57th Medical Detachment


The 57th Medical Detachment was a US Army unit located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which provided aeromedical evacuation support to the Fort Bragg community, while training in its combat support mission. The first helicopter ambulance unit to be fielded the UH-1 Huey helicopter, it was also the first unit to deploy to Vietnam with the UH-1, and the first unit to fly them in combat, in 1962. By the time the detachment redeployed to the continental United States ten years, ten months, and seventeen days later, its crews had evacuated nearly 78,000 patients. The unit's callsign, "Dustoff," selected in 1963, is now universally associated with United States Army aeromedical evacuation units.
  • The unit was originally formed as the 57th Malaria Control Unit in 1943 and served in Brazil during World War II. It was later redesignated as the 57th Medical Detachment in 1953 and activated at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
  • The unit's crews evacuated nearly 78,000 patients during its ten-year service in Vietnam. One of its most notable members was Major Charles L. Kelly, who was killed in action in 1964 while attempting to rescue wounded South Vietnamese soldiers under heavy fire. He is remembered as the “Father of Dustoff”."
  • The unit also served in Grenada in 1983, where it evacuated 160 casualties during Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where it flew over 600 missions and evacuated over 1,000 patients, as well as Afghanistan in 2002 and Iraq in 2003 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom respectively.

    Lineage

  • Constituted 1 September 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 57th Malaria Control Unit
  • Activated 19 September 1943 at Army Service Forces Unit Training Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Reorganized and redesignated 8 April 1945 as the 57th Malaria Control Detachment
  • Inactivated 30 September 1945 in Brazil
  • Redesignated 23 March 1953 as the 57th Medical Detachment and allotted to the Regular Army
  • Activated 6 April 1953 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
  • Reorganized and redesignated 1 July 1960 as the 57th Medical Platoon
  • Reorganized and redesignated 10 March 1961 as the 57th Medical Detachment
  • Reorganized and redesignated 16 November 1992 as the 57th Medical Company
  • Inactivated 15 June 2007 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina

    Honors

Campaign participation credit

World War II
  • American Campaign Streamer Without Inscription
Vietnam
  • Advisory
  • Defense
  • Counteroffensive
  • Counteroffensive, Phase II
  • Counteroffensive, Phase III
  • Tet Counteroffensive
  • Counteroffensive, Phase IV
  • Counteroffensive, Phase V
  • Counteroffensive, Phase VI
  • Tet 69/Counteroffensive
  • Summer-Fall 1969
  • Winter-Spring 1970
  • Sanctuary Counteroffensive
  • Counteroffensive, Phase VII
  • Consolidation I
  • Consolidation II
  • Cease-Fire
Armed Forces Expeditions
  • Grenada
Southwest Asia
  • Defense of Saudi Arabia
  • Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
Global War on Terror
  • To be officially determined

    Decorations

  • Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered DONG XOAI
  • Valorous Unit Award, Detachment, 57th Medical Company, Streamer not authorized for the company as a whole
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1964-1965
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970-1971
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1972-1973
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 2003
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2005-2006
  • Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1964

