82nd Signal Battalion
| 82nd Signal Battalion | |
|---|---|
 82nd Signal Battalion DUI | |
| Active | 1917–2006 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Regular army |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
| Motto(s) | "The Commander’s Voice" |
| Colors | Orange and White are the colours of the Signal Corps.[1] |
| Engagements | World War I World War II Dominican Republic Vietnam Grenada Panama Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve |
The 82nd Signal Battalion was an airborne communications unit of the United States Army assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. The battalion was responsible for the deployment, installation, operation, and maintenance of tactical theater communications packages to support division operations worldwide, including joint and combined missions. The battalion fought in the First and Second World Wars, Vietnam, Grenada, Desert Storm, and back in Iraq during the Iraq War (U.S. phase, 2003-2010).[2] The unit is currently inactive. The U.S. Army has plans for the reactivation of Division Signal Battalions, including the 82nd Signal Battalion, beginning in 2026.[3]
Mission
The mission statement of the 82nd Signal Battalion defines the unit's purpose as "to deploy, install, operate, and maintain a tactical theater communications package for the 82nd Airborne Division worldwide while supporting joint and combined operations.[4], [5]
History
The unit traces its lineage to a Signal Battalion of the Enlisted Reserve Corps, constituted on 1 July 1916. It was redesignated again twice, initially as the 13th Reserve Field Signal Battalion, organized at Camp Gordon, Georgia, on 19 September 1917. It was ordered into active military service on 5 October 1917; redesignated the 307th Field Signal Battalion the same day, and assigned to the 82d Division.[6]
During the First World War, the 307th Field Signal Battalion provided communications, including operations in the Argonne Forest.[7]
The unit was reconstituted and later re-designated as the 82nd Airborne Signal Company in the lead up to the Second World War. It provided communications following combat jumps and supported major operations, including the invasion of Sicily in 1943, and airborne operations in Normandy and the Netherlands.[8]
Cold War
On September 1, 1957, the 82nd Airborne Signal Company was reorganized and re-designated as the 82nd Signal Battalion (Airborne Division). It was composed of Company A (Command Operations Company), Company B (Forward Operations), and a Headquarters Detachment. Lieutenant Colonel Fred D. Hemmrich assumed command in June 1957.[9]
Contingency Operations The battalion participated in several Cold War and post-Cold War contingency missions, including Operation Power Pack in the Dominican Republic. On April 27, 1965, the Assault Command Post and the Second Forward Area Signal Platoon deployed with the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, to the Dominican Republic.[10]
Elements of the 82nd Signal Battalion arrived to fight the Vietnam War on February 22, 1968, as part of the 3rd Brigade Task Force stationed at Phu Bai. The unit redeployed to the United States on December 11, 1969.
Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury): On October 24, 1983, signal personnel were alerted and deployed to support the operation to rescue American students. Radio operators from the Assault Command Post Platoon of Alpha Company were involved, and one NCO was seriously wounded at 2nd Brigade Headquarters on October 27th.[11]
On December 20, 1989, personnel from the battalion participated in the Operation Just Cause airborne assault into Panama, deploying tactical satellite equipment to establish communications support for the Commanding General and staff.[12]
Southwest Asia (Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm): On August 7, 1990, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William H. Bell, the Signal Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia. The battalion employed FM RETRANS vehicles and TACSAT capability to ensure command communications, including maintaining contact with French forces on the division's left flank. The unit redeployed to Fort Bragg on March 7, 1991[13]
Campaign Participation Credit and Decorations The unit has been credited with participation in the following campaigns and has received numerous unit decorations.[14]
World War I: St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Lorraine 1918
World War II: Sicily (with arrowhead); Naples-Foggia arrowhead); Normandy (with arrowhead); Rhineland (with arrowhead); Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe
Armed Forces Expeditions: Dominican Republic; Grenada; Panama Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for STE. MERE EGLISE
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II for STE. MERE EGLISE
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II for COTENTIN
French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragere
Belgian Fourragere 1940
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in BELGIUM AND GERMANY
Netherlands Military Order of William (Degree of the Knight of the Fourth Class) for NIJMEGEN 1944
Netherlands Orange Lanyard[15]
Center for Military History,20 June 2018 to the 82nd Signal Battalion Unit Historian:
We do not prepare lineages for inactive units, so the most recent one we have is from 1995. Please find a copy of that attached. In addition to what is shown on that lineage, the Battalion can display campaign participation credit (CPC) for Afghanistan (Consolidated 1) that was earned by Companies A and C. For more recent awards earned that are not shown on the lineage:
- Company A: Valorous Unit Award (Army), streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2003
- Company B: Presidential Unit Citation (Army), streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003
Valorous Unit Award (Army), streamer embroidered BAGHDAD MAY 2003-FEB 2004
- Company C: Valorous Unit Award (Army), streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003-2004
In the present day, the battalion is inactive and US Army plans to reactivate the Division Signal Battalions in 2026 and beyond.
