# 176th Medical Brigade

The 176th Medical Brigade is a medical brigade of the United States Army Reserve subordinate to the 807th Medical Command and headquartered in Seagoville, Texas.

## Lineage and Honors
### Lineage

* Constituted
* Activated 15 September 1943 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 176th Medical Battalion
* Inactivated XXX 1945
* (Organized Reserves redesignated Organized Reserve Corps, 25 March 1948)
* (Organized Reserve Corps redesignated Army Reserve, 9 July 1952)
* Redesignated XXX as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 176th Medical Group
* Activated XXX at
* Reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 176th Medical Brigade, June 1993
* Reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 176th Medical Group, June 1996
* Reorganized and redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 176th Medical Brigade, XXX

### Honors
#### Campaign Participation Credit

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

### Decorations

* Meritorious Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER

## Insignia
### Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
#### Description

On a white rectangle arched at top and bottom 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width overall, having at center a maroon cross with arms extending throughout, thereon between two gold stars a green serpent entwined around a gold staff charged at top with a maroon fleur-de-lis, all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) gold border.

#### Symbolism

Maroon and white are the colors traditionally associated with the Medical Corps. The cross and staff of Aesculapius, symbols of healing and medicine, highlight the Brigades mission. The fleur-de-lis alludes to the units World War II campaign participation in France. The two stars represent Texas, the location of the Brigades Headquarters when activated in 2010 and California, the location of the units Headquarters as a Medical Group from 1981 through 2010. The gold border is emblematic of honor and excellence in service.

#### Background

The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 21 May 2014. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-1095)

### Distinctive Unit Insignia
#### Description

A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height consisting of a white disc charged with an overlapping maroon cross on a gold sun. Overall, in pale throughout, a caduceus bearing a red fleur-de-lis at its top. Arching to base over the sun rays a dark blue motto scroll bearing the words TO SERVE PROUDLY in gold letters.

#### Symbolism

White and maroon are the colors for Medical units. The red cross is a traditional symbol of medical services and the white disc suggests purity. The sun is symbolic of California, the home area of the unit. The caduceus is a traditional symbol of medicine and is topped by a fleur-de-lis alluding to the units World War II campaign participation in France and Central Europe, and is red suggesting the Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded the unit for service in the World War II European Theater.

#### Background

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 176th Medical Group on 12 April 1983. It was redesignated for the 176th Medical Brigade with the description updated effective 16 September 2011.

## History
### World War II

The 176th Medical Battalion was activated at Camp Forrest, Tennessee on 15 September 1943 when the 68th Medical Regiment was broken up to form the 68th Medical Group and other separate, numbered medical Units. The Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 176th Medical Battalion was formed using the personnel and equipment of the Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 68th Medical Regiment. At the same time, the 2nd Battalions four companies became separate companies, with Company E becoming the 452nd Medical Company (Clearing), Company F becoming the 453rd Medical Company (Clearing), Company G becoming the 618th Medical Company (Clearing), and all four of the companies were attached to the 176th Medical Battalion--in effect, keeping the former 2nd Battalion, 68th Medical Regiment intact for the time being, and the battalion was attached to the 68th Medical Group for command and control purposes.

### California

In 1981, the 176th was reactivated as an Army Reserve headquarters--this time as a medical group-in California.

### Texas

In 2010, the 176th Medical Group was relocated to Seagoville, Texas, (less personnel and equipment).

## Commanders

| Rank | Name | Branch | Begin Date | End Date | Notes |
| Major | Ralph H. Shilling | MC | 15 September 1943 | | Previously assigned as battalion surgeon, 13th Infantry Regiment |
| Lieutenant Colonel | James F. Barnard | | | 1945 | In command at the beginning of 1945, in command through 30 June 1945 |
| | Inactive | | 1945 | | |
| Colonel | | | | | |
| Colonel | | | | | |
| Colonel | Richard D. Lynch | MC | September 1988 | June 1995 | Left to command 2nd Medical Brigade. |
| Colonel | Kenneth D. Herbst | MC | June 1995 | October 1997 | Retired as a Major General |
| Colonel | | | | | |
| Colonel | Michael H. Walter | MC | October 1999 | May 2001 | Retired as a Brigadier General |
| Colonel | | | | | |
| Colonel | | | | | |
| Colonel | George M. Soohoo | | | October 2012 | |
| Colonel | Joe D. Robinson | MC | October 2012 | 7 February 2015 | Later commanded the 3rd Medical Command;retired as a Major General |
| Colonel | Marvin Jensen | | 7 February 2015 | | |
| Colonel | | | | | |
| Colonel | | | | | |
| Colonel | | | | | |
| Colonel | | | | | |
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## Organization
### 15 September 1943

* HHD, 176th Medical Battalion
* 452nd Medical Company (Collecting)
* 453rd Medical Company (Collecting)
* 454th Medical Company (Collecting)
* 618th Medical Company (Clearing)

### Current

* HHC, 176th Medical Brigade, Seagoville, Texas
* 965th Medical Company (Dental) (Area Support), Seagoville, Texas
* 341st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), Seagoville, Texas
* 805th Hospital Center, Seagoville, Texas
** 394th Field Hospital, Seagoville, Texas
** 228th Field Hospital, Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston), Texas
* 380th Hospital Center, Bell, California
** 921st Field Hospital, Bell, California
** 349th Field Hospital, Bell, California