We

We of the Corps of Engineers have lonr been waiting for the advent of a forum
to air our deas on current Engineering problem5-mililary problems as well as
those wthin the civilian doma.n .
We are optimistic that v.e now have such a vehicle. with the initial 1lssue of
THE ENGINEER. making Its debut on the engineering scene.
Through this medium, we hope to trigger engineer thinking. We hope to
sttmufate controversial subjects, ''cross generate,''-lf you will-engtneer
viewpoints, with the objective In mind of progress In the profession. Certainly
there are amons us engineers who can rebut or reply to questions such as:
''Should Enaineers be generalists or specialists

"Can we attain trade union recognized proflctency for our MOS specialists :
"What Is the best method of reducing response time
"
We would like to see such toptcs--and countless others. e~tplored and we
believe thallhis can be done effectively throuah future issues of THE ENGINEER.
Controversy for controversy sake7 N~that is not our objective. What we are
after is progressive engineering 't hought, and v.e feel that we shall be successful in
reaching that goal, We see THE ENGINEER as a reflection of contemporary thinking
engineerlng.wise. It will be edited with the aim of provoking the thought processes
of the complete span of our personnel, from young enlisted men to career oriented
engineer officers. From them may well emanate new Ideas, fresh approaches to
existing problem areas-solutions perhaps. to many of the technical barricades
facing us.
Wtth that1n mind, an epigram occurs to us (and we arespeaktng 1n terms of
engineering problems)
" PROBLEMS KNOWN BY All, ABE PREVENTED FROM GROWING TAlL"
In essence. this means that discussion invites solutions, and we want to
stimulate discussion in THE ENGINEER.
Remember, THE ENGINEER consttutes an open engineerforum. We hope that
those who are In the business. will gille us the busi11ess ! ! ! Your help is solicited
Input Is desired from all engineers who wtsh to serve the Interests of our Army and
nation.
Let us hear from you II I

MG Robert R. Ploger
CommondCJnl, U.S. Army Engineer School

U.S. Army
Engineer School
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
MG Robert R. Ploger
Commondonl,
U.S. Army Engineer Schoo/
BG Ira A. Hunt Jr.
Asftonl Commandant,
U.S. Army Engineer School
COL Wllllom F. Hart Jr.
Opuly AuiJionl Comm
U.S. Army Engineer Schoof
Editor:
MAJ Tommy 8. King
Executive Editor:
7LT J. H. Walker Ill
Circulation Manager:
CPT Tom Trlvan
Art Director:
John W . Savage Jr.
Stoff Writer:
Rodger A , Sfrel lmofler
The EnJtnelf an a 10 tl!oridd

quarterly )Jtlbllcalfon of Ch U.s,

Ar my tnatnHr School. It it pub
lished to ptovlda f actual and In
dept!! lnfo rmallon of fntt,.st to all

En1Jneer unlts. Artlclu,

phot~

lfiPht ana art work or aantral

lntar..l may be ubmitlld for con

afdarallon 10 Editor, The Enam"'

USA tn11nHr School. Fort Belvoir,
Viratnll 22060. Views and opinion'
P,.nlld ha,.in are not n~S
Mill)' lhOH of tht Oepartmen: of
ltll Army, Uaa of fundi for print
101 of tnla publlcatioa hn Men
IPPMI\Itd by Headquarters, l)epart
manl of lha Army, 11 July 1969.

Our cover photo wn t.k.t ll by Malor

Roa..rt W. Wl!tteh..d, Uallon Ofn.

car to Southattt M ia, omce If tltt

Of rnalnurJ. His photo

contruta the old al!d the new In
South Vlatnam. Rud abOut It In

Chief

LOC, .,.. . 18

---------------------

Vol. 1

U.S. Army Engineer School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

2

6
10

14
18
22

25
28

30

34
36

No. 1

Engineer InterviewJBG Ira A . Hu1zt1 Jr.

The Great Dune J Etzgbzeer staff
This'll Blow Your MinejCPT A. F. Thorp
Yesterday I Rodget< A. Streitnzatter
LOCI USAECV bzforrnatiort staff
Move Up By MailfLTC Arthur Daoulas
Why Me?fMAJ Gaty D. Beech
The ltschner A ward/ C Co, Bth Engineer
Battalion
SkyhookjMG R. R. Ploger
Bridging the GapJPe1~sonnel Notes
Essayons JA Scenario

-------------------------

______ _.___

eng1neer
intervie\N:
common with an atomic dNnoli
tions speciali.rt assigntJd to an en
;Jinec1 Lmit in Europe. No1 would

with
brigadier general

5c-cm I hat either of I hem <uould

lwut: an)' mutual int~ rc;tt with a
mLsilc equipment JfjJairman nm
IIIIJ_g a final rhak all a fJiece of
vit al missile luppm t ' fJ14ijiment lo
cated 011 a tert atoll iu tlw Paczfic.
Yet aU of thetc men have a com
mon tte-thcy arc all graduates
of the U.S. Army Engineer School
at Fort Behoir, Vi1ginia . eht
" H o t/IC of t/11' Engi1UHS."
T/w U.S. Army Engitle.~r School
ts 1/u Army'r oldest militarj .reru
tcr f(./wo l. lt is th' ,\Lxilt l 111g11~l
gtndualing instiwtion ofleammg
tl

IRA A
HUNT
JR

the Wa.shington, D .C. area

until rccentl) aoeraging al>out
25.000 graduat.es ~>acft yatr.
1n

A young Corps of Engineers

ltrutf'1Wnt supt!l'lll.fing the con
structiOn of a road in an undertle
otlopcd counfT}' in Sm.ttheast Asia
would appear to have little

WI'

IIW(l1' Wtlfl Ti'VCJ/le,

i" half, relaxed tht
dress <ndt: ... and i11 general cn
hanCI'd I ftc folal enviromncnt.
ha(ll'

doni'

i11

cut. uur details

Its reason (ot being? l"t>r)' sim

ply put- to produce professionally
qualified rng ineo officer!, aud <'11
listed personnel extremdy profi
cient in rel.oted engineering skills.
Tlwir rm:ssirm? For combat
troops-to jJroPid.e all posJiblc en
J:ml'Cl'in(! knowledge for progress;
h, it i 11 tilt rtrca of the railmad

We ref}' greatly on in puts from tlte

field to trll u.r ltow to improm the

qualitr of ow students.

building of the LBOO's (whU;fl saw

this nation expand from eaJt t o
wo3t, and in so doin~ fJt rnnoted the
com mercial Lvell-heing of untold
thousands of il.s pof>ulalion . in
creased trade fm te ntinl, and sped
lines oi cmnmunicati,on to the
point of irtltan ttmeow rrspon.rt'
uhich uf enjoy today), or ill the
ana of ua.teT rNources planning
or the relatitel) new field of
1 rolo~rv.

Brigadirr Gr:ncral i ra A . Hu nt
] r.,

is

tlt f'

Engin'r School's, xttcll

liot- he'.r fht individunl ultc>, on

a doily basis, diret:ts /,h. lt!loofs
opcratious for the commandant of

tlzc school, Major GN/Pfnl R. R.

PlogC1' 1url!o also i.> the com mantl
ing general of thr Enf!huer Center
and ForJ Brlvoir), nrul working

clo.te/" tdth rht Chief of Engineer.r,

l n.st.ructllln depends
Wt lza~e

011

people and

the best. Our instructors

arc enthusiaftic and the-y are

knowledgeable.

Luut, nant Grnnol F J Clark.

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be :.t cllundu.Jtt)OJ l( h\' T ll f. E,\
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I '\ Aim\' Et~gilttlt 1\rlrnol .
lln(/wtt

ENGR: General Hunt, what do

you consider th~ major missions of
the Engineer School?
HUNT I think that most engi
neers would be mterested in know
ing that up to the f1rst of february
this year we were the only school

in the CONARC System that n~d

all 26 of the mtsstons which could
be assigned. Of these I would con
sider that we have three maror mts
s1ons: Frrst. to educate and train
engtneers Second, to insure that
we have up todate doctrinal Inputs
in our teaching and trarnlng litera
ture Third, to foster the idea that
Fort Belvo1r ts the "Home of the
Engineers... Of these the last ts by
far our most rmportant mtssion.
ENGR: Why do you say that mak
ing Fort Belvoir the " Home of the
Engineers" is our most importa nt
missio n1
IIUNT: The majonly of engineer
olf1cers who remain on acllve duty
will be asstgned to Fort Belvoir
tw1ce dunng ther early and there
fore rormative careers to attend the
bas1c and advanced courses. Now
that we have a new CONARC NCO
schooling program the majority of
NCO's on active duty will probably
be stationed at Fort Belvoir three
trmes : for their AIT and for the new
Bas1c and Advanced NCO Classes.
Therefore Fort BelvOir must engen
der in our off1cers and NCO's the
spirit of the Army and a pride in the
Corps.
ENGR: We have heard that you
have a new training philosophy at
the Engineer School.
HUNT 1 wouldn ' t say it was
new. We have just form lJlated it.
Instead of focus.ng on teaching
alone we zero 111 on three major
aspects. First of course, are the
core subJects. those tasks that
must be learned by all students.
Second. we have broadened the
scope of tramrng to include elec
tives. outside speakers and a com
prehensive reading program. I
would say '" each of these areas
Fort Belvoir has obtained distin
gurshed results Thrrd. we include
physcal fitness, social activities
and leisure time. Stnce most of
the offlcerl> and enlisted men at
3

tending Fort Belvoir are on their

way to Vietnam or have just re
turned from VIetnam leisure arid
family life are of paramount lm
portance . Lastly, we blend these
three aspects of training into one
total bull's eye by adding what I
call "The Engineer Spirit''-the
desire to get the mission done and
done well, taking pride in how we
do it. This. of course, ties in very
closely with our stressing of the
"Whole Man Concept" in all stu
dent activities.
ENGR: Exactly what do you mean
by the term " Whole Man Concept" ?

cers must pass. These are areas

where every second lieutenant
must properly perform his mission:
They are Map Reading, Mainte
nance Management, the Combat
Engineer Practical Exam , Roads
and Airfields and Combat Engineer
Support. We have doubled our
hands-on training. The Combat
Engineer Practical Exam is an
excellent example of this. The
young officers are quizzed on the
role of a second lieutenant in the
field and they must cope wit h
seven realistic problems. In each
of our 52 courses we have

HUNT: That is an expresslon we

coined to describe the aforemen
tioned program of providing leisure
and 1n taking care of people
insuring that Belvoir is a good
place to stay. It applies particularly
these days to enlisted men. We
have done away with reveille, cut
our details in half, relaxed the
dress code, permitted individual
decoration of rooms in barracks ,
provided much more free time and
in general enhanced the total en
vironment. These programs have
been directed by the Commandant
and are fully supported by the Post
staff as well as the Schoot
ENGR: Can you describe some
changes that have occurred in the
past two years?
HUNT: Yes, certainly . Major
changes have occurred in all areas
of in struction, so please let me
single out only the Basic Course.
Previously a basic officer's stand
lng In his class was determined
totally by academics. Now hls
grade is computed 70 percent on
academics, 20 percent on leader
ship (to include peer ratings) and
10 percent on physical fitness.
Should the newly commissioned
officer fail in any of these areas he
must go before the Academic
Board . Additionally we have five
"Go-No Go" subjects that all offi
4

expanded the scope and reduced

the time in class. All students now
attend class only five days a week
and have at least four hours off
during the week, generally on the
same afternoon to take care of
personal affairs.
ENGR: Do you think this new
program , for example, in the basic
course has paid off?
HUNT: Handsomely. So far this
year over 60 percent of all our

lieutenants on active duty have

opted for Voluntary Indefinite Sta
tus prior to leaving Fort Belvoir. We
have had over 4,000 voluntary in
definite officers in the past two
years. As result of this, as well as
the drawdown in Vietnam , the
turn-around time for company
grade officers has stretched to at
least four years.
ENGR: Would you explain to me
then about the electives? What are
they?
HUNT: The electives program
pertains primarily to the Advanced
Course where we have 16 electives
divided into two groups of eight
each 15 weeks long. These elec
tives include graduate st ud ies, un
dergraduate degree courses and
courses taught by the Engineer
School. Each advanced course
student elects two 90 hour elec
tives each semester. It is possible,
then, for the student to obtain 12
hours of graduate degree credits
with The George Washington Uni
vers ity with whom we have a degree
program or 12 hours of under
graduate degree work with the Uni
versity of Virginia with whom we
have an undergraduate degree pro
gram. Students with a master 's
degree can work on his Profes
sional Engineer License whfle In the
Advanced Course. Primarily our
electives are in the field of man
agement and engineering, with
military oriented specialist courses
for those not interested i n degree
work.
ENGR: With all the things that
have been done to improve th e Ad
vanced Course we note that the en
ginee-r officer selection for the
C&GSC has decreased. Can you
explain this? And what and if any
thing is being done?
HUNT: Yes, it is explainable.
The decrease fn engineer quotas
for Leavenworth is a tempora ry

credit as resident students We

have hopes of qualifying more offl
cers, particularly when the large
number of captains that we now
have reach their eighth year. Thus ,
the engineer quotas to Leaven
worth should surge upward.
ENGR: Has the Engineer School
felt the tmpact of the drawdown In
the Armed Forces?

thing. It stems from the fact that

the Corps of Engineers Is short of
majors and the quotas for Leaven
worth are predicated on the num
ber of qualified personnel within
each of the three branches : the
Signal. Military Intelligence and
the Corps of Engineers. To be quali
fled an officer must have at least
e1ght years of serv1ce and be a
graduate of his branch advanced
course. During the Vietnamese
buildup there was a shortage of en
glneers So we all served In Viet
nam and there was a decrease in
the number of advanced course
graduates We have recently estab
lished two completely new pro
grams here at the Engineer
School One is for constructive
credit. All engmeer officers on ac
tive duty with eight years of serv
ice who have a college degree and
have served as a company com
mander are reviewed by a board
of officers, headed by mysel f , and
i f their record is good they are
given constructive credit. We have
JUSt completed a Board and have
awarded constructive credit to 30
officers. The second program Is
that of equivalent credit Enlllneer
officers with a baccalaureate degree
can be assigned to the Engineer
School Staff and Faculty and by
monitor ing certain courses pass a
qualification exam and rece1ve
equ ivalent credit for the Advanced
Course. Both of these programll re
ceive the same diploma and same

HUNT: With respect to students ,

the Officer Candidate School
graduated its last class in Decem
ber, 1970. This was a distinguished
organization which was a source of
grea t pride to all of us here at Fort
Belvoi r. Af ter three yea rs of opera
tion the Engineer Officer Candl
date Regiment graduated 10.380
second lieutenants of which 5.850
were commissioned in the Corps of
Engin eers. Compare this to only

t-......

