Seahorse Assault

The 36th Engineer Brigade based at Fort Hood, TX has a long history, which dates back to 1933. The first thing people ask is, “why the seahorse on the patch?” Well, the seahorse signifies something very unique about the unit. The 36th Engineer saw action in numerous campaigns, and participated in the invasion of Europe. The unit was trained to conduct amphibious assaults, but always saw a change in its role. The roles ranged from combat engineers to the front line with the infantry. I am going to talk about the five amphibious assaults and how the seahorse on the patch came to be. Each of the assaults had a major part in the invasion of mainland Europe. The campaigns that I will talk about will shape the future for the “Rugged” Brigade, and

The assault south of Anzio, left about one nine-mile stretch of beach defended by a single German company. The first Allied waves landed with no opposition, which allowed them to move inland quickly. All the objectives were seized by noon, which allowed the 36th Engineer clear the way. “They bulldozed exits, laid corduroy roads, cleared mines, and readied the port of Anzio to receive equipment” (history.army.mil CMH Pub 72-19). “By midnight over 36,000 men and 3,200 vehicles, 90 percent of the invasion force, were ashore with casualties of 13 killed, 97 wounded, and 44 missing.” (history.army.mil CMH Pub 72-19). 36th Engineers held the front line on Anzio for fifty days, earning the name “The Little Seahorse Division”, given by the Germans.(globalsecurity.org) On 25 May 1977, 36th Engineers linked up with U.S. II Corps and the Fifth Army forces. Once the link up was made, the Fifth Amy along with the Engineers, merged on the Anzio bank head. The assault was led by General Clark, by the time the Allied forces arrived the Germans had fled. The forces joined the pursuit of German forces who tried to fall back to Rome. Americans liberated the capital of Rome on 4 June 1944 (history.army.mil CMH Pub 72-19). Eight months later, 36th Engineers conducted their fifth and final amphibious assault into Southern

It was the least well know operation of the war. But it was the 2nd largest and the most successful of the entire war (operationdragoon.org). Forces began to invade the coast of Southern France, capturing the French ports of Toulon and Marseilles. This lead a push north to the Rhone Valley essentially making a supply route for support to the Northern troops. At the conclusion of Operation Dragoon, the Allies sustained around 17,000 killed and wounded. But inflicting heavy damage on German forces, 7,00 killed, 10,000 wounded and 130,000 captured (thoughtco.com/worldwarii/operationdragoon). Operation Dragoon was the 36th Engineers final amphibious assault of World War II. They would continue to support the Allied units through three more