121st Signal Battalion (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 121st Signal Battalion


caption=121st Signal Battalion coat of arms
dates= 1957-2006
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= U.S. Army
type=
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command_structure=1st Infantry Division
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motto="TO PARON EY POIEIN" (Do well the duty that lies before you)
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battles=Vietnam War
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identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=The 121st Signal Battalion was a signal unit of the United States Army, inactivated as of July 2006. [http://www.1id.army.mil/1id/news/Jun06/Article_01/Article_01.htm Army’s oldest, most decorated signal battalion inactivates] , U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division] Prior to deactivation, it provided signal support to the 1st Infantry Division. [ [http://www.gordon.army.mil/OCOS/rdiv/ACTVCOMP/121stbn.asp 121st Signal Battalion] , United States Army Signal Centre (official site)]

History

The 121st Signal Battalion was formed in 1898 as part of the United States Army Signal Corps, serving in Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War. [http://web.archive.org/web/20060911003841/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Sig/121SignalBattalion.htm Unit Insignia of the 121st Signal Battalion] ] In 1921, the two companies were reorganized as the 1st Signal Company, which was later honored with its own distinctive crest.

World Wars I and II

The unit received six battle honours in World War I, symbolised by the six Lorraine crosses appearing on their coat of arms. During World War II, the unit supported the 1st Infantry Division as they conducted combat operations in Normandy, France, Belgium and Czechoslovakia. During this war, the unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Award and the French Forager.

Post-war

In 1957, the 1st Signal Company officially re-designated to the 121st Signal Battalion. In 1962 part of the 121st was deployed to Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. B Company was stationed at McCoy AFB (now part of Orlando International Airport) and established communications for the infantry. This was before the public was aware of a problem. Since then, the battalion has served with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.The battalion was depoloyed to Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division in 2004, returning to Germany in early 2005. Company C, the last company of the unit, was inactivated April 10, 2006, at Larson Barracks, Kitzingen, Germany.

Inactivation

Prior to its inactivation the unit was stationed in Kitzingen, Germany, and supported the 1st Infantry Division with MSE communications. The battalion was last deployed in operation OIF II in 2004. The unit consisted of A (Archangels, Wired-Up!), B (Bulldogs), C (Charlie Rock), and D company. D company was stationed at Fort Riley as a rear detachment of sorts for the battalion along with the rear detachment for the 1st Infantry division. The battalion was inactivated as part of the decrease in over-seas forces that the US military is currently undergoing, the return of the 1st Infantry Division stateside and the fielding of many signal units in the signal regiment with JNN communications equipment. Alpha company was moved to Schweinfurt, Germany before the inactivation to be stations with the 2nd BCT, 1ID (Dagger) and was reflagged as the 57th Signal Company.

The last commander before inactivation was Lieutenant Colonel Dana Tankins. The last CSM was CSM Mitchell.

Links

* 57th Signal Company
* U.S. 1st Infantry Division

References