The 18th Theater Medical Command (18 TMC) 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 (7.62cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08cm) in width, within a 1/8 inch (.32cm) 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. (TIOH Drawing Number A-1-469)

Distinctive unit insignia

Description

A device of gold color metal and enamel 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) 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 BranchBegin 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 Colonel Richard T. Travis MC Commanded 8th Medical Command (Provisional) from June 1983 to 15 August 1984. Also commanded 7th Medical Command in Germany. Retired as a Major General.Official General Officer Biography of Major General Richard Thomas Travis, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 31 March 1994 Colonel D. G. Tsoulos MC Later commanded 3rd Medical Command during Operation Desert Storm Colonel Thomas E. Bowen MC Retired as a Brigadier GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Brigadier General Thomas Edwin Bowen, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 31 May 1993 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 GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Brigadier General James Janorious James, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 31 January 1995 Colonel Harold L. Timboe MC Official General Officer Biography of Major General Harold L. Timboe, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 1 August 2002 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 GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Brigadier General Daniel F. Perugini, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 1 December 2004 Colonel James Kirkpatrick MC Colonel Edward C. Huycke MC Colonel Phillip Volpe MC Retired as a Major GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Major General Phillip Volpe, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 1 June 2013 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 Jolissaint18th Medical Command & 121st General Hospital Change of Command Program, Outgoing Commander COL Brian D. Allgood / Incoming Commander James G. Jolissaint. Location: Knight Field, Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Date: 23 June 2006 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.Official General Officer Biography of Major General Jeffrey B. Clark, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 1 July 2019 Relocated to Hawaii Transferred less personnel and equipment Lieutenant Colonel Chad Bowers MS Colonel Erin Edgar MC Colonel Judith Bock AN Colonel Brett Ackerman MC Colonel Ann Sammartino AN Colonel Edward H. Bailey MC Retired as a Brigadier GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Brigadier General Edward H. Bailey, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 1 October 2024 Brigadier General Tracy L. Smith MS Official General Officer Biography of Major General Tracy L. Smith, United States Army General Officer Management Office, July 2023 USAR Officer on extended active duty Major General Michael L. Place MC Major General Paula C. Lodi MS Official General Officer Biography of Major General Paula C. Lodi, United States Army General Officer Management Office, July 2024

Organization

Fort Meade, Maryland, 1 January 1970

HHD, 18th Medical Brigade 10th Evacuation Hospital 28th General Hospital (inactivated 28 December 1970) 29th Surgical Hospital (Mobile) (Army) (Inactivated 15 May 1970) 157th Medical Laboratory (Inactivated 28 December 1970) 591st Medical Company (Ambulance) 702d Medical Company (Clearing) 888th Medical Company (Ambulance) (Inactivated 1 February 1970) 177th Medical Detachment (Orthopedic) (Inactivated 30 April 1970) 212th Medical Detachment (RA) (Helicopter Ambulance) 232d Medical Detachment (Surgical) (Inactivated 30 April 1970) 249th Medical Detachment (Supply) 630th Medical Detachment (Medical Maintenance)

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 (Area Support) 52nd Medical Battalion (Evacuation) 16th Medical Logistics Battalion

References