Featured Publications

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Hurricane Maria Response Oral History Guide Emergency Operations Seal of CEHO History Poster USACE in D.C.

Field Histories

Many histories of USACE field offices — such as divisions, districts, and laboratories — are located in the Histories section of the HECSA Library's online Digital Library. The Huntington District, the Los Angeles District, and the Wilmington District have recently published updated histories. Two other recent histories are also available in eBook formats: from the Far East District and the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division. Louisville District has published historical studies on Holcomb Gardens, the Indiana Central Canal, and Locks and Dams 52 & 53.

Office of History Publications

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a long and heralded history, which has been documented in books, pamphlets and other publications over the years. In the table below are listed titles, descriptions, and links to digital versions of these publications.

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TitleDateDescriptionNumber †Link
Civil Works for the Public Good: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Deal, 1929-19412024-03History of the Corps of Engineers during the years of the Great Depression. It chronicles the participation of the Corps and its personnel in the federal response to the economic crisis of the 1930s in the form of a nationwide public works relief program. It is illustrated with dozens of vintage photographs, most of which are available through the USACE Digital Library. The history reveals, again, the remarkable ability of this organization to respond to diverse challenges, to adapt to new circumstances, and to serve this country unfailingly.870-1-078Download
Destruction Imminent: U.S. Army Engineer Disaster Relief Operations, 1950 to 19792023-12The second of a three-volume history series on the USACE emergency operations mission. This volume begins with the Federal Disaster Relief Act of 1950, which created a permanent and continuous mechanism for federal disaster response, and continues through the establishment of FEMA in April 1979 and the centralization of the nation’s emergency functions. It also chronicles USACE responses to natural and manmade disasters during this period. [Emergency operations]870-1-081Download
Getting the Lights Back On: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Responds to Hurricane Maria, 2017-20182022-06 Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, USACE responded. And although the Corps assisted with recovery efforts in several ways, this book focuses on the story of the historic response to the electrical problems caused by the storm in Puerto Rico. It describes the enormous challenges and how the talented and passionate people of the Corps always step up to engineer solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges, especially in times of crisis. The innovation, hard work, and expertise of dedicated U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel was instrumental in turning the lights back on in Puerto Rico. [Emergency operations]870-1-079Download
Oral History in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: A Guide2021-03 This publication (in standard and short versions) is a guide to the theory and practice of oral history that provides U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees who are planning to start an oral history project or program with some historical background and practical advice on how to go about it. Available in PDF and e-reader formats. To request print copies, use the Contact Us feature at the bottom of the webpage and choose History as the recipient. [Interview; Transcript]870-1-080Download
Two Centuries of Experience in Water Resources Management: A Dutch-U.S. Retrospective2015For over two centuries, the Netherlands and the United States pursued different paths for managing periodic floods and droughts, navigable waterways, coasts, and environments. That accumulated experience represents a rich record of technological achievement and innovation, and recently representatives from each public works organization – the Dutch Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – recognized the need for collaboration on water management topics. As the partnership evolved, it became clear that understanding the similarities and differences in backgrounds, institutional organizations, and water management development would facilitate the exchanges of ideas and expertise between the two nations. The RWS and USACE reached a formal agreement in 2004, and this study is one result. This comparative history explores how the evolution of Dutch and American experiences shaped their respective approaches to hydraulic engineering, flood management, navigation, building with nature, and urban development. This is an Institute for Water Resources publication.IWR PublicationDownload
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the District of Columbia2014-04A brief illustrated overview of the history of the Corps' work in our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., presented in a brochure format. Beyond monuments and memorials to include water resources, construction management, and city administration.870-1-074Download
USACE History Poster2013-07CEHO has released a USACE History poster. This glossy 36" x 24" poster features 105 images of Corps employees, projects, and artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the present. Download a PDF to save and print or access the poster design template (InDesign format) to customize your own poster in this style.870-1-P1Download
