291st Engineer Combat Battalion (United States)

Heavy ponton bridge built on March 8–9, 1945 by the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion across the Rhine, downstream from the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, between Kripp and Linz.

The 291st Engineer Combat Battalion was one of the most decorated engineering groups of the United States Army during World War II.[1] Commanded by Colonel David E. Pergrin, it performed well during the Battle of Bulge, blowing up bridges in advance of the German advance towards Antwerp.

It was also instrumental in building the first pontoon bridge across the Rhine after the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge, facilitating the U.S. Army's drive into central Germany.[1]

Services

U.S. infantry soldiers deploy an M2 assault boat
Treadway bridge supported by pneumatic pontons

As a combat engineer battalion the 291st provided diverse services. These included, but were not limited to:[2]

  • Laying roads and unloading/loading supplies, vehicles & personnel from transport and cargo ships

These included the deployment and operation of assault boats and the construction of various pontoon bridges,[3] including M1 treadways, and modular steel truss Bailey bridges.

Presidential Citation

The 291st received a Presidential Citation for its "outstanding performance of duty in action" against the for holding a defensive position against a German offensive from December 17 to December 26 in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge:

As authorized by Executive Order No. 9396 (sec. I, Bul. 22, WD, 1943), superseding Executive Order No. 9075 (sec. III, Bul. 11, WD, 1942), citation of the following unit in General Orders, No. 30. Headquarters First United States Army, 18 February 1945, as approved by the Commanding General, European Theater of Operations, is confirmed under the provisions of section IV, Circular No. 333, War Department, 1943, in the name of the President, of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction. The citation reads as follows:

The 291st Engineer Combat Battalion is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy from 17 to 26 December 1944, in Belgium. On 17 December 1944, at the beginning of the German Ardennes break-through, the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion was assigned the mission of establishing and manning roadblocks south and east of Malmedy, and with the defense of the town itself. The battalion set up essential roadblocks and prepared hasty defenses. Shortly thereafter, numerically superior enemy infantry and armored columns moving in the direction of Malmedy were engaged. Though greatly outnumbered and constantly subjected to heavy enemy artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire, the officers and men of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion stubbornly resisted all enemy attempts to drive through their positions. Repeated attacks were made by enemy armor and infantry on roadblocks and defensive positions and, in each instance, were thrown back with heavy losses by the resolute and determined resistance. The determination, devotion to duty, and unyielding fighting spirit displayed by the personnel of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion, in delaying and containing a powerful enemy force along a route of vital importance to the Allied effort, are worthy of high praise.[4]

Images

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "First Across the Rhine". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  2. ↑ What Did Combat Engineers Do?
  3. ↑ 549th Engineer Light Ponton Company History
  4. ↑ War Department Battle Honors–Citation of Units: GENERAL ORDERS WAR DEPARTMENT No. 24f, April 6, 1945

Additional reading