| THE HISTORY OF THE 104TH ENGINEER COMPANY (DUMP TRUCK) 1966-1971VIETNAM WAR Introduction My name is John Fraser, I was a mechanic in the 104th Engineer Co. (DT) from Jan. 5, 1968 until Jan. 1, 1969. I have attempted to put together the Vietnam era history of the 104th. This story is dedicated to all the men who served in the unit from 1966 through 1971. I would like to thank Ralph Keiper and John Groh for all their work on the web site as that effort has made it possible to communicate and reminisce about our unit and our service. Ralph suggested that I attempt to write the history of the 104th. I also need to thank LTC Doug Lehmann (USA), who keeps the web site for the AEA (Army Engineer Association), as he pointed me in the right direction and provided contact people who could possibly help me. One such person, who he suggested, was Dr. Michael Brodhead, Historian, Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alexandria, VA. He researched; photo copied, and mailed hundreds of pages of documents. Without his super effort this paper would not be possible. Thank you Dr. Brodhead. Also, Dr. Larry Roberts of the USAES History Office, Fort Leonard Wood MO provided information covering parts of 1971. They all were a great help and without their efforts none of this would be possible. 104th Engineer Company (Dump Truck) Activation and Deployment The 104th Engineer Co. (DT) was activated on 1 July 1966 by general orders number 33, HQ. Fort George G. Meade, MD. The unit was assigned to HQ First U.S. Army, attached to Fort George G. Meade and further attached to the Special Troops Regiment of the Post. The unit was immediately alerted for overseas movement. The personnel Readiness Date was set for 14 Dec 1966 and Equipment Readiness by 28 Nov 1966. The unit was given accelerated training in Construction Battalion and Construction Support Operations pertaining to Dump Truck Operational Requirements. Company efforts were also directed toward equipment maintenance and movement preparation. The mechanics were given special training on the multi fuel engines. The unit was given leave and Christmas off. All personnel returned for command reveille at 0600 hours on 26 Dec 1966 as ordered. The main body of the unit departed from Fort Meade by bus at 2300 hours, 26 Dec 1966, proceeded to Friendship International Airport in Baltimore, MD and flew by commercial airline to Oakland, CA. The unit embarked on the USNS DARBY and sailed from the U.S. on 28 Dec 1966. The unit arrived at Long Binh, Vietnam on 17 Jan 1967. The unit equipment arrived 23 Jan 1967 and within a few days the company was completely operational. Work was on-going to the base camp area in Long Binh. 104th Engineer Company (Dump Truck) arrival in Long Binh, Vietnam The 104th Engineer Co. (DT) was originally under the command of the 79th Engineer Group when it arrived in Vietnam. The 79th Engineer Group (motto: Excellence Proven in Combat) was activated and arrived in Vietnam on 16 July 1966 from Fort Lewis, WA. The 79th Group was switched from the 18th Engineer Brigade, where it first served in Vietnam, to the Engineer command in December 1966, and in the fall of 1967 received its final major command switch to the 20th Engineer Brigade. The Group was located at Phan Rang where it assigned projects to its subordinate units, allocated troops, construction material and equipment. In October 1966 the Group relocated to Long Binh, where it stayed until its departure from Vietnam. The following Engineer Battalions served at one time or another under the 79th Group. - 27th Eng. Battalion - 93rd Eng. Battalion - 31st Eng. Battalion - 168th Eng. Battalion - 34th Eng. Battalion - 554th Eng. Battalion - 62nd Eng. Battalion - 588th Eng. Battalion - 86th Eng. Battalion In December 1966 and January 1967 three more units joined the 79th Group. The 500th Eng. Co. (Panel Bridge) stationed in Long Binh Arrived 12 Dec 1966. The 67th Eng. Co. (Dump Truck) stationed in Cu Chi and the WE DROP OUR ROCKS ANYWHERE, 104TH Engineer Co. (Dump Truck) stationed in Long Binh, arrived 17 Jan 1967. The arrival of the two Dump Truck companies, the 67th and the 104th, provided badly needed dump truck assets to the 79th Group. The 67th Eng. Co. was assigned, upon arrival, to the 588th Eng. Battalion in Cu Chi, Tay Ninh, and Dau Tieng. The 104th Eng. Co. was kept in support of the 79th Group in Long Binh. The 104th supported the 86th Eng. Battalion at Phu Loi and the 168th Eng. Battalion at Di An. The 104th also support the 27th Eng. Battalion at Long Giao. All roads traveled during daylight hours in armed convoys. The 104th Engineer Co. (DT) Operations During 1967 The 104th began operations in January, 1967 shorthanded. The unit was set up into 6 dump truck sections with 8 trucks per section. There were two Platoons with 3 sections in each Platoon. There were a total of 48 Multifuel M51A2 5-Ton Dump Trucks. The company was authorized 2 drivers to a truck. There was a shortage of 24 drivers so the unit could not operate at full efficiency. Between 10 Feb and 5 April two complete sections from the 2nd Platoon, including sixteen dump trucks and twenty-four personnel, were attached to the 27th Eng. Battalion at Long Giao. During the period of their attachment the sections covered 7,832 miles and hauled 14,270 yards of bulk materials. During the period 19 Feb through 23 March one section of the 1st Platoon, including eight dump trucks and nine personnel, were attached to Company A, 168th Eng. Battalion for Operation JUNCTION CITY I. The section drove 7,067 miles and hauled 4,770 yards of bulk materials. Two of the eight dump trucks were destroyed on this mission, one on 21 Feb and another on 10 March. Neither of the drivers was injured due to adequate sandbagging of the dump truck floors. On 22 Feb another section of the 1st Platoon was dispatched to Operation JUNCTION CITY I and attached to Company B, 588th Eng. Battalion. Prior to their return on 16 March the section had driven 9,428 miles and had carried 3,040 yards of bulk materials. Two sections stayed back in Long Binh and gave general support to the 79th Group. At the same time that all this hauling was being done the new company area was being built. During these first 3 months in country the 104th built its motor pool and truck parking area. It also built a shower with a tower, two latrines, four permanent bunkers, one water tank, a dispatch office, and ordnance supply office, a welding shop, a POL storage area, a tool shop, and began construction on two of the eight Adams huts authorized to house the troops. Needless to say the unit was very busy these first few months. Plus, everyone was new to the war zone and climate change. These first members of the 104th did quite a job of setting the company up and adapting to the situation and carrying out their mission. In April they hauled approximately 10,000yards of rock from the University Quarry near Long Binh to Phu Loi to assist the 554th Eng. Battalion in construction of an airfield. In May of 1967 the unit was finally at full strength and 24 assistant driver-gunners were added. This was authorized as the 79th Group wanted each truck to have a driver and an assistant driver- gunner (shotgun). Morale in the unit was high. The 104th was still operating with 48 5-ton dumps. |
