44th Medical Brigade


The 44th Medical Brigade is a US Army unit located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, providing health care and medical services to the Fort Bragg community, and continuing training in its combat support mission.

Command Group

Inactive 19 March 1973 to 21 September 1974

Redesignated 44th Medical Command on 16 October 2001

ImageRankNameBranchBegin DateEnd DateNotes
Brigadier generalC. William Fox, Jr.MC
Brigadier generalGeorge W. WeightmanMCLater commanded Walter Reed Army Medical Center; United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
Brigadier generalElder GrangerMCLater Deputy Director, Tricare Management Agency
Brigadier generalPhillip VolpeMCLater Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical; Army Medical Department Center and School
ColonelRonald A. MaulMCCased the Medical Command colors; removed the Brigade's maroon berets, background flashes, and ovals.

Redesignated 44th Medical Brigade on 24 April 2010

Lineage

Campaign participation credit

  1. Counteroffensive;
  2. Counteroffensive, Phase II;
  3. Counteroffensive, Phase III;
  4. Tet Counteroffensive;
  5. Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
  6. Counteroffensive, Phase V;
  7. Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
  8. Tet 69/Counteroffensive;
  9. Summer-Fall 1969;
  10. Winter-Spring 1970;
  11. Sanctuary Counteroffensive;
  12. Counteroffensive, Phase VII
  1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
  2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

    Decorations

  1. VIETNAM 1968–1969
  2. VIETNAM 1969–1970
  3. SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991
  4. SOUTHWEST ASIA 2004-2005
  5. SOUTHWEST ASIA 2008-2009
  1. VIETNAM 1969–1970

    Insignia

Shoulder sleeve insignia

  1. Maroon and white are the colors used for the Army Medical Service.
  2. The gold star superimposed over the maroon star is symbolic of the unit's mission of command and control over medical units.
  3. The four points of each taken together allude to the organization's numerical designation.
  1. This insignia was originally approved for the 44th Medical Brigade on 1966-10-05.
  2. The shoulder sleeve insignia was redesignated for the 44th Medical Command on 2001-08-06.
  3. The insignia was redesignated for the 44th Medical Brigade with the description updated effective 16 April 2010.
  1. This insignia was originally approved for the 44th Medical Brigade on 1966-08-12.
  2. The distinctive unit insignia was redesignated for the 44th Medical Command on 2001-08-06.
  3. The insignia was redesignated for the 44th Medical Brigade with the description updated effective 16 April 2010.

    Beret flashU.S. Army Institute or Heraldry drawing number A-4-163 and cover letter dated 1995-08-08

  1. This insignia was originally approved for the 44th Medical brigade on 1995-08-01.
  2. The beret flash was cancelled by the Institute of Heraldry effective 2010-08-16.
  3. Colors: White #67101; Maroon #67114
  4. Institute of Heraldry drawing number A-4-163.

    Background trimmingU.S. Army Institute or Heraldry drawing number A-6-181 and cover letter dated 1995-08-08

  1. This insignia was originally approved for the 44th Medical brigade on 1995-08-01.
  2. The background trimming was cancelled by the Institute of Heraldry effective 2010-08-16.
  3. Colors: White #67101; Maroon #67114.
  4. Institute of Heraldry drawing number A-6-181.

    History

The 44th Medical Brigade was formed on 30 December 1965 and was activated on 1 January 1966 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The brigade deployed to Vietnam, where it participated in 12 of the 17 campaigns, including Counteroffensive, Counteroffensive Phases II through VII, Tet Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970, and the
Sanctuary Counteroffensive.
In March, 1970, the 44th Medical Brigade merged with the United States Army, Vietnam Surgeon's Office to form the Medical Command, Vietnam. The brigade's colors returned to the United States in December 1970. During the brigade's Vietnam tour, it was awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamers embroidered "Vietnam 1968-1969" and "Vietnam 1969–1970." It was also awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class by the government of the Republic of Vietnam. Additionally, two members of the brigade were awarded the Medal of Honor for their service in Vietnam, Major Patrick Henry Brady and Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel.
On 19 March 1973, the 44th Medical Brigade was inactivated at Fort Meade, Maryland. The brigade was reactivated on 21 September 1974 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps. The 44th Medical Brigade deployed in support of XVIII Airborne Corps operations in Grenada, Panama, and Iraq, the last of which earned the brigade another Meritorious Unit Commendation. On 16 July 1992, the brigade became a separate major subordinate command with a general officer commanding. Following the reorganization, the 44th Medical Brigade participated in Operation Uphold Democracy, Operation Enduring Freedom, and most recently, Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade has also participated in hurricane relief efforts, including those following Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Rita. The brigade was converted to a Medical Command on 16 October 2001 and became a multi-component unit. While at Fort Bragg the brigade had become an Airborne unit, but as part of its conversion the 44th lost this designation. Only headquarters elements and a very limited number of its subordinate units had actually been on jump status, and the reorganization to a command removed headquarters elements from jump status. The unit was redesignated as the 44th Medical Brigade on 21 April 2010.

Subordinate units

Vietnam (As of 1 July 1969)


44th Medical Brigade
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Units of the 44th Medical Brigade: