The 121st Signal Battalion was a
signal
In signal processing, a signal is a function that conveys information about a phenomenon. Any quantity that can vary over space or time can be used as a signal to share messages between observers. The '' IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing' ...
unit of the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
, inactivated as of July 2006.
[Army's oldest, most decorated signal battalion inactivates](_blank)
, U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division Prior to deactivation, it provided signal support to the
1st Infantry Division.
121st Signal Battalion
, United States Army Signal Centre (official site)
Lineage
*Constituted 1916-07-01 in the Regular Army
A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the following:
* a standin ...
as a Signal Corps battalion.
*Organized 1916-09-16 at Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.
"Fort Sam Houston, TX • About Fort Sam Houston" (overview),
US Army, 2007, webpageSH-Army.
Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the U.S. Senator from Texas, U.S. Represen ...
, Texas, as the 2nd Field Battalion, Signal Corps, to consist of the following pre-existing companies:
#Company A organized 1898-07-27 as Company A, Signal Corps;
Redesignated 1910-04-05 as Field Company A, Signal Corps;
Re-designated 1915-10-19 as Radio Company A, Signal Corps;
Re-designated 1916-11-11 as Company A, 2nd Field Battalion, Signal Corps.
#Company B organized 1898-07-27 as Company D, Signal Corps;
Re-designated 1910-04-05 as Field Company D, Signal Corps;
Re-designated 1916-11-11 as Company B, 2nd Field Battalion, Signal Corps
*Company C, 2nd Field Battalion, Signal Corps, organized 1917-05-11.
*Battalion assigned 1917-05-24 to the 1st Expeditionary Division.
*Reorganized and re-designated 1917-08-03 as the 2nd Field Signal Battalion
*Reorganized and re-designated 1921-02-09 as the 1st Signal Company.
*Reorganized and re-designated 1957-02-15 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 121st Signal Battalion (organic elements constituted 1957-02-08 and activated 1957-02-15 at Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...
, Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to th ...
)
*Inactivated 1995-12-15 at Fort Riley, Kansas
*Activated 1996-02-06 in Germany.
*Company B inactivated 2005-11-09 at Larson Barracks in Kitzingen
Kitzingen () is a town in the German state of Bavaria, capital of the district Kitzingen. It is part of the Franconia geographical region and has around 21,000 inhabitants. Surrounded by vineyards, Kitzingen County is the largest wine producer ...
.
*Company A inactivated 2006-03-31 at Conn Barracks
United States Army Garrison Schweinfurt (USAG Schweinfurt) was a United States Army military community located in and around Schweinfurt, Germany from 1945 to 2014. The garrison comprised two installations (Conn and Ledward Barracks), two hous ...
in Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt ( , ; ) is a city in the district of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the surrounding district (''Landkreis'') of Schweinfurt and a major industrial, cultural and educational hub. The urban ag ...
.
*Company C and HHC inactivated 2006-04-10 at Larson Barracks.
Honors
Campaign Participation Credit
*War with Spain:
# Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
.
*World War I:
# Montdidier-Noyon;
# Aisne-Marne;
# St. Mihiel;
# Meuse-Argonne;
# Lorraine 1918;
# Picardy 1918
*World War II:
# Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead);
# Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
;
# Sicily (with arrowhead);
# Normandy (with arrowhead);
# Northern France;
# Rhineland
The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section.
Term
Historically, the Rhinelands ...
;
# Ardennes-Alsace
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted from 16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, towards the end of the war in ...
;
# Central Europe
Central Europe is an area of Europe between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, based on a common historical, social and cultural identity. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Catholicism and Protestantism significantly shaped the a ...
*Vietnam:
# Defense;
# Counteroffensive;
# Counteroffensive, Phase II;
# Counteroffensive, Phase III;
# Tet Counteroffensive;
# Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
# Counteroffensive, Phase V;
# Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
# Tet 69/Counteroffensive;
# Summer-Fall 1969;
# Winter-Spring 1970
*Southwest Asia:
# Defense of Saudi Arabia;
# Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
# Cease-Fire
Decorations
* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for EUROPE 1944–1945
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for
# EUROPEAN THEATER
#VIETNAM 1966–1967
#VIETNAM 1967–1968
#VIETNAM 1968–1969
*Army Superior Unit Award
The Superior Unit Award is a decoration of the United States Army which is awarded in peacetime to any unit of the Army which displays outstanding meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circum ...
for
# 1996–1997
# 1997
French Croix de guerre with Palm, World War I for:
# LORRAINE-PICARDY
#AISNE-MARNE and MEUSE-ARGONNE
*French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II for:
# TUNISIA
# NORMANDY
*French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star, World War I for:
# FRANCE
*Fourragère
The ''fourragère'' () is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, in the form of a braided cord. The award was first adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Luxembourg. Fou ...
in the colors of the French Médaille militaire
The ''Médaille militaire'' ( en, Military Medal) is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...
