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55th Medical Group (United States)

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This article is about the 55th Medical Group of the United States Army. For the 55th Medical Group of the United States Air Force, see 55th Wing § Units.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army.

55th Medical Group
ActiveJanuary 13, 1941 - March 3, 1946

September 6, 1955 - June 25, 1970
March 25, 1971 - September 21, 1974

October 1, 1992 - April 21, 2010
CountryUnited States
AllegianceRegular Army
BranchU.S. Army
TypeMedical Group
Motto(s)Conserve the Fighting Strength
EngagementsWorld War II
Vietnam War
Cold War
Battle honoursMeritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer Embroidered:

VIETNAM 1966-1968

VIETNAM 1968-1969[1]
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Major General Alvin L. Gorby, MC
Insignia
Distinctive unit insigniaFile:55th Medical Group DUI.jpg

The 55th Medical Group was initially constituted on January 13, 1941, in the Regular Army as the 55th Medical Battalion. The unit and its successors served in combat in Europe in World War II and in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina during the Cold War, before its deployment to Vietnam and again in the 1990s.[1]

Lineage

  • Constituted on January 13, 1941 in the Regular Army as the 55th Medical Battalion.
  • Activated on February 2, 1941 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
  • Reorganized and re-designated on July 7, 1942 as the 55th Medical Battalion, Motorized.
  • Battalion converted from Organic to Separate on April 4, 1944 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows:
  1. Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 55th Medical Battalion.
  2. Company A, as the 494th Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineage.
  3. Company B, as the 495th Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineage.
  4. Company C, as the 496th Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineages.
  5. Clearing Company, as the 650th Medical Clearing Company - hereafter separate lineage.
  • Inactivated March 3, 1946, in Germany.
  • Activated September 6, 1955 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
  • Reorganized and re-designated December 20, 1956 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 55th Medical Group.
  • Inactivated June 25, 1970 in Vietnam.
  • Activated March 25, 1971 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
  • Inactivated September 21, 1974 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
  • Activated October 1, 1992 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
  • Inactivated April 21, 2010 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[1]

Honors

Campaign participation credit

  • World War II:[1]
  1. Normandy;
  2. Northern France;
  3. Rhineland;
  4. Ardennes-Alsace;
  5. Central Europe
  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

Decorations

  1. VIETNAM 1966-1968
  2. VIETNAM 1968-1969[1]

History

World War II

The 55th Medical Battalion (Corps) was activated 10 February 1941 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas in accordance with General Order No. 3, Headquarters Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Three Medical Corps Captains, fifteen Medical Corps First Lieutenants, two Dental Corps First Lieutenants, three Medical Administrative Corps First Lieutenants, and one Medical Administrative Corps Second Lieutenant were assigned to the organization under the command of Major Alvin L. Gorby, Medical Corps, who was transferred from the 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Division.[2] A cadre of twenty enlisted men from the Second Medical Battalion, Fort Sam Houston, Texas was transferred to this organization. The organization was assigned barracks in the vicinity of the W. W. White Road and Garden Avenue on the Fort Sam Houston Reservation, was brought to training strength by the receipt of 440 selectees from the Fort Sam Houston Reception Center, and a unit training program was started.[3]

A medical battalion (Corps) had the same general function for the corps troops as the division medical battalion did to the division, with the additional mission of reinforcing divisional medical battalions as required. As originally organized, the battalion had a headquarters battalion, three lettered collecting companies (A-C companies), and a clearing company (D company). The headquarters detachment distributed medical supplies to the battalion and also established a medical supply point for medical detachments in the corps area. The collecting companies established corps collecting stations when necessary, supported or reinforced division collecting companies, provided area sanitation, additional litter bearers for hospitals operating in the corps area, and their ambulance sections could operate area ambulance services. The battalion clearing company established clearing stations for corps troops or could be used to relieve or reinforce divisional clearing stations. They could be used to relieve hospitals of minor, contagious, or chemical casualties or, when properly augmented by teams from an auxiliary surgical group, in place of a surgical hospital for limited periods of time.[4]