Situation Desperate: U.S. Army Engineer Disaster Relief Operations, Origins to 19502011-09Traces the federal program from its tentative beginnings in the 19th century to the enactment of a permanent federal policy on disaster assistance in 1950. Explains how the Engineers came to acquire that mission during the great Mississippi River flood of 1882. Describes the development of the Corps' statutory authorities and the Army's regulations for emergency operations. Tells the stories of Corps and Army Engineer operations during various calamities.870-1-070Download
Nothing But Praise: A History of the 1321st General Service Regiment2009-12Winner of the 2010 Blue Pencil Award for most outstanding government publication, this book tells the story of the 1321st Engineers during World War II from the regiment’s 1943 activation in the U.S., through its deployment in Europe, to its deactivation in Korea. [Wars and combat support]870-1-069Download
Bricks, Sand, and Marble: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction in the Mediterranean and Middle East, 1947-19912009This book traces the Cold War activities of the Corps throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East, from reconstruction in Greece through the establishment of military facilities in North Africa and Italy, the provision of infrastructure for the armed forces in south Asia, the massive building program in Saudi Arabia, civic projects in Africa, and support for the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. This history has become even more important today because it provides the background for understanding the present role and position of the U.S. in the Middle East. This is a joint CEHO-CMH publication.870-1-072 / CMH 45-2-1Download
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: A History2007-08This illustrated history of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides an overview of many of the missions that engineers have performed in support of the U.S. Army and the nation since the early days of the American Revolution. A permanent institution since 1802, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has effectively and proudly responded to changing defense requirements and has played an integral part in the development of this country.870-1-068Download
Capital Engineers: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Development of Washington, D.C., 1790-20042005-12In its long history the Corps has performed many missions, such as the critical role in the development of Washington, D.C. This book explores the depth of the Corps’ involvement in the design, development, construction, and maintenance of our nation’s capital by chronicling its history and showcasing rare images, maps, and drawings. Select chapters discuss the Corps’ involvement in designing and constructing the still-existing water supply system; designing and constructing military forts to protect the capital from attack; refurbishing and expanding the U.S. Capitol; completing the Washington Monument; constructing many large buildings including the Pentagon and Library of Congress; designing and constructing roadways, major bridges, Washington National Airport, and the many monuments; refurbishing the White House; designing and maintaining the many parks; and planning highways.870-1-067Download
Remembering the "Forgotten War": U.S. Army Engineer Officers in Korea2005-02Engineers performed many roles during the Korean war. They destroyed bridges and vital facilities to impede the enemy's advance, and after UN forces withdrew to Pusan, helped build a defensive line enabling the beleaguered defenders to hang on. They also fought as infantry. Engineers built and maintained roads, constructed bridges, operated ferries, rebuilt ports, and unloaded cargo. This book contains excerpts drawn from the oral history interviews of twenty-six engineer officers and includes a wealth of images and maps. [Wars and combat support]870-1-066Download
Building for Peace: U.S. Army Engineers in Europe, 1945-19912005This publication traces the activities of the American military engineers in Europe from the construction that began immediately after the end of the war in 1945, through the increase in construction necessitated by the buildup of American troops during the Cold War, to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This is a joint CEHO-CMH publication.870-1-071 / CMH 45-1-1Download
Engineer Memoirs - Major General Richard S. Kem2003-12MG Kem had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, which culminated with his tenure as Deputy Chief of Engineers and Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He also served as a battalion commander in South Vietnam, a group commander in Europe, commander of the Ohio River Division, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Engineer Center and Fort Belvoir, Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School, Deputy Chief of Staff, Engineer, and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Europe. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-065Download
Environmental Cleanup at Former and Current Military Sites: A Guide to Research2001-11In the past, ordnance, explosives, and chemical warfare materials often created environmental hazards at former and current military sites. Studying the history of these sites is the first step to assuring a thorough and cost-effective cleanup. This research guide is intended to help environmental researchers navigate the archival maze of federal records and federal records repositories.870-1-064Download
