18th Medical Command
The 18th Theater Medical Command is a US Army medical theater enabling command, which provides operational medical support to United States Army, Pacific. The headquarters was located on the Korean peninsula from 1984 until 2008, when it was relocated to Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
Originally activated at Fort Lee, Virginia in 1967 as the 18th Medical Brigade, it was the U.S. Army's third field army level medical headquarters activated, following the 7th Medical Brigade in 1965 and the 44th Medical Brigade in 1966.
Lineage and Honors
Lineage
- Constituted 10 May 1967 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 18th Medical Brigade
- Activated 18 August 1967 at Fort Lee, Virginia
- Inactivated 16 December 1970 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
- Redesignated 16 August 1984 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Medical Command, and activated in Korea
- Reduced to Zero Strength 15 October 2008 in Korea
- Transferred, less Personnel and Equipment, 16 October 2008 to Fort Shafter, Hawaii and assigned to United States Army Pacific
- Redesignated 17 July 2025 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Theater Medical Command.
Honors
Campaign Participation Credit
- None
Decorations
- Army Superior Unit Award, streamer embroidered "2003"
Insignia
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Description
On a shield, oblong in shape and arched at both sides, 3 inches in height and 2 inches in width, within a 1/8 inch white border a field of blue having a white-edged maroon sword throughout the center with point down and entwined about the blade two white zig-zag bands in the form of a figure eight.Symbolism
The sword is in the color maroon, suggestive of human blood, and symbolic of the medical needs of an army. The zig-zag bands are in pure white to suggest bandaging and the antiseptic requirements of medical practice; by entwining the sword, they signify the support provided by the organization.Background
The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 18th Medical Brigade on 25 October 1967. It was redesignated for the 18th Medical Command on 16 February 1984.Distinctive unit insignia
Description
A device of gold color metal and enamel 1 1/8 inches in height consisting of a gold sun of eighteen rays bearing in center a maroon Maltese Cross all centered on a gold disc scored with concentric rays and enclosed by a maroon motto scroll bearing the words "Trust, Labor, Courage" in gold letters; over the lower half of the scroll a wreath of gold oak leaves entwined by two white serpents their tails crossed in center, their heads raised at either side and facing outward.Symbolism
The gold sun and maroon cross are symbolic of the support provided by the organization. The Maltese Cross is the symbol of the Knights of Malta, also called Knights Hospitaler, Knights of St. John, and Order of the Hospital of St. John, which grew out of a hospital established in the 11th Century to care for pilgrims in the Holy Land. The eighteen rays of the sun allude to the unit's numerical designation. The serpents reference the Staff of Aesculapius of the Medical Corps insignia, and the oak symbolizes strength.Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 18th Medical Brigade on 29 February 1968. It was redesignated on 16 February 1984 for the 18th Medical Command.History
Commanders
| Image | Rank | Name | Branch | Begin date | End date | Notes |
| Colonel | Charles R. Kinney | MS | First Medical Service Corps officer to command a medical brigade | |||
| Colonel | Jack W. Gwin | MS | Assumed command when brigade was transferred to Fort Meade, less personnel | |||
| Colonel | William R. Knowles | MS | ||||
| Colonel | Leigh F. Wheeler, Sr. | MS | Colonel Wheeler assumed command of the 44th Medical Brigade when the 18th Medical Brigade was reflagged as the 44th. | |||
| Inactive | ||||||
| Image:Richard T Travis.jpeg|75px|Richard T. Travis | Colonel | Richard T. Travis | MC | Commanded 8th Medical Command from June 1983 to 15 August 1984. Also commanded 7th Medical Command in Germany. Retired as a Major General. | ||
| Colonel | D. G. Tsoulos | MC | Later commanded 3rd Medical Command during Operation Desert Storm | |||
| Colonel | Thomas E. Bowen | MC | Retired as a Brigadier General | |||
| Colonel | James B. Peake | MC | Later served as 43rd Surgeon General of the United States Army and Secretary of Veterans Affairs | |||
| Colonel | James J. James | MC | Retired as a Brigadier General | |||
| Colonel | Harold L. Timboe | MC | Later commander 44th Medical Brigade, Brooke Army Medical Center, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Retired as a Major General. | |||
| Colonel | Elmer Michael Casey, Jr. | MC | ||||
| Colonel | Daniel F. Perugini | MC | Retired as a Brigadier General | |||
| Colonel | James Kirkpatrick | MC | ||||
| Colonel | Edward C. Huycke | MC | ||||
| Colonel | Phillip Volpe | MC | Retired as a Major General | |||
| Colonel | Brian D. Allgood | MC | Killed in action in Iraq, 20 January 2007. Namesake of the Brian D. Allgood Community Hospital, Yongsan Garrison | |||
| Colonel | James Gregory Jolissaint | MC | ||||
| Colonel | Jeffrey B. Clark | MC | Assumed command of the 65th Medical Brigade when the 18th MEDCOM moved to Hawaii. Retired as a Major General. | |||
| Relocated to Hawaii | Transferred less personnel and equipment | |||||
| Lieutenant Colonel | Chad Bowers | MS | ||||
| Colonel | Erin Edgar | MC | ||||
| Colonel | Judith Bock | AN | ||||
| Colonel | Brett Ackerman | |||||
| Colonel | Ann Sammartino | AN | ||||
| Colonel | Edward H. Bailey | MC | Retired as a Brigadier General | |||
| Brigadier General | Tracy L. Smith | MS | USAR Officer on extended active duty | |||
| Major General | Michael L. Place | MC | ||||
| Major General | Paula C. Lodi | MS |
Organization
Fort Meade, Maryland, 1 January 1970
- HHD, 18th Medical Brigade
- 10th Evacuation Hospital
- 28th General Hospital
- 29th Surgical Hospital
- 157th Medical Laboratory
- 591st Medical Company
- 702d Medical Company
- 888th Medical Company
- 177th Medical Detachment
- 212th Medical Detachment
- 232d Medical Detachment
- 249th Medical Detachment
- 630th Medical Detachment
Korea, 23 June 2006
- HHC, 18th Medical Command
- 618th Theater Dental Command
- 121st General Hospital
- *127th Forward Surgical Team
- *135th Surgical Team
- 106th Theater Veterinary Command
- 168th Medical Battalion
- 52nd Medical Battalion
- 16th Medical Logistics Battalion