US Army Engineer Command, Vietnam

United States Army Engineer Command, Vietnam
Active1966-1971
CountryUnited States United States
Branch United States Army
RoleEngineer
SizeCommand
Part of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Garrison/HQLong Binh, Vietnam
Commanders
Notable
commanders		John A. B. Dillard
Charles C. Noble

United States Army Engineer Command, Vietnam (USAECV) was a unit of US Army Vietnam from 1966 through 1971.

General William Westmoreland, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) commander created USAECV in 1966 to oversee all engineering projects in Vietnam.[1]

The Command's first challenge was to execute General William Westmoreland's MOOSE program (Move Out of Saigon Expeditiously)[2][3] - the commanding generals order for unit headquarters to get out of the capital[4] including moving the MACV headquarters to Tan Son Nhut Airbase.[2] This would require a great amount of construction projects including the Đồng Tâm Base Camp.[5] Major General Robert R. Ploger would become the USAECV commander. The second would be the continued construction of the pier at Cam Ranh Bay and other port projects.[6] Its third goal was paving 900 miles of modern highways to connect the cities[1] which often included bridge construction.[6]

Rome Plow clears trees to create a landing zone.

In 1967, USAECV's role changed from basic construction to combat support and upgrading lines of communication. The command took part in Operation Cedar Falls and Operation Junction City using "tank dozers" with Rome Plow[1] blades to clear areas inside the Iron Triange creating landing zones and minesweeping.[4] They were also responsible for tunnel destruction, destroying 10,900 yards of tunnels.[7]

In August 1967, Gen. Ploger concluded his time in Vietnam and was replaced by Major General Charles M. Duke. The next month discussions began with the commanders of Vietnam Field Force I and II about getting more engineer support in the field.[4] It was decided to assign some of the brigades directly to the commands and U.S. Army Engineer Construction Agency, Vietnam[1] would replace USAECV as the agency in charge of construction projects from 1971.

Subordinate Units (1968–1971)

Commanders

USAECV

Source:[9]

Major General Robert R. Ploger September 1965
Major General Charles M. Duke August 1967
Major General William T. Bradley May 1968
Major General David S. Parker July 1969
Major General John A. B. Dillard December 1969
Brigadier General Robert M. Tarbox May 1970 (interim)
Major General Charles C. Noble June 1970
Major General Robert P. Young August 1971
Brigadier General James A. Johnson March 1972 to inactivation

18th Engineer Brigade

Colonel C. Craig Cannon September 1965
Brigadier General Robert R. Ploger September 1965
Colonel Paul W. Ramee December 1966
Brigadier General Charles M. Duke April 1967
Brigadier General Andrew P. Rollins Jr. September 1967
Brigadier General Williard Roper November 1967
Brigadier General John H. Elder Jr. September 1968
Brigadier General John W. Morris May 1969
Brigadier General Henry C. Schrader May 1970 until inactivation

20th Engineer Brigade

Brigadier General Curtis W. Chapman Jr. August 1967
Brigadier General Harold R. Parfitt November 1968
Brigadier General Edwin T. O'Donnell November 1969
Brigadier General Kenneth B. Cooper October 1970 until inactivation

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Adams, Bianka J.; Pearcy, Matthew T.; Wilson, Douglas J. (2016). "DUTY AND PURPOSE: Army Engineers in Vietnam". The Military Engineer. [108] ([703]): 12–17. ISSN 0026-3982.
  2. 1 2 TIME (1967-12-01). "South Viet Nam: Cleaning Up Saigon". TIME. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
  3. ↑ Herring, George C. (2017-09-19). "Opinion | How Not to 'Win Hearts and Minds'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
  4. 1 2 3 Ploger, Major General Robert. "VIETNAM STUDIES. U.S. ARMY ENGINEERS: CHAPTER IX Engineer Tactical Operations". US Army. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  5. ↑ "The 18th Engineer Brigade in Vietnam". 0500 Hrs. July 10, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "20th Engineer Brigade builds on long, heroic legacy of airborne support". The Fayetteville Observer. March 6, 2014. Retrieved 2026-07-05.
  7. ↑ Lehrer, Glenn H. (2016). "Viet Cong Tunnels". The Military Engineer. [108] ([703]): 60–63. ISSN 0026-3982.
  8. ↑ Ploger, Major General Robert. "CHART 5-ORGANIZATION, U.S. ARMY ENGINEER COMMAND, NOVEMBER 1967". US Army. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  9. ↑ Ploger, Major General Robert. "VIETNAM STUDIES U.S. ARMY ENGINEERS 1965-1970 Appendix F". US Army. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
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