THE 17TH SIGNAL BATTALION ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER · Volume IV Issue 17 6/29/2017 1 "FONS COMMUNICATIONES" ... CONTINUED FRIENDSHIP THROUGH COMMUNICATION THE 17TH SIGNAL BATTALION

Volume IV Issue 17 6/29/2017 1

"FONS COMMUNICATIONES"

CONTINUED FRIENDSHIP THROUGH COMMUNICATION

THE

17TH SIGNAL BATTALION

ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

This Newsletter is published twice yearly and as special circumstances

require by the Secretary of the Association

NUMBER

17

VOLUME

IV

29nd Sig. Bn.

32nd Sig. Bn.

440th Sig. Bn.

69th Sig. Bn.

447th Sig. Bn.

17th Signal

Battalion

6981st Labor Svc.

Jun29 June 2017

THE 17TH SIGNAL BATTALION ASSOCIATION

102d Sig. Bn.

7776 Sig Ops Bn

175th Signal Company

WWW.17thSigBnAssociation.com

7793rd Signal Micro-

wave Radio Relay Pla-

toon (SMWRRP)


AUTREY, EMMETT President (Dean)

Phone: 806-367-5454

email: [email protected]

RIDING, DARRELL Vice President (Judy)

RIDING, JUDY Hospitality (Darrell)

Phone: 817-295-6888


JANSSEN, ARLO D. VP for Public Affairs.

(Mary Rose)

Phone: 703-281-3170


LIETZ, SAM Secretary, Acting Treasurer &

Acting Webmaster (Nope, still no hubby)

Phone: 443-497-6721


ELDERD, RAY; Director at Large 1 (Agnes)

Phone: 561-863-2430


STRICKLAND, MEL Director at Large 2

(Ruth)

Phone: 304-768-0382


BONDI, JIM Past President (Ikuko)

Phone: 254-793-4212


VALOF, JOSEPH Special Counsel (Anita)

Phone 508-366-9668

email [email protected]

MANNING, MONROE Historical Officer

(Ruth)

Phone 410-272-9155


CAREY, BOB, Nominating Committee

(Deborah)

Phone 804-897-0202


KOIVISTO, JOHN Special Projects (Betsy)

Phone: 757-390-4321


DONOVAN, JOE Special Projects (Claudine)

Phone 703-519-8377


BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS 2016 to 2018

CONTINUED FRIENDSHIP THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS

TREASURER, WEBMASTER, MEMBERSHIP, CHAPLAIN, SPECIAL PROJECTS OFFICER

FOR PHOTOGRAPHY & MEMORY BOOK, - Director and Officer positions vacant

President’s Message From Emmett Autrey


President’s Message From Emmett Autrey

This is a hard President’s letter to write. After much soul searching and dis-cussion (to include that at the General Membership meeting of the 2016 Reunion) the Association Board of Directors has made the recommendation to dissolve the Association as we know it.

Why? First and foremost—we can’t get volunteers to run this organization. We have numerous open BOD and officer positions and in addition have not been successful in getting volunteers to help coordinate and run the reunions. This is probably due in great part to our declining membership numbers and continued aging of our membership.

As per the Bylaws, the general membership must vote on this recommenda-tion. Your vote will determine if the Association “folds up it’s colors” or continues to operate. However it can only continue to operate if able and willing volunteers step forward to fill vacant positions and work the reunions. Therefore any vote AGAINST dissolving the Association should provide for a volunteer for either an open position or reunion helper!

If the recommendation by the BOD Is approved by the General Membership there will be NO 2018 formal reunion but we would encourage regional mini reun-ions for a lunch or dinner. After all administrative costs have been covered, any remaining money from the Treasury would be returned to our members. Those costs would include but are not limited to paying our outstanding taxes (both Fed-eral and State), lawyer fees to file with the State of Massachusetts to dissolve the Corporation, CPA fees to finalize the financials, and shipping costs to send of his-torical documents and memorabilia to the appropriate entities among others.

The ballot is found on the next page—please read and respond via USPS or email to the Secretary before 1 September 2017. If you have any questions about the whys/wherefores, please contact any of the board members or officers found on page 2 of this newsletter.

Auf Wiedersehen and Fons Communicationes!

Emmett Autrey, President, 17th Signal Battalion Association 2016-2018


Ballot on Dissolving of the Association

General Membership vote on whether to dissolve the 17th Signal Battalion As-

sociation:

DISCUSSION:

As discussed in length at the last General Membership meeting in Fort

Worth Texas in September 2016 and as provided in that meeting’s mem-

bership notes as contained in the Association’s December 2016 newslet-

ter, the Association faces the following issues:

The active membership roll has deteriorated numerically to the point

it will soon fall below 100.

