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. The U.S. Army became the first in the world to establish a separate communication branch with the appointment of a signal officer to the army staff in the War Department. Meyer’s signaling system was based on a unique equipment kit which consisted of flags, staffs, torches, a torch case and a wormer to extract the wick if it became lodged inside the torch. The canteen was filled with ½ gallon of turpentine to fuel the torches. The haversack contained wicks, matches, pliers, shears, a funnel, two flame shades, and a wind shade. Soldiers also needed to carry binoculars or a telescope in order to read the signals from afar. Compasses were used for reconnaissance and locating signal stations. Notebooks were a must in order to log the messages sent and received.

The need for competent and dedicated Soldiers is the one requirement that has remained constant for the Signal Corps. Beginning with Albert J. Myer’s vision of a group of technical specialists and leaders trained to provide communications capabilities to enhance the commander’s ability to command and control, the Soldiers of the U.S. Army Signal Corps have been dedicated to that mission. The technologies have changed and continue evolving to meet the escalating challenges of providing continuous relevant communications support that is essential to successful military operations.

More important than technology however, it has been the people – the men and women, Soldiers and leaders--who have made success on the battlefields of our history possible. For me, one of those extraordinary people was my friend and brother, CSM Ray D. Lane who lost his battle with cancer 4 March 2010. He lived life with his foot pressed hard on the gas pedal. He loved being a Soldier. He loved his fellow sergeants major, his commanders, his service members and his family. He was a true example of what made our Signal Corps great. Ray and people like him, their stories, their camaraderie, and their dedication to the mission should be honored and remembered even as the Signal Corps is fully engaged in current operations. Their legacy is the foundation for those serving today as Signal Soldiers striving to “get the message through.” Happy birthday to our Signal Corps. CSM Thomas J. Clark Regimental Command Sergeant Major My name is Clark and I’m a Soldier.

4 Summer - 2010 Regimental Chief Warrant Officer

Warrant Officers share 150-year legacy of pride Signaleers, them apart from other sailors. Regimental Chief Warrant Ultimately, the Act of July 1918 Officer, I have had the privilege The edition of the Army established the rank and grade of traveling and meeting Communicator that you of warrant officer as the Coast members of our Regiment in are holding in your hands Artillery Corps created the Army a number of locations. As I commemorates the 150th Mine Planter. More will be said write this I am visiting our year anniversary of the Signal on the historical background Soldiers at Fort Bragg. When Corps. Friend, if the average of the warrant officer corps this edition goes to print I will length of service for a career in a later edition of the Army be standing in the same soil Signal Soldier is 22-25 years, Communicator, but suffice it as our deployed Signaleers. that represents 6 to 7 career to say that our Signal warrant Commanders at every level generations! While 150 years officer cohort has a rich history from brigade, through division is a legacy to take pride in, inseparable from our Regimental and corps with one consistent you and I are only separated history. voice acknowledge how critically from our founder by 6 career essential your work is in the generations. But note how As you look through the pages successful accomplishment far we have traveled in those of this Army Communicator, of our combat operations. I generations. you will no doubt note the cannot begin to put into words changes in technology, doctrine, how proud I am of each and Over these few generations organizations, techniques and every one of you. You are great we have moved from waving equipment. However, YOU Americans and world class flags and winking lights to represent the constant that knits cyber Soldiers. I leave you Coston signals and cipher all of this together. YOU and I today with one final thought disks. Telegraphy and are a part of the fabric woven I am confident you will fulfill. telephony signals traveled into our legacy past, present, “Anybody can make history. across the backs of LOS and and yes – future. George Bernard Only a great man can write it.” BLOS systems as we got the Shaw wrote, “We are (Oscar Wilde). The ink on the message through further and made wise not by pages of history has dried. Our faster than ever in the past. the recollection of pages are being written. Write Analog to digital, AM to FM, our past, but by the well Signal Corps. Write well. switched networks to EoIP, responsibility for our Regiment has captured, our future.” We have mastered and leveraged a history that we technology to our advantage can be proud of; but and ensured our fellow Soldiers our responsibility maintained the technological remains with and tactical advantage over our today and adversaries. tomorrow. Almost two thirds of this Since history included the Army assuming warrant officer. The rank of the warrant officer has a long position of history that may date back as far as Napoleon. The British Navy established the CW5 Todd M. Boudreau Royal Warrant as a special Regimental Chief Warrant Officer designation, designed to set

Army Communicator 5 6 Summer - 2010

Birth of the Signal Corps this experience to devise A New Sign Language for Deaf The idea that specialists Mutes, the subject of his Myer’s interest in military should be trained to enable dissertation. Myer proposed a signaling began. He proposed communications is attributed “system of sign writing” based the War Department consider to Dr. Albert James Myer. upon the Bain telegraphic a system of military signals While a medical student, alphabet. In 1854, he using flags based on concepts Myer worked in a telegraph received an appointment as of sign writing. Secretary of office and became familiar an assistant surgeon in the War John Floyd asked Myer with the Bain electrochemical U.S. Army Medical Corps. to present his system to an telegraph system. Myer used While serving in Texas, Army review board and on 3

8 Summer - 2010 testing various materials to to have personnel positions determine the best equipment authorized and money and design for the wig-wag appropriated to purchase wig- system. This system used wag equipment. After intense flags for daytime signaling lobbying by Myer and others, and a kerosene-fueled torch Congress voted to approve for nighttime signaling. The legislation on 21 June standardized flags consisted 1860 to appoint one signal of one red and one white flag, officer at the rank of Major a white center in the red flag and $2,000 to purchase and a red center in the white signaling equipment. Myer flag. Which flag was used was appointed as the Signal depended upon atmospheric officer on 27 June thus and visual conditions. Only becoming the first Signal one flag or torch was used at officer in the U.S. Army. a time and field telescopes Myer tested his wigwag were employed to read the system during operations in messages. The operators of New Mexico during the 1860- the wig-wag could typically 1861. Myer, who considered send three words a minute signalmen to be Soldiers over an average distance of ten as well as communications March 1859, Myer appeared miles between stations. One of specialists, believed that before the board headed by Myer’s assistants during these all Army officers should be LTC Robert E. Lee, where he tests was E. Porter Alexander, trained in signaling; making demonstrated his “wigwag” who would later take Myer’s it a user-owned and operated system of flag signaling. The system and use it in the system. However, he would board found Myer’s system Confederate Army. soon seek the establishment useful, but asked for more The testing completed, the of a separate force structure, operational testing. War Department accepted the or branch, to implement In April 1859, Myer began wigwag system, but needed signal capability.

Army Communicator 9 In response to predicted, the integration of commander’s desire for trained signal specialists a mobile field telegraph with commanders at the train, Myer introduced the tactical level resulted in Beardslee magneto-electric faster and more reliable telegraph into the Signal transfer of information and Corps. By 1863, the Signal orders to units. Corps operated 30 telegraph trains. Myer’s efforts however, Gettysburg – July challenged those of the U.S. 1863 Military Telegraph Service which ran electric telegraphy By the time of the Signal Corps Camp of Instruction, using civilian operators. battle of Gettysburg in Georgetown, D.C. Myer overstepped his July 1863, Army leaders responsibilities and incurred had come to depend on The Signal Corps in the wrath of Secretary of the capabilities provided Combat War Edward Stanton who to them by Signal Soldiers. removed Myer as Chief During the battle, enhanced With the outbreak of the Signal Officer in November information timeliness Civil War, Myer was ordered 1863. This did not hinder enabled Union commanders to Fort Monroe, Va. where Myer from continuing what to seize several tactical and he organized a signal camp he viewed as his duties as geographic opportunities of instruction for Soldiers founder of the Signal Corps, before the Confederate detailed for signaling. The including writing A Manual army could react. CPT wigwag system received its of Signals, the first doctrinal Lemuel Norton served as the first test in combat when it manual for Signal operations, Army of the Potomac chief was used in June 1861 to in 1864. signal officer and worked direct the fire of a harbor During the Civil War, closely with MG George battery against Confederate Signal Soldiers deployed in G. Meade, throughout the positions at Sewell’s Point treetops, on rooftops and battle. Signal teams were opposite Fort Monroe, Va. on signal towers to locate positioned in accordance Until 1863, Signal operations enemy troop movements with Norton’s concept which were conducted by Soldiers and pass messages. resulted in a fully integrated detailed from other branches Signalmen were dispatched wig-wag network. Norton in a temporary capacity. On on reconnaissance missions established a critical signal 3 March 1863 Congressional and attempted to read station on Little Round legislation was passed which enemy signal messages. This Top at the extreme left of authorized a separate force led to the development of the Union line to report structure for the Signal Corps various encryption methods the enemy’s movements. for the duration of the war. to provide information The Signal Corps station The act provided for a Chief assurance and safeguard deterred Confederate tactical Signal Officer with the rank orders during operations. movements, especially an of colonel and other officers Signal personnel were attempt on 2 July by LTG and enlisted personnel. Some employed in joint operations James Longstreet’s men four hundred officers and with the navy and it to outflank the Union left. about 2,500 enlisted men became routine to station Ironically, Longstreet’s chief served in the Signal Corps Army signalmen aboard of artillery was Edward P. during the course of the Civil naval vessels supporting Alexander, who referred to War. ground operations. As Myer “that wretched little signal

10 Summer - 2010 station” as a reason the James M. McClintock, Chief attack failed at Little Round Signal Officer, Army of the Top. Tennessee, reported, “On the 11th [Dececember] [we] March to the Sea established a station of (November-December 1864) observation at a rice mill on the Great Ogeechee two In fall 1864, MG William miles and a half north of T. Sherman began a march Fort McAllister.…A strict with over 60,000 men watch was kept [for] any from Atlanta, Georgia to vessel that might be…near the seaport of Savannah, the mouth of the river.” Georgia, a distance of about BG William B. Hazen’s 300 miles. As the army made division was selected to its way closer to Savannah, attack Fort McAllister Sherman began planning on 13 December 1864 to establish contact with and Hazen’s signal team elements of the U.S. Navy established communications carrying much needed with the rice mill to receive supplies. By mid-December, orders. Sherman directed one of the remaining McClintock to, “Signal obstacles to be overcome Hazen that he must carry was a small Confederate the fort by assault.” That fort located on the Ogeechee message launched 4,300 River, southeast of men into a violent attack Savannah. Fort McAllister which lasted about 15 had to be seized so that U.S. minutes and the fort naval ships could safely secured in Union hands. navigate the river and link While the battle unfolded, up with the army. a navy ship was spotted Coordination for this in the river. McClintock’s signal team immediately exchanged messages with the vessel, enabling joint communications between the Army and the Navy. During a span of about 30 minutes, signal teams had demonstrated how Myer’s wigwag system could provide combat commanders long range, line-of-sight command and control to support both Fort McAllister, Ga., - December 1864 ground combat and joint communications. A new era mission was enabled in military communications by the embedded signal and modern warfare had U.S. Army Signal Museum Director teams within the Union begun. Robert Anzuoni demonstrates the command structure. CPT wigwag signaling system.

Army Communicator 11 An Inauspicious Start - for reconnaissance. In early the inflated balloon up July 1861 July, Wise had provided the Pennsylvania Avenue to U.S. government a 20,000 Georgetown, then up the During the first major cubic – foot balloon for $850 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, campaign of the Civil War and he agreed to serve as a and then across a Potomac in July 1861, the Signal contract military balloonist. River bridge to Fairfax Road. officer of the Army, MAJ On 21 July, the first There Myer took control of Albert J. Myer, found himself balloon was delivered to the balloon in his capacity involved in an incident Washington and assigned as Army signal officer and which caused him great an observation mission ordered it fastened to a embarrassment. The U.S. for the impending battle horse-drawn wagon to get Army had contracted with of Bull Run. As Union it to the battlefield more John Wise of Pennsylvania and Confederate armies quickly. As Myer, Wise and for the use of silk fabric maneuvered near Manassas, the balloon party made their aerial balloons to be used Va., a ground crew walked way closer to the battlefield,

12 Summer - 2010 then ordered Wise to take balloon obtained for this the crippled balloon back to mission was named the Washington, repair it and General Myer in honor of bring it back to the battle. the branch founder and was Myer was somewhat bitter demonstrated at the World’s about the incident and when Columbian Exposition held in the opportunity came for Chicago, Ill. in 1893. In 1896, the Signal Corps to take Greely established the first control of balloon operations Signal Corps balloon facilities later in the war, he refused at Fort Logan, Colo. on grounds that he did not In a related development, have the money or men to Greely was appointed to operate such a system. But the War Department’s this was just the beginning joint Army-Navy board it became increasingly of the association of the investigating the military difficult to maneuver the Signal Corps with all things usefulness of the heavier- bobbing gas bag around aeronautical for the next than-air-flying machines trees and telegraph wires. several decades. in 1898. Greely especially Myer’s impatience to looked at the experiments reach the battle, the din The Signal Balloon Service of Professor Samuel P. of which could be heard is formed Langley of the Smithsonian clearly, led him to order Institution who had the horses whipped to The Signal Corps resumed previously served as a increase their speed. Almost its interest in military civilian weather specialist immediately the balloon balloons after having lost for the Signal Corps. Based snagged in the branches of the weather service function on Langley’s experiments, a tree and when Myer tried in 1891. In 1892, Greely Greely recommended the to force it free, huge holes directed that a balloon Army pursue building a flying were torn in the bag and section be a part of each machine and sought Army the balloon deflated. Myer telegraph train. The first funding grants to

Army Communicator 13 Langley for his research. of troops toward San Juan On 1 August 1907, the The Army directed Greely to Hill. Signal Corps established a monitor Langley’s progress small Aeronautical Division and though the Langley The Aeronautical Division led by CPT Charles deForest project ultimately failed, the and Signal Corps Aircraft Chandler to take “charge experiments with the flying No. 1 of all matters pertaining machine were a harbinger of to military ballooning, air events to come. In 1906, Greely’s machines, and all kindred successor, BG James Allen, subjects.” On 23 December Balloons in the Spanish- placed considerable emphasis 1907, Allen issued a bid for American War on aviation. His assistant, a flying machine that could MAJ George O. Squier, had fly at a speed of forty miles During the Spanish- been following the progress per hour and could carry American War, the Signal of two bicycle makers from two people a distance of 125 Corps used a tethered Ohio, Wilbur and Orville miles. It had to be managed balloon in Cuba to provide Wright. After their successful in flight from any direction, reconnaissance for the attack flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. in stay aloft for a one hour on the Spanish defenses at December 1903, the Wrights endurance demonstration, San Juan Hill. The balloon had tried to interest the Army and land at the takeoff point was the responsibility of in their invention, but after undamaged. It had to be LT Joseph Maxfield. On the Langley experience, the easily disassembled and 1 July 1898, Maxfield Army was reluctant to invest transportable. The Army and an observer from the in another experiment. received forty-one bids by engineers, LTC George F. However, pursuit of bal- 1 February 1908 but only Derby, ascended near the loons and aerial photography three met the specifications. American position at El Pozo. continued and the Signal Of those three, the Wright Derby wanted to get closer Corps purchased a new bal- brothers were the only to the fighting and ordered loon in 1907. It was the ninth contractor to deliver an the balloon moved forward balloon since the Civil War airplane. On 10 February by the ground crew. As the and, therefore, dubbed Signal 1908, the Wright brothers balloon moved forward, it Corps Balloon No. 9. Allen and the Signal Corps entered gave away the location of directed the establishment of into a formal contract that U.S. troops and provided a balloon house and hydro- provided for the delivery the Spanish an excellent gen plant at Fort Omaha, of heavier-than-air flying target. When the guide Neb. in 1908. But, balloon- machine to be delivered at ropes became entangled in ing activities soon became Fort Myer, Virginia. the brush the balloon was dormant when the Army On 20 August 1908, completely immobilized. leadership understood more Orville Wright delivered When the Spanish opened clearly the importance of the the airplane. The Army’s fire, shrapnel and bullets Wrights’ achievement. review board consisted of rained down upon the MAJs George O. Squier and troops causing numerous Charles S. Wallace; and casualties. The balloon was LTs Frank Lahm, Benjamin torn apart in the fusillade D. Foulois, and Thomas but the two men were not E. Selfridge. Test flights hurt. Luckily, the officers did began on 3 September and locate a previously unknown continued until tragedy trail through the woods that struck. On 17 September, helped speed the deployment LT Selfridge became the first Balloon House, Fort Omaha, Neb. airplane crash fatality. The 14 Summer - 2010 Army directed the Wrights in Dayton. Training on a as circus tents. Since Barnes to reexamine their aircraft Wright machine, however, had harvested the hay, the and flights were not resumed did not prepare a pilot to fly field was level, unobstructed until June 1909. a Curtiss plane, and vice and provided a two mile versa. The Wrights controlled long, one mile wide area for their planes by means of the planes to use. On 28 the wing-warping method November, five officers, 20 and the Curtisses used enlisted men, four airplanes, movable ailerons between motor vehicles, wagons and rigid wings. With the onset horses left College Park for of winter weather, and Augusta. The four planes aviation being a fair weather included two Curtiss models activity, the Signal Corps and two Wright models. Wright Flyer crash, Fort Myer, Va. sought a location in the 1908 south to continue training. On 7 December, one of The Wrights made minor CPT Chandler conducted the Wright planes made the modifications to their flyer a tour of the southeast first flight from the field to and tests began on 27 July. seeking a suitable location, the delight of awestruck On that day Orville Wright visiting Aiken, Camden, Augustans. Those pilots flew for one hour and twelve Columbia, and Greenville, not flying provided ground minutes, thereby fulfilling South Carolina and Augusta, commentary and answered the endurance specifications. Georgia. In Augusta, questions such as, “Did you On 30 July, the speed Chandler examined a farm ever fall out of a plane?” As requirement was surpassed. owned by George T. Barnes luck would have it, the whole Three days later, on 2 August on Sand Bar Ferry Road idea of moving the school 1909, the Army accepted the that had clear open fields to Augusta was hampered Wrights’ airplane at a cost of and close proximity to the when a snow storm hit the $30,000 and designated it railroad, suitable attributes area on 13 January 1912. Signal Corps No. 1. for an airfield. The challenges didn’t end there when excessive rainfall Signal Corps Flying caused the Savannah River Schools to flood in March. Between Four years after the the bouts of bad weather Signal Corps took charge the pilots managed to fit in of air matters, Congress some practice. By March, the appropriated funds for Army school finished training and aviation in the amount of prepared to return to College $125,000 for fiscal year Park. The pilots made 436 1912. By the close of October flights during the 58 flying 1912, the Signal Corps had days they had available out Flying School - Augusta, Ga, 1912 purchased eleven aircraft of 124 days. Flying resumed from the Wrights and their at College Park in April 1912 competitor. In June 1911 On 11 November, BG James with several new planes. the Signal Corps opened Allen, Chief Signal Officer These more powerful “scout” a flying school at College announced that the Signal planes (Wright Type C) had Park, Maryland. Two of the Corps would use the Barnes been designed to perform new pilots, 2LTs Henry H. Farm for winter aviation reconnaissance and could (“Hap”) Arnold and Thomas training. The hangers for carry radio and photographic Milling, had received training the aircraft were made of equipment in addition to two at the Wright Company canvas, and appeared much men. Experimental Army Communicator 15 activities conducted at performed reconnaissance developed aircraft industries College Park during this time in the search for Villa. GEN far superior to those of included night flying, aerial John J. Pershing often used the United States. At the photography, use of the the planes to carry messages beginning of the war, the radio, and the testing of the from forward locations back Signal Corps Aviation Section Lewis machine gun from the to headquarters or to other included fifty-two officers air. commanders. However, and 1,100 men. In 1917, the In early 1913, the Army the fragile machines could Signal Corps developed small ordered its aviators to Texas not cope with the high aircraft radiotelephones. to take part in maneuvers. altitudes and strong winds These voice or telephone- At Galveston on 3 March, encountered in the Mexican operated sets were freed the Chief Signal Officer mountains. Within a short from the limitations of designated the assembled time, most of the aircraft had telegraph. Two early sets men and equipment as been damaged in accidents, were the SCR-68, an airborne the “1st Provisional Aero but fortunately no men were radiotelephone, and the Squadron,” with CPT killed or seriously injured. ground set, the SCR-67. By Chandler as squadron the middle of 1918 these sets commander. On 8 December were in France and although 1913 the unit was formally not without the problems activated as the 1st Aero of new technology, the new Squadron, the first official radios marked a revolution in aviation unit of the U.S. radio communications. Army. Since then the unit Responding to criticism of has remained on continuous the American aircraft effort, active service and today President Woodrow Wilson perpetuates the lineage as created the Army Air Service the 1st Reconnaissance and placed it directly under Squadron, U.S. Air Force. the War Department on May On July 18, 1914, as a result 24, 1918, officially ending of congressional legislation, By 20 April 1916, only two responsibility for air matters the Army established the of the squadron’s original by the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Section of the eight aircraft remained Corps. By the time aviation Signal Corps to improve intact, but they were no was removed from Signal control of its fledgling flying longer serviceable. Without Corps control it had grown to capabilities. suitable equipment, the 16,084 officers and 147,932 squadron remained effectively men. Hunting Pancho Villa - grounded for the remainder 1916 of the campaign. During the operation the 1st Aero Following the raid on Squadron had flown 540 Columbus, New Mexico on missions and provided 9 March 1916 by guerilla valuable training for the Army forces of Francisco “Pancho” in air-ground operations. Villa, the Signal Corps 1st Aero Squadron was World War I employed to help during By April 1917, when the Punitive Expedition the United States entered into Mexico. Now led by World War I on the side of CPT Benjamin D. Foulois, the Allied Powers, each of the Curtiss JN-2 aircraft the major combatants had

16 Summer - 2010 Barnes Field, Home of Augusta Flying School circa 1912 was located near present day Sandbar Ferry Road in Augusta, Ga.

Army Communicator 17 Joint Operations reported about a project to effect, and it can be claimed for incorporate instruction of visual the Naval and Military Academies During the course of the signaling and telegraphy at the of the United States that they Civil War, the U.S. Army and U.S. Military Academy. In this have been the first to secure… Navy had conducted numerous regard, the Army was somewhat intelligent co-operation on joint operations along the U.S. behind the U.S. Navy which which, in time of war, the fate of coasts and major rivers to had already adopted signaling grand operations may depend.” enable transportation of troops instruction at the Naval Academy Referring to joint operations and supplies; ship-to-shore during the Civil War based upon during the Civil War, Myer fires capability; and command Myer’s wigwag system. Myer concluded that, “commands and control. The success of hoped during the coming years of the Army and the vessels or these wartime field associations to synchronize Signal equipment, forces of the Navy can always inspired Myer to institutionalize doctrine and training between be put in communications and standardize signal training the two institutions to ensure under any circumstances in within the education systems of standardization during future which the use of aerial [visual both services. joint operations. Myer stated, “It flag] and electric telegraphy is In his annual report for will be cause for congratulation practicable.” This shows how 1867, Myer enthusiastically when it shall be carried into Myer was not only a great Army

18 Summer - 2010 signal officer, but one of the first for constructing, maintaining, joint warriors seeking to solve and operating telegraph lines greater issues of interoperability along the southwestern frontier even in his time. and later along the northeast. The Corps had already completed The telegraph finds a home in some five hundred miles of science could be harnessed to the Signal Corps telegraph line along the east improve the agriculture and coast. In 1875, Greely completed general daily life of America. By In 1867 in addition to its a line across Texas, in 1877, 1869 many agricultural interests visual signaling duties, all electric built telegraph lines from Cape were urging Congress to create a telegraphy for the Army became Hatteras to Cape Henry, and in national organization to observe the responsibility of the Signal 1877, built a line from Santa Fe to and forecast the weather. A Corps. This was a triumph for San Diego. Greely became known bill was proposed in Congress Myer as this was the issue which as the Signal Corps “trouble- that these duties be assigned to had cost him his job as chief shooter” in the area of military the War Department because signal officer in 1863. Without telegraph line construction. By “military discipline would the constraints of war, nor much 1879, the Signal Corps had secure the greatest promptness, attention from Army bureaucracy, completed some 4,000 miles of regularity and accuracy required Myer was able to supervise the telegraph lines. in observations.” During the development of a more effective period when the Army was and reliable field telegraph train Meteorological Service questioning whether or not it using batteries and sounders. needed a Signal Corps, Myer In 1868, further reductions took the initiative to seek new were imposed on the Army, missions to keep the branch which was being reduced to a in existence. He called upon skeletal force for the mission Congressional supporters who of policing the remaining later stated he had “a most western frontier. Many Army intense desire that the execution organizations sought to protect of the law be entrusted to themselves from further cuts him.” On 15 March 1870, the by pursuing activities more civil Secretary of War assigned these than military in nature. For new weather duties to the Signal example the Corps of Engineers Corps. U.S. Army wired telegraph key focused on harbor and waterway From 1870 to 1891 the Signal patented circa 1881 improvements as well as Corps operated the nation’s first topographical and geological modern weather service using Another post Civil War expeditions. both commercial and military responsibility assigned to the One civil pursuit focused telegraph lines to report weather Signal Corps in 1874 was the task on meteorology and how that observations to Washington

Army Communicator 9 Army Communicator 19 D.C. The observation stations expedition was reduced to six and announced the development were located after consultation survivors out of the 22 men who of a new Army field telephone in with the meteorologists based had made the journey. However, 1897. on previous courses of storms they did accomplish their Photography was another and availability of telegraph mission and the scientific data peacetime interest of Greely and service. In October 1870, an they collected provided valuable the Signal Corps. In fact, the observer-sergeant was sent to knowledge of the earth’s climate Army’s first photographer, SGT each of 25 stations between the and tidal patterns. George W. Rice, had accompanied Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic Greely on his Arctic expedition. and Gulf coasts. Each station From that experience Greely was equipped with a barometer, realized the informational value of thermometer, hygrometer, photography. He added a course anemometer, anemoscope (wind in photography to the Signal vane) and pluviometer (rain Corps curriculum at Fort Riley, gauge). After readings were Kan. In 1896, the Government collected, they were sent via Printing Office published the telegraph to the Signal office in Signal Corps’ initial Manual of Washington D.C. where the data Photography. was compiled and analyzed to reflect the weather for the United The Storm Passes - A New States. At least 1/3 of American Mission and Focus households received the Signal Corps weather information in In the 1880s, there was some form, mainly through the growing dissatisfaction on part of newspapers. By 1878 there both civilian and military officials were 224 Signal Corps weather with the Army funding and observation stations making managing a function that was eight reports daily. By the time Adolphus W. Greely essentially civilian in nature. In BG Myer died as Chief Signal 1884 a congressional committee Officer in 1880, the weather When BG Hazen died in 1887, concluded that, “the Signal service was world renowned. Captain Greely was promoted to Service is now a Weather Bureau brigadier general and appointed with a corps of men performing Arctic Expeditions Chief Signal Officer. Greely this civil service while they are renewed emphasis on tactical enlisted in the Army. The Army In 1880 and 1881, the United signaling for the Army. In the face gets no benefit from this Signal States participated with other of inadequate training, reduced Corps, and places no reliance nations in establishing and funds, and a congressional effort upon it for military service.” maintaining circumpolar stations to abolish the Signal Corps, In 1889, Congress ordered for the study of Arctic weather Greely managed to introduce that the weather service be and climate. The Signal Corps new modes of communication transferred to the Department of headed by Chief Signal Officer into the Army. In 1890, he Agriculture. The formal transfer BG William B. Hazen dispatched equipped some Signal Corps took place on 1 July 1891 when two parties. One party led by units with the first heliographs Professor Mark W. Harrington LT Phillip H. Ray went to Point in the Army, which used mirrors of the University of Michigan Barrow, Alaska. Greely led to reflect sunlight over long became the first civilian chief the second party. Interested distances. Greely also sponsored of the U.S. Weather Bureau. in climatology along with other experiments leading to the Signal All of the equipment, stations aspects of scientific geography, Corps’ first field telephones. By and personnel were transferred LT Greely volunteered for the 1890, he placed telephones from the Army, resulting in a expedition to the station planned in lighthouses and lifesaving tremendous drop in personnel for Lady Franklin Bay. The stations along the Atlantic coast. strength for the Signal Corps, Greely Expedition spent four In 1892, approximately one half whose role once again became harrowing years in the arctic of the country’s Army posts were focused on military applications because relief parties were unable equipped with telephones. An of communication technology. to reach them. When they were avid scientist, Greely supported finally rescued in 1884 the Greely CPT James Allen’s experiments

20 Summer - 2010 The expedition ship Proteus moored in a harbor during the Greely Arctic Expedition

Army Communicator 21 The Cutting Edge of the British had with the and control during the Technology heliograph, a device which campaign against Geronimo used mirrors to reflect in the Southwest. This As Chief Signal Officer, sunlight and could be region proved to be an ideal Adolphus W. Greely, placed manipulated to make a environment and helped renewed emphasis on combat flashing signal. By 1877 with understanding needed signaling. In the face of signalmen started practicing improvements. inadequate training, reduced with the heliograph at In 1888, a new heliograph funds, and a congressional Fort Whipple, Virginia and was developed that was effort to abolish the Signal flashed signals up to 30 strong, portable, and used Corps, Greely managed to miles distant. In 1886 the a square rather than round introduce new modes of army used heliographs in for mirror offering more surface communication into the the first time in operations space. In May 1890, the Army. In 1873 the Signal when BG Nelson A. Miles army conducted an extensive Corps heard of the success requested them for command test in Arizona where

22 Summer - 2010 Signalmen relayed messages An avid scientist, Greely the VSC would consist of up to 125 miles away. A new supported CPT James Allen’s seventeen companies, a record was set in 1894 when experiments and announced balloon company, and a field a signal sent by heliographs in 1897, the development of a telegraphs train. supervised by CPT William new field telephone. A. Glassford sent messages a distance of 183 miles. Power Projection: The Spanish American War - 1898

