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79th Engineer Battalion (United States)

'''The 79th Engineer Battalion (United States) was a US Army combat engineer, construction and combat battalion from 1940 to 1991. '''

79th Engineer Battalion On 1 July 1940, the 79th Engineer Battalion was constituted and, after the outbreak of World War II, was activated on 10 December 1942 at Camp Phillips, Kansas. Subsequently, it was reorganized and designated the 79th Engineer Combat Battalion on 1 April 1943. As such it participated in the New Guinea and Philippine campaigns, receiving Battalion Battle Honors at Milne Bay, Finschhaven, Hollandia, Leyte and Luzon. A year before the conclusion of hostilities, on 23 June 1944, the unit was renamed to the 79th Engineer Construction Battalion. As such, it participated in the occupation of Japan until 4 June 1947 when it returned to Hawaii for deactivation.

Reactivation Eniwetak, Japan & the Korean War The outbreak of the Korean conflict found the 79th ready for participation in the defense of freedom, for the Battalion had been reactivated on 28 February 1949, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

'''Operation GREENHOUSE on Eniwetak Atoll 1950 - 1951 ''' A major construction program began at Enewetak in 1949. and it became necessary for an Army Engineer Construction Battalion to assist the civilian contractor ln preparing the test site. Therefore, Army Task Group (TG) 3.2, was activated on 12 January 1950. Commander JTF 3 assumed overall military responsibility for the Enewetak area on 1 February 1951 (Reference 3, p. 39). The Korean War started In June 1950, and the Army quickly became hard-pressed to supply troops for action In Korea. The Army tentatively planned to move two units - Hq 7th Engineer Brigade and 79th Engineer Construction Battalion from Enewetak to Korea. but this was contingent on the tests being moved to a stateside location. In March 1950, the Battalion was assigned to Operation Greenhouse and sent at Eniwetak Atoll in the Pacific. The main duties included preparing an existing air base facilities for the greater capacities and capabilities required by the conflict. In preparation for Operation GREENHOUSE the 79th Engineer Construction Battalion was assigned to perform all construction on Enewetak Island such as housing, piers, roads, rehabilitation of existing structures, runway reorientation and extensions, airfield expansion, and utility systems including electricity generation and distribution, cold storage facilities. Freshwater distillation and distribution, saltwater pumping and distribution. and sewage. On 19 October 1950, 30 officers and 666 enlisted personnel departed for the Far Eastern Command and a new construction force was organized out of the remaining troops. All but 27 enlisted men departed the island before any detonation. A maintenance engineering section organized Immediately upon the departure of the 79th Engineer Construction Battalion included 3 officers and 61 enlisted personnel for repair and maintenance of utilities and facilities. Only one man was badged, with a zero reading.