2.323 graduated during the

Korean War. However, for the past
two years the officer and enlisted
inputs have not decreased at all.
Reductions in active Army students
have been balanced by Increases
In the Reserve and National Guard
students. Yet, during this period
the instructor strength of the
school has decreased from over
4 ,000 to 2,400 personnel, and our
monetary inputs have decreased
from about $100 per student to
$50 pe' student. Yet. I can guar
antee there has been no reduction
tn in struction . In fact . the ln struc
tion has improved.

ENGR: How can you say that?

HUNT First of all inlltruction
depends on people and we have the
best . Our instructors are enthusi
astic and they are knowledgeable.
That is all it takes to run a school.
We also have a feedback program
where sudents critique our courses.
Thus, we're able to shore up our
weaknesses and reinforce our
strengths. I am proud that last year
three of our lieutenant colonels
were selected to go to the senior
service colleges. Yes, the quality of
our lnstruc\ors, officer and NCO
alike, Is great. I am not talking
about their degrees or their school
lng but about their performance
and their capabilities.
ENGR: Is t here anyth ing else you
would like to add, General Hunt?
HUNT: Yes. I would like to bring
out Just one more point. We are no
longer stressing teaching at the
Engineer School , our interest is on
learning by the student. We are stu
dent oriented We want these
students to go out to their jobs in
the Army and in engmeer units with
a feeling of confidence and with the
highest of esprit . We rely greatly
on Inpu ts from the f ield to tell us
how to improve the quality of our
students The Engineer School
doesn't belong just to Fort Bel
voir-It belongs to the whole
Corps . After all the Engineer Center
Is the " Home of the Engineers."

THE
GREAT
DUNE
Henlopen Point juts into the Atlantic
Ocean two miles north of Lewes,
Delaware. On this peni nsula stands the
largest sand dune on the Delaware
coast.
A windblown sand formation, the
Great Dune is located on Fort Miles,
which serves as the First U.S. Army
Recreation Center.
Each summer, hundreds of military
personnel brea k away from the Eastern
shore mega lopolis and take to the
beautifu lly sloping sand of the Army 's

This I 969 aerial photograph

picture the Atlantic O cean
shoreline (far right) . the
Army's housing facilities
( top center) and the Great
Dune just below the build
ings (center) .

Cape Henlopen recreattonal facility

Famlltes fill the 26 housing units to
capactty ; there are many more requests
for reservations than can be filled
The Army shares the peninsula with
Delaware s Cape Henlopen State Park
During the past several years, the U.S.
Arm y has returned 1.200 acres to the
State of Delaware leaving approximately
190 acres for Army use
Charges of Army neglect and damage
to Cape Henlopen arose after expansion
of houstng factlltles tn the recreation
area Press accounts of preparation of
trailer sttes and subsequent statements
by publtc: ofttctals. suggested the Army
.. leveled" a 70foot dune
A 20foot depression was formed by
wmd eddies . Wind came down over the
recrealton center ' s butldtngs and tnto
the sand As thts swirling wmd scooped
up the sand a depresston formed .
The Army attempted to ftll thts depression
and provtde a level contour once more Plans
called for ten house tratlers to be placed here
so more fam tlle s could be accommodated
during the summer
Because of the recent national concern with
ecology , the Army has taken a long look
at the Great Dune.
" We In First Army are completely cogntzant
of the natural beauty and value of the dune. We
are taktng all prudent steps posstble to
tnsure the proper management of the area,"
commented retired Lteutenant General Jonathan D.
Seaman. former commandtng general of
the Ftrst Untted States Army
Steps toward stabilization have included
planting vegetalton, erec:tmg snow fel"'ces and
emplacing a bulkhead on the shoreline Minus
these conservation measures, erosions totl would
have been far more detrtmental
Army policy notes the mportance of
conservmg sand dunes and that dunes play a
7

stgnthcant role in preservln& seashore

environment At Cape Henlopen, that policy was
exercised even before It was made explicit
in a 1966 Army regulation .
Aerial photography of the area taken in 1938
shows bare, windblown sand without structures
or vegetation . Just prior to World War II. a
masstve reinforced concrete coast artillery gun
emplacement and a row of one story conctete
block bu1ldings were constructed . They
arose 10 the area now used by the Army
recreat ton center. Smce 1944, two developments
have chaneed the picture.
First, vegetation has grown over the dune
area . Beach grass, heather and scrub pme,
planted by Army engineers, preserve the dunes
and enhance their beauty Recent data reveals
45 per cent of the ground on the north slope
IS covered Significant coverage was also noted
in other areas. Vegetation provtdes a major
stabillzm& influence on dune movement.
Furthermore, buildtngs along tile northern
edge of the dune and shoreward from the
artillery emplacement stabilized that area. Acting
as a windbreak. the buildings cause an accretion
of sand on the crest of the dune . This
prevents further southward creep of the sand
covered area in the building's vicinity. The joint
tnfluence of 'he artillery emplacement and
buildings , when coupled with the ocean breezes,
created the 20 foot depression on the crest
of the dune.
Sand was taken In a layer , largely from the
east and west of the depressiOn along the
longitudinal axis of the dune and from the inner
surface of the southern crest . This lowered
the profile of the dune behind the gun
emplacement by about seven feet near the
centerline . Profile elevations on the south side,
across the dune from the recreat ion center
buildtngs and trai lers, rema ined about the
same.

The Great Dune has by no means been

destroyed by Army bulldozers. The depress ron
was filled with sand pushed from the s1de of
the dune. Vegetation in that lmmed1ate area was
destroyed because of lhe displaced sand .
However, filling the depression llelped stabilize
the dune. Neither the dune' s height nor its
profile was Significantly altered by the operation;
new vegetat ion has been planted.
Originally , plans called for ten trailers to
be emplaced in the area. However, because
of adverse publlc1ty, only f1ve of the trailers
have been Installed to accommodate V1s1lors
Average rental price is seven dollars per day
per family . For the past six years, all units
have been reserved to their maximum capacity
for the ent~re summer season. This amounts
to thousands of people annually having the
opportumty to spend seven days of their leave
time at a beach resort within their financial
means.
A large number of military personnel and
their families also vis1t the beach on a
dally basis .
Although permanent housing facilities are
reserved for military personnel , the beach and
dunes are open to the public . This allows
the seneral public to enjoy the area's
recreational utility and natural beauty.
Recreational actlvit1es at Fort Miles are
financed by the Command Welfare fund, which
Is comprtsed of nonappropnated funds available
to First Army headquarters. Non-appropriated
funds are derived from prohts made by
the post exchange and other Army act1vitles .
No tax revenue Is used to support these
activites.
The Fort Mtles Military Reservation serves
as an important training site for Army Reserve
units. Gently sloptng beaches are 1deal for
traimng crews of amph ib1ous vehicles used
in across thebeach operations

Plans are now being made to rehabilitate the

20-positlon rl11e range at Fort Miles so
Delaware-based Army Reserve and National
Guard units can conduct annual rifle
qualifications at Fort Mtles , This would save
time and expense for transportation; the
current site Is Fort Meade, Maryland.
First U.S. Army uses 13 acres for
recreation : the remainder Is used for training.
The Army has not only turned over most of the
land and butldlngs to Delaware. but has loaned
supplies and equipment to Its Parks
Department
Recreational use of seashore land by anyone
will create some disruption of the
envlfonment; experience of private developers
and governmental units in nearby coastal
areas proves th is. But there is little doubt that
the dunes at Cape Henlopen are the largest
along the Delaware coast and among the best
preserved due to the ecolog1cal endeavors
of the US. Army.

-Housed in the former Naval Radto Station

facility, the 68th Transportation Platoon is
permanently stationed at Fort Miles. Because
it is located at Fort Miles, lhe unit can move
its heavy amphibious vehicles to the beach
without traveling on state -owned roads or park
land.
The unit moved to Fort Miles because of
overcrowded conditions In the Lewes Army
Reserve Center. That facility was being used to
over 200 per cent of normal capacity. Expanding
the Lewes facility to accommodate the unit
would have cost $147 ,000 .
Four other Army reserve units use Fort Miles
for weekend training. They are the 67th
Transportation Platoon of Lewes, Delaware; the
315th Service and Supply Company of Dover,
Delaware; Headquarters and Headquarters
Company. 275th Service and Supply Battalion
of Seaford, Delaware; and the 151 st
Transportation Platoon of Chi ncoteague, Vtrginla.
9

Walker

This'll Blow Your Mine

10

Land mines arc dcadlr weapons. Hidden beneath the

ground. they attack without \,arning. Most
frustrali!U{ of all. after a comrade is killed, there is no wa)
to retaliate. There is no tangible enemy, no sniper to gun
down, nothing but the bleak reality that you may be next.
Much like the war itself, VietCong and NVA mines
have no standard form or power. This means they are
difficult to detect and neutralize. t:".S. Army personnel
have w continually develop new mine detection
techniques.
Techniques, which were developed dut;ng 1969 by D
Company, 1st Enginer Battallion, prO\ed particularly
effet' ti\'e on a 20 kilometer stretch of QL 13 north from
Lai Khe, Republic of Vietnam. This area had traditionally
been a hotbed of ntirung actidty. It was a vital
stretch of the military supply route and required daily
opening.
Built by the French prior to World \\:ar I I. the road
was in poor shape. T"o large trucks could barely pa~s on
the narrow road. The pavement and much of t.hc bas!.'
had longsince disappeared and had been replaced with
laterite. Although civiljan traffic on the road was heavy.
the a rea of mining acthity was not populated.
The initial requircmem was for an accurate and
11

prornpt mine reporting and recordlng system. All sweeps

had been instJuctecl to blow mines in place. A stan<b.rd
report format was prepared and distributed to each
sweep team. fnforn1ation included exact grid
co-ordinates, location of the mine in meters from road
center line, road width, type of firing device. how found
and cr.uer size. This aided the pinpointing of all mining
activity as to type. size and location for long-range
planning.
Keeping the same people on t.he sam e strctch of road
\\'as preferred. It was necessary to run the detectors on
high range, and the regular alternation of sweeper and
prober was important. This insured fami liarity with a
given stretch of road; subtle indications of a mine became
more noticeable. T his again resulted in a better detection
ratio. Detectors run on high range were more effective.
out they did not accoum for more than 20 to 25
per cent of the mines found.
With detailed reporting figures, two significant facts
appeared. First. nearly 90 per cent of tlte n1ines
found were detected visually. Second, the majority of
the mines were non-metallic with slapstick detonators.
D etailed reporting and a na lrses, along with betrer
detection ratios, supplied other facts. Mines were
inevitably set in pairs, and mi ne marker'S were freguently
used. When a pattern of th ree mines was used, it was
almost imrnediately recognized. This information was
va luable because after one tni ne was disco,cred .
knowledge of a !Jigh possibility of another mine nearby
was very helpful.
some cases the first mine discovered
was the second of the pair ; this raised the le\el
of alertness considerably.
.\li ne markers were subtle. The traditional grouping
of three sometimes existed. But more often the
marker consisted of a pole, b(lard or l;talk of cane placed at
right angles to the. traffic lane opposite the lane in
which the mine was located. When ~omeone became
suspicious o! the marker. his instinct was to change lanes,
which brou{;\'hl his vehicle squarely over the mine.
To make such mar-kers more noticeable lo sweep
personnel, the road was carefully policed each day
to clear the road of all trash. This had a double
pronged effeel because innocent looking pie<'es of
wood frequently prowd to be slapsticks.
T he road was also o~ttposted by day, and an
OC('asitmal ambush patl'ol was run by rug ht. Although th~
nu111ber of mine ca~u alties and equipment damage had
been halved , it did not seem possible that even thi."
number of m ines could be missrd by the sweeps.
For control purposes, a second sweep began in tbe
middle of the afternoon. On the first mid-afternoon
sweep, two mines were located. Teams were
positive the mines had 110t been there in the morning .
Conclusion: the mines \\ere being emplanted by day.