In 1898, the United States went to war against a decaying Spanish empire. The orientation of the Army changed overnight, Signal Corps balloon in Cuba, 1898 from concern with frontier The Caribbean constabulary operations expedition’s chief signal to projecting power far officer was COL James Allen. Heliograph across the water. In April Allen’s first mission was Greely sponsored 1898, the Signal Corps to cut the Spanish cables, experiments leading to the had a force structure of thereby, debilitating the Signal Corps’ first field eight commissioned officers enemy’s communications. telephones. By 1890, and 50 enlisted men but Allen received the he placed telephones in Greely and the Signal Corps Distinguished Service Cross lighthouses and lifesaving responded to the challenge. for doing this under fire stations along the To expand quickly, Congress from the Spanish batteries Atlantic coast. By 1892, authorized the raising of in Morro Castle. The Signal approximately one half of the volunteer units, including Corps eventually established country’s Army posts were the creation of the Volunteer 2,500 miles of wire in equipped with telephones. Signal Corps. Eventually

Army Communicator 23 Cuba in a grid of nine lines communications between communications with the running north and south Washington and the front front. and one east to west trunk. lines in Cuba. Greely had Working in a tropical Perhaps the most dramatic foreseen the military value climate presented many accomplishment of the Signal of telephones and this use signaling challenges. To Corps occurred on 19 May of telephones in combat facilitate transportation 1898 when Greely located proved him right. The Army’s through jungle and swamps, the Spanish fleet which for reliance on wire however signalmen used water buffalo a time had eluded the U.S. required signalmen to expose as pack animals. Wooden Navy. This intelligence led to themselves to perilous poles required constant eventual defeat of that fleet conditions. repairs because they rotted and U.S. Naval superiority. in the humid and intense In the Philippines, Signal Counter-insurgency in the heat or were destroyed by Corps units participated in Philippines – 1899-1902 ants. Insurgents constantly the capture of Manila and sabotaged the lines and the defending fortifications. The end of the war with ambushed the men sent to fix While an infantry regiment Spain marked a new era them. Thus, armed escorts advanced, a Signal unit of American involvement often accompanied the signal occupied the beach on the overseas. The United parties to provide protection. left flank of the troops. SGT States had acquired the In addition to building George S. Gibbs (later Chief former Spanish territories and operating land lines, Signal Officer) and SGT of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Signal Corps received Henry F. Jurs used wigwag the Philippines, making the mission to construct, flags to signal ADM Dewey’s the nation a world power. maintain, and operate a fleet, to both adjust naval With these possessions communication system gunfire and identify the came increased duties linking the major islands of friendly forces positions. and responsibilities for the the Philippine archipelago. This event was photographed Army and the Signal Corps, By the end of 1899, the by SGT Harry Chadwick, including operating the Signal Corps had connected marking the first instance of telegraph and telephone lines the islands of Leyte, Cebu, combat photography. formerly run by the Spanish and Samar by underwater government. However, cable. Though fighting Philippine leader Emilio continued, organized Filipino Aguinaldo had hoped to win resistance gradually declined, independence for his country especially after Aguinaldo’s at the end of the war. When capture in March 1901. The that did not occur, he led Philippine war officially came an insurrection against the to an end on 4 July 1902, Americans on 4 February in part due to the role of the 1899. The next day, a Signal Corps in supporting signal officer, 1LT Charles counter-insurgency Manila Bay, Philippines, 1898 E. Kilbourne, Jr., became operations. The Spanish American War the third Signal Corps was a testing ground for the Soldier to earn the Medal Alaska Communication Signal Corps new endeavors. of Honor. Under enemy fire System With an improvised telegraph at Paco Bridge, in a suburb switchboard the Signal of Manila, he climbed a In the wake of the Corps switched messages telegraph pole to “coolly and Alaska gold rush and the through an office in Puerto carefully” repair a broken increasing population of Rico and established direct wire that reestablished that remote territory, the 24 Summer - 2010 War Department created be in place to begin work. undertook emergency relief. the Military Department of Infantry and artillery troops The earthquake knocked out Alaska. It became a Signal assigned to Alaska performed the city’s phone system and Corps mission to build a much of the construction, destroyed almost all of the telegraph network connecting with signal Soldiers handling telegraph lines. For a time, the headquarters at Fort St. the technical aspects. The the only communication to Michael with five garrisons Army’s only cable ship, the the city was provided via by and the garrisons with each Burnside, began installing one or two wires operated by other. In 1900 Congress underwater lines. Western Union and the Postal appropriated $450,000 to By 1903, the Signal Telegraph Companies from build the Washington-Alaska Corps had constructed a their shattered offices. Later Military Cable and Telegraph network of telegraph lines that day fires destroyed these System. Greely approached and cables connecting all the tenuous connections and the this demanding task by Army’s principal garrisons. city’s half million residents drawing upon his experience Departmental headquarters found themselves isolated in pole line construction in at Fort St. Michael was from the rest of the country. North Dakota and Texas. placed in contact with several other posts and via Canadian wires with Fort Seward, Skagway, Juneau, and Washington. Upon completion, WAMCATS comprised 2,079 miles of cable, 1,439 miles of land lines, and the wireless system of 107 San Francisco earthquake, 1906 miles—a total of 3,625 miles. Greely referred to The Signal Corps the accomplishment as immediately stepped in “unique in the annals of during the emergency. CPT telegraphic engineering” and Leonard D. Wildman, the a monument to skill and departmental signal officer, courage of the Signal Corps. established a field telegraph line between the Presidio Natural Disaster Relief - and the outskirts of the 1906 fire within 5 hours after the quake. With this help, On 10 February 1906, the commercial telegraph 1LT Billy Mitchell in Alaska, 1901 President Theodore Roosevelt companies were gradually promoted Greely to major restored to operational In the summer of 1901, general and assigned capability. Wildman set up a he sent 1LT William L. him to San Francisco as system of 42 telegraph offices “Billy” Mitchell to Alaska to commander of the Pacific and 79 telephone offices that investigate conditions there. Division. On 18 April 1906, connected all of the military Mitchell suggested that work San Francisco was hit by a districts, federal buildings, continue throughout the great earthquake and the railroad offices and depots, winter when supplies could army immediately assisted the offices of mayor and be easily transported over the with firefighting, helped governor, and other needed ice and snow. When spring maintain law and order, and agencies. One of the four came, the material would Army Communicator 25 on the first day traveled over coordinated the operations of unique contribution was 200 miles carrying messages, three field signal companies the first use of airplanes to signal equipment, medical and the 1st Aero Squadron, support military operations. supplies, food, sick and a total of eighteen officers Commanded by Capt. wounded. and 284 men. The Signal Benjamin D. Foulois, the Soldiers employed a variety airplanes of the 1st Aero The Punitive Expedition of technologies, including Squadron performed 1916-1917 both wired and wireless reconnaissance in the search communications, cameras, for Villa. The fragile and Shortly after midnight pigeons and, for the first underpowered machines on 9 March 1916, a guerilla time on campaign, airplanes. could not cope, however, band of approximately Early in the expedition, the with the high altitudes and 500 men led by Mexican two wireless (radio) wagon strong winds encountered revolutionary Francisco sets in service at Columbus in the Mexican mountains. “Pancho” Villa attacked the and Colonia Dublán proved Within a short time, most border town of Columbus, too heavy to keep up with of the aircraft had been New Mexico. The raid the rapidly advancing cavalry damaged in accidents, was in retaliation for U.S. columns. Consequently, but no men were killed or support of Mexican president almost all messages were seriously injured. By 20 Venustiano Carranza. The sent via wire. April 1916, only two of the attackers inflicted two dozen As Pershing moved squadron’s original eight American casualties and deeper into Mexico, he was aircraft remained intact, but destroyed thousands of never out of communication they were no longer usable. dollars worth of property. with his base at Columbus, This hostile act prompted almost 400 miles away. A President Woodrow Wilson major problem, however, to mobilize forces along the was the lack of insulated Mexican border. Wilson wire. Unprotected field directed BG John J. lines shorted out when Pershing to lead over 12,000 they became wet due to men on a punitive expedition rain or morning dew. Even into northern Mexico to after insulated wire became capture Villa. available, breakage caused by animals and sabotage by enemy guerillas continued Signal Corps airplane arrives in to compromise connectivity. Mexico, 1916 To alleviate these problems, the Signal Corps established maintenance stations at Unable to capture Villa and twenty-five- mile intervals hoping to avoid a general along the length of the war with Mexico, Pershing’s line. Signalmen traveled punitive expedition returned on horseback and in to the United States in light trucks to repair any February 1917. Despite the Telephone tent in Mexico, 1916 breaks and were able to unsatisfactory outcome, CPT Hanson B. Black keep Pershing in contact the expedition had provided was the signal officer for with detachments located the United States Army the expedition. In addition along his extended line of with valuable training for to advising Pershing on communications. its imminent entrance into communication matters, he The Signal Corps’ most World War I. 26 Summer - 2010 U.S. Army recruiting poster by James Montgomery Flagg 1917

Army Communicator 27 Expansion and Training officers and 1,570 enlisted and mobilization camps men to 2,712 officers and were established in 1917, Although poorly organized, 53,277 men. The Aviation such as Camp Alfred Vail, trained, and equipped at the Section initially had fifty- New Jersey; Camp Samuel beginning of the war, the two officers and 1,100 men F.B. Morse, Texas; Fort Signal Corps once again met and by the time it became Leavenworth, Kansas; and the challenge now under the the Army Air Service in May Monterey, California. Special leadership of MG George Owen 1918, it had grown to 16,084 schools were established Squier. Upon mobilization, officers and 147,932 men. such as the Signal Corps the ground component of the To train the influx of Radio School at College Signal Corps grew from 55 Soldiers, several training Park, Md. and the Signal

28 Summer - 2010 Corps Buzzer School at Fort ground telegraphy, or TPS Leavenworth. In addition, (from the French “telegraphie special courses in subjects par sol”) which worked by such as radio, telephony, driving iron poles into the telegraphy, photography, and earth and transferring meteorology were offered at electrical energy from the Corps constructed a total civilian colleges and technical transmitting to the receiving of 2,000 miles of pole lines, schools. station by induction and used 32,000 miles of French conduction of electricity poles, installed about 40,000 Adapting to 20th Century through the ground instead miles of combat lines, and Warfare of through the air. TPS was established 134 permanent not very secure, however, and telegraph offices and 273 The nature of combat could be easily tapped by the telephone exchanges, during World War I proved enemy. excluding combat zone extremely challenging for Given these conditions, stations. communications due to the COL Edgar Russel, increased size of battlefields chief Signal officer Early Radio – Heavy and and lethality of weapons, of the American Immobile such as machine guns. At Expeditionary the tactical level, trench Forces, was While laying the extensive warfare posed different forced telegraph and telephone challenges and required to network, the Signal Corps many adaptations to be install experimented with made. Traditional lance poles and radio. Before the war, for telegraph wires were operate radio transmission was not suitable, so wires were an limited to Morse code, strung on short stakes or run extensive either by means of spark along trench walls. Major network of transmitters or by trunk lines were often buried telegraph continuous wave several feet underground and oscillations to provide protection from telephone enemy shelling and from wires foot and vehicular traffic. extending Telephone switchboards were from the installed in underground seacoast dugouts where they to the could withstand artillery American bombardment. battle On the frontlines, the zone. The Signal Corps employed Signal

Army Communicator 29 generated by triode tubes. The Signal Corps in Combat diary during his service and The first spark sets were he often wrote to his loved heavy and cumbersome. During 30 August to 3 ones. Private George A. The Signal Corps provided September 1918, the US Morrice of the 102nd Field two types of field radios Army II Corps began an Signal Battalion wrote, “You which were large high- offensive under command ask what the signal corps powered quenched-spark of British and Australian does in modern warfare. I transmitters. The SCR-49 forces. The two divisions of wish you had asked what we pack radio set could be II Corps, the 27th Infantry don’t do. That would have disassembled into several and 30th Infantry fought been easier. The main idea components and transported over a series of heavily is to keep communication by two or three Army mules. defended ridges near Ypres, as perfect as possible The SCR-50 was even larger including a critical point under all conditions. It and required several trucks called Mount Kemmel. The doesn’t matter how it is or tractors to move. divisional signal battalions done, as long as it is done.” By this time, the had enormous challenges to Morrice and his fellow European Allies were maintain communications. Signalmen were recognized replacing the spark On 31 August, the 105th for their work through equipment with Field Signal Battalion of the commendations from the radiotelegraph equipment 30th Division laid over 15,000 division commander, MG using vacuum tubes. Some feet of communications John F. O’Ryan who stated, in the Signal Corps were cable to support a forward “The success of the operation convinced that vacuum command post. This was was in no small measure tubes were the key to because the German due to the determination, superior military radio. defenders closely watched resourcefulness, valor and Among them was MG Squier, for runners carrying endurance of the officers who had a doctorate in messages back to the rear and men of the [102nd Field] electrical engineering. As and attempted to kill them. Signal Battalion.” Chief Signal Officer, Squier One Soldier wrote of this spearheaded cooperation communications method, A Diversity of Missions – with the commercial “That generally means six Photography & Pigeons communications industry or seven men with the same to perfect radio tubes. Six message and if one gets there The Signal Corps months after the military it is considered a success.” mission expanded into radio tube program began; On 1 September, the 102nd other areas by order of American factories were Field Signal Battalion faced General Pershing. COL producing standardized, the same situation, but used Russel established four new interchangeable, and rugged both pigeons and dogs to organizations responsible tubes. send messages under heavy for combat photography, Striving for even better fire. pigeons, meteorology, and equipment, Squier When the 1st Battalion, radio intelligence. Although established a laboratory 105th Infantry Regiment photography had been a at Camp Alfred Vail and requested artillery support so Signal Corps responsibility increased the army radio it could continue an attack, it since 1881, Pershing’s order program from a few received no response because made photography an official personnel in 1917, to several the telephone lines had been mission. Field photography hundred by 1918. Other cut by enemy artillery fire. To consisted of both ground and World War I developments in restore communications, CPL aerial. Ground photography, radio included the master- Kenneth M. McCann from the comprised of still and motion oscillator power amplifier 102nd Field Signal Battalion picture, was assigned to the circuit, and CPT Edward spent over seventy-two hours Signal Corps in August 1917. H. Armstrong’s super replacing the forward lines Aerial photography was of heterodyne circuit. even while being attacked by paramount importance to The latter came too late for enemy gas and machinegun the intelligence service. A use in World War I but made fire. McCann was later total of 54 officers and 418 a pivotal contribution to awarded the Distinguished enlisted men constituted radio in the postwar period. Service Cross for his actions. the photography personnel Another Soldier kept a in France. After the war,

30 Winter - 2010 first American meteorological station was established in France. By October 1918, 22 stations were operating. Among other activities, they supported aviation and artillery training stations, combat units, railway guns, and depots. Front line stations transmitted radio reports of weather conditions opportune for gas attacks and supplied information critical to aerial and artillery warfare. By war’s end the AEF Meteorological Service was unequaled in providing military meteorological assistance. The Radio Intelligence Service was responsible for locating enemy transmitters, monitoring Allied transmissions, intercepting and decoding enemy Mobile pigeon loft, circa 1930 transmissions, and breaking the enemy’s code. all aerial photography and battles including the St. ground photography relating Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Women at War – The Hello to aviation activities was offensives. During the later Girls transferred to the Air Service. campaign, the pigeon Cher The Signal Corps function Ami earned the Distinguished In October 1917, Pershing was to maintain the historical Service Cross by delivering a asked the War Department for files of still and motion message to the 77th Division special units of skilled women pictures, produce training headquarters to halt friendly switchboard operators in order films, and manage ground artillery being dropped on to release male operators to photography not already the “Lost Battalion.” Pigeons serve at forward positions near under another service’s successfully delivered about the front. Because the AEF control. ninety-five percent of the had to communicate with the The Pigeon Service’s messages assigned them. French armies on its flanks mission was to create Many were shot down by and the Allied Headquarters and maintain a frontline the enemy or suffered severe Paris, it was important for communications network wounds. operators to speak French as using pigeons as the means fluently as they spoke English. to transfer information. A Diversity of Missions The War Department turned By November 1917, two – Meteorology and to the commercial telephone detachments of pigeoneers Intelligence companies to help identify, were in France. Pigeons recruit and train physically fit, were used during several The Meteorological Service French speaking, American was responsible for providing women for this task. Out of weather information to 7,000 applicants, over 450, support Signal aviation, affectionately known as “Hello Coastal Artillery, and the Girls,” completed training Gas Warfare Service. MAJ in signal duties and 223 of W.R. Blair, a former member them were sent overseas in of the U.S. Weather Bureau, Telephone Operating Units. travelled to France in During the war, six TOUs were September 1917 to organize formed and sent to France the AEF Meteorological where they were assigned to Message sent with “Cher Ami” to 77th Service. In May 1918, the headquarters offices in Division Headquarters.

Army Communicator 31 Paris, Chaumont and While there, Banker and Post War and Draw-down Tours. Some smaller units the other women endured of women served at the aerial bombardment In April 1919, General First and Second Army from German planes. Pershing convened a headquarters. On 11 November the committee to examine Armistice ended all combat the lessons learned from Grace Banker is awarded operations. Banker was sent the war. The review a Distinguished Service back to Paris where she concluded that Signal Medal was assigned to work for Corps responsibility for President Woodrow Wilson, communications should Grace Banker’s service as a duty she described as “not extend only down to chief operator, First Army particularly exciting.” When the division level. Below Headquarters during the St. given a choice to remain division, units should be Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne there or go to the Army of responsible for their own offensives earned her the Occupation at Coblenz, internal communications Distinguished Service Medal. Germany, Banker chose to and for connecting Because of her experience leave Paris. While at Coblenz, themselves to higher as a switchboard instructor Banker was presented with echelon lines above the at AT&T, Banker was placed the Distinguished Service division established by in charge of 33 women Medal during a ceremony the Signal Corps. This of Telephone Operating recognizing her, meant that the Signal Corps Unit No.1. On 25 August no longer controlled an 1918, Banker and six other “For exceptionally integrated network from the operators were ordered to meritorious and dis- front lines to Washington as First Army Headquarters tinguished services. it had during the war. The about five miles south of St. She served with ex- Chief Signal Officer strongly Mihiel. When the St. Mihiel ceptional ability as objected to this change, offensive began, Banker and Chief Operator in but his protest fell on deaf the other women operated the Signal Corps Ex- ears and the Army’s revised the switchboards during change at General Field Service Regulations, the intense opening artillery Headquarters, Ameri- approved in 1923, reflected bombardment. When First can Expeditionary the doctrinal modifications. Army HQ moved to Bar- Forces, and later in During the postwar era le-Duc, Banker and her a similar capacity at the Signal Corps suffered operators displaced as well. First Army Headquar- personnel and budget cuts ters. By untiring de- while still trying to meet votion to her exacting the escalating demand for duties under trying telephone and other signal conditions she did services. Signal training much to assure the was adversely affected as success of the tele- well, as most training camps phone service during were closed after the war. the operations of the One exception was Camp First Army.” Vail, N.J., which became the home of the Signal School in October 1919. There Upon their return from training would be conducted the war, the Hello Girls did for both officers and enlisted not receive a formal dis- men, along with Students charge certificate as they from foreign armies. In were considered to have been 1925 the post’s name was civilian volunteers and not changed to Fort Monmouth, members of the military. In in commemoration of the 1977 Congress finally passed Revolutionary War battle legislation that granted them that had occurred nearby in status as veterans. Grace June 1778. Banker did not live to receive One of the major Banker, center, at awards ceremony this recognition as she died accomplishments during receiving a Distinguished Service Medal in 1960. this period was the

32 Summer - 2010 Washington-Alaska military cable and telegraph system. By 1924, the Signal Corps had replaced some 1,607 miles of cable with more durable gutta percha cable. With 44 officers in 1925, the Signal Corps operated 20 radio stations and 840 miles of land telegraph lines. By 1930, radio circuits replaced all telegraph stations, except for a telegraph line along the Alaskan Railroad. With the conversion to radio in 1936, the system was renamed the Alaska Communications System. By the mid-1930s, the Signal Corps became responsible for the operation of the War Department message center. The timely and proper routing of all radio, telegraph, and any other messages became the center’s responsibility. This experience with routing, processing and coordinating message and telephone traffic would pay huge dividends even as the next Fort Monmouth, N.J., Signal Development Lab, in the 1920s war loomed ahead.

War Department Message Center, 1934

Army Communicator 33 Despite limited budgets that allowed increased ability to of the 1930s, the Signal maneuver and contact units that Corps continued research were beyond field telephone lines. and development efforts for new technology. One Development of RADAR significant development was the teletypewriter. Although it was too Perhaps the most significant large for tactical use at the time, postwar development in teletypewriters soon replaced technology was the development telegraph equipment as the of radar, an acronym for standard means for conducting radio detecting and ranging. fixed station administrative In May 1937, COL William communications such as at the Blair, Director of the Signal War Department. Corps laboratories, conducted Engineers at the Signal experiments in sound ranging Corps Laboratory also developed to locate approaching enemy a break-through tactical aircraft from the noise of their communications device - the engines. From these experiments walkie-talkie. The walkie-talkie the Signal Corps began was an amplitude-modulated production of two radar sets, radiotelephone transceiver which the SCR-268 was designed to enabled the army to join together weighed about 25 pounds and direct searchlight beams upon timely detection and reaction to had a range of up to five miles. aircraft for targeting antiaircraft an impending aerial threat using Walkie-talkies could provide fires, while the SCR-270 was a Signal air warning units equipped combat units a portable means mobile, long-range, aircraft early with radar to defeat an attack on of battlefield communication warning set. These developments U.S. territory.

34 Summer - 2010 dial. When the Army began experiments with motorization and mechanization, the need for mobile communications became critical as without radios, tankers had to communicate using line of transportation they continued sight flag and hand signals. FM to monitor the radar to become radio technology made vehicular more familiar with the system. radio feasible as it eliminated At 0702 on 7 December 1941, noise and static interference, and PVTs George A. Elliott and could transmit over a wider range Joseph L. Lockard saw an of frequencies. echo on their scope indicating a large formation of aircraft “This is not a Drill” – 7 about 130 miles away. At December 1941 first they thought the radar was malfunctioning, but after Meanwhile, the Signal Corps rechecking, they determined efforts to modernize its strategic it was a flight of aircraft communications had meet approaching at about three resistance in some quarters of miles a minute. the Army. Unable to build more At 0720 they notified the air powerful transmitters; it was warning center at Fort Shafter. not able to extend the range of The officer on duty, 1LT Kermit its radio network to the West A. Tyler, told them, “Don’t worry Coast. On 6 December 1941, about it.” Tyler assumed they the Signal Intelligence Service were a flight of B-17 bombers in Washington intercepted or U.S. carrier planes returning a dispatch from Tokyo. The to Pearl Harbor. He did not message indicated the Japanese question Elliott or Lockard as to government was going to the direction, speed or time of break diplomatic relations arrival of the unknown planes. with the United States. The Since they were off duty and Development of Frequency Signal Corps, unable to get the their reports of incoming planes Modulation - FM message through to Hawaii with had been ignored, Lockard and its own equipment, had to use Elliot returned to their billets Another innovation that commercial telegraph to San for breakfast. The Signal Corps provided new capability for future Francisco where it could then equipment, training and aircraft warfare was the invention of be relayed to Hawaii. By the warning procedures had worked frequency modulation radio by time the message was delivered, perfectly and Signal Soldiers had Dr. Edwin H. Armstrong. In the it was overcome by other ensured the message had gotten late 1930s, with Armstrong’s events. through in a timely manner. The assistance, the Signal Corps In Hawaii, two Signal Corps poor situational awareness and laboratories produced the first Soldiers manning the SCR inability of leaders to connect the pushbutton, crystal-controlled, 270B radar at the Opana Point dots of information resulted in 7 FM tactical radios, which did station on Oahu had ended December 1941 becoming a “day not have to be tuned using a their shift. While waiting for of infamy.”

Army Communicator 35 The Master Trainer of techniques. He reduced the were synchronized with the Monmouth – Reuben program of instruction time for teletypewriters at both ends Abramowitz code operators from 200 hours of the circuits. In addition to 100 hours by combining the the Signal Corps’ constructed Under the leadership of skills of typing and coding in the Army Command and Chief Signal Officers MG simultaneous instruction. Administrative Net, a vast global Dawson Olmstead and MG By the time he was promoted system, headquartered in the Harry C. Ingles, the Signal to major in 1943, Abramowitz Pentagon employing powerful, Corps responded to the call to was known as the “Dean” of long range, multichannel, radio- arms. The Signal Corps grew Signal training and had already teletype circuits. from 27,000 to 350,000 Soldiers perfected the instruction supporting the U.S. Army in techniques required to expand theaters around the world. Signal Corps training. Over Training this many Soldiers 30,000 officers graduated from in common procedures and some 50 courses while almost techniques required a sound 400,000 enlisted men were training program of instruction. trained in communications- master sergeant, later LTC electronics. Reuben Abramowitz was a Soldier, trainer, and athlete who An Explosion in Technology dedicated his life to the US Army Signal Corps. The outstanding Accompanying the personnel Signal Corps performance during expansion were continued World War II can be directly developments in the ever attributed to the superb efforts increasing sophisticated of Abramowitz, who one Signal elements of modern Corps general officer claimed, communications-electronics. “taught us how to be generals.” The FM radio proved its worth not only in tank warfare, but in amphibious assaults, and for ship-to-shore use. In tactical combat, Armored Force and Artillery operators benefitted from the static- and interference-free FM sets that plagued the amplitude modulation sets and their users. Infantrymen profited too from the walkie talkie SCR-300. A veteran of Siegfried Line combat reportedly wrote: “I know the fighting would have lasted longer if we hadn’t had FM on our side. We were able to shoot fast and effectively because we could get information quickly and accurately by voice, on FM. FM saved lives and won battles because it speeded our communications and enabled us LTC Reuben Abramowitz to move more quickly than the Germans, who had to depend The son of Russian-Jewish upon AM.” immigrants, Abramowitz joined The worldwide nature of the New York National Guard war necessitated worldwide in May 1916. During World strategic communications War I, he served with the 37th over long-range, transoceanic, Anti-aircraft battalion in France multichannel circuits to and with the 1st Field Signal handle the extraordinary Battalion. Abramowitz arrived flow of message traffic. at Fort Monmouth in October This made it possible to 1926 where he began a 15 year transmit several telephone career an instructor at the or teletype communications U.S. Army Signal School. A simultaneously over a single master technical trainer and circuit. The Signal Corps innovator, Abramowitz sought developed new enciphering and 10th Mountain Division Soldier using a ways to streamline instructional deciphering machines which walkie-talkie

36 Summer - 2010 According to one of the code- talkers, “We talked Indian and sent messages when need be. It was quicker to use telephones and radios to send messages because Morse code had to be decoded and the Germans could decode them. We used telephones and radios to talk Indian then wrote it in English and gave it to the commanding officer.” Two Comanche’s were assigned to each of the divisions’ three infantry regiments. They could send coded messages from the front line to division headquarters, where other Team 7, 594th Joint Assault Signal Company Comanche’s decoded the messages. Joint Operations - JASCO joint operations during World War II. During late 1943, the Joint Chiefs of Staff ordered a new Native American Code-Talkers organization formed to improve at Normandy communications between land, sea, and air forces during The Allied invasion of amphibious operations. The Normandy stands as one of the Joint Assault Signal Company, most famous military operations or JASCO, was formed by adding in history. Over 2,700 ships the naval shore fire control and – from battleships to landing Army Air Force air liaison parties craft – carried, escorted and to Army signal companies. A landed over 130,000 troops on signal corps major commanded five beaches along fifty miles Comanche Code Talkers a JASCO because it was much of Normandy coast. Overhead, larger than a normal signal Allied aircraft controlled the On 6 June 1944 at 0630 company, with an authorized skies and over 1,000 transports hours, the division splashed strength of about 500-600 dropped paratroopers to secure ashore at Utah Beach to storm Army, Navy and Army Air Force the flanks and beach exits of the the German beach defenses. signal personnel. The JASCO assault area. th However they landed 2,000 was to implement common The U.S. Army’s 4 yards south of the planned communications procedures Motorized Infantry Division, the beach, a more heavily defended for use during an amphibious “Ivy division” was one of the area, compared to the light assault, to include planning for divisions selected to land at Utah th defenses encountered on the joint radio frequencies, message Beach. The 4 division was new beach. In a short time transmission procedures, close an experimental division that the 4th Division poured ashore air support, and naval gunfire. contained new technology as and quickly moved armor During WWII, 11 JASCOs the prototype for the “motorized” th and engineer units into the served in all theaters of division concept. The 4 battle. One of the first radio operations. Three JASCOs Signal Company had the task messages was sent by a code operated during the landing of integrating and training this talker on the beach to another on Normandy beaches in June cutting edge communications on an incoming boat. After 1944. At Kwajalein Atoll, a equipment. It also had a distinct th translation, the message said, JASCO attached to the 4 Marine capability that no other Army “Five miles to the right of the Division improved artillery, air, signal unit possessed and designated area and five miles and naval coordination to a that was the assignment of 17 inland, the fighting is fierce and great extent. On hotly contested Comanche Indian “Code Talkers” we need help.” beaches, such as Saipan, JASCO to the division. None of the Comanche’s were casualties were often very The Comanches were killed, but two were seriously high, mainly because the men chosen because their language wounded during the landings. focused on their communications proved valuable for passing Within 15 hours the entire missions instead of providing messages in a native code that division had landed on Utah for their own protection. The could not be broken by the beach and the next day broke Signal Corps JASCOs had enemy. They practiced laying through enemy defenses to link proved indispensable in communications lines and up with elements of the 82nd linking air, ground and naval agreed on Comanche code words Airborne Division at St. Mere communications during complex for particular military terms. Eglise.

Army Communicator 37 African-American Soldiers also played an important role in the wartime Signal Corps, although the Corps remained below its proportionate share of black troops throughout the conflict. Many black units performed construction duties, such as the 275th Signal Construction Company. This unit deployed to Panama in December 1941 to build pole lines. It later served in four campaigns in the European theater.

