HISTORY OF 200TH ENGINEER COMPANY

By

Lt M. A. Barnes

The origin of the 200th Engineer Combat Company, stationed at Custer, SD dates back to 21 Mar 47.  The company was first designated Co M, a heavy weapons company, 196th Infantry Regiment.  Men of the original company were: Cpt Robert Willcocksen, 2nd Lt William Harbach, Robert Annis, Mervin Barnes, Russell Cuckler, Glen Green, William Hamm, Ernest Hammer, Byron Hazelton, Wallace Lanouette, Robert Love, William Morrison, Dan Scott, Leonard Shellhart, Albert Solomon, James Spargur, Robert Standen, Henry VanBuren, Ronald Varilek, Fred Fernbaugh and Richard Peterson.              

For the first six months the Guard Company had drills once each week at Custer's Community Building.  Close order drill and issuance of clothing and equipment consumed most of the time.  During July and August of 1947 meetings were suspended.

In the fall of 1947 several new members joined the company.  the training program had begun to function and during October 1947 the company had a change of command. Cpt Harry Woodward replaced Cpt Willcocksen.  Training was routine throughout the winter and spring.  Summer camp was conducted at Camp Rapid in June.   During the summer months that followed, meeting were stopped.  The Guard company had a good softball team and in the fall had a strength of 60 men.  Former T/Sgt Barnes was commissioned a second lieutenant and 2nd Lt Harbach became  1st Lt Harbach.

In May of 1949 the company went on the rifle range prior to summer camp which was  at Camp Ripley, MN on the banks of the Mississippi River.  On 19 Sep 49, Co M was redsignated 200th Engineer Combat Company for the 196th Regimental Combat Team.  The change from Co M to the 200th brought about changes in equipment, training aids and unit library.  New members joined because of the change to an engineer company and the 200th had possibilities of obtaining 100 men for the company.  But it found itself over the ceiling strength laid down by higher headquarters.

Training continued and in November of 1949 a small bore rifle team was organized.  Members practiced twice weekly at the Custer Rifle Club's indoor range, under Lt Barnes.  Although Rapid City's 216th Ordinance Co won out over the Engineer's rifleman, the Engineer's team ended the season by shooting the second best score in the state.  The company also had a basketball team.

With the coming of the new year, the 200th was running smoothly with Cpt Woodward commanding, assisted by Lt Harbach and Lt Barnes.  During the months from 1 Jan until 12 June 1950, routine armory training was conducted.  On 13 June the company departed for Camp McCoy, WI for two weeks field training.  The 200th returned home on 27 June.

The 196th RCT was alerted 7 Aug 50 and worked during August included preparation of company property for shipment, more training -- with emphasis on leadership and basic fundamentals -- plus a campaign for re-enlistment's.  Physical examinations were conducted at the VA hospital, Hot Springs, SD on 26Aug.  Eight men were lost due to physical handicaps.  A banquet was given the men of the 200th at the Ponderosa Cafe on 30 Aug and the evening of the following day the men were ready to begin a new career.  Lt Harbach assumed command on 1 Sep 50.  During the first week of September everyone was working hard packing and making ready equipment for shipment to Camp Carson, CO.  Also, there was the never ending processing of forms and the complying with orders.

Of the original men who joined old Co M on 21 Mar 47, only Lt Harbach, Lt Barnes, Sgt Best, Cpl Kendall, Cpl Leach, Cpl Scott and Pvt Love still were members of the 200th Engr (C) Co.  Lt Barnes, Cpl Lang and Rct Joe Hammer left as an advanced detachment on 5 Sep.  The convoy left two days later.  The remainder of the company left via Burlington Trailways.  All members arrived at Camp Carson by the evening of 9 Sep.

The company conducted cadre training in the morning and gave the cadre experience in the afternoon during September and early October.  Some of the projects were: bridges, parking lots and general repair of facilities for future training purposes.   By Nov 50 the cadre had been on the different rifle ranges and were waiting for new men to train.  On 16 Nov the 200th received 60 recruits and 65 more shortly afterward.  Infantry basic training got into full swing under the direction of Cpt Spaulding of the Provisional Battalion and the leadership of company officer and men.

New Years Day found many of the men of the 200th at their homes.  At Camp Carson, turkey with the usual trimmings was on the menu. 

On 6 Feb the 200th had a new commanding officer.  He was Cpt Emil Garrett, formerly of the 973 Engineer Construction Battalion.  Lt Harbach, former CO, was to attend school.  On 10 Feb 51,  20 men were alerted for POM shipment.   Second Lts William and Phillips left for the Engineer school at Ft Belvoir, VA on 12 Feb and on 26 Feb Lt Harbach left for school.  March brought new and different undertakings in the 200th when the company started MOS training.

Thirty-three more men were alerted for overseas shipment on 13 Mar 51 while others in the company continued training which included: log-cutting operation above Rosement, CO, radio communications in mountainous terrain, moving a D7 Caterpillar on narrow crooked mountain roads, cooking at 11,500 feet elevations, engineer reconnaissance problems and other mountain training.

The 200th gained recognition as an honor unit for the month of April.   During April men of the company had a better opportunity to be outside participating in training that was more realistic than during the winter months when classroom, work predominated.  The company built bridges, laid and removed minefields, built an aerial tramway, participated in night problems and was preparing to assist the battalions of the 196th Inf Regt in battalion exercises.