17th Signal Battalion (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=17th Signal Battalion


caption=17th Signal Battalion coat of arms
dates=November 30, 1942 - February 18, 1946
July 5, 1950 - September 25, 1965
March 16, 1981 - August 17, 2006
country=USA
branch=Regular Army
type=Mobile Subscriber Equipment
role=Communications
size=
command_structure=22nd Signal Brigade
final_commander=LTC Glenn E. Kennedy III
garrison=Kitzingen, Germany
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=FONS COMMUNICATIONES (Fountain of Communications)
colors=Orange and White
march=
mascot=
battles=Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
Desert Storm
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=The 17th Signal Battalion of the United States Army was a MSE (Mobile Subscriber Equipment) equipped signal battalion based in Kitzingen, Germany (Larson Barracks). The battalion was one of three that made up the 22nd Signal Brigade, based in Darmstadt, Germany.

On order, 17th Signal Battalion rapidly deploys to provide signal support to V Corps in support of conventional or contingency operations.

The battalion was deactivated on 17 August 2006.

ubunits

*HHC 17th Signal Battlion
*Alpha Company MSE Area Support
*Bravo Company MSE Area Support
*Charlie Company MSE Area Support
*Delta Company MSE Signal Support

History

The 17th Signal Battalion was activated in the Army of the United States on 30 November, 1942 at Camp Crowder, Missouri. From its activation until 20 October, 1943, the battalion participated in the Second Army maneuvers. On 1 November, 1943, the battalion was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. First Army, station in Patchway, England where its primary mission was to provide communications for First Army Headquarters. The battalion was then deployed and participated in the World War II campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.

Following World War II, the 17th Signal Battalion was inactivated at Camp Bowie, Texas. The Battalion was reactivated on 5 July, 1950 at Karlsruhe, Germany, and again inactivated on 25 September, 1965.

On March 16, 1981, the battalion was reactivated under the 22nd Signal Brigade at Höchst, Germany, and entrusted with the mission of providing command and control communications to theUS V Corps Commanding General and subordinate units.

In December 1992 the battalion moved to its current home on Larson Barracks in Kitzingen, Germany. In recent years the battalion has participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Deny Flight, Provide Hope and Joint Endeavor.

In October 2003 the 17th Signal Battalion participated in Operation Internal Look and later deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Today the 17th Signal Battalion consists of a Headquarters Company, 3 MSE Area Support Companies (A, B, & C), and an MSE Signal Support Company (D).

The battalion was inactivated on 17 August 2006. The unit's final commander was LTC Glenn A. Kennedy II.

Lineage

*Constituted 1 November 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 17th Signal Operations Battalion
*Activated 30 November 1942 at Camp Crowder, Missouri
*Inactivated 18 February 1946 at Camp Bowie, Texas
*Redesignated 5 July 1950 as the 17th Signal Operation Battalion and activated in Germany
*Allotted 15 December 1950 to the Regular Army
*Reorganized and redesignated 20 October 1953 as the 17th Signal Battalion
*Inactivated 25 September 1965 in Germany
*Activated 16 March 1981 in Germany
*Inactivated 17 August 2006 in Germany

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

*World War II:
# Normandy
# Northern France
# Rhineland
# Ardennes-Alsace
# Central Europe

*Southwest Asia:

# Defense of Saudi Arabia
# Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
# Cease-Fire
# Operation Enduring Freedom
# Operation Iraqi Freedom I & III

Decorations

*Joint Meritorious Unit Award
*Army Superior Unit Award

External links

* [http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=38492&archive=true Stars and Stripes, '17th Signal Battalion Retires in Germany', 18 August 2006]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/11-55/index.html FM 11-55: Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE) Operations]