1st Signal Brigade (United States)

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1st Signal Brigade
Emblem of 1st Signal Brigade (United States).svg
1st Signal Brigade unit insignia
Active1966–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Type Signals brigade
Size Brigade
Part of Eighth United States Army, 311th Signal Command
Garrison/HQ Camp Humphreys, South Korea
Motto(s)"First to Communicate"
Engagements Vietnam War
Commanders
CommanderCOL Byron J. Brown
Command Sergeant MajorCSM Calvin James
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia 1 Sig Bde DUI.png

The 1st Signal Brigade ("First to Communicate") [1] is a military communications brigade of the United States Army operationally controlled to the Eighth United States Army and administratively controlled to the 311th Signal Command in Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and located at Camp Humphreys in South Korea.

Contents

History

Vietnam War

The 1st Signal Brigade was activated on 1 April 1966 in South Vietnam. [2] The brigade's mission was to originate, install, operate, and maintain a complex communication system that fused tactical and strategic communications in Southeast Asia under a single, unified command. The formation of the brigade brought together three signal groups that were already in South Vietnam.

At the peak of the Vietnam War the brigade consisted of more than 23,000 soldiers, in six Signal groups (including the 160th Signal Group), 22 signal battalions and several communications agencies, making the 1st Signal Brigade the largest signal unit in the U.S. Army at the time. [3] [4]

South Korea to present

On 7 November 1972 the brigade was relocated to the Republic of Korea under the United States Army Strategic Communications Command. [5] On 29 January 1973 the 1st Signal Brigade was reestablished by General Order 56 from HQ, USASTRATCOM. The brigade's mission in South Korea is to provide communications support to the Eighth United States Army, United States Forces Korea and the United Nations Command. The brigade was also given the mission of installing, maintaining and operating the Defense Communications System in South Korea. [3]

Subordinate units

Lineage

Campaign participation credit

Vietnam

Decorations

Citations

  1. Special Unit Designations
  2. Raines, p 371
  3. 1 2 1st Signal Brigade
  4. Raines, p 380
  5. Raines, p 383

References