The
U.S. Army Signal Corps BandA Brief History of the Signal Corps Band
The United States Army Signal Corps Band, also known as the 434th Army Band, is comprised of 40 Soldiers from across the United States and abroad. It was organized at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, as the Fourth Engineer Amphibian Brigade Band on February 1, 1943.
During World War II the band was moved to Camp Gordon near Johnston, Florida. After volunteering for overseas duty in New Guinea in 1944, the band was then redesignated as the 434th Service Forces Band and assigned to the 6th United States Army in August of 1945. Afterward the band was stationed in the Philippine Islands and awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The band also toured with the Kay Kyser USO Show as the "Swingphibian Orchestra".
Upon the end of World War II the band moved to Japan and resumed its primary function - providing entertainment for the troops and as the primary ceremonial unit for military ceremonies. However, the band was inactivated shortly after the end of World War II in February of 1946.
Nine years passed until the band was reactivated and redesignated as the 434th Army Band on February 24, 1955 at the 3rd Army. After three years of reactivation, the band moved to its present home at Fort Gordon, Georgia (formally Camp Gordon until March 21, 1956). In June of 1970 the 493rd Army Band, also located on Fort Gordon combined with the 434th and became the band that it is today. Finally, on June 19, 1985, by order of the Secretary of the Army the band received its Distinctive Designation as "The United States Army Signal Corps Band".
The Signal Corps Band continues to perform its duties of promoting morale and esprit de crops by providing the highest quality of music for military ceremonies, formal concerts and official events. In addition to its military duties, the band travels throughout the Central Savannah River Area and across the country, telling the Army story and enhancing relations between the citizens of the United States and the Soldiers that serve them.
For specific information on any of our ensembles or their capabilities, please contact the Signal Corps Band Operations Office at (706) 791-4856.
Request A Signal Corps Band Performance
Request musical support away from Fort Gordon (civilian musical support). For off post events, musical support must be requested at least 60 days prior to the event through the
Fort Gordon Public Affairs Office.
To request a performance by one of the Signal Corps Band's ensembles, please fill out the Request for Participation form. Use of this form requires that Acrobat Reader be installed on your computer.
Once you have completed the form, either save it to your desktop and e-mail it the address shown below, or simply click on e-mail icon in Adobe Acrobat, and select the 'Send Copy' button. Your e-mail client will then open and attach the form to a new e-mail message. Add any additional information you feel relevant to your e-mail, and send it to the address shown below. A signature on the form is NOT required.
Fort Gordon Community Relations
Phone: (706) 791-1871
E-mail: communityrelations@conus.army.mil
Request musical support on Fort Gordon (military musical support). For on post events, please request the band at least 45 days prior to the event through the Fort Gordon Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security Office.
Fort Gordon Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, &
Security
Phone: (706) 791-8264 or (706) 791-3702
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