Filming the War Army Pictorial Center Film Studio Astoria, N.Y. On every battlefield Signal Women’s Army Corps Soldiers Corps cameramen were “shooting The Most Important Message – operate Image Transmission Device, the war” using both still and Cease Fire August 1945 1944 motion photography. Their work provided an outstanding visual During the closing hours Women and Minorities in the record of the conflict. In addition of WWII, the signalers at Signal Corps to covering combat operations, Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces, the Signal Corps produced Pacific in Manila, became part of Both at home and overseas, training and orientation films a radio drama that would bring members of the Women’s Army to explain the war to the public an end to war. Through Swiss Auxiliary Corps later designated and Soldiers who were fighting intermediaries, the Japanese the Women’s Army Corps, it. Hollywood directors such as government agreed to surrender replaced men in message centers Frank Capra and John Huston and be subject to orders of the and switchboards. They also received commissions in the Signal Allied Supreme Commander, GEN worked in film libraries and Corps to produce documentaries. Douglas McArthur. However, laboratories, and performed Capra’s series of, Why We Fight, diplomatic words had to be signal intelligence duties such as films received an Oscar from the translated into military action to cryptography. The Signal Corps Academy of Motion Picture Arts stop the death and destruction employed more WACs than any and Sciences, and he received the throughout thousands of miles of other technical service except the Distinguished Service Cross for his Pacific and Asian battlefields and Chemical Warfare Service. work. oceans. All told, about 5,000 of these One member of Capra’s film At 0900 Manila Time on 15 women worked for the Signal crew was Theodor Seuss Geisel, August 1945, the Signal officer in Corps. who later became famous as the charge of the teletype room read beloved children’s author, Dr. a stunning incoming, in the clear Seuss. Another famous artist was message, for McArthur from the SGT Stanley M. Lieber, known War Department that stated, more commonly as Stan Lee, the creator of Spiderman, who served “YOU ARE HEREBY OFFICIALLY as a playwright and illustrator NOTIFIED OF JAPANESE supporting the visual information CAPITUALTION. YOUR program. DIRECTIVE AS SUPREME Related to the photography COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED mission was V-Mail which used POWERS IS EFFECTIVE.” photography of mail in order to save cargo space in ships and At that point, the circuit failed aircraft. A Soldier filled out a and the OIC and operator froze special V-Mail form which was in disbelief. A moment later, then transferred to film to reduce the teletype operated again, its size and make it easier to repeating the message, followed transport. by instructions for McArthur At the receiving end, the film to contact Tokyo directly to was developed and printed into coordinate an immediate cease- 41/2 by 5-inch reproductions, fire. Knowing the grave urgency to which were then forwarded to the stop further bloodshed, signalers recipient. The service began in the throughout the Pacific theater and summer of 1942 and grew quickly, in Washington began extraordinary from June 1942 with 53,000 efforts to open communications African-American Signal Soldier, letters to over 63 million letters with Japan on any frequency be it 4th Signal Service Company, 1941 processed in April 1944. meteorological, financial, military, or civilian to get McArthur’s

38 Summer - 2010 message through. The office of the takes communications to make ushered in a new age in electronics Chief Signal Officer in Washington him a commander’.” The wartime technology and set the stage for relayed the message to commercial achievements of the Signal Corps even greater success. radio companies 13 Stockholm Sweden; and Madrid, Spain. The signalers at station WTA in sweltering hot Manila were drenched in sweat having been at their teletype keys or radio earphones during 10 hours of frantic effort to contact a Japanese station. Finally, a commercial station, KER in San Francisco, got the attention of Japanese station JUM who responded, “GO AHEAD. SEND 40 WORDS PER MINUTE.” The signalers in Manila had monitored the transmission and shortly after, JUM was directed to talk to WTA in Manila. Suddenly messages began to pour into the Signal Center as stations everywhere had been listening in on one of the greatest radio dramas in history and they wanted to make sure WTA had heard the response. With the circuit established, important messages began to flow between McArthur and the Japanese government. On 16 August the Japanese government sent word,

“HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR ISSUED AN IMPERIAL ORDER AT 1600 O’CLOCK ON AUGUST 16TH TO THE ENTIRE ARMED FORCES TO CEASE HOSTILITIES IMMEDIATELY.” The message that ended the war had gotten through and the U.S. Army Signal Corps personnel and equipment had made it all happen.

Victory! During WWII the Signal Corps produced, installed and maintained communications equipment for the Army’s ground forces and the Army Air Forces. Front Page of Stars & Stripes newspaper announcing the end of WWII GEN Omar Bradley, commander of the 12th Army Group, testified to successful communications by referring to his telephone system as, “the most valued accessory of all.” He said, “From my desk in Luxembourg I was never more than 30 seconds by phone from any of the armies. If necessary, I could have called every division on the line. Signal Corps officers like to remind us that ‘although World War II Victory Medal Congress can make a general, it Army Communicator 39 Beyond the Earth – Project radar antenna succeeded in atomic bomb tests. In 1949, Diana bouncing radar signals off the the Signal Corps provided moon. Project Diana, named electronic support for Following World War II for the Roman goddess of guided missiles, an effort the Signal Corps shrank the moon, demonstrated which grew into the United from 350,000 personnel to that very high frequency States Army Signal Missile an active strength of about radio waves could penetrate Support Agency. With the 50,000. This reduction the ionosphere encircling development of Army missiles however did not curtail the the earth and into space. came the Signal Corps Corps’ scientific studies. On After Project Diana, the mission of providing combat 10 January 1946, Signal Signal Corps broadened surveillance and target Corps scientists, using a its space-related activities acquisition. modified SCR-271 long range and participated in postwar

40 Summer - 2010 An Integrated Army – First Island City, N. Y. During where he coordinated with Sergeant Percy D. Ricks, Jr. WWII, Ricks served in a motion picture industry and transportation unit where commercial manufacturers In June 1946, Percy D. he supervised the shipment for the growing use of color Ricks, Jr. became the first of supplies from the ports photography. This milestone African-American to serve to the front. Following VE was just one of many during as first sergeant of a racially Day, Ricks was discharged the life of a “man of quiet integrated unit at the Signal from the Army but quickly dignity” who was dedicated Corps Photographic Center, reenlisted in the Army in to serving his nation and the Astoria Studios, Long the Signal Corps. He was military profession. assigned to the Signal Corps Photographic Center where he served as first sergeant for the 9440th Technical Support Unit. This action occurred two years before President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 that ended segregation of the Armed Services. In 1953, Ricks was assigned to the 304th Signal battalion in Korea where he was the NCOIC of the Photo Platoon. He returned to the SCPC in 1957 where he became chief of quality control. Ricks final assignment was as the lab representative First Sergeant Percy D. Ricks, Jr.

Army Communicator 41 Cold War Turns Hot - The One signaler believed VHF Army Area Communications Korean Conflict 1950-1953 was the backbone of the System. The AACS featured communications network mobility, self containment, Under the leadership and was “so flexible that alternate routing capability, of MG George I. Back, the it could keep up with the and broad coverage to Signal Corps underwent infantry in the rapid moves widely dispersed units. another wartime expansion that characterized the This system provided a when North Korea invaded fighting in 1950-1951.” reliable multi-axis and South Korea in June 1950. VHF operated using line of multichannel network Signalers were needed to sight which required the which increased assurance operate communications equipment be positioned of command control on from Japan to Korea. Signal on high terrain and could potential atomic battlefields units like the 8035th provide communications over of the future. Signal Service Company mountains, across rivers, established the Eighth Army’s and ship to shore. VHF radio communications system communications in Korea and connected it with the often surpassed expectations. Far East Command’s Signal For example, the 304th troops operating across the Signal Operations Battalion theater and in Japan. For the used AN/GRC-3 and AN/ most part the equipment and GRC-4 sets at ranges beyond methods of communications the twenty-five mile line of were similar to those used in sight specifications. World War II. But, the nature of warfare in a mountainous The Atomic Battlefield and Asian country proved Outer Space Replica of Vanguard 1 Satellite, different when Signal Soldiers circa 1958 learned they had to fight as The concepts of infantry in order to preserve nuclear warfare required communications and their a command control The Signal Corps was a lives. One infantryman system that could pioneer in the satellite commented: “Here they [the cover an extended and and space age. With the enemy] are shooting all over, dispersed battlefield. Any launch of Vanguard I on and those crazy Signal Joes system had to be highly 17 March 1958, it carried are going on laying lines like reliable, have redundant a satellite powered by a nothin’s happening.” capability and enable rapid solar cell developed at the The mountainous terrain communications to all Signal Corps Research and and inadequate roads units regardless of their Development Laboratory. restricted the use of wire wide dispersion. The Signal The first communications and telephone circuits. The Corps had to abandon the satellite, Project SCORE rugged hills hampered radio more traditional single axis (Signal Communications relay teams and relay trucks method of communications via Orbiting Relay were targets of guerilla as in the event of an atomic Equipment), launched on warfare and sabotage. One attack and destruction 18 December 1958 carried solution was use of very of any signal center on a Signal Corps-developed high frequency radio which the axis, communications communications package. proved more dependable would be completely SCORE, a project of the than wire as the primary severed. In response, the Signal Corps Advanced method of communication. Signal Corps developed the Research Project Agency,

42 Summer - 2010 demonstrated that voice, were to be performed headquarters of the situation teletypewriter, and multiple by signal units under before heavy enemy fire teletypewriter signals could tactical commanders in damaged his equipment and be received, stored, and the field, or in the case of knocked out a portion of the then retransmitted by an strategic communications, radio room. SGT Roraback orbiting satellite. the newly established remained at his station and Strategic Communications attempted to repair his radio. 1962 Army Command. When it became apparent Reorganization that this was not possible, he destroyed what was left of The growing authority the equipment, maneuvered of the Department of through hostile fire, and Defense reached a critical manned a light machinegun point Robert S. McNamara to cover the withdrawal of was appointed Secretary friendly forces as long as he of Defense. In 1962 could until captured by the McNamara directed a Viet Cong. complete reorganization Roraback strictly adhered of the Army that included to the Code of Conduct and the break up the stove- proved defiant and verbally piped technical services, MSG Kenneth M. Roraback combative with his captors. including Signal Corps. These acts brought harsher This reorganization treatment upon him but placed the Chief Signal A New War - Vietnam diverted attention from the Officer under the general others. On Sunday, 28 staff supervision of the As early as 1950 the September 1965, “Liberation Deputy Chief of Staff Signal Corps sent advisors Radio” announced the for Operations. The to Vietnam to establish execution of Kenneth Chief Signal Officer an Army Command and Roraback in retaliation for title was discontinued Administrative Network the deaths of 3 terrorists by and became the Chief station in Saigon. After South Vietnamese officials of Communications- the French withdrew in DaNang. The technical Electronics and no longer from Indochina, a U.S. proficiency of Master held duties as branch advisory group remained Sergeant Ken Roraback proponent for the Signal behind to assist the South personifies the training and Corps. Vietnamese and signal dedication of the American The functions of advisors were assigned combat communicator. training, equipment, to each of the country’s doctrine, and operations military regions to provide Communications in were divided between training and other support. Vietnam different major commands. One of those advisors Almost immediately was MSG Kenneth By 1960, a private firm frustrated signal officers M. Roraback, who began building a 7,800 voiced their view that distinguished himself on mile tropospheric scatter the Army Staff lacked “a 24 November 1963, when system from Hawaii to the proper understanding of a large Viet Cong force Philippines. From there the Army communications and attacked Special Forces ACAN system made the final electronics and the role of Camp at Hiep Hoa, Republic jump to Indochina where the Chief Signal Officer.” of Vietnam. Working in the troposcatter equipment in The actual signal missions radio room, he notified higher South Vietnam provided the Army Communicator 43 communications system... has responded brilliantly. No combat operation has been limited by lack of communications. The ingenuity, dedication, and professionalism of the communications personnel are deserving of the highest praise.” During the war, an experimental satellite ground terminal was employed which provided one Fort Gordon, Signal Corps’ new home telephone and one teletype Billboard antennas as Tet, in January 1968, the circuit to Hawaii. Signals North Vietnamese and the were transmitted from Viet Cong launched a general which reflected them Saigon to Hawaii through offensive hoping to defeat the back to earth. To provide a communications satellite United States. During this command and control for launched into a stationary attack, many signal sites signal operations in Vietnam, orbit over the Pacific. The st came under attack and signal the 1 Signal Brigade from experimental synchronous troops suffered hundreds of the US Army Strategic communications satellite casualties defending their Communications Command system known as SYNCOM positions, proving they could served as headquarters for marked the first use of both shoot and communicate. more than 23,000 soldiers satellite communications in a While the communists did and became the largest signal combat zone. It supplied the not achieve the decisive organization ever deployed, first reliable communications victory they had anticipated, with six Signal groups and of high quality into and out of it fueled antiwar sentiment twenty-two Signal battalions. Vietnam. back in the United States.

When President Richard M. Nixon took office in 1969 he directed significant troop withdrawals and implemented “Vietnamization” where the Army conducted an extensive training and modernization program for the South Vietnamese Army. Within 1st Signal Brigade, the “Buddies Together” program matched American signal units with their South Vietnamese GEN W. C. Westmoreland AN/PRC-25 transistorized radio counterparts to help prepare In 1966, GEN William them to take over operation of the fixed-communications C. Westmoreland, TET and Vietnamization commander of Military system. As the war closed the 1st Assistance Command, During the celebration of Signal Brigade decreased in Vietnam, remarked, “The the lunar New Year, known 44 Summer - 2010 Mobile Subscriber Equipment size to less than 2,500 men. Resident School. The first In the cease-fire agreement three classes offered were of January 1973, the US the Nodal Operations agreed to terminate all direct Management Course, the military support to South Transmission Systems Vietnam. The 39th Signal Operator course, and the Battalion, the first signal Network Switching Systems unit to arrive in Vietnam, Operator course. During became the last to leave, 1989, over 500 students and departed in March MSE Shelter trained at the MSE and the 1973. Although Vietnam number doubled to over was a highly controversial MSE. At battalion level and 1,000 in 1990. war, it demonstrated the below, the Army introduced extraordinary communication new VHF-FM combat net capabilities of the U.S. Army. radios, the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Post Vietnam Rebuilding System. and Air Land Battle MSE was first field in February 1988 to the In July 1973 the Army 13th Signal Battalion, 1st placed all of its branch Cavalry Division. As one schools under the newly signalman described it, created Training and “MSE is the equivalent of Doctrine Command. The an advanced telephone Army decided to consolidate system with stationary its signal training at one telephones and mobile installation and on 1 October radio terminals, as well as 1974, Fort Gordon, Ga., facsimile devices and the capability to accommodate became the U.S. Army Signal Signal Regimental Crest Center and Fort Gordon, data terminals.” By dialing the new “home of the Signal a phone number using fixed Corps.” directory numbers, the MSE The U.S. Army Signal In response to the system automatically located Regiment growing Soviet threat, the the party on the battlefield United States began a and connected the call. In To improve unit cohesion massive military buildup. the event of damaged or busy and esprit, Army Chief of Improving and strengthening systems, MSE redirected the Staff GEN Edward C. Meyer the Army’s capability to call using search routing. approved implementation of command and control Other features of the system the U. S. Army Regimental comprised a fundamental included user owned and System in 1981. As originally requirement of the new Air operated facsimile and data conceived, Soldiers would Land battle doctrine. This terminals, call forwarding, affiliate with specific included modernization of digital nonsecure voice regiments for the duration of communications systems terminal telephones for static their military careers. Within at division and corps level users, and mobile subscriber the combat support/combat leading the Army to adopt a radiotelephone for mobile service support branches, the new tactical communications users. system was implemented as architecture known as Mobile In May 1989, the Signal a “whole branch” regiment, Subscriber Equipment, or Center opened the new

Army Communicator 45 Signal Corps regiment. In obligation to implement their weakened by a prolonged June 1986 Fort Gordon was own information systems and campaign in Afghanistan designated as the home of services, including installing, and growing unrest of people the Signal Regiment and operating and maintaining long denied freedom. Soviet the Commanding General their own terminal leader Mikhail Gorbachev of the Signal Center became equipment. championed glasnost the Chief of Signal, thereby Visual information on the (openness) and perestroika reviving the position of battlefield was categorized (restructuring) which led to branch chief that had as COMCAM and Functional discussions with the West been lost in the 1962 VI. COMCAM was performed about the limitations of reorganization. by Signal units organic to arms and force reductions the theater Signal command. between the Warsaw Pact The Information Mission Units, such as psychological and NATO. With the changed Area operations, medical and geo-political environment, public affairs, owned and the United States began to The steadily evolving operated their own VI reconsider its military forces marriage of automation equipment and systems as it tried to ensure it was (computer) systems and in support of battlefield ready for a future war with communications systems led operations. an unknown enemy with the Army to designate the unknown capabilities. Signal Corps as proponent for the Information Mission Area in 1988. This included responsibility for integrating IMA doctrine, organization, training, materiel and leadership for TOE units in the theater/tactical environment. The Signal Corps IMA Integration Office was Berlin Wall comes down, 1989 established with personnel experienced in the five IMA disciplines: communications, End of the Cold War automation, visual information, records In November 1989 the Mikhail Gorbachev management and printing/ unthinkable happened publications. - the Berlin Wall came Especially perplexing down and the borders were was the responsibility for opened for East European records management and nations that for so long been printing/publications on the adversaries of NATO and battlefield, which traditionally the U.S. This tectonic shift had been performed by the in the geo-political world Adjutant General Corps. This changed almost overnight issue of records management U.S. military posture and remained unresolved for strategy. Two years later saw sometime as the Signal Corps the unexpected economic began to implement doctrine and political collapse of the that increased the user’s Soviet Union, which had been

46 Summer - 2010 Army Combat Cameraman documents the invasion of Panama in December 1989

Army Communicator 47 As the U.S. prepared to equipped and led U.S. Army between the United States potentially fight the Soviets was put to work in a wide and Panama had intensified and Warsaw Pact in central variety of operations during and several Americans were Europe, the U.S. Army had which time the operational killed and injured in various invested in the modernization tempo increased to a level acts of violence. To protect of all of its major combat the volunteer army had not American lives, uphold the systems. Improving the witnessed since its inception Panama Canal treaties, and Army’s capability to in 1973. restore democracy to the command and control was a country, the United States fundamental requirement of Operation Just Cause – resorted to a quick military this effort which was oriented Panama 1989-1990 strike called Operation Just on the new AirLand battle Cause on 20 December doctrine. Throughout the last Since the building of 1989. Its success stemmed decade of the cold war, the the Panama Canal the US in part from the close U.S. Army had trained and had maintained a military integration of Signal planners prepared for high intensity presence in that country. who helped develop joint conflict with a peer nation. When GEN Manuel Noriega communications-electronics Instead that well trained, rose to power, tensions operating instructions and

48 Summer - 2010 leveraged interoperability the United States rushed responsibility for all of the between services. The forces to defend Saudi Arabia echelon above corps Signal Signal Corps used man- against potential attack, the assets in the theater that portable tactical satellite Signal Corps became part of included one signal brigade, radios which operated on an accelerated buildup for five signal battalions, a a single-channel; however Operation Desert Shield. communications-electronics the signals could be easily The first stage of the maintenance company detected and jammed, thus communications campaign and a light troposphere limiting their usefulness. As involved supporting the company. Transmission the technology improved, logistical buildup and links included tropo-scatter, however, satellites would the 11th Signal Brigade satellite, line-of-sight and come to play a leading role in installed a state-of-the-art cable to link into the tactical military communications. By communications network communications of the XVIII 31 January 1990, the United in Saudi Arabia. In the Airborne Corps and the VII States had captured Noriega, featureless desert, satellite Corps. stabilized Panama, and communications proved One major challenge for withdrew its forces. essential as they provided signal operations at this level information about weather, was proper communications Operation Desert Shield terrain, and the Global planning. The Joint 1990 – Theater Level Positioning System network Communications Electronic Signal Challenges which made navigation Operating Instructions were possible. not issued until January As the Army struggled to The communications 1991, over four months after understand a political world campaign moved to the troops had been deployed. without the Cold War, Iraq next stage when the 6th Other challenges included invaded the oil-rich nation Signal Command (Theater) need for more trained of Kuwait on 2 August 1990. (Provisional) was activated to TRITAC/DGM personnel, The United States moved manage the communications contractor maintenance quickly to protect its strategic network for ARCENT. The 6th support, and precedence interests in the region. As Signal Command assumed abuse.

Army Communicator 49 To conduct initial equipped divisions and two Revolution in Military defensive operations during with IATACS (AN/TRC-145 Affairs and Digitization Desert Shield, the Army and AN/TTC-41) equipment. deployed the Fort Bragg In addition, the British 1st Though Desert Storm based XVIII Airborne Corps, Armored Division had to was a resounding success, supported by the 35th Signal be integrated into the US it merely validated the Brigade. Because the corps structure, leading another AirLand Battle doctrine and had mechanized, light signaler to state, “whatever organization that had been infantry, and air assault works is doctrine”. designed to fight an enemy infantry units, the 35th When offensive operations who no longer existed. The Signal Bde faced unique began on 24 February, the U.S. military would struggle communications challenges. true test of the signal network trying to discern who a The Corps Commander, LTG began. At the division level, future enemy might be and Gary E. Luck would remark, the 143rd Signal battalion what type of force structure “I am a big believer in the provided the 3rd Armored would be needed to deal Signal Corps, always have Division a well planned and with them. When the United been. It was a crucial part of executed support plan for States suffered an economic our business in Southwest using MSE. It designed a recession in the early 1990s, Asia, and it worked perfectly.” two node base and a chain of there was pressure to obtain a node centers 30 kilometers “peace dividend” by reducing Operation Desert Storm apart along the axis of the Army’s force structure 1991 – Triumph of MSE advance, a distance of over from sixteen divisions to ten. 150 kilometers. This “daisy Army doctrine also shifted When the VII Corps began chain” method was used for toward projecting power deploying from Germany in the movement to contact from U.S. bases, rather than November 1991 two things upon which the 143rd would maintaining large overseas became clear. The cold war revert to its normal MSE forces. in Europe was really over, configuration. Plans however The Army began and operations in the gulf changed rapidly as the attack transforming into smaller, were about to transition began 13 hours earlier than lighter, and more agile forces. into an offensive mode. planned, challenging the Reduction in force structure Supporting the VII Corps was division signalers to keep up could be offset by using the the 93rd Signal Brigade which with the forward brigades. latest digital and micro-chip deployed 1,700 items of To add pressure, the Corps technology, particularly in equipment and 2,500 soldiers Commander, LTG Franks the realm of communications. who would eventually install spent a lot of time in the The result was the a network over 75,000 square division’s TAC but was able digitization of the tactical kilometers. to maintain contact with force, known as Force XXI. One of the most ARCENT throughout the The 4th Infantry Division at challenging aspects of advance. Franks later stated, Fort Hood, Texas, became deployment was the “3rd Armored Division had the test bed for experiments different generations of the best communications in using digital technology signal equipment that the Corps.” MSE had been oriented toward obtaining needed to interface with proven and the Signal Corps information dominance each other. One thing was had performed admirably, over future adversaries. certain according to one prompting MG Paul E. Funk, Digitization would also signal officer, “The thirst CG of 3AD to say, “During enable joint operations and for communications could Operation Desert Storm, the the Army participated in not be supported.” The division Signalers truly earned fielding the Secret Internet VII Corps had two MSE their combat pay.” Protocol Router Network, a 50 Summer - 2010 Croatia, Macedonia, and classified network similar to New Technology and New Bosnia-Herzegovina. The the Internet for exchanging Missions – The Balkan most violence occurred in operational plans and Quagmire information. The Non- Bosnia-Herzegovina, an area with a Muslim majority where Secure Internet Protocol One concern from Desert a grisly campaign of “ethnic Router Network was used Storm was the avoidance cleansing” began. The United to exchange less sensitive of friendly fire, as several States joined other members information. Together casualties had been caused of NATO to enforce peace with the Joint Worldwide by fratricide. To address accords signed at Dayton, Intelligence Communications this issue, technology called Ohio, in the fall of 1995. System, these networks Blue Force Tracking allowed In a land ravaged by comprised the Defense commanders nearly real- years of civil war, the U.S. Information Systems time situational awareness Army’s Signal units proved Network. and the ability to view the essential to the restoration disposition of friendly forces of communications. The Contingency Operations on a computer screen. BFT violence continued when a and Humanitarian Support improved upon the GPS massive Muslim majority available during Desert in Kosovo desired greater Crises in several regions Shield/Storm. In addition autonomy and the Serbs during the 1990s prompted to friendly locations, BFT began ethnically cleansing U.S. leaders to intervene provided Soldiers with the Kosovars. NATO launched with American forces. These information on terrain and a successful air campaign included Operation Provide danger zones, such as mine in 1999 that was followed Comfort in northern Iraq fields. up with a U.S. ground and southern Turkey, where Other equipment included stabilization force. Although aid was provided to Kurdish the Enhanced Position U. S. Army Signal units refugees driven from their Location Reporting System. did not participate in large homes. In Somalia, the EPLRS became a critical numbers, Signal Soldiers United States conducted component of the Army’s nevertheless supplied Operations Provide Relief tactical signal network critical communications and Restore Hope in 1992, to and could be carried on a infrastructure. After nearly help victims of famine caused Soldier’s back, mounted ten years of providing support by a devastating drought. In in vehicles, or installed to the region, the U.S. stood September 1994, U.S. troops in aircraft. Its automatic down its contingent and a deployed to Haiti to restore relaying capability extended stabilization force from the a democratically elected the radio’s range. Because European Union remained on president in Operation EPLRS was compatible duty to ensure the peace. Uphold Democracy. At home with sets used by the other signal units responded to a services, joint interoperability series of natural disasters was achieved. including Hurricane Andrew In Eastern Europe, in Florida and Louisiana in long-suppressed rivalries

August 1992 and Hurricane between ethnic groups in Iniki in Hawaii the following the former Yugoslavia grew month. as the totalitarian state disintegrated. Between 1991 and 1992, four of the nation’s J-STARS wide-area surveillance six republics declared system developed by the Army independence: Slovenia, and the Air Force

Army Communicator 51 The War on Terrorism on fire, all the phones just September 2001 attacks. Its started to ring at once…. leader, Osama bin Laden, The unthinkable occurred Our NCOIC had come in had a base of operations when terrorists attacked to the switchboard to help in Afghanistan, where the the United States on 11 the supervisor out because repressive Taliban regime September 2001. One of he was talking on three helped shelter terrorist the lessons learned from different phones at once. training camps. the response to this attack For many departments of was the poor state of the Government 9-11 was a emergency communications wakeup call. It was our job within the United States. to ensure their procedures Interoperability was not were equal to our standards just a military problem - it and that department heads extended to the civilian realm and cabinet members could as well. The Signal Corps communicate to the White quickly found their capability House.” and expertise in demand as In the aftermath of 9/11, one Signal non-commissioned the United States embarked officer working in the White on what became known as House Communications the War on Terrorism. Al Agency stated, “It seemed like Qaeda, an Islamic extremist Aftermath of terrorist attack on the switchboard just caught group, organized the World Trade Center, New York City

52 Summer - 2010 Operation Enduring urgency of the mission was another day. Freedom – Afghanistan reflected by one NCO from Operation Iraqi Freedom the 54th Signal Battalion An American air and who stated, “I prepared The victory in Afghanistan missile campaign against the two TACSAT teams for the encouraged the United Taliban on 7 October 2001, mission. Without knowing States to initiate further marked the start of Operation what they were to expect military operations in the Enduring Freedom. It was once they got there, we war against terrorism. Iraqi followed by the insertion prepared our teams the dictator Saddam Hussein’s of Joint Special Operating best we could with what ties to international terrorism Forces teams who joined little information we were represented a continuing forces with the loosely given. Looking back, the threat to the stability of organized Northern Alliance. only thing we did not take the Middle East. In March Not only was the topography into account was that the 2003 the United States, challenging, Afghanistan was climate in Afghanistan with support from Great a primitive and impoverished was a lot different. . . Our Britain, invaded Iraq in what country with little teams were sent with very was named Operation Iraqi existing communications little cold weather gear, Freedom. American ground infrastructure. Because and since Camp Doha had forces, aided by precision line of sight signaling was none to send, we had to air strikes, advanced toward severely hampered by the ship it to our teams from Baghdad. rugged landscape, satellite- the States.” The success For Signal Soldiers, the based communication was of Operation Anaconda focus was on moving, survival essential. in March 2002 led to and providing uninterrupted Elements of the 11th the collapse of organized communications to Signal Brigade began Taliban resistance. Most combat Soldiers. A series deploying to the region of its forces dispersed of sandstorms hit the in November 2001 to into the mountains on the advancing 3rd Infantry install satellite terminals, Afghanistan and Pakistan Division posing challenges data networks, and other border. By eluding capture, to communications. An S-6 necessary equipment. The they could return to fight officer in an armor battalion

Army Communicator 53 Lessons Learned – Joint company at an outlying site Network Node to now make phone calls via voice over internet protocol Operation Iraqi Freedom and send emails through the provided some important use of their CPN, connected lessons for the Signal Corps. to the JNN via the KU From Desert Shield/Storm, satellite link. As one Signal Signal Soldiers understood warrant officer remarked, that environmental factors “The move from MSE to JNTC such as heat, sand, was equivalent to graduating and high winds would kindergarten and going Dust storms in Iraq make military present challenges for straight to college. The lack operations difficult communications equipment. of knowledge was not just During OIF they discovered in operating the equipment, our enemy; sand storms that MSE and TRI-TAC but understanding the were devastating at times equipment that relied on architecture. Even I, who without the use of RETRANS terrestrial radio relay could should be the technical in place. During our battle not keep pace with fast- expert, had difficulties of the Al Kifl Bridge on moving forces operating over in grasping some of the 24 March through 27 huge distances. Moreover, concepts”. March 2003, the sand the voice switch network storms were so fierce that could not handle the huge our FM communications amounts of digital data being capabilities were decreased transmitted. to eight kilometers using To overcome these our power amplifiers.” One obstacles, the Army quickly NCO from the 123rd Signal developed and fielded the Battalion recalled, “Many Joint Network Node system times during the initial into its architecture to push I thought that I just provide needed satellite links might die but we pushed and data transport. The Joint Network Node shelter on and we all survived. Our JNN was mounted inside mission was to supply the of a shelter mounted on a DTAC [Division Tactical HMMV and included a series Transformation during Headquarters] element with of routers, call-managers, a Wartime – Division and flawless line of sight and media converter, TACLAN, Below satellite communications. and encryption devices to It really gave me a sense of provide secure and non- In 1999, Army Chief of purpose to know that our secure voice and data Staff GEN Erik K. Shinseki brothers and sisters on the capabilities. The data was had initiated transformation battle field were counting transmitted through a KU of the Army’s force structure on us in order for them to band satellite, standard issue to convert it into a lighter, communicate.” with JNNs and the Command more agile, brigade-based By 7 April the 3d Post Node, or via line of sight. organization. This approach Infantry Division had The CPN is a smaller package allowed it to tailor its units captured Baghdad and of the JNN equipment and to fit the mission rather the Signal Soldiers of the used at battalion or lower than adhere to a fixed division had played a critical levels. This system allowed organizational model, such part in that success. units such as an infantry as a division. In fact, the

54 Summer - 2010 brigades would contain 2006. The 7th Signal Center at Fort George G. Meade, combat, combat support and activated at Fort Gordon, Ga., Md. Although photography combat support capability in 2007. A seventh center, had long been a Signal that had once been held located at Fort Belvoir, Va., Corps function, the Army at division level. This designated the 1st Signal had not had any separate concept would evolve into Center, performed similar photographic companies “modularity” or the modular functions at the army level since World War II. One brigade combat team. and coordinated with other NCO of the 55th explained For the Signal Corps, Army and Department of the challenges of this unique the transition to “modular” Defense agencies. These Signal mission, “We don’t get units resulted in significant centers would provide a lot of opportunity to train changes. The traditional regional hubs for the Army’s with the units we support division signal battalion was information network and down range . . . but we train inactivated and the signal link each region with DOD’s with as many as we can to companies were incorporated Global Information Grid, to try and educate them on into the new brigade establish a joint, integrated, Combat Camera as much special troop’s battalion. and secure network. The as possible… [We] have to Newly created maneuver Army’s portion of the GIG, come in as seamlessly as enhancement brigades known as LandWarNet, will possible. And if you don’t included an embedded bring voice, video, and data to come in seamlessly, you’re signal company as did some tactical formations, down to not going to be included on sustainment brigades. Signal the individual Soldier. the missions. Pretty much, if companies were also placed Meanwhile, some EAC you’re not a battlefield asset within the new battlefield Signal battalions underwent then you’re going to be a surveillance brigades. a transformation to an liability and you’re not going The first division to “expeditionary” configuration. to go. Point blank. I mean convert to the new “modular” These units were capable of they’re not there to baby sit organizational concept was employing network assets you. If they were, we’d be the 3d Infantry Division. It to support the increasing Public Affairs.” underwent transformation number of medium and This was demonstrated in 2003 after its first tour small command posts. when one 55th Soldier, in Iraq during 2003. In While primarily a theater Specialist Michael Carter, accordance with the new asset, these battalions received the Silver Star for modular configuration, the could be employed to heroism in Afghanistan. 123d Signal Battalion was provide direct support to a While attached to a inactivated at Fort Stewart on corps, division, or a brigade Special Forces unit in 15 March 2004. combat team. Organized the Shok Valley during as modular organizations, April 2008, Carter helped Echelons Above Corps such units could be tailored repel an enemy ambush, Transformation to meet specific mission rescue and evacuate the requirements. wounded, and assist with At the theater level, the the reestablishment of Signal Corps created a new Combat Camera – communications with higher unit, the Signal Center, to Documenting the War headquarters after the perform network operations communications specialist and security management. The Signal Corps regained was shot. For over six The Army activated the its historical photography hours, SPC Carter fought 2d through the 6th Signal mission on 16 November alongside his comrades and Centers, at locations around 1993 when the 55th Signal successfully prevented the the world during 2005 and Company was activated Army Communicator 55 position from being overrun. the time Katrina struck, most thing that has remained Since 2003, five of the states had organized civil constant for the Signal company’s members have support teams that possessed Corps has been the need for received the Purple Heart satellite communications competent and dedicated and more than thirty have capability. Soldiers. Beginning with earned the Bronze Star. Albert J. Myers’ vision of a Spectrum Management group of technical specialists and leaders trained to The proliferation of provide communications personal electronic devices capabilities to enhance has profoundly changed the commander’s ability to the modern battlefield. command and control, the Weapons such as improvised Soldiers of the U.S. Army explosive devices, often Signal Corps have been detonated via cell phones, dedicated to that mission. make control of the electronic Though the technologies spectrum a critical issue. In change and transform, SPC Michael Carter, 55th Signal Co., recognition of the need for the challenges to provide Combat Cameraman and Silver Star better bandwidth control, communications have recipient the Signal Corps in 2007 remained constant. More created a new military important than technology Humanitarian Aid – occupational specialty 25E, have been the people –– Support to Civilian electromagnetic spectrum the men and women, the Authorities manager. With competition Soldiers and leaders ––who for use of the spectrum so have made success on the Though deployed fierce both within and among battlefields of our history around the world, the the services, the Signal possible. From Bull Run to Signal Corps still provided Corps has had to find ways Baghdad unless the message vital support at home. to use it more wisely, such gets through –– whether When Hurricane Katrina as with the new Warfighter by wigwag or WIN-T –– the ravaged the Gulf coast in Information Network-Tactical. battle is lost. Thus, in June August 2005, it destroyed When completed, this 2010 the Signal Corps the communications network will connect units celebrates 150 years of infrastructure from telephone across all echelons with high- ensuring that the message lines to cell phone towers. bandwidth voice, video, and always gets through! In response, the Army data systems. deployed some of its newest communications technology to the region, to include the mobile satellite terminals of the Joint Network Node. Electromagnetic Spectrum National Guard units responded to the emergency Change and Continuity in great numbers, but were hampered by a lack Today, the Signal Corps’ of communications gear. communicators have become Much of their equipment had such an integral part of the been left behind in Iraq and Army’s combat effectiveness Afghanistan at the end of that it is hard to imagine their tours. Fortunately, by warfare without them. One 56 Summer - 2010 In this photo, a Signal Corps Soldier erects a satellite dish, 2010

Army Communicator 57 in company with Captain By Steven J. Rauch Army of the Potomac, beginning Benyaurd, U.S. Engineers, Command Historian in November 1864. By April 1865, and my orderly, Private U.S. Army Signal Center of near the war’s end, he was working Lane, and in advance of Excellence as an orderly for LT P.H. Niles, a the army, we pursued and Signal Corps officer. Lane served in captured 7 rebels, viz, 2 During the course of its 150 the Army of the Potomac throughout naval officers, 1 engineer, year history, the U.S. Army Signal the Civil War and was honorably 1 acting signal officer Corps has had five individuals discharged on 24 June 1865. (all of the rebel gun-boat recognized for acts of personal Lane achieved recognition in Nansemond), and 3 enlisted bravery or sacrifice above and men. The flag of the gun- beyond the call of duty through boat Nansemond was award of the Medal of Honor. The secured from one of these Medal of Honor is the highest enlisted men by Second- U.S. military award and since its Class Private Morgan D. inception in 1862, it has been Lane, U.S. Signal Corps. awarded to approximately 3,400 individuals out of the millions who In early 1866, Lane sent a slight- have served in the U.S. Armed ly different version of the events from Forces. Nile’s official report to Congressman Second Class Private Charles Upson of Michigan. Lane Morgan D. Lane (1866) stated: Pvt Morgan D. Lane was On the 6th day of April the first Signal Corps Medal of Pvt Morgan D. Lane’s grave in Kansas 1865, on Lee’s retreat from Honor recipient. He achieved this Richmond at Jetersville, distinction in the last days of the April 1865 at a small village called Virginia, I had the honor of Civil War during the Confederate Jetersville, Virginia, midway between capturing the Commanding retreat to Appomattox. Petersburg and Appomattox during Officer of the rebel gunboat the pursuit of GEN Robert E. Lee’s Nansemond… (He) blew Morgan Lane was born in army. The Confederate naval forces up his boat, put its flag on Monroe, New York in 1844 and on the Appomattox River also his person and left with the worked as a farmer before his attempted to escape capture and Army. I took him prisoner enlistment in the US Army. He tried to burn the CSS Nansemond, and secured his flag. Cap- was his mother’s only living son, an 80-ton wooden steamer armed tain Chas L. Davis…took as six others had died as young with a battery of two guns. Lane, the flag from me, gave me a boys. Lane’s military service Niles, and an engineer captain were furlough of thirty days from began when he enlisted on 22 then manning a small signal station the 22nd of April until the August 1862 in Company I, atop a house in Jetersville, when 22nd of May, promising to 5th Michigan Cavalry regiment they observed the Nansemond’s crew forward the flag to the War at Allegan, Michigan. During attempting to flee. Niles provided Department and secure for his service in the cavalry, Lane a description of what happened me a Gold Medal. I have rose to the rank of sergeant. In next to CPT Charles L. Davis, Chief never seen or heard any- March 1864, he transferred to the Signal Officer of the Army of the thing of the medal. If you newly created Signal Corps and Potomac, on 20 April 1865: can find any reason why was appointed as a second class I have never received the private on 1 April 1864. He served On the 6th of April 1865, same reward others did I 30as a Winter signalman - 2010 in the V Corps, near Jetersville, Virginia, would like to have you do 58 Summer - 2010 Pvt Morgan D. Lane was a common Sol- dier who preformed his duty faithfully and effectively during his ser- vice in the U.S. Army and the Signal Corps. His moment of glory resulted in the award of the high- est honor the nation could bestow and the distinction as the first Signal Corps Soldier to so receive the Medal of Honor. if it He was inducted as a distin- can guished member of the Signal be done Regiment in 1997. at a reasonable expense. SGT Will Croft Barnes (1882) Upson Will Croft Barnes received the forwarded Lane’s nation’s highest award for his action letter to the War during the conflicts on the Ameri- Department, which can western frontier. In addition to tried to locate Nan- being a Soldier, Barnes became a SGT Will Croft Barnes semond’s flag to prominent Arizona rancher, a legis- substantiate Lane’s lator, a conservationist, and a recog- arrived at Fort Apache in February claim, but the flag could not nized writer. be found. In March 1866, Lane’s let- 1880, Barnes found it hardly a fort ter reached the Chief Signal Officer, Will Croft Barnes was born in at all, but more of a camp and not COL Benjamin F. Fisher. Fisher en- San Francisco, California on 21 well equipped. There Barnes con- dorsed it using Captain Davis’ April June 1858 and spent his earliest ducted duties as the post telegra- 1865 report but with the correction years in Gold Hill, Nev., a mining pher and weather observer. During that Lane had secured the flag from camp. Barnes’ father, Enos Rollins 1881 Barnes sent over 4,000 mes- an enlisted man and not the Nan- Barnes, died when Will was seven, sages and four daily meteorology re- semond’s commander as Lane had and for the next eleven years, he and ports to the Office of the Chief Signal stated. Fisher’s endorsement was his mother lived in LaPorte, Indiana, Officer in Washington, DC. all the evidence the War Department then, Lake Calhoun, Minnesota and The 1880s were punctuated by needed to award the Medal of Honor finally settled in Indianapolis, Indi- Indian uprisings throughout the to Lane on 16 March 1866. On 17 ana. Barnes’ formal education con- American West, and Arizona had its April 1866, a letter of notification sisted of only a few years of sporadic share of turbulence. Trouble with was forwarded to Lane informing schooling. Apaches in the area surrounding him that he received that honor. Fort Apache in late August and early On 1 July 1879, when Barnes September 1881, not only tested the After Lane’s discharge from the was twenty-one, he enlisted in the garrison but also demonstrated the Army, he returned to Michigan and Signal Corps for five years. He courage of Will Barnes. When an later spent much of his life as an attended Signal School at Fort Apache medicine man called “Nock- insurance salesman. As a veteran, Whipple (now Fort Myer), Virginia, aye-de-Klinny” began predicting he sought compensation for various where he studied flag, torch, and the defeat of the white men and the ailments such as rheumatism and telegraph signaling. He also learned return of Indians to power, conflict heart disease. Since he had never the rudiments of meteorology, erupted. been officially hospitalized, he was weather observation and reporting, unable to convince the Pension Of- which were then functions of the On 29 August 1881 the Fort fice that his disability was service Signal Corps. On completing his Apache commander, Colonel Eugene connected, although testimony on course, Barnes was certified as a A. Carr, set out with 117 men to ar- his behalf agreed that exposure in telegrapher and assistant weather rest the Indian leader who was at a the field was to blame. A bill was observer and was sent to help village on Cibeque Creek. Barnes introduced to Congress on his be- construct a section of the Atlantic remained behind at the fort with half and an examining board found coastal telegraph lines that ran from about 70 other Soldiers and civil- him,”badly disabled with rheuma- Lewes Delaware to Chincoteague, ians, who had been cut off from wire tism and heart disease.” The Senate Va. communication by the Indians. Un- concurred and the bill became law In December 1879, Barnes certain about the status of Carr’s ex- on 22 February 1891 awarding Lane was assigned to a divisional head- pedition, which rumor reported had a pension of $17.00 a month. Less quarters in San Diego, Calif. While been destroyed, Barnes volunteered than a year later, Morgan Lane died enroute, he was promoted to first- to go atop a 2,000 foot mesa alone on 19 July 1892. He is buried in the class private. Upon reaching San and use his signal flags to alert the Mount Vernon Cemetery in Atchi- Diego, he received orders assigning post to any threatening Indian ac- tivity. Instead of Indian son, Kansas. him to FortArmy Apache, Communicator Ariz. When he 31 Army Communicator 59 movements, however, Barnes was inspector of grazing management able to signal the return of Carr’s in the National Forests. Among column, which had defeated Nock- Barnes’s accomplishments were the aye-de-Klinny. preservation of wild game, forest management, and winning Congres- During further operations, sional approval for a program to Barnes found himself involved in prevent the extinction of longhorn several skirmishes while continu- cattle. ing to get messages through via After retiring in 1928, Barnes mounted courier. He also went served as secretary for the United out on 8-9 September 1881 with States Geographic Board and an armed escort to repair the tele- worked for two years in the board’s graph line. Barnes’ abilities as a offices including the Map Division Soldier and signalman impressed of the Library of Congress. He left his superiors for being, “prompt government service entirely on 1 and unhesitating in the discharge July 1930. During retirement, of all duties assigned to him, Barnes gained recognition as a more than once being exposed to writer, publishing songs and books. great danger.” These actions were His crowning achievement was pub- mentioned by Carr in a dispatch lication of Arizona Place Names in in which he recommended that 1935. Barnes’s memoirs, Apaches Barnes receive the Medal of Honor and Longhorns: The Reminiscences for: of Will C. Barnes were published posthumously. Barnes died at age His gallantry in action in 78 in Phoenix, Arizona on 18 De- the attack by Indians on cember 1936. Several resolutions MG Charles E. Kilbourne, Jr. the post September 1st were passed by the Arizona legisla- 1881. Besides this par- ture in his honor recognizing him as ticular act of gallantry Pvt one of Arizona’s most eminent and with MG Arthur MacArthur’s Barnes is entitled to great outstanding citizens. In 1937, his expedition to the Philippine credit for good conduct & ashes were interred at Arlington Na- Islands, where he participated in attention to duty during tional Cemetery. the campaign against Spanish the trying period, from Aug th th Will Croft Barnes was forces that resulted in the seizure 29 to Sept 10 , as well as of Manila. When the Philippine at all times while on duty esteemed by thousands for his active, energetic, and enthusiastic Insurrection began in February here, and particularly for 1899, Kilbourne earned a place in going out with one man to personality, a man who was always interested in people and public history by winning the Medal of repair the line, when it was Honor for his actions where he: supposed that Indians service to which he dedicated his were lurking near the road. life. He once said, “When you hear that I am dead, do not shed any Within a range of two hundred and fifty yards On 8 November 1882, GEN tears. I have had the best life a man ever lived.” Barnes was inducted of the enemy and in the William T. Sherman, Commanding face of rapid fire climbed a General of the Army, approved the as a distinguished member of the Signal Regiment in June 1998. telegraph pole at the east award. The authorized inscription end of the [Paco] bridge on the medal read: and in full view of the MG Charles E. Kilbourne Jr. st enemy coolly and carefully The Congress to 1 Class Pri- (1905) repaired a broken telegraph vate Will C. Barnes, Signal Corps, st wire, thereby reestablishing for bravery in action, September 1 Charles Evans Kilbourne Jr. is telegraphic communication 1881, at Fort Apache, A.T. the only Signal officer to win the to the front. Medal of Honor while performing a In the spring of 1883 Barnes, combat communications mission. Kilbourne later applied for and who by then had been promoted A Signal Corps officer’s son, born was accepted as an infantry officer to sergeant, received the medal in at Fort Myer in 1872, Kilbourne in the 14th Infantry Regiment a retreat ceremony at Fort Apache. spent most of his boyhood years at of the Regular Army. During Barnes remained at Fort Apache Army installations and eventually 1900 he found himself helping until he contracted a serious eye graduated from Virginia Military suppress the Boxer Rebellion in ailment, which led to his discharge Institute in 1894. He became an China by leading his platoon in from the Army on 15 September observer with the U.S. Weather the assault that captured the 1883. Bureau until the war with Spain in Imperial City Gates in Peking. He 1898. later transferred to the artillery He became a cattle rancher near and rose in rank in various Holbrook, Arizona until the turn of When America went to war, assignments, including the the century, when the cattle market Kilbourne joined the Volunteer establishment of an elaborate declined. In 1900, Barnes moved to Signal Corps, an expansion of the defensive-fortifications system on New Mexico where he served in the regular Signal Corps tasked with Corregidor Island. During World territorial legislature and in 1906 providing tactical communications War I he served in France as the gave up ranching. Between 1906 to the rapidly expanding Army. chief of staff of the 89th Infantry and 1930, Barnes became interested Kilbourne was assigned to First Division and was wounded by a in land conservation and became an Company, VSC and shipped out mortar shell. His performance at

60 Summer - 2010 the battle of St. Mihiel earned him officer, Johnston was not happy Division in October 1918 and his the Distinguished Service Cross. In with this turn of fate and soon found leadership during the Meuse- October 1918, he was promoted to himself back in the Philippines, this Argonne operations garnered him brigadier general and commanded time as a Signal officer. However, award of the Distinguished Service both the 36th Artillery Brigade and he did his duties and was noted for Medal in 1919. In July 1920 he the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 2d his “zeal and intelligent interest in became a lieutenant colonel in the Division. His performance of duty in laying the Lake Ianao cable” by the Regular Army, was promoted to these assignments earned him the chief signal officer of the Department colonel in 1929. Distinguished Service Medal. He of Mindanao. On 7 March 1906, he Johnston died at age 59 from was the only Soldier at that time distinguished himself at Mount Bud- injuries suffered during a polo to hold the nation’s three highest Dajo where, according to a report accident at Fort Sam Houston, awards. by Major Omar Bundy, Johnston Texas on 7 March 1934. Camp “voluntarily joined me on the trail Gordon Johnston, a 155,000-acre Upon the postwar reduction of at daybreak ... before the advance World War II training installation in the Army, Kilbourne reverted to his began and accompanied me to coastal Franklin County, Florida, permanent rank of major in the the last trench below the cottage. was named for him. Regular Army, attended the Army When the charge was ordered, while War College in Washington, D.C. gallantly raising himself up to gain and later became a course director a foothold to climb up in advance MG Adolphus W. Greely at the college. Kilbourne ended of the others, he was severely (1935) his military career in 1936 as a wounded. For this especially brave major general and later served as action, which distinguished his Adolphus Washington Greely the superintendent of the Virginia conduct above that of his comrades, served most of his long Army Military Institute for nine years. I recommend that he be given a career in the Signal Corps. Greely Kilbourne died in November 1963. medal of honor.” was unique in that his Medal of He is buried in Arlington National Honor was awarded by special Cemetery, not far from his birthplace Bundy’s recommendation at Fort Myer. act of Congress for service, that Johnston be awarded the joining the elite ranks of Richard Medal of Honor was approved by Byrd, Floyd Bennett and Charles COL Gordon Johnston (1910) the commanding general of the Philippines Division. Johnston did Lindbergh as the only people to Gordon Johnston, was born not receive his medal, however, until receive a Medal of Honor as a in Charlotte, North Carolina, the 7 November, 1910. In December “special legislation” award. only son of former confederate 1906, Johnston was restored into Greely, born in Newburyport, general Robert Daniel Johnston. He the cavalry and began rapidly Massachusetts in 1844, graduated from Princeton University advancing in rank. Following brief enlisted in 1861 in the 19th in 1896 where he had excelled at duties serving in the New York Massachusetts Volunteer football, then went on to be the national guard as a regular officer, Infantry. He saw action on head coach of the University of Johnston was given a commission some of the Civil War’s bloodiest North Carolina football team that as an infantry officer. Johnston battlefields where he was year, attaining a record of 3-4-1 served as chief of staff for the 82d wins, losses, and ties. A short wounded three times. After stint in the insurance business rising to sergeant, Greely held no appeal for him so when the accepted a commission in 1863 conflict with Spain arose; Johnston with the 81st U. S. Colored quickly enlisted to serve in the Troops. By the end of the Civil Spanish-American War. He served War, Greely was a brevet major with Troop M, 1st U.S. Volunteer and from 1866 to 1867 he Cavalry (better known as the Rough commanded black troops during Riders), where both Leonard Wood the occupation of New Orleans. and Theodore Roosevelt came to admire his military skills during battles such as Las Guasimas and In 1867 Greely was San Juan Hill. In 1899, Roosevelt commissioned as a second recommended that Johnston be lieutenant in the Regular offered a commission as a second Army and assigned to the lieutenant and he eventually served 36th Infantry. In 1869 he was in the Philippines where he won the detailed into the Signal Corps Distinguished Service Cross while and served during the campaign fighting insurgents in 1901. against the Cheyenne Indians. In 1870 he was assigned to the In October 1902 Johnston Signal Office in Washington, became a first lieutenant and graduated from the Army’s infantry D.C where his duty was to help and cavalry school as the honor COL Albert J. Myer organize graduate. However, in September the meteorological service. In 1903 he was detailed to the Signal 1881 Greely volunteered to lead Corps due to a law that provided for an Arctic weather expedition to officer vacancies to be filled by line Ellesmere Island in northern officers for four years. As a cavalry COL Gordon Johnston Canada.

Army Communicator 61 the Arctic, Greely was promoted but he remained active in public to captain. In March 1887, life. He was a founding member following the death of Brig. Gen. of the National Geographic William B. Hazen, President Society and the first president Grover Cleveland advanced of the Explorers’ Club in New Greely from captain to brigadier York City. Greely lectured general and appointed him as frequently and wrote a number Chief Signal Officer. Greely of articles and books, including served as Chief Signal Officer for his memoir, Reminiscences of the next 19 years, the longest Adventure and Service: A Record tenure of any person in that of Sixty-five Years, published in post. 1927. On his 91st birthday, 27 March 1935, he was presented Greely fought political with a special Medal of Honor battles to save the Signal Corps’ which read: existence, including the transfer of the Weather Bureau to the For his life of splendid Department of Agriculture public service, begun on in 1891. Under Greely, the March 27, 1844, having Signal Corps was a leader enlisted as a private in in technological innovation the United States Army including use of wireless on July 26, 1861, and by telegraphy, the airplane, the successive promotions MG Adolphus W. Greely automobile and other modern was commissioned as a devices. After directing the major general February Greely’s party amassed a Signal Corps through the great deal of data on Arctic Spanish-American War, he 10, 1906, and retired by weather but was devastated was promoted to major general operation of law on his by starvation when relief ships in February 1906. Greely was sixty-fourth birthday. failed to reach them for two assigned to command the Pacific successive summers. Of the Division where he coordinated Greely died later that year original twenty-five members, relief activities during the San at his home in Washington, only Greely and five others Francisco earthquake of 1906. D.C. Fort Greely, Alaska, survived the ordeal. While in MG Greely retired in 1908, now bears his name.

62 Summer - 2010 Signal song enhances esprit de corps

By Daniel A. Brown Historian/ Archivist U.S. Army Signal Center of Excellence History Office Editor’s Note: The following is an abbreviated account about the origins of the “official song” of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Much of the research is based on a more comprehensive account written by LTC USA (Ret) Gustave E. Vitt, in a two-part article in previous editions of the Army Communicator. Vitt was a former leader of the Signal Corps Band and an acquaintance with many of the personalities Members of the 434th U.S. Army Band, also known as the Signal Corps Band identified in the following story. Vitt’s articles, “The Legend of the perform at the First Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga. Song of the Signal Corps” appeared in the fall 1980 and winter 1981 a radiogram to Saltzman con- Olmstead visited Fort Monmouth editions of the Army Communica- taining the words and music of to meet with the bandleader, War- tor. In commemoration of the 150th the proposed Signal Corps song rant Officer Wheeler W. Sidwell, anniversary of the Signal Corps composed by his wife. Saltzman and others to discuss how to meet and to ensure the current genera- then forwarded the Olmstead piece these objectives. tion of Signal Soldiers is aware of titled “Song of the Signal Corps” to After several months of hard the facts, this summary has been the U.S. Army Music School which work and a revision of the lyrics compiled. had been designated as the review by Mrs. Olmstead, Warrant Of- Throughout the history of the authority for the official songs pro- ficer Sidwell completed the new Signal Corps, many songs and gram arrangement early in 1931. The marches have been composed, Mrs. Olmstead’s song debuted march quickly received the chief often by amateur songwriters, to in public in March 1927 during a signal officer’s approval. honor the exploits of the men and Signal Corps dinner in Washing- Between 1931 and World War women who have ensured the ton, D.C. A dance orchestra played II, the song changed little except message got through. However, the “Song of the Signal Corps” for the addition of one verse. Dur- only two musical compositions while the entire gathering sang the ing the war several new arrange- have ever received the designation words from mimeographed hand- ments and some slight variation “official.” outs. The orchestral arrangement in lyrics were made in an attempt The story of the first official was credited to Warrant Officer to update the piece. The “Song of song began in 1923 when Secre- T. Darcy of the U.S. Army Music the Signal Corps” appeared in the tary of War John W. Weeks. an- School. MG Saltzman critiqued 1941 Army Song Book published nounced his desire that regimental the song as having “pep and by the Army Music School and commanders and chiefs of branch- swing, and better still, its own dis- distributed throughout the Army. es adopt a song to enhance esprit tinctive charm.” The expansion of the U.S. Army de corps. He stipulated that the Before making a final decision, in 1940 and the subsequent mo- song should reflect past exploits however, MG Saltzman wanted bilization after 7 December 1941 and achievements of their organi- the song to be tested by the en- brought many talented persons zation in Army history. tire Corps. In a letter to all Signal into the ranks. During the course In response to Week’s request, Corps officers, he forwarded the of the war a number of unofficial Chief Signal Officer MG Charles song along with a request to send songs and marches were com- McKinley Saltzman, published a in impressions and suggestions. posed by signal soldiers and a few call for submissions in the month- By the end of 1927, responses were performed by Army bands. In ly Signal Corps Bulletin No. 24, is- to Saltzman’s letter had been re- 1943 Mayhew Lake wrote a par- sued on 1 February 1924 followed ceived and, without revision, Olm- ticularly stirring unofficial march by a CSO letter to all geographic stead’s composition was adopted arrangement of the Olmstead Army corps area and Department by the Signal Corps as its official song. The fact remains, however, Signal officers in search of a suit- song. that no other composition received able song. When these efforts did In October 1930 the Signal the designation the “official” song/ not provide the desired result, MG Corps Band was activated at Fort march of the Signal Corps other Saltzman called upon trained mu- Monmouth, New Jersey. This than Mrs. Olmstead’s 1927 com- sician, Beth Heath Olmstead, wife generated the need for an ar- position. of COL Dawson Olmsted of the rangement of the official song in a The years following World War Signal Corps, to compose a song, march tempo to be performed by II saw dramatic changes in the On 8 January 1927 Olmstead sent a complete military band. Mrs. Army. The Korean War and the

Army Communicator 63 tensions of the Cold War dominated the attention of Since its release and approval as the “official” the Signal Corps leadership. Little thought was given song for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, the “Woolley to songs or marches in those years, until a signifi- March” as it is referred to has been played at all im- cant milestone in the history of the Signal Corps ap- portant events and ceremonies. proached, its 100th Anniversary in 1960. In honor of Some confusion as to this piece being titled a the centennial it was decided to promote a contest for “march” as opposed to a “song” has perpetuated a new official Signal Corps song/march. Eight com- during the years. In short, the official “song” is a positions were submitted for selection and the winner “march.” Another aspect of confusion concerned the of the contest was announced by MG Ralph T. Nel- words to the song, as oftentimes those are not includ- son, Chief Signal Officer in 1961. The composition ed on the sheet music. Below for all Signal Soldiers selected, titled “U.S. Army Signal Corps March,” was to know are the words to the “U.S. Army Signal Corps written by Alan Woolley, the husband of a civilian March,” the current official song of the U.S. Army employee at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Signal Corps.

64 Summer - 2010 Distinctive insignia identify Signal Corps members

By Robert Anzuoni Director, U.S. Army Signal Corps Museum

Military insignia have long been used to distin- guish units and leaders. Classical Hellenic hoplites painted symbols of their polis upon their bronze shields. Roman Soldiers wore crests upon their helmets to indicate rank. When the U.S. Army Signal Corps was es- tablished in 1860, no distinctive insignia was authorized. How- ever, that would soon change with the ex- pansion of the Corps during the Civil War. A Signal Corps cap badge designed for the model 1896 cap By 1862, Signal Corps Soldiers were wearing an unofficial eral Orders Number 36 dated 22 August 1864 de- shoulder patch with scribed the insignia for enlisted men as “Device on crossed wig-wag flags, Arm: Crossed signal flags, red and white, on dark the primary imple- blue cloth.” ment of communica- For officers, there was a hat and cap badge tion. On 16 August which was the “Same as for other officers, with the 1864, the Secretary following ornament: a gold embroidered wreath in of War approved the front, on black velvet ground, encircling crossed wearing of badges signal flags, with lighted torch, and supported by Model 1872 uniform Model for the Signal Corps. the letters ‘U.S.’ in silver. The color of the flags was with Signal Corps insignia War Department Gen- one red with a white center, and one white with a authorized in 1884

Their own words “My name is Clark and I’m a Soldier. Nearly 150 years ago a man named Myer could have made the statement that my name is Myer and I’m a Signal Soldier. Beginning during the Civil War, continuing through operation Iraqi Freedom and on to New Dawn, the Signal Corps has always been about its exceptional people valiantly defending freedom and the American way of life.”