The average age of active members is approaching 80 years.

Active membership attrition, due to large part to death and poor

health, is considerably out-pacing new member enrollments.

Reunion attendance continues to decrease; 118 attended the 2002 re-

union and 44 attended the 2016 reunion.

The Association membership has not volunteered to fill Board of Direc-

tors (BOD) and Officer positions. We have one BOD member filling

both the Secretary and Treasurer positions and also keeping our

website up to date as the Webmaster.

Based on the issues above, the Association Board of Directors and Officers

voted a 6 to 1 majority in favor of dissolution in the April 2016 BOD tele-

conference.

Per the Association By Laws approved September 2012, this vote must now

be put to the General Membership. Please mark your vote below and re-

turn this ballot either by USPS or by email to the Secretary at 4910 268th

Street NW, Stanwood WA or [email protected] not later than Septem-

ber 01, 2017.

Check “aye” to dissolve the Association or “Nay” to indicate disapproval of disso-

lution of the Assocation.

Aye ______

Nay ______

NOTE: No response from a member will be counted as an “Aye” vote for dissolv-

ing the Association.

NOTE: If you voted “Nay”, please indicate whether you are willing to fill a

Board of Directors or Officer position.

NOTE: If the vote is approved, there will be NO reunion in 2018

mailto:[email protected]


Director & Officer Reports PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT by Arlo Janssen: The Public Affairs plan for our

possible September 2018 Reunion in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is in a definite

holding pattern. Reunion announcements will not be sent until after the vote to

dissolve the Association is resolved. If the Association will not be dissolved and

a 2018 reunion will be held, then press releases will be sent to the Army Times

and to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) magazine by Sep-

tember, so that it would appear in the November or December 2017 edition. My

standard list of reunion notices to the Fort Belvoir Eagle, the Fort Huachuca Scout,

the Pentagram, and to the Signal Newspaper at Fort Gordon, GA will not be re-

quired if the vote is not positive. The 17th website continues as our primary

source for any Reunion 2017/2018 information but if required, my 17th Public Af-

fairs (PA) Plan will be updated in September/October 2017 timeframe.

TREASURER’S REPORT: by Sam Lietz: The Association bank balance is

$3684.46 as of 29 June 2017. That amount does not cover the cost of printing and

mailing this newsletter, nor the hour of CPA time so far incurred. We will incur

more CPA costs to submit our Federal Income Tax Form 1120s for years 2010

through 2016, to work our Massachusetts income tax forms (Form 3M) as well as

performing a required audit of our financials. We have reunion money of $32

from the 2016 reunion that can only be used for reunion costs unless the Associa-

tion dissolves which will push that money into the General Membership Fund..

Upcoming bill for insurance due in September 2017 will reduce the treasury by

$500 if the insurance is needed to cover a 2018 reunion. If the vote is to dissolve

the Association we cancel the insurance.

SECRETARY’S REPORT by Sam Lietz: 99 members are in good standing with

the Association. Unfortunately we have lost contact or had requests to drop two

members recently. Thanks to all who have provided input to this newsletter and

updates for the Roster which was published with this newsletter and those who

have provided photos and oral histories to add to our collection. 2016 was the

30th anniversary of the Association and my 10th as Secretary. I have told the BOD

and the Nominating Committee that 2018 is my last year as Secretary—12 years

is long enough and my new business along with my travel plans do not allow me

to spend the hours needed on Association business.


Director & Officer Reports—continued

VICE PRESIDENT’s REPORT by Darrell Riding. I have been working with the

other board members on the procedures required to shut the Association

down mostly due to lack of interest in filling board positions. We continue to have

vacancies on the board which we cannot fill.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT by Ray Elderd: Mel Strickland volun-

teered to fill the Director at Large/Nominating Committee vacancy following CSM

(Ret) Lee Hockenberry's passing. Canvassing for Board of Director positions

(Treasurer, Webmaster, Chaplain, Memory Book, Photographer, Membership, and

Secretary) is held in abeyance pending the vote by the general membership on

dissolution of our Association. If the Association is going to continue we will

need a slate of officers for the 2018 general membership meeting to fill all the po-

sitions you see on page 2 of this newsletter. Please contact Ray Elderd if you

would be willing to serve in any capacity. All positions are filled by volunteers

and without volunteers this Association will not continue to operate.