Engineer Memoirs - Lieutenant General John W. Morris2000-12LTG Morris's distinguished career in the U.S. Army includes him serving as District Engineer in Tulsa, Division Engineer of the Missouri River Division, and Director of Civil Works and Deputy Chief of Engineers in Corps headquarters. LTG Morris also was Chief of Engineers when the Corps became a major command. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-063Download
After Desert Storm: The U.S. Army and the Reconstruction of Kuwait1999-06Not since World War II have U.S. soldiers and civilians played as large a role in rebuilding a foreign nation as they did in Kuwait after the Gulf War. After Desert Storm tells the compelling story of how the U.S. Army helped to bring a proud but battered country back to life. Our soldiers found themselves performing such diverse roles as repairing police cars, rebuilding damaged power systems, restoring the water supply, and feeding abandoned zoo animals. In the process they touched the lives of every Kuwaiti resident, forging bonds of trust and contributing immeasurably to stability in the region. This is a joint CEHO-CMH publication. [Wars and combat support]870-1-058Download
Water Resources Hydraulics and Hydrology - Interview with Alfred S. Harrison1998-12This interview is one of many in a special series covering engineers who shaped the Corps' hydrology and hydraulics program. Understanding the experiences, contributions, and thoughts of these individuals illuminates the past and provides guidance for the future. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-062Download
Engineer Memoirs - Lieutenant General Carroll H. Dunn1998-07LTG Dunn had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, which culminated with his two-year tenure as the director of the Defense Nuclear Agency. Among other duties, he also commanded the 105th Engineer Combat Battalion in the European Theater during WWII and was the executive to the Chief of Engineers. His last assignment with the Corps was as Deputy Chief of Engineers. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-059Download
Water Resources Hydraulics and Hydrology - Margaret S. Petersen1998-07This interview is one of many in a special series covering engineers who shaped the Corps' hydrology and hydraulics program. Understanding the experiences, contributions, and thoughts of these individuals illuminates the past and provides guidance for the future. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-060Download
Water Resources People and Issues - Theodore M. Schad1998-01This interview is one of many in a special series covering engineers who shaped the Corps' hydrology and hydraulics program. Understanding the experiences, contributions, and thoughts of these individuals illuminates the past and provides guidance for the future. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-061Download
Water Resources Hydraulics and Hydrology - Vernon K. Hagen1997-09This interview is one of many in a special series covering engineers who shaped the Corps' hydrology and hydraulics program. Understanding the experiences, contributions, and thoughts of these individuals illuminates the past and provides guidance for the future. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-055Download
Water Resources Hydraulics and Hydrology - Jacob H. Douma1997-09This interview is one of many in a special series covering engineers who shaped the Corps' hydrology and hydraulics program. Understanding the experiences, contributions, and thoughts of these individuals illuminates the past and provides guidance for the future. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-056Download
Engineer Memoirs - Lieutenant General Ernest Graves1997-08LTG Graves had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army. He was Deputy Chief of Engineers and served a three-year tenure as Director of the Defense Security Assistance Agency. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-052Download
Water Resources Hydraulics and Hydrology - Franklin F. Snyder1997-08This interview is one of many in a special series covering engineers who shaped the Corps' hydrology and hydraulics program. Understanding the experiences, contributions, and thoughts of these individuals illuminates the past and provides guidance for the future. [Oral history interview transcipt]870-1-054Download
U.S. Army Engineers in Hawaii: An Inventory of Records before 19481997[Bibliography]870-1-051Download
Defending America's Coasts, 1775 - 1950: A Bibliography1997Defending American cities was a high priority for both Congress and the armed forces. The current and former military sites that dot the coasts of the U.S. are the legacy of that military policy. This bibliography compiles information about our coast defenses for interested researchers. [Wars and combat support]870-1-057Download
Supporting the Troops: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Persian Gulf War1996-10This publication provides an overview of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' missions during Operations Desert Shield/Storm. As the Department of Defense's contract construction agent for the Kuwait theater, the Corps prepared and administered contracts for construction and construction design and leased real estate. Later in the operation, the Corps administered many contracts for the Saudi Arabian government under host nation support and a large contract for the Japanese government. Corps labs also provided technologies that enabled U.S. forces to function more effectively on the battlefield. [Wars and combat support]870-1-050Download
