The 5th Medical Brigade is a medical brigade of the United States Army Reserve subordinate to the 3rd Medical Command and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
It's predeccssor was the 5th Sanitary Train which was established on November 16 1917 and served in France and Luxembourg before returning to America after the end of World War One in July 1919.
Current organization The 5th Medical Brigade is a subordinate unit of the 3rd Theater Medical Command. As of January 2026 the brigade consists of the following units:
5th Medical Brigade, in Birmingham (AL) Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Medical Brigade, in Birmingham (AL) 429th Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), in Savannah (GA) Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, in Savannah (GA) 345th Medical Detachment (Preventive Medicine), at Fort Gillem (GA) 355th Medical Company (Area Support), in Bossier City (LA) 358th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services), in Montgomery (AL) 384th Medical Company (Logistics), at Fort Gillem (GA) 384th Medical Detachment (Combat and Operational Stress Control — COSC), in McLeansville (NC) 396th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), in McLeansville (NC) 473rd Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), in Paducah (KY) 787th Medical Detachment (Preventive Medicine), in New Orleans (LA) 810th Hospital Center, in Tuscaloosa (AL) Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, in Tuscaloosa (AL) 75th Field Hospital (32 Bed), in Tuscaloosa (AL) Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, in Tuscaloosa (AL) 302nd Medical Detachment (Hospital Augmentation, Intermediate Care Ward 60 Bed), in Millington (TN) 407th Medical Detachment (Hospital Augmentation, Medical 32 Bed), in Tuscaloosa (AL) 306th Field Hospital (32 Bed), at Fort Gillem (GA) Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, at Fort Gillem (GA) 311th Medical Detachment (Hospital Augmentation, Surgical 24 Bed), at Fort Gillem (GA) 1146th Medical Detachment (Hospital Augmentation, Intermediate Care Ward 60 Bed), at Fort Gillem (GA) 382nd Medical Detachment (Minimal Care), in Asheville (NC) 933rd Medical Detachment Team (Forward Resuscitative and Surgical), in Paducah (KY) 936th Medical Detachment Team (Forward Resuscitative and Surgical), in Paducah (KY) 946th Medical Detachment Team (Forward Resuscitative and Surgical), in Mobile (AL)
Lineage and Honors Lineage Constituted 5 September 1928 in the Organized Reserves as the 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group and allotted to the Sixth Corps Area Initiated 23 August 1929 at Chicago, Illinois Inactivated 9 October 1937 at Chicago, Illinois Activated 20 April 1943 at Chicago, Illinois Inactivated 13 November 1945 Camp Sibert, Alabama (Organized Reserves redesignated Organized Reserve Corps, 25 March 1948) Redesignated 3 November 1948 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 330th Medical Group Assigned to First United States Army, 8 November 1948 Activated 19 November 1948 at Portland, Oregon Inactivated 28 June 1950 at Portland (Organized Reserve Corps redesignated Army Reserve, 9 July 1952) Redesignated 20 April 1953 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 5th Medical Group Activated 16 July 1982 at Birmingham, Alabama Reorganized and Redesignated XXX as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Medical Brigade
Honors
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II Northern France Rhineland Central Europe
Decorations
Army Superior Unit Award, streamer embroidered "2003"
Insignia
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Description
A white rectangle with rounded corners 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width overall bearing a red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross), bordered in maroon. Emitting from base is a red triangle with a narrow maroon border. Centered on the saltire a maroon cross with three crenellations on its upper arm bearing a sword with a serpent coiled around it, all white; all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) maroon border.
Symbolism
The crenellated cross symbolizes medical strength and defense. The scarlet saltire (Cross of Saint Andrew) symbolizes the Brigade's mission of supporting the medical requirements of Soldiers and their sacrifices on the battlefield. The red triangle alludes to the iron rich Red Mountain, under whose shadow the unit resides. The reference to the Staff of Ae culapius alludes to its attribute of the Roman god of medicine and healing.
Background
The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved effective 16 September 2011. The insignia was amended to modify the symbolism on 6 April 2023.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Description
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a white disc charged with a scarlet saltire above a scarlet mound and centered overall a maroon cross with three crenellations on its upper arm, all within a circular maroon scroll with forked ends bearing at top the words “LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE” in gold, and issuant from each end toward center base a sprig of gold laurel leaves; overall a gold torch with flame centered upon the cross and handle between the leaves at center base.
Symbolism
The mission and location of the unit are represented by four elements; namely, the scarlet saltire (Cross of Saint Andrew) symbolizes the Brigade's mission of supporting the medical requirements of Soldiers and their sacrifices on the battlefield. The mound at the base of the cross which refers to Red Mountain where Birmingham is located, the flames of industry which light the skies of the city by night, and the encircling scroll representing a magic circle recalling the name, “Magic City,” as Birmingham is sometimes described. The torch represents the leadership emphasized in the motto and its five flames the name, the numerical designation. The maroon cross representing medical service is embattled with three merlons which symbolize the World War II campaigns in which the unit participated, and the laurel leaves in base connote distinguished service.
Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 5th medical Group on 24 November 1982. It was redesignated effective 16 September 2011, for the 5th Medical Brigade and amended to update the description and symbolism. The insignia was amended to modify the symbolism on 6 April 2023.
History
The Early Years
The 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group was constituted in the Organized Reserve on 5 September 1928, was assigned to the General Headquarters Reserve, and was assigned to the Sixth Corps Area. The group was initiated on 23 August 1929 at Chicago, Illinois. It was inactivated 9 October 1937 at Chicago by the transfer of all assigned personnel to the 2nd Auxiliary Surgical Group. the group conducted annual training at the station hospital, Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
World War II
The 5th Auxiliary Surgical Group returned to the United States on 3 September 1945, arriving at Newport News, Virginia aboard the USS General C. C. Ballou.
Commanders
Image Rank Name BranchBegin date End date Notes Major Loren D. Sayre MC Major George H. Eddington MC Lieutenant Colonel Emery B. Neff MC Lieutenant Colonel James C. Cerny MC Inactive Colonel Robert B. Hill MC Regular Army Medical Corps officer who served in both World Wars, he retired as a Brigadier General in 1956. Colonel Lieutenant Colonel George C. Martin MC Also served as the leader of a surgical team and as the group executive officer before assuming command Inactive Colonel Colonel Colonel Inactive Colonel Colonel Colonel Colonel James M. Richard Colonel Frank S. Haddad MS Retired as a Brigadier GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Brigadier General Fred Simon Haddad (USAR), United States Army General Officer Management Office, 1 November 2002 Colonel Colonel Colonel Margaret C. Wilmoth AN Retired as a Major GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Major General Margaret C. Wilmoth, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 2 May 2017 Colonel Colonel James H. Mason MS Retired as a Brigadier GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Brigadier General James H. Mason (USAR), United States Army General Officer Management Office, 31 May 2014 Colonel Colonel Jeffrey B. McCarter MS Retired as a Major GeneralOfficial General Officer Biography of Major General Jeffrey B. McCarter, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 13 August 2024 Colonel Colonel Jennifer A. Marrast HostOfficial General Officer Biography of Brigadier General Jennifer A. Marrast Host, United States Army General Officer Management Office, 30 November 2022 MC Colonel
References