The 175th Medical Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, or unit patch, was approved for wear on 4 June 1976, just five months after the unit had received the Brigade designation. The unit had originally been formed on 1 April 1964 in the California Army National Guard as the 175th Medical Battalion at Sacramento, then was redesignated in 1968 as the 175th Medical Group.
There are no mentions of the Brigade or any of its predecessors having served in any wars, Armed Forces Expeditions, or continency operations, nor are there any records of it having earned any unit decorations. It apparently was called into Federal service for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but even this information comes in reference to other units. It appears to have been inactivated or redesignated at some point after 2004.
The unit patch of the 175th Medical Brigade features a Greek cross (arms of equal length) superimposed on a red cross similar to that employed by the international aid organization and as insignia on Army medical vehicles. Crosses are a heraldic symbol of aid and assistance, with the color white being employed to convey wisdom and ability; red is a sign of valor and dedication.
Behind the red cross is a stylized golden sunburst that is an emblem of the city of Sacramento, sometimes called the “Golden City” (California is also referred to as the “Golden State”).
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