65th Medical Brigade

Lineage and Honors

Lineage

• Constituted 18 October 1927 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 15th Medical Regiment
• Formed 7 November 1927 with Organized Reserve Corps personnel with headquarters at Dayton, Ohio
• Subordinate elements constituted and assigned 26 March 1929
• Redesignated 28 May 1941 as the 65th Medical Regiment
• Activated 1 June 1941 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, less Reserve personnel
• Reorganized and redesignated 10 March 1944 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 65th Medical Group (Subordinate elements hereafter separate lineages)
• Inactivated 16 August 1945 in Germany
• Activated 25 June 1958 in Korea
• Inactivated 21 June 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington
• Redesignated 12 September 2007 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 65th Medical Brigade
• Activated 16 October 2008 in Korea

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

• World War II
  • Normandy
  • Northern France
  • Rhineland
  • Ardennes-Alsace
  • Central Europe

Decorations

• Meritorious Unit Citation (Army), streamer embroidered EUROPE 1944-1945

Insignia

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Description

On a rectangle arced at top and bottom with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) white border, 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height overall divided per fess wavy in the manner of a Taeguk maroon and ultramarine blue by a white wavy barrulet, overall a white sword with golden yellow wings displayed issuing from the sword grip; intertwined around the sword blade seven times are two golden yellow serpents respectant.

Symbolism

Maroon, white, and the Caduceus historically are associated with the Army Medical Corps. Gold is emblematic of excellence and high ideals. The sword is pointing downward to indicate a military unit with a non-combatant posture. The serpents intertwine the sword blade seven times to represent the five campaign streamers awarded the unit during World War II, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe, one Meritorious Unit streamer embroidered European Theater, and one for the units service in the Republic of Korea. The strong and enduring alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea is highlighted by the wavy division of the patch in the manner of the Taeguk, with maroon for red above and blue, below.

Background

The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved effective 16 October 2008. It was amended to correct the symbolism on 7 June 2016. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-973)

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Description

A silver color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a silver starburst supporting a maroon cross couped, thereon between a blue fleur-delis and Taeguk in proper colors, a silver sword point down with wings displayed and issuing from its grip, intertwined around the blade are two silver serpents respectant. Across the bottom and lower sides is a green scroll inscribed DA DEXTRAM MISERO in silver letters.

Symbolism

Maroon and silver are the colors for the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Green was the color used in the medieval age for academic gowns for medicine and it is currently the academic color for medicine. The cross, a traditional symbol for medical aid and assistance, symbolizes the basic mission of the Brigade. The serpents intertwined around the sword represent a caduceus. The caduceus, formally adopted by the Army Medical Department, is the symbol for U.S. Army medicine. The fleur-de-lis commemorates the units war campaign streamers earned for World War II in France and Europe. The Taeguk represents the strong and enduring alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea, ensuring security, stability, and economic prosperity for over 50 years. The motto translates to Give Aid To The Unfortunate.

Background

The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 26 August 2009.

Distinctive Unit Insignia, 65th Medical Group

Description

Symbolism

Maroon and white (silver) are the traditional colors of the Army Medical Department. The hand withdrawing the spear represents aid to the wounded. The motto, DE DEXTRAM MISERO, translates as "Give Aid to the Unfortunate."

Background

Design originally approved 7 June 1934 for the 15th Medical Regiment. It was redesignated for the 65th Medical Regiment on XXX. It was redesignated for the 65th Medical Group on XXX. It was rescinded on XXX.

History

The Early Years

The 65th Medical Brigade was originally constituted in the Regular Army as the 15th Medical Regiment on 18 October 1927, allotted to the Fifth Corps area, and assigned to the V Corps. The regiment was organized on 7 November 1927 with Organized Reserve Corps personnel as a Regular Army Inactive (RAI) unit with its headquarters at Dayton, Ohio. Its subordinate elements were constituted and assigned on 26 March 1929. The regiment conducted summer training most years at the Camp Knox station hospital, although it trained some years at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania with the 1st Medical Regiment. The regiment's designated mobilization station was Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

The regiment was redesignated on 28 May 1941 as the 65th Medical Regiment, and was mobilized, less Reserve personnel, at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and assigned to the IV Corps. On 24 September 1941 the regiment was assigned to the Third Army.

[[Western Front (World War II)#1944–1945: The Second Front|World War II]]

On March 10, 1944, the Regiment was broken up and the Headquarters and Service Company was redesignated the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 65th Medical Group. The regiment's subordinate organic elements were redisagnated as separate numbered Medical Battalion Headquarters, Medical Collecting Companies, and Medical Clearing Companies. The Group served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.

At the end of hostilities in Europe, the 65th Medical Group, like many of the medical groups in occupied territory, found itself supervising the operation of captured German civilian and military hospitals. With the group's strength of 2,300 Medical Department personnel, they supervised operation of 160 captured facilities with a peak patient population of 68,000.

[[Korean War#Continued division (1954–present)|Korean Service]]

The Group was reactivated for service in Korea from 1958 to 1971.

On 15 October 2008, the 18th Medical Command's colors were transferred to Hawai'i, and the personnel who had been assigned to the Headquarters, 18th Medical Command were used to form the Headquarters, 65th Medical Brigade. was redesignated as the 65th Medical Brigade. The headquarters was stationed at USAG Yongsan inside the Japanese Army Stockade until the end of 2017. It then moved to Camp Humphreys as part of the relocation of the Yongsan Garrison.

Commanders

Organization

• 65th Medical Brigade, at Camp Humphreys
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 65th Medical Brigade
  • 106th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services)
  • 168th Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), at United States Army Garrison Daegu
  • 549th Hospital Center, at the Yongsan Garrison Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital
    • 121st Field Hospital
    • 502nd Field Hospital
  • 618th Medical Company (Dental, Area Support) / Dental Health Activity

References

References

1. "65th Medical Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, Lineage, and Honors". United States Army Medical Department Center of History and Heritage.
2. General Order 103, Headquarters, Third United States Army, dated 1945. Award covered period 1 December 1944-4 February 1945
3. "65th Medical Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Distinctive Unit Insignia". The Institute of Heraldry, United States Army.
4. Stein, Barry Jason. (1993). "U.S. Army Heraldic Crests, A Complete Illustrated History of Authorized Distinctive Unit Insignia". University of South Carolina Press.
5. Clay, Steven E.. (2010). "U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 4. The Services: Quartermaster, Medical, Military Police, Signal Corps, Chemical Warfare, and Miscellaneous Organizations, 1919-41". Combat Studies Institute Press.
6. "History".
7. "Yongsan Garrison: If walls could talk".
8. "Recent Medical Division Assignments". Medical Bulletin of the U.S. Army, Europe, Vol. 20, INo. 10, October, 1963, p. 309.
9. "Medical Memos: Retirement of MEDCOM Deputy CDR.". Medical Bulletin of the U.S. Army, Europe, Vol. 30, No. 9, September, 1973, pnp.
10. Official General Officer Biography of Major General Jeffrey B. Clark, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 1 July 2019
11. "65th Medical Brigade". 65th Medical Brigade.