Medical Units Where Women Served During the Vietnam War
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1st
Medical Battalion
Third and First Medical Battalion In May, 1965 the United States Marines landed and created Chu Lai Combat Base on the sandy shores of Vietnam. With the Marines came "B" Company, Third Medical Battalion. Their mission was to form the nucleus for the medical facility assigned to support activities in southern I Corp. From its beginning in tents, on the beach, the unit moved to a rocky bluff overlooking the South China Sea. At this location, from late 1965 to early 1966, Navy and Marine personnel worked in support of Marine operations with such names as Starlight, Harvest Moon, and Utah. Starting in late December and Early January, First Medical Battalion was moving toward Chu Lai - Headquarters and Services (H&S) Company from Camp Pendleton, "A" Company from Okinawa, "B" Company from its floating base aboard the USS Princeton. On March 20, 1966, the Battalion became a part of Chu Lai, incorporating the "B Med originals" into a large and efficient medical unit. Rapid expansion took place - bed capacity was tripled with the construction of new wards, new causality sorting and treatment areas were built, the new operating rooms were opened, and permanent living quarters became a reality. Operations Texas, Indiana, and Hot Springs are only a few of the names with which the Battalion played and important supporting role. I left Chu Lai in February 1967. During this time, the Battalion was in the process of moving to DaNang. As we left the Army moved in. Steven
Richardson |
2nd
Surg
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3rd Field
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| 3rd Surg
[history]
"To Conserve the Fighting Strength!"
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4th Medical Battalion
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6th
Convalescent Center
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7th Surg
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8th
Field
Until April 1965, the 8th Field Hospital at NhaTrang with a 100-bed capacity was the only U.S. Army hospital in Vietnam. Housed in fixed semipermanent quarters, the 8th Field was fitted with a combination of field and "stateside" equipment and operated in a manner similar to a station hospital. Attached to it were four medical detachments which provided specialty care but were totally dependent on the hospital for administrative and logistical support. From Army Medicine website |
9th
Field
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| 9th Med Lab
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Call Sign: "Golden Empire" Specialty: Burns
The 12th Evacuation Hospital was established in Cu Chi along Highway 1 on December 1, 1966 in support of the 25th Infantry Division and remained on site until its deactivation on December 15,1970. The hospital was situated across the road from a petroleum dump and the artillery battery. The hospital, which could accommodate up to 300 casualties, was situated in a violent corner of Vietnam between Saigon and the Cambodian border and rarely lacked for action... |
12th USAF Hospital
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17th
Field
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18th Surg
Call Sign: "Eagle Landing" Motto: "We Came, We Served" The 18th Surgical Hospital was reactivated on March 26, 1963 and assigned to Fort Gordon, Georgia. In June 1966, the hospital arrived in the Republic of Vietnam and was established in an semi-fixed facility in support of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 4th Infantry Division, and the 173rds Airborne Brigade in Pleiku. The hospital made a transition to MUST equipment in November 1967 and was relocated to Lai Khe as an all-male unit in support of the 1st Infantry Division. In March 1968, still in support of the 1st Infantry Division, the 18th Surgical Hospital was deployed to QuangTri, just 35 miles south of the DMZ within Military Region I Tactical Zone. In August of that year, female nurses were again assigned to the 18th Surgical Hospital when the hospital was relocated to Camp Evans (Cia La) in support of the 101st Airborne Division. In November 1969, the 18th Surgical Hospital was relocated to the III MAF in Quang Tri to provide medical support for the 1st Brigade, 5th Mechanized Infantry Division in Quang Tri. The 18th Surgical Hospital remained in Quang Tri until it was deactivated in September 1971 (January 1972). I have been further advised that members from the 366 Tac Fighter Wing out of DaNang blew up the remains of the 18th Surgical Hospital in May 1972. |
22nd Surg
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| 24th
Evac
Long Binh Call Sign: "Queen Tonic" Specialty: Neuro Reunion (from 24th website) Staff Recollections (from 24th website) Missing Staff (from 24th website)
The 24th Evac was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, Texas on March 15, 1957, where it was used for training purposes at nearby Camp Bullis. The order for mobilization to Vietnam came in June of 1966, staff was assigned to the 24th Evac, and teams of personnel were sent to Long Binh during that summer and the rest of the year. The site was prepared during the fall and winter, and the 24th Evacuation Hospital opened for business at Long Binh in January of 1967. It closed in November of 1972. |
27th Surg
The 27th Surgical Hospital was reactivated on March 25, 1963 and attached to the 43rd Medical Group, Fort Lewis, Washington. The hospital was alerted in June 1967 for overseas shipment and departed Fort Lewis Washington on March 4, 1968, arriving in Chu Lai on March 27, 1968. It became operational on April 27, 1968 and was deactivated sometime in May 1971.