rn

12

Pu:\ IUU'h, no milit.tl')'ll.lrlll othtt th:ln we ~weep

and it' '*'<" Ill il) mnHclnn to tlw w.td until all swee~
"I'JL' ~;oruplt'h Hm, ,., 1'1, 1 1\lli.m 11,1 fl11 procecdine
uonh from Lai K hr and 'uuth f111111 Quan Loi
\H1uiJ follow tht> '''''t:p do\\ n tl11 road This pranicc
\\'a~ -.topp~d 1 and ,.j, ilian ll'afl1r w.to; lwld at the<(
point~ until ...11 .,,,t-cp" '"'"' ,ompll'ttd. Sweep pl.'n.oonel
c.lit;(O\I'H'd that, ,,ith numilit.u-" tr:~ffir on thr road,
per<:on!> folio'' 1ng the'" ep h:~d tmpl;ucd mines behind
the,;,, ccp "ith liu h II .\r of dt>tntiun. I Iold i n~
Cl\ ihau traffi, t"IJ r1m l'l\' ltducrd tlw nurnher of incidents.
H O\H''er. it rcquirtd dost- roordiiMliOn ,,tth tlu:
~atannal Pohrc Jnd IOC'nl autltontir,. It waq also

Walker

u npopul:namJ difficult tn conuol

~Ii1tiug i n riden1~ fir~t ff'll niT tn a low 1bb: thcn tLc~
hi1 an u psw1n~" ith thr adwm o lllH' rnun soon season.
This had beentXfJI.Ttcd luc .lllst time a nd eaw of Clllplace
ntcn t were aided lw tht 'aturatcd rondi lion o f lh c soil.
,\ lines wen rrcqlll'IILI} fmmd Ill puddles nf wnllrcm lhe
road and on tht wft wnu '>hould~r... 1\~.Un rt was obvious
that minr' were lll'in).{ pl.llltl'CI during thl! d.t\.
weep p<ro;nnml dtriclctl tht rnint '"ere bc111~ cru
placed '' h.Jc tr urk<. Wl'rc stoppt<tl. ~up posed!) for repairs.
It i.:.tornmonpl011.:c' pl.lCtir.r ltlrllakl' olHhe-toad repairs.
so the ,tctinn arou'><'d no uspicion i~s were set up alolll!
the toad ''a r ninll ch ilian tJ .1 fTic not tcntop: nnlitar\'
polict- tnfon cd thl' rul1" ith oud ~ncccss. Aeam mining
incident' fdl urr.
'Ilt>re '' crl \atiou-. ntlwr nh 1' 1\ .ttinru.. Then 1 a di
ret:t link bct\H't'n 't'(!t.:httiun c nntrul and night trmc cm
plan~mem. Lu" road,idt hru<~la and grebS tnrouf'lU{e
mu1c emplatl'lllc:nt ht au~c tht' ) JUO\ ide coHccalmenL
Cuttin!{ or hurui111.: tlai, \l'l(l't,tlion h~H k .lhuut -:!0 feet
greatly rctlun><. tlw dan~.tc r
Periodic JO.ld hiOt J,., and dct,li lttl ~c.mlt of vchide;,.
coupled w1t h thl' uo ~loppin); rule,'' tori'' l'l'~ effective in
preventin~o~ tla}'tiu11 tmplnccnwnt.
E~am in u tion or thr \l.tthtarl.. rcvt!aled that tho metal
tontncls ustd Wl' n oftrn coa ud with hr;wy ::~s phaltum.
This allow,clli~ht civ ilian Vth ic l <~ .lnd S<ll11C:times
qua 1t1~1 lOll'> to pa~~ 0\'('1 tlwrrt w11houl Jrtonaling. I n
som~: ca~cs. n:pcatcd p.tSSI'S \\C tC ttquia cd to rulJ tlunugh
thl' asph..tllum
L lomateh a dtltt 111m ralt- nf 95 per cent w <15 achieved.
Thl"f:' CXJXnmcnt~ inlllllll c.lct~t uon ~bowed that were
i, muLh more tot <lllllll't-nunt:' mt"aSutC!> than c;imply ha,
inga sweep team mnH ,m;uth tJo,nthe road
Afto:r cQtnplc!in~ Oflncr C :uulid.at
h nool, Capt.ain -\nson F
Tho111 w:u ('OIIlllltiou~:"d lltl l lh" l 'I' u t l::n~IDI%1'5 His lim
.t~l(nrurnl 1)(>),; h im t v lht ~Uihlt l.:ru:to el!l' lhtt.1li, " L' .\RPAC.
\"i~ in:un, "h,.,,. he c:ath,.ITd I hi' do~1a f 1 his urude. CPT Tb.::~rp
w.oh l.1tr t c .t i t!ncd I n th e 11lst l .mttnr<'r H.o11t:Urr>n f ...,r B--lo.oir.
Hc ''rOtt' 11 i~ tttrc:f,. ;~~ fJ.trl uf llu lbtrd Engmeer Officer
Ad,.JJI~cd

Cuu c

,,J

1970,

13

a nostalgic journey i11to the past

Thrmtghllltl its 100 year histarv. th(' COJ"('IS or

nlo{inccrs Museum has stood backstage as ot her
engiuccr di"iskms wok their hows. Finally tlw
clays nf understudy ;~re llVt'r. The museum hM
tnkcn the lon11,-awaitcd cue and advanced tu <'Cn
ter Stftge.
In lat., April, the museum r.amc intCl the
spotlil;ht it descnl!i The museum-and the mu
~eum

onh-is now loc;ltcd lt' Building it'lOO at

Fort Belvoir, Virginia, home of the U.S. Ann}
Engineers.

For 18 years, prior LO the- recent opening, most of the11\Useums J5.000 items were stuffed in vnc room o.n the
~COttd floor of the Corps of Eng ineers Librarv on Fon
Belvoir Some items were wedged :tmong library volumes.

"Tht schrmc Wit\ llll'n tn shn\\1 r-chibiu throul(hout the

librarv. r.~plaincd Edw-.1rd B Ru,rll Otrector 01nd
Curatvr ul th Corp~ ot J::ntdrw.. r \ t m ..urn. Thr museum
nd lilrrar w.;rc phpicollv ~h:Hinll a huildim; and were

'r ~<IIUtQn:.llr Ct.mbint:d

Ru ll l.>c~an thr ''' u~l!lc

ln1 il

)('p.or;atl!' mu,eum in

J(l-

.., d<'\elo~J pl:tnl '" c>n~ohdHt th.. mueum ~rp

from tlu~ lihran
Ru J!:ll ,,ud In I ~I ill his plan
n.rt\t'd th,. hat l.in~ or Um: ~tlrrr Cornr ml Ira,, Huut Jr.,
as6tsr.olll t nmm;tndant of the l' ~ \nu) F.naineer SchooL
\llt'r tlutlfltil!ntD!I fur the I h01111 t tnd W.lilin~ f.,r ;m
apprtpri:ue :~nn lourldiruc1 Rn ..-11 nnd Ius rrqu~t tv
:\faJOI C.c-urt I Rl ... !t R. Plo~or , C!onnnandinl!" General
I rlor I " \ \ Login,.,., t f'llll'l .1ntl Fnrt Bt<h"tr An
hour aftr r Ruwll :oubmillcd hi Tf'<tUC'.tl, ht: r~l'i~rd !\(G
PJo~: r~ .,ffirm ci"' n:sponw.
Lot ,,,.tl un lkh'CHI Ru.td, th,. r><t'l m.u11 urrc:t, it 110\"
h3\ pltnulul p.trl.tntt 'P:III' .uu.l murr n... r !pare The
mu~1.1m '' nr" t'"Pndnl ;,nd 111 11 .\ltoill'k'lC pct~ition near
\'utuolly all nf I' orr llrlvorr' mJJVt fnt ilntr$
l.es 1h:111 ,, milc rAT L1.S I h~hway I , Jhr museum i5
Vnnnu, htome
<>I l;!'..,l!l' WuhlnKWII F11rl BtJ.,,.,;, j, nnlv '"'" tnil es f1om
1hr h"'""r hnmr
w.. ht)W w 1:'1 t k.t r1f \'l\ltt ,,tlra~ti"n' Russell
,,ud I[, rxprll prnplt ol .111 \alk~ f lif to <r~: the
~:l~tf)' II'! t''i\lfp ltl IUIHI~\~ \i"litlll ~ 1 1111111

'"''"um "xhit.ic'
IOHSNUII " "

p.ttl nf

th" hhtill), then:: were

apprt.\imatrh h,OfiO l(uidrJ lr.tn and 1(),000 'isitors per

\rar
th111 lht musrum '' in ll~ lit''> ltt('ation, Russell
Jnti1rp~t ,n,t)OO 'i'i""' pe1 >"II llr t'XJlt'CI\ thrs fi~oture
t11 inrt<~ anuuallr '' tht mu<Nnn l!:tin' tlthibiu and
~"''"" "' l~t~fllll'r Jlw ITIII"'"In ;, tfJf"ll ro the general
puhli: o~nd Irc:f' ''' clurgt
l h mtt~<'IIOt' "''" h~n11 ~' <l ''"'' ''"' y ltrirk ~tructure
hlou h '''' mtrl> hound Fo.~rt Bd\'nir'~ O.lta Procening

,.,w

(i<'lll!:l

Jltf'TJIIOOS

th,. ~ n~:tnr.r Offior 8;1\ic ~''""~ rug

fnr 1111p1 "'"'It tho t.utlding Sor'lt of these
t()ntrpa h~H: hcru usrd :.lflad'; nthrl'\ \1ill be imple
rnl'ntrd wlatr ph.ll ul mu.,um cnn~truttiuu
rl1tr nmoturn Jrtor ttlll\t:n t1 11nnct (erlingo vf chr Army
"Oilin!'t'r thr,ou~:h \,llinu tr).ltlhll mo~ttriol W nou, brick
and ~lun!ll~J l111phai1e a rutir: ralhrr llun ~mooth, dinir.aJ
:rtrn<>Jphl'r,...
"f..uh hirld"" ),. ~"'"'''a pall ttl hhhlt) Ru!!U said
H -...a~ rril'rrtn 1 1h,. rill \.,!ft.. om mum wllld>w5
f.ol h '''ndv"'
bt rucl,os.-d in ~nil \lork nnce used at
\\ r 1 l'n1111

SIUdnh

iltill'

\\'hl'll Ill"

rh .mhitt'llllrt' ll'lllain hasita ll y lulono:d; this i~ in

l.rrpi11101 ""h 1hr frllt Bl\1111 .trrd Northtr n \ "irq-inia
srvh
Rr nvodrlinq \\ill l rcunplf'\f'd in ph.Ut'\ ,,jlh hoth the
'"''"""' a11d rxtrrrnr nl ~h,., buildimr undrr~'""ll" major
111

!!"S" d plan~

,,,JI

lrl(.tnitrd "' lhr~: rt a ' hronoloq;ical

llu uu.:h lustnn !'II!' [trl II tlll L>>ncentrales
"" lh \uullt"On R \ uluuun rorw11ninl( rtIOS prn~rt'ss
rhtuth:h tht C "' ps "' 1-~u~n~ hl\tnry
J'"' llall ,,f ~Jr nc Rt~um it d\uttd ' " tnl(inet>m~~: pe.t
wr.tliri It h.tnnn 111~'11 ritht l\r ut<t:wdinllt'i\il '<ork
:11 htf'\ ~nnn ''' nulll:tt)'l!'ttdt'rship
Ptohahl) rh,. tlli'U \,11uahlt!' icrms rn the rnusru111 an
n~o:inaluu1p ul thr <r ltUrt' tl \'ntLtn\11, tht." 17111 llartlt
f'ndinll thr \mrrican R,., .. Iuuun Rtrunq:d lrorn th
ou<ht"'-' "' P""' thr r atn """' d n:rtrd L\ Gf'nf'raJ
Prnnn, Chit I tf F.nvinron uf tlw rrrtu h .l\nn1 tn 1955
\ toil~ uon ,.f ,\mt"rkana -...a dona1.-d lw \lajnr
\ire or \' \f:u Lin h katuns ocit.:inJI adnor frc>111 :In Iii
'~ar t>ld 1 h rnns Jdft'r-tn \vMlll'n U a \'tlllh nll!llt'd after
jf'ffl.'nan \ ddirit111:1l ;ld\i win addcd In thr lrll~r ninr
y,.:H\ later b) \ nd rf'W IJt kmn
fhr- cullrctiun nhn ha< \'tTitinl!'' lJ)' Gt>"l'!l~' \\'ahin~ton,
William lll'nt) HarrisCln, Zachilt)" Taylor Alr.lham Lin
l'nln and F'ranri< Swn Key "And," Ru<l'll ;~ddrd. "what
C'ullcctiorr is compltte '' rthom '' ritin~t frurn J ohn
H arrcock?"

