115th Field Hospital
The 115th Field Hospital is a Forces Command unit located at Fort Polk, Louisiana. It is assigned to the 1st Medical Group, Fort Hood, Texas. Its mission is to deploy to a theater of operations to provide medical support to the corps and echelons above corps and treat casualties that will return to duty within the prescribed theater policy.
Medical specialties of the 115th Field Hospital include; General Surgery, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Dermatology, General Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Psychiatrics, and Social Work Services. Additional support for clinical operations is provided through a pharmacy, x-ray services, clinical laboratories, anesthesia, and operative services. The 115th Field Hospital is also staffed to provide medical command management and administrative support through an organic medical headquarters. The medical maintenance section performs standard maintenance on all equipment used throughout the hospital. The hospital's 504 bed configuration consists of 24 intensive care beds, 140 intermediate care beds, 40 minimal care beds, 20 Neuro-Psych beds, and 280 convalescent care cots. The unit also has two operating room tables that can be utilized 24 hours per day. Hospital and other medical services are provided in sterile and climate controlled environments consisting of metal expandable shelters known as ISO shelters and fabric shelters that are known as TEMPER tents.
During peacetime operations the 115th Field Hospital trains at the home of the JRTC (Joint Readiness Training Center). Soldiers and staff of the hospital participate in a varied program of command post exercises and field training exercises designed to enhance deployment and readiness capabilities.
The 115th Field Hospital makes significant contributions to the training objectives of the JRTC and to the quality of life enjoyed by the Fort Polk community. It is decorated with a Meritorious Unit Commendation, campaign participation credit from WWI (Meuse-Argonne), WWII (Tunisia, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, North Appennies and Po Valley), Streamer for Retention Excellence, two Certificates of Achievement, and was assigned to Southwest Asia to provide combat medical support during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. The 115th Field Hospital's first priority is active preparation for its assigned tactical missions. As a Deployable Medical Systems hospital with the most modern equipment available, the unit is capable of being deployed in an area of operations during a contingency, war or national emergency.
The mission of the 115th Field Hospital, is to, on order, deploy to provide hospitalization support and services to U.S. Forces within the theater of operation in support of combat operations and/or support and stabilization operations.
The 115th Field Hospital traces its origin to Evacuation Hospital #15, originally organized at Fort Riley, Kansas on 21 March 1918. At the onset of hostilities during World War I, the unit sailed aboard the "S.S. Mataika," departing the United States on 22 August 1918, and arriving in France 3 September 1918. Evacuation Hospital #15 earned a battle streamer for its participation in the Meuse-Argonne Forest offensive from 26 September 1918 through 11 November 1918. The hospital, having served honorably and proud during World War I, returned to the United States aboard the "S.S. America" and was demobilized at Camp Lewis, Washington on 28 June 1919. Evacuation Hospital #15 was reconstituted as the 15th Evacuation Hospital in 1936, after having been organized as an inactive unit of the Regular Army on 1 October 1933.
As the first hostilities of World War II began, the 15th Evacuation Hospital was again activated in a training status at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. Shortly thereafter, the hospital was alerted for overseas deployment. Preparations for this move included the assignment of new personnel and equipment. On 8 February 1943, the 15th sailed aboard the "Susan B. Anthony," a converted passenger and cargo liner designed for 300 passengers, but redesigned to accommodate 2,700 troops. At this time, the unit had an assigned strength of: 39 officers, 48 nurses, 1 warrant officer and 248 enlisted men. Three days into the trip, the 15th learned that its destination was North Africa. On 21 February, the ship docked in Algeria, where the 15th unloaded its men and equipment and went into a staging area to await its first operational assignment. On 10 April 1943, the unit moved a distance of approximately 600 miles east to Tunisia, where it set up and began receiving patients. The 15th operated in a number of locations within the North African Theater until just prior to D-Day, 10 July 1943. At this point, the hospital sailed for the southern coast of Sicily, where it supported the beach-head established by allied forces. At one point during the Sicilian Campaign, the patient census rose to an astronomical figure of 978 inpatients. It is interesting to note that during this period (3 August 1943), Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Commanding General, 7th United States Army, paid a thirty minute visit to the hospital, from that visit the often talked about "slapping incident" materialized.
The hospital moved to Italy, and participated in both the Salerno and Anzio beach-heads. It was during the Anzio beach-head that the 15th came under heavy artillery attack, suffering numerous casualties. Several members of the unit were decorated for heroism during that period.