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29th Evac
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43rd Medical Group
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44th Medical Brigade In Chapter 20 -- of Order of Battle 44th Medical Brigade: arrived in
Vietnam April 24, 1966 44th Medical Brigade
The 44th Medical Group was constituted in the Regular Army on December 30, 1965 and then activated on New Year's Day in 1966. It arrived in Vietnam on April 24, 1966 to command the increased medical mission. The brigade was initially established in a group of villas (Truong Quoc Dung) at Saigon and later moved to Long Binh. Prior to August 1967, the Army placed medical assets including the 44th Medical Brigade under command of the First Logistics Command with a separate Office of the Surgeon reporting to the Commander, US Army, Republic of Vietnam (USARVN). The Office of the Command Surgeon and the 44th Medical Brigade were combined on August 19, 1967, and the 44th was then reassigned from First Logistics Command to the Commander, USARVN. The 44th included a Brigade Headquarters and three to four medical groups that were established and dissolved as medical needs dictated. The major elements of the brigade in Vietnam included the 43rd, 55th, 32nd, 67th and 68th Medical Groups. The final reorganization of the U.S. Army medical service structure in Vietnam occurred on 1 March 1970, when the Army Medical dual staff functions were reduced with the establishment of the United States Army Medical Command, Vietnam (USAMC) (Neel, S 1991). |
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45th Surg
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50th Clearing Company | 51st Field
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| 55th
Medical Group
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61st Medical Battalion
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Call Sign: "Bandage Three" Specialty: Neuro, Ophthalmology |
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67th Medical Group
On September 21 1967, the 67th Medical Group departed for Vietnam, arriving at its first permanent location at Bien Hoa on September 24, 1967. Subsequent moves of the unit were to the DaNang Support Command area on February 28, 1968, then to the 95th Evacuation Hospital compound on September 1, 1968, and then to its final location at Camp Baxter in East DaNang on July 18, 1970. The 67th Medical Group consisted of 8 hospitals, one battalion, two companies and twenty-five detachments. Among the hospital units were the 18th Surgical Hospital (Camp Evans, QuangTri); the 85th Evacuation Hospital (Qui Nhon, Phu Bai); the 22nd Surgical Hospital (Phu Bai); the 95th Evacuation Hospital (DaNang); 172d Preventive Medicine Unit (Red Beach near DaNang); the 175th Vet Detachment (DaNang); the 27th Surgical Hospital (Chu Lai); 91st Evacuation Hospital (Tuy Hoa, ChuLai); 312th Evacuation Hospital (ChuLai); the 67th Evacuation Hospital (QuiNhon); the 61st Medical Battalion (QuiNhon); the 8th Field Hospital (NhaTrang, An Khe, TuyHoa); and the 71st Evacuation Hospital (Pleiku). |
68th Medical Group
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70th Medical Battalion
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71st Evac
In November 1966, the 71st Evacuation Hospital was moved, aboard the USNS William O. Darby, to Vietnam, arriving at the Pleiku area on 24 November 1966. There was some delay in construction because the original allocation for land use was lost and a new contract had to be negotiated. The first patient was admitted on May 29th, 1967, an the hospital became a fully operational 400 bed facility on October 25, 1967. The 71st Evac was situated in a very active and hostile area and were frequently the object of enemy attacks. During the period 3-24 November 1967, the hospital experienced one of its most demanding tests as a mass casualty situation existed as a result of battles at Dak To. There were over 1600 admissions and 1359 patients were evacuated. During the Tet Offensive in 1968, the 71st received 1670 casualties from Dak To, Kontum and Hue. The 71st Evacuation hospital was deactivated on December 15, 1970 and returned to the United States. |
74th Field
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74th Medical Battalion
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85th Evac
The 85th Evacuation Hospital arrived in the harbor of Qui Nhon on August 31st 1965 from Fort Bliss, Texas and was located about 10 miles west of QuiNhon at Valley "A" in Phu Thanh. Ten days later, on September 10, 1965, the hospital was relocated to QuiNhon. The hospital was constructed of tents upon its arrival in Qui Nhon, but Quonset huts gradually replaced the tents. On April 15, 1966, the bed capacity of the 85th Evacuation Hospital in QuiNhon was increased from 400 to 600 beds along with a personnel increase. Then, in October 1966, the bed capacity was reduced again to 400 beds and the personnel augmentation withdrawn due to the arrival of the 67th Evacuation Hospital. in November of 1968 the 85th Evacuation Hospital moved from QuiNhon to PhuBai and became operational on December 5th 1968. It remained on station until deactivated in December 1971.
