102nd
Signal Battalion (Microwave & Radio Relay)
(Source: Hank
Bartosik, 1955)
Inside of radio station. Soldier sits in front
a "patch" panel, the phone jacks connection board seen in
famous "old telephone operators" photos. We rarely used
them, except when we connected the ANTRAC equipment to local
land lines. Incoming and outgoing land lines panels can
be seen in pic #5. The fellow was taking notes from
a rare incoming call. The most activity for these patch
panels was during the time when our other military units
were out on maneuvers and they used ANTRAC equipment. A
unit was positioned within our grounds and lines brought
into the Headquarters for patching to the major microwave
system which went from Berlin to Maison Fort, outside
of Paris. Someone had installed a loud speaker over the
top of the patch panel and occasionally patched into a lovesick
conversation that had many of us rolling in stitches at
the naiveté of the lovesick couple!
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