On June 1, 1941, Major Frank Y. Leaver, Medical Corps assumed command. On the same date a detachment of enlisted men and two officers departed from Fort Sam Houston, Texas at 7:30 A.M. for the VIII Army Corps field Exercises in the vicinity of Rising Star, Texas. On June 2, 1941 a detachment of 60 enlisted men from Company "C" departed for the VIII Army Corps Field Exercises. June 4, 1941, four officers and three enlisted men departed; and on June 7, 1941 the remainder of the 55th Medical Battalion departed for the maneuver area. The Battalion furnished second echelon medical attention for the VIII Army Corps Troops. At the close of the exercises the battalion returned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, closing on the post on return on June 16, 1941.[3]

After the June maneuvers the battalion resumed training and began preparation for the August and September maneuvers in the Lousiana Maneuver Area. On August 5, 1941 a detachment from Headquarters Detachment, Companies “A” and “D” left Fort Sam Houston for the initial bivouac area near Mansfield, Louisiana. The remainder of the Headquarters Detachment, Companies “B” and “C” left home station on August 10, 1941. The whole Battalion was assembled in bivouac on August 11, 1941. Second echelon medical attention was furnished the VIII Army Corps Troops during the entire maneuver period in addition to the operation of medical supply service to the Corps Troops. The strength of the Corps Troops varied from about 8,000 to 14,000. The battalion moved by shuttling a total of twelve times during the maneuvers. Moves were coordinated in such a manner that one platoon of Company “D” had a clearing station set up at all times, for the care and treatment of patients. A total of 1483 ill and 200 injured were treated, and 525 of these cases were evacuated to hospitals by Army units. The entire battalion returned to Fort Sam Houston on October 2, 1941.[3]

The experience gained in these maneuvers demonstrated that litter ­ bearers in the Collecting Companies could be greatly reduced or entirely eliminated as in all cases evacuation from Corps Troops could be accomplished by ambulance directly. A shortage of transportation restricted the use of the Collecting Companies and multiple trips using organic transportation was necessary to move the battalion.[3]

Care and operation of motor transportation was stressed upon return from maneuvers and the battalion received a commendation on their motor maintenance and the excellent condition of their vehicles from the 2nd Division Motor Inspector.[3]

By the end of 1941, the battalion had 30 of its 34 authorized officers assigned, with their maximum number of months of duty, excluding the commanding Officer, being 30 months, the minimum one month, and the average eleven months. The enlisted strength of the battalion at year end was 280 assigned against 434 authorizations. Most of this was due to the transfer of men over 28 years old to the Enlisted Reserve Corps.[3]

Fort Bragg, 1955-1965

The 5th Evacuation Hospital (Semimobile), which had previously seen service in both World Wars, was again activated at Fort Bragg on 2 October 1950, and would serve at Fort Bragg through various reconfigurations as a Combat Support Hospital, again as an Evacuation Hospital, and as a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, before finally being inactivated in the late 1990s.[5]

The 56th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) was transferred from Camp Zama, Japan to Fort Bragg in 1 July 1955, with the first personnel assigned to the detachment arriving in August, but no aircraft were assigned to the unit for another year. The detachment flew its first evacuation mission in August 1956, completing a total of 56 evacuation missions in 1956; 166 in 1957; 199 in 1958, 155 in 1959, and an unknown number in 1960 before it was inactivated on 15 August 1960.[6]

The 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) was activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 6 June 1960, partly staffed and equipped using assets from the 56th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance).[6] The 45th would serve at Fort Bragg until it departed for Vietnam on July 16, 1967.[7]

The 2nd Surgical Hospital (Mobile) (Army) was alerted for overseas movement on 2 August 1965, and departed Fort Bragg for the Republic of Vietnam on 15 October 1965, arriving in country on 7 November 1965.[8]

By 1966, the 55th Medical Group was composed of the following units:[9]

  • Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 55th Medical Group
  • 5th Evacuation Hospital (Semi-mobile)
  • 15th Field Hospital
  • 34th Medical Detachment (KK)
  • 39th Medical Detachment (KJ) (Dental Services)
  • 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance)
  • 69th Medical Detachment (JA) (Veterinary Services Team, Large)
  • 545th Medical Detachment (FC, GB, GC) (Medical Supply)
  • 563rd Medical Company (Clearing)
  • 584th Medical Company (Ambulance)
  • 714th Preventive Medicine Unit (Service) (Field)

The organizations shown in bold would all deploy to the Republic of Vietnam and serve under the 44th Medical Brigade, if not under the 55th Medical Group itself.[10]

On January 10, 1966 the group headquarters was alerted for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam and began preparing for overseas movement. On April 16, the group was relieved of command responsibility for all subordinate units at Fort Bragg to allow it to concentrate fully on deployment preparation. The group's main body shipped for Vietnam aboard the USNS General W. H. Gordon (AP-117) on May 16, 1966, arriving at the port of Qui Nhon, Vietnam on June 10, 1966. An advance party consisting of the group executive officer, S-3, and S-4 departed the United States by air on May 22 and arrived in Vietnam the next day.[9]

In Vietnam

  • Group Headquarters reduced to zero strength on June 15, 1969 and assigned to Headquarters, 68th Medical Group for Command and Control.[11]
  • Inactivated in the Republic of Vietnam on June 25, 1970[12]

Back at Fort Bragg

  • Activated March 25, 1971 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[1]
  • Inactivated September 21, 1974, with the Group staff serving as cadre for the newly reactivated 44th Medical Brigade, and the Group Commander, COL Robert E. Mathias, assuming command of the Brigade.[13]
  • Activated October 1, 1992 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as part of the 44th Medical Command.[1]
  • Inactivated April 21, 2010.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Distinctive Unit Insignia, 55th Medical Group
Distinctive Unit Insignia, 55th Medical Group

Description

A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 and 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Sanguine, a cross quarterly pierced Argent in fess point a mullet of the like. Attached above the shield a rounded Silver scroll inscribed “CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH” in Maroon letters.[14]

Symbolism

The shield is in the colors of the Army Medical Service. The cross represents the nature of the service of the unit and the mullet indicates the organization’s point of origin as Texas. The five maroon areas also allude to the five World War II campaign streamers credited to the organization.[14]

Background

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 55th Medical Battalion on June 20, 1941. It was redesignated for the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 55th Medical Battalion on May 29, 1957. The insignia was redesignated for the 55th Medical Group on December 15, 1967.[14]

Commanders

World War II

Rank Commander Name Branch Start Date End Date Remarks
MAJ Alvin L. Gorby MC 10 February 1941 1 June 1941 Gorby retired as a Major General in 1961 as the Commanding General of Valley Forge General Hospital[3][2]
MAJ Frank Y. Leaver MC 1 June 1941[3]
LTC Delmar E. Domke MC 15 November 1945 Domke had been commanding the 432nd Medical Battalion[15]

Fort Bragg and Vietnam

Rank Commander Name Branch Start Date End Date Remarks
COL Peter S. Scales MC July 1965[16]
LTC Richard F. Barquist MC July 1965[17] December 1965 LTC Barquist assumed command of the 58th Medical Battalion at Long Binh Post, Republic of Vietnam on 1 February 1966[18]
LTC Robert E. Kreidinger MSC December 1965 April 4, 1966[9]
COL Edward T. O’Dell MC 5 April 1966 30 November 1966 [9]
LTC Robert H. Holzworth MC 1 December 1966 4 December 1966[9]
LTC Robert M. Hall MC 5 December 1966[9] 14 April 1967[19]
LTC Henry C. Cosand MC 15 April 1967 21 June 1967 Cosand is listed as “Acting Commander”[19]
COL Alexander M. Boysen MC 22 June 1967[19] 12 June 1968[20]
LTC Howard A. Boyd MC 13 June 1968 21 June 1968[20]
COL Darl E. Vander Ploeg MC 22 June 1968[20]