CSM Thomas Clark Regimental Command Sergeant Major

Army Communicator 65 red center. Thus was born the branch insignia of the Signal Corps. In 1872, the Signal Corps was granted orange as its distinctive branch color. During that same year, the Army adopted a new uniform which was adorned with the color of a Soldier’s respective branch. In 1884, the flaming torch was added to the crossed flags for cap insignia and buttons. However, the shoulder patch of the enlisted men remained unaltered until 1891 when the torch was finally added. Signal Corps Soldiers continued to wear the branch insignia on their sleeve until 1919. New Army uniforms regulations of 1902 added Model 1896 cap with Signal Corps insignia white piping to the orange of the Signal Corps. In 1907, additional changes to the enlisted uniform Corps was for the World War I telephone opera- created collar devices consisting of dull-finished tors known as the Hello Girls. On the left sleeve bronze metal buttons one inch in diameter. One was worn a light blue armband with a scale sur- button contained the letters “US” while the other rounded by a wreath in silver bullion. On the right contained the branch insignia. For Signal Soldiers, sleeve they wore a chevron to indicate rank. The it was to be the crossed wig-wag flags with flaming chief operator insignia consisted of a telephone torch. mouthpiece surrounded by a wreath with five One of the most unique insignia of the Signal sparks above. The supervisor insignia was similar, but without the sparks. Opera- tors wore only the mouthpiece insignia. Changes to the uniform in 1926 led to changes in insignia once again. The collar insignia for both officers and enlisted men were to be of a gold finish. The insignia for officers, one and a quarter inch wide by one inch high, contained enameled flags of red and white. The en- listed insignia consisted of the crossed wig wag flags and torch superimposed on a one inch di- ameter disc. Today’s Signal Corps Branch insignia has not changed since 1926. In the first few decades following the creation of the branch, the insignia changed just as the branch evolved. Signal Soldiers of the 21st century, using computers and satellites, can take pride in their branch insignia that rep- resent an innovative, yet simple beginning in which flags and torches were the primary means of communication. Flag of the U.S. Army Signal School at Fort Leavenworth Kan., 1905 to 1914

66 Summer - 2010 Signal History

“Signals from Little Round Top”

2 July 1863

A Don Stivers painting depicting a scene from the Battle of Gettysburg, commissioned by the Signal Corps Regimental Association in 1996 and donated to the Army. (See page 10 for more on the Battle of Gettysburg.)

Painting by Don Stivers, Superior, Wis.

Army Communicator 67 *

*Albert J. Myer served two separate terms as Chief of Signal. Therefore there are 33 individuals representing 34 administrations. 68 Summer - 2010 Army Communicator 69 A.J. Myer founder of the Signal Corps

By Rebecca Robbins Raines upon a table or other surface to U.S. Army Center of Military spell out words. His dissertation History contained the seeds of what would later become his famous wigwag Albert James Myer was born signaling system. in Newburgh, New York, on 20 After practicing medicine for September 1828. Albert was the a time, Myer received an appoint- youngest of six children born to ment in the Army as an assistant Henry and Eleanor Myer, and the surgeon in 1854. As such, his only one to live to adulthood. In rank was equivalent to that of 1835 the family moved to Buffalo first lieutenant. Before leav- to be closer to Eleanor’s family. ing Buffalo, he proposed to Shortly after arriving in their new Catherine Walden, whom he home, Eleanor Myer died. Henry called Kate, the daughter of placed his six- year- old son in a prominent Buffalo family. the care of his maternal aunt, She accepted, and the two Serena McClanan, with whom were married in 1857. When Albert formed a close and Catherine’s father died soon loving relationship. Henry after their marriage, Myer Myer, a talented silver- became the manager of smith, eventually remar- the Walden’s’ considerable ried and moved to Cleve- family fortune. land where he raised Myer’s first duty sta- a second family. He tion was at Fort Duncan, and Albert maintained Texas, near the border a strained and some- town of Eagle Pass on what distant relationship the east bank of the Rio throughout their lives. Al- Grande River. Although bert shared with his father, the young doctor soon however, the gift of creativity, discovered that Army and he would use this trait to life on the frontier was good advantage throughout his hard, he found it rather life. exciting. He enjoyed the Albert Myer showed promise warmer climate where, from an early age. A studious young unlike stormy Buffalo, man, he enrolled at Geneva College the skies were clear and in 1842, just shy of his fourteenth the sun shone for weeks birthday. His aunt financed his ed- at a time. In his letters ucation by mortgaging her home, home he declared that a debt that Albert would later re- From an undated portrait of BG Albert J. Myer ”I am already quite a pay. At Geneva, Myer pursued the taken by photographer Mathew Brady. Some of the Texan.” Myer soon found college’s four-year classical course himself moving further which, given his young age, was uniform items seen here are on display at the U.S. west, to Fort Davis on undoubtedly difficult. After taking Army Signal Corps Museum. Library of Congress the Big Bend of the Rio a year off, he graduated in 1847. Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. Grande, where he served Courtesy Mr. Robert Gilbert. for about a year before Catherine returning to Fort Dun- can. On the Texas fron- “Kate” Walden Back in Buffalo, Myer began to tier, Myer ministered to the medi- Myer, (1828- study medicine, apprenticing with cal needs of the soldiers despite 1893) circa prominent physician, Dr. Frank H. rather primitive conditions and the 1876, depicted Hamilton. During this period he difficulties of receiving adequate by artist George took a job with the Buffalo office of supplies of medicine and compe- the New York State Telegraph Com- tent helpers. One of Myer’s duties Peter Alexander pany, probably to pay for his stud- as a physician was to make daily Healy. As an ies. He also enrolled in the newly weather observations, another har- Army wife, Kate opened University of Buffalo from binger of his later career. endured many which he received his medical de- While stationed in Texas, Myer separations from gree in 1851. For his dissertation wrote what would prove to be one he developed a sign language for of the most fateful letters of his her husband and served as a gracious deaf mutes, based on his work in life. In a letter to Secretary of War Washington hostess. National Portrait the telegraph office. Myer devised Jefferson Davis, dated 1 October Gallery. a means of manual communication 1856, Myer offered for the War De- by tapping on a person’s check or partment’s consideration a system 70 Summer - 2010 of military and naval signals based on his dissertation. After three months of testing, Myer reported to the He did not describe the mechanics of his system to War Department in November 1859 that the results Davis, perhaps because he had not yet fully worked had exceeded his expectations. them out. But he did envision a means ”to commu- Myer received further encouragement from Secre- nicate between detachments of troops, marching or tary Floyd who devoted two paragraphs of his annu- halted, or ships at sea in motion or at rest.” Despite al report for 1859 to Myer’s system, stating that “the a favorable endorsement from COL Joseph A. Totten, plan proposed appears to be ready and reliable.” He the Army’s chief of engineers, Davis was not receptive subsequently recommended that Congress add a sig- to Myer’s plan. nal officer to the Army staff. Despite opposition from Myer’s time would soon come because the world of Jefferson Davis, now a Senator from Mississippi, Con- communication was changing. During the 1850s, the gress included a provision for a signal officer in the Army still depended upon voice commands, musical annual War Department appropriations bill for fiscal signals, and mounted messengers to communicate. year 1861. Signed into law by President Buchanan Out on the frontier, Myer had recognized the Army’s on 21 June 1860, this date became the Signal Corps’ need for a mobile means of communication, especially birthday. A few days later Myer was appointed signal where troops ranged far from their home stations. Al- officer with the rank of major. though more than a decade had passed since Samuel With the outbreak of the Civil War the following F. B. Morse had invented the electric telegraph, its ap- year, Myer found himself facing the daunting task of plication to military operations remained minimal. creating a Signal Corps from scratch. The legislation During the Crimean War (1854-1856) European had not provided him with any personnel. He thus nations had used the electric telegraph in battle for sought out and trained soldiers in signaling him- the first time. Three American Army officers had been self until a school of instruction could be opened in sent to observe the conflict, one of whom was CPT Georgetown, D.C. late in 1861. Ironically, the Con- George B. McClellan. They noted the use of the tele- federate, rather than the Union, Army initially used graph in their official reports and recognized its poten- Myer’s wigwag signals in combat. At the battle of Bull tial for command and control. When John B. Floyd be- Run on 21 July 1861, Edward P. Alexander, now a came Secretary of War in the administration of James major in the Confederate Army, used wigwag to warn Buchanan, Totten reintroduced Myer’s plan. Unlike of a Union attempt to turn the Confederate left. Myer, Davis, Floyd proved supportive and ordered Myer meanwhile, with no trained signal soldiers available, to come east to present his system to a board of offi- tried to take an observation balloon to the battlefield. cers headed by LTC Robert E. Lee. After receiving the In his haste to reach Manassas, the balloon became board’s endorsement, Myer tested and developed his damaged and had to be returned to Washington, D.C. signaling system with assistance from 2LT Edward P. for repairs. Myer went on alone and eventually reached Alexander, a recent West Point graduate. Through trial the field where he served as a volunteer aide to one of and error they determined the best sizes, colors, and the Union’s division commanders, BG Daniel Tyler. materials to use for the signal flags, poles, and torches For the first two years of the war, Myer wore two and worked out the two-element code by which mes- hats: that of Chief Signal Officer of the Army and of the sages were sent and received. Army of the Potomac. As such, he broadly interpreted

Here is an 1873 War Department weather map bearing the signature of BG Albert J. Myer, whose efforts led to the development of the National Weather Service.

Army Communicator 71 his mission to include authority over all forms of communication. He thus sought control over elec- tric telegraphy in addition to flags and torches. This brought him into conflict, however, with an organi- zation known as the U.S. Military Telegraph. Despite its name, this organization was composed of civil- ian telegraphers. The supervisory personnel received commissions in the Quartermaster Department in order to disburse funds and prop- erty. In reality, however, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton controlled the Military Telegraph. As a former director and attorney for a tele- graph company, Stanton possessed considerable knowledge about tele- graph operations. He placed the telegraph office next to his own in the War Department and consid- ered it to be his personal domain. President Lincoln frequently visited there to receive the latest news from MAJ Albert J. Myer, standing at the opening of his tent flanked by two staff the front. Although Myer was an excellent lobbyist and bureaucratic officers at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia, during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. infighter, he would find Stanton to Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. be a formidable adversary. Working with a telegraphic engi- neer, Myer developed another inno- law. Myer received a promotion Corps. Thanks to support from vative concept in communications. to the rank of colonel, and the GEN Ulysses S. Grant, who became He devised a telegraph “train”—ac- future for himself and the Signal commanding general of the Army in tually a set of wagons that carried Corps looked bright. Later that 1864, Myer had a powerful cham- telegraph equipment into the field. year, Myer made a pivotal decision pion for his cause. But Myer’s fate Because Myer opted for a telegraph when he chose to convert his tele- became caught up in larger politi- machine that did not require op- graphs from Beardslee to Morse. cal events. Stanton remained as erators trained in Morse code, any He thus needed to hire telegraph Secretary of War into the postwar literate soldier could spell out mes- operators who were trained in period, and as long as he was in of- sages using a dial indicator. These Morse code. The technical limita- fice, Myer kept a low profile. magneto-electric telegraphs were tions of the Beardslee machines Even after Grant urged Stanton the invention of George W. Beard- had been causing problems for to reappoint Myer as chief signal slee whose son, Frederick, joined the Signal Corps. After they had officer, it took an order by Presi- the Signal Corps as a telegraph performed poorly at the battle of dent Andrew Johnson for Stanton operator. The train saw some use Chancellorsville in the spring of to comply. Myer accepted the ap- during the Peninsula campaign, 1863, Myer felt compelled to act. pointment on 3 November 1866, but needed further improvements In doing so, however, he incurred but he did not return to his duties to make it battle worthy. Myer per- the considerable wrath of the no- for several months. Events culmi- sonally supervised signal opera- toriously cantankerous Secretary nated when President Johnson, at tions on the Peninsula and later in Stanton. Stanton responded by odds with Stanton over Reconstruc- the Antietam campaign. After the relieving Myer from his duties as tion policy, suspended the war sec- fighting ended in Maryland in the chief signal officer and removed retary from office in August 1867. fall of 1862, Myer decided to de- the telegraph trains from the Sig- This act resulted in Johnson’s im- vote his full attention to running nal Corps’ control. Furthermore, peachment. When Grant stepped the Signal Office in Washington. He he banished Myer to duty in Cai- in as acting secretary of war, Myer needed to be close to the corridors ro, Illinois, far from the front lines. returned to the signal office as chief of power to concentrate on getting Despite his exile, Myer succeeded on 21 August 1867. the Signal Corps established on a in completing a significant project Having finally regained what he more permanent foundation. during this period. In A Manual of believed to be his rightful position, To make his case, Myer ap- Signals, first published in 1864, Myer still had a lot of work ahead peared before congressional com- he codified signal doctrine for the to establish the Signal Corps as a mittees and solicited testimoni- first time. Subsequently revised fully functioning military specialty, als from important officers on the and expanded, it remained the both respected and utilized by the value of signals. His efforts met basis of signal doctrine for many rest of the Army. with success in March 1863 when years to come. The Corps’ fate was uncertain Congress authorized the formation Myer’s military career re- because many Army officers did of a Signal Corps for the duration mained in eclipse as he battled not yet appreciate the value of a of the war and President Abra- to win reinstatement to his po- separate branch for communica- ham Lincoln signed the bill into sition as the head of the Signal tions, and no other Army in the

72 Summer - 2010 world yet had one. Although Con- couple could afford to entertain lav- ently did not realize how sick he gress authorized personnel for the ishly. The Myers became friends of really was. After checking into the Corps, they would have to be ob- President Rutherford B. Hayes and Palace Hotel in Buffalo, his con- tained by detail from the engineers, his wife, Lucy, and were frequent dition deteriorated rapidly. Myer a practice similar to that used by guests at the White House. In 1877 had developed Bright’s disease, a the British Army. the Myers moved into an elegant kidney disorder, and probably also Myer found a peacetime mis- mansion just off Lafayette Square suffered from a chronic heart con- sion for the Corps in the operation in downtown Washington, now the dition. Surrounded by his family, of the nation’s weather bureau. site of the Army-Navy Club. he passed away on the morning Congress delegated this respon- Myer’s successful career was of 24 August 1880, just a month sibility to the War Department in cut short by his sudden death in short of his fifty-second birthday. 1870, and Secretary of War William 1880. Although Myer had expe- Congress had approved his promo- W. Belknap, in turn, assigned it to rienced some health scares as a tion to brigadier general just a few the Signal Corps---but not without young man, he had weathered the weeks earlier. some help from Myer on the side- rigors of military service in the field An elaborate military funeral lines. Over the next two decades, fairly well. was held at St. Paul’s Episcopal the Signal Corps established a na- While traveling in Europe in Church in Buffalo, and Myer was tionwide weather reporting system, 1879, he had become very ill. His buried in the family mausoleum in earning Myer the nickname of “Old health improved after he returned Forest Lawn Cemetery. The Adju- Probabilities.” home, but by the summer of 1880 tant General issued general orders Although the weather duties he felt the need to consult his old announcing that the chief signal of- dominated the work of the Signal friend, Dr. Hamilton. Hamilton ad- ficer had been Astruck down at the Corps during this period, Myer did vised Myer to return to Buffalo for meridian of his usefulness,“ and not abandon its original mission. rest and relaxation. Myer appar- that “the country has lost a most He opened a Signal School at Fort distinguished and promising of- Whipple, Virginia, where ficer, and the Signal Service soldiers learned both sig- an able, efficient, and zeal- naling and weather re- ous chief.” Myer had gained porting duties. By Con- national recognition for his gressional directive, the work, and he was widely eu- Signal Corps constructed logized in newspapers and military telegraph lines in magazines throughout the areas where commercial country. The Washington service was not yet avail- Post, for example, described able, such as in Texas, him as “a valuable and wide- Arizona, and New Mexico. thinking officer.” Myer’s These lines thus served a hometown paper, the Buffalo dual purpose: to provide Commercial Advertiser, said communications and to he would be remembered as a extend the reach of the “cultivated, honorable man— weather system. Myer also noble, generous, of exemplary pursued improvements in habit, brave, loyal, and patri- signaling equipment, such otic.” In 1881 the Army hon- as the telegraph train, and ored Myer by renaming Fort remained abreast of new Whipple as Fort Myer. developments in commu- Albert J. Myer was the nications technology and proverbial self-made man practices. Following the who, from humble origins, commercial introduction rose to national prominence of the telephone in 1877, and earned an internation- for example, the Signal al reputation as head of the Corps ran experimental weather bureau. Myer en- lines between the Sig- joyed a military career that nal office in Washington was both extraordinary and and Fort Whipple, across unique. An inventive man, he the Potomac River. The held three patents, including Corps also pursued the one on his wigwag system. use of other novel signal- His greatest legacy is, of ing methods to include the course, the U.S. Army Signal heliograph, which used The granite Walden-Myer Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Corps, the first branch of its mirrors to reflect sunlight, Cemetery designed by Buffalo architect Richard Alfred kind in the world. and the carrier pigeon. Waite in 1885. Capped with a globe symbolic of the Although signaling meth- Albert and Catherine ods have changed radically Myer raised six children international weather service which General Myer since Myer’s day, he would and played a prominent advocated, this structure is the final resting place for the be enormously proud that the role in Washington, D.C. general and his wife, his father-in-law Mayor Ebenezer Signal Corps he founded one society. Thanks to Albert’s Walden, and most of their family members. hundred and fifty years ago skillful management of is still getting the message the Walden estate, the through in the 21st century. Army Communicator 73 74 Summer - 2010 Signal Corps Produces Academy Award Winners

By Robert Anzuoni The first episode in the series, award. It should be noted, how- Director , was released in U.S. Army Signal Corps Museum Prelude to War ever, that just receiving a nomi- October 1942 and won an award nation is a high honor in itself. With the entry of the United from the Academy of Motion Pic- Also during the postwar era, States into WWII in December of tures Arts and Sciences for best a television series was produced 1941 the Army began to expand documentary. It was to be the to inform the public about the rapidly. Greater demands were first of three Oscars won by the Army. Some episodes were more placed upon all facets of Signal studio. historical in nature, looking back Corps operations, especially on Other notable Hollywood tal- at WWII. Other episodes showed the creation of orientation or ent at the SCPC included The- the modern Army of day as it special training films. Orien- odor Seuss Geisel, better known stood prepared to defend the U.S. tation films were desperately as Dr. Seuss. Working with during the uncertain years of the needed to inform millions of new Capra, Geisel created a cartoon Cold War. The series, introduced Soldiers about why they were character known as Private Sna- in 1951, was called The Big Pic- needed to fight for their country. fu. Twenty-six short films, about ture. It outlived the Astoria stu- The Army Chief of Staff, GEN three minutes in duration each, dio which was closed in 1970. George Marshall, was already in- were produced during WWII. The last episodes were filmed at terested in the use of motion pic- They generally had Snafu show Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, in tures for training films and want- Soldiers what not to do to stay 1971. ed to apply the same technique alive and were popular with the Two of the Oscars (Seeds of to orientation films. The great Soldiers. The well-known cre- Destiny and Toward Indepen- demand for photography and ator of Spiderman, Stan Lee, also dence) are currently in the collec- motion led to the expansion of served at the SCPC. tion of the Signal Corps Museum the Photographic Division of the Following WWII, the Signal at Fort Gordon, Ga., along with Signal Corps into the Army Picto- Corps would go on to produce the certificate of nomination for rial Service. In February 1942, two more award-winning films. Operation Blue Jay. The Prelude the Paramount Studio in Astoria, Seeds of Destiny, the 1946 to War is on special exhibit at the New York, was purchased by documentary short subject Oscar Pentagon. the Army and became the Signal recipient, demonstrated the need Corps Pictorial Center. By May it for a commitment to rebuild war- had been renovated and had be- torn Europe. The film helped come operational. inform the public about what One of the first missions became known as the Marshall assigned to the SCPC was the Plan which was instrumental in creation of a series of orienta- the postwar recovery of Europe. , the tion films known as theWhy Toward Independence 1948 documentary short subject We Fight series. To produce the films, top Hollywood talent was Oscar winner, depicted the reali- sought. Frank Capra, the noted ties of Soldiers recovering from film director, was commissioned their wartime injuries. The film as a major in the Signal Corps promoted the new advance in to lead the project. The 834th medical technology which made Signal Service Company was return to civilian life possible for activated to produce the films. many Soldiers with spinal in- It contained many technical ex- juries. A third film,Operation perts from the film industry and Blue Jay, was nominated for a was commanded by MAJ Capra. documentary short subject Oscar in 1953, but it did not win the

Army Communicator 75 Network Enterprise Command evolved

By Vince Breslin 9th Signal Command Historian On 1 March 1964, the Army activated U.S. Army Strategic Com- munications Command in Washing- ton, D.C., to exercise full command and control over worldwide strategic communications. The organizational structure of STRATCOM quickly expanded with the establishment of STRATCOM- Europe in July 1964, STRATCOM- Pacific in September 1964, and STRATCOM-Pacific subordinate agencies in Hawaii, Vietnam, Oki- nawa, Taiwan, and Thailand in No- vember 1964. As the United States became embroiled in the war in Vietnam and the conflict in Southeast Asia committed more and more Ameri- can forces and services, the mis- sion of STRATCOM in Vietnam grew proportionately; however, signal groups and battalions were fielded to the various Corps tactical zones without the benefit of cen- tralized command and control. To EPLRS is an integrated C3 system that provides near real-time data fill that command and control void, communications, position/location, navigation, identification and eportingr STRATCOM established the 1st information on the modern battlefield. EPLRS provides a means for data Signal Brigade. distribution and position/navigation both vertically and horizontally. Formed in 1966 in Vietnam, the 1st Signal Brigade assumed command and control over all the largest combat signal unit ever gic level, several separate communi- Army communications-electronics formed. cations systems, or networks, func- resources in Southeast Asia. Scat- By 1968, STRATCOM numbered tioned effectively, providing rapid, tered among 200 sites in Vietnam some 49,000 personnel stationed in dependable, secure communications and Thailand, the brigade became 30 different countries. On a strate- to military and civilian users around the world. These networks, part of the Defense Communications Sys- tem, reflected STRATCOM’s consid- erable impact on communications and electronic data collection in a matter of four short years. AUTOVON and AUTODIN had modernized voice and digital mili- tary communication capabilities and STRATCOM engineers had started construction on a network for clas- sified voice communications called the Automatic Secure Voice Com- munications System for some 1,850 subscribers. The command had also introduced improvements to an Integrated Wideband Communica- tions System in Southeast Asia and had begun the establishment of the Defense Communications Satellite System. The War in Vietnam continued into the early 1970s and, as STRAT- Soldiers of the U.S. Army STRATCOM’s 9th Signal Battalion provide food for the COM personnel and equipment became more and more supportive children of a local orphanage in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam of tactical operations and the war 76 Summer - 2010 from Strategic Communications Command in Vietnam blurred the distinction between strategic and tactical com- munications, STRATCOM leaders moved to modify the command’s designation to better suit its chang- ing mission by dropping “strategic” from its organizational title. On 1 October 1973, the Army renamed STRATCOM as the U.S. Army Com- munications Command. In the wake of the War in Viet- nam, the U.S. Army, particularly USACC, shifted its focus away from tactical communications develop- ment and began to look closely at the possible relevance of emerging computer applications to the busi- ness of strategic military communi- cations, particularly data collection and data transmission in a global environment. While the Army had been working with big computer technology since the early 1950s, the introduction and rapid prolifera- tion of automatic data processing equipment mounted on personal workstations enabled the depart- ment at every level to collect and transmit data much more quickly and in much greater quantity than ever before. Throughout the Army of the ear- ly 1980s, automation focused pri- marily on the development of myr- iad ADPE hardware and software suites relative to many and varied ADPE programs and processes such as: force development, personnel, supply, payroll, medical, main- tenance, and troop support. All projects were of multi-million dollar and multi-year consequence, and all Cable dawgs of U.S. Army STRATCOM’s 69th Signal Battalion effect seemed very much communications communications cable repairs following a fire fight on Plantation Road in Saigon, dependent. The enormity of such South Vietnam in April 1969 capability on a service-wide scale moved the Army to look to USACC to develop a strategic concept of information management dawned, tem, and Tactical Satellite Systems. information systems management Organizationally, ISC orchestrated and a consequent consolidation of the first tactical application of email as an Army communications the communications battle piece five information disciplines: com- from its remote desert location in munications, automation, records enabler came in 1984 during Op- eration Uphold Democracy on the Arizona. At the local level, ISC es- management, printing and publish- tablished the 6th Signal Command ing, and visual information. That island of Haiti. A short time later, Operation Desert Storm in South- to manage the regional complexities concept and consolidation saw of moving large numbers of signal USACC evolve into the U.S. Army west Asia featured the first combat application of whole new families of Soldiers and large amounts of signal Information Systems Command on equipment into, out of, and around 1 May 1984. tactical and strategic communica- tion systems including Single Chan- the theater, just as STRATCOM had Meanwhile, as the Army moved established the 1st Signal Brigade into the mid to late 1980s, ADPE nel Ground and Airborne Radio System, Mobile Subscriber Equip- for much the same purpose in Viet- Word Processors began to give way nam. to desktop personal computers and ment, the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, the Enhanced Army downsizing and organi- the emergence of the worldwide web zational review in the post Desert and email systems. As the age of Position Location Reporting Sys-

Army Communicator 77 ordered to deliver seamless, en- terprise level, command, control, communications, computers, and information management com- mon user services and signal war fighting forces in support of Army Service Component Commanders and Combatant Commanders. By virtue of GO-5, NETCOM/9th SC (A) forces engineered, operated, sustained, and defended the Army’s portion of the Defense Department’s Global Information Grid, otherwise known as the LandWarNet, enabling force projection and the delivery of decisive combat power via the ad- vantages of superior network tech- nologies. To accomplish their mis- sion, NETCOM/9th SC (A) leaders exerted their mission authority to (1) transform and sustain strategic and theater/tactical communica- tions forces; (2) engineer, install, operate, manage, and defend C4IM systems and networks; (3) operate & manage the Army’s infostructure at the enterprise level via the devel- opment of the Army’s LandWarNet; and (4) provide global C4 network operations at the enterprise level as dictated by the complexities of Army transformation and modularity dur- ing wartime. The AN/TSC-85 & AN/TSC-93 TACSAT terminals contained equipment to receive, NETCOM/9th SC (A) rapidly transmit, and process medium and high capacity multiplexed voice, data, and evolved into a direct reporting unit to become a global C4 enterprise teletypewriter circuits. reporting directly to the Chief Infor- mation Officer on the Army Staff. At Storm era focused a critical eye on Meanwhile, Army MACOMs and the beginning of the new century, ISC organizational structure and theater CINCs worked independent- Army Signal Command had man- functionality. A general perception ly to resource their own Information aged disparate signal assets around in the 1990s among Major Com- System requirements. This decen- the world founded on a range of C4 mands and theater Commanders- tralization and deregulation led to technologies and driven by theater in-Chief held that Information a proliferation of non-standardized preferences rather than system Systems Command’s central man- command, control, communica- commonality. The command’s agement of the five IMA disciplines tions, and computer systems and transformation to NETCOM/9th SC deprived them of needed command an unacceptable level of incompat- (A), however, began a shift toward and control over regional and the- ibility among Army-wide IS equip- whole army technological synchro- ater information systems, computer ment and support networks. That, nization, increased economic stabil- system acquisitions, and signal as- coupled with the growing complexity ity, and C4 superiority. sets. The Department of the Army of and security threats to the Army’s Even as NETCOM/9th SC agreed and moved to dismantle ISC, portion of the worldwide web, com- (A)’s star began to rise, the events relegating the organization to major pelled DA on 1 October 2002 to of 9/11 plunged the command, subordinate command status un- again centralize global C4 and many and indeed the entire Army, into a der U.S. Army Forces Command, aspects of information systems Global War on Terrorism. In 2002, and redesignating it as Army Sig- management and security under a mighty coalition of allied armies, nal Command in September 1996. one Army command: today’s U.S. supported by a signal task force, Upon transition, ASC divested all Army Network Enterprise Technol- advanced into Uzbekistan and Af- of its IM responsibilities, returned ogy Command. ghanistan to inflict a crippling blow DOIMs to garrison control, dissolved Headquarters, Department of on the Taliban and Al Qaeda ter- its IM field offices worldwide, and the Army General Order #5, dated rorists. On a strategic level, signal downsized to less than 12,000 per- 13 August 2002 (as amended by Soldiers of the 11th Signal Brigade sonnel. For the following six years, HQDA GO-31, dated 16 October provided C4 services for Combined the command focused its energies 2006), established the U.S. Army Joint Task Force-180 and Coalition on the management of its subordi- Network Enterprise Technology Forces Land Component Command nate Signal Commands and Signal Command/9th Signal Command and established Technical Con- Brigades around the globe, and (Army)) as the “single authority trol Facilities and Ku-band Earth rededicated itself to the provision of to operate, manage, and defend Terminals for long-term area op- global, strategic signal services for the Army’s enterprise level infos- erations; simultaneously, deployed Army combat units. tructure.” As such, NETCOM was signal teams established strategic

