The year 1906 continued to be an eventful one for the Signal Corps. In the Philippines, sporadic fighting continued in the ongoing attempt to bring the primitive peoples of the southern islands under American control. On the island of Jolo a band of fierce Moros had taken refuge atop Mount Bud-Dajo, venturing forth on occasion to launch raids in the surrounding countryside. Fearing a worsening of the situation, the Army decided to send troops against them. During this operation, on 7 March 1906, 1st Lt. Gordon Johnston joined the list of Signal Corpsman to have earned the Medal of Honor when he “voluntarily took part in and was dangerously wounded during an assault on the enemy’s works.” Ironically, Johnston, commissioned in the Cavalry, numbered among those line officers unhappily detailed to the Signal Corps. He had tried to secure relief from his detail, but Chief Signal Officer Greely had denied his request. Following his distinguished service in the Philippines and after recovering from his wounds, Johnston finally found himself back in the Cavalry in 1907.

For more information on the history of the Signal Corps, contact the Adolphus Greely Chapter of the Signal Corps Regimental Association at www. scra-agc.org or contact Sgt. Maj. Steven Caffee at (706)791-7882.