The 44th Medical Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (unit patch) was first approved on 5 October 1966, a little over nine months after the unit was activated at Fort Sam Houston in Texas; it has been appropriately redesignated each time the unit has undergone a change in designation, and was officially redesignated for the Brigade on 16 April 2010.
Formed at the beginning of the Vietnam War, the 44th Medical Brigade took part in a dozen of that conflict’s 17 named campaigns and was honored with two Army Meritorious Unit Commendations and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for its service in 1969-1970. Inactivated in March 1973, the unit was reactivated at year later and has gone on to see deployments during the First Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Maroon and white are used because they are the colors of the Army Medical Service. A gold star superimposed the maroon star symbolizes the Brigade’s mission of command and control of subordinate medical units. Further, the four points of each star are a reference to the Brigade’s numerical designation.
Related Items:
44th Medical Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)44th Medical Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)
44th Medical Brigade Flash and Oval