78 Summer - 2010 network communication satellite troposcatter systems, multi-channel the Internet, and the worldwide packages in Uzbekistan, Pakistan, tactical satellite systems, and a web. For most of the 21st Cen- Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan in sup- host of voice and data switching tury’s first decade, the vast major- port of a multi-staged Global War systems. With the advent of GWOT, ity of Army communications took on Terrorism orchestrated by U.S. NETCOM/9th SC (A) enabled the place on some form of government Central Command. On a tactical Army to graduate from a commu- e-mail, and much of it was sensi- level, they afforded battlefield sup- nications platform dominated by tive or classified. It therefore fell to port to the 10th Mountain Division telephone and radio systems to a NETCOM/9th SC (A) to ensure the as kill teams conducted search and computer/satellite-based platform, security and integrity of all Army destroy missions against terrorists replete with classified and unclas- network elements. To accomplish in Operation Anaconda. sified email, messenger and voice, that goal, NETCOM/9th SC (A) Later, as the GWOT escalated and video telecommunications. employed a worldwide network of and invasion forces assembled for Next, as the Coalition moved operations and security centers, the push into Iraq, NETCOM/9th against Iraq, NETCOM/9th SC strategically positioned around SC (A) Signal forces established (A) sent signal forces into battle, the globe, domestically in Arizona, communication services for staging equipped with light and heavy data Georgia, and Washington, D.C., areas in Kuwait and Qatar as well packages, various TACSAT systems and abroad in Germany, Korea, as the strategic backbone to sup- (including Tri-bands), and several Kuwait, and Hawaii. These NOSCs port the war with the emplacement troposcatter systems to establish formed the regional communica- of Triband-143s (providing major strategic communication services tion hubs of the Army’s Global, HQ elements with C-, Ku, and X- at logistic support areas along the Internet-based digital network – the band capabilities), light and heavy entire invasion route and for CENT- LandWarNet. COM, CJTF, and CFLCC early entry The LWN established, command posts. Signal satellite NETCOM/9th SC (A) – now short- terminals expanded V Corps long- ened to 9th SC (A) – next set to range extension capabilities while work on making the global enter- voice and data packages afforded prise operational beginning in early Corps commanders a broad spec- 2008. “In our quest to establish trum of highly mobile satellite-tele- what will become a Global Network phone, Internet-email, and video- Enterprise Construct,” wrote MG teleconference services. Susan S. Lawrence, commanding As the dust of the Operation general of 9th SC (A), “ we will cre- Iraqi Freedom opening campaign ate and integrate a complex of five began to settle, invasion opera- fixed regional hub nodes, six the- tions gave way to stabilization and ater NetOps & Security Centers, 10 commercialization operations. or more Area Processing Centers, NETCOM/9th SC (A) Soldiers and and six Network Service Centers.” civilian engineers supervised the Conceptually, FRHNs facilitated painstaking and often perilous world-wide, network satellite com- strategic commercialization of com- munications; provided independent munications services to help the Information Assurance and Tier peoples of Afghanistan, Iraq, and 2 router configuration capabili- other regional states in their recov- ties; and afforded joint support to ery from the destruction and desta- U.S. Marine Corps, Army National bilization of war. Guard, and Stryker Brigade on- Additionally, NETCOM/9th SC the-move Mobile Battle Command. (A) established a Theater Signal TNOSCs afforded global informa- Brigade to assume SWA network tion assurance and security; APCs management control and com- provides Net-centric operations mand and control of rotational while reducing and hardening net- units engaged in the ‘operate and work entry points; and NSCs made maintain’ C4 mission for the fixed- the network operational, enabling site, strategic commercialization war fighting units network access communications infrastructure to a full spectrum of network ser- throughout the SWA Theater of vices (including portals, instant Operations. messaging, chat, whiteboards, au- As was the case in Vietnam dio, and video) during movement and Desert Shield/Desert Storm, between theaters. At the point of the spear, Expe- Soldiers of the 44th Signal Battalion NETCOM/9th SC (A) instituted a theater signal brigade to manage ditionary Signal Battalions afforded raise an A-1339 antenna during an the regional complexities of moving network planners flexibility in con- annual NETEX training event near large numbers of signal Soldiers figuring resources to precisely meet Mannheim, Germany, in preparation and large amounts of signal equip- user requirements. for their 2007 OIF deployment to Iraq. ment into, out of, and around the In keeping with modularity principles, ESBs and ESB compa- Modern Signal Soldiers participate in theater. Beyond the physical battle- nies, platoons, and teams were tai- field exercises to train as they fight to fields of SWA, NETCOM/9th SC (A) lored and task organized to ensure deliver a full array of communications also remained engaged in a great that only the precise package of ca- services in hostile environments to Cyber war, a strategic battle for pabilities needed to satisfy a given ensure strategic control over digital control over the digital networks, mission were deployed. networks. Army Communicator 79 The Communications Electronics Command/Life

By Melissa Ziobro Command Historian U.S. Army CECOMLCMC Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara began to transform Participating in the 1982 the structure of the Army and the other military services in change of command ceremony 1961 by applying organizational are (left to right) MG Lawrence principles drawn from his expe- Skibbie, GEN Donald R. Keith rience in industry. (AMC commanding general) Bettie Morden of the Center and MG Donald Babers. of Military History wrote that he “began by consolidating common MG Skibbie was the 30th functions and giving them to commanding officer of Fort one service or agency to control- Monmouth and the second the single manager concept. For commanding general of the example, the Defense Supply Communications-Electronics Agency was created to centralize the purchase and distribution of Command. He served in this food, uniforms, gas and oil prod- position from October 1982 ucts, medical and automotive to June 1984. MG Babers was supplies for the armed services. the first commanding general The Defense Intelligence Agency of the Communications- coordinated and centralized certain military intelligence op- Electronics Command when it erations. The Defense Language was established in 1981. Institute controlled foreign lan- guage training for military and civilian personnel.” Former U.S. Army CECOM Com- the major consequences of this At McNamara’s direction, the mand Historian Julius Sim- reorganization was the 1962 Army developed a reorganiza- chick’s 1988 monograph Com- abolishment of the Army’s Tech- tion plan known as Project 80 mand and Command Structure, nical Services, which included that followed the new concepts. 1962-1988 explains that one of the Signal Corps. The Chief Signal Officer was retained as a special staff officer, but func- tional commands took over most of his duties: Continental Army Command (for training); Combat Developments Command (for organization and doctrine) and the Army Materiel Command (for material support). Though it retained its distinction as the “Home of the Signal Corps” for another decade, as of 1 August 1962 Fort Monmouth, New Jer- sey was no longer a Signal Corps installation. Fort Monmouth now belonged to the Army Mate- riel Command and became the home of its newly-organized sub- ordinate component, the U. S. Army Electronics Command. Simchick explains how ECOM assumed responsibility for oversight of those organiza- tions charged with the develop- ment, procurement, and support of Army signal equipment and materiel. These organizations included the Signal Corps Labo- ratories and the Signal Materiel Pre-1962 Signal Corps activities. Support Agency at Fort Mon- mouth, and the Signal Supply Agency in Philadelphia, Penn-

80 Summer - 2010 Cycle Management Command tied to Signal Corps sylvania. Specifically, the new Army electronics community, command was responsible for (CORADCOM, and ERADCOM) research, design, development, began formally in August 1980 product and maintenance engi- and concluded that while em- neering, industrial mobilization phasis on research and develop- planning, new equipment train- ment had increased as desired, ing, wholesale inventory man- there was also much duplication agement, supply control, and of effort. Each Command had technical assistance to users to maintain a separate admin- of Army commodities involving istrative staff and management communications, electronic war- structure that diverted valuable fare, combat surveillance, au- manpower resources from mis- tomatic data processing, radar, sion related activities. Overlap- and meteorological materiel. ping responsibilities created In December 1963, military confusion. Information Systems Information personnel accounted for just The review team decided 16.6 percent of ECOM’s 12,059 there was a need for greater Command distinctive unit employees. The Command, and economy and greater flexibility in insignia those that came after it, became the use of existing manpower re- increasingly “civilianized” over sources. This could be achieved scriber Equipment and the Posi- the years. by pooling the resources of the tion Location Reporting System. ECOM was relatively short- two commands headquartered at In 1985, the Department of lived. Secretary of the Army Fort Monmouth, a move which the Army reorganized ERADCOM Howard H. Callaway established would eliminate duplication. to form the Army Laboratory the Army Materiel Acquisition Control could be assigned to one Command. The CECOM R&D Review Committee in December commander with the authority Center acquired a new labora- 1973 to find ways to streamline to move personnel as required to tory, Signals Warfare, and re- the Army’s materiel acquisition meet the most pressing needs. A gained three of the five laborato- procedures. The Committee’s re- decision was announced in De- ries ERADCOM had taken from port, released in April 1974, said cember 1980 that CERCOM and ECOM in 1978: Night Vision at in essence that the commodity CORADCOM would merge and Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and Com- command structure of the Army, become the Communications- bat Surveillance/Target Acqui- with its emphasis on “readiness,” Electronics Command effective sition and Electronic Warfare, limited the Army’s flexibility and in May 1981, with headquarters both at Fort Monmouth. Concur- impeded the acquisition process. at Fort Monmouth. rently, CECOM acquired ERAD- The Committee recommended According to Command and COM’s project managers, its that recearch and development Command Structure, CECOM Flight Test Activity, its Technical functions be separated from had a unified command group, Support Activity, and its Tactical “readiness” functions within the a dozen consolidated manage- Software Support Center. Army Materiel Command. ment and support activities, The fourth AMARC creation, Command and Command a Research and Development AVRADA, returned to CECOM on Structure describes how the Center that encompassed three 1 October 1991, where it consti- AMARC’s proposals entailed a laboratories, the Army Commu- tuted the “Electronics Integra- two-for-one split for most ma- nicative Technology Office, and tion Directorate.” One year later, jor subordinate commands of six technical support activities, this organization merged with AMC. For ECOM, an organiza- nine chartered development of- elements of the Command, Con- tion which the post newspaper fices and project managers, and trol, and Communications Sys- reported had 8,654 civilians and ten organizations charged with tems Directorate to form a new 1,244 military in August 1974, the Command’s Readiness mis- “Command, Control, and Sys- it proposed the establishment sion. A new Software Develop- tems Integration Directorate.” of four new organizations: the ment and Support Center was CECOM was greatly affected Communications-Electronics established in October 1983, by the Defense Reorganization Materiel Readiness Command, according to the fiscal year 1985 Act of 1986, which required re- the Communications Research CECOM Annual Command His- structuring of the Army’s orga- and Development Command, the tory. The formal opening ceremo- nizations for acquiring materiel. Electronics Research and Devel- nies occurred in October 1984. The Department of the Army opment Command, and the Avi- The SDSC’s mission was to pro- created the Army Acquisition Ex- onics Research and Development vide the single Command focal ecutive and the Program Execu- Activity, a component of the new point for the development, main- tive Offices in fiscal year 1987. Aviation Research and Develop- tenance, and production of the The creation of the AAE/PEO ment Command. software of battlefield automated removed the Headquarters, Army AMARC insisted on periodic systems that provided the com- Materiel Command and its Major reviews of the new structures munications links among battle- Subordinate Commands from that it had created, according field functional areas. Systems acquisition- related decision to Simchick. The review of the supported included Mobile Sub- making and review processes.

Army Communicator 81 This created a new chain of com- (stet); authorized strength of 3 The reorganization of the PM mand in which Program Manag- military and 27 civilians as of spurred the CECOM commander ers reported through the PEO 30 September 1987]. Fiscal year to create a CECOM Command, to the AAE. The MSC continued 1988 represented the first full Control, Communications, and to provide support to the PM/ year that the PEO functioned as Intelligence Logistics and Readi- PEO because the PEO had only separate organizations. ness Center to integrate all the small organic staffs, according The Program Managers com- command’s logistics and readi- to the fiscal year 1987 CECOM prising these PEOs included the ness elements based on support Annual Command History. Mis- PMs Mobile Subscriber Equip- of the weapon system and the sion accomplishment would be ment; Single Channel Ground Soldier, rather than on a func- achieved through the use of the and Airborne Radio System; Ad- tional basis. The C3I LRC was matrix concept, where functional vanced Field Artillery Tactical provisionally established on 10 services and expertise were sup- Data Systems; Guardrail; Trail- November 1987. Today, the LRC plied by supporting functional blazer; JSTARS; Firefinder; and continues to support Warfight- commands. TACJAM; to name a few. ers by managing a wide range of CECOM supported three of PEO CCS merged with PEO communications and electronic the newly created PEOs: PEO COMM on 1 July 1995 to form equipment, providing full service Communications Systems (PEO the PEO for Command, Control to include acquisition of ma- COMM; authorized strength of and Communications Systems jor items and spare parts, new 7 military and 25 civilians as of (later C3T). This merger com- equipment training and fielding, 30 September 1987), PEO Com- bined their similar missions, or, depot maintenance (including re- mand and Control Systems (PEO more formally, sought “to inte- pair, overhaul and reset), logis- CCS; authorized strength of grate acquisition management tics assistance representatives in seven military and 25 civilians of C3I Systems for the digitized the field, Army equipment publi- as of 30 September 1987), and battlefield, Force XXI, and warf- cations, technical assistance and PEO Intelligence and Electronic ighters” from the laboratory to life-cycle support for internation- Warfare Systems [PEO IEWS the foxhole. al customers.

C-E LCMC Organizational chart. Note that the first CG C-E LCMC also served as the PEO C3T.

82 Summer - 2010 The “civilianization of the up, provisionally, on 1 October workforce” continued throughout 2002. The mission of this new the 1990s. As of 30 September Command was to field tech- 1993, military personnel repre- nologies that sustained the U.S. sented less than eleven percent Army as the premier land force of a work force of 7,728 people. in the world. Operational control The U.S. Army Information of the MSC R&D activities (such Systems Engineering Command as the CECOM Research, Devel- at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. was re- opment, and Engineering Center) aligned as a subordinate com- transferred to RDECOM effective mand of CECOM on 1 October 1 May 2003. The command be- 1996. ISEC provides systems en- came official 1 March 2004 when gineering, installation, integra- the Department of the Army ap- tion, implementation, and evalu- proved the RDECOM concept ation support for communica- plan. The CECOM Research, tions and information technology Development, and Engineering systems worldwide providing ca- Center became the RDECOM pabilities to Army Organizations, Communications-Electronics Re- Combatant Commanders, DOD search, Development, and Engi- agencies, and Federal agencies neering Center. in support of the Warfighter. With the formation of the In- The CECOM RDEC Software stallation Management Agency in Engineering Directorate gained 2002, CECOM lost control of its significant new assets and mis- Information Systems Information Base Operations Support func- tions at Fort Monmouth. The De- sions between 1996-1997. The Command insignia Directorate was elevated to a partment of the Army mandated center and officially became the that all Base Operations Sup- CECOM Software Engineering region of Pennsylvania. Total port functions be transferred to Center on 1 October 1997 (hav- employment at the installation, IMA. As a result of this decision, ing existed provisionally since 1 including tenant activities and all CECOM personnel perform- October 1996). Today, the SEC’s contractors, is about 5,600. ing BASOPS functions and the mission is to provide life cycle In addition, TYAD employs vacancies associated with those software solutions and services an additional 300 personnel who functions would be transferred that enable Warfighting supe- permanently work at Forward to IMA on 5 October 2003. riority and information domi- Repair Activities here and over- To ensure successful imple- nance across the enterprise. The seas. mentation and to accomplish a Center produces and releases TYAD’s mission is total sus- smooth transition to the IMA, all new software; develops training tainment, including design, BASOPS support functions and products for software; changes manufacture, repair and over- CECOM personnel associated and fixes existing software and haul of hundreds of electronic with those functions were placed release new versions; produces systems that include satellite under the Operational Control technical data for software and terminals, radio and radar sys- of the U.S. Army Garrison Fort systems; helps other organiza- tems, telephones, electro-optics, Monmouth effective 19 May tions acquire custom software night vision and anti-intrusion 2003. products; makes software work devices, airborne surveillance Approximately 418 positions where it is being used; conducts equipment, navigational instru- were identified for transfer to software and systems testing; ments, electronic warfare and IMA and the Network Enterprise and provides training services guidance and control systems Technology Command, which for software. for tactical missiles. TYAD is the had been created to consolidate AMC assigned CECOM con- DOD’s recognized leader in the the Army’s Information Tech- trol of Tobyhanna Army Depot areas of automated test equip- nology functions. The CECOM in Pennsylvania on 1 November ment, systems integration and Directorate for Information Man- 1997. This action, a response to downsizing of electronics sys- agement came under the opera- the Quadrennial Defense Review, tems. The Army has designated tional control of IMA while tech- served as a test of a concept that Tobyhanna as its Center of In- nical control resided with NET- consolidated in the commod- dustrial and Technical Excel- COM. There were no geographi- ity commands responsibility for lence for C4ISR and Electronics, cal relocations of employees as a both the life cycle management Avionics and Missile Guidance result of this action. and depot maintenance of as- and Control. Additionally, the Under the Army’s Life Cycle signed weapon systems. Air Force has designated TYAD Management Initiative, the PEO At the time of the transfer, as its Technical Source of Repair reunited with CECOM on 2 Feb- Tobyhanna Army Depot had for command, control, communi- ruary 2005 as the U.S. Army nearly 2,500 employees, includ- cations and intelligence systems. Communications-Electronics Life ing approximately thirty Soldiers The CECOM lost its R&D Cycle Management Command. Today, TYAD is the largest, Center when AMC Commander This move formally aligned PEO full-service electronics mainte- General Paul J. Kern directed IEW&S, PEO C3T, and CE- nance facility in the Department the establishment of a Research, COM under one leadership. A of Defense. It is the largest em- Development, and Engineer- “strategic and operational” link ployer in the Pocono Northeast ing Command. RDECOM stood remained with the RDECOM

Army Communicator 83 This aeriel view of Tobyhanna Army Depot, Tobyhanna, Penn., shows the central complex of the 1,296 acre Army site which is a center of industrial and technical operations for command, control, communications, computer intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronics, avionics and missle guidance control. Opened on 1 February 1953, it is the largest, full-service electronics maintenance facility in the Department of Defense.

CERDEC. The mission of all or- gistics and Technology and the to integrate significant elements ganizations remained the same: Commander, U.S. Army Materiel of ALT leadership responsibili- to develop, acquire, test, field Command, the Army intended ties and authority to enable a and sustain effective, suitable the Life Cycle Management ini- closer relationship between the and survivable command, con- tiative “to integrate significant Army Materiel Command Major trol, communications computers, elements of the Army Acquisi- Subordinate Commands and intelligence, surveillance, and tion, Logistics and Technology the Program Executive Officers. reconnaissance capabilities from communities in order to provide The PEOs would be able to work the Soldier in the combat zone products to the Soldier faster, as an integral part of the AMC all the way back to the national make good products even bet- MSCs, while continuing to report leadership. ter, and minimize life cycle cost, directly to the Army Acquisition According to the 2 August and enhance the synergy and Executive; likewise, logisticians 2004 Memorandum of Agreement effectiveness of the Army Acqui- in AMC would have enhanced Between the Assistant Secretary sition, Logistics and Technology input into acquisition processes of the Army for Acquisition, Lo- communities.” It was intended to influence future sustainment and readiness. The life cycle management initiative would provide an integrated, holistic approach to product develop- ment and system support. The concept of operation was Their own words to create Life Cycle Management Commands by aligning AMC sys- “Reflection on the past is necessary tems oriented MSCs (AMCOM, CECOM, JMC, and TACOM) with to ensure success in the future!” the PEOs with whom they al- ready worked. As outlined in the MOA, the following commands and PEOs listed bellow would MG USA (Ret)Dennis C. Moran form the LCMCs. Following discussion with AMC Commander General Ben- jamin S. Griffin AMC, the C-E

84 Summer - 2010 LCMC was designated the CE- Roughly 400 personnel assigned tions and obligates over $19 bil- COM LCMC in October 2007 to to the CECOM LCMC Acquisition lion dollars. capitalize on the name recogni- Center realigned to the ACC as a As a result of the DoD Base tion of CECOM. result of this decision. The effec- Closure and Realignment pro- The CECOM LCMC assumed tive date of the mission transfer cess, the CECOM LCMC is control of the Central Technical was 1 October 2008. currently relocating its head- Support Facility at Fort Hood, Today, the CECOM Contract- quarters from Fort Monmouth Texas, on 9 July 2007. Orga- ing Center’s mission is to pro- to Aberdeen Proving Ground, nized by PEO C3T in 1996 to vide its customers value-added, Maryland. This includes the provide a location for the rapid acquisition business solutions move of some 5,000 jobs and, by development and test of the then that support the joint Warf- one count, over 80,000 pieces of Army Battle Command Systems, ighter. It primarily acquires re- equipment. Some personnel are the CTSF is today the Army’s search, development, production already on APG working in tem- premier test, integration, and and support services of complex, porary facilities (to include Mr. certification facility for its Land- state-of-the-art command, con- Edward Thomas, CECOM deputy WarNet/Battle Command sys- trol, communications, computer, to the commanding general, and tems and a growing number of intelligence and reconnaissance the CECOM Chief of Staff, COL other Army and Joint Command, systems and components for the William H. Montgomery III). Oc- Control, Communications, Com- Army, Joint Services and Coali- cupancy of newly constructed puters, Intelligence, Surveil- tion forces. facilities is scheduled to begin in lance, and Reconnaissance Sys- Major commodities include October 2010. Fort Monmouth tems. aviation communications, man- will close 15 September 2011. In 2007 the Secretary of the portable radios, radar systems, Much has happened since Army formed an independent computers, satellite communica- the 1962 formation of ECOM at commission on Army Acquisition tions, night vision equipment, Fort Monmouth took the place of and Program Management in command and control systems, the Signal Corps organizations Expeditionary Operations, also sensors, information manage- that had been located on the known as the Gansler Commis- ment systems, battery and power installation since 1917. There sion, to review recent lessons sources, intelligence/electronic have been reorganizations, frac- learned and recommend ways to warfare systems, mines/coun- turing, and consolidations. The improve future military opera- termines, facilities supplies and workforce has become increas- tions. a host of technical services that ingly civilian. But the nucleus In compliance with these support its various customers’ of the mission has remained at recommendations, the AMC Con- mission responsibilities. Annu- its heart unchanged- to provide cept Plan to establish the U.S. ally, the CECOM Contracting superior communications-elec- Army Contracting Command Center executes over seventeen tronics equipment and support was approved on 15 July 2008. thousand (17,000) contract ac- to the joint warfighter. Construction of the new CE- COM LCMC facilities at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Throughout its history, many distinguished officers have served as the commander of the CECOM LCMC and its predeces- sor organizations. Two of them went on to become Chief Signal Officer: COL James B. Allison, commander from 1925 to 1926, and BG Dawson Olmstead, who served at Fort Monmouth from 1938 to 1941. MG Walter E. Lotz, Jr. became CECOM’s commander in 1969 after hav- ing served as the Army’s Chief of Communications-Electronics and Assistant Chief of Staff for Communications-Electronics. More recently, MG Otto J. Guen- ther, commander from 1992 to 1995, left Fort Monmouth to be- come the Director of Information Systems for Command, Control, Communications, and Comput- ers in the Pentagon. The current commander is MG Randolph P. Strong, former Chief of Signal at This pyramid marker helps Soldiers and visitors find the Central Technical Fort Gordon. Support Facility on Fort Hood.

Army Communicator 85 A Brief Overview of Signal Corps

By Daniel A. Brown Signal Center of Excellence History Office In 1859, Assistant Surgeon Albert J. Myer was granted permission by the War Department to test his proposed wigwag visual signaling system. Myer and a few handpicked assistants arrived at Fort Mon- roe, Virginia in April to begin testing their system to determine the best design for the equipment and de- velop training techniques. Later experiments were conducted around New York Harbor, West Point, N.Y. and Washington, D.C. Upon acceptance by the Army and approval by Con- gress in 1860, Myer was appointed as the army sig- nal officer to supervise the manning, equipping and training of Soldiers in wigwag operations. With the outbreak of the Civil War, a temporary signal school was established at Fort Monroe in June 1861 to quickly train men in the skills of visual signaling. As the organization for war improved, a per- manent signal school was established at Red Hill, Georgetown, D.C. in August 1861. There officers and men detailed from combat arms branches were trained by the small cadre of acting signal officers, who themselves had been recently trained. The instructional methodology was for collective training of “sets” or teams, of officers and flagmen, with two officers and four enlisted men to a team. Signal training focused on both technical and tactical skills, including sending and reading wigwag mes- sages, horsemanship, and other Soldier skills to sur- vive on the modern battlefield. In 1862 instruction included operation and maintenance of the Beardslee electro-magnetic telegraph system designed as a “fly- ing telegraph” with horse-drawn wagons carrying the equipment to get to key battlefield locations quickly. After the Civil War, Myer struggled to maintain Circa 1930 recruiting poster emphasizing technical training in the existence of the Signal Corps as political leaders the Signal Corps questioned the need to retain the branch in peace-

time. The Signal School at Georgetown closed at the end of the war and for a brief time training was conducted at the Signal Office in Washington. In Sep- tember 1868 Myer moved the training school to Fort Greble, an abandoned fortification in southeastern Washington D.C. Fort Greble proved to be unsatisfactory due to its low elevation and lack of space for pole line and signal telegraph train maneuvers. In September 1869 Myer had the school moved to Fort Whipple, another Civil War-era fortification built on the grounds of Ar- lington plantation on the heights overlooking the Po- tomac River. It offered a larger and better maintained facility with ample maneuver space in the surround- ing countryside. The training curriculum remained the same as in wartime and in 1870 meteorological information gathering methods and technology were added when the Signal Corps gained that mission. On 24 August 1880, shortly after his promotion to brigadier general, Albert J. Myer died. In 1881, the Circa 1865 officers quarters at the Georgetown, D.C. Signal Army renamed Fort Whipple to Fort Myer to honor the legacy of one of the Army’s most distinguished in- Camp of instruction novators.

86 Summer - 2010 Schools and Training Centers

Signal Soldiers stand in front of the Fort Whipple, Va., enlisted barracks, circa 1880

Training Struggles in 1885, to discontinue signal training at Fort Myer Myer’s successor was BG William B. Hazen, a and replace it with a school for Cavalry. Signal train- straight talking, hard fighting and outspoken Civil ing thus became the responsibility of the military War veteran. Unfortunately, GEN Hazen’s combative commanders at their home stations, a method that and controversial nature often resulted in fractured proved to be less than successful. Although there relationships with peers and superiors. A long- was no official Signal School from 1885 to 1905, sig- standing dispute between Hazen and LTG Philip H. naling did become part of the curriculum at other Sheridan, stemming from the Civil War, may have Army schools. In 1881 the School of Application for led Sheridan, the commanding general of the Army Cavalry and Infantry had opened at Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas. Signaling became part of its curricu- lum in 1888. Three years later, the newly established Cavalry and Light Artillery School, at Fort Riley, Kan., offered signal training from its beginning. The Signal courses taught at these locations compensated in part for the loss of a separate Signal school. The lack of resources for training caught the Sig- nal Corps short at the outbreak of the Spanish-Amer- ican War in 1898. To fill the urgent need for manpow- er, the Volunteer Signal Corps was created to bring in skilled technicians, such as telegraphers, linemen and telephone workers from commercial industry. Thus began an arrangement that would continue into the 1950’s known as the “Affiliated Plan.” Under this plan, communication companies, like the Bell Corpo- ration, Western Electric and other firms formed all or part of Signal units. During both World Wars I and II, communications company technicians and em- ployees were the nucleus of many signal units. Inadequacies in national military policy, made apparent by the overseas expeditions in 1898 and the acquisition of new U.S. territories, reinforced the need for modern, long-range communications as well as trained Signal Soldiers. Technological advances made training especially important as wireless teleg- raphy, better known as radio, began to be used for military operations. Signal training returned to its roots when Fort Myer once again became the home of the Signal Corps in 1899. Training was again centralized at this location where recruits learned the fundamentals of telegraphy, telephony, line repair, and visual signal- ing. Officer-level instruction was also conducted on a limited basis. Fort Myer additionally became the home of the Signal Corps aerial operations, and a Taking out a 35000 cu. ft. balloon at Fort Omaha, Neb. balloon house was constructed on its grounds. As part of the reforms instituted by Secretary of War Elihu Root in 1903, the Army launched efforts

Army Communicator 87 to modernize and standardize its established an Aeronautical Divi- Mexico, proving the success of educational system. Beginning sion within the Office of the Chief the training. As Army aviation ex- with the establishment of the Signal Officer to coordinate its panded, it soon outgrew the Signal Army War College in 1901, the aviation actitivities. The Army pur- Corps, and all aircraft, training War Department created a tier of chased a Wright flyer in 1909. Un- and operations were transferred service schools. As part of this new der their contract with the Army, to a separate Army Air Service in system, the Army established the the Wright brothers were respon- 1918. U.S. Army Signal School at Fort sible for training the first pilots, Leavenworth, Kansas on 27 June but after that, the Signal Corps World War I 1904 in accordance with War De- took on this mission. Because Fort On 6 April 1917, the United partment General Orders number Myer did not offer adequate room States declared war on Germany. 115. The Signal School was one of for flying, the training, moved to Because Fort Leavenworth could what became known as the “Leav- College Park, Md. During the win- not accommodate the large num- enworth Schools.” ter months the training school ber of recruits, additional facilities Although the Signal Corps went south to Augusta, Georgia, had to be opened. One of these had been conducting work with and San Antonio, Texas. In June was Camp Alfred Vail, near Little balloons since the 1890s, the suc- 1911 the Signal Corps officially Silver, N. J. Its curriculum fo- cessful flight of the Wright Broth- opened a flying school at College cused on telegraph, telephone and ers in December 1903 spurred Park. Signal Corps aircraft were radio operation. At the time, there the development of military avia- first deployed in combat during was a pressing need for telegraph tion. In 1907 the Signal Corps the 1916 Punitive Expedition in operators in France, so an inten-