WEBMASTER’s REPORT by Sam Lietz: www.17thSigBnAssociation.com has

been populated with the membership application, rosters (active members and

inactive), media (photos), welcomes to new members, reunion information and

news of noteworthy events such as birthdays and deaths as well as “this month in

17th Signal Battalion History” as well as our library of oral histories, the written

history of the 17th Signal Battalion Aviation and WWII Operations Battalion, and

the draft of the 17th Signal Battalion History. The list-

ings of Battalion Commanders and Command Sergeant

Majors of the Battalion, and other unit rosters and pho-

tos as they become available will be added. All mem-

bers with emails were added to the website and notifi-

cations sent in October to register there. If you would

like to volunteer to assist with the website please con-

tact Ray Elderd or Mel Strickland who’s information is

found on page 2 of this newsletter.


.

MEMBER MEMORIES from the oral history of Jim Welsh

(Jim served with 7774th and 7776th Signal Groups before the redesignation as the 17th Signal

Operation Battalion after serving as a paratrooper in the “Champagne Campaign of WWII)

I was at Phillips Kaserne in Frankfurt with the 7774 Signal Group and assigned to mobile radio

teams in 1947. I wasn’t there for more than a week and got packed up and headed south for

Ansbach to the Signal School. The 7774 was then designated the 7776 Signal Service Company.

Abe Abromowitz was in charge of the Signal School at Ansbach. I attended radio repair school,

0648 Radio Repairman designation then put in charge of the VHF Radio Relay section AN-TRC 3

& 4’s. The section consisted of either 5 or 6 teams, each with truck, equipment, generators. We

were stationed at the Signal School in Ansbach but would go out into the country and do training

sessions on top of hilltops. We operated as a fully-operational unit (HF, VHF, Carrier, Wire,

Mess, Motor Pool etc), participating in training exercises while some individuals attended

classes at the Signal School. These “mobile radio teams” had equipment mounted and oper-

ated from housings (HO17s) aboard 2 1/2 ton trucks towing power units behind – at least the HF

(Morse code) and VHF (FM/VHF radio-relay of telephone and teletype traffic), while the larger

Carrier “bays” were housed and transported in ugly and awkward “Airstream”-like travel trail-

ers. The major exception to that arrangement was a more-or-less “permanent”, multi-function

installation atop Heidelberg’s “Konigstuhl” where personnel and operating equipment to a

great extent was moved indoors, similar to the installation in Zwingenberg. Other relay units

were operating out of their trucks and HO17s atop some distant German mountain. While at

Ansbach, we took part in maneuvers at Grafenwoehr. As the NCOIC, I traveled from site to site

visiting my teams. The men, monitored the teletype and telephone transmissions. You just ex-

isted on that hilltop.

The entire unit left Ansbach and went to Zwingenberg, north of Bensheim and Heidel-

berg. It was a day to day job to put up Koenigstuhl, another site at Zwingenberg, down around

Stuttgart, and another site near Frankfurt, maybe Feldberg and several more sites. The men got

these sites set up and then I, as the NCOIC, would travel from site to site. LT Downey would

travel with me; a great fellow. We were tied up to a carrier unit and we couldn’t hear the traffic,

but we kept the comms flowing. We lived like a bunch of Indians up on the hilltops through the

winter of 48/49. One of my jobs was to carry the rations up to them. On a personal side, on

Koenigsthul I was the acting OIC. I wrote orders & bailed men out from the Constabulary.

Phillips Barracks was a typical kaserne with two story grey stucco buildings— barracks

upstairs. Major then LTC Alex Turner’s (Battalion Commander) office was to the left of the big

double door entry. He was a big man, blustery, a disciplinarian, but a real warm heart if you

knew him. Very demanding for perfection and I think he carried an awful lot of the feelings for

the old 17th in his heart. He drilled into us where the 17th came from – the history of the Battal-

ion. He was so glad to get it back (having commanded it in WWII) and let us know the 17th had

an illustrious history and heritage. That sticks in my mind 60 years later!

(All 17th Oral Histories are posted to the 17th website at www.17thSigBnAssociation.com)


IN LOVING MEMORY

Since the publication of our December 2016

Newsletter we learned of the passing of four

of our members

Malcom McDonald, LTC USA Signal Corps (Retired) passed away peacefully

in his sleep on 2 June 2017. Glenda, his wife, told us “Mal loved his association with

the 17th Signal Battalion.” Mal’s service with full military honors was held at the

Veteran’s Cemetery in Boulder City Nevada on 29 June. Mal served with the 516th

Signal Group in 1955 and with the 29th Signal Battalion 56-59. Mal was a great help

to the Association at the 2012 reunion held in Las Vegas.

