111th Signal Battalion Unit Crest (Signaling Pride)

The 111th Signal Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, commonly known as a unit crest, was approved on 29 January 1982. Crafted in orange and white, branch colors of the Signal Corps, the chief (upper third) of the shield portion of the insignia features crossed lightning flashes that suggest the high-speed reception and transmission capabilities of modern electronic communications.

In the lower portion of the shield are three staff raguly, a heraldic term for a charge that suggests a tree trunk or pole. The pole is used as a support for communication lines, while a tree trunk is an allusion to the palmetto tree seen on the state flag of South Carolina, the Battalion’s home state. The three staffs raguly also suggest the Battalion’s numerical designation. “Signaling Pride” is the Battalion motto.

The 111th Signal Battalion was constituted on 20 March 1979 in the Army National Guard and allotted to South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and the Virgin Island. It was organized between 1 April and 1 June from existing units; when it was reorganized in October of the following year, it was no longer allotted to Georgia, the state where its HQ had previously been located (in Winder, to be precise). It was reorganized less than a year later on 1 June 1981 allotted to South Carolina and Alabama; three months later its allotment changed yet again to South Carolina and Florida. It would not be reorganized again until a decade had elapsed in August 1991, when it was allotted solely to South Carolina.

While the Battalion as whole holds no campaign streamers or unit decorations, its Company A is individually entitled to six battle honors from the European-African-Middle Eastern campaign of World War II; it also was the recipient of a French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star that was earned while it was attached to the HQ Battery, 178th Field Artillery Group during the action at Cassino in Italy.

The 111th Signal Battalion is currently assigned to the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Carolina Army National Guard.