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22nd
Signal Brigade |
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| Brigade Introduction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Click on thumbnail for download of ECHO Summer 2007 issue (BIG File -- 16.5 MB!) |
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| 1963 - 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Welcome to the 22d Signal Brigade. The Welcome Edition of the "Voice of the Corps" newspaper, 31 October 1988.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
of Brigade as colorful as patch
The history of the 22nd Signal Brigade is as colorful as the patch we wear today. Originating as the 22d Signal Service Group in 1945, the unit took part in five campaigns in the Korean War and earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation and Streamer. The Group was inactivated in Korea in 1955. In 1961, the U.S. government recognized the urgent need for a unilateral U.S. communications system to provide the Commander-in-Chief, US European Command, with the capability to communicate with US units supporting NATO. This resulted in a Defense Communications Agency (DCA) plan to improve US-NATO communications via a joint military-operated radio system. The Army portion was designated the European Troposcatter-Army System, or ET-A. The 22d Sig. Bde. was to play an important role in the establishment of ET-A. The 22nd Signal Group was activated on 19 August 1963 in Germany In Feb. 1964, the newly organized 22d Signal Group assumed its first operational mission by taking over the Edingen High Frequency (HF) Radio station and eventually 43 planned HF sites. By Aug., the group had become a subordinate unit of the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command, Europe. From the mid-fifties until 1966, strategic microwave trunking in Northern Europe was handled by the 102d Signal Battalion, a 22d Group subordinate unit. After France's decision to withdraw from NATO, the 102d moved its colors to Frankfurt and assumed the mission of operating telecommunications centers and dial direct offices. The group had taken a big step - from operation of strictly command and control oriented communications to all strategic microwave communications in Northern Europe. 1967 was a year of hectic organizational activity. In July, the 447th Sig. Bn. moved to Baumholder and the 360th Sig. Bn. was rebuilding after its stand-down in France. The unit was changed from TOE to TDA organization and redesignated Signal Group 22 in Sep., 1967. By the end of the year, the US Army STRATCOM facility in Pirmasens was added as another subordinate unit and became known as the Automatic Switching Center (ASC), the only AUTOVON switch north of the Alps until 1973. An AUTOVON switch was activated in Donnersberg in 1969 as part of a program to bring CONUS (continential U.S.) - style AUTOVON service to Europe. Technical difficulties were overcome and, in June, the switch was cut over to traffic. Members of Signal Group 22 were called upon to react quickly on May 24, 1972, when a terrorist bomb exploded in the parking lot at Campbell Barracks, USAREUR Headquarters. The explosion totally destroyed the microwave system between Heidelberg and Donnersberg, but within 30 minutes, many high-priority circuits were back on line. The group continued to grow and its last year was one of additional responsibilities and changing missions. The Interim Wideband Secure Voice Communications System was activated through the Corps microwave links. Satellite terminals were upgraded and communication responsibility by function gave way to responsibility by area of operation. On Aug. 12, 1974, the 22d Signal Group's colors were unfurled for the last time. Concurrent with the inactivation, a Department of the Army initiative set in motion the planning for Echelon Above Division (EAD) which resulted in the Sig. Bde. concept. A provisional brigade was established and on Sept. 16, 1980, the 22d Sig. Bde. was placed on the active rolls. Six months later, the 22d Sig. Bde. (Corps), a major command to Headquarters, V Corps, was activated. The brigade consisted of three battalions: the 17th Sig. Bn. (Command) 32d Sig. Bn. (Radio), and the 440th Sig. Bn. (Area).  22nd
Signal Brigade DUIThe brigade headquarters, along with the 17th and 32d Sig. Bn.'s were headquartered in Hoechst, while the 440th remained in Darmstadt. Under a reorganization in 1986, communication, information management and command control automation functions were consolidated under 22d Sig. Bde. control. Today, the 17th Sig. Bn. (1) remains the command operations battalion, providing support to the Main and Tactical Command Posts. The 32d Sig. Bn. (2) was reorganized to an area battalion and it and the 440th became identical in equipment, personnel and mission capability. The 440th Sig. Bn.'s (3) Delta Company was deactivated and the personnel and equipment redistributed within the brigade. Since activation on March 16, 1981, the 22d Sig. Bde. has been commanded by Colonels Theodore W. Hummel, Joseph D. Schott, Ronald D. Conte, and Robert M. Reich. Present Brigade Commander, Col. Dale E. Fincke, assumed command on March 22, 1988. Today, the 22d Sig. Bde.'s 1,900 soldiers remain committed to providing the V Corps Commander with the necessary C-3 to fight, sustain and win the Corps AirLand Battle, anywhere, anytime, under all expected conditions in support of NATO's Central Army Group (CENTAG). |
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(1)
The 17th Signal Battalion was reactivated
on July 5, 1950 at Karlsruhe, Germany.