Students participate in a lecture at Fort Monmouth, N.J. circa 1920

88 Summer - 2010 sive six-week training course was During World War II, Fort nal School at Ansbach, Germany. initiated, with an emphasis on Monmouth hosted the Eastern This excellent school brought foreign codes and languages. Car- Signal Corps Unit Training Cen- acclaim and honors from senior rier pigeon breeding and training ter. The installation had space for commanders for Abramowitz’s un- also became part of Camp Vail’s 1,559 officers and 19,786 enlisted tiring efforts to produce technically mission. In addition to Camp Vail, personnel undergoing training. and tactically trained Soldiers. the Signal Corps opened Camp The Training Center consisted of Samuel F. B. Morse in Texas and a the Eastern Signal Corps Schools Post World War II facility at the Presidio of Monterey (for enlisted, officer candidates, Training in California. Many of the nation’s and officers) and the Replacement Following the outbreak of hos- colleges and universities also of- Training Center at nearby Camp tilities in Korea in 1950, mobiliza- fered technical training for pro- Charles Wood. The post included tion of the 40th Infantry Division spective Signal Corps personnel. the Pigeon Breeding and Training and support units of the California Most training focused on op- Center. One of the largest train- National Guard, required the Army eration of two basic signal units: ing activities was the Officer Can- to lease Camp San Luis Obispo. It the Field Signal Battalion and the didate School which graduated was there that the Southwest Sig- Telegraph Battalion. The Field Bat- 21,033 new Signal Corps second nal Corps Training Center was lo- talions operated communications lieutenants from 1941 to 1946. cated from 1950 to1953 to support within front line divisions; the Camp Crowder, Mo., hosted the requirements of the Korean Telegraph Battalions maintained the Central Signal Corps Training conflict. communications above division Center and the Central Replace- Meanwhile, in September 1948 level. Wire, which carried both ment Training Center. Named for the Signal Corps Training Center telephone and telegraph signals, Enoch Crowder, a Missouri general had been established at Camp was the basis of most communica- who helped develop the Selective Gordon, Ga. This post was redesig- tion training. Wireless telegraph Service in World War I, the camp nated as Fort Gordon on 21 March saw limited use, but radio sets opened in July 1942 with a ca- 1956 in honor of Confederate offi- were very bulky, heavy, and thus pacity for 6,000 Soldiers. Camp cer, LTG John B. Gordon, who also less mobile than wire-based meth- Crowder received most of the Ar- served as governor of Georgia and ods. my’s Signal recruits. Here the new a United States senator. Moreover, their signals were Soldiers spent three weeks learn- In June 1962, all activities of less secure than those carried over ing the basics of Soldiering after the Signal Corps Training Center wire. In 1918, signal training ac- which they moved on to the unit were reorganized under the U.S. tivities at Fort Leavenworth were training center or other schools for Army Southeastern Signal School. shifted to the new radio school at specialized training. On 30 November 1967, Headquar- Camp George G. Meade in Mary- Camp Kohler, California was ters, U.S. Army School/Training land. This move ended Signal established 28 July 1942 and Center and Fort Gordon was orga- training in Kansas. In 1919 the hosted the Western Signal Corps nized to direct overall operations, Signal Corps School was relocated Training Center and the Western service school and advanced indi- to Camp Vail, which in 1925 was Signal Corps Replacement Train- vidual training. renamed Fort Monmouth. ing Center. Kohler specialized in In 1974 the Army consoli- training Signal Soldiers for the dated all Signal training at Fort World War II – The unique conditions of the Pacific Gordon by relocating the Signal Biggest Job, the Greatest Theater of operations. School from Fort Monmouth, N. Challenge At Camp Murphy, Fla., the J. The new school, designated War burst on the United States Signal Corps established a top- the U. S. Army Signal Center and on 7 December 1941. In response secret radar training school in Fort Gordon on 1 October 1974, to the worldwide conflict and ad- 1942. Located between the towns formed the largest communica- vancing technology, a bewildering of Stuart and Jupiter in southeast- tions-electronics training facility array of Signal unit types were ern Florida, the camp comprised in the world. In 1986 the Signal activated and created. Some units over 1,000 buildings and housed Corps became part of the U. S. filled needs for combat operations more than 6,000 officers and Sol- Army Regimental System, insti- and construction as in previ- diers. The camp was deactivated tuted to improve unit cohesion ous conflicts, but new types were in 1944. In 1943, Camp Holabird, and esprit. The Signal Corps and needed for the new technologies. Md., near Baltimore, was renamed other combat support/combat Aircraft-warning battalions and Holabird Signal Depot and offered service support branches imple- radio-intelligence companies were specialized training in Signal sup- mented this system on a “whole just a couple of these specialized ply operations. branch” basis. The commander signal units. Joint Assault Signal Even with this massive train- of the Signal Center thus became Companies, called JASCOs, were ing effort there was still a nagging known as the Chief of Signal and developed to meet the unique com- shortage of trained Signal Soldiers, the proponent for the branch. Fort munication needs of joint amphibi- particularly in Europe. An expert Gordon accordingly became the ous operations and included army, trainer, LTC Ruben Abramowitz designated home of the U.S. Army navy, marine and army air force was given the task of establishing Signal Corps. In 2009, the activ- personnel. Signal training facilities in Europe. ity was redesignated as the U.S. As the war progressed, op- The 47-year-old former NCO had Army Signal Center of Excellence erational requirements became served as a master teacher at Fort and continues the proud tradition so pressing that students were Monmouth and was commissioned of training and educating Signal sometimes taken out of schools to at the outset of the war in 1942. Soldiers, officers and NCOs, for provide fillers for deploying signal In July 1945 he was directed to es- the challenges of the 21st Century companies and battalions. tablish the European Theater Sig- battlefield.

Army Communicator 89 U.S. Army Reserve Component began By COL Jeffrey J. Lepak flict. The first of these units, the Organized Reserves as sig- Senior Army Reserve Advisor the 1st Reserve Field Signal nal companies. U.S. Army Signal Center of Battalion, was organized from According to Army pro- Excellence March to October 1917 in New tocols, the divisional Signal York. The unit was ordered companies were redesignated The formal establishment into active service on 5 Octo- so that their numerical desig- of today’s Army Reserve dates ber 1917 at Camp Upton, New nations matched that of the back to the early years of the York and assigned to the 77th divisions they supported. The twentieth century when Con- Division as the 302d Field Sig- 302d Field Signal Battalion be- gress created the Medical Re- nal Battalion. This unit fought came the 77th Signal Company, serve Corps on 23 April 1908. honorably in the Oise-Aisne, for example, while the 307th This organization provided a Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 1918, became the 82d Signal Com- pool of trained personnel who and Champagne 1918 cam- pany. These units were joined could be called to active duty paigns. Another Signal unit by others that had been formed in an emergency. Eight years constituted in the Enlisted Re- in the National Army during the later, with war already raging serve Corps during this time war and allotted to the Orga- in Europe, Congress passed the was the 13th Reserve Field Sig- nized Reserves afterward. The National Defense Act of 1916 nal Battalion. It was organized 96th Signal Battalion, formerly that authorized a gradual in- in September 1917 at Camp the 621st Field Signal Battal- crease in the size of the Regular Gordon, Georgia as the 307th ion, was one of these units Army. Of particular importance Field Signal Battalion and as- The strategy of having sig- for the Signal Corps was the signed to the 82d Division, with nal companies that trained in creation of an Enlisted Reserve which it served in France. At preparation for mobilization Corps for the recruitment of the end of the war, the reserve was put to the test on 7 Decem- technical specialists, such as divisions, along with their sig- ber 1941. The Reserve divisions telephone and telegraph opera- nal battalions, were demobi- and their organic signal com- tors. lized. panies were ordered into active Under this authority, the During the 1920s, the Army service in the summer of 1942 Signal Corps constituted its saw the need of having a per- and filled with draftees, thus first enlisted reserve battalions manent cadre of unit officers earning the nickname, “Draftee in 1916. These units would be and enlisted men that could be Divisions.” crucial to enabling the Signal quickly mobilized. Hence many The signal battalions Corps to provide communica- of the wartime divisional signal trained and deployed from nu- tions in the coming world con- battalions were reconstituted in merous mobilization sites, such as Camp Crowder, near Neosho, Missouri. Originally intended to be an armored training cen- ter, the Army selected the Neo- sho site for the base because of its proximity to water, rail- roads, and highways. While un- der construction, the post was re-designated as a U.S. Army Signal Corps training center, and it swelled to nearly 47,000 Soldiers at its peak. The post also served as an infantry re- placement center and had a small German prisoner of war detention facility. Cartoon- ist Mort Walker was stationed there and used it as the model for Camp Swampy in his car- toon strip, Beetle Bailey. Signal reserve units de- ployed to both the European and Pacific theaters where they became seasoned veterans, par- ticipating in some of the war’s bloodiest campaigns. Providing communications by wire and radio, these units landed on A Signal lineman working in the European theater in 1945 the beaches of Normany and on the shores of remote Pacific islands. Not only did they earn campaign battle streamers,

90 Summer - 2010 during early years of the 20th century

in Southwest Asia as part of Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Free- dom in Iraq since 2003. Mem- bers of the command deployed to Kuwait to help set up the theater’s signal network, and they remain on duty there to- day. As a multiple-component (“multi-compo”) unit, the 335th is comprised of Soldiers from both the Army Reserve and the Regular Army. During the war on terror- ism, the Reserve’s signal units have been scheduled in the ARFORGEN process—making it truly, “one team one fight.” The reserve signal units receive modernized equipment based on the ARFORGEN cycle, not their compo status. Almost all the USAR’s signal units have deployed one or more times. The 35th Signal Battalion, based at Fort Allen, Puerto Rico, has not yet deployed, but it has contributed tremen- dously to the war effort with its highly skilled and dedicated Soldiers. The 842d Signal Com- pany of Milton, Florida, earned the Meritorious Unit Commen- dation (Army) for its service in Iraq during 2005 and 2006. The Army Reserve also has one of only two combat camera A radio operator of the 1st Signal Brigade moves out on jungle patrol with the 1st companies in the entire Army. Infantry Division from Landing Zone “Lorraine,” five miles northwest of Lai Khe These professionals continue in January 1968 to support the war fighter mis- sion. Over the past decade the Army has transformed the mis- they won numerous American signal units were called to ac- sion of the Reserves from a and foreign decorations. tive duty, but only in limited strategic reserve to an opera- When peace was achieved, numbers. The Army used an tional reserve force. The 311th these units were again inacti- early form of modularity by Signal Command, also a multi- vated as the Army quickly de- creating detachments within a compo unit, was the first Army mobilized. They soon returned unit and mobilizing only the de- Reserve unit to convert to this to the active rolls, however, as tachment. Although the Third new concept and become fully the Army grew to face the chal- Army did not call up its Army mission capable. The 311th re- lenges of the Cold War. When service components, personnel located from Fort Meade, Md., the Army reorganized under the from the Reserve’s 335th Signal to Fort Shafter, Hawaii to better Pentomic Division concept dur- Command were used to sup- support its war time mission in ing the 1950s, the divisional port the 6th Signal Command the Pacific theater on a daily signal companies expanded to (Provisional), a Regular Army basis. become battalion-size elements. unit. The Army Reserve’s citizen- Although the Army Reserve was With the twenty-first cen- Soldiers have defended this na- not called upon to serve in Ko- tury, the Army Reserve has tion from its inception, partici- rea or Vietnam, its units stood played a much larger role in pating in every crisis whether ready to defend the nation as the nation’s defense. Elements war or natural disaster as part they always had. of the 335th Signal Command of the Signal Regiment’s team. During Operation Desert have been on active duty since These warriors are ready and Shield/Desert Storm in the 2001. The command has sup- relevant for Signal Corps’ next early 1990s, the Army Reserve’s ported Third Army’s operations 150 years!

Army Communicator 91 92 Summer - 2010 Army Communicator 93 The Army National Guard continues

By MAJ Lesley Kipling upon the hill, connecting with com- flict in which the National Guard Acting Chief, Tactical Branch, mercial lines. was deployed under the divisional Networks Division U.S. Army During the Spanish-American scheme and each division had a National Guard War, the signal units in the Na- signal battalion. In April 1917 the tional Guard provided a significant 26th and 42d Divisions arrived in The Army National Guard has a source of experienced personnel as France and the 37th Division served long and distinguished Signal his- well as a supply of much-needed in Belgium. In all, 21 Signal Corps tory and Army National Guard Sig- equipment. Upon enlistment, these battalions served in World War 1. nalers have served the nation from men reported to Washington Bar- These consisted of 10 depot units, the Civil War to the present day. In racks, D.C., for training in signal 8 telegraph units, and 3 construc- addition, Army National Guard Sig- techniques and military drill. There tion units. Additionally, the Signal nalers have provided support to the they were organized into compa- Corps maintained the “Carrier Pi- States/Territories during periods of nies of approximately four officers geon Service” which was the “Pigeon natural disasters and civil distur- and fifty-five men each. Despite the Section” for the Army. The final bance. wording of the legislation setting up report submitted by General John The 101st Signal Battalion the volunteer corps, the companies Pershing in 1919 did not differenti- (New York Army National Guard) were not assigned to divisions, but ate between National Guard Units traces its lineage back to the Civil were consolidated at corps head- and Regular Army Units an early War and is credited with participa- quarters (generally three to a corps) indication of the integration of the tion in several historical campaigns for distribution as the commanding Army National Guard into the force to include the Battle of Bull Run, general saw fit. structure. Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and the In 1906 California National The 101st Signal Battalion Wilderness . Guard units responded to the San (New York Army National Guard) The 133d Signal Battalion of Francisco earthquake and fire. remained active throughout the the Illinois Army National Guard Due to the new stationing plan, the interwar period and, in May 1940, was originally organized as a signal Signal Corps had storehouses and was the only National Guard Signal company in 1897. In that same two companies (E and H) located Battalion in the nation. With the year nearly a dozen states reported at Benicia Barracks, only 36 miles entrance of the United States into having Signal Corps personnel away. Local National Guard units, WWII, the 101st was called into within their militia structure. In to include the 2d Company Signal Federal service for the third time, 1892 Andrew Carnegie’s attempt Corps, assisted in the relief efforts. and inducted on 13 January 1941. to break the iron and steel workers These National Guard Signalers During the war, the battalion served union at his plant in Homestead, laid telegraph lines connecting the in the Pacific, where it participated Pennsylvania, resulted in a violent city’s Guard headquarters with in two of the hardest-fought cam- strike, and Governor William Stone subordinate units and assisted in paigns of that theater. On 21 De- called up the militia to restore or- supporting civil authorities’ relief cember 1941, the battalion arrived der. Although the Pennsylvania efforts across the city. in Hawaii where its duties included National Guard had no organized World War I was the first con- operation of telephone and telegraph signal corps several of its compa- nies had signaling experience, and Company H, 12th Pennsylvania Infantry, provided communications during the riots. As assistant adju- tant general MAJ William J. Volk- mar reported: Signal stations were soon established on both sides of the Monongahela River and com- munication constantly maintained between the separated forces by flag, heliograph, and lantern. It is true there is no regular Signal Corps in the Guard, but various of- ficers have voluntarily taken inter- est in signaling. When dense smoke rising from the chimneys of the Carnegie works rendered signaling with flags im- possible, the penetrating power of the heliograph flash enabled troops on opposite sides of the river to maintain almost constant com- munication by day. Lanterns were used by night and a telegraph line The Signal Corps communication ship Apache operated in the Southwest Pacific was built to division headquarters Area during World War II

94 Summer - 2010 long tradition of Signal Corps service installations, in addition to the op- eration of a radio station at depart- mental headquarters, Fort Shafter. The battalion also performed cable- laying missions and underwent amphibious warfare training in preparation for the assault landing to be made on Leyte. The Battalion left Oahu on 11 September 1944 and proceeded to Manus Island where troops were gathered for the Leyte invasion. On 21 October, the 101st landed on Leyte’s eastern coast, near Dulag. While on Leyte, the battalion installed, operated and maintained communications for the XXIV Corps of 6th Army. After the battle ended in July, the 101st remained in Okinawa until August, while mopping-up operations were conducted. The 101st Signal Battalion would be called upon again for the Korean War. During the Korean War, the 101st Signal Battalion participated in the numerous cam- BG Scott Chambers, 261st Signal Brigade commanding general, and CSM Donald paigns. The battalion was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for Catalon, 261st Sig. Bde. command sergeant major, case the brigade’s colors during the period 1 December 1951 to 30 the transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Victory, Iraq on 19 September 2009. June 1952 during which its mem- bers were cited for consistently car- Reese Lindsey, operations sergeant 1 October 2008. The unit formally rying out their complex assignments major for the 146th, the unit pro- accepted the tactical signal mission with a standard of excellence that vided voice and data communica- for the Iraqi Theater of Operations evoked the highest praise from all tions for U.S. forces at 27 locations from 11th Signal Brigade on 20 De- those cognizant of their fine work. in Iraq. He said their mission was cember. A Republic of Korea Presidential to make sure everyone had connec- During the deployment, 261st Unit Citation was awarded to the tivity throughout the theater, and was the headquarters element of IX Corps and its attached units, in- were able to communicate back to “Task Force Diamond,” with com- cluding the 101st Signal Battalion, the United States and Europe. The mand and control over the 146th for their services. 146th supported a diverse group of Expeditionary Signal Battalion, South Carolina and Florida Sig- units including military police, Iraqi Florida Army National Guard, the nal Soldiers deployed in support of soldier training teams, and even a 51st Expeditionary Signal Bat- Desert Shield/Desert Storm and on veterinarian clinic. The largest mis- talion, Fort Lewis, Wash. and the Tuesday, 11 September 2001, after sion the 146th Signal specialists 72nd Expeditionary Signal Bat- terrorists attacked the World Trade performed was providing communi- talion, Frankfurt, Germany. The Center in New York City, two signal cations support for Camp Victory in Task Force had personnel and companies from the New York Army Baghdad. equipment assets at over 50 loca- National Guard were called into LTC Matt Johnson, 146th ESB tions throughout the Iraqi Theater State Active Duty to provide sup- commander, stated the deployment of Operations. The 261st trans- port to New York City. They worked “was extremely rewarding because ferred authority for the theater tirelessly with the New York Police we provided communications for the signal mission to the 35th Signal Department and New York Fire De- entire Iraqi theater of operations, Brigade in mid-September and partment in the aftermath of the from all the way north from the bor- returned home to Delaware 1 Oc- terrorist attack. der of Turkey stretching south to tober. The participation of Army Na- the Persian Gulf. It was rewarding Their mission was to run the tional Guard Signal units and Sol- because as a National Guard unit communications network for the diers in support of operations in we did our job - that is providing theater [Iraq]. They were respon- Iraq and Afghanistan has been the data and voice communications to sibile for secure and non-secure most extensive in history. the warfighter.” voice communications and elec- tronic communications. They Florida National Guard Delaware National Guard also ran Bagdad Signal University The 146th ESB, headquartered The Headquarters and Head- which trained other forces and in Jacksonville, Fla., deployed over quarters Company, 261st TTSB was Iraqis so that the Iraqis can even- 400 Soldiers to Iraq in OCT 2008 activated for federal service in sup- tually take over. to provide Theater communica- port of Operation Iraqi Freedom on The 198th Signal Battalion also tions support. According to SGM served in Iraq from 2006 to 2007. Army Communicator 95 96 Summer - 2010 Army Communicator 97 Signal Towers Headquarters of the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Fort Gordon, Ga., the nation’s largest communications and information training center. The building was dedicated 15 August 1970. The name “Signal Towers” dates back to pre-Civil War times when towers were erected on mountains and above tree lines to serve as information relay positions for fire and flag stations.

98 Summer - 2010 Army Communicator 99 100 Summer - 2010 Army Communicator 101 Modern Signal Corps opportunities abound

The U.S. Army Signal Regiment vices and resources supporting both Infantry or Armor battalions and bri- is leading the nation’s defense into wartime and peacetime operations. gades, as Signal platoon leaders and the 21st century with rapid and reli- As members of the Signal Regi- as primary staff and technical adviser able information systems and servic- ment, Signal officers can serve as (S-6) to the commander. With tech- es. Signal officers, warrant officers Functional Area 24 telecommunica- nological advancements and Army and enlisted Soldiers work hand in tions systems engineers and FA 53 initiatives--such as the digitized divi- hand to attain information domi- information systems management sion, network-centric operations and nance to the fullest extent. Mem- officers to provide seamless, secure, the Army’s transformation--the S-6’s bers of the Signal Regiment lead continuous and dynamic informa- role has become increasingly criti- the world in information technology tion systems at all levels--from the cal in providing the right information management. With the exponential fighting platform to the sustaining to the right individuals at the right growth of computer technology, Sig- base--supporting Army, joint mili- time. nal Soldiers are constantly evolving tary and coalition warfighting mis- Department of the Army Pam- skills in the World Wide Web, multi- sions. The Regiment’s enlisted Sol- phlet 600-3 says the Signal warrant media, distance learning, and other diers and warrant officers are also officer, “is a self aware and adap- IT-based capabilities that transform essential to the Regiment’s success. tive technical expert, combat leader, methods of delivering information. Signal officers command Signal trainer and advisor. Through pro- Regimental officers are trained to units engaged in installing, operat- gressive levels of expertise in assign- manage networked information and ing, administering and maintaining ments, training, and education, the telecommunications systems. They wide-area networks and information warrant officer administers, man- can specialize in engineering and systems, supporting tactical, the- ages, maintains, operates, and inte- management of information systems ater, strategic and sustaining base grates Army systems and equipment and communications networks. The operations. As commanders, Signal across the full range of Army opera- 21st century presents tremendous officers plan, coordinate and super- tions. Warrant officers are innovative challenges for the Signal Regiment vise training, administration, opera- integrators of emerging technologies, because the Regiment is leading the tions, supply, maintenance, trans- dynamic teachers, confident warf- Army into the Information Technol- portation, security activities and ighters, and developers of special- ogy Age. resource allocation for Signal units ized teams of Soldiers. They sup- Today’s Signal Soldiers encoun- and facilities. port a wide range of Army missions ter unpredictable challenges that Signal officers also serve as tech- throughout their career.” test their tactical and technical abili- nical advisers by providing detailed Signal warrant officers are en- ties. Along with these challenges, technical direction and advice to listed Soldiers who average about however, are tremendous opportuni- commanders, staffs and other com- nine years of service time and dem- ties for advancement and personal mand, control, communications and onstrate exceptional potential in in- satisfaction. From the fox hole to the computer users at all echelons on in- formation technology and meet the White House, Signal Soldiers plan, stalling, operating and maintaining prerequisites for accession into the install, integrate, operate and main- distributed database systems, tele- warrant officer corps. tain the Army’s strategic, operational processing systems and data com- Rigorous training at the U.S. and tactical information-systems in- munications supporting battlefield Army Signal Center of Excellence at frastructure. This includes commu- automated systems. Fort Gordon, is the beginning point nications and computer systems and Signal officers are typically as- for Signal Soldiers who gain world- networks, as well as information ser- signed to Maneuver units, such as class training and experiences. The constinuously changing technological landscape makes it es- sential that Signal Soldiers engage in continuing and career-long edu- cation, business/industry research Their own words internships, on-line and distance learning. Workers with the expe- “In the early 1990’s, Army Signal rience and training gained in the Signal Corps are highly sought by Corps Soldiers proved they could industry. After their military career master new technology with the most Signal Corps Soldiers have skills and certifications that are complete conversion of tactical readily transferrable to the civilian work force with exceptional salary communications from analog to potential. The Signal Corps offers many digital under the Mobile Subscriber opportunities in various specialized fields for enlisted, officer and war- Equipment program.” rant officers. On the following pages are brief glimpses of Signal Soldiers working in various occupational MG USA (Ret) David R. Gust fields. Also featured are vignettes from Signal Soldiers sharing career highlights and aspirations. 102 Summer - 2010 This chart reflects the Signal Regiment’s enlisted Military Occupational Specialty structure. It also provides the MOS designations that were used prior to 2005; after which all Signal MOSs were designated “25.”

Army Communicator 103 (Left) CPT Jason C. Snyder, 12th Division MiTT G1 & G8, 1st BDE 1st IN, takes up position on a .50 calibre machine gun while riding convoy duty August 2009 near Kirkuk. (Above) A stolen fuel tanker explodes near the K1 Compound where CPT Snyder was assigned. The Signal Experience CPT Jason C. Snyder St. Lawrence University, Canton, N.Y. Bachelor of Science – Psychology Troy University Master of Science – Human Resource Management

12th DIV MiTT Team G1 & G8, K1 Compound (Kirkuk) 1st BDE 1st IN DIV, Fort Riley, Kan. Operation Iraqi Freedom

My military transition team training began at Fort Riley, Kan. in 2008, where I had the privilege of working with a very diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds. We were well trained on all of the warrior task skills we would need. Throughout the three-month training period my 11-person team (Team Joker) developed solid camaraderie. We deployed to the K1 Compound near Kirkuk, a tiny island (approximately 1.5 football fields large) swimming in a much larger 12th Division Iraqi Army Base (about 6 miles in circumference). There were about 150 U.S. Soldiers among more than 18,000 Iraqi Army personnel just outside our small facility. We ran the perimeter on a daily basis armed with small arms to keep the packs of wild dogs away from us. I worked as the combat advisor to the 12th IA DIV G1 and G8 and served as lead gunner on our convoys. Through the limited Arabic I had learned, plus the help of experienced interpreters, I was able to forge very strong working relationships with leadership of the 12th IA DIV. As the G1, I made recommendations for enhancing the division’s strength management, assisted MOD personnel with ascertaining the amount of “ghost soldiers” in the division to reduce corruption, and tracked religious and ethnic percentages of the Soldiers in the 12th IA DIV. As the G8, I tracked the monthly payments to the 12th IA DIV Soldiers and Sons of Iraq, a group that had been recently incorporated by the Ministry of Interior for assistance at checkpoints because of their strong situational awareness of the area of operations. I assisted Iraqi personnel throughout the division by bringing their pay problems to the attention of the G8 OIC for resolution, and made recommendations regarding more efficient handling of pay problems. I was very fortunate that my MiTT had strong cohesion that we sustained throughout the mission. I was amazed at the intelligence, generosity, sense of humor, and world experience of my IA counterparts. We developed bonds that run deep and will last forever. I will always hold the memories of that deployment very close to me, because it was definitely a once in a lifetime adventure that I’ll always remember. 104 Summer - 2010 Army Communicator 105 106 Summer - 2010 The Signal Experience CW2 Julie Wilson Charlie Company, 302d Signal Battalion, 21st Signal Brigade Camp Roberts, Calif. Operations Officer in Charge

It is a great challenge and an esteemed pleasure to be the officer in charge of one of only two CONUS Global Information Grid and Teleport sites. At Camp Roberts, Calif., we have a challenging mission. Being located on opposite coasts from our battalion makes it even more challenging. We provide support to NAOC, STRATCOM, TRANSCOM, SOCOM, PACOM, JFCOM, Fleet Forces Command, JCSE, NASA, FEMA, Homeland Defense, Air National Guard, and the American Red Cross. Since we are located in the CONUS, we are able to provide strategic communications to the eastern and western regions of the world. Having the added capabilities of Standardized Tactical Entry Point, we provide training capabilities for tactical users to prepare them for deployment and to ensure their equipment is properly configured. Not only is this site a CONUS GIG Teleport facility, we are also a co-located SATCOM and Technical Control Facility. Our military team is comprised of the following MOSs: 25S, 25P and 25F. All MOSs cross train and are required to provide troubleshooting assistance in each area. It is a one stop shop. Our TCF is the west coast DISN Fiber Core Terrestrial backbone. We serve as a hub connecting several locations to include: Beale AFB, Vandenberg AFB, Monterey AFB, Mirimar Naval Station, McCord AFB, to name a few. This allows us to provide high data rates to our customers over several platforms to provide reliable communications. Our workforce is comprised of military, DA civilians, and contractors. This in itself is challenging. It is a constant balancing act to ensure all three sections are resourced. Each section has to assist each other to ensure our mission is accomplished. The military is still required to maintain their Soldier skills while the civilians and contractors have the limits of their actual contract and liabilities. In the end, each is a valuable asset to our team. This position is extremely rewarding and challenging. The ability to have a dynamic workforce provides different backgrounds, theories, and diverse objectives to accomplishing the mission. The ability to have customers ranging from commercial providers to the warfighter is the reward of this job. We are able to stay on the cutting edge of technology, while still keeping with our military roots to provide stable communications for the warfighter.

Their own words “To me the 150th anniversary of the Signal Corps represents the culmination of 15 decades of excellence; from wig-wag to pigeons, wired to wireless, our Signal Corps has adapted and overcome to ensure the commanders’ orders are heard anytime and anywhere at peace and at war; in the open or secured, we project the voice of command!”

CW5 Todd M. Boudreau Regimental Chief Warrant Officer/Signal Regiment

Army Communicator 107 The Signal Experience CPT Amber Walker United States Military Academy, West Point, N. Y. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of Oxford Oxford, England Master of Science in Engineering Science

Battalion S-6, Division Special Troops Battalion 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Fort Hood, Texas Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09

In November 2007 I deployed my battalion’s communications to Baghdad, Iraq for a 15-month rotation. Once deployed, our unit consisted of all Division staff, the commanding general, his 150-person security detachment, a radar section, PsyOps, mobile public affairs detachment, the division band, multiple transition teams, and the MND-B detainee holding area. My subscriber base grew from 800 in garrison to nearly 2,000 in Iraq. I was responsible, in tandem with division’s internal support structure, for CPT Amber Walker, Battalion S-6, their daily automations and tactical communications needs which included Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, displays the Bronze everything from satellite-based systems all the way down to handheld Order of Mercury Award she received radios. In my position I also served with the division’s network support August 2008 in Camp Victory, Baghdad company and therefore the division G-6. I spent many hours working with Iraq for outstanding service during the G-6 section to ensure local communications were robust and operational Operation Iraqi Freedom. while also aiding our MND-B subordinate brigades with their issues. I sent more than $13 million dollars of equipment to all edges of Baghdad while personally contracting for over $450,000 of necessary equipment and accessories for use within the DSTB and the various units it supported. While serving as a battalion Signal officer I was constantly challenged with myriad requests, problems and unique requirements that are not taught in military schools. I thrived on the opportunity to provide a solution to the warfighters I served whether it was vehicular remote control units for SINCGARs in MRAPs, new laptop computers, ethernet switch expansions to accommodate a larger network, or fielding over 100 JTRS-enabled multiband inter/intra team radios. As a school-trained engineer I especially appreciate the problem-solving aspects of my role as a Signal Corps officer. The Soldiers with whom I’ve had the honor to serve are top notch, intelligent and driven individuals. I have forged life-long relationships with fellow Signal officers and senior NCOs and know that these friendships will follow me well beyond retirement.

Their own words “While technology has changed from carrier pigeons and semaphores to carrier waves and satellites, our anniversary demonstrates one thing that hasn’t changed: the dedication of our Corps to getting the message through.”

