Scope and Contents

One donation letter and two copies of a citation awarded to Colonel George T. Kimbro's company document his service in Vietnam in 1965. The Itschner Plaque of The Society of American Military Engineers was awarded to Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion as the most outatanding unit of the Army Corps of Engineers in 1965.

Biographical / Historical

Colonel George T. Kimbro, 11 December 1930 (Burleson, Texas) - 29 October 2015 (San Antonio, Texas) served in Vietnam in 1965 with Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. He was also Pre-Med student at Texas Tech University from 1974-1978.

Among his decorations, Col. Kimbro received the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Itschner Award for the best engineer company in the U.S. Army worldwide for 1965, the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces, and the Legion of Merit. Col Kimbro also earned the Master Parachute Badge and Jump Master designation.

General William Westmoreland expressed his commendation to then Captain Kimbro, "I wish to express my highest commendations to Captain Kimbro for the superior performance of his Engineer Troopers on Operation GIBRALTAR. I wish to emphasize that this performance is characteristic of our Engineers since the Brigade's arrival in South Vietnam. Whether building or repairing roads or bridges, clearing minefields, building or destroying fortifications, or – as has so often been the case – fighting as infantry, Company A, 326 Engineers has always met the test and has accomplished the mission in an outstanding fashion. On behalf of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and troopers of the First Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, I wish to express our appreciation as well as our congratulations to the superlative accomplishments of our Combat Engineers."

Col J. S. Timothy, Infantry Commander, added: "I wish to commend elements of Company "A", 326th Engineer Company, commanded by Captain George T. Kimbro, for their outstanding performance which contributed so significantly to this victory. Our Combat Engineers repaired 15 kilometers of road behind our assaulting elements and kept this road open during the entire four day operation despite enemy sniper fire. This serviceable road proved to be of critical importance when it was necessary to alter the plan of maneuver and rapidly withdraw the attacking elements from their northerly positions some six kilometers to the south and launch them into an attack up a valley to the East in support of the then-surrounded elements of the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry. Additionally, the Engineers constructed a hastily-built footbridge across the SON CONG River which enabled assaulting elements to cross this barrier without loss of men or equipment."

During his time in San Antonio, he worked for many years at Raba Kistner, Inc.