Engineer Memoirs - Lieutenant General Edward L. Rowny1995-12In this memoir, read how LTG Rowny's vast and impressive military career included being part of the first unit to go overseas in WWII; how he helped draw up plans for the Inchon Invasion during the Korean War; and how he worked on nation-building concepts in Vietnam. He also served as deputy chairman for the NATO military committee. Later, President Reagan appointed him as ambassador for the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (START) and special advisor to the president and secretary of state for arms control matters. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-049Download
Combat and Construction: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in World War I1993-11Initially, the United States was not involved when the great war broke out in Europe in the summer of 1914. Not until 1917 did this country determine that its vital national interests were at stake in the conflict. America then committed its powerful human and technological resources to support the West European democracies engaged in the struggle. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were essential to this effort--engineers fought on the front lines and constructed facilities needed to transport and supply American troops. This booklet honors the contributions of these engineers who fought to protect democracy and restore peace. [Wars and combat support]870-1-047Download
Response to the Loma Prieta Earthquake1993-04There are valuable lessons to be learned from the Loma Prieta disaster that have much broader application and underscore the importance of the Corps of Engineers' readiness mission. Historian Janet McDonnell has sifted through hundreds of documents and conducted scores of interviews to tell the story of the Corps' response and the specific missions it per­formed for FEMA and other agencies. Her analysis has led to several important conclusions. One is that the Corps is a versatile organization that has tremendous capabilities and can take on missions quickly and execute them extremely well. Dr. McDonnell has also raised several questions that the Corps must resolve for the future. [Emergency operations]870-1-044Download
Engineer Memoirs - General William M. Hoge1993-01General Hoge had a varied and distinguished career during World War II. He built the Alaska Highway in 1942 and commanded the Provisional Engineer Special Brigade Group during the initial landing of American troops on OMAHA Beach, Normandy, on 6 June 1944. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-025Download
Water Resources People and Issues - Gilbert T. White1993-01Few people have influenced water resources planning more than Gilbert White. Within the Corps, his impact is reflected in the Flood Plain Information Services Program, which has been in existence for more than 30 years. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-043Download
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Response to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill1992The Exxon Valdez oil spill was the largest and most destructive in United States history. In the wake of this disaster, the Army Corps of Engineers joined the team headed by the United States Coast Guard to mount a massive cleanup effort. This was the first time the Corps and the Coast Guard had worked together on such a grand scale, and the results were dramatic. [Emergency operations]870-1-041Download
Building Air Bases in the Negev: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Israel, 1979-19821992Between the spring of 1979 and the summer of 1982, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed a remarkable construction pro­ject in Israel's Negev Desert. This effort, carried out in a highly in­flationary period and with a supply line thousands of miles long, produced two ultramodern Israeli air bases in a remarkably short time and at a cost that only exceeded original estimates by less than 3 percent. It also contributed directly to peace between Israel and Egypt. [Military operations and construction]870-1-031Download
Builders and Fighters: U.S. Army Engineers in World War II1992The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played an important part in winning World War II. Its work included building and repairing roads, bridges, and airfields; laying and clearing minefields; establishing and destroying obstacles; constructing training camps and other support facilities; building the Pentagon; and providing facilities for the development of the atomic bomb. [Wars and combat support]870-1-042Download
Engineers and Irrigation: Report on the Board of Commissioners on the Irrigation of the San Joaquin, Tulare, and Sacramento Valleys of the State of California, 18731990-08Engineer Historical Studies No. 5. This series provides primary source materials that shed significant light on the history of the Army Corps of Engineers. More than that, the materials are part of our nation's history, because they suggest the diverse ways in which the Corps has contributed to national development.870-1-039Download
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Natural Resources Management on Army Installations, 1941-19871989-10This study shows the evolution of the Army Corps of Engineers' responsibilities for the natural environment on Army bases. Reflecting both wartime urgencies and peacetime concerns, this history is a comprehensive overview of the problems the Corps' natural resources managers faced on Army bases both domestic and overseas between 1941 and 1987. [Environmental issues; military construction]870-1-040Download
