U.S. 15th Combat Engineer Battalion Color - Vietnam 1966-1969.
This worn and stained, Bemberg rayon battalion color was embroidered in 1966 especially for the reactivated 15th Engineer Battalion by the newly created Defense Clothing & Textile Supply Center (formerly the Philadelphia Quartermasters Depot), which occurred shortly after their reactivation at Fort Riley, Kansas on 1 February 1966. It would accompany them to Vietnam that October as a component of the 9th Infantry Division.
After building a major part of their base camp, the 15th Combat Engineers, began their mission as "combat engineers". The 9th Infantry Division began arriving throughout December 1966 and the 15th started working with the infantry units they supported. The 15th Engineer Battalion had four line companies and a bridge and raft company and a headquarters company. Companies "A", "B" and "C" supported the line infantry brigades, "D" Company was a reserve company and "E" Company was a bridge and raft company.
Besides construction and bridge building duties, combat engineers supported the infantry by blowing up bunkers and bridges, minesweeping, river and beach assaults, inserting Armored Personnel Carriers into unfriendly territory, as well as flying regularly with infantry battalions to reconnoiter potential ambush and assault locations. Additionally they were heavily involved in the amphibious operations of the 9th Infantry Division.
The 15th Battalion was twice decorated with the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm for its outstanding military service. They also received a Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, for their numerous civic actions. In addition, both Alpha and Charlie Companies were further recognized in 1968 when the Alpha Company received the Presidential Unit Citation for its valiant actions in the Dinh-Tuong Province while Charlie Company earned the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for its heroic support of highly effective search and destroy operations in Long-An Province.
In August 1969 the Battalion rotated to Hawaii, where it was deactivated.
Provenance:
• Defense Clothing & Textile Supply Center (formerly the Philadelphia Quartermasters Depot), 1966.
• 15th U.S. Combat Engineer Battalion, 1966/69.
• Gifted to Sgt. Harris by commanding officer, Feb. 1969.
• Acquired by William Rentz..
• Acquired by purchase via Internet auction by the ZFC, 9 October 2009
Sources:
Sappers First, 15th Combat Engineer Battalion History, 30 November 2011, from:
http://9thinfdivsociety.org/15th.html
15th Engineer Battalion (United States), Wikipedia, 30 November 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Engineer_Battalion_%28United_States%29
Into the Delta, Representative John Mayo Home Page Mississippi House District 25, 30 November 2011, from: http://www.johnmayo.com/intothe.htm
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
CSG
USAC
4March1921