Pat Ironside, beloved wife of Bob Ironside, passed on 3 February 2017. Pat

served with Bob in the 17th and the 516th from 1957 to 1961. Pat always enjoyed

our reunions and relating her experiences in Germany such as her fun shopping

days “with the gals”. Pat served our Association for many years helping with the

reunion raffles and the hospitality room as well as being a charter member and lov-

ing supporter of this Association.

Mary Theresa Tellmann, beloved wife of Rudy Tellmann, passed on 9 Febru-

ary 2017. Rudy and Mary were married for over 60 years and had four children.

Mary did volunteer work with the Hatboro PA branch of the Needlework Guild of

American, the Girl Scouts and the Village Players of Hatboro. Mary was born in

Philadelphia and attended the 2006 Association reunion there with Rudy.

Nancy Thomas, beloved wife of Reynold Thomas, passed away earlier this

year. No further information was provided.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

HEALING THOUGHTS ARE GOING OUT TO:

Ikuko & Jim Bondi (17th 93-95). Ikuko is still being monitored for a tumor behind her left

ear that is affecting her hearing and balance. Ikuko continues to be monitored via MRIs. Jim

went under the knife in early January 2017 for salivary gland stones and has recovered nicely.

Bob Carey (17th 58-62) is well on the road to recovery form a stroke suffered in January.

Don Roupe (102nd 57-58) is continuing liver cancer treatments (TACE procedures) but the

GREAT news is that these cutting edge procedures seem to be keeping the cancer from growing

or spreading. It certainly didn’t slow him down in cheering for the Pittsburgh Penguins!

Henri Vellmure (17th 57-60) suffered a stroke in March and is now in home after a hospital

and rehab stay.


MEMBER NEWS

Emmett & Dean Autrey ( 17th 60-63) Emmett and Dean have been staying busy with family

and the Association. Emmett is still teaching and enjoyed a little trip to Chattanooga with

Darrell Riding and Mel Strickland in April. Dean stays busy with her gardening and being

an Angel of Mercy taking care of ailing family members (son and sister).

Bob & Deb Carey (17th 58-62) Bob suffered a stroke in January this year and appreciated all of

the well wishes sent his way. Bob recently agreed to assist the Nominating Committee find offi-

cers to fill the 2018 vacancies as well as the immediate need for a Treasurer and Webmaster. He

and Deb continue to enjoy life down in Virginia.

Joe & Claudine Donovan (17th 59-62). Joe writes that he is very busy as he has committed

to write a class and a book for the Divinity School at Regent University. He is working 50-60

hours a week with a very nervous upper management in the Department of Labor because of

the circus at the White House. He is also in executive coaching training. Joe and Claudine

are also prepping for their move to the Goodwin House Alexandria—a retirement commu-

nity not far from their present house. Joe was accepted into the doctoral program at Regent

University and Grand Canyon University but not sure if he will hit the books again. Joe has

also been accepted as a visiting instructor at Regent so will be making recurring trips be-

tween Alexandria and Virginia Beach. Joe recently scrubbed through years of financial data

to provide to the current Treasurer so we could get our paperwork ready for Federal and

State income tax work.

Larry Fruhwirth ( 59-61) wasn’t sure if he would be cutting grass in the public parks in Bis-

marck North Dakota this year like he has done in the past. Seems the fish are calling him!

Larry kept warm this past winter shoveling that good old North Dakota snow. They had 58

inches of snow by end of January. Larry also kept track of the Native American protests down

on the Cannonball River about 30 miles south of his place and on the other side of the river.

Ray and Agnes Elderd (17th 61-63, 201st Sig Co 64) are traveling west in their RV this year -

leaving a bit later than usual to coincide with a nephew's wedding date in September in Las Ve-

gas. They plan to make a few stops along the way to visit longtime friends in Montana and Wash-

ington State; and after the wedding, make a stop in Arizona on the return trip to Florida. This

promises to be a long trip west, but it's a 'stroll in the park' for super-driver Agnes

Walter & Dorit Gelnovatch (102nd 57-59) Thanks to Walt for our article on Fort Monmouth

as found on pages 14-16. Walt has been a great supporter of this newsletter—providing in-

teresting and thought provoking articles for our enjoyment.


MEMB ER N EW S

John & Betsy Koivisto (17th 97-98) wrote to send their best to everyone! John is still with

Booz Allen Hamilton but has moved to support the NATO Allied Command Transformation in Nor-

folk, VA. You may remember that 7 years ago, John retired from there so being back is

"comfortable" and it is good to be working again with the NATO team. In May Betsy received her

license as a Mental Health Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A lot of long, hard work

but truly a significant milestone accomplishment and the realization of a life goal. They spent a

wonderful two weeks in Nevada, Arizona and Utah visiting National Parks there and did a mini-

reboot at the Las Vegas Hampton Inn Tropicana...site of the 2012 reunion. Great memories! John

and Betsy are looking forward to their trip to Cancun Mexico in September—a little sun, scuba

and walks on the beach!

