World Wars The lineage of the 18th Engineer Brigade can be traced to 29 July 1921, when its predecessor, the 347th Engineers (General Service), was constituted as an Organized Reserves unit. The 347th Engineers would not be activated for almost twenty years, until the military buildup after the United States entered World War II. The unit was ordered into active military service on 6 May 1942 at
Camp Claiborne,
Louisiana. earning its first
Meritorious Unit Commendation. After
V-E Day, the regiment remained on occupation duty in Germany until its inactivation on 1 June 1946. The 18th Engineer Brigade entered South Vietnam in September 1965 with the responsibility for overseeing all Army engineering operations in Vietnam until the establishment of the
U.S. Army Engineer Command, Vietnam, in late 1966. Prior to the completion of this new facility, the handling of ammunition there had to take place in other areas, near public housing and fuel storage depots.
Operation Enduring Freedom The 18th Engineer Brigade was deployed to
Afghanistan in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom in April 2005. Its primary areas of operation were in and around
Bagram,
Kandahar, and
Sharana, among other locations. In 2007, the 18th Engineer Brigade was reassigned to V Corps, taking the place of the
130th Engineer Brigade, which returned to the United States. Some of the 130th's units either merged or were reassigned to the 18th Brigade. During this time, the unit participated in road work, construction of
Forward Operating Bases, and other activities that enhanced training readiness in and around Campbell Barracks.
Operation Iraqi Freedom 08–10 In 2008, the unit was notified of another upcoming deployment to
Iraq in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. It commands three to five engineer battalions in Multinational Division – North. The battalions support individual
Brigade Combat Teams of other units in "Task Force Iron", a combat group led by the
1st Armored Division. They are working to rebuild Iraqi infrastructure, with the cooperation of Iraqi engineers, including construction of roads, airfields, and land moving. The unit cased its colors on 29 April 2008, formally signifying the beginning of its deployment to Iraq. The Brigade spent the first six months of its deployment to
Tikrit in central Iraq, working on projects there for Multinational Division-Center under the
10th Mountain Division. On 6 November, the brigade relocated to
Kirkuk, unfurling its colors at
Forward Operating Base Warrior. The brigade conducted route clearance and construction projects in northern Iraq, while partnered with Iraqi engineers. It replaced the
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Kirkuk and will was under the area of responsibility of Multinational Division-North led by the
1st Armored Division. In February 2009, the brigade again moved, this time to
Nineveh Governorate to focus on construction projects in areas in and around
Mosul. It was relieved by
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. On 17 July 2009, the brigade handed over responsibility of Mosul to the
130th Engineer Brigade. The brigade subsequently returned to
Schwetzingen, Germany after its 15-month deployment was finished.
Operation Enduring Freedom The Brigade deployed to Afghanistan for its second deployment to the country since 2001. ==Honors==