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On 14 July 1965 the advance party, consisting of 11 officers and 99 enlisted personnel, of the 538th Engineer Battalion (Construction) arrived in Thailand and began the immediate task of constructing a base camp. The camp was named Camp Essayons and was located 42 kilometers south of Korat on Route 23.
On 14 August 1965 the remainder of the Battalion arrived aboard the USNS Gaffey. The Battalion was transported by LST's up the Chao Phya River to Klong Toey, Bangkok. After off loading the equipment the Battalion then convoyed to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand.
The 538th Engineer Battalion (Construction) was one of two engineer battalions assigned under the 44th Engineer Group based at Camp Friendship in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand. The other being the 809th Engineer Battalion which was located at Camp Charn Sinthope in Phanom Sarakham, Thailand.
The initial mission given to th Battalion was to establish base camps at intervals southward along Route 23. Camp Essayons, which was originally called "Camp Cobra", served as the site for the Battalion Headquarters, as well as the base camp for "A" Company and "B" Company. A small village called Pho Dang was in this area.
"C" Company, with the aid of "C" Company, 23rd Engineer Battalion of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), moved further south, but higher in the mountains, and constructed their base camp, Camp Sungwien, at kilometer 81.
"D" Company was immediately attached to the 809th Engineer Battalion (Construction) which was based at Camp Charn Sinthope located just out side of Phanom Sarakham. They were to provide additional support to the 809th in horizontal construction of the Route 304 from Chachoengsao to Kabin Buri.
By 5 December 1965, the camp was completed and ready for opening day ceremonies. 105 buildings, 4.18 kilometers of road inside camp and a 1.6 kilometer haul road outside of camp were constructed. Also, approximately 42,473 square meters of land had been cleared.
By December 1965 base camp construction had progressed sufficiently to allow the companies to begin horizontal construction on Route 304 (formerly Route 23) between Korat and Kabin Buri. The 140 kilometer road traversed several types of very challenging terrain. The northern most 57 kilometers passed through the rolling Korat Plateau region. The central 63 kilometers wound through some of the most rugged terrain in Thailand, characterized by hills and mountains with dense underbrush and jungle vegetation, The southern 20 kilometers traversed a low laying rice patty region.
The road was a joint Thai-American project. The 23rd Engineer Battalion (RTA) was formed in September 1965 and worked with the 538th Engineer Battalion until the termination of the project.
On 11 December 1968 Field Marshall Thanon Kittikachorn, at that time the Prime Minister of Thailand, dedicated Route 304. Costing almost $16 million, the finished product was a 140 kilometer, 22 foot wide, class 50 paved road. Together with the Inland Road, it linked the Port of Sattahip with Korat and Northeast Thailand. The link provided for the expedited traffic flow to, and further development of the Northeast regions of Thailand.
As Route 304 was being built, construction of the Korat Logistical Complex was also under way. "B" Company, 538th, was assigned the task of constructing several headquarters buildings, motor maintenance facilities, 11 BOQ's, and some BEQ's. The total project was valued at approximately $344,000. Also, "B" company, with assistance from "A" Company, was assigned a paving project involving the paving of 16 kilometers of road and 39,375 square meters of parking lots and storage areas. This project was valued at $289,000.
In April 1967 "D" Company, with the assistance of several attached units, began construction of Camp Samae San. The assigned mission was to perform Phases I construction of a cantonment area capable of adequately housing more than 1800 men as well as required depot storage facilities, administrative and operational requirements for the Facilities Engineer. By November 1968, after completion of Route 304, the remaining units of the 538th relocated to Camp Samae San and joined the construction effort. The Battalion worked on Samae San until 1 April 1970. During this period 2.5 million. cubic yards of fill were hauled and emplaced to provide the foundation for 8 miles of paved roads and 11.9 million square feet of pads for buildings and hardstands. Among the major facilities constructed by the 538th in the Camp Samae San cantonment area were 55 enlisted billets with associated administrative buildings, two 750-man mess halls a Post Chapel, 4,000 book library, Craft Shop, USO and PX/Snack Bar. The athletic facilities completed by the Battalion include a combination soccer/football field with surrounding track, softball diamonds, and basketball courts to include a volleyball/basketball court in each company area.