MG Susan Lawrence Commanding General NETCOM/9th Signal Command

108 Summer - 2010 MOS 25B

Army Communicator 109 MOS 25C

110 Summer - 2010 The Signal Experience 1LT Brandon A. Eicher University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. Reserve Officer Training Corps Bachelor of Arts in Economics (2007)

Camp Korean Village, (Technical Control Facility/Help Desk) Officer In Charge B. Co, 72nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion Task Force Lion, Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-10

I have had the great fortune of being a platoon leader since February 2009. My first week on the job, my joint network node was tasked with providing Signal support to 21st Theater Support Command in Baumholder, Germany. Being a brand new platoon leader, I was considerably nervous since I had not yet even met my Soldiers and I had never even seen a JNN. Immediately upon my arrival, I was confronted by senior Officers, all asking me very direct and detailed questions about the network and bandwidth. I knew immediately that this job was going to be both rewarding and challenging. In July 2009, my unit was deployed to Iraq. My platoon was tasked with a variety of missions throughout Western and Northern Iraq. My Platoon Sergeant and I deployed command post nodes, line of sight V-1 and V-3’s, and a TSC 93D. We then deployed a team of 12 Soldiers to Camp Korean Village, Western Iraq, to lead the non-doctrinal mission of running a technical control facility and help desk for the post. We assumed the network management duties from a Marine Corps Signal company, with no prior training or experience with strategic communications. My Soldiers showed how capable they are at adapting to challenging environments, by swiftly leading the changeover from the Marine’s CENTCOM based domain to the Army’s United States Forces-Iraq domain in just a few weeks. We ensured that over 500 user accounts were transferred, and several hundred laptops were baselined with the new configuration. Our consistent and reliable Signal support to units of the both 82nd Airborne Division and 13th Expeditionary Support Command allowed Camp Korean Village to continue its vital mission. My experience in the Signal Corps has been extremely rewarding. It has shown me just how essential the Signal Corps is. I have been given the opportunity to lead Soldiers in the most austere environment possible, and to provide a vital service to warfighters. I am extremely proud to have had the opportunity to serve as an officer in the Signal Corps, and would definitely recommend it to future leaders!

Cable dawgs under the command of 1LT Brandon A. Eicher rearrange and test NIPR and SIPR CAT-V wire around the TCF of Camp Korean Village in November 2009 after a sandstorm damaged cables across the post.

Army Communicator 111 The Signal Experience

MAJ Dale Pittman Reserve Officers Training Corps, Mississippi State University Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering University of Maryland University College Master of Science in Information Technology: Telecommunications Management

Cisco Systems Inc. Training Division Durham, N.C.

I’m currently training with industry at Cisco MAJ Dale L. Pittman pauses inside the Cisco Customer Briefing Systems in a unique and rewarding experience Center in research Triangle Park, N.C. March 2010. In the training division with Cisco, MAJ Pittman works with unified where I am learning about Cisco’s business practices communications, wireless, security and data center solutions. and technologies. I’m assigned to Cisco’s Global Government Solutions Group where on a daily basis I have the chance to interact with network consulting engineers and account managers who work with federal, DoD, Army, Navy, and Marine accounts. NCEs are CCIE certified and assist customers by providing network architectural support, IOS recommendations, performance engineering and technical knowledge transfer. As a Functional Area 24 officer, I think there is no better experience that parallels the numerous roles and responsibilities we encounter on the job in the military. At Cisco, I have the chance to study using simulation tools, working in the lab, or learning something new about technology that I can leverage in the military. Some of the new and emerging technology I have been exposed to in the past year includes Radio Award Routing, Full Motion Video , Unified Computing System and Virtualization, TelePresence, and Internet Routing in Space. Some of these new technologies are being employed in the military now. Others will shape the course of Army communication in the future. Out of my entire Signal experience, working among the best Cisco has to offer and gaining a unique look into the business side of Cisco, is my number one experience so far. I have had an awesome and exceptional opportunity to serve in different leadership positions and work with numerous types of communication systems and equipment in the military. I could not be more proud of the things I have been able to do in the Signal Corps. I truly believe I have contributed and played a part in revolutionizing tactical communications. The Signal experience is one you must embrace and appreciate.

Their own words “If you have a tough job to get done, give it to a Signal officer.”

LTG USA (Ret) Peter A. Kind Former Chief of Signal

112 Summer - 2010 MOS 25E Army Communicator 113 MOS 25F

114 Summer - 2010 The Signal Experience

1LT William F. Thorne Saint Joseph’s College, Maine Bachelor of Science, Health Administration

C Co. 4BSTB, 4th Brigade Combat Team 4th Infantry Division JNN Platoon Leader, BDE S6 FUOPs/Projects TF Mountain Warrior, Operation Enduring Freedom X

As a Signal officer I’ve had the privilege of leading a JNN Platoon from pre-deployment training at JRTC to our deployment in support of OEF X. During this period of time, I’ve been introduced to how dynamic a Signal officer must be. As a platoon leader, I am responsible for the success or failure of my platoon to execute its mission of supporting our task force voice and data network while maintaining the welfare of my Soldiers. I’ve learned tomes from my Soldiers and will always relish the time we spent together. As our JNN is co-located on the same FOB as our BCT headquarters, the BCT S6 has incorporated the Signal officers of our company for various duties within his section. It is this area in which I have truly grown as a junior officer. My duties include planning C2 infrastructure for BCT level maneuver operations, In September 2009, 1LT William F. Thorne, JNN Platoon researching and developing projects such as providing leader, pauses during the process of issusing handheld commercial satellite television and internet to Soldiers radios and satellite phones to Afghan national/border in the most remote mountainous areas in Afghanistan, policemen in Barg-E Matal, Nuristan, Afghanistan. and assisting the S6 with the internal management of the section. At one point these duties placed an NCO in our company and me on an operation in support of Joint Special Operations Forces during which we lived in an enemy surrounded village and maintained a VSAT for our bearded hosts. During this time we dispensed HF, UHF, and VHF radios to and trained Afghan national police and Afghan border police on their operation. We trained the ANP and ABP commanders on the use of satellite phones which were later used as communications platforms with coalition force commanders for critical requests for support and resupply. This mission was complicated in part by small arms and sniper fire, RPG’s and of course Murphy and his infamous law (of which I’m certain nearly every Signal officer is familiar). My experiences here have provided many exceptionally high intensity evolutions. I will always remember this time in my career and will endeavor to make the most of the training and operational experiences that will remain indelibly etched in my mind.

Army Communicator 115 The Signal Experience SSG Roman Harrington Division G6 Network Operations NCO Network Support Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 10th MTN Div (LI) Task Force Mountain, Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-09

My experience as G6 Network Operations NCO supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-09 was a truly rewarding and memorable experience. Alpha Company, the network support company deployed to Iraq with a little over 150 Soldiers comprised of a Signal company and G-6 division staff section. We provided direct support to the 10th Mountain Headquarters located in Multi-National Division-Center, Camp Victory, Iraq and subordinate units. We provided support for seven brigade combat teams and 2 task force elements, providing reliable Tactical SIPR/NIPR services to our subordinate units within our Area of Operations. Working in NETOPS was a great but challenging experience. I was forced to learn the entire network on all tiers. During our daily briefs we were able to report issues and discuss specific trend analysis within the network and have all major G6 sections available to assist in a resolution. This deployment allowed me to see and understand how teamwork plays a vital role in the success of the mission. I later became a liaison officer for Joint NETOPS Communication Center - Iraq. On this level all branches of service made up the Corps NETOPS. Together, all MNDs assisted Corps level technicians to continuously monitor strategic circuits that supplied voice and data throughout major sites within Iraq for reach back and also cross connect capabilities into our JNTC-S networks. Late spring MND-C was relocated and renamed MND-South in Basra. This move took a lot of planning and execution. Unlike being in Baghdad where we had very dependable LOS redundancy for our systems, the move to Basra quickly forced challenges. By working with some of the greatest network engineers from 10th MTN and 18th ABN Corps (shortly replaced by I Corps), problems were isolated and the network transition made with great success. I can honestly say this deployment afforded me the chance to meet some real Signaleers that At a ceremony in MND-C Headquarters, Camp Victory, Iraq, March 2009, CPT Jessica King, company commander pins SSG Roman Harrington, 10th Mountain didn’t mind adapting to change and Division Special Troops Battalion, with an Army Commendation Medal for teaching subordinates what they outstanding service during his tour of duty in Iraq as NETOPS NCO and division knew. For this I am forever grateful LNO. because it made me more proficient and a better Soldier. 116 Summer - 2010 MOS 25L Army Communicator 117 MOS 25M 118 Summer - 2010 The Signal Experience

CPT Jerrod D. Castro Reserves Officer Training Corps University Of Washington, Seattle, Wash. Bachelors of Arts in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts

G6 and Signal Company Advisor 4th Iraqi Army Military Transition Team Company A, 25STB, 25ID Task Force Lightning, Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11

In October 2009 I deployed for the third time in support to Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the 25th Infantry Division’s 4th Iraqi Army Military Transition Team. The team was made up of 53 Soldiers with all support slices and a BDE MiTT to augment our team. As the division G6 advisor, I advised, trained, coached and mentored the 4IA division G6, his Staff and the division Signal company command team on planning networks, training Soldiers and maintaining equipment. I assisted the division G6 in improving his communications support plan for combat and sustainment operations as well as increasing the 4th IA division communications capacity. Through my counterparts (Above) CPT Jerrod D. Castro prepares to and with the help of my interpreter, I learned about the Iraqi culture and move out of FOB Dagger Salah ad Din picked up basic Arabic language. Over the course of my deployment, I Province for convoy duty in December was able to develop a strong and lasting relationship based on trust and 2008. (Below right) In March 2010, CPT respect. Being part of a MiTT requires a Signal officer to perform duties Castro assists an Iraqi Signal company outside their normal area of expertise. We conducted countless convoys commander with communications procedures at FOB Ramagan, Tikrit, throughout the battlefield in order to assess, observe, or coordinate Iraq. combat and support operations. Because our unit was small in number (and conducting multiple convoys at a time), I found myself serving as a patrol leader on one day and a gunner or driver the next day. On one occasion, I led an effort to clear a suspected Improvised Explosive Device. On another occasion, I served as a battle captain when our FOB received direct fire and I had to coordinate for ISR assets to survey suspected enemy positions. Because of the type of mission we were given, I had to ensure that my Soldiers and I were tactically proficient in our warrior tasks and drills. This deployment was a unique and rewarding experience for me. My focus was on taking care of my Soldiers and accomplishing our mission. The best part about my experience was that I was able to test myself in everything that the Signal Corps had taught me. The Signal Corps prepared me to be an “agile leader.” I am a technically and tactically proficient Soldier, ready to adapt and accomplish my assigned tasks in order to complete the mission. To top it off, I was able to meet and build new friendships, expand my knowledge of the Arabic language, and learn about the Iraqi Culture through my day to day engagements with my counterparts.

Army Communicator 119 The Signal Experience 1LT Benjamin M. Smith United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Honors Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

JNN Platoon Leader and FOB Warhorse Technical Control Facility Officer in Charge 72d Expeditionary Signal Battalion Task Force Lion, Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11

As a first lieutenant deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11 I have had the opportunity to experience both the tactical and strategic sides of the Signal Corps. As the platoon leader for five deployed command post nodes I’ve been able to experience the impact tactical signal equipment has on the battlefield. My position as the OIC for a technical control facility has introduced me to the challenges of running communications for a FOB supporting 20 units. Leading deployed CPNs provides a unique perspective on how important quality communications support is to the warfighter and our mission in Iraq. From supporting brigade support battalions and brigade combat teams to providing the communication for joint provincial (Above) At FOB Warhorse, Iraq in January 2010 1LT coordination centers that supervise the training for Iraqi Benjamin Smith, JNN Platoon Leader, leads SPC police brigades, the quality of the services my Soldiers Steven Parsons, 72d Expeditionary Signal Battalion, in a provide is reenlistment ceremony as a staged fireball erupts in the critical to background to mark the event. (Below left) SPC Dondre mission success. Fairgood, 72d ESB, scales an AN/30 tower November It’s amazing to 2009 at Joint Base Balad to check systems on the antenna link between JBB and FOB Warhorse in support of Task see E-5 team Force Lion’s mission, Operation Quickshot. chiefs grow to their full potential in their positions as senior Signal Soldier on the ground responsible for their Soldiers and maintaining communications critical to their supported unit. Running the technical control facility on FOB Warhorse has been a truly unique experience for a platoon leader in an expeditionary Signal battalion. Enforcing information assurance patches; installing, operating, and maintaining commercial fiber optic cable, and planning and executing expansions or contractions of services on an FOB are all tasks ESBs typically don’t encounter. Interacting with a wide variety of customers has been a rewarding experience. Working with Special Forces, unmanned aerial vehicle teams, and provincial reconstruction teams all highlight the diversity of our mission in Iraq.

120 Summer - 2010 MOS 25N

Army Communicator 121 MOS 25P

122 Summer - 2010 The Signal Experience

SFC Alexander Perea HHD 43rd Signal Battalion USAREUR Commanding General’s Communication Team

NCOIC Direct Signal Support Team Jalalabad, Afghanistan

My experience as the NCOIC for a strategic Signal element supporting Operation Enduring Freedom 08-09 was truly a humbling experience. I was able to work in a capacity that not many NCOs are ever so privileged. We supported 3rd Brigade 1st Infantry Division in the Nangahar Province. I was responsible for four other NCOs, six Soldiers, 30 ITT contractors, a technical control facility and a DKET satellite station. I was assigned to the 580th Signal Company, 25th Signal Battalion and maintained the strategic communication as well as all the fiber optic lines for FOB Fenty. I worked along side LT Kenneth A. Powell to ensure a constant state of communication for the warfighters in the 1st Infantry Division’s area of responsibility. During my deployment to OEF 2008-2009, we established many firsts.The air traffic control tower was one of our many projects and one of my proudest, as 4 of my Soldiers completed the Fiber Optic lines for this building with help from our ITT fiber optic team. They ensured this tower was able to begin landing aircraft on time with the completion date. Additionally, this dedicated team ensured the BCT commander’s mission requirements were met by completing the installation of a fiber optic ring on FOB Fenty. A key project to the success of the FOB was designing the first tech control facility on FOB Fenty and ensuring all agencies were able to support the communication mission. The TCF currently houses all the communication equipment necessary to support the strategic and tactical mission for all brigade SFC Alexander Perea, HHD 43rd Signal Battalion, terminates a fiber optic cable to combat teams arriving to Jalalabad provide telecommunication for the the Jalalabad TCF facility in Afghanistan May 2009. Afghanistan, and I am proud to say I was a part of that history. SFC Perea is currently attending the Senior Leaders Course class 25W 005-10 at Fort Gordon, Ga.

Army Communicator 123 The Signal Experience

CPT Barak V. Griffin United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Regional Network Operations & Security Center, Regional Command- South, S3 Projects Officer HHC, 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion Task Force Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom 09-10

In 2008, when we took part in the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion transformation to Warfighter Information Network – Tactical equipment, I did not anticipate the wide scope of the mission that this tactical Signal battalion would soon take on in Southern Afghanistan. As a newly promoted captain, my battalion commander asked me if I was interested in becoming a project manager. As a member of the first Army ESB to go into Regional Command-South, I assumed the role of S3 projects officer, responsible for network infrastructure projects throughout the Southern Region of Afghanistan. When we arrived at Kandahar Airfield in May 2009, there was no infrastructure established to support the massive uplift of U.S. forces in the region. There was only a small detachment of 25Ls keeping the existing communications running, as well as a fledgling crew wiring new buildings for communications under the leadership of two USFOR-A (S) J6 civilian contractors. Jumping into this mission to provide inside-plant and outside-plant connectivity to new units on KAF and the surrounding forward operating bases forced us to create a “projects” platoon comprised of all 25L personnel in the battalion. At the end of the reorganization, the projects team totaled two officers, 11 NCOs, 33 Soldiers and 16 civilian contractors. On KAF alone, our network infrastructure projects supported the communications requirements of two American surges – 15,000 troops in 2009 and 15,000 troops in 2010. The 57th ESB projects team completed over 110 commercialization projects, including the introduction of over 70 end-user buildings to the fiber optic network. These projects included the communications infrastructure for one sustainment command joint operations center, four brigade tactical operations centers and two special operations task force compounds. I value all of the jobs I have been assigned in the Signal Corps – platoon leader, company executive officer and now S3 projects officer. This job has given me critical problem-solving skills, as well as project management experience. I also enjoyed being the projects officer because it gave me some more time as a “platoon leader,” which will always be one of the best jobs in the Army. While my career thus far has not been very technically-focused, I have learned Members of the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion lay fiber a tremendous amount about the operation and optic cable at U.S. Air Force Camp Davis January 2010 to provide expansion of a robust Army network. connectivity to the aviation brigade at Kandahar Airfield.

124 Summer - 2010 MOS 25Q

Army Communicator 125 MOS 25R 126 Summer - 2010 The Signal Experience

CPT Kyle V. Moses Reserve Officers Training Corps The College of New Jersey, Ewing Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Webster University, Fort Bliss Campus Master of Arts in Information Management

Systems Engineer 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion 7th Tactical Theater Signal Brigade Operation Enduring Freedom 09-10

In 2009, 57th ESB deployed to Kandahar to support expanding operations in Regional Command-South during Operation Enduring Freedom 09-10. I deployed shortly after completing the Functional Area 24 course and the Signal Captains Career Course at Fort Gordon. I spent the first month shadowing the battalion’s network technician, CW2 Eric Rogers, and the rest of the outstanding engineering and network operations teams. The unit was tasked with a vast mission. The high operational tempo and rapid growth in the region resulted in numerous challenges that required strong teamwork and constant vigilance. One of the biggest challenges was managing the RC-S tactical network hub. This hub is crucial to operations and outside the MTOE skill set of an ESB. Prior to the battalion’s arrival in theater, B/50th ESB worked with CJTF-101 to build and prepare this terminal and its base band shelter for the troop surge that occurred in tandem with our battalion’s arrival. MKET24 started out as a purely Frequency Division Multiple Access terminal that was upgraded to support Time Division Multiple Access systems as well. The use of available theater provided equipment components, numerous late nights of troubleshooting and “field expedient” repairs led to our well deserved moniker of the “Franken-Hub.” As support requirements continued expanding throughout the year, the MKET24 surged toward its maximum capacity. The theater’s long term plan called for the replacement of MKET24 with DKET50. Unfortunately, numerous delays in the project schedule prevented DKET50 from serving immediate growth needs for the theater and we had to immediately bridge the gap. Our plan of action involved the use of a spare Satellite Transportable Terminal and Master Reference Terminal push package to support additional terminals until DKET50 became available. The push package concept was far from new, but we faced several challenges in the set up process. The push package itself was designed for use in a Rockwell Collins STT, but 57th ESB was fielded with Lot 10 General Dynamics STTs. Adapting the two systems to work together and support three traffic terminal modems required some creative RF cabling solutions. The project was further complicated by an NCC hard drive failure and Linkway software version conflicts. The temporary, on-the-fly solutions and equipment problems were clear parallels to MKET24 and it wasn’t long before the push package earned several nicknames of its own to include “Son of Frankenhub,” “Baby Frankenhub,” and the combination of choice for the system operators, “Fat Man & Little Boy.” Serving as a FA 24 officer in OEF has been both the most challenging and rewarding experience of my seven years on active duty. I can’t imagine a career field within the Army that I would enjoy more or a better place to learn my trade than Southern Afghanistan. This has been a great first assignment as an FA 24 Signal officer.

Army Communicator 127 The Signal Experience MAJ Brad Cook University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science Master of Computer Science

Sustainment Automation Support Management Officer 593rd Sustainment Brigade Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I deployed with the 593rd Sustainment Brigade to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in May 2009 to perform theater logistics support operations. The 593rd SB Sustainment Automation Support Management Office is responsible for ensuring reliable communications for the logistics automation systems which enable logistics units to execute their missions. Our six-Soldier team supported a customer base spanning the (Above right) Middle East, to include: Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Qatar, MAJ Bradley J. Cook stands beside a Very Small Aperture Terminal United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Djibouti. We provided this support antenna outside the unit’s tent in Camp not only through local helpdesk operations, but also by providing Arifjan, Kuwait March 2010. Members oversight for four logistics automation support contracts (leveraging of his Sustainment Automation Support over 40 contractors) worth over $50 million. In Kuwait, this consisted Management Office, SGT Jason Menning of ensuring connectivity for 1700+ logistics automation systems, and SSG Cheryl Boyd are shown with him. enabling accountability and distribution of over $2 billion in Army stocks, processing over 29,000 maintenance work orders, and accounting for equipment worth $500 million. In my duties as a basic branch Signal and current Functional Area 53 officer, there is a lot of similarity between supporting C2 and logistics operations. While the supported systems may differ, success still depends on ready, rapid and reliable customer service and support. The SASMO shop is an enabler, just like an S-6 shop, that must anticipate customer needs and act decisively to solve problems so that the warfighters and sustainers can accomplish their respective missions. This FA53 assignment provided my first opportunity to work with warrant officers again in over a decade. I am truly impressed by the quality of Signal and logistics warrant officer technicians I worked with. Each expertly filled MTOE slots one or two pay grades above their current grades and were recognized experts throughout our area of operations. I also came to appreciate even more the resilience and adaptability of Signal Soldiers. All four Soldiers in our largest SASMO shop were Signaleers--none of whom had ever worked with logistics automation systems before arriving at the 593rd SB. All four were able to adapt easily to the new equipment and became experts after the first few months of our deployment. I would be honored to serve with any or all of them again.

Their own words “The will to communicate must transcend the means.”

LTG USA (Ret) Robert Gray Former Chief of Signal

128 Summer - 2010 MOS 25S

Army Communicator 129 MOS 25U 130 Summer - 2010 The Signal Experience

MAJ Richard Abelkis University of Massachusetts, Lowell Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering DISA Joint Staff Support Center 335th Signal Command (Theater) Forward, Kuwait

I just came on board for my third deployment with the 335th Signal Command (Theater). Previously, I was in OEF 2001-2002, OIF 2003, and recently completed my OEF/OIF 2008-2009 tour. My role was the deputy C4I project director for the ARCENT AOR based in Kuwait. The 335th SC (T) is a reserve command filling the theater Signal role for ARCENT. The first units deploying as part of the 2008 Afghanistan build up were additional BCTs and an expeditionary Signal battalion with Signal companies. These BCTs brought along their organic signal assets, JNN and CPNs. The units were being allocated to RC-South, the southern command in Afghanistan. While RC-East was the main U.S. effort with a full division headquarters and TAC HUB, RC-South was an ISAF command and no additional Division HQ was going to be supporting it. Along with the JNN and CPNs were smaller satellite systems that were augmenting tactical locations with SIPR and NIPR services. Units, as small as platoons, were being fielded theseVSAT Satellite Network Access Points. All of these terminals required satellite access to the GIG and local services: email, voice and VTC on their main base in RC-South. To meet that need, a Jan 09 planning session with the 101st G6, ARCENT, 335th, 160th SC BDE, and 25th SC BN devised a design that included a USAFCENT mobile DKET in conjunction with interconnection of the Regional Hub Node (RHN) in Kuwait for a mesh architecture. It allowed for creation of a TAC HUB and GIG off load for RC-South units. This negated having to deploy a full DIV HQ TAC HUB and also utilize the RHN as a force enabler. One of the key differentiators of the RHN was that main services were being drawn from RC-South, however all internet traffic was being directed through the RHN. A proxy server was placed in the RHN and all non-local traffic (Internet Explorer) was off loaded to the RHN which had a high capacity bandwidth to the GIG. Since the JNN and CPN in TDMA mode with the RHN allowed traffic to go from base camp to GIG, it reduced the load on the strategic DKETs in Afghanistan and showed a significant decrease in delay to the user when accessing the Internet. This also was used for CSTC-A, based in Kabul, and their SNAP terminals. Initially, 12 SNAP terminals were deployed throughout AFG, with an additional 20 – 30 more for future expansion. The RHN was the HUB for those terminals, as well as one JNN and four CPNs left by the 37th IBCT to augment to fixed regional support sites that assisted training of the Afghan national army and the Afghan national police. These sites previously had a basic 2 Mb/s or less commercial microwave service (prone to going down in the evenings) and now had a one hop access to the GIG and redundancy on their network. This design was a win-win for Army Signal, reducing the requirement for a division tactical hub, and providing access through the RHN for off loading Internet traffic through Kuwait for troops in the field.

Army Communicator 131 The Signal Experience

MAJ Heather Gunther United States Military Academy ’02, Colorado Technical University ‘07 Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Masters of Science in Information Technology

Company Commander Alpha Company, 72d Expeditionary Signal Battalion Task Force Lion, Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11

My experience as an expeditionary Signal company commander supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom 10-12 has been truly rewarding. Alpha company deployed 121 Soldiers into theatre and immediately spread out to occupy 14 remote locations across Iraq. Teams provided strategic and tactical support to customers, including one division headquarters, three major installations, two brigade combat teams, four combat arms companies, two military transition teams advising Iraqi general officers and two combat outposts, totaling 2500 NIPR and SIPR subscribers. In addition to tactical outposts, our first platoon ran the technical control facility and strategic helpdesk on FOB Warhorse, maximizing cross training in non-doctrinal missions with consistently outstanding results. Headquartered in Tikrit, the company operations at COB Speicher provided me an especially unique perspective as we are located near where I served five years ago as a company executive officer with the now deactivated 121st Signal Battalion, 1ID. Witnessing the changes over the years as the theatre has matured, I am immensely proud and continuously amazed. Our efforts have shifted from building a sustainable logistics base to clearing our footprint as the team turns in significant amounts of accumulated and excess bench stock. To watch this mission come full circle and to be able to lead troops in combat is the greatest honor and tribute that can be paid to those who have sacrificed for this country. I am humbled to serve with such amazing professionals and to provide a critical service as a Signaleer to combatant commanders during this historic time.

(Above left) SPC Maria Herrera, 94E and 1SG Doug Lynch both from Alpha Company 72d Expeditionary Signal Battalion, install a SINCGARS radio in an M998 to provide communications to support a company small arms range on COB Speicher, Iraq January 2010. (Above) In the midst of a February 2010 winter sandstorm in Tikrit, Iraq 25Q Soldiers from 72d ESB conduct core METL training with an LOS V3. Soldiers practice the “train as you fight” ethic in all weather conditions to get the message through.

132 Summer - 2010 MOS 25V

Army Communicator 133 134 Summer - 2010 The Signal Experience MAJ Hac Nguyen U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Division G-6 Network Engineer, Company A, 82nd Division Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division Combined Joint Task Force 82 (CJTF-82), Operation Enduring Freedom X

“During my OEF X tour, I served as the CJ6 OIC for the CJTF-82 Tactical Command Post 1. CJTF-82 TAC 1’s mission was to conduct combined action with Afghanistan National Security Forces within the 10 Afghanistan Central Region provinces. CJTF-82 TAC 1 accomplished its Combined Action mission by embedding itself with the 201st Afghan National Army Corps HQ at Pol E Charki ANA Garrison. My Signal team not only provided U.S. and coalition communication services to the CJTF-82 TAC 1 staff, but also partnered and mentored the ANA Corps G-6 staff to assist them with problem resolution and professional development within their areas of communications. The most rewarding part of my assignment was experiencing and learning about Afghan culture. During my travels to all 10 central region provinces, I had the opportunity to experience many different facets of Afghan culture including their foods, lifestyles, traditions and people. Our biggest challenge was trying to develop the ANA’s antiquated communications equipment and limited resources to improve the timeliness of their tactical operational procedures throughout the 201st Corps area of operation. Throughout my Army career, I’ve been involved in numerous challenging experiences related to providing Signal support to United States and coalition forces. However, helping to improve the tactical communications capabilities of a country that is decades behind the United States in technology was truly the most challenging experience of my Signal officer career.”

(Above left) MAJ Hac Nguyen and COL Hamidi Atiqulah, Afghan national Army, 201st Corps deputy G-6 discuss communications strategies and (right) direct contractors in the process of digging trenches for laying fiber and copper cable to extend Afghan national army communications across Pol E Charki Garrison in Afghanistan December 2009.

Army Communicator 135 The Signal Experience

1LT Julie A. Leggett ROTC Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill. Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Reconnaissance Detachment XO Security Detachment, 25th Special Troops Battalion, 25th Infantry Division Contingency Operating Base Speicher, OIF 09-11

In April of 2008, as a young Signal officer on my first deployment, I was selected by my battalion commander to serve as an executive officer of a maneuver company. With this assignment I was not only taking on a job of increased responsibility, but one in which I was forced to serve entirely outside of my military occupational specialty. I went from providing communications to the division headquarters and staff as a JNN platoon leader to tracking maintenance on MRAPs and crew-served weapons.” Despite the difficulty of adapting to a non-Signal environment, the greater challenge in this job came in my additional duty as project officer for the area of operations. With that title, I began working directly with the local populace, coalition forces, and private contractors to develop a micro-grant program to foster economic development. I also funded public projects to help improve the quality of life. To say the least, this job was not what I expected to be doing on a deployment as a Signal officer -- it was much more. As a new first lieutenant, there was immense benefit for me to experience the battlefield from a firsthand perspective and be on the operator end of a blue force tracker and a SINCGARs radio during combat operations. Before I deployed, I assumed I would be back with the communication backbone, safe behind the walls of a secure area. Instead, I was given the challenge to adapt to a new operating environment working directly with coalition forces and host-nation (Top left) U.S. Army Signal Corps 1LT Julie entities. The knowledge I gained from this experience has been Leggett and other Soldiers from the invaluable to me as a leader. I believe there is benefit for every Signal 25th Special Troops Battalion Security leader to venture out of the Signal realm once or twice in a career to Detachment, 25th Infantry Division grasp a greater understanding of the multi-dimensional battlefield. confer with a local town leader during a site survey in Al Sequor, Iraq, 12 august 2009. (Above) 1LT Leggett shares time with children who received wheelchairs at her request from Iraqi Health Providers in Al Khanik, Iraq, July 2009.

136 Summer - 2010

Signal Towers, Room 713 Fort Gordon, Georgia 30905-5301

PIN: 086268-000