It was inactivated September 25, 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 the V Corps (US) Commanding General and subordinate units. In December of 1992 the Battalion moved to its current home on Larson Barracks in Kitzingen, Germany. More about this battalion will be posted in the future on the 17th Signal Battalion Page. 
17th
Signal Battalion DUI
MISSION: The battalion provides tactical communications consisting of automatic voice switching, automatic staff message center services, telecommunications facilities, radio teletype, FM radio retransmission, radio and wire integration and motor messenger for the V Corps Tactical, Main and alternate Command Posts and for the 3d Support Commander and staff at the V Corps Logistical Operations Command Post in order to concentrate the combat power of the Corps. |
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(2)
Reactivated January 28, 1955 at Darmstadt,
Germany, as the 32nd Signal Battalion (Corps).
In 1956, relocated to McNair Kaserne, Frankfurt-Höchst. 
32nd
Signal Battalion DUIMISSION: The battalion provides three Area Signal nodes and related multichannel facilities as part of the V Corps Area Communications System and provides access to the network and signal nodes for the 3rd Armored Division and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. |
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(3)
440th Signal Battalion was reactivated and
headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, in 1961.
Eleven years later the colors were moved to Darmstadt, the battalion's present home station, where the 93rd Signal Battalion was redesignated as the 440th Signal Battalion. 
440th
Signal Battalion DUIMISSION: The battalion is one of two Corps Area Signal Battalions which provide three Corps Area Signal Centers to form a portion of the backbone for Corps communications systems. It provides telephones, teletypewriters, facsimile, radioteletype and other data services for the 8th Infantry Division, 41st Field Artillery Brigade and elements of the 3rd Support Command. |
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| If you have more information on the history or organization of the 22nd Sig Bde, please contact me. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(Source:
Email from Ballard Fleming, 22nd Sig Gp)
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I
served with the 22nd Signal
Group in Mannheim, Germany after it was first
re-activated there. Before the Group was activated, we had a unit
formed, called "Special Ammunition
Support Battalion." I commanded the unit upon it's
activation as a Major. Mostly, the work was getting facilities organized
at Taylor Barracks, Mannheim, Germany, so that we could get the
Group activated and settled in there.
The first "real commander" of the 22nd Signal Group, reactivated, was Colonel Donald R. Hodges. He was a real fine gentleman.We served under the, at that time, Army Strategic Communication Command. After the unit was activated as 22nd Signal Group, and the Special Ammunition Support Battalion was phased out, I served as the Group S4, along with CWO Paul Leary. Paul now resides in Maine and we do occasionally correspond. There are others that I remember; however. I retired at the end of 1965 and moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend the University of Nebraska, Omaha for a business degree. Having done that, my family and I settled down here and have resided here ever since. Regarding the Special Ammunition Support Battalion, it wasn't much of a unit just headquarters personnel doing the job of preparation for activation of the 22nd Signal Group. The word "Special Ammunition" sort of gives it some meaning. We were going to establish communication links to all of the non-U.S. NATO based personnel in Germany and down to part of Italy. (See email from Bob Wooten who explains some aspects of the Cemetery Net.) The main axis was across from England, I forget where, North and South from Bremerhaven to somewhere in Italy. It may have been Livorno, not certain. Anyway, from these towers in the main line, North and South, the units being supported would be supported by microwave shots going out from the main axis. While I was commanding the Special Ammo Support Bn, I had to visit France for an inspection of one of the units and, sadly, upon my return the Sergeant Major, Dan Robbins, passed away. The unit went out for an annual physical test and he exerted himself too much and had a cardiac arrest. That's the only incident of a sad nature that I recall while there. Actually, the first one to command the 22nd Signal Group was a Lt. Col. Martin O. F. Schroeder. He was only in that position for a few months and a bit later on there was another individual whose name I don't recall, a Lt. Col, who took over from Lt. Col Schroeder. He, too, was only in there for a few months and, finally Colonel Donald R. Hodges arrived and assumed command. It was at this point that the subordinate units, consisting of 2 battalions, were formed. I don't recall their numbers (Note: 68th Sig Bn and 