55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) Fort Meade, Md.

MISSION: Photographically documents all historical and
operational events for the task force for permanent visual
record of the peace implementation process.

55th Signal Company holds the proud distinction of being the only
active duty Combat Camera unit in the Unites States Army. The mission
is to install, operate, and maintain tactical visual information
systems in order to provide theater level commanders situational
awareness and decision making visual documentation of ground, sea,
and air operations of United States, allied, and hostile armed
forces during combat, combat support operations, and related
peacetime training activities. The 55th Signal Company provides
visual imagery acquisition and exploitation support to satisfy
the operational requirement of the theater Army headquarters and
other major and subordinate headquarters of Army field units at
theater echelons above corps, and joint headquarters when required.
The unit provides tailored visual information products, including
graphics and video reports, in support of operational requirements.
We provide historical documentation in support of the Army Visual
Information Documentation Program. Our mission is also to provide
visual information, visual information processing, maintenance,
and repair support to field Army units beyond the capability of those units.

The primary mission of the 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera Unit)
is to install, operate and maintain tactical Visual Information Systems
to provide documentation of ground, sea, and air operations in support
of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Headquarters/Department of the Army, Army National Guard, and major Army commanders.

Capabilities:

Worldwide deployable on short notice, with three platoons divided into 18 documentation teams. The unit has its own organic transportation assets.

Each team is trained and equipped to provide the following products:

Digital and conventional still photography
Digital and conventional video photography
Conventional film processing
Digital Image Transmission
Video editing
Limited Airborne and Air Assault capability
Night Vision Imagery Acquisition capability
Unit Name: 55th Signal Company
UIC: WDBCAA

Location: Ft. Meade, Maryland 20755



Constituted 26 November 1943 in the Army of the
United States as the 55th Signal Repair Company

Activated 20 December 1943 at Camp Cooke, California

Inactivated 19 April 1946 in Hawaii

Allotted 18 October 1950 to the Regular Army and activated in Korea

Inactivated 6 November 1951 in Japan

Redesignated 14 January 1957 as the 55th Signal Company

Activated 8 August 1957 in Korea

Inactivated 25 April 1960 in Korea

Activated 1 July 1965 in Thailand

Inactivated 1 July 1969 in Thailand

Activated 21 February 1975 at Fort Hood, Texas

Inactivated 15 September 1987 at Fort Hood, Texas

Activated 16 November 1993 at Fort George G. Meade

Campaigns:

World War II (Asiatic-Pacific Theater): Silver Band without campaign inscription

Korean War: UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive

Decorations

Army Superior Unit Award for 1995-1996

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1950-1951