More than eight years ago, the 82nd Engineer Battalion was deactivated in Bamberg, Germany, as part of the Army’s modular force structure realignment due to the war on terrorism. Now, as the Army moves back to a conventional fighting force, the battalion will reactivate as part of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team at the 1st Infantry Division’s Cavalry Parade Field on Fort Riley at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team will deactivate as part of the ceremony.

At 9:30 a.m. Ed ( Doc ) Molloy who served with the 82nd Engineer Battalion during World War II, and later became a commander of the unit, is presenting the battalion his French croix de guerre, a personal award he wishes the unit to have as a part of its history.

The battalion served under the 1st Infantry Division in North Africa and Sicily in World War II, served in Germany during the Cold War and deployed with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment during the first Gulf War. The battalion was part of the peacekeeping operations in Bosnia in 1997 and Kosovo in 1999.

The 82nd deployed with 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. Following its return to Germany in 2005, the battalion was deactivated.