In 1923, the 1st Cavalry Division assembled at Camp Marfa, Texas to stage its first Divisional level exercise. Though the maneuvers covered 900 square miles, the 8th Engineer Battalion mapped and marked the entire area. In 1964, the 8th Engineer Battalion was in Korea, where they were involved in multiple training exercises and construction projects. They built 64 reinforced concrete bunkers in very difficult terrain, as well as a 48 foot long steel stringer bridge, two bailey bridges, and installed a large culvert. But they did not just conduct military operations. They were also one of the principle sponsors of the Pak-Ai Orphanage, supporting it with monetary contributions, gifts of clothing/ school supplies for the children, and volunteer work, including teaching and physical labor during their off-duty hours. On 1 July 1965, the 11th Air Assault Division at Fort Benning, which tested the new idea of airmobile operations, was redesignated as the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Cavalry Division in Korea was redesignated as the 2nd Infantry Division. Along with that, the 127th Engineer Battalion was reflagged as the 8th Engineer Battalion. However, they had a vigorous challenge before them, as almost 40% of the soldiers were new to the Battalion. In the Fort Benning heat, they immediately began training, including rappelling, aerial mine-laying, and sling loading. They were motivated by the knowledge that they would likely play a part in the growing conflict in Vietnam. Little did they know how valuable that training would become. Further, in order to be fully prepared, MAJ Virl N. Daas, along with several other competent assistants, began packing their equipment under the guise of training exercises, while the rest of the Battalion finished up their qualifications. Therefore, when President Johnson announced on July 27 that he was going to send the Airmobile Division to Vietnam, they were ready. On 15 August, the Battalion packed up and rode in buses to Charleston for their flight to Asia. The battalion arrived in Vietnam by mid-September and oversaw the construction of Camp Radcliff, the base camp of the 1st Cavalry. In addition to base construction, in which they were assisted by the 70th Engineer Battalion, the battalion also leveled the top of Hon Cong Mountain, which overlooked Camp Radcliff, so that a signal relay station could be established there. After levelling the top of the mountain with a single Caterpillar D6B bulldozer and explosives, the engineers set up a security fence around the station and constructed bunkers for it.