Wikipedia

21st Signal Brigade

The 21st Signal Brigade is a military communications brigade of the United States Army.

21st Signal Brigade
Active22 June 1965 - 27 November 1971
16 October 2003 - present
CountryUnited States United States
BranchUnited States Army
TypeSignal
SizeBrigade
Part of7th Signal Command (Theater)
Garrison/HQFort Detrick, Maryland
Nickname"Razor Sharp" (Special Designation)
Motto"Edge Of The Sword"
DecorationsArmy Meritorious Unit Commendation 1968 Army Superior Unit Award 2009
Battle honoursVietnam Counteroffensive

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase II
Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase V
Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Vietnam Summer—Fall 1969
Vietnam Winter—Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VII

Vietnam Consolidation I
Websitehttps://home.army.mil/detrick/units-tenants/21st-signal-brigade
Commanders
Current
commander		COL John L. Sanders
Command Sergeant MajorCSM Caesar Ruiz
Insignia
Identification
symbol

It was activated on September 1, 1965, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was deployed to Nha Trang, Vietnam in 1966 to supply communications to I and II Corps areas as the 21st Signal Group. The Brigade participated in 13 campaigns and earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation before being deactivated on November 21, 1971.

On October 16, 2003, the 1108th Signal Brigade was reflagged as the 21st Signal Brigade at Fort Detrick, Maryland and serves there until the present day.[1] The unit conducts theater level communications network operations. The brigade earned the Army Superior Unit Award in 2009.[2]

Specialist Hilda Clayton was a U.S. Army combat photographer who was killed in 2013 when a mortar accidentally exploded during an Afghan training exercise. She captured the explosion that killed her and four Afghan soldiers.[3] She was assigned to the brigade's 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) at Fort Meade, Maryland.[4] Ortiz Clayton was the first combat documentation and production specialist to be killed in Afghanistan.[5]

Units July 1969

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41st Signal Battalion; Qui Nhon, Vietnam[6]
 43rd Signal Battalion (Modified Support); Pleiku, Vietnam
 459th Signal Battalion, Phu Bai, Vietnam[7][8]
 73rd Signal Battalion (Support); Don Duong, Vietnam[9]

Organization today

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56th Signal Battalion, at Fort Sam Houston (TX)[10]
 114th Signal Battalion, at Raven Rock Mountain Complex (PA)[11]
 302nd Signal Battalion, at Fort Detrick (MD)[11]

Insignia

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The shoulder sleeve insignia is a rounded rectangle that is diagonally divided white and orange (signal corps colors) by a gold lightning bolt. In the center is a vertical sword created from a satellite dish and a globe for a hilt. The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved effective 16 October 2003.

The distinctive unit insignia is a gold metal pin with a central upfacing sword flanked by two orange lightning bolts surrounded by an "s" shaped scroll with the motto "Edge of the Sword" in black letters. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 21st Signal Group on 19 August 1968.[12]

References

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  1. ↑ "21st Theater Signal Brigade History". Fort Detrick Website. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  2. ↑ Lynge, Tracy (June 6, 2024). "21st Theater Signal Brigade holds change of command ceremony". US Army. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  3. ↑ Martin, David (May 3, 2017). "Army combat photographer's last picture is of her own death". CBS News. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ Hart, John (May 2, 2017). "Local Army photographer honored nearly four years after death". WJBF. Augusta, Georgia. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  5. ↑ Military-Review
  6. ↑ Benner, Jim. "Signal Battalions 9th to 43rd". Base Camp Phu Loi. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  7. ↑ Musgrave, Col. Thomas (November 15, 1969). "Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 21st Signal Group" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  8. ↑ Morrissey, James (January 3, 2019). "First days of the Tet Offensive for the 459th Signal Battalion". Historynet. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ Zelenznikar, Lt. Col. Louis (August 13, 1969). "Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 73d Signal Battalion" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  10. ↑ "21st Signal Brigade". Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  11. 1 2 SGT Macaydan Hawkins. "21st Theater Signal Brigade holds change of responsibility ceremony". 55th Public Affairs Company. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "21st Theater Signal Brigade". US Army Institute of Heraldry. August 19, 1968. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
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