It doesn’t take a Latin scholar to decipher the motto CONSTRUCTIO ET DESTRUCTIO at the bottom of the 40th Engineer Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia: It is Latin for “Construction And Destruction,” two activities in which the unit has been well-practiced since its formation as the 1st Battalion, 348th Engineers in the Organized Reserves on 29 July 1921. The chevronel is shaped like a gabled rafter and stands for construction, while the ram’s head is a symbol of destruction (it also recalls the unit’s organization in Telluride, Colorado). The insignia was first approved for the 348th Engineer Regiment in the Organized Reserves on 5 December 1925; it was redesignated with revised symbolism and description for the 40th Engineer Battalion on 5 November 1991,Distinctive Unit Insignias are worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e),
"Beret" and
"Garrison Cap," respectively.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Activated 15 July 1942 as the 1st Battalion, 348th Engineer Regiment, the unit would undergo two redesignations—it became 1st Battalion, 348th Engineer General Service Regiment in October 1942 and then was reorganized and redesignated as the 348th Engineer Combat Battalion—before deployment to the European Theater in World War II. The Battalion’s WWII battle honors include five campaign streamers, with an Arrowhead device for the Normandy campaign indicating the Battalion took part in the assault landing and that its participation was not by accident or ad hoc decision-making in the middle of battle. The exceptional courage displayed by the Battalion led to it being awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation from the Army and French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Redesignated as the 40th Engineer Combat Battalion in 1947, the unit would keep that title for nearly 35 years until it was given its current designation of 40th Engineer Battalion in 1991 and assigned to the 1st Armored Division. It would serve with the 1st Armored Division until it was assigned to the 170th Infantry Brigade 2009; it was relieved from that assignment in in October 2012 when it was inactivated. On 19 June 2015, it was reactivated and assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Armored Division, where as the Summer of 2023 it serves as the 40th Brigade Engineer Battalion.
During its time with 1st Armored Division and 170th Infantry Brigade, the Battalion has been awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, three Meritorious Unit Commendations, and two Army Superior Unit Awards. Additionally, two of its Companies (A and B) have earned a total of three individual Valorous Unit Awards and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.