Chief of Signal Significant accomplishments behind, challenges ahead We have certainly come a long way over the past 150 years. Beginning in 1860 with the inventor of the very first formal visual signaling system for the Army, Major Albert J. Myer, our first Chief of Signal, to the advanced information technologies we have today; it has been a tumultuous climb for all those who served in our Signal Regiment. Significant changes have coursed throughout the world during the past three years as we orchestrated communications in two combat theaters and advanced American interests globally. We are downsizing our military forces in Iraq where elections have taken place twice, demonstrating that this country is well on its way to establishing democracy and becoming a stabilized nation in the Middle East. As the threat in Afghanistan continues to grow, we are anticipating an increased military presence in that country for the foreseeable future. Natural disasters continue devastating areas of the United States and other parts of the world. The hybrid nature of the threats to our nation are forcing us to become more agile and adaptable as we learn to operate in complex, uncertain environments. The way our young Soldiers and leaders learn today is very different from the way our senior members of the force learned 10 or 20 years ago. The dramatic growth of information technologies fielded to our forces has placed unprecedented demands on our Regimental Soldiers at all echelons. For us, all these changes in our world demand change within our Regiment and institution. Over the past three years we continued modifying our enlisted force structure to ensure we have the right MOS to meet the requirements of a modular force. Our Signal warrant officer corps doubled in size and we are in the midst of transforming our WO Corps to address the need for increased expertise in cyber operations. With the help of many others, we created a world class training environment – both institutionally and virtually - for our Signal Soldiers of all ranks to become better equipped with the skills necessary to support our modular brigade-focused force. We established education programs for our civilian IT work force. Signal forces continue deploying throughout the world, providing world class support to our warfighting and nation building entities. Our PEOs and PMs continue equipping our forces with tremendous capabilities. Our FA 24 and 53 officers continue providing significant impact for our Army. They offer the required expertise in the most complicated networked environment ever. We continue assessing and executing changes in our signal force design and structure incorporating our lessons learned supporting the modular, expeditionary Army. The Reserve and National Guard signal forces are providing ready forces deploying alongside our active forces throughout the world. Our families continue loving, supporting and sacrificing for us. As your 34th Chief of Signal, I remain so very proud to have BG Jeff Foley been a small part of this history for the past three years. My wife Chief of Signal Beth and I extend to you all our thanks for your tremendous leadership and patriotism. Your selflessactions and sacrifices enable our Army to be a better place to serve and our nation a better place to live. U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE Worldwide web homepage address PB 11-10-2 FORT GORDON http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/AC/ Summer 2010 E-mail: [email protected] Vol. 35 No. 2 COMMAND Chief of Signal BG Jeffrey W. Foley Regimental Command Sergeant Major CSM Thomas J. Clark Voice of the Signal Regiment Regimental Chief Warrant Officer Table of Contents CW5 Todd M. Boudreau 150th Anniversary Special Edition EDITORIAL STAFF 7 From Bull Run to Bagdad The Signal Corps historian empties the vaults to present a review of 150 Editor-in-Chief years of Signal Corps accomplishments Larry Edmond during peace and war Steven J. Rauch Art Director/Illustrator Billy Cheney Photography 58 Signal Medal of Honor Billy Cheney, Frank Carter, Robert Gilbert Recipients Five members of the Signal Corps hold the nation’s highest By Order of the Secretary of the Army: recognition Steven J. Rauch GEORGE W. CASEY JR. General, United States Army 63 Signal Song inspires Chief of Staff Daniel A. Brown 65 Evolution of Signal Corps Insignia and Uniforms Robert Anzuoni 68 Chiefs of Signal A poster featuring the 34 Chiefs of Signal 1860-2010 Army Communicator (ISSN 0362-5745) (USPS 305- 70 Father of the Corps 470) is an authorized, official quarterly professional bulletin Albert J. Myer--founder of of the U.S. Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, Ga. 30905- the Signal Corps 5301. Second-class official mail postage paid by Department Rebecca Robbins Raines of the Army (DOD 314) at Augusta, Ga. 30901 and additional mailing offices. 74 At the Oscars POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Army The Signal Corps has won three Communicator, U.S. Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, Ga. AcademyAwards 30905-5301. Robert Anzuoni OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTION: Army Communicator is available to all Signal and Signal-related units, including 76 NETCOM Development staff agencies and service schools. Written requests Vince Breslin for the magazine should be submitted to Editor, Army Communicator, U.S. Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, Ga. 80 CECOM LCMC History 30905-5301. Melissa Zibro This publication presents professional information, but the views expressed herein are those of the authors, not the 86 Schools/Training Centers Department of Defense or its elements. The content does not Daniel A. Brown necessarily reflect the official U.S. Army position and does not change or supersede any information in other official U.S. 90 Army Reserve Component Army publications. Use of news items constitutes neither COL Jeffrey Lepak affirmation of their accuracy nor product endorsement. 94 Army Communicator reserves the right to edit material. Army National Guard CORRESPONDENCE: Address all correspondence to MAJ Lesley Kipling Army Communicator, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon, Signal Towers (Building 29808), Room 713, Fort 98 Modern Active Signal Gordon, Ga. 30905-5301. Telephone DSN 780-7204 or Component commercial (706) 791-7204. Fax number (706) 791-3917. Unless otherwise stated, material does not represent 104 The Signal Experience official policy, thinking, or endorsement by an agency of the Soldiers in today’s Signal U.S. Army. This publication contains no advertising.U.S. Regiment relate the Government Printing Office: 1984-746-045/1429-S. opportunities and rewards Army Communicator is not a copyrighted publication. of service Individual author’s copyrights can be protected by special arrangement. Acceptance by Army Communicator conveys the right for subsequent reproduction and use of published material. Credit should be given to Army Communicator. Army Communicator 1 The U.S. Army Signal Corps This is the continuing story of U.S. Army Signal Corps Soldiers, who have forged an honorable legacy of selfless duty in periods of conflict and in times of peace for 150 years. The Signal Corps began in a chaotic time of crisis to accomplish a vital mission. Throughout the Corps’ glorious history, Signal Soldiers at great personal risk, have repeatedly risen to meet the challenges of battlefield communications with innovative techniques and the best tools available. Today the quest continues unabated as Signal Soldiers strive to maintain digital technology meeting command communication needs and ensuring superiority that consistently allows warfighters to “get the message through.” “Watchful for the Country” The Regimental crest, or distinctive insignia, is the symbol of Regimental affiliation for Signal Soldiers worldwide. The motto “Pro Patria Vigilans” (Watchful for the Country) was adopted from the Signal School insignia and serves to portray the cohesiveness of Signal Soldiers and their affiliation with their Regimental home. The gold laurel wreath depicts the myriad achievements through strength made by the Regiment since its inception. The battle star centered in the wreath represents formal recognition for participation in combat. It adorned a Signal flag and was first awarded to Signal Soldiers in 1862. The battle star typifies the close operational relationship between the combat arms and the Signal Regiment. The design of the eagle holding in his talons a golden baton, from which descends a Signal flag, originated in 1865 as a symbol of faithful service and good fellowship for those who served together in the Civil War and was called the “Order of the Signal Corps.” Cover: Army Communicator Summer 2010 highlights the Signal Corps’ sesquicentennial beginning with Albert J. Myer in June of 1860. Also shown on the cover is a logo designed by Billy Cheney in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Signal Corps. It features a Signal orange shield with 150 Years of Excellence emblazoned in gold and white in the center. The years 1860 and 2010 are imprinted in white with a Soldier waving the wigwag flag on the left behind the 1860 and a modern day Soldier erecting a satellite dish on the right behind the 2010. Signal flags are set on the outer edges with the motto, “Voice of Command” and “United States Army Signal Corps.” Cover by Billy Cheney 2 Summer - 2010 Signal History “Signaling the Assault on Fort McAllister” 13 December 1864 A Don Troiani painting depicting a scene from the Battle of Fort McAllister, Georgia, commissioned by the Signal Corps Regimental Association in 2010 and donated to the Army. (See page 11 for more on the Fort McAllister assault.) Painting by Don Troiani, Southbury, Conn. Army Communicator 3 Command Sergeant Major Happy Birthday Signal Corps...150 years and counting!! On 21 June 1860, President James Buchanan signed the bill into law and the U.S. Army Signal Corps was born. That same year, Albert J. Myer was appointed as Chief Signal Officer on 27 June.