Constant training in garrison and on the Rhine River with numerous floating bridge exercises and monthly river crossings earned the battalion the proud title of "Bridge Builders", which was adopted as a motto. Approval was given to incorporate the motto into the battalion crest in May 1950. July of 1950 saw the motto pay dividends when the Rhine River was bridged with the M-4 in eight hours. This was half the time required in the first effort and was considered by experts to be the ultimate in speed for the construction of this type of bridge.

In August 1951, the 547th moved to Kelley Barracks in Darmstadt. Kelley Barracks, built in 1938, was originally named Leibgarde (bodyguard) Kaserne in remembrance of the oldest Darmstadt regiment, founded in 1627. During World War II it was used by the 1st Battalion of the German 115 Infantry Regiment. Taken over by American occupation troops at the conclusion of the war, it was renamed Kelley Barracks in honor of Captain Charles F. Kelley Jr., 1st Eng Bn, 1st Inf Div, who was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 8 November 1942, during the North African Campaign in Algeria.

Continued bridge training during 1951-52 improved the battalion's bridging skills and enhanced its reputation as USAREUR's premier bridge builders. During one bridging operation, a visit was paid to the battalion by General Eisenhower, then SHAPE Commander in Chief. Finally, through intensive teamwork and coordination, the unit set a new record with an M-4 closure time of 4 hours and 21 minutes. Maintaining its reputation as the Army's best bridge builders, the 547th was the first unit to span the Rhine River with the new class 60 and M4T6 bridges. In addition, the battalion operated the Nierstein swing bridge site now operated by the German Army Reserve Engineers, and continued construction support at the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels training areas, and the Leeheim bridge site.

In the spring of 1953, the battalion participated in flood disaster relief operations in Holland and on 5 June 1953 was redesignated as the 547th Engineer Battalion (Combat). In November of 1953, under the historic integration policy of the Army, the battalion was ordered to retain 19% of its black soldiers in selected grades and MOS's. The remainder, approximately 400 soldiers, were transferred to other engineer units in USAREUR, with replacements coming to the battalion from those same units.

In late 1955 the 547th was alerted for a "gyroscope" move, that is, a temporary relocation of a unit to the United States. In April 1956, the battalion departed Darmstadt and sailed for America, finally closing as a unit on Fort Ord, California in May 1956. Engineer battalion bridge training on the Salinas River, desert training in Arizona, disaster relief in California, and major construction projects at the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation highlighted the battalion's stateside tour. While at Fort Ord, the 547th earned a reputation for quick, dependable accomplishment of its assigned missions. Finally, after 30 months in CONUS, the battalion returned to Germany, closing on Kelley Barracks, Darmstadt an 20 November 1958, where it has remained ever since. This gives the 547th the distinction of being one of the few troop units to have served in the same location for over 30 years. Upon its arrival back in Europe, the 547th was supplemented with two additional companies, Delta and Echo, which came from the inactivating 37th Engineer Battalion. The unit resumed its previous training pace, to include bridging operations, training exercises, and community support projects through the early 1960's. The Bridge Builders played an essential role during the Berlin Air Lift (sic), primarily in preparing bivouac areas for incoming troops during the period 1963-64. During 1964, the 547th continued its excellence in bridging by again setting a new record for a class 60 bridge closure of the Rhine in a record time of 2 hours and 28 minutes, conducted at the nearby Leeheim training area.

In July of 1965, the battalion cross trained with the British Army of the Rhine for a period of two weeks. Later that year a change in the battalion TO&E resulted in the inactivation of Echo Company. The period 1966-67 saw the battalion complete a great deal of construction projects to include a Hawk missile site, a Pershing missile site, and numerous Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels upgrades. On 15 January 1968, the 547th was separated from the 7th Army Command and reassigned to V Corps. The following year, in June of 1969, the battalion was assigned to the newly organized 130th Engineer Brigade.

