18th Engineer Brigade
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The 18th Engineer Brigade entered Vietnam in September of 1965 with responsibility for all Army Engineering operations in Vietnam until the establishment of the U.S. Army Engineer Command, Vietnam in late 1966. It had been preceded by the 35th Engineer Group which built Cam Ranh Bay on a peninsula of sand and in a hostile environment. The Brigade assumed responsibility for I Corps and II Corps in the northern part of South Vietnam.
Its initial activities centered around rapid development of the port facilities, ammunition dumps, base camps and airfields necessary to support the build-up of U.S. combat forces rapidly deploying to Vietnam. During its initial construction phases it also provided support for combat search and destroy missions and defensive operations with the 101st Infantry Division near Ninh Hoa and the 4th Infantry Division at Pleiku.
The Brigade provided construction and combat engineer support throughout its time in-country by building roads and clearing ambush zones around major highways with Rome Plows, clearing minefields and tunnels, and constructing and safe-guarding bridges. With the increase application of airmobile operations, the Brigade cleared landing zones and operations to deny sanctuary to NVA and Viet Cong forces. The combat role of engineers in Vietnam can best be described by May-July 1969 siege of Dak To where engineers of the 299th Engineer Battalion along with the 42nd ARVN Regiment, B Battery 1/97th and a small Air Force Detachment withstood the assault of 5000 NVA. The defenders held their position during this siege while continuing road and clearing operations and providing support for the Ben Het Special Forces Camp.
Throughout its time in-country the Brigade built major communication/supply routes throughout Vietnam as part of the Lines of Communication Program in order to support the development of South Vietnam. Its advisors supported ARVN units with engineering planning and direction, and logistics advice as the government of South Vietnam tried to improve the political and economic lives of its people.