Sam Lietz (17th 97-99) continues to be busy competing with her three dogs (Schatzi, Squeek

& Bling) in both agility and barn hunt and has begun herding lessons with Bling (her 2 year old

border collie). When not competing, she teaches agility to approximately 20 students at her

home in Western Washington—SchaSam Farm. Sam and her three fuzzy faces will be competing

in the North American Dog Agility Championships held this fall in Sunbury Ohio where in addition

to running her dogs, Sam will serve as event announcer and assist with hospitality along with

catch up with her east coast dog buddies. She hopes to be able to link up with Emmett & Dean

Autrey in Colorado (they will be vacationing there) and maybe with Phy Naffziger in South Dakota

on her way back across the country in the RV. You can keep up with her exploits on Facebook—

either on her personal page or on the SchaSam page.

Todd McKinley (17th - no years provided) posted a photo of himself on Facebook at the inau-

guration of President Trump. He said “45 has a solid handshake”.

Phyllis Naffziger (17th 81-82) is on her yearly trip to Alaska where she works for a cruise

line as an excursion driver showing off all that gorgeous Alaskan scenery.

Don & Myrna Roupe (102nd 57-58) Don recently posted on the 17th Website “I just

passed a moment of a small milestone; on May 30, it was 60 years ago that day that I arrived in Heidelberg,

after my train ride from Bremerhaven. Actually it was Decoration Day, later changed to Memorial Day. that

I was picked up by Specialist Larry Germuga, the ‘Generator Man’ for Konigstuhl, Company E, of the

102nd Signal Battalion. He was in a 3/4 ton and I had to ride in the open back with my duffel bag. I thought

he was crazy, driving very fast and quick around the many curves up the mountain. He gave me my thrill

for that day, many of them, in fact.”

Henri & Terri Vellmure (17th 57-60) As reported by Ray Elderd, Henri is recovering nicely

from a stroke suffered in March this year and appreciated all the cards, emails and phone calls.

Ray also states Henri is back at home since early June and that he and Terri will soon relocate

from Florida to Woodbridge Virginia to reside near their daughter.


WWW.17thSigBnAssociation.com Our site www.17thSigBnAssociation.com is out there for all to enjoy. Every Association mem-

ber with an email address was sent an invitation to register with the website and start using the

data provided there. If you need help getting access, please send an email to Sam at Li-

[email protected] for assistance. Unfortunately Sam had to manually enter in data and we

have identified a few fumblefinger issues (you get what you pay for….) The website is being

populated as time allows with items of interest to our members. Current information about what

is happening in the Association is there as well as documents/ comments/old photos and new —

you name it or better yet, you provide it and it will be there along with both the active and inac-

tive membership rosters. Personal information such as the rosters is only viewable by Associa-

tion members who have logged on. If you have any comments or sugges-

tions or pictures or articles you want to share, please scan them in and

email them to the Secretary (who will pass on to future Webmaster—hope

springs eternal. The Association Web Master position is vacant so you are

stuck with Sam Lietz doing triple duty as Secretary, Treasurer and Web-

master). Photos may also be used in the 17th history document or in fu-

ture newsletters. If you don’t have capability to scan, send them via USPS

and let the Secretary know if they are for the files or need to be copied

and sent back! If you are having any problems accessing the site, contact

Sam. Please provide feedback on the website!

*************************************************************************************

Thank You for Keeping Your Information Updated!!! Secretary Sam noted very few “kickbacks” of the December 2016 newsletter but did have

USPS mail 12 newsletters to those folks who didn’t acknowledge the receipt of the newsletter

sent via email—twice. If your method of receipt changes (email to USPS or visa versa), please let

the Secretary know (THANKS Marge Erwin!). The Active and Inactive Membership rosters went

out with this copy of the newsletter. They are sent to those who don’t have email on a yearly ba-

sis. For those who log into the website, both the active and inactive rosters are posted there.

Please ensure your roster information is correct and forward Sam any up-

dates/changes/comments. Best contact is via email at [email protected] or use the info in-

side the front cover or in the roster.