Construction of operational and functional accommodations included 57,000 sq. ft. of office space, 1 million sq. ft. of warehouses and storage space, and 500,000 sq. ft. of motor maintenance parking and POL facilities. The entire complex was protected by over 7 miles of chain link fence. To supply the area with modern utilities, a water distribution system and a sewer system with 6 lift stations were constructed along with a 12,000 volt primary electrical distribution system.
Three years were required to complete the construction of Camp Samae San, total cost of labor and materials expended in the construction effort is estimated at approximately $7.6 million. On 15 May 1970, the outstanding accomplishments of the Battalion were recognized at a ceremony held at Camp Samae San.
Although the Korat Logistical Complex, Route 304, and Camp Samae San were the major projects completed while in Thailand, other missions were performed when necessary. Several signal sites, two Special Forces camps, and selected construction projects at U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Air Station were completed by the 538th. One of the most significant of these missions was the Special Forces Camp at Pak Chong. The 538th was given the mission to construct a 70 man cantonment area, as well as upgrading a 17 mile dry weather road into the area. This required a company effort for a one month period, and it was completed in May 1967. Later, the same unit was assigned the task of constructing an airfield to accommodate C-123 traffic. A two phase construction schedule was utilized, Phases I consisted of opening 2,000 feet of runway to air traffic. Phase II consisted of adding 500 feet of overrun, constructing a parking apron, and coating the entire runway with MC-1. This project required $167,233 worth of labor and equipment utilization. Construction was actually completed by November 1967, but the coating was not performed until November 1968.
A Porta-Kamp facility was erected at Phanom Sarakham for the 83rd RRSOU by "B" Company in September 1969. During a 16 day period, 13 Porta-Kamps were erected, including four billets, a latrine, a five section dining room, a two section kitchen, and an administrative building. Water, electrical, and sewage facilities were also provided.
At U-Tapao RTNAS, "D" Company was engaged in selected MCP construction for the U.S. Air Force from 1 October 1969 to 31 March 1970. The work included erecting eight earthfilled ARMCO steel revetments, each 130' long, for the protection of the aircraft. A 50' X 100' Butler pre-engineered steel building, with roughing for utilities, was built for a helicopter hangar and air rescue facility. Around the perimeter of the air base 6.6 miles of security road, 18' wide, were constructed, including 28 culverts with headwalls. A 300' wide area was cleared adjacent to the road to enhance its effectiveness, and a 90' Double-Single Bailey Bridge with 30' high sandbag abutments was erected at a stream crossing. At various intervals along the road, 21 guard towers of bolted timber construction were built. Each tower had a 64 sq. ft. observation platform and emergency exit.
The Battalion did not failed to meet its obligation as a representative of the United States in Thailand. Throughout the 5 year period, the 538th was engaged in many civic action projects. Roads were upgraded, schools built, technical advice given, materials utilized, and manpower expended to improve the local standard of living.
During the last half of 1968, men from the 538th Engineer Battalion (Construction) and the 23rd Engineer Battalion (RTA) worked together to build a Model Village 100 KM south of Korat along Route 304. Three dormitories for monks, a meeting hall, two community centers, two wells, one 3600 gal water tower, a utilities building, and other buildings, were erected, along with 25 KM of all-weather road, constructed to replace the previously existing ox-cart trail.
While at Camp Samae San, the 538th provided earthmovers to assist in landscaping the grounds of temples and schools. In addition, a prefabricated school house was erected to be exhibited first at the annual Cholburi trade fair, and then, to be re-erected to provide educational facilities for children in the Sattahip Area.
Since the 538th was activated at Fort Knox a great deal of construction was performed. The Battalion was given one challenging assignment after another in support of the Armor School, and constructed each one successfully.
The 538th, in the five year period in Thailand, completed over $24 million worth of construction. After reassignment of personnel and turn-in of equipment the Battalion Commander, selected members of the staff and company organizations departed Thailand for inactivation ceremonies and retirement of the Battalion colors at Fort Knox, Kentucky on 15 June 1970.
A further history of the missions, and lives of those tasked to complete them, can be found through the links to the respective companies. Links to units that were attached to the Battalion are also provided with some details of their missions.
Updated: 18 April 2005
Welcome to Thailand
Road Construction
Construction of the Korat Logistical Complex
Construction of Camp Samae San
Other Military Construction
Civic Action
Summary
538th Engineer Battalion, Thailand
is
a member of the
