Korean War History

2 August, Company A was assigned the mission of preparing the 650-foot bridge across the Naktong River at Tuksong Dong for demolition. Company C was assigned the task of preparing the road leading out of Koryong for demolition. The next day, after transporting the 17th Korean Regiment from the front lines across the bridge, Company C blew their road craters. Although strafed by enemy aircraft 0445 that morning, Company A successfully prepared the bridge and blew it after Company C crossed the bridge at 0701. Total demolition used on both road and bridge amounted to over eight thousand pounds, composed of TNT, C-2, mines, and cratering charges.

On 15 August, per General Order 196, HQ, Eighth U.S. Army, dated 4 August 1950, Company A, 43rd Engineer Construction Battalion became Companies B and D, 14th Engineer (C) Battalion, and the 13th Engineer (C) Battalion became Company C, 14th Engineer (C) Battalion. COL Harry E. Burcher assumed command of the Battalion from MAJ H.A. MacCord.

The Battalion spent the rest of the month conducting combat engineer operations in the defense of the Naktong River and the defense of the Pusan-Taegu MSR. This consisted of laying mine fields, setting booby traps, laying wire, setting up defense perimeters, repairing and maintaining roads, and guarding bridges.

During the month of September 1950, the Battalion participated in three important phases centering on the build-up, attack and breakthrough of the Pusan Perimeter, Operation Castle. The first phase consisted of repairing and maintenance of the main supply route leading from Pusan to Taegu.

The second phase consisted of construction of defensive positions paralleling the Taegu-Ulsan Highway and a River Crossing Operation on the Naktong River for the 1st Cavalry, I Corps, Eighth Army and the 1st ROK Division.

The third phase was highlighted by the problems that were encountered by the Battalion due to the rapid advance of the Infantry effecting an equally rapid advance for the Engineers to keep up. They maintained and built bridges with the utmost efficiency and speed with which materials were made available and on hand. Several timber trestle bridges were constructed over the course of the month.

The soldiers were utilized to dig foxholes, gun emplacements, and construct barbed wire entanglements. Thousands of civilian laborers were enlisted to help in the tasks of filling sandbags and constructing barbed wire fences.

October 1950 marked the Battalion's movement from Sanju to P'yongyang, Korea. Much energy was spent moving the Battalion and its heavy equipment, and at the same time maintaining a working organization.

March and April 1951 saw the Battalion conducting bridging operations on the Han River for the 25th and 3rd Infantry Divisions. They were engaged in extensive road and bridge maintenance between the Han River and the Pukhan River and north to the Imjin River. The primary purpose was to increase the combat effectiveness of I Corps as it advanced to the various phase lines during its limited assault on the enemy, but also to reconstruct roads and bridges previously destroyed during the withdrawal of 28 November 1950. Company A remained in direct support of the 1st ROK Division.

The Battalion experienced serious shortages in spare parts for engineer equipment, chemical and water points. It should be noted that the Battalion conducted combat engineering missions for Task Force Growdon, and participated in Operation Wallsend for the Commonwealth 29th Independent Infantry Brigade Group; also, the defensive construction of Line Golden north of Seoul. LTC James E. Linden assumed command of the Battalion from COL Harry E. Burcher on 21 March.

In May of 1951, Company A received the Meritorious Unit Commendation and a present of a captured bull from the First ROK Division in acknowledgement of their superb support of the division during its advance north of Seoul.

The primary mission of the Battalion during this period was to bring all routes up to the condition where they could sustain Class 50 traffic in all types of weather, increasing the combat effectiveness of the Corps and its supporting units. This consisted of extensive road and bridge construction and reconstruction in the I Corps area. The next phase began with the successful repulsing of the enemy at the Line Golden and their eventual rout northward to the Imjin and Han Rivers.

Two railcars and three truckloads of seriously needed engineer supplies were finally delivered to the Battalion from Pusan. Water points were maintained and once serious shortages in personnel were finally being filled with new troops.

21 June 1951 saw the Battalion with a new commander as LTC James E. Linden was replaced by MAJ Charles E. Wright. The Battalion continued with extensive road and bridge construction and reconstruction in the I Corps area, this was done with the help of much indigenous labor. Serious shortages in radio operators and repairmen were being offset through rigorous training of personnel. Battalion command began experimenting with possible mottos for the battalion, the current one being "Ta Na!" (Let's go).

July 1951 found the Battalion with critical shortages of qualified personnel for specialized positions. Generally speaking, the replacements that the Battalion was getting were in the grade of E-2. Officers and men of higher rank were being rotated out faster than they could be replaced. The first half of the month concentrated on maintenance of assigned roads. In the second half, the principle function was the construction of fortified defensive positions on line "Kansas" in support of the 1st Cavalry Division and the 3rd Infantry Division. Life became more "normal" as the men were treated to a couple movies each week, and PX items began to be more available, and beer and soft drinks were being supplied. Recreational facilities were also being constructed.

Flash floods were an imminent concern during the months of August and September 1951. These months kept the Battalion busy repairing roads and bridges because of the heavy rains received, a major portion being the salvaging of tactical bridging destroyed by floodwaters. Improvements were made with the aim that they would be of a permanent nature. Many lessons were learned in working with the conditions that come with the annual monsoon season, waterlines being marked and plans laid for swinging and removable bridges.

