Per General Orders 44, HQ Department of the Army, 9th Logistical Command, dated 23 August 1965 and effective 16 August 1965, D Company was attached to the 809th Engineer Battalion (Construction) based at Camp Charn Sinthope which was located on the northern outskirts of Phanom Sarakham. They were to assist the 809th in horizontal construction to complete Route 304 from Chachoengsao to Kabin Buri.
Upon its arrival at Camp Charn Sinthope, the company built 16 elevated wooden floor platforms with frame work to drape GP medium and large tents over. This would be home for the next few months.
While providing additional earth moving and dump truck capabilities to the 809th, the company also received valuable training for supervisors and equipment operators in the critical or technical work of building roads.
Effective 24 November 1965, D Company was detached from the 809th and received instruction to move about 40 miles north of Phanom Sarakham to Advance Camp South on the Kabin Buri - Korat Road.
Around April 1967 an advance party from D Company was sent to Sattahip to
construct a base camp for the rest of the company. This included a mess hall, billets, admin offices,and motor pool.
The advanced party was housed at U Tapao Air Base and completed the area within two months. One member of the advance party, SGT Calvin Parish, said many long hours were
spent to insure the area was completed on time.
Upon the company's arrival, the mission of constructing Camp Samae San began.
SGT Parish says the land consisted of rice paddies and swamp nestled between two small ridges and the ocean.
I arrived in July 1968 at which time 3 company areas, two motor pools, a BOQ
and the MP station were still under construction. The USO, Chapel, EM Club, Officers Club
and most of the supply depot were already completed.
Sometime around the end of the year C Company moved to Samae San and began construction of the Battalion Headquarters new area. Shortly after, the entire battalion arrived and construction
of Samae San was put into high gear.
The 561st Engineer Company was attached to the battalion but I don't remember the exact time they arrived.
I believe they were previously at Camp Lightning.
D Company was deactivated with the rest of the battalion on 15 June 1970.
(see Relocation letter) (see Relocation Instructions)
Updated: 18 April 2005
