326th Engineer Battalion
"Sapper Eagle"
The 326th Engineer Battalion consists of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), three SAPPER line companies (A, B and C), and a light Engineer Company. The line companies each support an Infantry Brigade while HHC and 887th Engineer Company (Light Equipment) (Air Assault) provide general support across the Division's Area of Responsibility. The unit is designed specifically for air assault operations. Heavy drop and helicopter sling load missions are routine business.
The 326th Engineers were constituted in the National Army on 23 July 1918 as an element of the 101st Division. The unit was demobilized on 11 December 1918. It was reconstituted on 24 June 1921 as the 326th Engineers (Combat), an element of the 101st Division, in the Organized Reserves and organized in November 1921 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Regiment was divided on 31 March 1942. All Regimental units (less the 2d Battalion) were allotted to the Armyof the United States on 15 August 1942, were redesignated as the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion, and were activated at Camp Clairborne, Louisiana. After extensive training in the United States, the Battalion deployed to Europe where it participated in the airborne assault into Normandy. The Battalion also participated in the assault into Holland and the Screaming Eagles' heroic stand at Bastogne. For its outstanding accomplishments at Normandy and Bastogne, the Battalion was twice awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. For its contribution to the success of the European War, the Battalion was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (with Palm), the Netherlands Orange Lanyard, and the Belgian Fourragere. The Battalion was inactivated in Germany on 30 November 1945.
The 326th Engineer Battalion was reactivated on 15 May 1954 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina From 1956-1965. The Battalion was garrisoned at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where it supported the 101st Airborne Division and conducted training to maintain a combat ready status.
On 6 July 1965, Company A deployed to South Vietnam as part of the 101st Airborne Division's First Brigade Task Force. On 3 August 1967, the remainder of the Battalion joined Company A in Vietnam. While in Southeast Asia, the 326th Engineer Battalion continued to support the Division. Most of the Battalion's effort was directed toward construction in the A Shau Valley and construction of facilities and roadways to support the Vietnamese incursion into Laos.
In January 1972, the Battalion received orders to stand down and return to CONUS. Upon its return to Fort Campbell in March 1972, the 173rd Airborne Engineer Company was redesignated Company C, 326th Engineer Battalion. From the nucleus, the Battalion was rebuilt and reorganized until it achieved full strength in August 1973 . D Company was disbanded on 1 March 1987 and the 887th Engineer Company (Light Equipment) was reconstituted and attached to the Battalion to provide equipment support to the Division.
Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, the 326th deployed to Saudi Arabia with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Deploying B Company on 23 August, the Battalion closed in Saudi Arabia on 18 September. During OPERATION DESERT SHIELD the Battalion was instrumental in establishing the Corps Covering Force Area and the construction of the Division Base Camp; Camp Eagle II. On 24 February 1991 (G-Day), the Battalion assaulted into Iraq by air and ground establishing FOB's Cobra and Viper, constructing MSRs and performing counter-mobility operati ons along the Euphrates River. The Battalion was involved in every major Division operation during OPERATION DESERT STORM.
The Battalion redepoyed to Ft. Campbell on 5 April 1991 to resume it's world wide rapid deployment mission.