References
- ↑ "82nd Signal BN DUI". Heraldry Wiki. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ↑ "82nd Signal Bn". Global Security. John Pike. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ↑ [[1](https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2024/08/20/signal-battalions-to-be-rebuilt-for-modern-combat-army-says/) "Signal battalions to be rebuilt for modern combat, Army says"] Check
|url=value (help). Army Times. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2025. - ↑ \{\{cite web|url=[2] Archived 13 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine(http://www.signal.army.mil/35sig/)%7Ctitle=USArmy Signal|access-date=7 April 2012|archive-url=(https://web.archive.org/web/20120413033056/http://www.signal.army.mil/35sig/%29%7Carchive-date%3D13 April 2012|url-status=dead\}\}
- ↑ \{\{cite web |title=The Modular need for the Division Signal Battalion |url=[3](https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1038440) |website=Army DTIC |access-date=21 August 2025\}\}
- ↑ [istory.army.mil/Portals/143/LineageAndHonorsDocuments/Signal/82d Signal Battalion.pdf "LIneage and Honors, 82d Signal Battalion"] Check
|url=value (help) (PDF). Center for Military History. Retrieved 10 May 2026. - ↑ "82nd Signal Company". 82nd Airborne in World War II. 82nd Airborne in WWII. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ↑ "82nd Signal Company". 82nd Airborne in WWII. 82nd Airborne in WWII. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ↑ Mullins, Chris. "Lineage and Honors, 82nd Signal Battalion". Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ↑ "Operation Power Pack". The Signal Chapter. Webmaster. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ↑ [[4](https://www.airbornesignal.com/signal-battalion-stories) "Not so Friendly Fire"] Check
|url=value (help). The Paraglide. 73 (3): 9. 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2025.; ["grenada 1983" Check|url=value (help). Grenada 1983. Retrieved 21 August 2025.; Dan, Parker (20 May 2010). ["At long last: Legs" Check|url=value (help). Port Aransus South Jetty Newspaper. Retrieved 21 August 2025. - ↑ \{\{cite web |title=Panama Article |url=[5](https://www.airbornesignal.com/copy-of-sicily-and-salerno) |publisher=Webmaster |access-date=10 August 2025\}\}
- ↑ The Signal Chapter The General Dennis L. Via All Airborne Signal Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. wix.com [[https://airbornesignal.com Check
|url=value (help). Retrieved 8 August 2025. Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ \{\{cite web |title=Army History |url=[6](http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/sc/0082scbn.htm) |website=Center for Military History |access-date=21 August 2025\}\}
- ↑ "Army History". Center for Military History. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ↑ Mullins, Chris. "LIneage and Honors" (PDF). Retrieved 8 August 2025.
External links
- B Company Grenada History and photos, https://historyarchives.org/ohlhous/grenada83/Default.htm
- A modern video about the Signal Soldier of the 82nd Airborne Division. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19PGuXDMpu/
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