H. DEVITT WELSH U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS. Circa 1916

A battlefield reconnaissance trio (a spotter, transcriber and telegraph operator) represent the cutting edge of American military technology. Despite having a host of other responsibilities, the U.S. Signal Corps was primarily responsible for telegraphic communications. Founded during the Civil War utilizing a visual means of communication the Corps branched out with the advent of new technology. By World War I they were already operating telephone, telegraph and early radio transmissions from the field. Rawls p. 55, Theofiles 5.