* Belgian fourragère 1940
#Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Mons.
#Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Eupen-Malmedy
*Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry
The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ( vi, Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh) is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal ...
with Palm for VIETNAM 1965–1968
*Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal
The Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ( vi, Dân-Vụ Bội-Tinh) also known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal or Civil Actions Medal, is a military decoration of the former South Vietnamese government (1955–75). The medal was creat ...
, First Class for VIETNAM 1965–1970
Heraldic items
Coat of arms
Blazon
* Shield: Per bend enhanced Argent and Tenné on the first palewise in bend six Lorraine Crosses and on the second palewise in bend three fire arrows all counterchanged.
* Crest: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Tenné, a Spanish castle Argent charged with a fleur-de-lis Tenné.
* Motto: TO PARON EY POIEIN (Do Well The Duty That Lies Before You).
Symbolism
* Shield:
# The colors orange and white are for the Signal Corps.
# The six Lorraine crosses represent six World War I Battle Honors and are arranged to suggest a telegraph line.
# The three fire arrows symbolize three assault landings in World War II and also suggest the Signal functions which such weapons once served.
* Crest:
# The Spanish castle taken from the Spanish Campaign Medal symbolizes the organization's service in Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War and the fleur-de-lis its service in World War I.
# The colors white (silver) and orange are the colors of the Signal Corps.
* Background: The coat of arms was approved on 1958-01-08.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
* Description: A white fleur-de-lis superimposed on an orange Spanish castle by a gold band with the motto "TO PARON EY POIEIN."
* Symbolism:
# The Spanish castle taken from the Spanish Campaign Medal symbolizes the organization's service in Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War and the fleur-de-lis its service in World War I.
# The colors white and orange are the colors of the Signal Corps.
# The motto is translated "Do Well The Duty That Lies Before You."
* Background:
# The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 1st Signal Company on 1930-03-18.
# It was amended to correct the spelling of the motto on 1930-10-15 and again on 1934-10-10.
# The insignia was redesignated for the 121st Signal Battalion on 1958-01-08.
History
The 121st Signal Battalion was formed in 1898 as part of the United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
Signal Corps, serving in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
during the Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (cloc ...
.[Unit Insignia of the 121st Signal Battalion](_blank)
/ref> In 1921, the two companies were reorganized as the 1st Signal Company, which was later honored with its own distinctive crest.
World Wars I and II
The unit received six battle honors in World War I, symbolized by the six Lorraine crosses appearing on their coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
. During World War II, the unit supported the 1st Infantry Division as they conducted combat operations in Normandy
Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
, France, Belgium and Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
. During this war, the unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation and the French fourragère.
Post-war
In 1957, the 1st Signal Company officially re-designated to the 121st Signal Battalion. In 1962 part of the 121st was deployed to Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. B Company was stationed at McCoy AFB (now part of Orlando International Airport) and SGT Norman Hansen and SP4 William Hawkins Jr established communications for the infantry. Hawkins was later promoted to SGT. This was before the public was aware of a problem. The government did not recognize that they were deployed to Florida. Since then, the battalion has served with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo
Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...
.
The battalion was deployed to Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
with the 1st Infantry Division in 2004, returning to Germany in early 2005. Company C, the last company of the unit, was inactivated 10 April 2006, at Larson Barracks, Kitzingen
Kitzingen () is a town in the German state of Bavaria, capital of the district Kitzingen. It is part of the Franconia geographical region and has around 21,000 inhabitants. Surrounded by vineyards, Kitzingen County is the largest wine producer ...
, Germany.
Inactivation
Prior to its inactivation the unit was stationed in Kitzingen
Kitzingen () is a town in the German state of Bavaria, capital of the district Kitzingen. It is part of the Franconia geographical region and has around 21,000 inhabitants. Surrounded by vineyards, Kitzingen County is the largest wine producer ...
, Germany, and supported the 1st Infantry Division with MSE communications. The battalion was last deployed in operation OIF II at Tikrit, Iraq “FOB DANGER” in 2004. The unit consisted of HHC “Dangers Voice”, A (Archangels, Wired-Up!), B (Blackhawks), C (Charlie Rock), and D company. D company was stationed at Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...
as a rear detachment of sorts for the battalion along with the rear detachment for the 1st Infantry division. The battalion was inactivated as part of the decrease in over-seas forces that the US military is currently undergoing, the return of the 1st Infantry Division stateside and the fielding of many signal units in the signal regiment with JNN communications equipment. Alpha company was moved to Schweinfurt, Germany prior to inactivation to be stationed with the 2nd BCT, 1ID (Dagger) and was reflagged as the 57th Signal Company.
