History of the 51st Signal Battalion

Semper Constans

(Always Constant)

51st Signal Battalion Lineage

Constituted 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as the 5th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps
Activated 12 July 1917 at Monmouth Park, New Jersey
Redesignated 1 October 1917 as the 55th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps
Reorganized and redesignated 18 March 1921 as the 51st Signal Battalion
Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1945 as the 51st Signal Operation Battalion
Reorganized and redesignated 8 September 1950 as the 51st Signal Battalion, Corps
Reorganized and redesignated 13 February 1955 as the 51st Signal Battalion

51st Signal Battalion Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

World War I: Lorraine 1918; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne
World War II: Sicily (with arrowhead); Naples-Foggia;
Rome-Arno; North Apennines; Po Valley
Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention;
First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive;
UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952;
Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953
Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease-Fire
War on Terrorism: Campaigns to be determined

Decorations

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for EUROPEAN THEATER
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA 1950-1951
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA 1952
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA 1953-1954
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA 2003-2004
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1950-1953

Company B additionally entitled to:
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA 1952

Credit for above is from:
U.S. ARMY CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY
Last updated 23 February 2009,

51st Signal Battalion Honors and Campaign Participation Credit

World War I: Lorraine 1918; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne
World War II: Sicily (with arrowhead); Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; North Apennines; Po Valley
Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive;
CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea,
Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953
Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease-Fire Decorations
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for EUROPEAN THEATER
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA 1950-1951
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA 1953-1954
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1950-1953
Company B additionally entitled to:
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA 1952

The unit was originally consituted on 1 July 1916 into the Regular Army as the 5th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corp and organized on 12 July 1917 at Monmouth Park, New Jersey. On 2 August 1917 the battalion moved to Camp Alfred Vail, New Jersey where it was redesignated on 10 October 1917 as the 55th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps. The battalion would then deploy to France to join the American Expeditionary Force. During World War I, the battalion would participate on three campaigns to include: Lorraine, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne. The battalion would return to New York on 27 June 1919 and move to Camp Vail, New Jersey. The battalion would be redesignated on 18 March 1921 as the 51st Signal Battalion. It would move to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey on 5 August 1925. The battalion would remain there during the thirties with training conducted at Pine Camp, New York, Allegan, Michigan, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Plattsburg, New York. The Hindenburg disaster of May 6, 1937 provided an unexpected opportunity for the 51st Signal Battalion to test its emergency deployment plan. When the giant German airship exploded at its Lakehurst N.A.S. mooring, the naval commandant asked for help from the Fort Monmouth commandant, who dispatched a motor convoy from the 51st Signal Battalion. The signalmen guarded the smoldering wreckage of the dirigible, keeping away the crowd of onlookers who rushed to the scene while investigators probed the debris. The battalion would participate on the Louisiana Maneuvers during 1940. The battalion would leave Fort Monmouth for the last time prior to deploying for Europe on 16 April 1941 and would see additional training at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, Camp Blanding, Florida, and Camp Stewart, Georga. It would deploy from New York aboard the John Ericson on 4 March 1943 bound for North Africa. From North Africa, the battalion would stage and would participate in the invasion on Sicily, and then support forces in Italy arriving there on 6 October 1943. During this time, the battalion would credit for four campaigns to include: Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and the Po Valley. The battalion also received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service in Europe. The battalion would arrive back in Boston on 22 August 1945 and would move to Camp Shelby, Mississippi where it would remain until 22 February 1946. From there the battalion would move to Fort Polk, Louisiana then Fort Meade, Maryland and would remain until August 1950. The battalion would leave Seattle on 17 August 1950 aboard the Fred Ainsworth and would arrive in Japan on 18 August 1950. It would stage in Japan for only two weeks where it was reorganized as the 51st Signal Battalion Corps. It was then moved to Korea where it would support the Eight Army and more specifically I Corps landing there on 16 September 1950. During the Korean War the battalion supported I Corps in ten campaigns and would receive two Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. The battalion would remain in Uijongbo,Camp Red Cloud, South Korea after the hostilities as part of the Eighth Army.It was reorganized on 13 February 1955 as the 51st Signal Battalion. In 1974, the first women soldiers arrived. Within two years there were 56 female enlisted and 2 female officers. The battalion remained in Korea until16 March 1981. Then it moved to Ludwigsburg, Germany where it supported VII Corps "Operation Desert Shield" On November 8,1990 the battalion was altered for immediate deployment to Saudi Arabia. Within 3 weeks it had personnel on the ground in Saudi Arabia. While the war only lasted 100 hours, it was the 15 of April, 1991, before they returned to Germany. At noon April 15, 1993. the 51st lowered their colors for the last time in Germany On April 16, 1993,the 51st's Colors were duly unfurled at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and for the first time it was commanded by a female, LTC Velma L. Richardson. On 1 October 1993 the unit was redesignated the 51st Signal Battalion (Airborne).For the last 5 years, the 51st focused on training, maintenance and standard force readiness for overseas deployments from Fort Bragg. The 51st is a proud unit filled with a great history and traditions. They will continue to strive for excellence. To add onto the history. Since the Global War on Terrorism has started, 51st Signal Battalion (Airborne) has played an active part. C/51st sent the CCP (Corps Contingency Package) Platoon along with 327th Signal Bn to Afghanistan. They did a 6 month rotation from May until Oct 2002 there. We also have had a Platoon from B/51st attached to 123rd Signal (3ID). They were in Kuwait from September 2002 until August 2003.

