During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played a pivotal yet often underrecognized role in supporting military operations and infrastructure development. The 18th Engineer Brigade, reactivated in July 1965, was central to these efforts. Deploying to South Vietnam in September 1965, the brigade was tasked with overseeing Army engineering operations until the establishment of the U.S. Army Engineer Command, Vietnam, in late 1966. Their responsibilities encompassed constructing essential facilities such as ports, airfields, base camps, and ammunition depots, as well as supporting combat operations alongside divisions like the 101st Airborne and the 4th Infantry.
One of their notable achievements was the development of Cam Ranh Bay, transforming a sandy peninsula into a vital logistical hub. Additionally, the brigade completed significant projects like the 3,600-foot runway at Landing Zone English and the extensive Lines of Communication Program, which upgraded approximately 1,500 kilometers of roads to bolster both military and economic activities. Their collaboration with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) engineers led to the construction of the 3,600-foot Tuy Hòa bridge, the longest of its kind in South Vietnam.
To document these extensive engineering endeavors, the Office of the Chief of Engineers (OCE) initiated a liaison program from 1966 to 1972. Liaison officers conducted 22 trips across Southeast Asia, capturing nearly 6,000 35mm color slides accompanied by detailed captions. These images provided insights into Army engineer activities in Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, and Okinawa, and were used to brief leadership both in-country and in Washington, D.C.
Recognizing the historical value of this collection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Veterans Curation Program undertook a digitization project between 2014 and 2018. By May 2023, the entire collection of over 5,900 slides was made available to the public through the USACE Digital Library. Each slide is linked to its explanatory caption and is searchable by keywords, subject headings, and geographic locations, providing researchers and the public with comprehensive access to this rich visual history.
o document these extensive engineering endeavors, the Office of the Chief of Engineers (OCE) initiated a liaison program from 1966 to 1972. Liaison officers conducted 22 trips across Southeast Asia, capturing nearly 6,000 35mm color slides accompanied by detailed captions. These images provided insights into Army engineer activities in Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, and Okinawa, and were used to brief leadership both in-country and in Washington, D.C.
Recognizing the historical value of this collection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Veterans Curation Program undertook a digitization project between 2014 and 2018. By May 2023, the entire collection of over 5,900 slides was made available to the public through the USACE Digital Library. Each slide is linked to its explanatory caption and is searchable by keywords, subject headings, and geographic locations, providing researchers and the public with comprehensive access to this rich visual history.
The contributions of the 18th Engineer Brigade and the preservation efforts of the Veterans Curation Program highlight the enduring legacy of military engineering in Vietnam and the importance of safeguarding historical records for future generations.