The battalion continued bridge training in keeping with the NATO concept of defense along the Rhine, but also saw an increase in construction projects through the early 1970's. These projects ranged from upgrading security requirements at NATO ammunition sites, to major training area construction at Wildflecken, to the building of a special range and facilities used to host a NATO gunnery competition at the Grafenwoehr training area. In March of 1972, Alpha Company was selected over all other engineer companies in Europe to represent USAREUR in the annual Itschner award competition. The Itschner Award is an annual award which is presented to the outstanding engineer company in the United States Army. The USAREUR representative competes against representatives from the Far East Command and CONUS. One year later Delta Company was selected as the best engineer company in V Corps during the 1973 Itschner Award competition.

The mid to late 1970's saw a gradual change in the focus of the battalion. This was reflected in several MTO&E changes. Although bridging operations were still practiced, the battalion's mission slowly changed to become more one of reinforcement of terrain in the Fulda Gap through obstacle construction. This was due to the new NATO concept of "Forward Defense". During this period, an increasing amount of time was spent training at the Wildflecken training area. 1975 witnessed a change in the battalion organization, as each line company was reorganized from three combat engineer platoons to a construction platoon and two combat engineer platoons. These platoons were put to the test with major construction projects at Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr training areas.

The battalion's General Defense Plan developed and solidified in the period 1976-78. The unit participated in more combined arms training exercises such as REFORGER '76, V Corps Exercise Certain Fighter, and Division ARTEPs, which enhanced our maneuver support relationships with the 8th Infantry Division. In the spring of 1978, Charlie Company represented USAREUR In the annual Itschner Award competition and was selected as the 1978 recipient of the prestigious award, thus making them the most outstanding engineer company in the United States Army.

Combined arms training, construction projects, both military and civilian, and internal field exercises characterized the next few years of the battalion. Numerous German/American projects and community involvement resulted in the 547th being chosen in 1982 by the Commanding General of V Corps to receive the Hessen State Minister President's Non-Battle Streamer Award. The award is to recognize units which have shown meritorious accomplishments in the area of community support and German/American relations. On 2 August 1982, Hessen's Minister President, Herr Holger Boerner, presented the award to the battalion in a ceremony on Kelley Barracks. The 547th was the first, and is one of only two U. S. units ever to receive the award.

In September of that same year, Charlie Company was alerted and deployed to Ras Banas, Egypt, a remote desert area located near the Red Sea, on a mine clearing mission in conjunction with Egyption engineers. They accomplished the task of defusing, removing, and destroying over 10,000 landmines which were no longer required in the area surrounding a desert airfield. Charlie Company returned to Darmstadt having successfully accomplished its mission in March 1983.

Beginning in April 1983 and ending in November, the battalion completed the first computerized target range for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Range 45 at Grafenwoehr. As a result of its outstanding work, the unit received the 1983 "Engineer Award" for engineer excellence from the Society of American Military Engineers. In 1985, the 547th was nominated for the Army Superior Unit Award for its participation as part of the 18th Engineer Brigade Task Force that completed the mammoth USAREUR range upgrade program at Grafenwoehr training area designed and built to support the newly fielded M1 Abrams tank, and M2 Bradley fighting vehicle.

Several MTO&E changes over the next few years paved the way for the 547th's transition to a combat mechanized engineer battalion, which occurred in the latter half of 1987. The M113A2 Armored Personnel Carrier replaced the 5 ton dump truck as the battalion's squad carrier. Along with the APC came the .50 caliber machine gun, which substantially increased the firepower of an engineer squad. The change in equipment ensured that the battalion was able to better accomplish its mission of providng engineer support to the 1st Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division.

The years 1988 and 1989 were busy ones for the 547th Engineer Battalion. The usual intense training pace continued, but paid off in the achievement of several noteworthy accomplishments. In August of 1988 the 1st squad of 2nd platoon, Delta Company competed in and won the 1988 Sapper Stakes competition.

The squad placed first among 27 squads to be named the best Sapper Squad in USAREUR. In September of 1989, Alpha company won the USAREUR Maintenance of Excellence Award for the best maintained company in the "Heavy TO&E category." This award was followed up the following spring when the Alpha Company motor pool section won the V Corps Distinguished Small Unit Award.