The 15th continued to move north through Italy, and on 10 June 1944, established itself in a schoolhouse near Rome. This was the first permanent- type building the 15th had operated out of in over 18 months. The hospital's comparatively comfortable life in Rome was short lived, and on 21 June 1944, the 15th moved north in support of combat operations through Florence and the Po Valley into Milan, where it served until the end of hostilities.
In addition to several campaign streamers, including: Tunisia, Naples-Foggle, Rome-Arno, Po Valley, and North Appennines, the 15th Evacuation Hospital received the most prized award of all, the Meritorious Unit Citation, for its outstanding performance during World War II. Having served honorably and well, the unit was deactivated on 8 September 1945.
The 15th Evacuation Hospital was again reactivated on 25 August 1959, at Nurenburg, Germany, where it was responsible for the medical care of military and civilian personnel. The hospital acted as a MEDDAC and, in addition, operated various other medical activities throughout the Nurenburg area.
In 1961, the hospital moved to Kornwesteim, Germany and was constructed as a training unit without patients. During March 1963, the 15th once again began receiving patients and operated a 400-bed facility in Baumholder, Germany. In 1964, the hospital moved to Muenchweiler, Germany, where it again assumed a training posture without patients.
On 1 August 1968, the 15th Evacuation Hospital arrived at Fort Belvoir, Virginia after being airlifted from Rhein Mein Air Base, Germany during a period of troop reduction in Europe. On 21 January 1975, the 15th Evacuation Hospital was officially redesignated and reorganized as the 15th Combat Support Hospital, utilizing the new and conventional Medical Unit, Self-contained, Transportable (MUST) equipment which was capable of holding 100 to 300 patients and preparing them for further evacuation.
On 31 July 1975, the 15th Combat Support Hospital was alerted for deployment to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania for the purpose of operating the Medical Treatment Facility, Task Force New Arrivals, providing comprehensive medical care to Indochinese refugees and task force personnel, both military and civilian. Movement of the 15th Combat Support Hospital to Fort Indiantown Gap began on 11 August 1975, and continued in increments until 22 August 1975, when the 15th officially took over operation of the Medical Treatment Facility at Fort Indiantown Gap.
During the period 22 August 1975 through 15 December 1975, the 15th treated 32 inpatients and evacuated an additional 137 patients. A total of 12,459 patients were seen on an outpatient basis. In addition, 8648 refugees were given dental care.
On March 1984, after nine years of distinguished service, the 15th Combat Support Hospital was reorganized and redesigned as the 15th Evacuation Hospital.
In March of 1988, the 15th Evacuation Hospital began to prepare for the move from Fort Belvoir, Virginia to Fort Polk, Louisiana. The unit was officially deactivated in June 1988 and was reactivated in August at Fort Polk.
Officially reinstated, the 15th Evacuation Hospital became a valuable asset to the 5th Infantry Division. From 8 January 1991 to 26 April 1991, the hospital deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Iraqi POW's, women and children were primarily treated. Prior to deployment, the 15th was fielded with DEPMEDS (Deployable Medical Systems). In Feb 1993, the 15th Evacuation Hospital was redesignated the 115th Field Hospital.
On the 9th of June 2002, the day the Warrior Medics had been waiting for finally arrived. Since last May, the Warrior Medics of the 115th Field Hospital trained and prepared for their deployment to Cortina. Thirteen months of training were put to the test as the Warrior Medics, in direct support of the 45th Separate Infantry Brigade (Oklahoma National Guard), as well as several other Reserve Components units comprising a multi-state Task Force, established their hospital to restore and stabilize the democratically elected government of Cortina.
The island of Aragon was in disarray, to include the small hamlet of Jeanne Junction, just around the corner of Log Base Bravo, where the Warrior Medics were located. Despite the hostile environment, the hospital was established far ahead of schedule, with great precision and skill. The emergency room, operating room, laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, and all care wards were able to focus on the treatment and stabilization of American soldiers, as well as local civilians in distress. This was made possible in large part with the assurance that the Quick Reaction Force was hard at work, securing the area from enemy forces. And the enemy did come - the Leesville Urban Guard (LUGs), the People's Special Operations Command (PSOC), and the Cortinian Liberation Front (CLF), all made repeated attempts to disrupt the support operations of the 115th, as well as other logistics forces in the area. These attempts were all in vane, as time after time, the enemy was repelled and kept at bay, allowing for the outstanding soldiers, nurses, and doctors to continue to "Conserve the Fighting Strength".
