863rd Engineer Battalion
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2010) |
| 863rd Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Heavy) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 863rd Engineer Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
| Active | 1942–present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States Army |
| Branch | US Army Reserve |
| Role | Combat Engineers |
| Size | Battalion |
| Garrison/HQ | Darien, Illinois |
| Commanders | |
| Battalion Commander | LTC Matthew Heid |
| Command Sergeant Major | CSM Dustin Gensley |
The 863rd Engineer Battalion is an engineer battalion of the United States Army first formed in 1942. The 863rd participated in World War II.
Lineage and honors
[edit]- Constituted 15 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 1st Battalion, 922nd Engineer Regiment, Aviation
- Activated 1 August 1942 at Geiger Field, Washington, as the 1st Battalion, 922nd Engineer Aviation Regiment
- Redesignated 1 February 1942 as the 863rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
- Inactivated 15 June 1946 in the Philippine Islands
- Allotted 18 February 1949 to the Organized Reserve Corps
- Activated 24 March 1949 with headquarters at Chicago, Illinois
- (Organized Reserve Corps redesignated 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve)
- Inactivated 17 January 1955 at Chicago, Illinois
- Redesignated 18 August 1959 as the 863rd Engineer Battalion
- Activated 1 October 1959 with headquarters at Aurora, Illinois
Campaign participation credit
[edit]- World War II
- New Guinea
- Leyte
- Luzon
- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Operation Inherent Resolve
Decorations
[edit]- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945
- Valorous Unit Award, Medal awarded to 863rd Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Heavy) for its performance in support of Task Force Strike, 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division throughout RC-South, Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom; from 20 June 2010 to 15 April 2011.[1]
Controversy
[edit]- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Controversy briefly erupted shortly after ending operations in Afghanistan (August 2011) when the 863rd Engineer Battalion was accused of abandoning one of its attached subordinate units to adverse weather conditions during the demobilization process in order to allow its organic personnel not to be inconvenienced by Hurricane Irene.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Valorous Unit Award Permanent Orders" (PDF).
- ^ Reserve soldier returns to Rothschild as Wausau unit stranded by hurricane http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20110826/WDH0101/110826139/Reserve-soldier-returns-Rothschild-Wausau-unit-stranded-by-hurricane?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
Irene strands Wausau-based Reserve unit http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/128536943.html
Hurricane Irene strands 12 local soldiers in New Jersey http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Hurricane_Irene_strands_12_local_soldiers_in_New_Jersey__128572473.html
Keokuk soldier makes his plane just ahead of Hurricane Irene http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/Coming-Home-082611
Mokena Soldier Comes Home Sunday http://mokena.patch.com/articles/mokena-soldier-comes-home-sunday
Soldiers welcomed home in Countryside https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8331890/ [1]