The last commander prior to inactivation was Lieutenant Colonel Dana Tankins. The last CSM was CSM Mitchell.
See also
* 57th Signal Company
* U.S. 1st Infantry Division
References
Bibliography
*American Battle Monuments Commission. ''1st Division, Summary of Operations in the World War''. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1944.
*Bergen, John D. ''Military Communications: A Test for Technology''. United States Army in Vietnam. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History
The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Ar ...
, United States Army, 1986.CMH Pub 91-12.
*Blumenson, Martin:
::''Breakout and Pursuit''. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History
The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Arm ...
, Department of the Army, 1961. 1st Infantry Division cited. CMH Pub 7-5.
::''Salerno to Cassino''. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, 1969. 1st Infantry Division cited. CMH Pub 6-3.
*Bowman, Patrick A. "C3 That Is Really C3." Army Communicator 7 (Spring 1982): 4–11
*Cole, Hugh M.
The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge
'. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 1965. 1st Infantry Division cited.
*Garland, Albert N., and Howard McGaw Smyth. ''Sicily and the Surrender of Italy''. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 1965. 1st Infantry Division cited. CMH Pub 6-2.
*Goda, Bryan, and Douglas Babb. ''Providing Communications to Task Force Eagle in Bosnia: Doing More with Less.'' Army Communicator 22 (Fall 1997): 7–12.
*Greenstreet, Medford, ed. ''1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, 1956.'' N.p.: Miller Publishing Company, 1956.
*Harrison, Gordon A.
'. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History
The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Arm ...
, United States Army, 1951. 1st Infantry Division cited. CMH Pub 7-4.
*Horn, Tyree R. ''The First Signal Company in Georgia.'' Signal Corps Bulletin 108 (April–June 1940): 31–44.
*Howe, George E ''Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West''. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 1957. 1st Infantry Division cited. CMH Pub 6-1
*Johnson, Danny M. ''Military Communications Supporting Peacekeeping Operations in the Balkans: The Signal Corps at Its Best''. Mannheim, Germany: Headquarters, 5th Signal Command, 2000.
*Knickerbocker, H. R., et al. ''Danger Forward: The Story of the First Division in World War II''. Atlanta: Albert Love Enterprises, 1947. Reprint, Nashville: Battery Press, 1980.
*MacDonald, Charles B.
The Siegfried Line Campaign
'. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 1963. 1st Infantry Division cited. CMH Pub 7-7-1.
*Myer, Charles R. ''Division-Level Communications, 1962–1973''. Vietnam Studies. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, 1982.
*Noble, Thoms E, ed. ''1st Infantry Division, 35th Anniversary''. Darmstadt, Germany: L. C. Wittich, 1952.
*Raines, Rebecca Robbins:
::
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317054219/http://www.history.army.mil/books/30-17/Front.htm , date=17 March 2014 ''. Army Historical Series. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army, 1996. CMH Pub 30-17-1.
::''A Record of the Activities of the Second Field Signal Battalion, First Division''. Cologne: J. P. Bachem, 1919.
*Rienzi, Thomas M. ''Communications-Electronics, 1962–1970''. Vietnam Studies. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, 1972.
*Society of the First Division:
::''History of the First Division During the World War, 1917–1919''. Philadelphia: John C. Winston Company, 1922.
::''Tasks Performed by the 121st Signal Battalion During the Period 1 June 1966 Through 31 May 1967''. N.p., 1967.
*Terrett, Dulany. ''The Signal Corps: The Emergency''. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 1956.
*Thompson, George Raynor, and Dixie R. Harris:
::''The Signal Corps: The Outcome (Mid-1943 through 1945)''. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, 1966.
::''Vietnam, April 1967 – April 1968: A Pictorial History of the 121st Signal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division''. N.p., 1968.
::''Vietnam, October 1965 – April 1967: A Pictorial History of the 121st Signal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division''. N.p., 1967.
*Wilson, Jimmie, ed:
::''1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, 1969''. Tokyo: Dai Nippon Printing Company, c. 1969.
::''1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, July 1965 – April 1967''. Tokyo: Dai Nippon Printing Company, 1967.
::''1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, 1 May 1967 – 31 December 1968''. Tokyo: Dai Nippon Printing Company, c. 1969.
Signal battalions of the United States Army