Post-Vietnam

Rank Commander Name Branch Start Date End Date Remarks
COL Robert E. Mathias MSC 21 September 1974 COL Mathias commanded the 55th Medical Group until it was reflagged as the 44th Medical Brigade on 21 September 1974[21]

1990s Reactivation

Rank Commander Name Branch Start Date End Date Remarks
COL Myung H. Kim MSC 1 October 1992 Assumed command of the group when it was reactivated upon the 44th Medical Brigade's conversion to a flag-level command; he had commanded the Brigade prior to its conversion
COL Frederick Gerber MSC
COL John Hightower MSC
COL Leif Johnson MSC 21 April 2010

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lineage and Honors Information, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 55th Medical Group". Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b A Curriculum Vitae of MG Alvin L. Gorby, MC, February 1961, copy in the files of the AMEDD Center of History and Heritage, Fort Sam Houston, TX
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h 55th Medical Battalion, Annual Report to the Surgeon General, 1941, dated 1 January 1942, copy in the files of the AMEDD Center of History and Heritage, Fort Sam Houston, TX
  4. ^ Military Medical Manual, 4th Edition, Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1940. Pages 669-673.
  5. ^ "Lineage and Honors Information, 5th Surgical Hospital". Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b Hough, Mark M. United States Army Air Ambulance [Concise Histories and Lineages of Army Aeromedical Units from the Korean War to the Present with Color Plates of their Unit Patches], Bellevue, Washington: Vedder River Publishing Company, 1999
  7. ^ Arnt, Stephen W. "45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) Army Medical Service Activities Report, 1967." 13. National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 83, Folder "USARV - 45th Medical Company", 1968.
  8. ^ Gorden, Stephen H. "2nd Surgical Hospital Army Medical Service Activities Report, 1965." National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 93, Folder "USARV - 2nd Surgical Hospital", 1966.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Hall, Robert M. "55th Medical Group Army Medical Service Activities Report, 1966." National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 91, Folder "USARV - 55th Medical Group", 1967.
  10. ^ Troop List as of 1 July 1969 in National Archives, College Park, Maryland. Record Group 472, Entry P 1518, Box 2
  11. ^ Juncker, Leonard N. "44th Medical Brigade Army Medical Service Activities Report, 1969." National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 82, Folder "USARV - 44th Medical Brigade [3]", 1970.
  12. ^ Moyar, John B. "68th Medical Group Army Medical Department Activities Report, 1970." National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 472 Entry A1 891 Box 22 Folder "68th Medical Group 1970", 1971.
  13. ^ "OCS Hall of Fame: Robert E. Mathias". Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  14. ^ a b c "The Institute of Heraldry: U.S. Army / U.S. Army Heraldry / Unit Insignia / Distinctive Unit Insignia, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, Coat of Arms / Medical & Veterinary / 55 Medical Group / Distinctive Unit Insignia". Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  15. ^ 55th Medical Battalion, Annual Report to the Surgeon General, 1945, dated 10 January 1946, copy in the files of the AMEDD Center of History and Heritage, Fort Sam Houston, TX
  16. ^ "Army Medical Service in the Dominican Republic". Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Barquist Army Health Clinic: Colonel Richard F. Barquist (1923-1994)". Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  18. ^ Ross, William J. B. Jr. "58th Medical Battalion Medical Service Activities Report, 1966." National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 80, Folder "USARV Battalions - 58th Medical", 1967.
  19. ^ a b c Gary L. Tonniges, "55th Medical Group Army Medical Service Activities Report, 1967," (National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 91, Folder "USARV - 55th Medical Group", 1968). Page 4.
  20. ^ a b c Adams, Thomas H. "55th Medical Group Army Medical Service Activities Report, 1968." National Archives II at College Park, Maryland: Record Group 112, Entry A1 1012, Box 91, Folder "USARV - 55th Medical Group", 1969.
  21. ^ "OCS Hall of Fame: Robert E. Mathias". Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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