5th Medical Brigade

The 5th Medical Brigade is a medical brigade of the United States Army Reserve subordinate to the 3rd Medical Command and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

5th Medical Brigade
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States Army
Type	Medical brigade
Size	Brigade
Part of	3rd Medical Command
Garrison/HQ	Birmingham, Alabama
Motto(s)	Leadership and Service
Colors	Maroon and White
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

Lineage and Honors

Lineage

• Constituted 5 September 1928 in the Organized Reserves as the 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group and allotted to the Sixth Corps Area^[1]
• Initiated 23 August 1929 at Chicago, Illinois^[2]
• Inactivated 9 October 1937 at Chicago, Illinois^[2]
• Activated 20 April 1943 at Chicago, Illinois^[1]
• Inactivated 13 November 1945 Camp Sibert, Alabama^[1]
• (Organized Reserves redesignated Organized Reserve Corps, 25 March 1948)
• Redesignated 3 November 1948 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 330th Medical Group^[1]
• Assigned to First United States Army, 8 November 1948^[1]
• Activated 19 November 1948 at Portland, Oregon^[1]
• Inactivated 28 June 1950 at Portland^[1]
• (Organized Reserve Corps redesignated Army Reserve, 9 July 1952)^[1]
• Redesignated 20 April 1953 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 5th Medical Group^[1]
• Activated 16 July 1982 at Birmingham, Alabama^[1]
• Reorganized and Redesignated XXX as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Medical Brigade

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

• World War II
  • Northern France^[1]
  • Rhineland^[1]
  • Central Europe^[1]

Decorations

• Army Superior Unit Award, streamer embroidered "2003"^[3]

Insignia

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, 5th Medical Brigade

Description

A white rectangle with rounded corners 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width overall bearing a red saltire (Saint Andrew’s Cross), bordered in maroon. Emitting from base is a red triangle with a narrow maroon border. Centered on the saltire a maroon cross with three crenellations on its upper arm bearing a sword with a serpent coiled around it, all white; all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) maroon border.^[4]

Symbolism

The crenellated cross symbolizes medical strength and defense. The scarlet saltire (Cross of Saint Andrew) symbolizes the Brigade’s mission of supporting the medical requirements of Soldiers and their sacrifices on the battlefield. The red triangle alludes to the iron rich Red Mountain, under whose shadow the unit resides. The reference to the Staff of Ae culapius alludes to its attribute of the Roman god of medicine and healing.^[4]

Background

The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved effective 16 September 2011. The insignia was amended to modify the symbolism on 6 April 2023.^[4]

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Distinctive Unit Insignia, 5th Medical Brigade

Description

A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a white disc charged with a scarlet saltire above a scarlet mound and centered overall a maroon cross with three crenellations on its upper arm, all within a circular maroon scroll with forked ends bearing at top the words “LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE” in gold, and issuant from each end toward center base a sprig of gold laurel leaves; overall a gold torch with flame centered upon the cross and handle between the leaves at center base. ^[4]

Symbolism

The mission and location of the unit are represented by four elements; namely, the scarlet saltire (Cross of Saint Andrew) symbolizes the Brigade’s mission of supporting the medical requirements of Soldiers and their sacrifices on the battlefield. The mound at the base of the cross which refers to Red Mountain where Birmingham is located, the flames of industry which light the skies of the city by night, and the encircling scroll representing a magic circle recalling the name, “Magic City,” as Birmingham is sometimes described. The torch represents the leadership emphasized in the motto and its five flames the name, the numerical designation. The maroon cross representing medical service is embattled with three merlons which symbolize the World War II campaigns in which the unit participated, and the laurel leaves in base connote distinguished service.^[4]

Background

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 5th medical Group on 24 November 1982. It was redesignated effective 16 September 2011, for the 5th Medical Brigade and amended to update the description and symbolism. The insignia was amended to modify the symbolism on 6 April 2023. ^[4]

History

The Early Years

The 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group was constituted in the Organized Reserve on 5 September 1928, was assigned tothe General Headquarters Reserve, and was assigned to the Sixth Corps Area. The group was initiated on 23 August 1929 at Chicago, Illinois. It was inactivated 9 October 1937 at chicago by the transfer of all assigned personnel to the 2nd Auxiliary Surgical Group. the group conducted annual training at the station hospital, Fort Sheridan, Illinois. ^[2]

World War II

The 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group returned to the United States on 3 September 1945, arriving at Newport News, Virginia aboard the USS General C. C. Ballou.^[5]

Current

Commanders

Image	Rank	Name	Branch	Begin Date	End Date	Notes
	Major	Loren D. Sayre[2]	MC	23 August 1929[2]	3 January 1930[2]
	Major	George H. Eddington[2]	MC	3 January 1930[2]	June 1930[2]
	Lieutenant Colonel	Emery B. Neff[2]	MC	June 1930[2]	1 September 1936[2]
	Lieutenant Colonel	James C. Cerny[2]	MC	1 September 1936[2]	9 October 1937[2]
		Inactive		10 October 1937[2]	19 April 1943[1]
	Colonel	Robert B. Hill[6]	MC	20 October 1943[6]		Regular Army Medical Corps officer who served in both World Wars, he retired as a Brigadier General in 1956.[6]
	Colonel
	Lieutenant Colonel	George C. Martin[7]	MC			Also served as the leader of a surgical team and as the group executive officer before assuming command[7]
		Inactive		14 November 1945[1]	2 November 1948[1]
	Colonel
	Colonel
	Colonel
		Inactive		29 June 1950[1]	15 July 1982[1]
	Colonel
	Colonel
	Colonel
	Colonel	James M. Richard[8]			6 August 1995[8]
	Colonel	Frank S. Haddad[9]	MS	6 August 1995[8]	April 1997[9]	Retired as a Brigadier General[9]
	Colonel
	Colonel
	Colonel	Margaret C. Wilmoth	AN	January 2005	May 2005	Retired as a Major General[10]
	Colonel
	Colonel	James H. Mason[11]	MS	October 2009[11]	August 2011[11]	Retired as a Brigadier General[11]
	Colonel
	Colonel	Jeffrey B. McCarter[12]	MS	December 2015[12]	December 2017[12]	Retired as a Major General[12]
	Colonel
	Colonel	Jennifer A. Marrast Host[13]	MC	September 2018[13]	August 2020[13]
	Colonel

Organization

Current

• HHC, 5th Medical Brigade, Birmingham, Alabama^[14]
• 810th Hospital Center, Tuscaloosa, Alabama^[14]
  • 75th Field Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama^[14]
  • 306th Field Hospital, Gillem Enclave, Georgia^[14]
• 429th Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), Savannah, Georgia^[14]