US AIRBORNE

Orin D. Haugen

The 127th Engineer Battalion was created on November 12, 1942. It was activated as part of the 11th Airborne Division on February 25, 1943, at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. The battalion was made up of three companies—A, B, and C—along with a service company and the headquarters. From its activation until the end of the war, the 127th was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Douglas C. Davis. It was the second engineer unit to be activated, the first being the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion (assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division). After the war, it became one of the few battalions that was not disbanded.

The first phase of training and organization for the 127th took place at Camp Mackall. The soldiers of the 127th underwent dual training: traditional soldiering and airborne training, combined with specialized engineering tasks like construction and demolition. This was an intense training period that ran from February 1943 to January 1944. In January 1944, the 11th Airborne Division moved to Camp Polk, Louisiana, for more intense training focused on jungle warfare.

From February to early April 1944, the division trained in the swamplands of Louisiana, where the engineers learned to construct roads and airstrips in jungle conditions. This training proved invaluable during combat in the dense jungles of the Pacific Islands. Some operations were conducted in such thick jungle that commanders themselves had to carry machetes to clear paths.

On April 18, 1944, a portion of the battalion left for San Francisco, California, and Camp Stoneman to prepare for the arrival of the rest of the division. On April 27, the division arrived and embarked on April 30 for a 28-day journey across the Pacific Ocean, heading toward the islands of New Guinea.

Photo of the 127th Airborne Engineer Company's Officers.

After a long sea journey, the engineers landed at Dobodura, New Guinea, at the end of May 1944, and immediately faced the challenges of a tropical environment. As soon as they arrived, they promptly began the construction of a "jump school," a project completed quickly that allowed the facilities to open by June 16, 1944.

On July 25, after intensive training, 290 men received their parachutist badges, marking a crucial step in their preparation. Alongside construction work, the 127th focused on tactical training, including jumping in combat conditions and demolition work. This tactical training continued throughout the summer and fall of 1944, preparing the soldiers for the challenges of future combat operations.

In addition to these training activities, the 127th was responsible for building and maintaining landing strips, roads, and bridges to facilitate the transportation of troops and equipment. They also conducted mine-clearing operations and secured combat areas while providing vital logistical support, including constructing supply and ammunition storage depots.

Finally, in November 1944, the 11th Airborne Division received orders to deploy to the Philippines to participate in the fighting on Leyte Island. Their main mission was to relieve the 7th Infantry Division, which had suffered heavy losses the previous month. On November 6, 1944, the 127th Airborne Engineer Company, after several months of intensified preparation, embarked for Leyte, ready to support combat operations. Thus, this period at Dobodura allowed the 127th Airborne Engineer Company to solidify its technical and tactical skills while ensuring the logistical success of the 11th Airborne Division. Their involvement in construction, mine clearing, and training was essential to ensuring the success of future campaigns in the Pacific.

After their arrival on Leyte, the 127th Airborne Engineer Company engaged in crucial support operations for the island's liberation effort in the Philippines. In the first days, the engineers accomplished the remarkable task of creating a primary supply route in just two days. They also built a bridge across a flooded river, swollen by the relentless rains, as well as a drying and storage shed to protect parachutes from moisture, and a landing strip at San Pablo.

On December 6, while patrolling the airstrip, Lieutenant Paul J. Pergamo and his platoon of twenty men were suddenly confronted with an attack. Two enemy bombers dropped incendiary bombs, setting the fuel pumps on fire. Less than ten minutes later, two groups of Japanese paratroopers were dropped just 230 meters from their position. Acting without hesitation, Pergamo and his men attacked the larger group, plunging the attackers into confusion and forcing them to split into smaller groups. Throughout the night, despite precarious entrenched positions, they withstood three successive assaults. At dawn, the bodies of the enemies littered the ground, some within five meters of their positions. For his bravery, Lieutenant Pergamo was awarded the Silver Star. The next morning, the enemy launched a new offensive. In response, the division commander ordered Lieutenant Colonel Davis to take charge of the command post defense and clear the areas near the runway. Davis quickly organized defense troops around the command post, also forming two assault groups. The first group consisted solely of engineers, while the second, made up of engineers and supported by the 674th Field Artillery Battalion, was to coordinate its assault once on the ground. The 127th Engineer Company was then divided into five platoons, attached to Companies A and C, with three platoons from Company B added to reinforce Company C.

By the morning of December 7, the 674th Field Artillery arrived, and Davis gave his orders: Major Eisenberger led the engineers on the left flank, while the artillery covered the right flank. On the left flank, the engineers encountered intense resistance to the west, but a surprise flanking maneuver by Company A drove the enemy back, advancing 280 meters. On the right flank, the artillery advanced 650 meters with little resistance. In the absence of communication means, the two groups maintained contact through messenger until the arrival of radio operators from the Signal Company at 9:45 AM, just in time to coordinate the ammunition supply as the troops were nearly out.

