Sep 26 - Sep 28, 2024:
Marine Corps Engineer Association (MCEA)More Details
Patch
Unit Details
Strength
Battalion
Type
Engineer
Year
1942 - Present
Description
3rd Combat Engineer Battalion (3rd CEB) was a combat engineer battalion of the United States Marine Corps
"Demolition is the Mission"
The battalion was first formed on 16 September 1942 as 1st Battalion, 19th Marine Regiment.
Two years later on 16 August 1944 they were re-designated the 3d Engineer Battalion.
The battalion was deactivated at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California on 30 November 1945.
From August 1957 until January 1962, the battalion was designated 3d Pioneer Battalion.
On 15 May 1976 the battalion was redesignated as the 3d Combat Engineer Battalion
Years Active:
September 1942 - 6 June 1995
1 October 2007 - 5 August 2014
Description
This campaign was from 1 July to 1 November 1968. During this period a country-wide effort was begun to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attempted another such offensive on 17-18 August but his efforts were comparatively feeble and were quickly overwhelmed by Allied forces.
In the fall of 1968 the South Vietnamese government, with major U.S. support, launched an accelerated pacification campaign. All friendly forces were coordinated and brought to bear on the enemy in every tactical area of operation. In these intensified operations, friendly units first secured a target area, then Vietnamese government units, regional forces/popular forces, police and civil authorities screened the inhabitants, seeking members of the Viet Cong infrastructure. This technique was so successful against the political apparatus that it became the basis for subsequent friendly operations. Government influence expanded into areas of the countryside previously dominated by the Viet Cong to such an extent that two years later at least some measure of government control was evident in all but a few remote regions.