447th Sig Bn). One of them was in the BOAR area (British Army on the Rhine) and it was commanded by a Lt. Col. Underwood, first name I don't recall. The Operations Sergeant was CMS Gerald R. King. He was one fantastic person, tremendously helpful with his background in electronics. Shortly after setting up at Taylor Barracks, after the 22nd Signal Group was activated, they established a school, using part of the headquarters building, and from that school they taught the men who would be going out on site the intricacies of the Tropospheric Scatter System that we were going to take over from the ITT (International Telephone& Telegraph). They were installing the system. So, this is where the first introduction of AUTOVON and AUTODIN came about. I remember most of the sites, and made it a point to visit all of them to the extent possible. Bremerhaven, Stein, Lindehofe, and one near Heidelberg, up on a pretty high mountain, sorry, forgot it's name. Then there was Black Forrest, which was an attractive location, but I knew it would be tough on troops... They lived in a German Resort area.... |
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| ORGANIZATION (1964): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(Source: Email from Steven Schlaffman, HHC, 22nd Sig Gp, 1964-66) |
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I was stationed with HHC 22nd Signal Group, from January 6, 1964 to June 1966. While at Taylor Barracks, I was assigned to the Personnel Section under the direction of CWO Ralph T. Jackson, and SFC John Rasso, the Personnel NCOIC.
My timing for this assignment was perfect as I was in on the ground floor for the total organization of the overall group.
Some of the names that come to mind was the Group XO, a Major Gibney. Following Col Schroeder was a Lt. Col. Sable, then Col. Hodges.
Initially, there were two Battalions (68th and 447th Sig Bn), which you previously identified, and a Signal Detachment (32nd Sig Svc Det) in Leghorn (Livorno). The Northern Detachment was assigned to St. David's Kaserne outside (Darmstadt). I had occasion to visit there once and found the British troops very professional and cordial.
Sometime in early 1966, a reorganization resulted in most the group staff being reassigned to the 510th Signal Service Company which was moved to Coleman Barracks. Shortly thereafter I was returned to the USA for discharge at Ft. Hamilton N.Y.
I have also thought of several names of company commanders of the Headquarters Company. They were Lt. Mamous, and Lt. Charles E. Kell, there was also a Capt Phillips. For a short period for the 510th there was a Capt. Alanso E. Short Jr, who I happened to see on TV during congressional hearings on base closures. He was testifying as an active duty General. Seems he did well. Reading this information has brought back many good memories about the 22nd Signal Group. I arrived as a private and left as a Spec 5. It was a wonderful unit to be with as hard work and dedication paid off. Hopefully, one day I will return to Germany and visit Taylor Barracks and the surrounding area. I discuss this often with my wife. It is hard to believe it has been over 40 years since I was there.
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(Source: Email from David Casey, HHC, 22nd Sig Bde) |
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First, let me say how very much I am enjoying your website. I made it to Germany as a PFC in the US Army in December 1991, so most of the history of
this stuff was already in the books, but it's neat to read about units and places I had seen while I was there. Anyway, I was assigned to HHC 22nd Signal Brigade on December 8, 1991 while waiting for a unit at 21st Replacement Detachment at Rhein-Main AB. The SDNCO drove down from Camp King which was located in Oberursel just north of Frankfurt. Our equipment was located on McNair Kasern down in Hoechst since the motorpool on Camp King was so small. I had gone to AIT at Fort Gordon to be a Multichannel Communications Systems Operator, but once I got to the unit I was told I would be working tactical satellite. In August 1992, they gathered all the long-haul communications equipment in 22nd Signal Brigade (tac-sat and tropo) and formed the 504th Signal Company. We moved to Muenster Ammunition Depot near Babenhausen where the unit remained until deactivating in September 1994 as part of the drawdown. All the tac-sat and tropo equipment were spread back around 22nd Signal Brigade in the 17th Signal Battalion (which had moved from McNair Kasern to Larson Barracks in Kitzingen around 1993 or so), 32nd Signal Battalion located on Kelly Barracks in Darmstadt, and the 440th Signal Battalion located on Cambrai-Fritsch Kasern also in Darmstadt. When I returned to Germany years later, HHC 22nd Signal Battalion had moved from Camp King (which is closed today) to Kelly Barracks in Darmstadt. |
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| Related Links: 22nd Signal Brigade - official website of the active unit in Germany |
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Hq/Hq
Det