rlto

11111\rlllll 11

!HOI:II''"""

15

"Dear Baldie" be~ins one original letter from General Doug

las A. MacArthur, Wrilleu in 1931, lbe lencr rdated Ceueral
M arArthur's d10ughl:!i upon being appointed Chief o! St.:~rr of the
Army. The truer was writ lt'n to ~f ajor Genentl Julian L. Schlev,
Chief of Engineers and a classmate uf C:EN MacArthur whi ll' at
the Uni ted States MiHtary Academy in 190:~ The salu rnuon
refer~ ((I MG Schlc>'s nirknarnu whilu at West Point.
The collection of Corps of Entineer rnstles dates from 1840 to
the present. Ali nriginal drn"ing uf the cas tltJ device illmtrates
its initial usc by the military. Numerous engineer bau.alton dis
tinction~ include rrests and insignias.
A lMge \ llrk ty nf rnginel"r o ffirer antl rulis ted uniforms and
accc~soril"> is displayed. This includes helL~, hats and S'"orcls. One
rilpicr dau:-s ha<'k to 184() ut I B.'iO; the first use of tht: en1(ineer
, n..<th was on the handle I'){ thi~ rapier.
The same rapitt <tpp~;lls in "n" of the museum's pri7.Cd por
tr.JHS. The oril\' inal ponrait uf Brigad.i er General Daniel P.
Wondhur-y. pirtured a, an ~:nt;net'r litutcnant, shows him wi th
th ~ li,q hl rapier. BG Wvvdbury. who was lcilled n ear the end of
the t:ivil War. ser\'t'd as the Chief o( Engineers from 1836 to
I n6-l . Tht~ p.-.rtrart was donat\d by hi~ ,o ;randdaughter.
Arw th<'r nJiginal portrait is of 1\lajnr General William M .
Black. Chief ,,f En~>ineers during World War II. The portrait
was painted hy MG Block's son.

Tak...n lly llri~adi er Gtneral Henry Larcvm Abbot's personal

photographer during the Civil War, a number of rare sicre
opticon photograph.~ pirturt many nf the genera l'~ personal
frie nds and comrades in nrms.
l1th t-r ph vt(ls wutlight General R ohcrt E . L<'<', General Doug

bs A. MacArthu r, a e<r<.'rmmy lt(l nol'ing Major General Georg~

W. Cu~thals, salvage uprrations of the bauleship Maine and
ro Mtru~tion ,,f tlu> Panama r..mal.
Tht.: Co< ps of Engineers cnnduc ted the I 9 I 0
Walker

salva~

opcra

ti.,ns and ll.ll:! final hurial :\t sea of the Maiot' For its nssist
anrl!, thr Gnrps was 15lven tbe original "heel from the ship. Th()
wh~rl ~nd t1Hil\crr,us

photographs note

thi~ ::~ccomplishmel'lt.

Mon anifans ~:ornuwmoraLin.~ tht: cons truction of the PanaiTh<

COlna l refe r to the- Order uf the Striped Tiqcr (M military c:i\il
wo rks ttLhic\'cment.
Exhibits spnilight \'ariou~ civil wci rk3 plvJI!CU in the nation' s
capital that "ere completed by the Corps o E.n!Jlnec:n. Among
these- pt<'jects arc WF~shill t.rton Monument. the Pentagttl and the
Lihrary vf Conl{Tc:s~. M' 1dtt, dioramas and graphics illustrate
tht rnns tr union
L'~ed from lll69 through Wr.rdd War U , a comp lete set nf
rnodt'h of th e Bridge Equipage ()( the U.S. Army is 011 displa)
A rullt'r llnn uf cn~inrl!r and Arm)' officer instruc tion manuals
rr1 ie" oflir~1 insuu~:ti<~n of Ihe: Arnl.'dcan R ev<'lurion, the War
of 1812, thl' Civil \'\'!IT and the M ~:-;ica n War.

A ~hip's !w it is dommant ly displayed . Forged in Belfast, I re-

land in 1892. the hel l tnlled fur jQ years ahoard twc, United
States ,esscls. T! first was U$ed on the trans-purl Gr;tnl fro.m 189fl
to 1902 and then th e drt'ds;rc Chinook from 1903 until it was

dct"ommis$iOrled in 1946.
16

A cannon that stout! in !runt ol the Cotps of Engineers

Lihrary mmed "ith thr 111uscurn. The 184 I hron7e cannon was
originally n:moHd lti'Hn Will cu Point, ::'\cw York, the first home
n! the \m1y Enl(illet'r~. The bmntt' ~ix pounder stands in front
of th ne\\ mu~lUrn "Wl con~idrr il one of ou r prized posses
,i.. ns, .. Russell C"ommented
The C"OIJ~cuon nf .\mnican and British firearms includes a
deningc:r like thl' om u1ed b) john Wilkes Booth \\hen he as
sassin:ued Presidcnt Lmt:oln There is an 1839 llall breech
loading riflt> in the rnust>um's rollertion. One rifle \\aS used by
M oshr's Raidrts in th~ (.;ivtl War defense o( Fairfax.\nolhcr
item in the ro ll ecti an ~ a Sharps brc:"echloo.ding percussion
carbine u~ed in the 1876 Battle nf the Little Bi~ Hurn. Russell
often trlls vie,,ero; that thi'l riflr ''could he the one lhat killed
Custer.

Walker

The most trrent acqui~ition to thl" rifle collec tion i~ a chrome

p latC)d SKS it i~ nmon~ tile 1 otlectirm uf basic wenpons used by
the V iet Cunst.
Fort Belv()lr's entirt> histmy will IJL' traced from ils beginning
as Bchoir Plant:llion. As ,, milit:u)' install:nion, Fort .Belvoir
will be 1 ovPrPd a~ il rhamnd from Camp A. A. HumphrPys to
Fort Humphn) ~ and flnall~ t> f'on Bc-lvuir.
\n I E!51 \ust rian c:wah)' sabc:"r i me of the foreign gifts
dioplay"d in tht> muSI'Um. PresentPd to former Chtefs of thr
Corps of En~ine.rs, C<HnmJndants and .\ssistanl Commandants
of the Engineer Sch~.~<l. other l(ifts include st:liUettes. military
dolls. fil(urinP' and ,jh er itrm,.

Wal ker

Tlu~

rnu<eum, oldest hnldtnl{ is a l(old nnl( datinst back lo 300

B.C. The Gr..ck ring he:1r~ the Jikt>ll(' l)( l .vsimarhus. an
nttinPcr ~enr-ral "ho wurkt-d f11r \1.-x;tndrr thr Great.
Asked wh~th museum pi('C'C he lil.e~ hest. the dedicated curatOr
rc\pond1d. "I like: 'cm all You don't stay Ill )'f'ars with one
museum ,,ithout puttin~ a l1>t of ht>art into it," Russell added A
dedictlted man "hu has 'pent countless hours .starchin)! for ne''
itNru and rc~larrhing thr unt'~ he hm. ob tain<.-d, Ru~sell said
he is iml'restl'd in anythtnl{ that has to do with military
en~ineedn~."

He h:ti hven SI'Cking early o ffirC'r uniiorms for some lime, the
muscum'sco llcctiou is weak in prcCivil Wnr uniforms .
Thrccdimen;iannl ~qu i pmcnt used by cn.gincers is nlso rare.
R uss<ll would like a lar!lier :.monmcnt of items such as early
surveyinlf instruments, pu:ks and shovels.

Walke r

Bccausr cnginc<rin!{ projects M the corps are difficu lt to

picture intcrt>stincrly. Russell is corutanLly on the lookout for
suitable paintinRs. photugraphs and dra,,inl(s.
The museum makes no purchases. All items are gained through
contributions. A sundry fund has been established to handle dona
tiuns. Items Jre welcomed from organiUJtions as well as individ
uals. Russell continually seeks additional items to enrich the
Corps of Engineers Museum.
~~..q.~~

Staff writer Rodger .\ . Strritmattc:"r came to THC E:-;GINEER

from Fo rt Belvoir'~ post lll.'\\$papt'r, THE CASTLE. He '""s
graduated from Southt'rn Illinois t:niversity "ith a deyrce in
journalism

17

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

Whitehead

Vietnamization. It wasn't even a word a few years ago.

But today Vietnamization spells out the top priority miss ion
of U.S. Army Engineers in Vietnam .
The Lines of Communication (LOC) Restoration Pro
grarn exemplifies the importance of Vietnamization to U.S.
Army engineers. Th is program is the largest military en
gineering project ever undertaken in a foreign country.
It combines the efforts of U.S. Army Engineers, Navy
Seabees, civilian contractors and, of course, their Viet
18

namese counterparts. U.S. Engineers have taught their

skills to ARVN engineers.
When this half billion dollar program is completed, it
wil l provide the country with over 2,500 miles of modern
highways. In addition to the highway network, the project
will improve 770 miles of railroad and several airfields.
Together these improvements will link the major popu
lation centers of the Republic.
An effective and dependable road network will tie
together the rural and urban aspects of Vietnam's
economy. Improved roads increase the potential for in
dustrial growth of the basically agricultural economy .
Raw material can be transported from entry points to
industrial sites throughout the country. This insures that
the farmer can transport his products to the urban market.
The roads mean urban buying power for rural producers'
goods.

Whitehead

Whitehead

LOC construction also enables the Vietnamese to re

settle their homes. As each segment of the network is
completed , former inhabitants return from exile to resume
life at the point where enemy activity disrupted them.
After refugees are resettled, the network of bridges and
byways become more important. Quick access to rice
mills, markets and storage areas stimulates the farmer' s
interest in money crop production . The days when the
peasant farmer grows only enough crops for his family' s
needs are over.
As it provides a transportat ion network, the LOC pro
gram adds security to the areas It touches. Villagers no
longer have the fear that accompanies a long, seldom
used dirt path.
Another improvement in Vietnam life due to former
inhabitants returning on LOC roads is resumption of
formal education and medical care. Long An ham'let, near
Ninh Phouc , typifies this change. When Long An's school
master returned to his home, he rebu ilt his house , re
opened the village school and started plans for the com
munity' s first medical facility.
In another village, near the Mid-Delta city of Can Tho,
a three-mile span of road provided the only link with
the outside world . The 1968 Tel offensive destroyed th is
road and its three bridges. During the next two years,
crops were moved to market by a tedious process of
alternately rowing and dragg ing a sampan for miles. The
original population of 2,100 had filtered down to a stub
born handful by April. 1970 when the damage was re
paired. Traffic over the new road returned residents, trade
and a sound future to the village.
Before a single foot of asphalt could be laid on Vietnam
19

ground. tremendous offort wos expended to develop the

resources and capabllitres necessary for road building.
To appreciate the scope of the LOC program. this prelimi
nary work must be noted
When U.S. Army Engineers arnved in Vietnam in late
1965, only a fev. rock quarries Nere i n operatlon . and
rock was critically needed for construction of base camps
and tactical roads. There are now 13 U.S. Army rock
quarrtes and eight contractor quarries. More than 90,000
tons of rock are produced each month at the Vung Tau
Quarry operated by the 94th Engineer Detachment.
In 1967, rock resources were virtually non-existent in
the Delta area. So the Delta Rock Program was developed
to provide large volumes of rock. During 1970. more than
190.000 Ions of rock per month were moved by barge to
off-loading sites throughout the Delta from qua rries at
Vung Tau, Thu Due. Nul Sam and Nui Sap.

Asphalt plants that prepare surfacing matenal are

located WJth crusher operal1ons at most of the quarries.
Of the 10 Army asphalt plants scattered throughout the
Republic . all but 'hree operate m conJunction with quar
ries . The remaining asphalt plants are located at sites
near pavmg operattons . Rock ls trLJcked from quarry sites
and stockpiled to be used as needed . In some areas , the
recently 1mproved ratlroad systerr transports rock . Rail
haul decreases wear on veh1cles and increases the
volume of roc!\ that can be transported .
Other prelimmary work arose because of Vtetnam's
unusual weather condihons and wide variattons in terrain
and climate. These condtttons spurred the development
of new highway conslructto'l methods
In the Delta , mur1 ancl a shortage of rock threatened to
stalemate construct ion of roads strong enough to support
heavy traffic. A process known as clay-lime stabilization
was used . Clay is scraped out of nee paddles to form a
roadbed several feet above the water level. A pre
determined amount of lime is spread over the surface
and mixed with the c lay to form a concrete-hard road base.
Orce cured. the surface is paved wtlh a doJble course of
asPhaltic concrete Cement stabil1zation stmilar to clay
lime stabilizatton 1s used on port ons of QL 13 in the
Third Military Regton.
The LOC program mtroduced commercial road building
equipment into tho U S. Army Engineer untts to supple
ment the TO&E. A total of 669 items were purcllased
ustng Mihtary Construction Army funds. The equipment
IS used on all pha~e" of road construction Perhaps the
two most Important purchases were the 250 ton per hour
rock crushers and the 12 cubic yard dump trucks: both
ttems are f lling vttal needs Other items include compac
~0

Whotehud

****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****
****

****

tron equipment, soil stabilrzatron plants. asphalt distribu

tors and pavers.