At the end of September, the United Nations main line of resistance on the I Corps front began to extend North. Many units were planning to move across the Imjin River in preparation for a new offensive, and new bridges across the Imjin River were planned. Plans were also being made to resume peace talks, and the mission of the Battalion as regards the Peace Camp took on added importance.

In October 1951 a team from Company A moved to the Panmunjom Conference Site for the purpose of installing and maintaining barrage balloons. The balloons were filled with hydrogen to definitely outline the cease-fire talk site. Considerable effort was also required to improve Route 1 from the Imjin River to the conference site, so all kinds of vehicles, including sedans could travel over it.

November 1951 saw preparations begun in anticipation of the winter season such as the stockpiling of sand alongside roads, along with repairs being made. Steps were undertaken to replace floating bridges across the Imjin with semi-permanent bridges using rock-filled cribs as piers and the M-2 tread as the roadway. The winterization of the Peace Camp was a main focus of the Battalion.

At the end of the month, the Battalion, minus Company A, was relieved from operational control of the 1169th Engineer Combat Group and attached to the 3rd Infantry Division. Subsequently, the Battalion was then attached to the 10th Engineer Combat Battalion to render engineer support to 3ID, 8th Cavalry Regiment, and later the 180th Infantry Regiment. Company A was attached to the 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion for operational control, continuing its mission of maintenance at the Peace Camp. LTC Walter R. Arnold assumed command of the Battalion from LTC Charles E. Wright on 1 November.

In December 1951, reconstruction and maintenance of roads continued. The Battalion operated a concertina factory putting out approximately 200 rolls per day. The cutting and stockpiling of logs were detailed because of the need of front line units for their construction of shelters and bunkers. In addition, normal engineer tasks such as bridge construction, culvert laying, mine laying, mine clearing, and reconnaissance were also a big part of the mission. The Battalion took a half-day of rest to celebrate Christmas on the 25th.

At the beginning of January 1952, the Battalion was once again attached to the 1169th Engineer Group. The major effort was road and bridge maintenance because of the icy weather conditions, with about 1400 yards of ditching completed. Company A was tasked with the removal of minefields from Line Golden -- Operation "Thud." The discovery of numerous unrecorded minefields indicated the original estimate of 7,000 mines to be markedly conservative. Cableways were constructed at the Munsan-Ni railroad bridge site (one 400 lb. and two 2,000 lb.); also, a jeep suspension bridge was completed there. A similar cableway was constructed as a back-up measure to the X-Ray Bridge leading to Panmunjom, which since the destruction of the M-2 bridge at Munsan-Ni was the only vehicular route left.

Engineer support was continued at the Munsan-Ni Peace Camp and at Panmunjom. Three airstrips were constructed and a guard tower at I Corps I.W.P. The ice control and maintenance of the X-Ray Bridge was one of the regular missions assigned the unit.

The primary enemy during the month of February 1952 was the ice on the Imjin that threatened the Widgeon and Imjin Bridges. Maintenance of roads, to include resurfacing, continued. Culverts had to be maintained and repaired. Company A reported 55% completion in the mine removal mission on Line Golden. Company C constructed a two-way, Class 50, I-beam bridge on Route 2Z. An operations building and three garages were constructed at one of the airstrips. Engineer support continued at Panmunjom. On the 28th of the month MAJ Harold W. Lubchansky assumed command of the battalion from LTC Walter R. Arnold.

Again, weather determined the mission of the Battalion in March 1952. Emergency repairs to roads and bridges were initiated because of the weather's thawing action and were the highest priority. Company A reported 98% completion of mine removal. Culvert maintenance continued to be necessary.

In April 1952, road and bridge maintenance continued to be a required mission. Debris booms were constructed upstream at various bridges to try to stop the damage that continued to be inflicted by floating debris. In addition to repairing damage inflicted by the winter thaw, preparations were already being made in anticipation of the coming monsoon season. The resurfacing of the Jackson Airstrip with decomposed granite was completed. Engineer support continued at the peace sites. Company A completed their mine removal mission by the month's end. Because of their work on Line Golden — clearing more than ten thousand mines, grenades, and duds during January, February, and March of 1952 and freeing roughly one thousand acres of land for cultivation — Company A was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, per Department of the Army General Orders No. 42, 11 June 1954, signed by General Matthew B. Ridgway.

May 1952: Road, bridge, and airstrip maintenance continued. Quarry operations were started this month with 9,310 cubic yards of rock crushed. Construction of a two-way, Class 50 bridge completed. Engineer support continued at the peace sites.

June 1952: Road, bridge, and airstrip maintenance continued. A two-way, Class 50 bridge was constructed. Quarry operations produced 8,270 cubic yards of crushed rock. The Battalion began Operation Amazon -- the preparing of river crossing facilities for the forthcoming flood season; raft equipment was stockpiled, cableways reinforced, approach roads prepared to the high water level mark, upstream and downstream debris booms constructed at each bridge site, and water gages and bench marks were installed. The Battalion also demonstrated mine-clearing operations to the 30th Ordinance Maintenance Company. On 28 June MAJ John P. Agnew assumed command of the Battalion from MAJ Harold W. Lubchansky.