The Uniform Tunic of Three War Veteran U.S. Army Major General Kenneth T. Sawyer

The tunic is the tailored, named, very high quality uniform jacket of U.S. Army Major General Kenneth T. Sawyer of the Army corps of Engineers. General Sawyer served as a combat engineer in the European Theater of Operations in World War II, with further combat service in the Korean War and in Vietnam.  The tunic is the green “Class A” model with “U.S.” and Corps of Engineers insignia on the lapels. Each shoulder carries the two rank stars of a Major General. The upper left breast displays a ribbon set reflecting the numerous medals and decorations which were awarded to General Sawyer during his long career and  his service in three wars. The decorations included the Silver Star; the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster and “V” device; the Purple Heart; and the Distinguished Service Medal. On the lef5t shoulder is the insignia of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. Pinned to the lower right sleeve is a set of seven overseas service chevrons. Overall the tunic is in excellent condition and it makes an impressive appearance.

CODE: NOE

Major General Kenneth Trevor Sawyer was born and raised in Menominee, Michigan until he graduated from Menominee High School. He then attended the University of Michigan for two years and then was accepted to United States Military Academy at West Point. He entered West Point in 1940. In June of 1943 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. After the basic course at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and he was assigned to the 295th Combat Engineer Battalion in Arizona for desert training. He was sent to Tidworth Barracks, England as Commanding Officer of Company C. On 13 June 1944 (D-Day +7) the 295th went ashore on Omaha Beach in Normandy and the Battalion was deployed as part of the XIX Corps. General Sawyer was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received while building a bridge for the 29th Division over the Airel River. His company cleared St.Lo for passage of the XIX Corps. They made a crossing of the Seine River, and he was promoted to Captain. The Battalion conducted an assault on the Siegfried Line. After a month on the line as infantry, and a month during the Battle of the Bulge, he won the Bronze Star for Valor while bridging the Roer River near Aachen. The Battalion continued assaults across the Rhine and Weser Rivers. Combat operations by the Battalion concluded by the construction of the Truman Bridge across the Elbe River for the 83d Infantry. Two years of combat in WWII ended on VE Day in 1945. During the Korean War General Sawyer was assigned command of the 14th Engineer Combat Battalion of “I” Corps in Uijonbu, Korea. Later, in of May 1967, General Sawyer was assigned to Vietnam as Commanding Officer of the 45th Engineer Group. After seven months in command of this unit, the construction of the Port of Qui Nhon was completed. The 45th Group distinguished themselves in support of the 1st Cavalry Division, the Americal Division, the 173d Airborne Infantry Brigade, the 1st Republic of Korea Army Capital Division and the 22d ARVN Division. During his service in Vietnam General Sawyer received the Silver Star, a second oak leaf cluster to the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. In December he became the Deputy Commander and Deputy Engineer of the United States Army in the Republic of Vietnam, commanding 30,000 Engineer troops throughout Vietnam. He was subsequently promoted to Brigadier General and he assigned as 8th US Army Engineers, of the United Nations Command and US Forces Korea. He retired after 34 years of service and he died in 2008.

General Sawyer’s Silver Star citation (synopsis) provides as follows:

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (Corps of Engineers) Kenneth Trevor Sawyer (ASN: 0-25957), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Colonel Sawyer distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Commanding Officer of the 45th Engineer Construction Group, in action against the enemy in 1967 and 1968. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Colonel Sawyer, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army”.

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