[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 172 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E997-E998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 555TH CIVIL 
    ENGINEERING SQUADRON, KNOWN AS ``TRIPLE NICKEL,'' RED HORSE UNIT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2023

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, it is my privilege to 
recognize and honor the United States Air Force 555th Civil Engineering 
Squadron, ``Triple Nickel,'' as one of the original RED HORSE units for 
their distinguished service and commendable achievements during the 
Vietnam War.
  In the thick of the Vietnam War, on October 1, 1965, the U.S. Air 
Force activated the first RED HORSE squadrons, notably the 555th and 
554th Civil Engineering Squadrons (CES), which would soon earn their 
nicknames, ``Triple Nickel'' and ``Penny Short,'' respectively. 
Initially designated as ``Prime BEEF Heavy Repair'' units, these 
squadrons quickly distinguished themselves, prompting leaders to coin 
the term ``RED HORSE,'' an acronym for Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy 
Operations Repair Squadron--Engineering. Their mission was crucial--to 
establish a long-term civil engineering presence and provide major 
repair capabilities in the combat zones of Southeast Asia.
  The deployment of RED HORSE units was a strategic move at a critical 
juncture in the war when the demands on Army and Navy construction 
units far exceeded their capacity. With the Army and Navy construction 
forces fully engaged, RED HORSE units emerged to fill the need. Upon 
deployment to Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, the Triple Nickel unit 
immediately began operations by hitting the beach with supplies and 
heavy equipment.
  Civil engineer units from across the United States were assigned to 
various Air Force installations throughout Vietnam, including Cam Ranh, 
with some of the most distinguished officers and airmen being selected 
for RED HORSE duty. The 1969 roster that served in the 555th CES was 
composed of four hundred civil engineer personnel, arriving in Vietnam 
at the height of the war and responding to urgent infrastructural needs 
following the Tet Offensive of 1968. which delivered damaging blows to 
American installations up and down the peninsula.
  Cam Rahn Air Base required significant infrastructure to sustain the 
war effort--from paved landing strips to dormitory housing for the 
troops. Triple Nickel not only repaired and constructed new facilities 
on Cam Ranh Air Base but also saw action at various American and 
Vietnam installations throughout the peninsula--from the Delta to the 
DMZ. In Vietnam, over two thousand RED HORSE troops deployed annually 
where they built both horizontal and vertical facilities to support the 
Air Force's mission and engaged in numerous humanitarian projects for 
local communities.
  As the Vietnam War began to wind down in the early 1970s there were 
calls to deactivate units that had been formed during the war. However, 
thanks to the foresight of certain military and Congressional leaders 
who recognized the inherent value RED HORSE provides to the Air Force 
in both peace and war, multiple units remain in National Guard and 
Reserve organizations.
  In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the bonds formed during the 
conflict were not only maintained but strengthened. Now, veterans of 
Triple Nickel who served together in Vietnam occasionally gather to 
celebrate the friendships, accomplishments, and bonds that were forged 
in the challenging environment of a war-torn country.
  It is my distinct honor to recognize the 555th Civil Engineering 
Squadron, ``Triple Nickel,'' for the critical role they held in the 
Vietnam War and the enduring bond they maintain today.

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