*****************************************************************************

17th SIGNAL BATTALION ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE

COINS—FOR SALE

In 2008, our Association got it’s very own Challenge Coin due to then Special Projects Officer,

Hal Taylor. Hal designed a striking multicolored coin - one side of the coin carries the crossed

Signal Corps flags and around the edge is written “Camp Crowder Missouri — Germany-

1942—2006” The flip side is host to the 17th Signal Battalion Crest and around the edge is “17th

Signal Battalion Association—Fons Communicatones” and underneath reads “We Lead The

Way” - the battalion motto. These coins are on sale through the Secretary for $10 + 1$ for post-

age.


ORAL HISTORIES -

WEB BASED OR IN PERSON!

The Association Historian Monroe Manning has been taking oral histories of our members.

For those of you with internet access but unable to attend a reunion, please check out the As-

sociation Web Page for the oral history form (www.17thSigBnAssociation.com). Use this form

to share something of those times we all have in common and yet unique to your individual

unit or experience. Everyone has great stories to tell—so share with us!! Since the 2014 re-

union there are orange binders out in the reunion hospitality room with the oral histories col-

lected so far for anyone to read and maybe spark a couple memories. Monroe writes that

“every time I take a history it brings back memories long forgotten and I am sure reading

through these histories will do the same for you.” If you would like a copy of the oral histo-

ries, check out the web site or contact Secretary Sam ([email protected]).

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

THANK YOU to member Glenn Kennedy and wife Angela who found some 17th Signal

Battalion Spouses pins in their memorabilia box and decided to forward them on to the Asso-

ciation for distribution to a few lucky spouses at the 2018 reunion in Chattanooga TN. We

hope Glenn and Angela can join us there to tell us about their times of taking the Battalion

through a deployment to Iraq through the furling of the Battalion colors at the deactivation

ceremony in 2006. Glenn commanded the Battalion from 04-06.

______________________________________________________________________________________

You Can Become a Part of the

US Army Registry

at the new United States Army Museum

Tom Theroux (17th 83-85) writes “I have been honoring solider and civil-

ians who served with me by recognizing their service in the Registry of

the American Soldier and in the Registry of the Army Community. These

registries are part of the campaign for the National Museum of the Unite

States Army. Each of you can begin by reporting your service by going

to www.armyhistory.org and clicking on “Registries”. Select the Registry

you want, sign up and being. It’s free and a great way to honor those

who served with you.”


PHOTOS FROM ALL OVER

The front gate to An-

gelliers France—the

wine, the song and the

mademoiselles!

Left: The Southeastern

Signal School graduation

book from Camp Gordon

GA —- how many of us

went through Camp then

Fort Gordon in our time?

Right: The Association’s

long time “combat cam-

eraman” Don Roupe at his

first reunion—2006 in

Philly. Little did he know

he would be providing us

with outstanding photos

and memory books for

many, many years!

Left: Sam and her

merry band of men

S3 Mike Jackson,

CSM Harold B. Tate

and XO John

Koivisto on an FTX

vicinity Kitzingen

circa 1998.

Right: Battalion

Command photo of

Tom Theroux 1983-

85


Fort Monmouth a Signal Corps Jewel by Vladimir G. Gelnovatch

Director U.S. Army Electronic Technology and Devices Laboratory (RET) &

Professor of Electrical Engineering-University of Virginia (RET)

Fort Monmouth always occupied a place in my heart. As a youngster I lived

12 miles from the fort in Freehold. I came to Fort Monmouth as a young soldier in

1956. After my German tour with the 102d and Electrical Engineering graduate

school I went to work there as a DA civilian.

Fort Monmouth was a busy and vibrant place. It was home of the Signal

Corps, and radar was essentially invented there in 1936. Major Armstrong in-

vented FM (frequency modulation in the 1930’s giving the US Army the advantage

of FM radios in WWII. (The SRC (Signal Corps Radio) -270 was the radar in Hawaii

that first saw the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. After WWII the first bounce of ra-

dio waves from the moon came using a highly modified SCR-270. Professor Robert

Millikan of the famous “oil drop” experiment (to determine electron charge)

worked for the Signal Corps. Those were the days when the Army bestowed com-

missions on science and engineering luminaries to take sabbaticals and come to

work for the Signal Corps for a consigned period. My first supervisor, Dr. Harold

Zahl worked on the SCR-270 late in the 30’s. We actually built prototype equipment

before contracting out to industry for production. If I remember correctly there

were 7 prototype units built of the SCR-270 internally. One went to Hawaii and an-

other to the Panama Canal. In some cases the Labs actually did LRIP runs when

needed.