The year 1990 was a year of transition for the battalion. In the summer months it was rumored the battalion would inactivate in line with the impending drawdown in Europe. The battalion became critically short of personnel, with no replacements arriving. Finally, in September of 1990, the inactivation announcement became official. With the advent of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm the battalion began deploying 156 soldiers, and a great deal of equipment to South West Asia in support of our sister units.

The battalion's inactivation was put on hold in December and during the war the 547th was tasked with the all important missions of training Individual Ready Reservists for possible deployment to South West Asia and of guarding the Darmstadt and Mannheim military communities. After the war the inactivation process began again, and the last few months have been spent preparing the battalion's personnel and equipment to inactivate officially on 1 October 1991. And today, as the battalion prepares to leave Germany once again, we close another chapter on the long and proud history of the 547th Combat Engineer Battalion, knowing that our contributions have played a significant role in the victories in the cold war and in the Persian Gulf.

CORRECTIONS
(Source: Email from Jon Bacon)
"preparing bivouac areas for incoming troops during the period 1963-64" -- more like 1961 or 1962. We were doing that in the winter of 1961-62.

"Berlin Air Lift (sic)" I noticed that the Berlin Blockade and 1948-49 Berlin Airlift references are rarely confused with the Berlin Crisis and moving re-enforcement troops to Berlin and to Germany by air. Berlin Airlift almost always excludes references to the 1958 - 1964 events.

I noticed that the term "Berlin Crisis" will often contain a wider view including the blockade and airlift of the 1950s and the events of the 1960s.

I found an odd reference to Kennedy and his "Ich bin ein Berliner" statement. They left out the fact that he pronounced "Ich" as "Ik" the way Berliners say it. Then he makes reference to a Berliner being a doughnut. And so he says it translates to Kennedy saying "I am a doughnut". The person who wrote that article must be a real whack job. Being there and seeing it as it happens and seeing the hack jobs people do to it later, bugs me.

I left Germany in Sept 1962. The winter before I left we were just north of Mannheim building a tent city for 4000 men from 2nd Battle Group, 47th Infantry from 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Washington. Three months earlier, 2/47th had flown, non-stop, from Ft. Lewis to West Germany.

The Coleman Barracks Army Airfield was the base of the Colonel who challenged the Soviets at Checkpoint Bravo to go to Berlin.

The 1st Battle Group, 18th Infantry commanded by Colonel Glover S. Johns, was the first unit moved to reinforce the Berlin Garrison during the Berlin crisis of 1961.

The Colonel's driver was my Chief Radio Operator's brother. He drove the colonel over to our Communications Van for a surprise visit. It was so cold we had to use pneumatic jackhammers to punch holes and drive stakes for the tents.

It is my understanding that our winter adventure was preparation for more Long Thrust troop rotations.

I was stationed in Darmstadt from April of 1963 to Sept of 1964. I was the 547th's S-1 clerk. I worked for SgtMaj Eichelberger and later for SgtMaj Jones. I took over the job from Sp4 Albert Licking. Albert left in 1964.

I visited Kelly back in 2008, the 547th was gone. There was a communications unit there.

I returned for a visit this year (2015) in September, the Army is no longer there. It looked like the property was being converter for some other use. A security guard would not let me in and gave no info.

One thing I remember for that period, was Operation Big Lift. The 7th Army moved an Armored Division from Ft. Hood Tx, to Germany in 24 hours. Just about every unit was involved.

In addition to bridging the Rhein, we also practiced erecting a Baily Bridge. All manual labor. It was quite a sight.

I have many pictures of the 547 during this period. Including, some photos of the 547th bridging the Reine. And living in pup tents in the mud by the Rhein.

Also.....I have been trying to locate a couple of ole pals. Alan Schlossber, PFC, he as a personnel clerk. Richard Matos, he was a welder in the motor pool.

I spent my 19th and 20th BDays in Darmstadt. Alan and Richard should be about the same age. If you can help in locating them it would be great.

I was assigned to HHC 547^th Engineers from November 1986 until November 1989. I served as the NCOIC of the Aid Station. While assigned the aid station not only provided medical care for the Battalion but also served the entire Kelly Barracks.

In 1988 and 1989 the Aid Station received the V Corps Surgeon General's Aid Station of the year Award for excellence.