completed all missions connected with the Alcan Highway. In 18 months time, the Regiment had overcome the spring thaw, summer floods, mountainous terrain, deep muskeg, torrential streams, and heavy forests to complete their mission. More than half the distance had been in the Canadian Rockies with some areas more than a mile above sea level. Most of the area was vaguely mapped with much of it virtually unknown.
The 35th Regiment (Combat) (Corps) was moved to Camp White, Oregon at the completion of the Alcan project. There, the history of the Regiment ended and the history of the 35th Engineer (Combat) Battalion began. The 1st Battalion of the 35th Regiment was redesignated the 35th Engineer (Combat) Battalion on 25 September 1943.
At Camp White, the Battalion conducted an intensive combat training program in anticipation of being shipped overseas to one of the combat areas. Fixed and floating bridges were built. Foot marches, weapons firing, and night problems were all conducted over and over to attain the necessary level of training.
On 9 April 1944, the 35th left Camp White by train on a five day coast to coast trip to Camp Shanks, New York. After the standard 48 hour overseas processing had been administered, the Battalion worked on maintenance and improvement projects at Camp Shanks. These included the construction of an amphitheater, laying of five baseball diamonds, razing obsolete buildings, and construction of two timber trestle bridges on the estate of President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Hyde Park.
On 1 July 1944, the Battalion departed for the New York Port of Embarkation, but not before the Commanding Officer of Camp Shanks had commended the officers and men of the unit for the fine engineering work that had been accomplished. The following day, the Battalion sailed for Europe aboard the USAT Thomas Barry. On 12 July, the ship anchored in the Firth of Clyde, near Greenocke, Scotland, and the Battalion immediately debarked and left by train for its new station, Camp Merevale, near Atherston, Warwicksire, England. After completing final preparation and training the Battalion left on the last leg of its overseas journey.
The 35th left Southhampton, England, on board an LST, LCT, and a Liberty ship headed for France. On 7 August 1944, exactly two months and one day after the bloody invasion there, the 35th Engineer (Combat) Battalion landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France.
Following the landing, the Battalion moved toward the Brittany Peninsula to be assigned to Task Forces "A" and "B". The 35th was attached to the 1102nd Engineer Group of the VIII Corps, and was to remain with this group, except for brief periods, for the duration of the war. Throughout August and into September the Battalion continued its mission with Task Forces "A/B" as the Brittany Campaign raged on. On 4 September the following commendation was received by VIII Corps Headquarters from Brigadier General James A. Van Fleet, Commander of Task Force "B": "The 35th Engineer Battalion (- Co. B) has rendered such timely and close front line assistance, with great courage and professional skill."
By 17 September, German resistance had crumbled and the Brittany Campaign was successfully concluded. Letters of commendation for the Battalion's efforts in the campaign included those from Lt. General Omar N. Bradley, Commanding General, Twelfth Army Group; Major General Troy H. Middleton, VIII Corps Commander; and Brigadier General Herbert L. Earnest, Commander of Task Force "A".
The 35th left the Brittany Peninsula and moved across the northern sector of France, reaching Belgium on 28 September 1944. From there the Battalion moved into Luxembourg where they were once again attached to the 1102nd Engineer Group. The mission was direct support of the 8th Infantry Division. Once again there were many jobs to be done and during October and November the Battalion was patrolling and maintaining main supply routes, operating two saw mills and two rock quarries, constructing winterized shelters for the infantry and performing reconnaissance and classification of bridges. Battalion Headquarters was located in Neiderfuelen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, while the line companies worked out of adjacent towns closer to their respective jobs.
As the end of the year approached, the Allied Supreme Command believed the Germans were attempting to build up a major counter-offensive. However, little evidence existed that such a counter-offensive could be launched. Thus, on 16 December 1944, the Allies were stunned when the Germans attacked. The first thrust penetrated Allied lines some 45 miles to the vicinity of Bastogne, Belgium. On 17 December, the 35th was deployed for the initial defense of this strategic town following the Allied decision to try and stop the counter-offensive. The 35th was the first body of troops committed to defensive positions in Bastogne and therefore had to establish defensive positions on routes leading into the town. On the following day the 158th Engineer Battalion moved into position and relieved the 35th of the northeast sector of the city. Companies A and C were committed in the battle while Company B was held in reserve. On 19 December, all vehicles were moved back to a place of safety and H/S Company took up arms as infantry when all the line companies had committed all of their reserves. Early on the morning of the 20th, elements of the 101st Airborne Division relieved the Battalion of their positions. The 35th had held its ground successfully and denied the enemy an important objective. As the Battalion withdrew from the Bastogne area, it executed road blocks at major road crossings in the vicinity of St. Hubert, Jenneville, and Recogne. A detachment of 2 officers and 28 enlisted men were returned to Bastogne to perform general demolition work for the 101st.