The labs at Fort Monmouth existed since the early 20’s and were called the

Signal Corps Engineering Labs. In the early 1950’s my lab supported the transistor

development at Bell Labs under Bill Shockley (one of the inventors of the transis-

tor) and I actually remember going to meetings at which he presided and got to

know him. By the 1950’s Fort Monmouth grew so large that it was broken down

into a number of function driven labs (radar, communication, components etc.),

mine was called Electronic Components lab in those days. The famous hexagon

(only five sides) was built in 1954 essentially in the physical image of RCA Sarnoff

Labs in Princeton, NJ. Also many PM’s (project managers) and PEO’s (Program Ex-

ecutive Office) moved there to be close to their support labs. My lab in particular

performed university level research and development in electronics. I completed

my career there as a Lab Director in 1997. It was a heady place to work to say the

least.

So what happened to Fort Monmouth and why?


(Fort Monmouth continued)

My personal take on this on this subject as an insider as to what occurred is:

Following the heyday of the labs in the 1950’s many deleterious events oc-

curred. The most serious being the loss of the Signal School. This significantly low-

ered the footprint of the uniformed military. Many smaller units also moved out.

The only bright spot was the relocation of the West Point Preparatory School and

the Chaplin’s School to Fort Monmouth. This by no means offset the losses. There

were no more “columns of deuces” of student soldiers marching along the Ave-

nue of Memories on the way to school that you had to pass at 5 MPH with your

auto.

I believe the Fort Monmouth closure actually occurred in two stages, a minor

preparatory one and a major death blow.

The first event was the moving of my Lab to the Harry Diamond campus in

Maryland in 1997. A new building was erected for us (but not in time) which I

managed to have named after my old boss, Dry Harold Zahl. Only 38 out of 350

folks moved. Those that moved had to work in a stogy warehouse for two years

while millions of dollars of sensitive lab equipment died of neglect in dirty ware-

houses. It was at least five years before the lab was fully functioning again. Even a

good friend of mine, an Undersecretary of the Army for R&D, told me much later

the move was a serious mistake. In essence it separated the people who develop

the components (transistors, IC’s etc.) from the folks who place them in Army

equipment.

The second event, as mentioned previously mentioned, was death dealing.

In 2005 a Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) decision moved the

rest of the Communications Electronics Command (CECOM) operation to Aber-

deen Proving Ground (APG) in 2011. Project Managers (PM’s) and Program Ex-

ecutive Officers (PEO’s) and Logistics Readiness Command were scattered.

Why were the BRAC’s so corrosive to Fort Monmouth? Philosophically I be-

lieve:

First and foremost was constant congressional meddling. For many years

congressman Wilber Mills ran the House Armed Services Committee like a fief-

dom. HASC has always been staffed with an over abundance of Southern con-

gressmen. One of his most important goals was to move military operations to the

South. To accomplish that he appropriated funds abundantly for new facilities in

the South and held back funding for new facilities and maintenance of Army facili-

ties North of the Mason-Dixon line. One of the results was that the Signal School

took him up on it and moved South. Over almost half a century this policy de-

stroyed Fort Monmouth piece by piece.


STILL WANTED Military Insignia to make up American Society of Military Insignia Collectors

(ASMIC) “Starter Kits”. These kits are passed out to youth attending Collections Merit

Badge presentations as well as other educational programs. These kits are put

together by ASMIC members and include insignia from the Army – Navy -Merchant

Marine - Coast Guard – Marines - Air Force - ROTC & Civilian Air Patrol. Any color/

subdued/desert DUIs, stripes, ratings, etc. would be greatly appreciated. All

donations are TAX DEDUCTABLE. The Secretary just mailed Rudy off a set of

Chemical Officer brass that she found at a local auction. Have fun—clean out your

whatsit drawer or shop!

Please send your donation to: RUDY TELLMANN 115 N. Chester Ave, Hatboro, PA

19040 or contact him at: [email protected] Any chance to provide for kids and

introduce them to military matters is a good cause!

(Fort Monmouth continued)

Secondly our own folks destroyed our reputation and credibility. Typically

our personnel would go to Washington DC to meetings at our Army Material Com-

mand and criticize their own management. This resulted in our management in

Wash. DC’s bad opinion of the Fort Monmouth management team.

The third condition was that many of the Signal Officers who came through

Fort Monmouth as young officers, then graduated as engineers were not treated

well at a mostly civilian base. Years later when those officers achieved flag rank in

Washington DC they did not look well on Fort Monmouth.

The fourth condition was the slow and incompetent execution of big pro-

grams in the 80’s. This was mainly by the PM’s and the PEO’s and not by the labs

and the agency that fielded equipment (Logistics Readiness Center) didn’t help. It

sometimes took years to field and train the troops on new equipment. For example,

the PATRIOT anti-missile system took something like 30 years to fully field. The

AN/TPQ 36 and 37 (Weapons Location Radars) skipped 6.3 productization to save

money and required huge lab supported effort to develop a tube that could be

produced. ( Note that so called “6.3” funding is used to fund the process of taking a

laboratory device and learning how to make them in volume production).

