12th Engineer Battalion (United States)

 12th Engineer Battalion

The 12th Engineer Battalion was activated 1 July 1940, at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina as an organic element of the 8th Infantry Division In July 1944 the battalion deployed to the European Theatre, landing at Omaha Beach in support of the greatest landing operation in history. Subsequently the Battalion participated in campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe, and Luxembourg

After World War II the Battalion was inactivated on 25 October 1945 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It was reactivated on 17 August 1950 at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina again as an organic element of the 8th Infantry Division.The Battalion moved with the 8th Infantry Division to Nuremberg, Germany in October 1956. In December 1957 the Battalion was restationed at Anderson Barracks, Dexheim, Germany. Simultaneously with the relocation of the 8th Infantry Division Headquarters to Bad Kreuznach, Germany.

Motto: ID PERFICIEMUS-(We shall consummate the task!)

Decorations/Timeline

Training for deployment Sept 1942 to November 1943

December 1943 arrived in Ireland.

July 4, 1944 Landed at Normandy across Utah Beach and/or Omaha Beach (have found differing references)( 8th Infantry Division Wikipedia page has the Division landing at Utah Beach, citing U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as a source)

Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered HURTGEN FOREST (12th Engr Cbt Bn cited for period 21-28 Nov 1944; WDGO 21, 1947

World War II distinguished Unit Streamer embroidered Hurtgen Forest.

Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER 1944 (12th Engr Cbt Bn cited for period 8 Jul-8 Sept 1944; GO 166 Hq, 8th Inf Div, 25 May 1945)

World War II Meritorious Unit Streamer embroidered European Theatre, 9 June 1945.

World War II Meritorious Unit Streamer embroidered European Theatre, 10 June 1945.

Headquarters and Service Company awarded Meritorious Unit Streamer embroidered European Theatre.

Campaign Streamers for: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe, and Luxembourg

Redesignated as the 12th Combat Engineer Battalion 15 June, 1954.

Luxembourg Croix de Guerre, Streamer embroidered LUXEMBOURG (8th Inf Div cited; DAGO 59, 1969)Luxembourg Croix de Guerre, Streamer embroidered LUXEMBOURG (8th Inf Div cited; DAGO 59, 1969)

Itschner Award 1979 - A Company, 12th Engineer Battalion - For the most outstanding engineer company in the USArmy.

Phillip A. Connally Award 1979 for the best field mess in USAREUR and Runner-up in the RA

Liberation and Defense of Kuwait