**********

**********

**********

**********

~ **********

**********

**********

**********

**********

**********

Whitehead

Secunly on the new roads is an rntegral part of the

LOC program . Areas subrect to enemy activity-wherever
jungle or heavy brush surrounds a highway-Is cleared on
both sides for a distance varying from 200 to 300 meters.
After Rome Plows bulldoze the cover. it is difficult for the
enemy to ambush traffic on the road. Opening fertile areas
for agricultural development is a significant by-product
of the land clearing operations.
A w1de assortment of bridges links the gaps between
the paved highway. Approximately 250 bridges measur
rng 11.300 meters will be built as part of the LOC pro
gram ARVN engineers constructed the largest of the
bridges; it measures 1,106 meters and is located at Tuy
Hoa.
The Engineer Command Is responsible for the bulk of
the LOC construction. Nearly half of the command's
20,000 men are involved In some facet of the LOC project
scheduled for completion in 1972.
The high numbe r of engineer personnel involved with
the LOC project is being reduced through extensrve Viet
namzatron of all aspects of the road construction . ARVN
engineers have been trained in opera t ing qua rr ies, pro
ducing asphalt, building bridges, const ructing highways
and land clearing. As their training encompasses more
areas, the number of ARVN forces Involved in engineer
projects gradually increases.
U.S. Army Engineers have trained ARVN Engineers in
their skrlls. In addition to military, Vietnamese civilians
have been hired and trained by both U.S. Army and
civilian contractors.
Because the Republic of Vietnam will be responsible for
the roads, skilled personnel must be available to ca re and
maintarn them after U.S. Army personnel leave Southeast
Asia. This is an important aspect of the training .
Vietnamization, as practiced by the engineers, is a con
trnuous process . The Increased emphasis on withdrawal of
American troops from Vietnam has focused attention on
Vietnamizat1on of the LOC program.
The extent of Vietnamization can be seen on a 40mile
section of QL 1, east of Long Binh. This is the first all
ARVN paving project. ARVN engrneers comprise the pav
rng crew, drive and maintain dump trucks carrying asphalt
to the paving site and operate the aspha l t plant at Gia Ray
that supplies asphalt.
Implications of this first ARVN paving project are far
reaching: Vietnamization IS becoming more than just a
term, It is becoming a practical reality.
21

OVE
BY
l.t<:utenam Jnnior
" thanks'' <~~ lht llt:ltl
CC1\'t>lnpt?. I t C:.tll<n
ann a-; lu.' 1Julkd dlf'

r.

Grade K t>\ Ill

Gallen said
der k handt.:d l11rn the manila
turked thr pa<..k~"t tmdet hi~
fur -tl'imntPci hond around his
head and ~ltppcd rJn hi-. glo\'Co; b~fore he: left Ull'
'' lllll post offire and lnCt:cJ tht (n;1U ro ld around

tltt ;;ntuh Poll' Sratton.

,\ nnv taiT Sergeant Kenneth J. \\'oodo;; tos-sed hts
manila enHIopc thr<.lll'{h thl' rar wtndow and on to
the front seAL l h the11 climbed into the car and
headed fot hi, harrack~ a t Palmf'rston. 1'\t>w

Zealaucl.
Alvin F.. Ptl'r~c \'ankrd his manila E'l1\'rlope from
UH.' n~nrc)\1 mai lho\: and ~kt JliJ"d tht tiny doot shut
Ca1 k(\' still rn hand. hP boundPd up the stairs 1<1
In~ fourth fioor apartment- one of th,.. few m
\ ' tetnam.
Thou!!h stmng .annss three rontint'nt$. these
rhrce men a~e !lcttinl! read y to ' h it tl1e hooks" tr,
t111 sam<' classroom.
rhe classroom. th(' world
' n1c- te-xtbook: a p1ogrr~~ivc stud\' p::tcht
The srhool: L S Atmy Eu~mctr ~d10ol
L SAES I
Each we!:k. men located around the \\'Orld pick
up 5.000 manila envelopes and prepare to increase
lhtn kno\, kdge nf engiot>cring throu)!h the L'SAES
Corre.~pondcnce C:oUL ~e Pogram.
fhrottgh th<' rO\trses dcve!Qped at the t"SAES.
ttliiltary aml t tvili:m pLr<:onnel around the world
Htt:reasc- dtell know lrdg-e and improve thPi r skills l1l
rnili<.lt' enginecnng. Courses help mold \\'elltramed,
memallv a let 1 soldicl'!- needed in toda' s wchnologi
cal Arm' . As f:11 as pra( tical. corrc.,pondencc courses

UP
AIL!
nllt'l

imtt 111 linn

IJ tuuc.\1 to that in USAES

clasSJYXIIO~.

n,..

~ub< nun ~

th .~rtu.ll ..tudy p.u kagl' the

a""'I\,.., II ruu,l'l!> nt .111 lltll".xJucuott a
,,.,.e, ,.f k:-.wr' ''''" ,utuhtl tlll"nlOiandum ot
tl''tl>()(lk. (r, "" .ami t''\otllllllatiuu txcn:ises :md
nrrc..,J,.., 1raini11 ,tllcl ~upplt:mfll''1 materials.
t\ rnrr , ..,pomlm ,. C"'" ron~i'b "' related sub
'011(:,1.' ,.,,, h sulx~''IIIM: I ad.:. ,, particular topic
rot phaw ul ' '"bJC:Ct I nd..icluaJ, ""'-' do nm
\\',11\t tn, mull Jnr .1n tntit c0111 {'rna> dt>,il!tl their
own ~tud\ prog1.1m 111m1 O\'l't 200 subcnun.es Ill
t lw pm_ ruu
()ffirta. muronmus Jorwd n0KI'l and enlisted
~fC lS <111'1'1 dt'\l'lllJIIIII'OI rOIII'I'S, phi) ~pCCiaJ func
,wJem

ltnll.al I 0111 ,po.., otll' ~~~11'1 td

' I lw1 nalour olllr .. t, ,111'1'1 dt,doputtnt tmust>S.

l'ht En~.tnH 1'1 Ollu B.t~it CCliiC~pooclc:nce

Colli se < F II j, J...,il!rwd to IIH l'I',N' tlw pmlidency
nl 1'111{1111'1'1 ~~~uJin:lfil'l in I'OIIIj>:.tlt\ lcvrl dulit'S, paT
rind;,,, thow 1r1 cn).(tlll'tl r111nha1 nnit~ ! 1 .Jiso
prm idts "''1'1 vt rntnl'omu t 111ft~I'I'S tilt nu:ans for
1111''11111' ht ollllll I~LI:tiJh1 :lllllll :till I f'dUCilliOnal ft'
c(UII~nunh (or prnrnolutn 1hrnuuh ,,tptain Tit' 34
'uhtmrr,,~ tottl 22H hnur' nl tmlllllllllll. till"~ 0111~1
lwttlrnpktcd lfll\\1) )''II n1 j,.,,
ltlultt.tl in ,uhttt! r.:" lllt; nl to th.- 1>1 tOurse.
tlte Enttin Offiv1 Ha 11 'onr~idrnt Rl''idem
Cou1~
I i C:l
vllr n,<lnti.,J t~trJction .
Stutlrth rmnp1t1r nrw 0 1 rnua p}ta_se.., of instrur.:
laou 1>, ptndang t c" I..!> nn arth't" dut\ fot ' lr.un
inl! .11 F1 Bch 11 \ 1 llw nUI c on'i''' ni
nmar!!:"idf'nt ph.tu l'lf 2' cmmn uhjtc 1 subcourse:.
tot.tltn G:i h>ul'< cf iu,llucuun anci threr ph::tSe~
1ha1 m:l\ be IIIITIJIIr~l 1hrnugh nnnr\'~idt-nt or

rt'sldrnt tiiSlrllrlinn, 1 hi'

witlllll

rmu~,.

mml hr rompletrd

l\\'11 \r'<il'

1~

tht Erii!IIIPPI Officet

cut c ~ ~H
Tt is
dt>~l{{Ul'd t~ viT(O, ''""'1111' t
a \\Orkin~ knm.-1
Nil!e ot .tpprm ,.,t 1 ommand and \tali technique~
dnt.l doc. 11111.\l ccml''"pl<o J<,, tlw lr.tiuing aud opt.'r.i
tinnal t!!IIJJio mertt ol t:JtJ:IIWt'J tmiti. C';omplction
ol lhi~ couoc ~ui~h~ milit,ll\ dur.ttional rL"lJUire
uwut~ 101 pHIIlotinu ut a'~i'l'\1 ' tompon nt o.fikcr'
thrr,ur.:h the radr PI luutcn:lnt 1 olontl Comple
tion of 50 p r nnt ol tht! t ou~ tuth c:dunwona

Th, tlunl offirt'l l )Ill ,.

\J, .lltnd <.,, r t"'pond..nt

,.fli,,.,.,

requJO'Illl'flh fCll JliiIIWtlln rI On! c.apl:tin tO m3jor.

The i I r.uhclur"'~ tvmhn~ 17:1 t ndit hom' nf m
~lrUI tiC\11 lllll't ho I OlltpJI'l,.d \\ itllllt lOlli \'t.'ah

In suhJl't 1 l~>llttnt. dw J.rudat'\:J Offic:c1 Ad

'\mlr~dcnl d<.tMdont Cnursc 4-5- C23)
IS al<lltir.JI to tht E :!'1 C'ur~ \ mubination of
'ii'Vt'n pha~,,~ of nr,Jllll''ldtnt nnd rt''"'''lll instructirm
l'ompri\1 dt(' 1turw llurt llOIIn'sit.lcnt pha~t'S con

,.:,n~;cd

,jst of 17 cnrrllllon ~uhjl"t' l ~uh< our~<'s nntl add up to

151 hour' of msuw titll ~tudtnts cnnaplt-tf ont' or
mon nf dw four IIVIII c~dnl J1 t''>ldent pha.;e.s bv
alll'ndinl.( l\\11 \\trl.. :trll\t drll\ fur lr.tillinl! periods
.tr r l. lkh llll 1 hr ( I I I 0111 .. Il('flllll.' students
to tr:HI~ft.>a ro tht L-: .! I ut l ~ \ R ~~ hool Eoh<ineer

OtTirct \ch:lllt"l'd Cnll5t- \\llhout fr.,_,.. of time or

cutlit
T"~

cout"'' .u.

d~t!o!llc'd

:.ptTilkallr for non

n)lllml'o~ioJJcu otfit~"'

nw Enl(lll"l I .:"\ou-( .i<llflllli'''"""'d OAkc-1 Basic

C..c..tt~"r Ill:, r'lupnll'l\l CN'J'pondcn~:c Course in
"lrul ~ "'lr11'd ''ll~irh'1'l ruh~11d ptr.;onnrl m enl{i
nrtr

lacw~

.mel

,,.rhlltttur.:~

tot dtll\

~o.~(~il!'llmcnh

in

ut.lna~c L\1

or 1<h ~~~~~ > 1"'\tliOil\ tAlnsisting of four

ph,,,,.,, thr c nut,,.
.!3<1 houl"
Enh,ut~ 1111 r tllt.t tti.tl :thilitir' is the ~oaJ of the
Erumut>r '"" L11rmut"tonrd Offi<"t-r :\chanced
Lan~rr [), "'IIIJIIIll t Lt r n~~pondence Cauf""e lt
pr ~1l.H " 111 ""~ tnc r nun-("Oilllnt'Stoned office-rs
(nt tht l -... \111 ' ltlmlllancl and C...nt-ral Staff Col
li'!;'' Spnal ( lJr (J(lOUtn<"t' L nur~ for ser'I!Cant
111,1 jnt, .111d uptt ttittll> WJl!t'illll'. The cout'C's twa
pha'l'' tnt<~ I II> I lutll ol trt\tru<"uon.
\t Jl" wut thetc .tr <.ix tnlisted ~CO )fO
tt 1 t dtHht!Jntcnt Hllll'-~'" The\ arc used to sup
phnu 111 rott-tiH')Ohtr.tininl(, pnp;.tn. for ~10 tests.
1111 1r.:~~t \I ().., pt, fi.: im' til' pt parr for promotion.
Tit~.''~' t vtn ~' ,tl,n mrc."l tlw 1wed~ of federal em
phi\,.,., ;1.,~i41l<"fl tn tttt.:il1c<ring organt7.a tions. Also,
'"'""' 11 r-nw11 ll'hn "''' th<:u htttll'r in the booming
1 onstrurtiurt
i11dtt~IJ ,, C'an at'tJui rc: requisite jab
~nv,, ltd\!t' dud ,ktll' that tnJhh him to compete ill
tltt' sJ...llltd l.lhlll 111arkct Course~ currrntlv available
"'' Ct.111hat Ln~lllu'rtlll! 1 12ll:?O), Combat Con
'ltllc

'"''J..

tum F'otemJn ll2B 10). Catpenu:

f'lumhrn(!

