338th Medical Brigade

• Constituted 27 June 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 59th Hospital Train

• Activated 24 August 1944 at Camp Grant, Illinois

• Inactivated 13 November 1945 at Camp Sibert, Alabama

• Redesignated 15 March 1948 as the 396th Hospital Train and allotted to the Organized Reserves

• Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps

• Activated 29 March 1948 at Connellsville, Pennsylvania

• Reorganized and redesignated 25 May 1950 as 338th Medical Group

• Location changed 5 July 1950 to Altoona, Pennsylvania

• Organized Reserve Corps redesignated 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve

• Inactivated 28 April 1959 at Altoona, Pennsylvania

• Activated 1 November 1971 at Folsom, Pennsylvania

• Location changed 22 September 1995 to Chester, Pennsylvania

• Reorganized and redesignated 17 September 2002 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 338th Medical Brigade

• Location changed 30 June 2011 to Horsham, Pennsylvania{{cite web|url=http://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/med/0338mdbde.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906052950/http://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/med/0338mdbde.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 6, 2015|title=Lineage and Honors, Headquarters Company, 338th Medical Brigade|publisher=Center of Military History, United States Army|access-date=6 February 2025}}

• World War II
• European-African-Middle Eastern Theater, Streamer without inscription

• War on Terrorism
• Campaigns to be determined

• None

File:338TH MED BDE.png

On a maroon disc 2 3/4 inches (6.99 cm) in diameter a golden yellow annulet superimposed by a white cross fleuretty bearing a green rod entwined with a maroon serpent with a golden yellow eye, all enclosed with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) white border.

Maroon and white are the colors of the Medical Corps. Gold is emblematic of excellence and high ideals. The ring alludes to a wheel or movement and represents the unit's service as a Hospital Train in World War II. The ring also highlights unity and cooperation. The cross is a symbol of aid and comfort. The demi-fleur-de-lis on the ends of the cross branches recall the organization's World War II history in Europe. The serpent entwined on the rod is called The Rod of Aesculapius and was the attribute of the Roman god of medicine and healing. Green is a color associated with healing and renewal.

The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved effective 17 September 2002 for the 338th Medical Brigade. (TIOH Drawing Number A-1-849)

File: 338MedBdeDUI.gif

A gold color metal and enamel insignia 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a white keystone surmounted by a scarlet Greek cross bearing in the center a gold locomotive wheel, all between a semicircular maroon scroll, folded back on each side, passing under the horizontal arms of the cross, and bearing at the top the inscription "SOUND BODY" and in base "SHARP MIND" all in gold letters.

The Greek cross is a symbol of aid and assistance. The keystone represents the location of the unit's headquarters in Pennsylvania. The locomotive wheel refers historically to the unit's service in England and France during World War II as the 59th Hospital Train. Maroon and white are colors used for the Army Medical Department.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 338th Medical Group on 29 November 1972. It was redesignated effective 17 September 2002, with description and symbolism updated for the 338th Medical Brigade.{{cite web|url=https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3803&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801233331/https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=3803&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2024|title=338th Medical Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Distinctive Unit Insignia|publisher=The Institute of Heraldry, United States Army|access-date=24 March 2025}}

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The 59th Hospital Train arrived in England on 6 September 1944.{{cite web|url=https://www.med-dept.com/articles/ww2-military-hospitals-european-theater-of-operations/|title=Military Hospitals-European Theater of Operations|publisher=WWII Medical Research Centre|access-date=29 March 2025}} It was stationed near Swindon, England and never deployed to the continent. The hospital train redeployed to the United States aboard the MV Brastagi, a formerly Dutch flagged vessel which had been seized by the United States and was operated by the United States Merchant Marine.{{cite web|url=http://usmm.org/foreign.html|title=Foreign Passenger and Cargo Ships Taken Over by U.S Maritime Commission during World War II|publisher=American Merchant Marine at War|access-date=29 March 2025}} The train arrived at the Boston port of Debarkation on Sunday, 19 August 1945.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1168931034/|title=43 Flint Area Soldiers Among New Arrivals from Overseas|newspaper=The Flint Journal (Flint, Michigan)|date=20 August 1945|page=9 |access-date=28 March 2025 |via=Newspapers.com}}

The first drill of the 396th Hospital Train was held on the evening of Tuesday, 11 May 1948 in the office of Dr. Joseph M. Forejt, Medical Corps, USAR, the newly appointed commander of the unit. Also attending were the unit's active-duty Unit Instructor, Major William P. Callaghan, First Lieutenant, Medical Service Corps, USAR, First Lieutenant Mary J. Ruble, Army Nurse Corps, USAR, Master Sergeant Theodore M. Hook, Staff Sergeant Edgar Sleasman, and Private First Class David R. Balsley.

The commander, Major Forejt, had been commissioned as a first lieutenant in the reserves before the Second World War and had been called to active duty on 1941. During the war, he served as the commanding officer of Company B, 327th Medical Battalion, the divisional medical support unit for the 102nd Infantry Division and also served overseas as the regimental surgeon of the 406th Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldstandard.com/news/2006/jul/20/joseph-m-forejt-md/|title=Joseph M. Forejt, M.D. [obituary]|publisher=The Herald Standard (Uniontown, Pennsylvania)|access-date=29 March 2025}}

The first order of business for the cadre of the new unit was recruiting, as the unit was formed in a "no pay" status, meaning that members would not be paid for participation. The members present believed recruiting would not be a problem, as pending legislation would make all reserve units "paid" drilling positions. They also focused on the organization, supply, and function of the train itself.

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• Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 338th Medical Group
• 322nd General Hospital
• 348th General Hospital
• 361st Evacuation Hospital
• 300th Field Hospital
• 99th Combat Support Hospital
• 316th Station Hospital
• 183rd Medical Detachment

• Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 338th Medical Brigade, Horsham, Pennsylvania{{cite web|url=https://www.usar.army.mil/Commands/Functional/3rd-MCDS/3rd-MCDSUnits/|title=3rd Medical Command Units|access-date=29 March 2025}}
• 410th Hospital Center, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
• 18th Field Hospital, Fort Story, Virginia
• 348th Field Hospital, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
• 424th Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

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