On March 9, 1916, General John J. Pershing, commanding the district headquartered at Fort Bliss, Texas, received word that Villa's men were on the border prepared to make an attack that would embarrass the Carranza government and force the United States to intervene,.

They were also one of the principle sponsors of the Pak-Ai Orphanage, supporting it with monetary contributions, gifts of clothing/ school supplies for the children, and volunteer work, including teaching and physical labor during their off-duty hours.

Further, in order to be fully prepared, MAJ Virl N. Daas, along with several other competent assistants, began packing their equipment under the guise of training exercises, while the rest of the battalion finished up their qualifications.

In spite of the deadly barrage, Captain Weisner, as an attachment with no other responsibilities, voluntarily made several trips carrying the wounded to the rear, returning with their ammunition and distributing it among the men on the firing line.

The battalion's first major action started in late October, when they supported the relief of the beleaguered Special Forces Camp at Plei Me by enlarging airfields, clearing landing zones, and destroying captured enemy materiel and bunkers.

In the intense fighting that day, Hal Moore notes that he needed to clear out a secondary landing zone due to the heavy fire on the main LZ.

Additionally, the 8th also voluntarily helped the Vietnamese around them, such as Captain Meisner, the battalion surgeon, who held sick call in the refugee village nearby several times a week.

In 1968, at a Marine outpost south of Quang Tri, four members of the 8th Engineer Battalion were cited for heroism for helping to repel a fanatical attack by enemy sappers who had penetrated the perimeter, suffering two casualties in the assault.

One fine testament to the independent fighting capabilities of the 8th Engineer Battalion came on 16 August 1968, when two platoons from Company B were on Landing Zone Nancy, making preparations for Second Brigade to air assault in later.

“Charlie” Company also provided a quick response engineer team, used to rescue downed helicopters by rappelling or walking to the site and clearing landing zones.

[4] Designated "Task Force Trojan Horse" the unit was responsible for Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) operations in Regional Command (RC) South, Afghanistan.

November 18, 2011, PFC Adam E. Dobereiner of Moline, IL was killed in action while in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan after suffering wounds sustained by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

From July through October 8BEB participated in the combat platform qualification gunnery, and WMD-E Exercises on Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex Range in order to create lethal crews that can accurately execute fires to accomplish assigned missions.

8BEB ensured that key NEO personnel were trained to 2ID standard, and that units operating Assembly Points (APs) properly conducted mass accountability, processing, transport, and reporting of Non-Combatant Evacuees (NCEs).

After qualifying the Bradley crews and engineers, and getting a better understanding of the future fight ahead at NTC, the battalion conducted Combined Arms Live Fire Exercises (CALFEX) in November–December 2016.

Defending the right flank of the company perimeter, Lieutenant Eiler's platoon was subjected to vicious hostile fire from two machine-guns which reduced its strength to twelve men, several of whom were wounded.

In order to save his depleted unit from potential annihilation, Lieutenant Eiler crawled fifty yards up a slope, threw two grenades into an emplacement, and silenced one harassing gun.

[9] The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Clarence Eugene Postlethwait (RA06898582), Sergeant First Class [then Sergeant], U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a medical aidman with Company C, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division.

On that date, the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry) was completely surrounded and contained in a small defense perimeter in an open field and pinned down by heavy concentrations of enemy automatic small-arms fire.

Sergeant First Class Postlethwait fearlessly volunteered to attempt to reach the truck and bring back medications and bandages to enable the battalion surgeon to render emergency treatment to the wounded.

With utter disregard for his own safety, he left the comparative cover of the defense perimeter, made his way to the truck amidst bursts of fire from enemy snipers, and collected the necessary medical supplies.

Given the mission of providing security for a crew from his company in the process of building a bridge across the Taedong River, Sergeant First Class Wagner was checking his positions for maximum defense when suddenly attacked by Chinese Communist troops apparently intent on sweeping through his line of resistance and destroying the bridgehead.

Armed only with a carbine, he fearlessly exposed himself to enemy observation and action and delivered a deadly accurate fire into the advancing hostile force until his position was overrun and he was mortally wounded.

When it became necessary for an area in front of advancing friendly infantry troops to be cleared of concealed anti-personnel mines, Private Hardin immediately volunteered for the dangerous assignment.

Although intense artillery and mortar shells were rocking and showering the mine field with jagged shrapnel, he moved out with his men detection equipment and courageously started to sweep the area.

Forced to fling himself upon the ground when shells exploded close by, Private Hardin quickly arose after each burst and doggedly continued to search for the traps of death that would threaten his fellow soldiers if not found and removed.

[12] The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Corps of Engineer), [then First Lieutenant] Richard I.

[13] The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Sergeant [then Sergeant First Class] Louis M. Gonzales (ASN: RA-20217702), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company D, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, in action against the enemy at the Walled City, Kasan, Korea, from 4 September 1950 to 5 September 1950.

In the face of heavy mortar and automatic weapons fire, Master Sergeant Gonzalez promptly assumed command of the platoon and, evacuating the officer, reorganized the unit and directed its entrenchment.

Corporal Kraemer and two comrades, with complete disregard for their own safety, moved the machine under heavy mortar fire, to a more tenable position and reconnected the wires for a second time.