Pa "'f'l'C tive .,tudtnt'> ~hould fill nut and submit

DA Farm J ~ i, \t ill\ ( orr<">pondence Course En
rollment . \ ppltc .tticm For nulit:u' personnel. the
proper t:hannt'l h thcit ramm.mtling officer ch ilian
pcrroltllt'l .,Jauuld .tpph thrlugh their munediate
~UJ><'I

\hOI .

tudcnc- wt the p;~c" of stud\ commensurate with

tht>tr aiJtlit~ 10 Jearn \hPJ all le~ns and the cxJtttinatJun h,,, t btrt '"btnatrc-d, a crrtthcue IS iSSued
(nJ .tdl )UIKOlll'l c omplcttd !>UCC't!s.;fully A di
plorn.J ,.., a,,,utlt-d upnn 'mnpleuon of a caree1

Je\ tlupuwntcrr 'f.>"ci..tl rout'''

l'~ \ 1:~ rltw~ ml olftr pun.h .u.Jdcmic
L niforl!tl'd HH'1111Wr~ nf tlte Armed Services
'' ho tlt'!lue tu stud~ .1 l.tn~ua(!i.', history or ph.i.la
uplty, f111 c-.;:unplo, '' dl lw asstsled by the U.S.

J'Jw

vul,C\

.'\r 1111d Fot cc~ ltt!>lillHc.

1 51 B).

ilK 1 \l.t nnn f!il 01 and ElectricitY

iltl.
\deli tsonal tus 't'' nm\ in planninl! sta.e:~ are
Rd l igl't ,, tinu and \ u
udltlOiliOf!. Con~tmction

c..

( opu~lapht l..,ul"\-e\in!. JUu5tratine;,

Ltlr, Ill' r C:cJUIJllnt'nt Rtp.Ltt (..,a,, Irs Tr:tctar Op

'ul"\ <'\ttl(!,

'1.\lin c,,1nt- .tud '\hmd OJ*ratint!, Fire Fighti.n~.

\\'ot bug '' uh Sltttr \ [t"t.ll and ntho'r skill areas.
In .uldtllr>n teo till''-(' rarec1 dt,rlopmt:>nt coun>c:s.
the L '\,\I .., olltt.., ,j._ fum tiunal coiTt'spondence

'

'<Htr"'' flu' lll\'1 h c hoth tmhran requirements

aOU J'H>f(\\lllll<IJ .tJ\Jrl(tllJt'nt The't' COurse'> :lie
~.ul(nu,, ( )ffi''"' .\uv:wct:"d \1..1na~ncm. Engineer
Comuun"'" Engull't'l' Cc.mbal Support. Enginee1

I rC'hlllr.tl Ont>utattttn,

En~meer-tn-Training;

and

l'roft')$li'IIIJI fn~tlll'f'r

Pnparatnr. C'<imi'Ses.
P.ltllripatiuu 111 tlw conespcmdence course is \'Ol
llll\.11 \'. To cn ~U i l' thai no iutt'r'CStt>d pcr.;on is denied
du rh.mct fnr ~~If dt' tlopml'nt. e ligible applicants
~t t'l\ 1'1'"11'11' l!l.lll'lt.al, ltProl cltrtrge.

L SAES 1'011 t'"poudrnrt" 1 our~s arc open to mcm

bt.t, rJI .rll till' \rnwd St>l\ices Navy. ~[arinc
C:l'\'1" Au l'rll'l c, l.lli'll>L Cuard and Army. Ci,rilian
t'lltpln"'''' ut till' lrtltt.d ~OVi'rMll'11t are also t:h
l!ll>l.- 11 till' 111~11 ut Uoll ~ JOh-rd:ttl'd .-\nny ROTC
llltlnts, C\.'rt.,in l S 1 ttrzcns lh intl in forei1n1 coun
ll"
nnJ nth~h .1 tthut i1ctl h\ th1' Com~anding
Gt>11rral "' the S Cnrttlntntal Amw Command

'"" ,,J,v ruroll

I nlr~nn. uon on ~lu::ihilit\ and pn:rt-qui~itcs fat
.til OUt~ rn.l\ lw obt 1ind by '' nung the Com
"'' 11tl:uu l ~ \I:. S ~wntion Dtpartmem of )Jon
'"''dcut lnrru ttrou 1'1 . Urho1r \ '.1. 22060.

Stu<J,nts ftllllll'l h t'lll'olkd 111 the Professional

Pnp.lt.th>r; (nn-spolldt>ncc Course have
bucll'd 11 ,, ~ "vlo,f.'tptltn,clh wt>ll preJXlnd and the
ncce~~un 1 ~'''"'"' mNlod to p:tSs m' pwfessional
en!.!illi?PI:in~ l"'<otnlin,l!1on It'll ytar<; nfll'r Ill\' ~allege
ll.lilllllj;!," ''.t L(OOd I tV[l'\' for Ont' 10 yt'ars OUL of
lC JH..IOl" ,111d "\\I'll t'lll.!,illlt'tl'd, \J1tOndll} admill
l~tl'lt'd .tilt! lt,l\1" o-.;~tIJt~lll ttl\l'liii{C Of SUbjec t:'
rhis ~ \\11.11 tlw l ~A F.S Cot l'l~JlOtlUfOLt' Cotlt<>e
l'w~r<ltrl tnl',111tto rn..lll\ '''"' h,t'\l' tal..en ad,an~c
ot 11 and ''til uu-.111 ln ..01111 ll.rlOO ~wdent nm'
uwllcl \l.1lw th..ttlnt,llll UUI
l::n~irwct

Oirutur I :0.. nt\fdrnl lmuurlton :II th(. L S Army En

l(illfrt ~hn..l, l.i llf'n:lnt C lonl!') \rthur Daoul~ is irom
l)roa< ut. \f ,H-.)1 huwtl f l r r~ 1'1\ .. d :1 Ci\il eng~nrering
drotrr frun 1hr \li'" tn ~ho lui )(Jnes, Rolb, ~furouri
;s11rl 3

\(;1,1 " I llu'u ,...., \drninitt.lliun frnm thr t:ni

, ~nm of \br) l.onc..l I I C D.lQul.l~ t omnc.ucdrd Lht' RIHtb

c.;,

o\ltll 1ir11c 11.111 1itllll

rhr Pr:anmaker Satta.lion. m
\ ~tn ..m llr wa "'"' Dut'<:l"r ol l"<~ctlilles Enltineering,
al fo1t 1.''""" nh J...u .n

