The 572nd Engineer Company (Mobility Augmentation) was activated at Fort Hood on 16 October 2005 as part of the 20th Engineer Battalion. From time to time the 572nd Engineers are transferred to a different Engineer battalion. The 572nd Engineer Company was assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion and remained at Fort Hood while the 20th Engineer Battalion deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.
On 6 November 2007 the 572nd Engineer Company departed Fort Hood to deploy to Iraq. In Iraq the company was attached to the 326th Engineer Battalion, responsible for all route clearance missions in the northern area of the Multi-National Division (Baghdad). The 572nd was located at Forward Operating Base Speicher.
The 572nd Engineer Company is a modular unit designed to augment other engineer, infantry, or armor units. Its mission is to
- Conduct assault gap crossings, mounted and dismounted breaches
- Emplace obstacles in support of Maneuver Brigade Combat Teams and Support Brigades to enable force application, focused logistics,and protection.
Constituted 5 May 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 572d Engineer Dump Truck Company
Activated 16 August 1943 at Camp Sutton, North Carolina
Inactivated 3 December 1945 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana
Activated 30 November 1946 in Germany
Inactivated 14 March 1947 in Germany
Redesignated 1 February 1955 as the 572d Engineer Company and allotted to the Regular Army
Activated 18 March 1955 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky [as a Light Equipment company]
Inactivated 22 March 1971 in Vietnam
Activated 16 October 2005 at Fort Hood, Texas [as a Mobility Augmentation company]
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II: Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe
Vietnam: Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive;Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Decorations
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1966-1967
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1967-1968
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1968-1969
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1970-1971
The 572nd Engineer Company in Vietnam
"We Move The Earth"
The 572nd Engineer Company served in Vietnam from 15 January 1966 to 22 March 1971, when it was inactivated. Throughout its deployment it was organized as a Light Equipment Company with three line platoons of heavy earthmoving equipment, a support platoon containing quarry and rock-crushing equipment, and a maintenance platoon.
The 572nd Engineer Company was assigned to the 18th Engineer Brigade throughout its time in Vietnam. Upon arrival it was first attached to the 39th Engineer Battalion, 45th Engineer Group. In 1967 the 572nd Engineers were assigned to the 577th Engineer Battalion, 35th Engineer Group. Later it was attached to the 116th Engineer Battalion.
Missions in Vietnam included the construction of facilities at Cam Ranh Bay, vital Highway QL-1, Vong Ho Bay, North Beach airfield in Tuy Hoa, and Highway QL-20 in Lam Dong Province. Quarry sites included those at Chop Chi near Tuy Hoa and Chi Cong near Bao Loc.
