24th Engineer Battalion

• Formation: The 24th Engineer Battalion was originally constituted on 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as the 2d Battalion, 24th Engineers. • World War II Service: The battalion was activated in June 1941 and participated in the North African and Italian campaigns, contributing to critical engineering operations. • Normandy Landings: Elements of the 24th Engineers played a key support role during the Normandy Invasion, building and repairing infrastructure under fire. • Cold War Era: After World War II, the battalion was inactivated, then reactivated in Germany as part of the U.S. Army’s commitment to NATO during the Cold War. • Vietnam War: The battalion was deployed to Vietnam, supporting the 4th Infantry Division with tasks such as road construction, mine clearing, and base camp development. • Operation Desert Storm: The 24th Engineer Battalion deployed to Southwest Asia in 1990 to support the liberation of Kuwait, providing critical mobility and countermobility support. • Decorations: The battalion has been awarded numerous unit citations, including the Meritorious Unit Commendation and campaign streamers for its service in WWII, Vietnam, and Southwest Asia. • Engineering Innovations: The 24th Engineers have been credited with developing new tactics for minefield clearance and rapid bridge construction under combat conditions. • Humanitarian Missions: In addition to combat roles, the battalion has participated in disaster relief operations and infrastructure rebuilding in various countries. • Legacy and Inactivation: The battalion was inactivated in 2005 at Fort Riley, Kansas, but its legacy endures through its contributions to engineering excellence and military history.