Finally a local congressman did not support Fort Monmouth even though it in-

serted $3.2 B into the New Jersey economy.

So with all of the above ingredients in place, when the 2005 BRAC was look-

ing for places to close, to choose Fort Monmouth .So that is my story. Sad isn’t it?


DUES NOTICES

OVERDUE: Please use

the renewal form on the

next page to renew

TODAY! Bowers,R. 06/2017

Ironside, R. 06/2017

Johnson, G. 06/2017

Martinack, R. 06/2017

Smith, M. 06/2017

Vellmure, H. 05/2017

DUE before end of 2017—

Please use the renewal

form on the next page to

renew! Baron, L. 07/2017

Blandeburgo, G 08/2017

Buck, D. 11/2017

Citrino, R. 12/2017

Cumpian AC 10/2017

Dimoff, M 10/2017

Fruhwirth L. 07/2017

Hatfield, D. 11/2017

Hockenberry B. 07/2017

Hussey, J. 07/2017

Kraus, P. 12/2017

Levine, M 09/2017

McDermott 10/2017

Moen, D 10/2017

Moore, Bill 11/2017

Olsen, C 09/2017

Peterson K 10/2017

Rhodes, E. 08/2017

Riding, D. 10/2017

Romano, R 11/2017

Senuta, T. 07/2017

Taylor, H 10/2017

Venzke, G. 09/2017

Yuncker, H 09/2017

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

SCHEDULE: As approved

by the General Member-

ship September 2012 the

dues schedule for the Asso-

ciation is as follows:

Regular Membership

(Service member) - $40

for 2 years or $75 for 4

years.

Surviving Spouse Mem-

bership— $16 for 2 years

or $30 for 4 years

REMINDER:

The yearly roster (with

dues info) was published

with this newsletter and is

constantly being updated

on the website. The inac-

tive roster is also posted

there. You may request

member or roster informa-

tion from the Secretary at

any time. When you view

the roster, please ensure

your information is cor-

rect—to include dues status

and provide feedback to

the Secretary—either at Li-

etzusa@ yahoo.com or

NOTE NEWISH ADDRESS

Sam Lietz

4910 268th Street NW

Stanwood WA 98292


Inside Story Headline

Inside Story Headline

Caption describing picture or

graphic.

THE 17TH SIGNAL BATTALION ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

Make checks payable to: 17th Signal Battalion Association

MAIL TO: Sam Lietz, 4910 268th Street NW, Stanwood WA 98292

For questions? [email protected] or call 443-497-6721

NAME_________________________________________________ RANK___________________

(Last, First, MI)

SPOUSE ________________PHONE ______________E-mail Address _______________________

ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________

(Street) (City) (State) (ZIP 5 digit + 4 digit)

UNIT: 17th, 29th, 32nd, 69th, 102nd, 133rd (USAR), 440th, 447th Signal Battalions

175th Sig Company, 22nd Sig Bde, 516th Sig Grp 6981st Labor Service Grp.

(Circle one or more) DATES ASSIGNED ________________________________________

Regular or Associate Member ( ) 2 years $40 ( ) 4 Years $75

Surviving Spouse (if the original member is deceased) ( ) 2 Years $16 ( ) 4 Years $30

Check Category & enclose check for appropriate amount.

Component (check one) ( )Active Duty ( )Reserve ( )National Guard ( )Retired ( )Civilian

Date of Birth ________ _______ How did you find us?___________________________.

I do/do not authorize release of my name and address to third parties for locator purposes. (CIRCLE ONE)

Please provide in the space below an alternate address (like a Next of Kin) can be a family member or

friend not living at the same address as yourself, just so we have some way of contacting you if we can

not locate you at the address in our records.

Name ________________________________________________ <<<

Address ______________________________________________ <<< PLEASE FILL OUT

City State ZIP__________________________________________ <<< THIS SECTION

Next of Kin Phone___________________________________________

SIGNATURE ______________________________________________DATE__________________

Office Use: Member # _________ Joined _______________ Term _____yrs. Dues Pd: $ .00

Documents

THE 17TH SIGNAL BATTALION ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER · Volume IV Issue 17 6/29/2017 1 "FONS COMMUNICATIONES" ... CONTINUED FRIENDSHIP THROUGH COMMUNICATION THE 17TH SIGNAL BATTALION