937th Engineer Group
The unit was initially activated in September 1942, as the 937th Engineer Aviation Camouflage Battalion, US Army Air Corps. The original mission was to supervise and conduct camouflage operations. In World War II, the battalion deployed to Europe, earning streamers for Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes-Alsace Campaigns. The battalion deactivated in November 1945, then reactivated in February 1947 and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command and subsequently to the 14th Air Force of the Continental Air Command. The battalion was once again deactivated on 20 June 1953.
On 1 February 1955, the unit was redesignated the 937th Engineer Group and activated in March 1955 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The unit later deployed to Qui Nhon, Vietnam. The group had command of eleven separate companies, five battalions, and one detachment. By November 1966 the unit had conducted both support and combat missions that extended to the limits of Vietnam's Central Highlands. By 1971, the 937th Group had completed 71 major construction missions, numerous civil action projects, the Vietnamization Program, and had received credit for participation in 14 campaigns. The 937th Group was deactivated in September 1971 in Pleiku, Vietnam after earning two Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal.
On 21 June 1975, the unit was redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 937th Engineer Group (Combat) and was reactivated 1 July 1975 at Fort Riley, Kansas, where it presently serves. In 1989, the group deployed to Honduras, Central America and commanded the largest engineer task force since Vietnam. On 26 October 1990, the Group deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. The 937th Group then provided engineer support for the 6th Light French Armor Division in the liberation and defense of Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. On 1 September 1992, in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, the Group deployed to Florida and assisted in relief efforts by providing engineer planning support. In October 1995, during Operation Peace Keeper 95, the 937th hosted the 433d Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Guards Motorized Rifle Division, in the first Russian-American joint peace keeping exercise on United States soil.
The 937th Engineer Group was reorganized when the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) flag was moved to Germany in March 1996, leaving the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, and the 937th Engineer Group at Fort Riley. The 937th assumed command and control of several III Corps and echelon above corps combat support and combat service support units that support the two brigade combat teams and Fort Riley. The 937th consists of the 541st Maintenance Battalion, the 1st Personnel Services Battalion, the 1st Finance Battalion, the 924th Military Police Battalion, the 82nd Medical Company (Air Ambulance), and HHC/937th Engineer Group. The two engineer companies under the 541st Maintenance Battalion have deployed in support of major contingency operations. The 568th Combat Support Equipment (CSE) Company deployed to Haiti from January - April 1996 to support United Nations' efforts to restore democracy to this nation. The 55th Engineer Company (Medium Girder Bridge) deployed to Bosnia from January - July 1996 in support of Operation Joint Endeavor.
On order, the 937th Engineer Group (Combat) deploys, establishes command and control of assigned forces, and conducts mobility, survivability and sustainment engineering operations in support of worldwide contingency operations, while protecting and sustaining the force. On order, it also redeploys.
- Deploy/redeploy
- Command and Control All Assigned Forces
- Conduct Mobility Engineering Operations
- Conduct Survivability Engineering Operations
- Conduct Sustainment Engineering Operations
- Sustain the Force
- Protect the Force