At 10:45 AM, the units received orders to withdraw and establish a defensive perimeter around the airstrip. Throughout the night, they fought fiercely to defend it. During this period, two engineers, Eritas A. Jolley of Houston and Alien W. Osborne, stumbled upon an enemy flag hanging from a tree. Under enemy fire, they attempted to remove it but ultimately had to chop down the tree with an axe to recover it. The flag, bearing the inscription "Tsuno Waru Shiral, Kalori Shimpei" (meaning "fight for your country") and signed by Lieutenant General Kyojito Mikiaga, was presented to Major General Joe Swing, commander of the 11th Airborne Division, and then passed to Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger of the 8th Army. The flag is now preserved at the West Point Museum.

On December 8, after several days of fierce fighting, the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion was relieved by the artillery to resume its construction work. According to General Eichelberger, in his book *The Jungle Road to Tokyo*, over 300 Japanese soldiers were killed near the airstrip on December 7, 1944, a poignant testament to the commitment and determination of the engineers of the 127th.

After landing at Nasugbu Bay on January 31, 1945, the troops of the 127th Airborne Engineer Company, integrated into the 11th Airborne Division, began their advance inland on Luzon, Philippines. Upon their arrival, the engineers were met with fierce enemy resistance, marking the start of a series of vital support operations for the Allied forces engaged in the island's liberation. Initially, the missions of the 127th Airborne Engineer Company included the construction and maintenance of landing strips, roads, and bridges to facilitate troop movements and equipment transport. This infrastructure work ensured greater mobility and provided critical logistical support for combat units. At the same time, the 127th played a key role in mine-clearing operations and securing combat areas. These efforts made advances safer and helped establish forward bases and supply depots for Allied troops, thereby consolidating their hold on Luzon.

The working conditions were particularly grueling. The engineers had to contend with a hostile environment, including extreme weather conditions, difficult terrain, and the constant threat of tropical diseases. Despite these hardships, the 127th coordinated its efforts effectively with other units of the 11th Airborne Division, ensuring operational synergy that enhanced the impact of their missions on the ground. Thanks to their hard work, the engineers of the 127th made a significant contribution to the liberation of Luzon. Their expertise in logistics and infrastructure facilitated the Allies' recapture of the island, allowing them to continue their operations in other parts of the Philippines. After the liberation of Luzon, the 127th Airborne Engineer Company began preparations for future operations, including ongoing training and reorganization for the battles to come. Their success on Luzon laid the groundwork for their subsequent interventions in the Philippines, where their dedication and skill played a major role in the liberation of the archipelago from Japanese control.

After the intense fighting on Luzon, the 127th Airborne Engineer Company was deployed to Okinawa, Japan, on August 11, 1945. Although the Battle of Okinawa officially ended on June 22, 1945, the arrival of the 127th on the island marked a period of stabilization and preparation for future operations.

Upon their arrival, the engineers landed in a post-battle environment, tasked with securing and stabilizing the island after the violent clashes that had taken place earlier in the year. The troops set up temporary camps, organizing regular patrols to maintain order and prevent any resurgence of enemy activity. The 127th Airborne Engineer Company was assigned to secure strategic areas and oversee the surrender of remaining Japanese forces, thereby contributing to the restoration of security on the island. In anticipation of the imminent occupation of Japan, the engineers also participated in preparatory exercises and reconnaissance missions to anticipate logistical and security needs. The official surrender of Japan was announced by Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945, radically changing the mission of the 127th. With the war's end, their activities shifted from combat preparation to post-war management. By August 30, the regiment began preparations for its role in the occupation of Japan, focusing on the reconstruction and stabilization of areas under Allied control.

This period on Okinawa was crucial for the 127th Airborne Engineer Company, marking the transition from active war to the post-conflict reconstruction phase. The engineers played a key role in securing the island and preparing for the upcoming occupation operations, ensuring a smooth transition to peace and reconstruction.

After their mission on Okinawa, the troops of the 127th Airborne Engineer Company were deployed to Tokyo, where they played a crucial role in the occupation of Japan and the country's reconstruction. On August 30, 1945, the first elements of the regiment arrived in Tokyo, marking the start of their occupation mission. Once there, the soldiers set up temporary headquarters and began organizing patrols to maintain order and security in the Japanese capital. Their missions were varied and essential. The 127th Airborne Engineer Company was tasked with securing key infrastructure, overseeing the surrender of Japanese forces, and actively participating in the reconstruction of areas devastated by the fighting. At the same time, the soldiers also ensured security around the trials of Japanese war criminals, which were held as part of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East between 1946 and 1948. On a daily basis, the members of the regiment interacted with the local population, assisting in the distribution of food and supplies and participating in community reconstruction projects to support the country's recovery. Outside of their missions, the soldiers took part in various leisure activities to maintain troop morale during this prolonged occupation period. This period in Tokyo was marked by efforts of stabilization and reconstruction, with the 127th Airborne Engineer Company playing a central role in Japan's transition to peace, thus contributing to the country's post-war reconstruction.