Calling it a bittersweet moment, Lt. Col. Steven Sattinger said goodbye and thank you to the 557th Horizontal Engineer Company today.

The company, first activated in 1944 during World War II, was deactivated in a 20-minute ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"This is truly a bittersweet moment for me and many in this audience," Sattinger said. "Bittersweet because while we're sad to see the 557th go, you can remain proud of all the great things this unit has accomplished in the last 70 years."

As part of the downsizing of the military, the 557th Engineer Company was inactivated and the 150 soldiers in the company will be either reassigned or will leave the military.

Formed in Feb. 16, 1944 as the 1357th Engineer Dump Truck Company, they served in the Pacific during WWII, in a post-war Germany, then in Vietnam, and was reactivated again after 36 years in 2008 at Fort Lewis.

"Whether at Fort Lewis, Okinawa, Vietnam or Afghanistan, those soldiers took pride in their work," said Sattinger, the 864th Engineer Battalion commander. "Building or demolishing, fighting when necessary, but always getting the job done."

In 2008, the 557th was activated and has been deployed to Afghanistan twice. In the first deployment, the company built hundreds of miles of roads. In February 2013, the 557th Engineer Company returned to Afghanistan in the tear down of the bases so it could return to its natural state or be turned over to the Afghan army. Their assignment also included the transfer of 1,645 pieces of equipment.

"What I want you to take away is what makes 557th truly special is you," said Capt. Daniel Larson, company commander. "Your contribution. Your blood, sweat and tears."

The 557th Engineer Company is inactivated for the fourth time in its 70-year history. They were last inactivated on April 1, 1972 in Vietnam.

"I don't know what the next chapter of the 557th will be," Sattinger said. "I'm certain, though, that when and if the need arises the Army will call on them once again. And even if that day never comes, I'm certain that the history, the legacy and the honor of the 557th will live on in all the soldiers, past and present, who were lucky enough to belong to the unit."

In Vietnam, the 557th Engineer Company earned 16 campaign streamers and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal. In Afghanistan, the company was awarded an Afghanistan Campaign streamer as well as the Valorous Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Citation.

Larson praised his company for their hard work and commitment. He referred to his company members as "Animals," which is the 557th's nickname.

"Five months ago when I took the command, I asked you to leave a strong legacy for 557th soldiers to follow," Larson said. "You have done just that. Remember you once were and will always be an Animal, and a 557th soldier. It's truly been an honor."