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25th
Signal Battalion (Const) |
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| Battalion History | |||
| 1956 - 19.. | |||
25th Signal
Bn (Const) DUI |
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| In March 1956, under the command of L. Col. Edwin J. Chatham, the battalion gyroscoped the USNS Geiger to Rhein (Gerszewski) Barracks in Karlsruhe, Germany, to replace the 40th Signal Battalion. The Battalion was attached to the 160th Signal Group. | |||
| (Source: OPERATION GYROSCOPE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, EUROPE. Headquarters USAREUR Historical Division, 6 September 1957) | |||
| Interchange
of the 25th and 40th Signal Battalions The 25th Signal Battalion (Construction) in the United States was chosen to rotate with the 40th Signal Battalion, Germany, in the first of these smaller unit moves. As was often the case with units in the United States that were earmarked for Gyroscope movements, the time before rotation was insufficient for the completion of normal training schedules.(1) However, the 25th solved the training problem by instituting an on-the-job program to make seasoned linemen, drivers, mechanics, and clerks out of 600 recruits in about 8 weeks. None of these recruits had had any previous Signal Corps training. Bypassing the usual schools because of the early Gyroscope deadline, the battalion offered 4 courses that ran simultaneously for the 8 weeks and consisted almost entirely of practical experience, except for 5 days of classroom work for prospective drivers.(2) The advance party of this first technical service unit to rotate from the United States to a foreign post left on 10 February 1956. The main body of the battalion arrived in Germany on 9 April, and the 40th Signal Battalion departed the next day. Only 152 dependents sailed with the main increment, and all of these seemed to be satisfied with the usual Gyroscope family benefits.(3) (1) Cable AHFKC-7-456, First Army to CINCUSAREUR, 25 Oct. 55. In file above, B/P, Vol. III. (2) The Stars and Stripes (Eur. ed.), 22 Mar 56. (3) USAREUR Press Release, 9 Apr 55, sub: Six Battalions "Gyroing" in April. In USAREUR PID files. |
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| It appears that most of the 25th Signal Battalion (the exception was "C" Company) was inactivated in Germany in 1966. Can anyone provide additional details? | |||
If you have more
information on the history or organization of the 25th Signal Battalion,
please contact me . |
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| (Source: Email from Nick Shillinger, Co A, 25th Sig Bn) | |||
| I was in Co. A of the 25th Signal Battalion when they broke up the unit. I was sent to Wiesbaden to the 5th Missile Bn. (HHC 5/1) part of the First Missile Group. That was in 1966 and I had only been in country 18 months so I had to do another 18 mo. with the 5/1 that had Hq's at the Wiesbaden AB. The 18 mo. I spent with the 25th were very busy for me. The Bn. had it's own NCO Academy that was a prep school for the real one at Bad Tölz. I attended both. I made buck sergeant there after Bad Tölz. The 25th also had it's own cable school that taught us how to install and test Spiral 4 cable. We laid about 100 miles of it (some right up the center of the Autobahn) for one of the annual training exercises. We had to go out before the exercise and place the cable, stay out there during the exercise to maintain it, and then stay after the exercise to remove the cable and haul it home to Karlsruhe. We were stationed in Knielingen at Gerszewski Bks (just outside of Karlsruhe). One of the First Sergeant's I remember was 1SGT Sharp. (Some of the guys nick-named him "notso") Can't remember any of the other names but I remember one of the other instructors, we had for the Bn. NCO academy, was a very tall black Sgt nick-named "Tree" or sometimes "Tree Top". He was very sharp. |
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| (Source: Email from Gary Potter) | |||
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