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91st Evac
The 91st Evacuation Hospital was reactivated in March 1963 in Fort Polk Louisiana, and was alerted for overseas movement in March 1966. The unit departed Fort Polk on November 22,1966, embarking on the USNG Gen John Pope at Oakland, California and arrived at Vung Ro Bay on December 14, 1966. The unit was moved by convoy to Tuy Hoa; after 85 days of construction, the facilities were opened on March 15, 1967 with 100 beds. By June, the facility was expanded to 300 beds. LTC Annie Ruth Graham was Chief Nurse at the 91st Evac in Tuy Hoa in 1968 when she suffered a CVA. She died after being evacuated to Japan. On July 15th 1969, the 91st Evacuation Hospital was relocated in Chu Lai, taking over the facilities previously occupied by the 312th Evacuation Hospital. The 91st Evacuation Hospital remained on station until November 1971, shortly after suffering major facility damage resulting from a typhoon with winds of 134 knots. The Officer's Club was totally destroyed by gusting winds of 180knots and the nearby Mess hall also sustained major structural damage. |
93rd Evac
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95th Evac
"Hell's Half Acre"
Call Sign: "Single Parent"
The 95th Evacuation Hospital was reactivated in on March 26, 1963 at Fort Benning, Georgia and altered for overseas movement. On March 26th 1968, the 95th Evacuation Hospital arrived in the Republic of Vietnam and was set up as a temporary tent hospital on the shores of the South China Sea near the Marble Mountains south of DaNang. The hospital was temporarily supplemented with some MUST equipment until the construction of the fixed facility was completed. Approximately 4 months later, the organization moved to the newly constructed 320-bed hospital at the base of Monkey Mountain, 8 miles to the north of its original location. The wide range of professional capabilities made the 95th Evacuation Hospital a referral center for difficult cases throughout the Northern Military Combat Tactical Region. Specialty services including neurology, dermatology, oral surgery, psychiatric consultations, orthopedic surgery, general surgery and special radiographic procedures were provided thorough this facility. The hospital was among the last to close with the mass exodus of American troops in March 1973. |
161st Medical Detachment
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175th Vet Detachment
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312th
Evac
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498th Medevac | 520th Clearing Company | |||||
523rd Field
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542nd Clearing Company | 563rd Clearing Company | |||||
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568th Clearing Company
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616th Clearing Company
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Medcaps
Nha Trang/Cam Ranh Bay |
Orphanages
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If you are as hopelessly confused by the hospital names as I
am, maybe this will help . . .
Please note that units moved. This is just a snapshot of one moment in
time.
Map of US Army Hospitals: Dec. 31, 1968 and 1970
Find your co-workers! Military Medical Associations
I am looking for photos of the hospitals, service clubs, and Red Cross recreation centers to link to, or put up on the website. Here is the sort of thing I want. Please if you can assist or if you have a website or photos I can link to. I also would appreciate any additional information you can supply me with.
THANK YOU TO CHRIS BANIGAN
FOR PROVIDING MUCH OF THIS INFO
AND TO ARMY
HOSPITALS IN VIETNAM
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71st Evacuation Hospital (