TO ALL BRAVE, HEALTHY, ABLE BODIED, A ND WELL

DISPOSED YOtJ NG MEN,

IN THIS NElGHBOURHOOD, WHO HAVE ASY l NCL\NA.TlON TO JO[~ THE i'ROOPS,

TAKE NOTICE,

~,~y
-

~~~~~ -

c,

ltl
&.. ._

...

f
WE HALLE rn EAVOR TO A

WER THE QUESTIO

WHY ME?

In every officer's career there arrives a day of deci

sion concerning his future in the Army. A decision to
remain in the Army or to get out and sample the
greener pastures seen on the civilian s1de of the fence
is not one to be taken lightly or to be made in haste.
The Army IS not the right career for every man any
more than every man would be a career asset to the
Army. A decision to stay in the Army or get out is one
that ultimately will affect every facet of the remainder
of your life and that of your family, With tha t profound
thought, let's look at some of the reasons that influence
officers in their decision concerning a career in the
Corps of Engineers .

The military career in genera l provides officers with

a deeprooted sense of satisfaction In the knowledge
that they are devoting their career to the service of their
nation and fellow man. Although patriotism may not be
sung out as the primary reason most off1cers stay in
the service, 1t is. without a doubt, one of the important
intangibles that influence officers toward a military
career.
The cornerstone to any personally satisfying career
is the job satisfaction to be gained from the work. A
glamorous, wel lpaying iob is not necessarily a good
job unless 1t provides the challenges. responsibility
and rewards essential to the personal satisfaction of
the worker
25

By the very nature of our mission, the Corps of Engineers has a

great advantage over other branches of the Army in providing job satls
faction for our officers. In our engineeri ng efforts we have a lasting,
physical monument to our efforts and skills after we complete a job.
Whether th is be a penepnme chopper pad , a section of asphalt road or
a civil works darn, we can look back wHh pride and see a tangible result of
our work The sense of ach ievement in the creation of worthwhile works
is the most satisfying part of engineering. The responsibility of success
fully meeting a challenge through the effort and skill of yourself and
those whom you command marks the Corps officer as a leader and
manager of no small ability.
Responsible, challenging jobs are abundant in the Corps. Think about
the men and equipment that are the responsibility of our platoon leaders
and company commanders. The construction and combat support mis
sions pertormed by our uni ts will task the keenest and most Imaginative
of minds and make great dema nds on the technical and professional
engineering skills of our officers. Our JObs are characteristically construc
tive In nature and not of the repetitive or make work type.
The varied responsibilities of the Corps of Engineers provide oppor
t unities to work and develop skills In a field interesting and challenging
to the individual preference of nearly every officer. An officer who wants
to be a gung-ho combat leader of men can find the job he wants In
the Corps just as can the officer whose interests are in the scientific
research and developme nt areas. The Corps has officers participating
in all of the Army spectalist programs from aviation to foreign area
specialist. For the officer who doesn't want to specialize, the diversity
of our work means that there needn't be a stereotyped career in one
narrow field unless. of course, an officer tru ly desires to specialize within
lhe Corps.
Only after an officer has assured himself that he can obtain personal
job satisfaction from a career in the Corps should he consider the long
list o1 other benefits of a military career. Certa inty one of the most
attractive prospects is the opportunity for advanced schooltng. Recent
experience indicates that about 60% of all Corps career officers can
expect to obtain an advanced civil schooling degree . There are four
programs available for civil schooling They are the Degree Completion
Program (Bootstrap) , the officer Undergraduate Degree Program , the
Advanced Civil Schooling Program and the new Advanced Degree Pro
gram for ROTC Duty. These are flexible programs that comb ined can
satisfy a schoo ling desire for almost any officer that is dembnstratlng
good performance in h1s dulles.
The Army way of li fe with attendant feeling of camaraderie with your
peers, the social lffe and family involvement, the variety of duty stations
both stateside and overseas and the traditions and customs of the service
gives a sense of belonging and identily that Is ditftcult or impossible to
find outside military life. Retirement, PX, commissary, insu rance and
medical care benefi ts are well publicized, 1ecognized fncentrves of mili
26

tary service. There are other benefits not so apparent. Fihd out how much
insurance you would need to have In order to provide the same protection
that the Army survivor benefits give your dependents or to provide the
income protection that you enjoy in the Army should you become sick or
disabled. It Is very substantial.
The most frequent ly mentioned reasons that Corps officers give for
leaving the service are:
1, The desire for more authority
2. More opportunities for Indepe ndent action
3. Freedom from red tape
4. The desire for less supervision over t heir work
5. Opportunities for more money
6. The belief ihat the officer was under utilized by the Army in rela
lion to his abilities.
Any decrslon that will affect a person as profoundly as decid ing whether
or not to make the Army a career should not be an emotional decision
made In a fit of p1que or a euphoria of well-bemg based on a single
Incident . Rather , all aspects of the entire spectrum of considerations
relat ing to your career, both pro and con, should be explored.
When all the pros and cons of Army life have been considered, a young
officer should t hen sit back and try to view his personal situation with
as much objectivity as possible . Th is Is also the time to decide on the
type of civilian work on the outside that looks most attractive and then
whether or not your personal goals can be better achieved in that crvilian
job. A second look at the list of reasons otf1cers giVe for leaving th e Corps
wfll show that these are th e very same problems that your civilian con
temporaries are exper iencing in theif work In private industry. In fact ,
many Engineer officers who have resigned from the Army state t hat the
amount of responslbrlity and opportunity for Independent action that
they were allowed In the Corps was far greater than that they were
afforded as c1villans . Thrs IS really not unexpected because show ing a
profit must be the pnmary objective of pnvate Industry whereas that of
the Corps Is the training of engineer leaders and managers. The civi lian
world also has Its bureaucratic Inefficiencies and its share of poor leaders
JUSt as the Army does.
Many people work a lifet ime and never are able to find a job that
satisfies them personally. I feel that Corps of Engrneers officers have an
unequaled opportunity to frnd that job satrsfaction in their work and in
their service to our nation. ThiS is the key to a f uture in the Corps and
rn finding a true sense of accompfrshment and meanmg In your career.
.\ graduat(' uf the t}.S. Mil\ta.ry Academy, M aJor G:~ry D Beech \\as .-om
missi\ned nto the Corps of Engineers. Hi< nr~t .u~i~~;mn(nt tnnl... Major Btl'!~h
tu the 307th E.n~incu Battalion, Ftltl Brng~, ~orth Catulina, hl Sl'nrd as t
.:ump:tny plat~'>Ltn lr.Ader :.~nd I:Xl'util tffiter. \ite r attl'tldiuq flight Srbool, lr,.
became a fixed '''ine :=~viator .:IUd fhA'h t ~omm:Jildt'l for the 'l9rh E:ngi nel'l' C:tNlp,
Eutope }1inin't th~ ll h Cavalry, US.\RPAC. VIetnam. MiljM lkcrh ~l"tl 1:'0 at.
rotary win2 a1 iilt"t and :~ern lift plamrm lt-nder He the-n hec3me Aviati 1111 Staff
Officer of rhe Engintcr Divi1oinn, 11'1 editerran~an Majur Beech "~ now l,.ssistnJ\1
for .'>filtt,:trl' Atfairs, Publit Affairs ()ffi,e, Office uf Chtcf
F.nrrirutn

,,r

27

ITSCHNER

The ltschner .'h ,ard is named for the fom1cr Chief of

.Engineers and past prPSident of Th<.> ocietv of American
Military Engineers, Lieutenant Ocnrral Emerson C. Itschner.
Given onnuallr bv the ocietv. the a,,ard I!; prest>nted to
the unit of the .\nn\' Corp" nf Engineers selected as the most
outstanding during the yeru..
This vear's ,,inner is Company C. 8th Engineet Battalion.
I Sl ca,alrv 01Yislon (Airmobile I .
CC'mbat suppot t of tht Infantl)' has ~I way~ been at the
heart of military engineering. Ln that role, the Amw engineer
fully realizes the purpose of his effom. :\itmobilc
cngi.ne('nng, prnbablv mort> 1-han other forms, e.xemplifie~ the
close bond exisung between infantryman and engineer.
\ 1ission-orientation, a!!gressiveness ru1d n-"sponse reach a zenith
in the airmobile engineer. With tht \ 'ietnam conflicrc!rawing
to a dose, it is fitting that we $ei7c tbis opportunity LO
acknowledge t11e unique infamryman 1 engincer relationship
characteric.tic in a1rmobile w1its.
Throughout the ~ix years that the First Team has been in
Vietnam. the Shbea\ers of the 8th Engmeer Battabon
have provided engitterrinf! acumen and ba('kbreaking labor
imperative to :.uppott of highly Auid warfare. The a~ult into
Cruubodia rna\' ''ttl have been the rnos.t d1amatk and
successful operation o[ the wat, alld. o( aJl the engineers,
the Skybeavers of Companr C, 8th Engineer Battalion. led the
wav. This company epi tomizes an outstanding ainnobile
combat eng-ineer unit. The company's performance during the
Cambodian Campaign. as well as for the emire year, was
superb. Company C: contribured immeasurably to the successful
complehon of the 1st Cavalry's mission.
During 1970, the unit amassed ru1 impressive record in all
aspeclsof direct combat enginef'r suppon 10 the 3rd Brigade
of the di\ i_;;ion The: Cambod ian Campaign, during Mar
and jUnl', \\~S the hig-h point of this exciting rear.
Before. during- ancl after lhis OJ?eration, the company never
failcu tn accomplish all mission:. superbly.
The months before the Cambodian Campaign were filled
with ~xtensive combat ruppon. The compam \,-as primari lr
involved in the construction of battalion-sized fire support
bases. airfield upgradings ami mines,,eepoperacions.
Durin,e: late sprin!! and earh summer. tl1e pace became hectic
(\$ tht' Cambodian Campai2n grew in intensit~. Combat
engineer cffnrt t.h at mitiated, sustained a nd lattr " ithdrew the

28

AWARD

ma~\1\t on~l.tu,ht ''"'" ul a \c :tit' ne' cr before e'-perienced in

the \'tt>tu.Jnt \\at C"mpam ( , Rth F.nvneer Battalion led

the\,.i\.
Ptrfotminl! iu a 'upct"b m::utne'r durin(! the campaign. the
tnll conuihutt.>d ''l!nifinuHh tn tht> hiqory nf aitmobile eng-ineer
npt'nuun, in th \ 'tNihllll \\ .u ~n 01her rngineer com pam in
tlw Ill ~!ilitary Rtlliou lt .1\ l'ljlt::lled Comp:my C's outstant.lin~
pt>rfotmanct> durin~ 1 his prnod For 1'\'t'IT seemingly impossible
obstacle pl.tc rd in thl" unit '~ path, snu1r. method was ah,ays
rontri\NI w c>\'l'tconw it and iH'tornpll~h the obJe-ctive.
Contp:tn\ C ~tf!tld~ alo tw :~bon th e mher support of the 1st
C:a\';llt\l)ivi~tnn dut in~o~ dw Cambodian Campaign.
Tlte 'll<Tt''' lJl tltt C<~mhodian operltion. and resultant
drawdm, n of t'llt'lll\ {wee~. pl'tllltllt'd grea11~1 dispersion amon!{
the tartir .1luuit' 111 tlw followtOI!' months. Combat en.gineerli
,,en' a hit> to dr\'l!IC' murr t'llt mt>r effort to the impro\'em~nt
and lOth II unton of hr ~uppnt t b.t"~ ~~~s~ions included
mines,,eep~. c 11rp~'ntf\ ~olin!!Out.,. 11'\'l!tment constroction.
dt.>mnhtt('ll" .md ,., "'"' Ol~JW' t nl imponant hreba.se ronstroc tion
Each llll''">ll ''41' uwt '' ith cnthu~ia,m and a!!!!I'l'>-ivcucss.
To r:1p an tmpr--h<' ~a~ ani,ities. and~~ rop of all the
.~ombat .mri comb.tt ~upp011 mis,ion\, rhe men of Compan~ C
pn;parl.'d for 1111<.1 ''"'<t''-'fulh pa,,ed tht:' Did,ion :\11nual
Gt:nl'ral l w;pt, tion dur in~t 1Jc1 embet .
Thc- \l':tr w,t) n htid, hut rnonunwntal. period in the historY
ot a ptoud -.;omhat tum Frr))n the push tn BuDop. with
~ub:.t.quent lneild-up, ltl the hhto1 ir. thnJ)l mto the heart o the
:\onh \'ietn:lrn s:~nctuarie;; 111 Camhodia, and funher. to the
bnt;ade telncatton~ nnd ronronman t problems in a new area of
opcr:uious. tlw ytaJ 1Cl70 ~aw an Lrmurpns.,td chronicle of
succPs~ fUJ tiH Shlw:t\'('1'$ of Chadi(' Com pan~, 8th Engineer
Ratt:.~.lion .

The! uhilit~ t<l t!t' l lilt jniJ chuw in the intense, fluid combat
emironnH'nt, l"C1Trlhllll'd with \JOwrpassed espirit de corps, made
the uniltruly" rthoul pc'<'t ancl dt>senine- of rhe highest
re<:o~;:nnron

The ltsdmcr A\\Jttl SclcC'tiC'In Committee also named two

companws to l'f"t ~i\'t' honorahlt: mention for their outstanding
perfom1ancc:s JUJIIIJ! caJc.ndflr yrar 1970. These commendation~
"ent to CCIIup.tm \ I I th Enqmeer B.uulion, Combat. Korea.
and Cornpam () 711th Engineer Balla lion, Construction.

Europe

the role of the helicopter in eng1neenng

Today's technological Army is constantly on the lookout f or advancements to streamline 1ts military
operations. Adequate equipment 1s continually being replaced as more efficient equipment Is discovered A1r
mob1lity, one of the Army's top research programs, now offers a solution to the many restrrctions of
surface transportation in the support of construction.
The replacement: the helicopter.
There are, for example. numerous potentials for the helicopter as a resource fo r bridge bulld 1ng, or 1n more
genera lized terms, as a resourcE for gap crossi ngs. Although many characterisltcs peculiar to the
helicopter provide advantages, 'there are also associated dtsadvantages. There 1s, however, ev1dence of
a clear plus 4n the area of potential benef1ts to the construction Industry
What engineer has not been faced wfth a problem which could have been easily solved wtth a "sky hook7 '
But, how many have eve1 employed the one item available to them that can be literally described as a
"sky hook.' ' the helicopter?
In the broadest cons1ructron sense. there are three basic tasks the helicopte r can accomplish .
1.) The helicopter, of course. can transit areas of steepest grades. swamps, water, snow or heavy timber
stands .
2.) It can comfortably cruise at speeds over 100 mtles per hour wl1hout regard to the state or presence
oi road net or waterway ,
3.) n can operate from hasttly prepared locations to receive cargo In an area only shghtly larger than that
required for the cargo Itself. Compare that to the area needed for turn around of grounded transport
and for offloading and storage . And , of course, rf materials can be provtded on a shod-term delivery schedule,
the need for large storage onsrte is gone. This fact offers savings In manpower and equipment
30

..

..

lhere are \'8rfous applications of tfle helicopter

to these cen~ral tasl<s 10 a construction situation.
Talk1ni by radio/telephone to a "akY hook"
opera tot ~remotes peed and effectiveness of fob
direction. The chance to void m istakes with little
dtfficulty or penalty means better and faster
construction. This adds up to more money appearing
on the plus side of the contractor's balance sheet
or what Is even more important, time In a combat
environment
W1th regard to construction loads. a sky hook
can handle between two and ten tons. Obviously,
no one today seriously considers building a sizable
bridge us1ng a single vehtcle to haul materials.
When we get up in the range of ten to twenty tons
of transport per helicopter load, the prospect of
substantial deliveries becomes more attractive.
Certainly the rate of initial progress in construction
could be mcreased, even today, and lead to
economics
Another advantage of the helicopter Is its
separation from surface traffic patterns or
congestion In addition the helicopter does not
add to ground vehicle congestion at the work site.
The mobility and flexibility of the helicopter In
worktng has already been mentioned.
The helicopter also has disadvantages. It is not
