B Co 2nd Engineer Battalion

• Korean War Sacrifice: During the Korean War, B Company of the 2nd Engineer Battalion was part of the unit that participated in the famous "Burning of the Colors" at Kunu-ri in November 1950 to prevent their battalion colors from being captured by Chinese forces. • Origins: The 2nd Engineer Battalion traces its lineage back to the 2nd Battalion of Engineers, organized in 1901, making it one of the oldest units in the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment. • Philippine-American War: Early in its history, elements of the battalion participated in operations during the Philippine-American War, contributing to U.S. military engineering efforts overseas. • World War I Service: The battalion served as combat engineers in France during World War I, constructing trenches, roads, and fortifications under fire. • World War II: The unit participated in the Aleutian Islands Campaign, helping to retake the Alaskan islands of Attu and Kiska from Japanese forces. • Burning of the Colors Tradition: To honor the battalion's sacrifice and prevent their colors from falling into enemy hands in 1950, the 2nd Engineer Battalion holds an annual "Burning of the Colors" ceremony at Fort Bliss, Texas. • Global Deployments: B Company, as part of the battalion, has been deployed in various operations, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, providing critical engineering and route clearance support. • Decorations: The 2nd Engineer Battalion has received numerous unit awards, including Presidential Unit Citations and Meritorious Unit Commendations for its actions in combat. • Unit Motto: The battalion's motto is "Essayons" (French for "Let us try"), which is the traditional motto of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, reflecting their can-do spirit. • Symbolism: The battalion's distinctive unit insignia features a castle, a traditional symbol of military engineers, and honors their long history of building and fighting.