    Early history

Fort Sam Houston, Texas

The 57th Medical Detachment, a General Reserve Unit attached to Headquarters, 37th Medical Battalion, Medical Field Service School for administration, was further attached for training and operational control. The detachment was activated by General Order Number 10, Headquarters, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, dated 6 April 1953, under TO&E 8–500, Cell: RA, 25 August 1952. By 31 December 1953, the unit had approximately 95 percent of its authorized equipment.
Captain John W Hammett was assigned as the detachment's first commander, and both organized the detachment and trained its newly assigned aviators, who were all newly assigned Medical Service Corps officers fresh out of flight school as well as leading the unit through its first unit tests. The detachment was equipped with H-13E aircraft with exterior mounted litters and litter covers.
The principal activity of this unit consisted of participation in evacuation demonstrations for the Medical Field Service School.
Six officers and 26 enlisted men were assigned to the unit at year end. The total authorized strength of the detachment was 7 officers and 24 enlisted.
Unit training began on 21 September 1953. In accordance with Army Training Program 8–220. Almost immediately many problems were encountered. The principal difficulty was in the maintenance of aircraft, Within a few days after unit training had begun the program was partially abandoned. On 21 October 1953 the detachment was attached to the 37th Medical Battalion, Medical Field Service School, for administration and training. On 6 October 1953 the unit training was again started with certain modifications of the program to allow more time for aircraft maintenance. This training was completed by 31 December 1953.
Effective 7 January 1954 the 57th Medical Detachment and the 274th Medical Detachment, assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas were relieved from attachment to the Medical Field Service School and were attached to Brooks Air Force Base for quarters and rations in accordance with General Order Number 2, Headquarters, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, dated 22 January 1954.
From 28 June through 4 July 1954, all of the aircraft assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center, including those of the 57th and 274th under Hammett's command, were deployed to support flood relief efforts along the Rio Grande River near Langtry, Texas, caused by Hurricane Agnes. The detachments sent seven aircraft to Laughlin Air Force Base and began using it as a base for their search operations. They began by evacuating passengers, luggage, and mail from a Southern Pacific train which had been cut off from ground evacuation, evacuating 85 passengers to the air base, and then again when shortages of drinking water occurred on the base. The aftermath of the storm made flying difficult.
During the period 9 February — 2 March 1955, the 67th Medical Group with attached 603d Medical Company and the 57th Medical Detachment was attached to III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas, for participation in Exercise Blue Bolt. Attached to the Group upon arrival from Fort Riley, Kansas was the 47th Surgical Hospital and 928th Medical Company. The Group's assigned mission was to furnish field Army Medical Service support to the 1st Armored Division and III Corps. One hundred twenty-eight actual casualties were evacuated to the 603d Medical Company. The Ambulance Company evacuated 1025 simulated and actual patients. The 57th Medical Detachment had the mission of evacuating actual casualties, completing seven pickups with an average patient delivery time of 38 minutes. This was an outstanding accomplishment when measured against the time space factors involved. Twelve hundred patients were routed through an Evacuation Hospital established and operated by the Clearing Company.
Effective 10 July 1955, the 67th Medical Group was temporarily reorganized to the 67th Medical Service Battalion by General Order 21, Brooke Army Medical Center, 7 July 1955. The 32d Medical Depot, 47th and 53d Field Hospitals, and the 82d Medical Detachment were also reorganized as ATFA Provisional units by the same authority. On 15 July 1955, Dental Service Team KJ, Team KJ, and Medical Detachment were activated by Brooke Army Medical Center and attached to the 67th Medical Service Battalion. These units were to participate in Exercise Sagebrush during the forthcoming months. The 57th Medical Detachment was also to participate.
On 1 September 1955 an extensive program of training was placed in effect to prepare all participating units for Sagebrush. Many obstacles in personnel, equipment, and limited training time were encountered. By 15 October after extensive field preparation to include special ATFA testing by Brooke Army Medical Center, these units were considered sufficiently advanced to assume their responsibility though 25% of the newly assigned personnel in the field hospitals lacked the MOS training required. Just prior to leaving, the Group presented the largest mounted review in Brooke Army Medical Center history. Approximately 250 vehicles of all types participated.
On 25 October 1955 all units moved overland to Louisiana. No major accidents occurred. Valuable experience in atomic warfare operations and the handling of mass casualties was received. The hospitals provided medical care and treatment for both actual and simulated casualties. The 67th Medical Service Battalion exercised operational control over attached medical units. The 57th Medical Detachment received a mission of evacuating actual casualties, reconnaissance, and supply, flying a total of 289 hours. The 82d Medical Detachment was further attached to III Corps as a part of the III Corps Aviation Company, executing a total of 165 missions involving 313 flying hours. The 32d Medical Depot supported all units of the Ninth Army during the maneuver. Approximately 10 tons of medical supplies were received, separated, stored, and tallied.
At the conclusion of the exercise, all ATFA Medical units returned to Fort Sam Houston in December with the exception of the 47th Field Hospital which remained in the maneuver area on temporary duty at Fort Polk, Louisiana, rendering medical support to Engineer and Signal Corps units. The unit engaged in the close out phase remained ATFA Provisional at end of 1955.
General Order 42, Brooke Army Medical Center, 13 December 1955, discontinued all returned provisional units as of 14 December. The remainder of the reporting period was spent on ATFA equipment organization, cleaning, and return.
During December 1955, a part of the 57th Medical Detachment was preparing for departure in January 1956 for Alaska to participate in Exercise Moose Horn. Effort was being made to properly equip this element for the maneuver.
New H-19D aircraft were received by both the 57th and the 82d Medical Detachments beginning in August 1956, with the final aircraft received in the latter part of December. Since the 57th and 82d shared a hangar at Brooks Air Force Base, the 57th painted a circular white background for the red cross on the noses of their aircraft, while the 82d used a square background.
In 1957, the 57th Medical Detachment was assigned to the Office of the Surgeon General, further assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for operational control, further assigned to the 67th Medical Group for administration and training and attached to Brooks Air Force Base for rations and quarters.