U.S. Army 509th Engineer Company Memorial Bridge

The memorial rridge consists of 2 concrete and steel, 4-lane, bridge spans, which cross both branches of Deer Creek, south of the town of Piedmont, Oklahoma. It honors the service of the U.S. Army’s 509th Engineer Company, which was activated as the 509th Engineer Light Pontoon Company on July 15, 1942, at Camp Gruber at Braggs, Oklahoma, in Muskogee County. The company saw combat during World War II in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) and participated in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe campaigns. The company was redesignated as the 509th Engineer Company on March 1, 1963, reactivated and deployed overseas to fight again during the Vietnam War. The unit operated in Vietnam, primarily out of Oui Nhon, as a Panel Bridge (PB) unit, in the Central Highlands, including as part of the 20th Engineer Battalion (Combat), 18th Engineer Brigade, from 1965 to August 29, 1971, when the company was inactivated. The 509th Engineer Company participated in 14 Vietnam campaigns: Defensive; Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive Phase II; Counteroffensive Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive Phase IV; Counteroffensive Phase V; Counteroffensive Phase VI; Tet 1969 Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive Phase VII; and Consolidation 1. The company was awarded the following decorations: Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam 1966-1968; Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam 1970-1971; and Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal First Class for service in Vietnam 1970-1971. The Memorial bridge was designated in 2009. (Note: The unofficial 509th Engineer Company Distinguished Unit Insignia (crest) features a silver castle bearing the numbers “509” in red, on a red shield. At the top of the shield is a silver bridge truss. At the bottom of the shield is a silver dump truck above a silver “I” dividing 6 silver stars. Below the shield is a silver scroll with the motto “BRIDGE HAUL FIGHT” in red.) (Note: The 20th Engineer Battalion (Combat) Distinguished Unit Insignia (crest) features a red fleur-de-lis on a silver and red shield. The motto “CONDITERE ET PUGNATE” (Build and Fight) is silver on a red scroll.) (Note: The 18th Engineer Brigade had responsibility for overseeing Engineer operations in I Corps and II Corps in the northern part of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was the parent organization of the 509th Engineer Company. The Distinguished Unit Insignia (crest) features a silver 4-bastioned fort with a red center, with 2 crossed silver swords. The motto “ESSAYONS ET EDIFIONS” (Let us try and let us build) is black on a pierced silver scroll. The Brigade’s Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (patch) is a red square, 1 point up, with a white border. It features a white stylized fortress overlaid with a vertical white sword with yellow hilt, point up.)