113th Engineer Battalion
Encyclopedia
The 113th Engineer Battalion is a battalion of the Indiana National Guard. Their missions include demolition and construction. The units of the 113th are found in Northern Indiana.
On September 16, 1917 the Indiana engineers designated the 113th Engineer Battalion and assigned to the 38th Infantry Division. The engineers from northwestern Indiana were quickly mobilized, trained at Camp Shelby
, Mississippi, and sent overseas during World War I
. Arriving in France on September 28, 1918, the engineers saw duty in construction missions, chiefly in the building of a large base camp near Brest. The engineers served in the Army of Occupation at Konz, Germany. The 113th returned to the United States in the spring of 1919.
The 113th Engineers served during the Ohio River
flood of 1937 and again in Wisconsin during the "Big Rain" of 1940.
The 113th Engineers were mobilized on January 17, 1941 for World War II
. They were deployed on Leyte in December 1944 with their basic load of engineer equipment consisting of 400 tons of assault and pioneer equipment, 140 tons of 30-day engineer supplies, and a complete "Bailey Bridge" unit weighing over 89 tons. After Leyte came Luzon, ZigZag Pass, Corregidor, Caballo Island, and Zambales.
Conflicting sources claim the 113th Engineer Battalion, Indiana Army National Guard, to be a subordinate unit of the Engineer Brigade, 38th Infantry Division. The 113th Engineer Battalion was, in fact, a part of the 38th Infantry Division until sometime in the early 2000s, when it was transferred to the Military Department of Indiana's 81st Troop Command.
The 113th Engineer Battalion was deployed in northern Iraq
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They conducted Soldier Readiness Processing at Camp Atterbury
late in 2004. The elements of the 113th arrived in country from mid-December 2004 to early January 2005. They were engaged in a 12-month deployment in Ninewah province, Iraq where they engaged in many types of combat missions. The 113th was equipped with the M-113
APC, and later with M-1114 Up-Armored Humvees. 113th was home by the end of the year, 2005 with no deaths during that deployment.
On September 16, 1917 the Indiana engineers designated the 113th Engineer Battalion and assigned to the 38th Infantry Division. The engineers from northwestern Indiana were quickly mobilized, trained at Camp Shelby
Camp Shelby
Camp Shelby is a military post whose North Gate begins at the southern boundary of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on United States Highway 49. It is the largest state owned training site in the nation. During wartime, the camp's mission is to serve as a major, independent mobilization station of the...
, Mississippi, and sent overseas during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Arriving in France on September 28, 1918, the engineers saw duty in construction missions, chiefly in the building of a large base camp near Brest. The engineers served in the Army of Occupation at Konz, Germany. The 113th returned to the United States in the spring of 1919.
The 113th Engineers served during the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
flood of 1937 and again in Wisconsin during the "Big Rain" of 1940.
The 113th Engineers were mobilized on January 17, 1941 for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They were deployed on Leyte in December 1944 with their basic load of engineer equipment consisting of 400 tons of assault and pioneer equipment, 140 tons of 30-day engineer supplies, and a complete "Bailey Bridge" unit weighing over 89 tons. After Leyte came Luzon, ZigZag Pass, Corregidor, Caballo Island, and Zambales.
Conflicting sources claim the 113th Engineer Battalion, Indiana Army National Guard, to be a subordinate unit of the Engineer Brigade, 38th Infantry Division. The 113th Engineer Battalion was, in fact, a part of the 38th Infantry Division until sometime in the early 2000s, when it was transferred to the Military Department of Indiana's 81st Troop Command.
The 113th Engineer Battalion was deployed in northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They conducted Soldier Readiness Processing at Camp Atterbury
Camp Atterbury
Camp Atterbury, near Edinburgh, Indiana, USA, is a training base of the Indiana National Guard. It was planned just months before the U.S. entry into World War II. Originally surveyed and researched by the Hurd Company, the present site was recommended to Congress in 1941. Construction commenced...
late in 2004. The elements of the 113th arrived in country from mid-December 2004 to early January 2005. They were engaged in a 12-month deployment in Ninewah province, Iraq where they engaged in many types of combat missions. The 113th was equipped with the M-113
M113 armored personnel carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
APC, and later with M-1114 Up-Armored Humvees. 113th was home by the end of the year, 2005 with no deaths during that deployment.