96th Engineer Battalion (United States)
The 96th Engineer Battalion was a military engineer unit in the United States Army. The battalion, which was composed mainly of African-American troops, served during World War II and was also known as the 96th Engineer General Service Regiment.
| 96th Engineer Battalion | |
|---|---|
 96th Engineer Battalion distinctive unit insignia | |
| Active | 1941–1946 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| Type | Engineer battalion |
| Motto(s) | "Ecce Signum" (Latin: Behold the Sign) |
| Engagements | Dutch East Indies campaign Kokoda Track campaign New Guinea campaign Philippines campaign |
History
The 96th Engineer Battalion was activated as the 9th Engineer Battalion (Separate) at Fort Bragg on 1 June 1941. It embarked at New York on 4 March 1942 and arrived in Australia on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, on 9 April 1942.[1]
Troops from US 96th Engineers were stationed at a base on Townsville's western outskirts known as Kelso. This was the site for a large-scale siege lasting eight hours, which was sparked by racial taunts and violence. The soldiers took to the machine guns and anti-aircraft weapons and fired into tents where their white American counterparts were drinking, killing one, severely injuring dozens and expending 700 rounds.[2]
After this they were stationed at Port Moresby on 28 April.[1] On 29 July 1942 it was redesignated the 96th Engineer General Service Regiment, and moved to the Philippines on 22 April 1945, where it was inactivated on 15 February 1946.[3]
Notes
- Stanton 1984, p. 570.
- Bavas, Josh (10 February 2012). "Townsville WW2 Mutiny Uncovered by Queensland Historian". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- Stanton 1984, p. 542.
References
- Afro-american Newspaper Sept 6, 1941 story on the 96th Engineer Battalion
- Dunn, Peter NEGRO SERVICEMEN RIOT AT THE UPPER ROSS, TOWNSVILLE ON 22 MAY 1942 Australia at War {Copyrighted}
- Hall, Gwendolyn (1995). Love, War, and the 96th Engineers (Colored) The World War II New Guinea Diaries of Captain Hyman Samuelson. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-02179-4.
- Stanton, Shelby (1984). Order of Battle: U.S. Army World War II. Novato, California: Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-195-X. OCLC 10727063.