The 307th Field Signal Battalion was constituted in
the National Army in 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia.
The battalion had an enlisted strength of 471 men. The
signal unit was divided into outpost, wire and radio
companies, supply and headquarters detachments

Following an intense training period, the battalion
set sail on 18 May 1918 on the British ship “Virginian”
for Liverpool, England with a final destination of Laltaviw,
France. For the first time in their short history, the
battalion was moving into harm’s way to provide tactical communications.

Once in France, the battalion moved to Toul. Their
orders were to relieve the 101st Field Signal Battalion.
It was here that the signaleers received their baptism
of fire. German artillery constantly harassed the battalion
with gas and high explosive shelling. On 10 August, 1918
the 307th was ordered to the northern sector of Nancy,
France, where it relieved the 1st Field Signal Battalion
of the 2d Infantry Division.

German air raids were frequent while the battalion
was in sector. During one attack, all vehicles from
the division forward were put out of commission by
the concussion of a large aerial bomb that exploded
200 feet from the battalion’s telephone wires that
were strung on standard telephone poles. The division
came out of the front lines and withdrew into the area
north on Nancy. On 22 September, the division, along
with the signal battalion, was given orders to proceed
to the Argonne Forest. The battalion was held in reserve
for a few days in preparation of the second great attack
of the American Army that was possibly one of the deciding
factors of the outcome of World War I.

The signaleers of the 307th often worked 39 to 40 hours
without rest, laying communications lines and maintaining
them under shellfire of high explosives and gas. The signalmen
of the Outpost Company went along with the Infantry setting
up instant communications every time an objective was reached.
Uncommon valor was very common.

On 31 October 1918, the division was relieved from
the front 11 days before the armistice was signed.
Prior to departure, General John J. Pershing reviewed
the 307th Field Signal Battalion. The unit departed
for America on 06 May 1919 and was demobilized at Camp
Harrison, Virginia, on 22 May 1919. On 24 June 1921, the
307th Field Signal Battalion was reconstituted as the
82d Signal Company and alotted to the Organized Reserves
of the 82d Infantry Division.

Less than four months following the attack on Pearl
Harbor and the United States’ entrance into World War II,
the 82d Signal Company was ordered to active duty.
On 15 August 1942, the unit was reorganized and
re-designated as the 82d Airborne Signal Company and
the Airborne tab was added to the “All American” patch.

The Signal Company’s first taste of combat during
World War II came on the night of 9 July 1943, when a
signal detail supporting the 505th Parachute Combat Team
(commanded by Colonel James Gavin) parachuted behind enemy
lines at Gela to spearhead the invasion of Sicily. The
campaign was marked by a tiring game of leap frog. The
company established and maintained eight separate command
posts. Upon completion of the Sicilian campaign, preparations
were made for future operations on the Italian mainland. The
Company supported the 504th and 505th Parachute Combat Teams
already in Salerno. Following the capture of Naples, the Signal
Company moved to Ireland for rest and recuperation.

On 6 June 1944, paratroopers of the Signal Company filled
three C-47s and seven gliders in preparation for the D-Day
assault In 33 days of extreme combat following the initial
assault, the Company suffered the following casualties: nine
enlisted paratroopers killed in action, one officer and seven
enlisted paratroopers missing in action and 26 paratroopers
injured. No replacements were provided for these paratroopers.
The high amount of casualties coupled with no replacements and
a high loss of equipment due to glider crashes seriously impeded
the operational effectiveness of the Company for combat operations.
In spite of these circumstances, the Company maintained communications.
Once again, uncommon valor was the norm. Paratroopers from the
company received one Silver Star, six Bronze Stars and 16 Purple
Hearts. The Company was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation,
the French De Guerre with Palm and the French Fourragere.

The Company was sent back to England to prepare for the
upcoming invasion of Holland, Operation Market Garden. The
unit was brought to full strength and reequipped. On
17 September 1944, the Signal Company made its third combat
jump into Holland.

The “All American Signalmen” returned to France to rest
and refit. At Sissone, France, they quickly modified the
wire network and Division Command Post network to meet
the changed requirements of divisional headquarters and
subordinate units but were quickly on the move again.
On 17 December 1944, the Company was alerted to begin
movement to Werbomont, Belgium. Once in Werbomont, wire
and radio communications were established to all Division units.

The Company then began a series of movements with the
Division as they drove deep into the heart of Nazi Germany.
At Ludwigslust, Germany, the Company maintained and
repaired over two hundred miles of commercial wire,
installing and operating the telephone system at the
Division headquarters. In Berlin, Germany, the Company
installed a telephone central office and provided local
phone service to the Division Command Post. A Division
message center, referred to as Champion Radio, was set
up to provide secure and rapid message transmission.

The Company remained in Berlin until their return to
the United States aboard the Queen Mary on 3 January 1946.
On 12 January, more than one million enthusiastic spectators
gave the 82d Airborne Division troopers a gala reception as
they headed a tremendous victory parade up New York City’s Fifth Avenue.

On 19 January 1946, following a much needed furlough,
the Company reassembled at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
In March of 1948, the Company was demobilized and allotted
to the Organized Reserve Corps. Nine months later they were
reactivated and allotted to the Regular Army and the 82d Airborne Division.

On 1 September 1957, the 82d Signal Company was reorganized
into the 82d Signal Battalion (Airborne).