[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 123 (Thursday, September 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE FIRST ENGINEER BATTALION

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of a 
military unit whose gallant service to our Nation extends over a 
century and a half.
  The First Engineer Battalion, tracing its intrepid lineage to 1846, 
is the oldest Engineer Battalion in the United States Army. Having 
served in both the Mexican War and Civil War, they continued their 
valorous service to our great Nation through the Spanish American War, 
in Cuba, and in the Philippine Insurrection.
  The First Engineer Battalion was reorganized and expanded in World 
War I to form the First Engineer Regiment, assigned to the First 
Division, fighting in every major engagement in France. They were cited 
by the French Government with the French Fourragere and two Croix De 
Guerres. Taking part in North African landings and invasions of Sicily 
and Normandy during World War II, they were awarded three Presidential 
Unit Citations, two additional Croix De Guerres with Palm, the Medaille 
Militaire, and the Belgian Fourragere. Earning eight campaign 
streamers, they distinguished themselves across two continents. They 
again were called to Southeast Asia in support of the ``Big Red One'' 
being awarded three Meritorious Unit Commendations, Vietnamese Cross of 
Gallantry with Palm, and Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal. Deploying 
to Germany as part of REFORGER exercises and to Southwest Asia as part 
of Desert Shield and Desert Storm they where again lauded for their 
actions and awarded the Valorous Unit Citation.
  We cannot take lightly their dauntless and meritorious service to our 
Nation. Nor can we forget the valiant actions of those who served in 
building the necessary infrastructure for our troops under the most 
adverse and hazardous conditions. For over two-thirds of our Nation's 
history, their accomplishments, both individually and collectively, 
were pivotal not only to a successful combat effort, but to 
establishing and maintaining the legacy of which the Combat Engineers 
may be justifiably proud.
  I join in expressing the respect, admiration, and grateful 
appreciation of our Nation as they gather for their annual reunion in 
Ashville, NC, later this month.

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