On 17 February 2004 President Bush credited soldiers and their families at Fort Polk, La., with "serving with skill and bravery in the war on terror" and leaving "no doubt that the enemy will be defeated and freedom will prevail." The commander in chief thanked troops at this northwest Louisiana post that has trained and deployed more than 10,000 troops in the war on terror. Among those deployed are more than 3,400 members of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and about 800 troops from the Warrior Brigade, made up of the 46th Engineer Battalion, the 83rd Chemical Battalion, the 115th Field Hospital and the 142nd Corps Support Battalion.
Subordinate Units
Subordinate units such as, 36th Medical Detatchment (AA), 6th Squad, 43rd Veterinary Detachment, 485th Preventive Medicine Detachment, and 565th Ground Ambulance Company, have deployed to various locations including: Bosnia, Haiti, Equador and Hungary from 1994 to 1998. 115th Field Hospital training deployments during this time included numerous JRTC rotations, Partnership for Peace exercises, a Bright Star rotation in Egypt, Operation Rolling Thunder, Operation Team Spirit (here at BJACH) and various other exercises. The 115th Field Hospital is the standard for all medical TOE units on post and has became a central asset not only for JRTC and Ft. Polk but the United States Army as well.
On 5 February 1943, the present 565th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) was constituted as Company B, 426th Ambulance Motor Battalion. It was activated on 25 February 1943 at Camp Maxey, Texas. It was reorganized as redesignated on 25 September 1943 as the 565th Ambulance Company, Motor. The unit was again reorganized and redesignated on 25 April 1945 and became the 565th Motor Ambulance Company. After the end of World War II in Europe, the unit was inactivated on 15 November 1945 at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts. During WWII the unit earned Campaign Participation Credit in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. On 23 May 1955, the 565th Medical Company was redesignated and allotted to the Regular Army. It was reactivated on 1 July 1955 at Baumholder, Germany. In 1990, the unit again responded when duty called and deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. They have also deployed to Kuwait and Haiti to provide medical support. Most recently the unit has been to Bosnia. The unit now calls Ft. Polk, Louisiana home.
The 485th Medical Detachment was constituted on 29 July 1921 in the Organized Reserves as Company A, 343rd Medical Regiment. On 1 October 1933, the unit was transferred to the Regular Army. The unit was activated on 20 May 1943 at Fort Dix, New Jersey and assigned to the XIII Corps. In October 1944, the unit was sent to England and was subsequently sent to France, where it followed the war through Belgium and into Germany. On 30 November 1946, the unit was inactivated at Karlsruhe, Germany. On 18 February 1953, the unit was redesignated as the 485th Preventive Medicine Company activated in Germany. The unit was sent to France in March 1953. Over the years the unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 485th Medical Company (5 June 1953), the 485th Medical Laboratory (24 March 1962), the 485th Preventive Medicine Unit (17 June 1963), and the 485th Medical Detachment (Preventive Medicine) (21 June 1973). The 485th Medical Detachment proudly answered it's nation's call when needed, and deployed to: Lebanon (1958), Iran (1962), Morocco (1963), Yugoslavia (1963), Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma (1971), Arkansas and Pennsylvania (1975), Colorado (1976), Somalia (1993), and Surinam (1994). The unit is currently stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The 43rd Veterinary Detachment was constituted in the Army of the United States on 20 March 1944 in China. It was reorganized and redesignated as the 43rd Veterinary Animal Service Detachment on 16 March 1945. On 20 September 1945, the unit was inactivated in China. On 13 August 1951, the unit was redesignated as Headquarters, 43rd Veterinary Service Detachment and attached to the Regular Army. On 22 August 1951, the unit was activated at Camp Carson, Colorado. The unit was subsequently sent to France. On 15 January 1953, it was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters, 43rd Medical Detachment. On 3 December 1954, the unit was again reorganized and redesignated to become the 43rd Medical Detachment. On 23 February 1967, the unit was inactivated in France. On 26 May 1967, the unit was reactivated at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and later served in Vietnam. On 26 December 1971, the unit was inactivated in Vietnam. On 1 October 1993, the unit was activated at Fort Hood, Texas as the 43rd Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services). Effective 16 June 1996, the 6th Squad, 43rd Medical Detachment (VS) was moved to Fort Polk, where it falls under the command and control of the 115th Field Hospital.
