51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion

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51st Signal Battalion-Enhanced (ESB-E)
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Active	July 1916; 108 years ago (1916-07) – Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Tactical communications
Size	Battalion
Part of	22d Corps Signal Brigade[1]
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), WA
Motto(s)	Semper Constans (Always Constant
Colors	Orange and white
Engagements	World War I Lorraine 1918[2] St. Mihiel[2] Meuse-Argonne[2] World War II Sicily (with arrowhead)[2] Naples-Foggia[2] Rome-Arno[2] North Apennines[2] Po Valley[2] Korean War UN Defensive[2] UN Offensive[2] CCF Intervention[2] First UN Counteroffensive[2] CCF Spring Offensive[2] UN Summer-Fall Offensive[2] Second Korean Winter[2] Korea, Summer-Fall 1952[2] Third Korean Winter [2] Korea, Summer 1953[2] Southwest Asia Defense of Saudi Arabia[2] Liberation and Defense of Kuwait[2] Cease-Fire[2] War on Terrorism Iraqi Surge[2]
Commanders
Current commander	LTC Nicolas K. Beck

The 51st Signal Battalion is a United States Army unit which is part of the 22d Corps Signal Brigade located at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Washington. Its mission is to rapidly deploy worldwide to engineer, install, operate, maintain, and defend the LandWarNet in support of full spectrum operations.^[3][4] The battalion deployed to Iraq in 2003 (2003) – 2004 (2004) and in 2008 (2008) – 2009 (2009)^[5] and sent elements to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011. The unit was deployed as of January 2015,^[6] and 2019.^[7]

The 51st Signal Battalion is the oldest continuously serving active-duty signal unit, as well as the signal unit with the most years of support to the United States Army.^[8]

The unit was constituted on 1 July 1916 into the Regular Army as the 5th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps. The unit was later activated on 12 July 1917 at Monmouth Park, New Jersey. On 1 October 1917, the battalion was re-designated as the 55th Telegraph Battalion. Soon thereafter, the battalion deployed to France and joined the American Expeditionary Force. During World War I, the battalion participated in three campaigns – Lorraine 1918, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne.

In 1935, the battalion took part in the Pine Camp maneuvers, which at the time were the largest peacetime maneuvers ever.^[9]: 74

The battalion returned to New York on 27 June 1919 and moved to Camp Vail, New Jersey. The battalion was re-designated on 18 March 1921, as the 51st Signal Battalion. On 5 August 1925, the battalion returned to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and would remain there until after World War II. The battalion received additional training at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, Camp Blanding, Florida, and Camp Stewart, Georgia. The battalion participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers prior to deploying for Europe.^[10]: 123 On 4 March 1943, the battalion headed to North Africa and staged and participated in the Invasion of Sicily, followed by a mission to provide communications support to forces arriving in Italy in October 1943. For its service in World War II, the battalion was credited with five campaigns and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

On 1 March 1945, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 51st Operation Signal Battalion. Then again, on 8 September 1950, the unit became known as the 51st Signal Battalion, Corps. During the Korean War, the battalion supported I Corps in ten campaigns and received two Meritorious Unit Commendations and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. The battalion remained in Korea after the hostilities as part of Eighth Army. After the Korean War cease fire, the battalion was reorganized and redesignated as the 51st Signal Battalion. The battalion remained in Korea until 16 March 1981 when it moved to Ludwigsburg, West Germany in support of VII Corps.

On November 8, 1990, the battalion was mobilized for immediate deployment to Saudi Arabia in support of Gulf War. For its participation, the battalion received three campaign streamers. On April 15, 1991, the unit returned to Germany. Three years later, on April 16, 1993, the 51st relocated, less personnel and equipment, to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and on October 1, 1993, the unit was re-designated the 51st Signal Battalion (Airborne) by reflagging an existing signal battalion on post.^[11]

With the transfer, less personnel and equipment, of the parent 35th Signal Brigade to Fort Gordon, GA, to reflag the existing 93d Signal Brigade in 2007, effectively inactivating the brigade on post and vastly reducing the number of Signal personnel within XVIII Airborne Corps, the 51st was closed out at Fort Bragg and the lineage was transferred to Fort Lewis, WA, as a subordinate unit of the 35th Signal Brigade.^[12]

On 16 November 2021, the battalion became a subordinate unit of the 22nd Corps Signal Brigade.^[1]

• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER^[2]
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1951^[2]
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered KOREA 1953-1954^[2]
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 2003-2004^[2]
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2005^[2]
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2008-2009^[2]
• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1953^[2]

Company B additionally entitled to:

• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ^[2]
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered KOREA 1952^[2]