6th Engineer Support Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=6th Engineer Support Battalion


caption=
dates=November 1, 1944 - March 26, 1946
November 1, 1957 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Engineering battalion
role=
size=
command_structure= 4th Marine Logistics Group
Marine Forces Reserve
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= "We Are Ready"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=World War II
* Battle of Okinawa
Korean War
* Battle of Inchon
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
anniversaries=

The 6th Engineer Support Battalion (6th ESB), is a engineering battalion of the Marine Forces Reserve. Their headquarters are based in Portland, Oregon and they fall under the command of the 4th Marine Logistics Group.

Current Units

* Headquarters & Service Company - Portland, Oregon
* Alpha Company - Eugene, Oregon
* Bravo Company - South Bend, Indiana
* Charlie Company - Peoria, Illinois
* A Co. Bulk Fuel - Tucson, Arizona
** Det 1 - Fort Lewis, Washington
** Det 2 - Bakersfield, California
* B Co. Bulk Fuel - Wilmington, Delaware
** Det 1 - Green Bay, Wisconsin
* C Co. Bulk Fuel - Phoenix, Arizona
* A Co. Bridge - Battle Creek, Michigan
* B Co. Bridge - Folsom, Pennsylvania
* Engineer Support Company - Battle Creek, Michigan

History

World War II

The Battalion was activated on November 1, 1944 at Guadalcanal as the 6th Engineer Battalion, 6th Marine Division. During World War II, they participated in the Battle of Okinawa and the Occupation of Japan (August–November 1945). In October 1945, they were redeployed to Tsingtao, China. The battalion was deactivated March 26, 1946.

1957 - 1975

The Battalion was reactivated on November 1, 1957 at Swan Island, Portland, Oregon as the 3rd Engineer Battalion of the Marine Corps Reserve. On July 1, 1962, they were redesignated as the 5th Engineer Battalion.

1976-1997

Redesignated again on May 31, 1976 as the 6th Engineer Support Battalion (6th ESB), 4th Force Service Support Group. Elements of the battalion participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from January til April 1991

Operation Iraqi Freedom

In Operation Iraqi Freedom, 6th ESB was responsible for fueling coalition forces as they moved northward through Iraq. They also provided purified water supplies to the Marine Corps desert and urban encampments. During Iraq's worst sandstorm in 20 years, Marines of the 6th ESB constructed the longest fuel line in the history of the Marine Corps. [Hawk, Jeff. "Marines enters Corps history books with longest expeditionary fuel line", "Marine Corps News", April 18, 2003. Accessed March 12, 2006]

Continued support in 2004 to 2005 was given by 6th Engineer Support Company and Bridge Company A from Battle Creek, Michigan. During this time Engineer Support Company was re-designated as Combat Service Support Company 113 (CSSC-113). Missions during this time included base operations in over a dozen different locations and resupply convoys during Operation Phantom Fury in November 2004. Four Marines were killed in action during this tour. Bridge Company A was attached to the US Army's 155th Engineer Group and rebuilt and maintained bridges all over South/Central Iraq. Their most significant repair mission was to repair a highway bridge at Checkpoint 34A (South of Camp Striker) on Main Supply Route Tampa during early November 2004 that had been damaged by VBIED attacks in order stop the flow of supplies and reinforcements to Fallujah during the campaign there. Projected to take 7 days to repair, Bridge Company A repaired the bridge while under fire in less than 32 hours.

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps battalions
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

References

;Notes:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/4thfssg/6esbn/ Official website]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usmc/6esb.htm Current Battalion profile]