96th SIGNAL BATTALION
Constituted 25 July 1918 in the National Army as the 621st Field Signal Battalion and assigned to the 96th Division (later 96th Infantry Division). Organized in October 1918 at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina. Demobilized 1 Janury 1919 at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina.
Reconstituted 24 June 1921 in the Organized Reserves as the 96th Signal Company and assigned in the 96th Division. Organized in March 1922 at Seattle, Washington. Ordered into active military service 15 August 1942 at Camp Adair, Oregon. Inactivatred 3 February 1946 at Camp Anza, California.
Activated 22 October 1947 at Helena, Montana. (Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps; on 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve). (Location changed 1 June 1959 at Salt Lake City, Utah). Inactivaed 15 February 1953 at Salt Lake City, Utah, and relieved from assignment to the 96th Infantry Division.
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
(World War II-Pacific Theater):
Ryukyus
Leyte (with arrowhead) Assault landing 20-22 Oct 44 (WD GO109-1946)
DECORATIONS
Meritorious Unit Commentation, 96th Sig Bn cited for period 23 Oct 1943-31 August 1944, per GO 47, Hqs, USAFIBT, dtd 19 Feb 1945.
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered PACIFIC THEATER 20 OCT 1944-FEB 1945 (96th Signal Company cited; GO 64, Hqs, 96th Infantry Division, 2 March 1945)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered PACIFIC THEATER 1 MAR 1945-15 SEP 1945 (96th Signal Company cited; GO 781, Hqs, 96th Infantry Division, 21 September 1945)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 (96th Signal Company cited; DA GO 47, 1950)
NOTE: Unit veterans of the Philippine Campaign further authorized the Philippine Independence and Liberation Medals.
BLAZONRY
SHIELD: Tenne', a pile argent, isuant from a foot of the two waves sable fimbriated of the second, a sea lion grasping a reaised sword of the third.
CREST: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve: On a wreath of the colors (argent and tenne') the Lexington Minute Man proper. The statue of the Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H. H. Kitson, sculptor) stand on the Common at Lexington, Massachusetts.
MOTTO: Signal, Clef du Succes (Signal, Key to Success)
SYMBOLISM
Orange and white are the colors of the Signal Corps. The white pile, or wedge shape represents the beam of a searchlight, and alludes tothe unit's function. The two waves at the bottom of the shield represent the unit's paticipation in World War II campaigns in the Pacific area, and he sea lion is for the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the unit for service in the Philippines (Approved 10 Dec 1959).
DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA
The distinctive insignia is the shield and motto of the coat of arms (Approved 10 Dec 1959).
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