a "failsafe'' mode . There Is always the t hreat of
total loss of vehicle and cargo in case of a
catastrophic failure of the vehicle . On the other
hand, a heltcopter can equal or better safety records
of the cranes currently employed in the trade
and is free from the hazards of lrnes of
communicatton tnterdiction
Tt"lere is one new and significant factor the builder
must consider when using the helicopter-air
disturbance potential Thts Involves the problems
of rotor wash on personnel and materials at the job
site, and the wind loading on the cargo being carried.
Most engmeers readily concede that an airborne
vehicle is more sensitive to weather than ground
based vehicles. Helicopter operation is influenced by
air density or violent ar turbulence. There are

also the traditional foes of 111ght, and cons truction

too--rain, fog and smog. And we are unable to
control these factors.
The heltcopter, along with Its suspens ion cable
and load. form a vertical obstacle which must
compete for atr space w1th other aircraft. high
buildings, transmission lines and rad io towers.
Our sky hook also has a limit in single
mission endurance because of fuel consumption.
Fuel and payload capacity offer certain tradeoffs,
but contmuous airborne operattons must today
be held below two hours.
And ftnally. when it comes to precise
placement of malenals. the airborne vehicle
does not provtde a standing point of reference
tn space
These disadvantages may seem Imposing if
viewed In Isolation . However, they d iffer from
conventional cons t ruction systems mainly in
degree of disadvantage.
For example. there are currently various
ways a bridge builder might find it advantageous
to use rotorcraft. Over time these uses will
expand to keep pace wtth the added capabilities
of helicopters.
Delivery of men. materials and equipment to
relatively Inaccessible locations may make the
chopper the only reasonable method of transport
where time Is an Important factor in the
bndge construction.
Obvtously, 1f equipment Is required on each
side of a substanttal gap. the use of a
helicopter to move the equipment from side
to s1de means eff:c1ent use of the machinery
with <Jssociated savillgs

A recent engineering magazine article

explained how a builder used choppers to pour
c~nCil!te for pile caps. Application of this
approach may soon increase.
The full potential of eliminating scaffolding
and other false work has only been touched to
date. The press abounds with examples of
helicopters used to emplace church steeples
and tovters.
A few words now about the most dreaded
of details-cost of operation. A helicopter
with a speed of about 100 miles per hour, an
endurance rate of 2 V2 hours and a load
capacity of 4,000 pounds can be rented for
between $300 and $350. The flying crane, at
a speed of 50 nautical miles per hour, can
deliver 16,000 pounds for $1 ,500 to $2,000
per hour. When compared to the normal price
for a 20 ton truck mounted crane at $20 per
hour, the price tag seems large. However, when
you consider the cost of auxiliary transport
and crane rental at both ends, the price falls
within range.
Now, let's take a look at where some of
the savings to a builder would appear. The fast
transport permits economic hauling over long
distances; this reduces the need for multiple
bases of operation. less transportation time for
highlyskllled, and therefore highlypaid,
techn icians results in significant payroll cuts.

Real estate costs are also reduced as less space

is requ ired for ground or water transport
systems.
Replacing traditional equipment such as
cranes, barges, elevators and walkways with
rotorcraft has not been fully studied. However,
the development of selfcontalned pile drivers
would permit multiple insertion of piling. And
this, of course, offers substantial savings In
time-a most Important commodity. As tndustry
improves helicopter performance , the vehicles
w1ll have ever broadening applications In bridge
construction , The Corps of Engmeers should
lead the way.
Military engineers with foresight are looking
forward with anticipation to the day when a 25 ton
lift capability becomes routinely available. A
civilian chopper with such capability, when coupled
with greater reliance on factory fabrication of
bridge components, will promote changes In methods
and techn1ques of design, manufacture and
erection of bridges
Along with all other Army engmeers, I am looking
to a future of air mobility in the Engineer Corps.
It is diffilull t<l capsulize a career as dlmnguuhtd as that of
Major Ccnet nl R obert R . Ploger. Upon l!raduatloo from
th~ U .S. Military Academy, MG PfoRrr rec~ived hu com
ml~~ic:~n it\lr) the Corps of Engineers. He commanded lhe
12lu Engineer Combat Battalion thruush the Nonnandy,
Northern f'rancc and German rmnpaigns. As Division En
l!inlt-r he udvisfd thl' commandinl( geMral for the D-Day
assault Qll Omdh01 Beach, for which hiJ unit received the
Distinguished L' nit Citation. For three \eata he was as
signed to tht- Supreme Headquarters ' Allied Powers,
Europe While in \'ktn3m, ~fG Ploger commanded lhe
18th En~mc-er Bnnalwn and the L'.S. Ann>' En~incer
Command and acted ;u Senior Ad\isor to the Chu:f of
Ea~inct'rs of the Republic of \'ietnam He waa then as
Sltflltd to tht- Office of the Chief of. Entuneers and ap
pointed tlw Dirl.'ctor of Topography Md Milimry
En~nC'erinlf ,\her organjzin~~: the Ann} T upographic
Command, h .crved concurrently llJ 1U initial com
rnander and fopo!frapher of the Army H e then became
De~ctor uf Militar)' .Engineering in the Office of tbe Chief
of Enl(mrrr~ ln J uly, 1970 MG Ploger :U:CC'pted hu present
position ;u t:ommandin.; General uf the U .S. Ann)' Engi
neer C.:rntl'r and Fort Beh oi r He h:ts recei,ed master's
de~tree in enl{ineering and business administration.

33

*****************************,

On behalf of the Officer Personnel Directorate, may I congratu late you on the first
issue of The Engineer Mag~. I am particularly pleased that space will be made
available in each issue to the Colonels Division and the Engineer Branch to assist
them tn keeping you informed-for an Informed officer is by nature more dedicated
and maintains higher professional standards.

l invite you to vistt the Officer Personnel Directorate wnen you are in the Washington
area. For those of you who cannot, write the Colonels Division or the Engineer Branch,
keeping them advised as to your preferen ces. Let me assure you our major aim for
you Is a successful and satisfying career.
Sincerely,

RICHARD A. EDWARDS, JR.

Brigadier General, USA
Director of Offi cer Personnel

We tn the Branc11 welcome this additional opportunity to get the word to you. Your
success tn your career and your overall ability to meet anY requirements are the
reasons tor our being here. And keeping you advised Is a major task in that effort.
In each issue we plan to cover those subiects we feel of greatest interest to the
majority. You can help us by letting us know your thoughts, reactions, and desires.
As in our newsletter, we will be brief, and direct you to source documents where
necessary. If any questions remain, please write.
The oppor tunity to serve you is a satisfying assignment for all of us in Engineer
Branch. We share prtde in vour Individual success.

JOSEPH A. JANSEN
Colonel, Corps of Engineers
Chief, Engineer Branch, OPD

We fn Colonels Division join fn welcoming this opportunity to get In touch with you
Through this publication, we hope to provide timely information pertatning to colonels
assignments around the wor ld.

As Information must flow In both direct1ons, we urge you to pass on your desires and
future plans. This will help in our providing the best possible assignment to you.
Best wishes and continued success.

CHARLES J. FIALA
LTC, CE Assignment Officer
Colonels Division, OPD

*****************************,
34

r*****************************

BRIDGING THE GAP

Per SO'JlJ1 el

Notes

Sound Advice

Basically your biggest help to a successful career remains good efficiency

reports. Do your job well-<:lo your best-and the efficiency report will
take care of 1tself-and you. It helps you be selected for bette r assignments.
schools and promotions. Visit the Engineer Branch at OPO When i n
Wash1ngton and rev1ew your files. There you can receive advice on how
well you are doing, and map out potential career opportunities. If you can't
visit, make sure you submit your preferences in writing. Not everyone
may get his first choice, but we make every effort to come as close as we can ,

Like Stability?

Increased emphasis is be10g placed on achieving greater stability for all

officers as well as their famil ies The Army recently reaffirmed rhe policy
stabilizing f1eld grade command ass1gnments a min imum of 18 months
and company command assignments a minimum of 12 months. With short
tour requirements decreasing, our goal is a minimum of two years
between any PCS mov~;; with an ob ject ive of three.

Promotion Outlook
Optimistic

Current average serv1ce for promotion to Colonel IS 20.5 years, Lieutenant

Colonel , 14.2; MaJOr, 8.1: Captain, 2, and 1st Lieutenant, 1. The forecast
for t he future remains somewhat the same except that the t ime to make
Captain will gradually Increase between now and I July 1973 to 3 .5 years.
These times compare very favorably with the 1965 figures which were
22.3 years to Colonel: 17 .0 years to Lieutenant Colonel; 10.8 years to

Major: and 4 .0 years to Captain .

Overseas Tours

The overseas tour situation is changing grad ually in accordance with

the decrease in short tour requirements. A considerable number
of our officers still have to be separated from their familles;
approximately 41% of Engineer officers are currently overseas . with
26% tn short tour areas, Majors and aviator$ of all grades have
been most affected, with many having gone back to Vietnam for a
second to ur after 20 months, and some on a thi rd tour. Current
turnaround time to second tours Is about 28 months for maJors
and about 4S months for captains .

Civil Education
Opportunities

The Undergraduate Degree Program. the Degree Completion Program ,

the regular Graduate Degree Program , and the Advanced Degree
Program for ROTC Instructor DuW afford a young officer a number
of means to advance his engineering skills and background . In
addition to the DA sponsored programs, the Enginee r Schoo l has a
program where an officer in the Advanced Course or on the faculty
has the opportunity to work towards either his undergraduate degree
or an advanced degree, Some 78% of our Engineer officers have
basic degrees whil e 22% have advanced degrees.

~*****************************

35

essayons

Scene I . Office of Major G eneral R . R. Ploger, Commanding General, U nited States

Army Engineer Center and Fort Belvoir. on 1 December 1970. General Hunt
and Major T om King, lnformation Officer, are seated. G eneral Ploger
speaks: " J im, T thjnk that it would be " onderful if ~ou could get the first cop~
_of Th~ Enginar out for our Annual Dinner on 30 Apri l. What do you thi nk~"
General H unt: "Say, that's a great idea. We will ~et on it right away."
Scene 2. G eneral Hunt's office on 1 February 1971. M ajor King is sp eaking : "Boy, we
are running into a rorky road getting permission to use color for the engineer
magazine. I ~ure wish you could do somethi ng. II you don't, we're dead.''
General Hunt: 'Tom, let's check with my good friends iJ1 the .\ djutant
General'!< office and see if 1,e can get a sympathetic hearing."
Sceno 3. General Hunt's office on 10 March J 971. Major King is talking: " I t was a
lifesaver that the Adjutant General app roved the use of color but we don't
have. a contract yet and it will rake 15 day~ to prin t the magazine after we get
a contract. The earliest \\e can get the magazine publish ed is mid-j une. On
top oi that we have no art $upplies and we haven't rounded out our staff.
I think you had better tell General Ploger that we just ca:n't make it!'' General
H u n t replies: "You can tell the CG, but [ am going to sec if we can' t get a
contract."

Stnu' 4. General Hunt's office on 13 March 1971. Major King is present.

P.S.

General Hunt speaks: "Well, tbe Government Printing Office promises tbat
if they can't get w; a contrart right away they will print the magazine them
selve.<>. They tate they wi ll do everything possible to m<et General Ploget-s
deadline. The only dung is they need final r..opy b)' 22 Marrh.''
M ajor K ing turns a silly green and says: lJ the Adjutant General and the
Government Printing Offi<-;e c:an come throug-h so can we. The art d irector will
use his own supplies and we will work everybody until the copy is ready."
T his fhst edition of The Engiurn mav not be its best but never has an t-n gineer
maga7..ine been published by so fe,,, ,,itu so little time and so little material
and \dth so Jntlt:h moral supporl rom nonengineers--Major General \ 'errw
Bower-s. the Deputy Adjutant General; the Hon01abJe .\ . N. Spence. the
Publi<. Printer of the United States; Major Tommy King, I nfantry. the
Editor; Lieu tenant J oe Walkrr.. l n.Cantty, the Executive Editor: and Mr. J ohn
Savage. the Art Director. I ,...- ant ~ou all to kno-., that The Engineer has been
bapti~ed in the true spirit ot "Essa>ons",
BC Ira A. H rwt, Jr.

1't u.s_ GOVEfm"[Nf PRIIITING OFFIC[. I97 1 o-4ZG-~41

a word

In this modern. fast paced, mod world ,,.,.ate all COI\C'erned with "hem hrost to C'ommunic!ttc
C)r establish a meaningfu l dialogue wirh our church, on~auization, husinl.'s<.. P t ~dtc)o l '"
Word of moulh, pnntecl media, radio, TV all a rc cxtremeh pffe,.tiv,., tl ml:'d to fu ll
advantage.
The Engineer School is using tltc medium of th.is maga1inc. Rrali7ing that this is not a
new approach and not wanting to c-reate jusl another militan puhlitatinn . \1 I' t'tl\'i<iton<:d o
modrnt, tnnovative and profession - n~lated ma~azit1e as an ,{fecth e, 1csprmsiq: cmunntuit<ttiou
medium for the chon!. Tr is dt>~igned to tomrnunicate 1. urt rnt miiit.m en~inret in!.' tllfonnarion
about ne1~ tochnoiO,!,')' and dc1 eloptng concepts for usc by the Corps ,,mld,,idl.
The Engineer '' i!l ser\'e a.s a Jorum for rhe exc hn n~c nf idta~ tt nd poi n ~~ ni 'if'\\ '' hf."thet
they represent the const:rvnti, e. the controversial or tht rn rwa1d thinking. \\'r.: ltv]>: that 11 ''ill
stimulate new ideas, the remolding o f rxi!>ting p rartirr~ and the ellbc~ureml'IH of rtC\\ pro
fessional awareness, skills. esprit and accomp]i$}llncms. Contr.t)\'\'Nial .m~a~ nf corwcrn and nl'W
" fre e-thinking" ideas will be published, if wrll presented ,1nd 1nll dnnmu.nl'ed.
The Eng~ is establishing the H enry Larrom .\ bbot . \\\'ard for f'!<l'el lf'nCC' in wr iting.
The award will be presented to lhe au thor of tht' best papet wntten by an .tcll'itnccd r:ounc
student. The student will receive a plaquf>, a letl('r of comwendaLi1.1tt :1nd a rnonetat v award.
The fi~t of such articles will appear in I hr Summer tssuc
.\ p rime ingredient in communications is feedback. Without thi.~ reac-tion tltl' dlef' ti,encss
of the magazine cannot be> evaluated. m- its progri"Ss charted. \\ r sl't'k 1our comtl1CnLS and \ '('lUI
contribuLions so that we may pro' ide )'<)U \dtll tht: beH po~sible medium u( rnnuuuuwalion.
Without feedback we will operate in a ,acu Ltrl\. A thriving. respons-i\C: publication tatttun be
productive under ~uch conditions.
The Engi.Qr is a non-technical, readable, infotmativr publication . \\ C' are ~rrking .Htir:lcs
from you-the Engineer professional. whethe r mu be a student, a mc.nrl><'t flf the ~ talf nt
faculty, or with troops in the field. Rank is of no concern to us 11 c d~1re anirll~ irom enlisted
and officers alike. \Ye wan t items of concern, lesso ns lcamed and ju~t good nlicl ~wric., \dth
sttpport.ing photographs.

Ow goal is simple--to stimulate the thinking of the Corps~ Thr Gorp~ c:~n a.~k no murr
or no less of the fujgineer1 except technical proficiency and p rofessiotlal tompctencc \\'~ hope
TJ1e Engineer will enhance both.

'MAl Tommy B. King