Bridging the Imjin: Construction of Libby and Teal Bridges during the Korean War (October 1952-July 1953)1989-08Reexamine how our predecessors overcame the engineering challenges posed by the rugged and unforgiving environment in which the Korean War was fought. [Wars and combat support]870-1-032Download
Water Resources People and Issues - Interview with Professor Arthur Maass1989-01This interview and accompanying articles provide an overview of Professor Maass's thoughts and insights into his ideas on water management for the Corps and other water agencies, both federal and civilian. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-035Download
Register of the Arthur Maass Papers1989-01Arthur Maass is one of the major figures in the development of water policies and planning procedures in the post-World War II era. He was an early critic of Corps of Engineers planning procedures, as evidenced in his well-known book Muddy Waters. [Water resources]870-1-036Download
The Evolution of the 1936 Flood Control Act1988-07A history of how Congress passed the 1936 Flood Control Act that authorized the Corps to handle hundreds of flood control projects and established policies that continue to this day. [Water resources]870-1-029Download
The Nation Builders: A Sesquicentennial History of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, 1838-18631988-06This book marks an important anniversary in the history of our development as a nation. In 1838 Congress established the Corps of Topographical Engineers, an organization whose main purpose was the peacetime fostering of economic growth and national cohesion. This small dedicated group of officers contributed to the development of many aspects of the national transportation network--railroads, highways, and inland waterways. [Western exploration; water resources]870-1-037Download
Holding the Line: The 51st Engineer Combat Battalion and the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 19451988-04This volume, another in a series of Studies in Military Engineering, describes the successful defensive operations during a period in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. [Wars and combat support]870-1-038Download
Engineer Memoirs – Frederick B. McNeely 1987-01[Oral history interview transcript]870-1-028Download
Engineer Memoirs - Lieutenant General Arthur G. Trudeau1986-02[Oral history interview transcript]870-1-026Download
Water Resources People and Issues - An Interview with William R. Gianelli1985-08[Oral history interview transcript]870-1-024Download
Exploring Nature's Sanctuary1985-01Engineer Historical Studies No. 3. Captain William Ludlow's Report of a Reconnaissance from Carroll, Montana Territory, on the Upper Missouri to the Yellowstone National Park, and Return Made in the Summer of 1875. [Western exploration]870-1-022Download
Dear Friends at Home1985-01Engineer Historical Studies No. 4. The Letters and Diary of Thomas James Owen, Fiftieth New York Volunteer Engineer Regiment, During the Civil War. [Wars and combat support]870-1-016Download
"To the Immortal Name and Memory of George Washington": The United Stated Army Corps of Engineers and the Construction of the Washington Monument1984-12At a ceremony on 21 February 1885, President Chester Arthur dedicated the newly-completed Washington Monument in D.C. Still today the obelisk remains the most distinctive feature of the capital city's skyline. Disputes over design, difficulties in raising funds, and the construction itself meant the monument was years in the making. The delays ended when a small civilian-military team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, led by Col. Thomas L. Casey, took over construction management.870-1-021Download
From the Atlantic to the Great Lakes: A History of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the St. Lawrence Seaway1984-10The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned and supervised the construction of the United States' section of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The project was both a massive engineering effort and an unusually complicated exercise in intergovernmental cooperation. [Water resources]870-1-020Download
The Corps, the Environment, and the Upper Mississippi River Basin1984-08Since 1823, when Maj. Stephen H. Long was sent to explore the Mis­sissippi headwaters, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been the steward of the upper Mississippi and, consequently, at the center of a complex history of water management. The policies of the Corps have usually been influenced by economic interests, urban coalitions, and sportsmen's groups -- all of which have attempted to use and sometimes abuse the Mississippi over the past. This history attempts to trace the major environmental events in Corps manage­ment policies since the Civil War. [Environmental issues; water resources]870-1-019Download
Engineer Memoirs - Lieutenant General Walter K. Wilson, Jr.1984-05LTG Wilson's distinguished career spanned both civil works and military construction. He was Deputy Chief of Engineers for Construction when the Corps became heavily involved in projects supporting ballistic missile and space programs. After commanding the Engineer Center and Fort Belvoir he was selected as 40th Chief of Engineers by President John F. Kennedy. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-008Download
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Issues in The Twentieth Century: A Bibliography1984-01Environmental issues bibliography.870-1-014Download
Engineer Memoirs - Major General Hugh J. Casey1983-12This volume is an edited version of the tape-recorded interview with MG Casey at his summer home in Bradford, Vermont, from 25 to 29 September 1979. Before his death on 30 August 1981, MG Casey reviewed and revised the entire transcript of the interview. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-018Download