The Battalion moved back to the vicinity of Izel on 23 December and set up defensive positions along the Semois River. All major bridges were guarded and prepared for immediate demolition while the less important bridges were destroyed. On 28 December, the Bastogne detachment returned after being trapped within the city for seven days. By the end of December the German counter-offensive collapsed and the Allies had won the Battle of the Bulge. But it would take until the end of January 1945 to regain the ground that had been lost.
During the month of January, the Battalion was in direct support of two divisions; first the 17th Airborne, and then the 4th Infantry Division. Once again the Battalion was thinly spread, for it was charged with maintaining main supply routes, removing enemy and friendly mine fields, and repairing and rebuilding bridges. Rains and thawing ground heralded the arrival of spring in February and the maintenance of roads became a major effort. The 35th was constantly involved in rendering roads passable and it was often necessary to summon Belgian civilians to aid the Battalion with manpower.
The VIII Corps advance was approaching the Mosel River near Winnigen, Germany by March. A detachment from the 35th was sent to perform reconnaissance for assault crossing locations. The crossing was made on 16 March. The mission of the 35th was to take elements of the 87th Infantry Division across the Mosel. Companies B and C, each with a platoon from Company A, executed the crossing and successfully landed their respective battalions of infantry on the other side. The remainder of Company A operated support rafts carrying supplies to the beachhead and wounded personnel and prisoners of war back on the return trip. Following the assault crossings the Battalion constructed a 470 foot floating treadway bridge across the Mosel River. Shortly afterwards, the 35th received a letter of commendation from the 347th Infantry Regiment for their contribution to the success of the crossings.
Upon conclusion of the Mosel River crossings, the Battalion sent detachments forward to perform reconnaissance of the Rhine River in anticipation of another assault crossing there. 0001 hours on 24 March was designated "H" hour for the Rhine crossing and the Battalion planned to use the same two point method that had been successful on the Mosel. Crossings were made on both sides of the town of Rhens, Germany, and two battalions of the 347th Infantry Regiment were successfully landed across the Rhine. Continuous flare activity along with heavy automatic weapons, mortar, small arms, and direct AA fire harassed the crossings and resulted in the heaviest casualties of any action during the war. The Battalion operated a ferry system along the Rhine for three days following the initial crossing until it was relieved to continue the advance into Germany with the VIII Corps.
April and May 1945 again found the 35th patrolling and maintaining the main supply routes and building and repairing bridges, this time in direct support of the 87th Infantry Division. On 9 May 1945 the Germans unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Supreme Command. At this time the unit had seen almost continuous front line and division area action for 9 months. Preparations were started immediately for the evacuation of supplies and equipment and the resumption of a training schedule. Personnel started departing daily for the United States in accordance with the Adjusted Service Ratings. Instruction of technical skills for civilian life were offered to men of the Battalion. On 7 July 1945, the 35th arrived at Cales, France, staging area for shipment to the United States. By 22 August, the Battalion had been alerted for shipment and soon sailed for the United States.
On 17 September 1945, after an heroic combat career, the 35th Engineer (Combat) Battalion was deactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.
The 35th was reactivated in 1951 at Ft. Lewis, Washington. During the Viet Nam War, the 35th served with distinction from 1966 to 1970. For its actions in the Quang Nam Province, the battalion received the Valorous Unit Award. Today, the 35th is located at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, where it provides basic and advanced training to the Army’s newest breed of combat engineers.
NOTE: The following information was copied from "A History of the 35th Engineer Battalion (C)" (unpublished) with a foreword written by Lieutenant Colonel James E. Devine who commanded the 35th from 1962 to 1963. I believe that this unit history was written in 1963. I added a paragraph at the end to account for the unit's involvement in Viet Nam and its current mission. I found this unit history at the Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
35th Engineer (Combat) Battalion
Northern France - Rhineland - Ardennes/Alsace - Central Europe
