44th Medical Command

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44th Medical Command (ABN)
44th Medical Command shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	Dec 30, 1965 - Mar 19, 1973 Sept 21, 1974 - Present
Country	USA
Branch	Regular Army
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bragg
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	BG Philip Volpe
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 44th Medical Command (ABN) is the only airborne Medical Command in the US Army. Located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 44th MEDCOM provides health care and medical services to the Fort Bragg community, and continues training in its combat support mission.

1 Command Group
2 History
3 Subordinate Units
4 External Links

[edit] Command Group

Commander: BG Philip Volpe
Command Sergeant Major: CSM Tuileama P. Nua

[edit] 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 (Provisional). 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 1969-1970” by the government of the Republic of Vietnam.

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 a Meritorious Unit Commendation. On 16 July, 1993, 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.