The United Sates Army has been assigning Engineers
for the creation and development of infrastructure and
innovation for the operation of our society since its
establishment in 1775. U.S. President George Washington
appointed the first Chief of Engineer COL. Richard Grid-
ley during the American Revolution. Since that time, the
Corps of Engineers and its individual members have been
essential in the growth and expansion of our Nation. Over
the course of history, the Corps of Engineers was involved
in multiple military missions and civil works project which
secured our countries welfare and growth of our founda-
tion. Planning, organizing, and managing certain activities
were only a portion of the job, which led to the establish-
ment of Logistics.
Although, this term is relatively new, used to describe a
very old practice. Providing the right type of products
and/or services at the right price, place, time and in the
right condition, it transformed the way of providing
services related to supply and distribution of resources.
Prior to World War I and II, Logistics was an important part
in the acquisition, distribution, maintenance, and opera-
tions in the Army. By the end of World War II (1939-1945),
Logistics evolved significantly, and the Corps of Engineers
recognized the importance of it as an art and science.
In the 20th century, the Logistics role in civil works and
military missions regarding supply, maintenance, trans-
portation, aviation, facility management, integrated
logistics support has added an exceptional value to the
Corps. The Logistics support during peacetime/wartime,
humanitarian operations, contingency planning and
response, and disaster relief has reinforced the strength
of the Corps. USACE Logistics consists of two elements:
the Directorate of Logistics (DOL) established in 1986 and
USACE Logistics Activity established in 2006 headquar-
tered in Millington, TN. USACE has 241 years of experi-
ence in national wars and statutory assignments with
civil works projects for the construction of dams, levees,
buildings, bridges, recreational parks, monuments, flood
risk and navigation programs focusing on the safety and
security of our countries infrastructure.
For More Information:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Logistics Headquarters
411 G Street NW, Washington, DC
www.usace.army.mil/logistics
Overview
EP 700-1-4 | Oct. 2016
On the Cover:
Top Left: Engineer Sustainment
Camp, “The Regiment supports
the Army” in the Vietnam Era.
Top Right: USACE Engineers
add value to the whole of
government.
Middle: Logistics Supply Chains
and Distribution Networks are
logistics responses to natural
disasters. USACE Logisticians
work with national responders
to support the nation.
Bottom: Engineer convoys move
materials wherever needed.
Quartermaster experience within the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers Civil War Era:
Col. Montgomery C. Meigs expressed his frustration of the
supply support receive during wartime to Secretary of State
William H. Seward. In May 1861, Col. Meigs was promoted
to Quartermaster General. General Meigs is known as the
“Father of Quartermaster”, due to the quartermaster pro-
cesses and strategies he established. General Meigs along
with Brig. General Roeliff Brinkerhoff, wrote The Volunteer
Quartermaster, which was the codification of the laws,
regulations, rules, and practiced of all quartermaster officers
and employees. General Meigs efficiency of supply manage-
ment, ensured the Union sustainment of supplies as they
continued deep into Confederate territory. To date, the COE
and Quartermaster Corps still abide by the foundation of
these laws put in place, even though the processes have
changed over time. General Meigs promotion into the Quar-
termaster Corps and his affiliation and commitment to the
Corps of Engineers identifies the importance and complex-
ity of logistics throughout the Army and Corps of Engineers.
History of Corps of Engineers Logistics 1917-1939:
Col. Montgomery C. Meigs expressed his frustration of the
supply support receive during wartime to Secretary of State
William H. Seward. In May 1861, Col. Meigs was promoted
to Quartermaster General. General Meigs is known as the
“Father of Quartermaster”, due to the quartermaster pro-
cesses and strategies he established. General Meigs along
with Brig. General Roeliff Brinkerhoff, wrote The Volunteer
Quartermaster, which was the codification of the laws,
regulations, rules, and practiced of all quartermaster officers
and employees. General Meigs efficiency of supply manage-
ment, ensured the Union sustainment of supplies as they
continued deep into Confederate territory. To date, the COE
and Quartermaster Corps still abide by the foundation of
these laws put in place, even though the processes have
changed over time. General Meigs promotion into the Quar-
termaster Corps and his affiliation and commitment to the
Corps of Engineers identifies the importance and complex-
ity of logistics throughout the Army and Corps of Engineers.
This equipment in which was
maintained by the General
Engineer Depot was in support
of the field engineer operations,
engineer troops, seacoast defense,
and special organizations. In April
1917 through May 1918, the Corps
of Engineers initially procured,
stored and issued basic items
needed to sustain specialized
technical areas. After May 1918,
the COE focused on procuring
specialized equipment in sup-
port of the engineer mission.