Engineer Profiles - The District Engineer Interviews with Colonel William W. Badger1983-07[Oral history interview transcript]870-1-011Download
Engineer Memoirs - Major General William E. Potter1983-07[Oral history interview transcript]870-1-012Download
Financing Water Resources Development: A Brief History1983-07A history that explores the social, political, economic, and technological forces that helped to determine the past evolution of federal water policy.870-1-013Download
Shaping Environmental Awareness: The United States Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Advisory Board, 1970-19801983-01This monograph transcends the immediate topic, for, in telling the history of the Environmental Advisory Board, the author relates some of the policy struggles within the Corps that the Board's recommendations often generated. This study forms part of the story of one of the most dynamic and introspective periods in Corps history.870-1-010Download
Engineers of Independence: A Documentary History of the Army Engineers in the American Revolution, 1775-17831981-10This collection of documents, including many previously unpublished, details the role of the Army engineers in the American Revolution. Lacking trained military engineers, the Americans relied heavily on foreign officers, mostly from France, for sorely-needed technical assistance. Native Americans joined the foreign engineer officers to plan and carry out offensive and defensive operations, direct the erection of fortifications, map vital terrain, and lay out encampments. [Wars and combat support]870-1-006Download
Explorer on the Northern Plains: Lieutenant Gouveneur K. Warren's Preliminary Report of Explorations in Nebraska and Dakota, in the Years 1855-'56-'571981-10Engineer Historical Studies No. 2. This is the second publication in the series of Corps of Engineers Historical Studies. Like the first, it features the report of an Engineer explorer. Unlike its predecessor, it reproduces a once-published narrative, one that frontiersmen heading into the Dakota country to pan for gold used as a guidebook. Warren's report captures for all time the northern plains at an early stage of settlement. It also illuminates the role of the Corps of Engineers in westward expansion. [Western exploration]870-1-007Download
Vanguard of Expansion: Army Engineers in the Trans-Mississippi West, 1819-18791980-08This book contains a compact narrative of Corps of Engineers activities in the trans-Mississippi West during the years of expansion and settlement. The work of the Corps in the West encompassed a wide range of services, from basic exploration and cartography to road surveys and the first river and harbor improvements on the Pacific coast. Through the entire period, in all their diverse assignments, Corps officers worked to bind this huge new country to the old, to increase the public’s understanding of the West, and to develop critical networks of communication and transportation. [Western exploration]870-1-004Download
Engineer Memoirs - Lieutenant General Fredrick J. Clarke1980-01Follow LTG Clarke's distinguished military and civilian engineering career as it spans four decades to include service in World War II, conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, and several demanding executive assignments. [Oral history interview transcript]870-1-005Download
March to South Pass: Lieutenant William B. Franklin's Journal of the Kearny expedition of 18451979-06Engineer Historical Studies No. 1. The journal of Lt. William B. Franklin’s march to South Pass with the 1st Dragoons. Unsung and virtually unknown outside of a small group of historians, Franklin has received only brief mention in books on western exploration. Moreover, his vivid narrative has not been used in reconstructing the story of the development of the American West. With its clear depiction of the terrain and insights into the coming clashes on the high plains, Lieutenant Franklin’s journal takes us back more than 130 years to a time when Engineer officers served their country as explorers, topographers, and cartographers. In so doing, the narrative highlights a major Engineer contribution to the growth of the American republic.870-1-002Download
A City for the Nation: The Army Engineers and the Building of Washington, D.C., 1790-19671979-05Superseded by 870-1-067. As architects, builders, planners, and administrators, Corps personnel, military and civilian, have played many roles in the history of the nation's capital. In this uniquely federal city, Army Engineers who served the Army, the president, and Congress inevitably had much to contribute to local needs as well. A City For The Nation tells this story more completely than it has ever been told before, beyond monuments and memorials. In a condensed and highly readable monograph, the author has brought new material to light and integrated much information that was scattered and unrelated before. Both the scholar and the general reader will find its perusal a rewarding experience.870-1-003Download
Historical Vignettes - Volume 1 and Volume 21977; 1979/1988The anecdotes in these volumes provide brief but significant glimpses of the history and traditions that are the proud heritage of all members of the Corps of Engineers, military and civilian.870-1-001Download
† Although Office of History publications were assigned EP (engineer pamphlet) numbers in the past, as of 2023, existing and future history publications are no longer to be considered official USACE EPs.

