130th Engineer Battalion explained

Unit Name:130th Engineer Battalion
Allegiance:Constitution of the United States
Branch:United States Army National Guard
Type:light infantry
Role:combat engineering
Size:battalion
Command Structure:101st Troop Command
Garrison:Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Motto:Skill And Strength
Battles:World War II
Afghanistan War
Iraq War
Identification Symbol Label:Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 130th Engineer Battalion (130th EN BN) is a combat engineer battalion of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard allocated to the 101st Troop Command. The 130th is one of the most decorated battalions of the Puerto Rico National Guard with two Presidential Unit Citations, one Meritorious Unit Commendation, thirty five Purple Hearts, one Silver Star Medal, twenty six Bronze Star Medals, and four hundred and sixty nine Army Commendation Medals.[1]

History

Constituted 6 February 1959 in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard as the 126th Engineer Battalion.[2]

Organized and Federally recognized 15 February 1959 from existing units with headquarters in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Redesignated 1 May 1959 as the 130th Engineer Battalion.

Location of headquarters changed 31 December 1967 to Vega Baja.

Ordered into active Federal service 11 February 2003 at home stations; released from active Federal service 21 May 2003 and reverted to territorial control.

Ordered into active Federal service 23 July 2006 at home stations; released from active Federal service 18 January 2008 and reverted to territorial control. The 130th Eng. Bn. completed more than 1,500 combat patrol missions in Iraq, more than 44,000 miles of roads traveled and recon, 16,500 interrogations conducted, 7,300 hours expended in IED search throughout Baghdad and found and deactivated more than 280 IEDs.

Reorganized 1 September 2008 to consist of the headquarters and the Support Company (Companies A, B, C and D concurrently reorganized and redesignated as the 1013th Engineer Company, the 1014th Engineer Company, the 1011th Engineer Company, the 1010th Engineer Company and the 215th Fire Fighter Engineer Detachment, respectively hereafter separate lineages).

Structure

Honors and awards

Unit






AwardEmbroidery
1st rowPresidential Unit Citation (Army)IRAQ
2nd rowPresidential Unit Citation (Navy)IRAQ 2003
3rd rowMeritorious Unit Commendation (Army)SOUTHWEST ASIA 2006–2007
4th rowAmerican Campaign StreamerN/A
5th rowAfghanistan Campaign StreamerN/A
6th rowIraq Campaign StreamerN/A

Individuals

AwardName Total
Purple Heart34
Silver Star1
Bronze Star26
Army Commendation Medal with "V" device13
Army Commendation Medal469
Combat Medic Badge12
Combat Action Badge313

Notes and References

  1. News: Engineer Battalion turns over their territory . Elvyn . Nieves . 29 October 2007 . 1 January 2014 . .
  2. Web site: Lineage and Honors Information for the 130th Engineer Battalion . . 6 February 2013 . 1 January 2014 .