Following the lineage of the 20th Engineer Brigade will take you back more than 150 years, when it was originally organized as a provisional engineer battalion in December 1861. From that point until it received its current designation in 1950, the unit took part in campaigns—and received official credit for doing so—in every war our country ever fought with the exceptions of the Indian Wars and the Korean War.
After its designation as the 20th Engineer Brigade, the unit deployed to France for two years before returning to the U.S. in 1954, where it supported XVIII Airborne Corps until its inactivation in 1958. The escalating Vietnam War prompted its reactivation in May,1967 and subsequent deployment in August. Before its September, 1971 inactivation, the brigade had officially participated in 11 campaigns and was awarded four Meritorious Unit Commendations and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class.
During its deployment for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991, the brigade constructed airfields, roads, heliports, and storage facilities for water, ammo, food, and fuel, while also destroying 6,000-plus enemy bunkers and a million tons of enemy munitions. For its relentless dedication in living up to its motto of “Building Combat Power,” the brigade was awarded yet another Meritorious Unit Commendation.
With the onset of the Global War on Terrorism, the demand for the brigade’s services rapidly grew. Over the past fourteen years, a dozen of the brigade’s 17 companies have been deployed in support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, earning a Valorous Unit Award for its actions in Iraq in 2003 and two Meritorious Unit Commendations for deployments in 2004 and 2007. In November, 2011, the unit deployed to the Southwest Asia theater for the last time as part of Operation New Dawn.
The castle tower that makes up the bulk of the brigade’s CSIB (Combat Service Identification Badge) is drawn from the branch insignia of the Corps of Engineers—but the pointed base recalls the unit’s combat duties. Note that the four “V” shapes around the tower are similar to the Roman numeral for five, and when added together equal the unit’s numerical designation. The tower is superimposed over a saltire—the symbol used for Brigades on military maps. Take as a whole, the CSIB evokes the notion of building as a component of combat—an idea explicitly stated by the motto displayed on the brigade’s Unit Crest.
Related Items
20th Engineer Brigade Unit Patch (SSI)
20th Engineer Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)
20th Engineer Brigade CSIB with AIRBORNE Tab
20th Engineer Brigade Beret Flash And Oval