The 307th Engineer Battalion (Airborne)—the “All American Engineers” of the 82nd Airborne Division—carries the motto “I Maintain the Right.” From World War I through every major 82nd Airborne combat jump in World War II to Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the 307th delivers mobility, countermobility, and survivability for America’s paratroopers. Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 307th Engineer Battalion (Airborne).
Constituted in 1917 and assigned to the 82nd Division, the 307th Engineers went to France and fought in St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. In heavy fighting shielding the division’s flank, the battalion earned its enduring motto: “I Maintain the Right.”
World War II—Every 82nd Combat Jump
Converted to an airborne engineer unit with the 82nd Airborne Division, the 307th supported every major division combat parachute/glider assault:
-
Sicily (Operation Husky, 1943) – first combat jump for the 82nd; engineers cleared obstacles and opened routes under fire.
-
Italy/Salerno (1943) – air-landed and fought to secure beachhead mobility.
-
Normandy (Operation Neptune, D-Day, 6 June 1944) – parachuted/glider-landed to clear DZs/LZs, repair routes, and bridge obstacles behind enemy lines.
-
Holland (Operation Market Garden, Sept 1944) – sustained bridging and route-opening to keep the airborne corridor moving.
Throughout Europe, the 307th built, repaired, and defended the lifelines that kept the All American advance rolling.
Postwar, Dominican Republic & Vietnam
Post-WWII, the battalion remained tied to the 82nd, deploying to the Dominican Republic (1965). In Vietnam, 307th engineers constructed bases, ran route-clearance, and supported airborne infantry in jungle terrain—combining combat skills with heavy engineer work under fire.
Global War on Terror
From Iraq to Afghanistan, the battalion executed route clearance against IEDs, built and repaired critical infrastructure, fortified outposts, and provided rapid engineer support to keep paratroopers mobile and protected—often at the tip of the spear with the division’s immediate-response missions.
Modern Role (Active)
Today, the 307th Engineer Battalion (Airborne) supports the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. Its paratrooper-engineers train to deploy on short notice, delivering:
-
Mobility: breaching, route opening, airfield/LZ/DZ prep, expedient bridging.
-
Countermobility: obstacles and denial operations.
-
Survivability: fortifications, protective works, repairs under contact.
-
Airborne insertion: engineer packages capable of parachute entry with the brigade.
Identity, Honors & Key Figures
-
Motto: “I Maintain the Right.”
-
Nickname/Identity: “All American Engineers.”
-
Selected Honors: Presidential Unit Citation (WWII), multiple Meritorious Unit Commendations (Vietnam, Southwest Asia, GWOT), and campaign streamers from WWI to present.
-
Notables: The battalion’s WWII and Vietnam eras produced numerous valor awardees (DSCs, Silver Stars) for engineer actions performed under direct fire while preserving mobility for the division.
Enduring Significance
From the trenches of 1918 to the skies over Normandy and the roads of Afghanistan, the 307th Engineer Battalion (Airborne) has embodied airborne engineering—fast, tough, and precise—so the 82nd can fight, maneuver, and win.
Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 307th Engineer Battalion (Airborne).