The Army’s transition from
War to Peacetime operations
began in November 1918 and
lasted until June 1920. This
transition generated concerns
for COE in regards to supply
functions related to contract
termination or adjustment,
evaluation of real estate and/
or disposal, reversal of embarkation, and sale of war equip-
ment and supplies. In 1920 decentralization of procurement
reduced supply functions greatly which forced Congress to
amend the National Defense Act of 1916. The amendment
enabled the restructure of the General Staff and the creation
of the new Supply Division. During the transition, the Chief
of Engineers was charged with procurement, storage, and
issue of engineer equipment and supplies.
A revision of Army Regulation 100-5 in 1923 identified that
the Chief of Engineers assume responsibility of all supply
functions and procurement of all supplies that they stored
and issued, regardless of whether they were common to
two or more branches during peacetime and in war. The
supply system had evolved several times during the years
of 1903-1939 due to conflict over leadership control, as well
as, duplication and overlapping functions that reduced the
ability to support the front line (The War Department from Root to
Marshall, http://www.history.army.mil/books/root/chapter1.htm).
After World War II
Starting in the late 1940’s after World War II, the War Depart-
ment started preparing to realign and reduce its footprint.
One of the decisions was to realign some engineer depots
and close others. Some Engineer depots that were main-
tained by the Corps were
reassigned to the Quarter-
master Corps, meaning the
Corps of Engineers mission
was no longer to provide
supply/logistical support
within itself. All supply and
services, transportation, and
POL functions would fall
solely under the oversight
and management of the US
Quartermaster Corps.
Rhine Engineer Depot
in Germany 1951-1956
Portrait of Col.
Montgomery
Cunningham Meigs Sr.
1816-1892
Sustainment of Engineer Depots Overseas
1943-1944:
During the invasion of Germany, the Corps of Engineers
had to sustain Engineer Depots throughout Europe. With
much adversity, the COE faced multiple problems with
establishing and maintaining the validity of the supply
system. The Supply of Services Division in Washington,
D.C., worked effortlessly to identify growing concerns and
streamline the supply process to ensure engineers received
equipment in a timely manner. One major problem that
plagued the Corps was shortages of echelon spare parts
due to poor procurement procedures. The supply system
was aggravated by too few short lived parts and too many
long lived parts made to British specifications for US made
equipment. January 1943, the European Theater of Opera-
tion US Army (ETOUSA), maintained one engineer supply
depot, which was split into three to process engineer sup-
plies for units within the United Kingdom. Due to obstacles
within the supply pipeline, operational control of engineer
depots in Europe were transferred from the Services of
Supply Division to ETOUSA in February 1943.
This exchange of responsibility removed supply process
limitations placed by SOS Division and allowed more
operational control of CL II and IV items within theater.
Operational improvement was noticed within weeks, as
ETOUSA split the engineer depot into three types of stock
supply depots. Reserve depots stocked an assortment of
items in large quantities for overseas use. Key depots stored
and issued selected items for specific purposes. Distribu-
tion depots stored and issued all types of supplies and
equipment. Engineers maintaining engineer depots fell
into two categories, engineer depot operating units and
quartermaster labor known as “touch labor.”
In June 1943, the SOS acknowledged the problems within
the supply system overseas and created the 752d Engineer
Parts Supply Company, to operate and maintain the engi-
neer spare parts depot in Ashchurch, England. Other issues
that plagued the COE supply system was items
being shipped were poorly marked, untrained
personnel, and/or a poor procurement system,
just to list a few.
By September 1943, there was a tremendous
shortage of depot personnel however, at this
time COE was managing seven depots, soon to
be eight with only five depot companies. The
difference between engineer depot opera-
tions in the US versus overseas, was civilians
operated US engineer depots. Many engineer
officers and enlisted did not gain any depot
experience prior to arriving overseas. The
shortage of depot personnel, especially crane
operators, riggers, and trained clerical staff
hindered engineer depot operations through
1943 well into 1944. However, through all
adversities and circumstances, the Engineer
Supply Depots provided the soldiers and
civilians of the Corps of Engineers exceptional
logistics/supply support.
War Theater in England U.S. Army 22 Ton Crane.
The Rhine Engineer Depot was established under the
authority of General Order Number 2, Engineer Division,
Headquarters EUCOM, dated 23 April 1951.
Engineers build a Bailey bridge across the Naktong River at
Waegwan, 1 Oct. 1950
Bulldozers at the Engineer
Depot, Thatcham, England
in preparation for the D-Day
invasion, 6 June 1944
The U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers
Logistics
A Brief History of
Logistics and the
U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
By: Tonga Hackett and Ray Mendez
