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440th
Signal Battalion |
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| Battalion History | |||||||||||||||
| 19.. - present | |||||||||||||||
440th Signal Bn DUI |
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| The 440th Signal
Battalion activated on 1 October 1961 at Kaiserslautern, Germany.
The unit was stationed at Kleber Kaserne. The Battalion moved to Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne at Darmstadt, Germany on 21 September 1972. On 16 April 1980, the Battalion was reassigned to V Corps and became part of the 22nd Signal Brigade. |
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| If you have more information on the history or organization of the 440th Signal Battalion, please contact me. | |||||||||||||||
| (Source: Philip R. Paonessa, B Co, 93rd Sig Bn/440th Sig Bn) | |||||||||||||||
I joined B Company of the 93d Signal Battalion at Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne in Darmstadt in the late summer of 1972 as an 05C20 at the TADDS compound. Shortly after I arrived, the 93rd became the 440th. I was under the impression that the 93rd was absorbed by the 440th when the 440th moved from Kaiserslautern to Darmstadt.
1st Seargent Godsey was the top of Bravo Company, and CSM Bell was the CSM of the Battalion. I can't remember B Company's CO's name, but shortly after we became the 440th, B Company's CO took over the supply section at HQ Company which was across the quad from B Company. The new top at Bravo (1st Seargent Godsey retired shortly after the 440th moved in) was 1st Seargent Harold E. Hamric, and again, I can't remember the CO's name. I was part of the team at the TADDS compound, but in my final year at Cambrai-Fritsch (1974) I was the unit DAES (Drug and Alcohol Education Specialist.) During the summer of 1974, I was part of the team sent from the 7th Signal Brigade to Egypt to participate in the Nimbus Star / Nimbus Moon endeavor. We were part of a UN team sent over to provide communications support to the teams clearing the Suez Canal after the Arab / Israeli war. The participants from the 7th Sig all received meritorious service medals for their time in Egypt, and that's some history of the 440th I don't see on any of the websites. I'd sure like to contact some of the guys from that era, especially 1st Seargent Hamric and the CO from that period of Company B. My memories of the CFK layout are pretty clear, and I still have contact with a buddy who was a V Corps cook, and one who was a medic on CFK who could help me with it. The TADDS compound was a secure compound with an MP guard. It was on the opposite perimeter from the main gate. My teletype trailer was right up against the perimeter fence. There were several communications trailers (huts to us!) and we maintained a teletype network with the other 7th Sig battalions in USAREUR, and the Brigade headquarters in Mannheim. We passed daily teletype traffic and often made runs to the 440th HQ there at CFK.
7th Sig was tasked in May of 1974 to send a contingent of soldiers to Port Said at the Mediteranean end of the Canal, Lake Timseh somewhere in the middle, and another spot I can't recall at the Red Sea end of the Canal, to support the Suez Canal Mine Clearance project the UN was running in Egypt. It was called Nimbus Star / Nimbus Moon. We provided commo support and hard copy reports to the Navy, Air Force, and to the civilian organizations that were supporting the effort. We always got a kick out of the fact that the Marines were there for a month before us and couldn't establish a network, and they were pulled out for that and other reasons. 7th Sig and the guys from the 440th went in and we were on the air the day after we arrived! On several occasions our TTY network was jammed by a few "unidentified" sources, so we continued commo with Morse Code, believe it or not. We also ran a radio net for the choppers that carried equipment and upper echelon types back and forth along the Suez. If I remember correctly, there were 7 enlisted guys from each battalion, and two officers from HQ in Mannheim; a major and a 1st Lieutenant that made up the teams. We also worked with a few Air Force and Navy guys. The support ship in the area was a Navy minesweep called the Barnstable County. We were allowed to board and buy goods from the ship's store. It was the only place in the country where we could get cold cokes and beer! The Barnstable County supplied a corpsman for any medical needs we had. I had the the wonderful experience of contracting malaria and food poisoning at the same time, so I got to know the corpsman on a first name basis!
