l It had demonstrated in two world wars and in
The importance of this training was realized in
World War II. Many officers assumed positions where lesser conflicts its ability to organize, design, and effec-
their experience in civil works was invaluable. In 1947, tively direct the construction of military and public
General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower said: "I works programs.
l It enjoyed an excellent reputation and had earned
believe the rivers and harbors (program) does more to
train our Engineers in the large conceptions by which the respect of the engineering profession, the con-
they did their job in war than anything else they could struction industry, and the scientific community.
l It had acquired extensive experience over the
do." General Eisenhower's views were echoed by the
British Engineer-in-Chief who wrote: " I have always years in the negotiation and administration of thou-
been firmly of the opinion that this type of training is sands of contracts annually.
l Its network of Division and District offices had ac-
not only desirable but essential, and my experience in
two large theaters during World War II most fully con- cumulated an intimate working knowledge of local con-
firmed that view. There was no type of civil works proj- ditions, resources, and capabilities in each of the geo-
ect that did not have its counterpart in war, and often graphical areas assigned. It maintained excellent rela-
tions with local officials and governmental bodies.
on a huge scale."
l It was to a great extent self-sufficient in its opera-
These views on the carryover of civil works experi-
ence into wartime situations are emphasized in the tions in that it was organized so as to perform its own
words of Brig. Gen. B.L. Robinson, former Assistant fiscal, supply, legal, real estate, contract, and other ad-
ministrative services without dependence on other
District Engineer in Honolulu.
agencies.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, within less
l Timing and cost considerations made it impracti-
than an hour after the Sunday attack on Pearl Harbor
by the Japanese, the District Engineer and I proceeded
cal and uneconomical for NASA to attempt to develop
to mobilize the District headquarters. A pro-
its own engineering and construction ability which
visional regiment was formed of civilian District and
could have duplicated, at great cost, that ability al-
contractors' employees. Arms and munitions were
ready possessed by the Corps.
procured and issued. The unit was assigned, under
At the height of the construction program, five Divi-
military command. to a sector of Honolulu for beach
defense, at that time it being anticipated that a Japanese
sions and eight Districts were participants. The Canav-
force might attempt a landing.
eral District was organized solely to support the space
Knowing that engineer material would be in short
program at the Kennedy Space Center. The program
supply and heavy demand, major construction mater-
included the construction of facilities at the Kennedy
ials such as lumber, cement and hardware in the hands
Space Center, the Mississippi Test Facility, the
of commercial firms were Impounded by blanket pur-
chase order for immediate use bv the Army, Navy,
Manned Spacecraft Center at Houston, the Marshall
and Air Force. The District by-similar action im-
Space Flight Center at Huntsville, the White Sands
pounded and rationed all fuel supplies. Contractors'
Missile Range, the NASA Flight Research Center at
equipment and forces engaged on construction of
Edwards Air Force Base, the Sacramento Test Facili-
permanent buildings for army installations were
diverted to the construction of fortifications and other
ty, and the Electronic Research Center at Boston.
facilities for troops. In fact, all construction activities
Similar large-scale construction efforts have since
of a permanent nature were stopped and forces
been conducted in support of the ICBM and Safeguard
instantly diverted to the active support of military
programs. These major peacetime efforts show the
activities. This transition, maintaining orderly con-
tractural relationships, was made possible by the fact
that the Engineer District, while essentially a civilian
organization, was under the control of the military.
The Cold War
The Corps has not been mobilized since the Korean
War, but it has taken on several large construction pro-
grams essential to the national interest in the interval.
The launching of Sputnik I in 1957 shocked the Ameri-
can people and focused attention on the serious gap
that existed between the American and Russian space
programs. In 19.58, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) was created, and an ur-
gent program for the early launching of American satel-
lites was begun. The Corps was selected by NASA to
serve as its prime construction agent in the billion dol-
lar program to build ground launch and support facili-
ties. NASA's reasons for selecting the Corps illustrate
the value of an existing engineering and construction
organization with capabilities for major construction.
The reasons include:
l The Corps was the largest federal agency possess-
ing an engineering and construction organization with
The power-generating capacity of the multipurpose Dworshak Dam in
a nationwide network of field offices.
Idaho is currently being expanded
The Military Engineer, No. 447
15
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