201st History Since 9/11

by SSG Stephens, FSC 201st

 August 1, 2002 the 201st Engineer Battalion was mobilized by the president of the United States for Operation Noble Eagle II.  Operation Noble Eagle II was a homeland security mission with the intent to keep terrorism out of our country.  The 201st Engineer Battalion was stationed at three key locations.  Company A and Headquarters Company were stationed at the Newport, IN.  Company B was stationed at the Bluegrass Army Depot in Richmond, KY.  Company C was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY.  Battalion headquarters and two platoons of Company B were stationed at Fort Knox, KY.  The missions consisted of vehicle and personnel search, various types of guard duties, roving patrols and foot patrols. 

 June 2004 the 201st Engineer Battalion was ordered to Annual Training in support of Task Force Grizzly.  Task Force Grizzly is a homeland security mission located in San Diego, CA, on the Mexican border.  The Battalion’s mission was to improve the U.S. / Mexican border, including fence construction and road improvement to allow the United States Border Patrol Agent’s better access for hard to get places along the US/Mexican border and limiting access for illegal aliens into our country.

 September 2004 the 201st Engineer Battalion sent a company of Engineers to the relief of the flooded city of Wheeling, WV, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.  The company of Engineers conducted clean up operations using various types of equipment during this natural disaster.

 September 2005 the 201st Engineer Battalion was sent to the Gulf coast region of Louisiana in support of the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and Rita.  The battalion provided humanitarian aid to the victims of hurricane Katrina and Rita, while providing a security force which consisted of roving patrols of the city to help aid the New Orleans police department.  Additionally, we provided security forces at various civilian relocation centers throughout the state of Louisiana to provide a safe living environment to the displaced citizens of New Orleans.

 August 2006 the 201st Engineer Battalion was mobilized for Operation Jumpstart.  Operation Jumpstart is an ongoing Mexican border mission.  We were sent to various border towns in the state of Arizona.  The missions consisted of vehicle barriers, fence construction, and road improvement for the United States Border Patrol.

 The 201st Engineer Battalion has soldiers mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.  These soldiers are on various types of mission to include convoy security missions and logistical operations in Iraq and the Afghanistan Army training mission in Afghanistan.  The 201st currently has seven soldiers serving in Iraq at this time.