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| (Source: Email from Douglas Minnick, Co B, 440th Sig Bn, 1962-63) | |||||||||||||||
| I
would like to exchange pictures of the "Hill" (Warren Radio Relay, Bad Dürkheim) with other 440th fellows. Don’t know that they ever called it by its Hill number. It’s the same site as referred to in the 1st Circus website run by Ron Hochstetle. Ron has not replied to any e-mails for several years. There were seven of us living in a small (may be 1200 sq ft) house, we had to make water runs down off the site (I think it may have been a small Air Force Station, but can’t remember the town). The house had a 20 x 10 kitchen where we cooked, relaxed, and viewed new first run 16mm movies of which we got about 10 a month. We picked the movies up on our occasional trips to K-Town. The house also had a small 8x6 washroom to wash your face and shave in. The pot was an outhouse down by a Quonset storage hut by Gate Two. The rest of the house was a big bunk room about 20x30 ft. The NCIOC had a private room in the end of the radio shack. |
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| (Source: Email from Gary Feddern) | |||||||||||||||
| I served with Charlie Company from 1962 until late 1964. At that time, Charlie Company was in Baumholder. We supported the 293rd Engineer Battalion primarily and others on occasion. I was a 296 radio repairman. I obtained the rank of E5 and was NCOIC of the HF section. I was drafted into the Army but re-elisted in basic so have that RA55 serial number. I did not stay in touch with anyone in the 440th unfortunately. But do have a lot of good memories. |
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| (Source: Gary Feddern; from the brochure they handed out during the Organization Day ceremonies) | |||||||||||||||
| 22nd ANNIVERSARY OF ACTIVATION ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES: 25-28 MARCH 1964 HEADQUARTERS 440TH SIGNAL BATTALION APO 227 US FORCES 23 March 1964 Members and guests of the 440th Signal Battalion: It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the various activities and displays which we have prepared in recognition of the 22nd anniversary of the activation of our battalion. As a member of the 440th Signal Battalion, you can take justifiable pride in its past accomplishments and in the awards bestowed on it. The battalion has proved its mettle in World War II, in the Korean War, and as a member of the NATO team in Germany. During the past year, the 440th Signal Battalion has participated in six major field exercises, including the well known Operation BIG LIFT, and in ten small operations. The battalion was cited for the outstanding BIG LIFT communications network which it established, operated and maintained from the US arrival air bases in France to the control centers and staging areas in Germany. Since our last anniversary on 25 March 1963 members of the battalion have received six Army Commendation Medals, two Seventh Army Certificates or Achievement, fifteen 505th Signal Group Certificates of Achievement,. and 127 Letters of Commendation or Appreciation for outstanding service. As I approach the end of my tour with the Seventy Army in Europe, I also take this occasion to thank each of you for the unfailing support, cooperation, and esprit which you have displayed to me during these past sixteen month of service together. You can be sure that I will always consider my command of the 440th Signal Battalion as the highlight of my military career. To those of you who are with us today as guests, I sincerely hope that the displays and refreshments which are provided will interest and entertain you. Enjoy your visit to the 440th Signal Battalion, but drive carefully on the return trip to your home. REX D. MINCKLER Lt Col. SigC Commanding |
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| ITINERARY | |||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, 25 March 1964 | |||||||||||||||
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| Thursday 26 March 1964 | |||||||||||||||
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| Friday 27 March 1964 | |||||||||||||||
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| Friday 27 March 1964 | |||||||||||||||
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| As of March 1964 COMMANDERS Battalion Commander................................................ Lt Col Rex D. Minckler Headquarters Company............................................. 1st Lt Martin W. Shuey A Company...............................................................Capt Keith E. Clum B Company...............................................................Capt Edward J Kelly C Company...............................................................Lt Joseph H. Griggs D Company...............................................................Capt Bobby R. Harris E Company (C Company, 26th Sig Bn Attached)..........Capt Pierce A Rushton Jr. Supply Point 715 ( B Company, 504th Sig Bn Attached)..CWO Howard L. Mayberry SERGEANT MAJOR Hq's 440th Signal Battalion........................................Sgt Major Loran C. Flanagan FIRST SERGEANTS Headquarters Company............................................ 1st Sgt Louis D. Annis A Company..............................................................1st Sgt Arthur A. Spanjer B Company..............................................................1st Sgt Bernhardt G. Alama C Company..............................................................1st Sgt Walter W. Jones D Company..............................................................1st Sgt Theodore C. Spellacy E Company (C Company, 26th Sig Bn Attached).........1st Sgt Albert F. Martin |