Once Operation IRAQI FREEDOM started they moved into Iraq. They are still over there in support of the war. Last October, the Battalion was prepared to deploy to Afghanistan for OEF, a week before the deployment, it was cancelled for another mission which would later turn into OIF. Currently the whole battalion minus C/51st are deployed in Iraq. Because they did not bring the CCP platoon, Charlie Company 50th Signal Battalion deployed with us to Iraq. Currently all battalion assets are located in Iraq. The commanding officer of the 51st Signal Battalion was: LTC Jochen (Yogi) Thomas ( 2004-05). LTC Jochen was the "Keynote Speaker" at the 51st Signal Reunion Asso's Sept., 2004 meeting in Nashville (Sept.). I n early 2005 the Battalion was redeployed back to Iraq and they are not expected back till April or May of 2006. Presently commanding the battalion is Ltc Mark A Elliot. ( Ltc Elliot was the keynot speaker at our 2006 Reunion at Ft. Bragg, NC ) In Dec. 2005, the Bn returned to Ft. Bragg. from their second tour in Iraq. The 51st Signal Battalion Airborne is scheduled to be inactivated on Sept.15, 2006. The inactiviation ceremony was held at 1000 hrs Sept 15, 2006, at Twin Lions Feild, Fort Bragg, NC. Hosting the ceremony was Col Cambell Cantelou, 35th Signal Brigade Commander. He gave an excellent talk on the great history of the 51st Signal Ballation. He was followed by a farewell speech from LTC Mark Elliott, Battalion Commanding Officer. The 51st Signal lowered their flag for the last time at Fort Bragg, NC. The re-activiation ceremony were held at 1200 hours Jan 17, 2007, Ft Lewis WA. The new commandibg officer is Ltc Matt VanderFeltz. Ltc VanderFeltz met with the vetrans attending the ceremonies, and asked to have the 2007 Alumni Reunion at Ft. Lewis. The 2007 and 2008 Reunions were held at Ft. Lewis , WA June, 2007-08. Ltc VanderFeltz resigned from the military and command of the 51st Signal was handed over to LTC Paul Fredenburgh. Col John W. Bake, 35th Signal Brigrade was at the Runion in 2008 and he ask the Alumni Asso to have the 2009 Reunion at Ft. Gordon, as the 51st Signal was deployed to Iraq in Aug, 2008. The 2009 Reunion will be held at Ft. Gordon, June 2009. New assignments: Iraq 2009 1. Army Networking Technologies Change on the Fly.- New Capabilities mean new training challenges. The 51st ESB is combining training with technology shakeout well before it deploys to Iraq. Unlike the past, most of the new gear is commercial equipment right off the-shelf. 2. Commercial Gear Defines Army Communications Training. US Army communications training on new networking equipment literally are rewriting the schoolbooks as they prepare to replace legacy systems with new gear based largely on commercial technologies. It a amazing to see the cutting edge of organization and equipment the 51st is undergoing. After spending a year training on new equipment, the 51st is redeployed to Iraq (2008). The 51st provides communications on the battle-field. Less simply put, the unit deploys, installs, operates, and maintains tactical theater communications worldwide while supporting joint and combined opera-tions. They provide voice (telephone) and data (computer) communications on the battlefield. They also can provide Battle Video Teleconference (BVTC) which is similar to a video chat or webcam on a larger scale. The 51st Signal Bn Expeditionary is capable of providing over 4500 users with voice and data communications. Their equipment could support a small town with telephone and internet services if we were all located in one area. However, the battalion is configured to be expeditionary. This means that we can take their equipment and spread out over a large area (like the country of Iraq) to provide service to our customers. Here in Iraq, their teams and equipment are positioned in different types of terrain. When the distance between teams is further or the signal path is interrupted by mountains, buildings or other obstacles, then we bounce a signal off of a satellite. The Battalion is scheduled to return to Ft. Lewis in late 2009. For info see 51st Signal Bn web pages, www2.itexas.net/tom or contact Tommy Thompson, tom@itexas.net Tommy Thompson The unit's distinctive insignia depicts a band of telegraph poles alluding to the unit's original function as the 55th Telegraph Battalion during World War I. The unit's motto: "Semper Constans" meaning "Always Constant" is also depicted at the bottom of the insignia. Want to learn more? Try a couple of these links. US Army Signal Center Un. of Louisville Ekstrom Library Korean War Org. - 51st Page Korean War Project Dept of Army - 51st Battalion Over View of Signal Corps History

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