1st Signal Brigade

• Establishment in Vietnam: The 1st Signal Brigade was activated in April 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam to consolidate all U.S. Army signal units supporting the expanding communications needs during the Vietnam War. • Largest Signal Unit: During the Vietnam War, the 1st Signal Brigade became the largest signal unit in the U.S. Army, with over 23,000 soldiers and civilians at its peak. • Critical Communications Role: The Brigade was responsible for establishing and maintaining communications across the entire Vietnam theater, ensuring command and control for all U.S. and allied forces. • First to Use Satellite Communications: The 1st Signal Brigade was among the first U.S. Army units to use satellite communications in a combat zone, pioneering technology that would become standard in modern military operations. • Project SOUTHEAST ASIA: The brigade was instrumental in Project SOUTHEAST ASIA, a massive effort to provide reliable long-distance communications throughout Vietnam using tropospheric scatter and microwave systems. • Line of Sight Network: The Brigade constructed and maintained the "Backbone" microwave system—a network of relay towers stretching from the Mekong Delta to the DMZ, dramatically improving battlefield connectivity. • Post-Vietnam Relocation: After the Vietnam War, the 1st Signal Brigade was relocated to South Korea in 1972, where it continues to provide communications support for U.S. forces on the peninsula. • Operation Paul Revere IV: The Brigade played a key role in Operation Paul Revere IV, supporting the 4th Infantry Division with advanced communication links during one of the major operations in the Central Highlands. • Decorations and Honors: The 1st Signal Brigade has been awarded several Meritorious Unit Commendations for its exemplary service during the Vietnam War and in subsequent years in Korea. • Motto and Insignia: The Brigade's motto is "First to Communicate," and its distinctive unit insignia features a blue and white shield symbolizing communication and the unit’s global mission.