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| Written 20 March 1964 and included in the brochure of the anniversary celebration. The 440th Signal Battalion is one of the most decorated signal organizations in the Seventh Army. The battalion was originally activated on 25 March 1942, at Gieger Field, Spokane, Washington as a Signal Heavy Construction Battalion. The battalion served during World War iI in the Southern Pacific area beginning in Australia and continuing to New Guinea, Biak, Leyte, Luzon, Okinawa, and Japan. The colors of the 440th Signal Battalion bear battle streamers from the World War II campaigns in Papua, New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon and the Ryukus. The Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded the battalion for wartime service during the period 1 January 1944 until 1 June 1945. In addition to its American awards, the battalion also received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for service from 17 October 1944 until 4 July 1945. As an element of the Fifth US Air Force during the Korean War, the 440th Signal Battalion participated in the following Korean Campaigns: UN Defense, UN Offense Chinese Communist Forces Intervention, and the Korean Summer-Fall Campaign of 1953. The Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation was awarded to the entire battalion for it outstanding service during the period 10 October until 31 December 1950. In addition, the 440th Signal Battalion is one of fifteen organizations in the entire US Army and the only Signal Battalion to receive the US Air Force Outstanding Unit award for distinguished service in Korea from 1950 - 1953. During the Korean War the battalion also received the Korean Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding service from 1 October 1950 until 31 December 1950. The 440th Signal Battalion was deactivated in Korea on 16 May 1956. However, on 1 October 1961, the battalion was reactivated with headquarters in Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern, Germany. As a member of the 505th Signal Group, the battalion has the general mission of providing a portion of the area communications required by Seventh Army units when they are located in the field. Each of us, as a member of the 440th Signal Battalion, has a proud heritage to uphold. Take pride in your job and remember your battalion. |
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| (Source: Email from Darryl Gerstner, Co C, 440th Sig Bn) | |||||||||||||||
| I was running through the directory on the 440th Signal Bn and I ran across your web page and found the name Gary Feddern. We were in "C" Company at the same time, while it was still in Baumholder. I was a message center specialist. I was there from 1962-64. I had my travel orders to come home when "C" & "D" moved to Ktown in 1964. I have a lot of photos of faces that no longer have names, but I do enjoy getting them out. Stirs up a lot of memories. We could look out the back of our barracks and straight across the big ravine from us was "D" Company, 440th. |
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| (Source: Email from Bill Reals, Jr., 440th Sig Bn and 541st Sig Co) | |||||||||||||||
| I have some additional information on the 25th Sig Bn. I believe in1966 the 25th was deactivated. As a result of the deactivation there was still a need for a Long Line Cable Construction Company. One Company was moved to Kaiserslautern, Kleber Kaserne, and was designated as the 541st Sig Co (CBL CONST). It was attached to the 440th Sig BN and remained with the BN until the 541st was deactivated I believe sometime in the 1980’s. The mission was to maintain an active long line cable line that was from Kaiserslautern to Mannheim, and up to Donnersberg Mtn. It was made up of Spiral 4 cable on 50 ft telephone poles. The Cable actually passed traffic from the 440th to 7th Sig Bde. In addition, it also passed traffic from the 32nd AADCOM, Army Air Defense Command Hq in Kapaun Barracks in Kaiserslautern. The cable line ran parallel to the Autobahn from K-town to Mannheim. There was also a leg of the line that went up to “Site Hawaii” which was maintained by the 440th Sig Bn. There was a Radio Relay site located there as part of the Communications spine that ran down the middle of Germany. I was a 2LT originally assigned to the 440th Bn and served 2 yrs in the 541st. I hope this information is helpful. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I served in the 7th Signal Brigade, 440th Sig BN, from 1970-1972 as a Lieutenant, Signal Corps. I am a retired Colonel. Of note. I had experience with the German Labor Service. I was assigned to the 541st Sig Co (Cbl Const). It was a unit subordinate to the 440th Sig BN. The mission of the 541st was to install and maintain a cable line from K-Town to Mannheim, and a spur up to Donnersburg Mountain. I was the supply officer of the unit and attached to us was the 3333rd German Labor Service Unit. I maintained a Property Book for the LS unit since they drew equipment from our supply. We even had a liaison Officer in the unit. LT. Theodor Schmalz, LS. He was involved primarily in the land clearances for running Cable lines for us. He also went out into the community when we had to drive onto farm land to run cable, pick it up or maintain it. He was a member of the unit but worked for us in the Unit in Kaiserslautern. He lived during the week at Kaiserlautern Depot where the LS had their quarters. His family lived in Karlsruhe. He was a former German Army Warrant Officer during WWII. He was very Pro-American and Anti-Communist. The 3333rd GLS unit was composed of Displaced Persons and primarily involved in cable splicing of lines. Cable Splicing is a very detailed oriented job in insuring that cable pairs are spliced into the right junction boxes and insuring wires are repaired within the cable. The CO of the 3333rd LS signed for all the equipment and was responsible for the functioning of the unit. We utilized their expertise on: cable outages, and REFORGER Exercises. I am very familiar with the LS and found them to be top notch personnel performing a very vital mission as support to our unit and the Battalion. C Co. 25th Sig BN became the 541st Sig CO (CBL CONST). It was attached to the 440 Sig BN located at Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern. It was a long line reinforced cable Construction Company. It had a large motor pool of probably 80 2.5 ton trucks, 20 Three Quarter ton vehicles, and jeeps, M151a1. The mission of the company was to install, and maintain a cable line which went from Kleber Kaserne, 440th to Mannheim, Coleman Barracks, 7th Sig BDE. There also was a spur up to Donnerburg Mountain. Many of the NCO’s had served in the 25th Sig Bn in previous tours. |
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| Related Links: 440th Signal Battalion - Patrick Mahoney's website now included WWII and Korea era information and photos. |
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