The 59th 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 59th Engineers are transferred to a different Engineer battalion. The 59th Engineer Company remained at Fort Hood while the 20th Engineer Battalion deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.
On 6 November 2007 the 59th 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 59th was located at Forward Operating Base Speicher.
A soldier from the 59th Engineers was killed by an improvised explosive device in Bayji, Iraq, on December 10th, 2007. Specialist Johnathan Lahmann was 21 years old, from Richmond, Indiana.
The 59th 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.
The M104 "Wolverine" Heavy Assault Bridge
Constituted 8 December 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 59th Engineer Combat Company
Activated 19 December 1942 in the Panama Canal Zone
Reorganized and redesignated 22 September 1944 as the 59th Engineer Service Company
Inactivated 28 February 1946 in the Philippines
Redesignated 13 November 1946 as the 59th Engineer Construction Company
Activated 25 November 1946 at Camp A.P. Hill, Virginia
Allotted 24 September 1951 to the Regular Army
Reorganized and redesignated 15 October 1953 as the 59th Engineer Company
Inactivated 1 September 1955 at Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska
Activated 1 June 1957 at Fort Ord, California
Inactivated 4 January 1968 at Fort Ord, California
Activated 1 January 1969 in Vietnam
Inactivated 26 December 1971 in Vietnam
Activated 17 April 1990 in Panama with personnel from the 59th Engineer Company (Provisional) (organized 29 June 1989 in Panama)
Inactivated 15 October 1994 in Panama
Activated 16 October 2005 at Fort Hood, Texas
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II: New Guinea; Bismarck-Archipelago (with arrowhead); Luzon
Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I
Armed Forces Expeditions: Panama
Decorations
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for PACIFIC THEATER
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1969-1970
Army Superior Unit Award for 1990
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1970-1971
The 59th Engineer Company was organized as a Land Clearing Company while stationed in Vietnam. Its equipment included 30 of the giant D7E dozers with Rome plows.
