Calhoun County MI Archives History .....1279th Combat Engineers 
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Robin Ellis -- July 20, 2007, 10:53 pm

First organized in 1937, the unit that became the 1279th Combat Engineer 
Battalion was the Michigan National Guard's only all-African-American 
organization. The 1279th saw service in the South Pacific during World War II, 
including the Phillipines, Solomon Islands, and Luzon. The 1279th Combat 
Engineer Battalion was one of the state's African-American units to serve with 
distinction during that war. Unlike other Michigan African-American units, 
though, the 1279th was led by African-American officers. And, despite the 1948 
Executive Order issued by President Harry S. Truman, the battalion remained 
segregated. Following World War II, the unit was redesignated as the 1279th 
Combat Engineer Battalion.

                         Korean War Service

 In June 1950, the world was well on its way to recovering from the devastation 
of World War II. Europe, Japan, the Philippines and many other countries were 
consumed with rebuilding their lives, homes, farms, businesses and landmarks 
laid to waste during five years of unimaginable destruction. Americans, from 
all walks of life, were intent on putting the horrors of war in the past and 
looked to the future with great optimism and hope. The GI Bill, Marshall Plan, 
United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization ushered in the second 
half of the twentieth century with all the promise for peace and prosperity 
America longed for.

But our nation’s dream for world cooperation and stability was once again, 
abruptly shattered. On June 25, 1950, communist North Korea invaded its 
democratic neighbor, South Korea. The news was greeted with utter disbelief.

In the few short years after World War II, Russia and the United States made 
the inevitable transition from allies to adversaries. Many military and 
political strategists feared that North Korea’s attack on the South was part of 
a global communist plot. The objective of the attack, they reasoned, was to 
lure U.S. military resources away from a crippled Europe, and mount a swift 
offensive through the continent, that would be met with little or no resistance.

Responding to the communist aggression, on June 27, President Harry Truman 
ordered U.S. forces to assist United Nations forces repel the invasion, and put 
General Douglas MacArthur in command. With America’s armed forces committed to 
the hostilities, a familiar call to arms was issued to marshal troops. Defense 
industries comprising the world’s undisputed "arsenal of democracy" were again 
asked to provide our soldiers with the technology and weaponry to achieve 
overwhelming victory.

All across America, national guard units and young men were being recruited to 
meet the growing needs of commanders in Korea. On July 29th, the Adjutant 
General of Michigan, Brigadier General George Moran, received orders to 
activate a relatively new unit in Detroit, the 1279th Combat Engineers, 
commanded by World War II hero, Lieutenant Colonel Felix McDavid. In three 
short weeks, nearly five hundred members of the proud unit stationed in an old, 
dilapidated building called Roosevelt, would find themselves on their way to 
Fort Lewis, Washington to begin their pre-deployment training, prior to 
shipping out for service in Korea.

The members of the 1279th didn’t have much time to put their affairs at home in 
order before they found themselves saying good-bye to loved ones at the Fort 
Street train station. This emotional trip and departure would only mark the 
beginning of many more uncertain and challenging experiences the unit would 
face as they set out to defend freedom and nobly serve their country.

Training at Fort Lewis was often demanding. Preparing for the tests of combat 
was a serious matter and the members of the unit soon established excellence as 
the only acceptable standard. Spit and polish was always the order of the day 
and 1279th members were readily recognized for their attention to detail and 
exceptional appearance.

In striking contrast to their characteristic "by the book" training regime, one 
afternoon, the 1279th found themselves center stage in an incident that likely 
remains unrivaled to this day. During the execution of an unusually large 
demolitions charge, an unexpected crater was created that changed the 
topography of Fort Lewis and rattled windows as far away as Tacoma. The 
isolated occurrence didn’t cause any damage, but it still offers unit members a 
powerful reminder of the effectiveness of dynamite.

With their November 15, 1950 embarkation date for Korea quickly approaching, 
Colonel McDavid asked for an extension of several more weeks to complete the 
units training. Shortly after the extension was approved, the Army moved 
quickly to address America’s growing concern for an impending Soviet attack in 
Europe. Suddenly, the 1279th was needed in Germany to repair roads and bridges 
rendered impassable during World War II. Allied forces needed reliable 
transportation routes to conduct effective offensive and defensive operations, 
so the 1279th was reassigned to duty in Europe.

This change in plans was received by unit members with mixed feelings of 
welcome relief and uncertain fear. While their transfer would certainly take 
them out of the line of fire in Korea, it may have just postponed their destiny 
with an even greater threat. But, for the time being, this change in plans gave 
them longer to prepare and one-third of them received an opportunity to take 
engineering courses at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. There, they learned to construct 
bridges, conduct reconnaissance and received more demolitions training.

The unit members remaining at Fort Lewis also continued their demolitions 
training, as well as delaying tactics, weapons qualification, and defensive 
operations. At the conclusion of their 27 week pre-deployment cycle, General J. 
Lawton Collins, Chief of Staff of the Army, inspected the 1279th and certified 
them ready to join America’s forces preparing for the defense of Europe.

In late June, 1951, members of the 1279th Combat Engineer Battalion boarded the 
SS General William Darby for their transatlantic trip to Bremerhaven, Germany. 
Upon arrival at the seaport, the unit was assigned to the U.S. Seventh Army.

Seventh Army stationed the 1279th at a renovated McNair kaserne near Hoechst, 
Germany. From this location, the unit would perform its mission to prepare for 
a rear guard action, in anticipation of a Soviet attack, through the Fulda Gap.

The unit assumed its mission with uncompromising purpose. Throughout its area 
of operations, unit members constructed timber trestle, bailey and pontoon 
bridges with speed and efficiency that earned them incomparable honors and 
recognition. One distinguished mission accomplishment stands to this day. While 
on assignment to cross a particularly treacherous stretch of the Rhine River, 
unit members erected a pontoon bridge over the span, faster, better and safer 
than any unit before or since.
 
When the members of the unit weren’t building their bridges, or getting some 
well deserved rest and relaxation, they were often doing what they could to 
help the people and children in the local community. For their volunteer 
service, the mayor of Oberrisenburg presented Colonel McDavid with the key to 
his city. Before the unit returned stateside, the Duchess of Holland presented 
the members of the 1279th with national honors and citations.

In 1952, a little more than a year after they set sail for Germany, the 1279th 
began a protracted period of reassignments and redeployments. Seventh Army was 
authorized to begin sending selected soldiers stateside, some to other units in 
Europe and still others remained in Europe until the Korean War truce was 
declared.
                      Post-Korean War

By war’s end, the 1279th was reunited for a brief time, but soon had its 
battalion colors and streamers retired and placed in the National Archives in 
Washington, D.C. In 1954, the unit was redesignated the 227th Anti-Aircraft 
Artillery Battalion, a racially integrated unit. The lineage of the 1279th 
ended with the retirement of 1st Missile Battalion (Nike-Ajax), 177th Artillery 
in 1974.

Additional Comments:
Information from:
http://www.michigan.gov/dmva/0,1607,7-126-2360_3003_3009-16890--,00.html

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