The 550th Signal Company was activated in the Can Tho area on Oct. 10, 1971. 

  Upon its activation in Can Tho, the 550th controlled the following communications facilities in the area:     Note: A Thanks to Fred Sloviko for the info!

 1. Can Tho Army Airfield Com Center
 2. Autosevocom (Secure Voice Switching)
 3. Can Tho Carrier
 4. Can Tho Tandem Switch
 5. Flood Switch (Voice communications)
 6. Can Tho Mars Station
 7. DRAC Com Center (Delta Regional Assistance Command)
 8. Vinh Long, Ca Mau and Chi Lang Com Centers
 9. Chi Lang and Long Xuyen Carrier (Com to the 
 MACV Advisory Team and Ranger units)
10. Sa Dec Carrier
11. Sa Dec, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, and Rach Gia ICS Sites

  With the stand-down of the US forces in Vietnam during 1972 the 550th was detached from the 39th Signal Battalion as it returned to Europe.

  Then the 550th was detached from the 1st Signal Brigade as the 1st deployed to Korea.

  This left the 550th Signal Company strategically remaining in Vietnam and reporting to HQ STRATCOM at Fort Huachuca Arizona until it was deactivated in Vietnam in March of 1973.  

  After the departure of the 1st Sig. Brigade the 550th Sig. Co. members were authorized to replace the 1st Signal Brigade unit patch with the STRATCOM unit patch as their overseas unit patch.   Note: The then STRATCOM is now the US ASC.

 The 550th Signal Company and its active members were awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation.

Note: The 550th Sig Co has been reactivated.
Please see the Note at the bottom.

1. This picture is of Sgt. Jordan and Babbitt, just outside of the 550th Signal Company Office.
Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

2. A 550th Signal Company Enlisted Mans barracks sign, outside of one of our hooches.
Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

3. A picture of Corporal, our hooch mascot, standing guard on the porch.  Fred Sloviko and Jim Miller stayed in the same hooch before Rick and I were in there and Fred said Corporal was there with him then.
  This picture is from the corner hooch.  The road leading towards the horizon led towards the PX and then with a right and left out the front gate of the base. On this road, behind the white building was the Comm. Center, our Company Office, the bank and the Hospital.
  The road leading to the right went to the air tower, as in the photo below.
Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

4. From the same corner hooch area but this photo is facing towards the Air Tower.  The tower is the white building in the distance. 
Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

5. The relay tower.   The Comm. Center is the roof just to the right of the tower.
Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

6. This was a Company R&R cookout and party one Sunday afternoon.
Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

7. Another shot of the party.   I guess you can see from this photo why everyone was muddy in the photo above.
Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73

 8. Our Company truck.  I think Rick and Hart drove this quiet a bit.  There was a deuce and a half too, that I also remember riding guard on a few times for hand carried message traffic to the compound down town.
Photo by: Rick Stayner 1972-73