32nd Medical Logistics Battalion (Forward)
The 32nd Medical Logisitics Battalion was originally constituted in the Army of the United States on September 1, 1943, as the 32d Medical Depot Company, and activated in October 1943 at Fort Knox, KY. It deployed to Europe where it participated in five campaigns in World War II. It was redeployed to Camp Bowie, Texas, where it was deactivated in November 1945.
In October 1954, the unit was designated as the 32d Medical Depot and allocated to the Regular Army. It was activated in December of that year at Fort Sam Houston, TX, and served there under the command of Brooke Army Medical Center for eleven years.
The Depot was deployed to Vietnam in October 1965 and served there until 1972. It participated in sixteen campaigns of that war, earning two meritorious unit commendations.
In September 1972, the 32d returned to Fort Sam Houston; relocated to Fort Bragg, NC, June 1975.
On June 21, 1978, the Depot was redesignated as the 32d Medical Supply, Optical and Medical Maintenance (MEDSOM) unit.
In October 1983 the MEDSOM participated in Operation Urgent Fury on the Caribbean Island of Grenada, providing Class VIII support to XVIII Airborne Corps medical units.
In December 1989, forward elements of the 32d MEDSOM were deployed to Panama to provide medical supply support for units participating in Operation Just Cause.
In August 1990, the 32d MEDSOM deployed to Saudi Arabia and provided class VIII supply, optical fabrication and medical equipment maintenance support to all forces deployed on Operation Desert Shield and later to the XVIII Airborne Corps during Operation Desert Storm. The unit returned to Fort Bragg in April 1991.
The MEDSOM deactivated on September 18, 1992, and reactivated that day as the 32d MEDICAL BATTALION, LOGISTICS (FORWARD).
In September 1992 the newly formed 32d MEDICAL BATTALION participated in Operation Hurricane Andrew Relief in Miami, FL, providing the major class VIII distribution and control point for all participating medical agencies.
In December 1992 and January 1993 the 32d MEDICAL BATTALION deployed its Forward Distribution Company to Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope. In total, the 32d participated in two rotations that supported Operation Restore Hope spanning from December 1992 to March 1994. The unit was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for its humanitarian support.
The 32d Medical Logistics Battalion (Forward) has been awarded 24 battle streamers for World War II, Vietnam, Panama, and Saudi Arabia
As of mid-2001, the 32d Medical Logistics Battalion (Forward) was supporting Humanitarian Relief in Kosovo and Bosnia.
The mission of the 32d MEDICAL BATTALION, LOGISTICS (FORWARD) is to provide medical supplies, optical fabrication, biomedical maintenance support, and blood and blood products distribution to the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.
On order, the 32nd Medical Logistics Battalion (Fwd) deploy by air, rail, or sea; move to a support base; organize for combat health logistics support, and provide direct support Class VIII supply, optical fabrication, blood storage / distribution, and DS / GS medical maintenance in support of a corps sized force. Be prepared to support the combat health logistics mission by conducting split- base missions.
