| 9812th Special Engineer Detachment [1] | |
|---|---|
 Manhattan Project Shoulder Patch | |
| Active | May 22, 1943 to June 1946(?) [2] |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Army |
| Size | 334 on May 22, 1943, 1800 at peak in September 1945 |
| Garrison/HQ | Los Alamos Laboratory, Oak Ridge |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | |
The Special Engineer Detachment (SED) was a US Army program that identified enlisted personnel with technical skills, such as machining, or who had some science education beyond high school. Those identified were organized into the Special Engineer Detachment, or SED. SED personnel began arriving at Los Alamos in October 1943. By August 1945, 1800 SED personnel worked at Los Alamos. [3] These troops worked in all areas and activities of the Laboratory, including the Trinity Test, and were involved in overseas operations on Tinian.
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An article released by the Atomic Heritage Foundation wrote that; "After the war, many went back to school and became successful scientists in their own right—including Val Fitch, who was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1980." [4]