Before World War II, the United States Intelligence Community was fragmented and ad hoc, comprising numerous government and military entities who were reluctant to share information with each other.

[1] President Roosevelt directed the Joint Board to form the Office of the Coordinator of Information (COI) in mid-1941[2] and the attack on Pearl Harbor later that year prompted the War Department to expand the Army's existing entities into the Military Intelligence Service, the Counterintelligence Corps, and the Signal Security Agency.

The unit planned and made laborious efforts to prepare for amphibious operations before sending three detachments to the southwestern English port towns of Paignton, Pencalenick, and Swanage in mid-May.

On 12 July 1944, a month after landing on Normandy, the 82nd Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment was formally constituted by the United States Army,[4] after having already accompanied the 82nd into combat for the better part of a year.

Records are spotty regarding the 82nd CIC Detachment, likely due to the sensitive nature of their work, but based on their official military honors, they went on to participate in Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and the final push into Germany across the Ruhr River then finishing in Ludwigslust after crossing the Elbe.

[4] As cold war tensions rose and the Americans bolstered their intelligence apparatus, the Army reactivated the 3191st Signal Service Detachment in mid-1951 at Fort Devens, redesignating the unit the 358th Communications Reconnaissance Company.

Charged with supporting I Field Force (FFV-I), the battalion oversaw DSUs deployed in the II Corps Tactical Zone (AKA Military Region 2).

[18] The 313th also concentrated on FFV I headquarters telephone switchboards and radio circuits,[19] ostensibly seeking to ferret out hostile agents amongst the local employees and partner force personnel working at FFV-I.

Additionally, the 337th (formerly B Company) deployed in support of the 1st Infantry Division in the I Corps Tactical Zone (AKA Military Region 1), falling under control the 303rd ASA Battalion.

[17] Personnel would be reassigned and some would return, but the 313th would stay in-country until July 1971,[17] earning five Meritorious Unit Commendations, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and 12 campaign streamers.

[4] Along with the 358th ASA Company, the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division was supported in-country by the 82nd MI Detachment, who earned the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal.

The unit's lineage included 23 campaign and battle streamers from World War II, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and the Persian Gulf.

Former members of the battalion organized for a monument to be placed along the entranceway to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, adjacent to Fort Bragg.

Atop the shield rests an Argent and Azure rolled wreath which forms the base of the crest featuring a Gules (red) dragon trimmed in Or (gold) in a passant posture.

The colors orange and white express the organization's former affiliation with the Signal Corps and the six points of the mullet allude to the battalion's decorations for World War II and Vietnam service..