Other Titles

 

   
Publication No.

Other Publications

BRAC Pub BRAC at Fort Belvoir: 1988 - 2011. The history of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) at Fort Belvoir, which ran from 1988 through 2011. Includes not only the on-post story of planning, implementation and construction; but also provides an examination of all the political considerations and interaction among local leaders, the media and the surrounding communities. This important story provides many lessons learned for all concerned. By Gustav Person, Ft. Belvoir Installation Historian. Published by Global Printing Company, Alexandria, Virginia, 2012.
91-PS-1 Reshaping National Water Politics: The Emergence of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. In March 1987, then Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works, suggested that a history be written on the evolution of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. This comprehensive history focuses on the legislative evolution of one act, and provides an overview of the development of federal water resources policy. This publication was written for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Institute for Water Resources, IWR Policy Study 91-PS-1
NWS-79-S1 History of the Commercial Waterways & Ports of the United States: Volume I From Settlement to Completion of the Erie Canal.
NWS-80-S1 The United States Waterways and Ports: A Chronology Volume I 1541-1871.
NWS-83-9 History of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. This pamphlet is one of a series on the history of navigation done as part of the National Waterways Study, authorized by Congress in Public Law 94-587. The National Waterways Study is an intensive review by the Corps of Engineers' Institute for Water Resources of past, present, and future needs and capabilities of the United States water transportation network. The Historical Division of the Office of the Chief of Engineers supervised the development of this pamphlet, which is designed to present a succinct overview of the subject area. This publication was written for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Institute for Water Resources
NWS-83-10 History of the Waterways of the Atlantic Coast of the United States. This pamphlet is one of a series on the history of navigation done as part of the National Waterways Study, authorized by Congress in Public Law 94-587. The National Waterways Study is an intensive review by the Corps of Engineers' Institute for Water Resources of past, present, and future needs and capabilities of the United States water transportation network. The Historical Division of the Office of the Chief of Engineers supervised the development of this pamphlet, which is designed to present a succinct overview of the subject area. This publication was written for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Institute for Water Resources
CMH Pub 70-10 From the Golden Gate to Mexico City - The U.S. Army Topographical Engineers in the Mexican War, 1846-1848. This publication analyzes and explains the role of the U.S. Army Topographical Engineer Corps in the war with Mexico, commencing with the activities of the Topographical Engineers in 1845 and tracing their evolution from a scientific, mapping, and construction agency of the federal government to their active participation in the war. This is a joint CEHO-CMH publication.
CMH Pub 90-06 Base Development in South Vietnam, 1965-1970. This monograph in the U.S. Army Center of Military History's Vietnam Studies Series (first printed in 1972) is drawn primarily from official records and was designed to provide a quick assessment of the Vietnam experience before more detailed historical analysis could be completed. The author, LTG (Ret) Carroll H. Dunn, now deceased, served in Vietnam in 1966-67 as Director of Construction for the U.S. Military Assistance Command and Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics. This volume covers real estate and land acquisition; planning; base and facilities construction; facilities engineering; road programs; construction logistics; and lessons learned.
CMH Pub 90-22 U.S. Army Engineers, 1965-1970. This monograph in the U.S. Army Center of Military History's Vietnam Studies Series, was written by MG (Ret) Robert R. Ploger, now deceased. General Ploger served as the senior engineer commander in Vietnam, 1965-67. Focusing only on the years before 1970, this volume covers preparations, early operations, organization, deployment, mobilization, the lines of communication program, tactical operations, sustaining support and phase-down, and an evaluation. Extensive maps, charts, and illustrations, as well as appendices on such topics as real estate, engineer units and functions, engineer objectives and standards, and construction standards for troop cantonments round out the volume.