118th Multifunctional Medical Battalion

 

Missions:

HHD 118th Medical Battalion: Provides administrative assistance, logistical support, and technical supervision capability for assigned and attached medical organizations (companies and detachments) task-organized for support of deployed forces to enhance the delivery of campaign quality health care to deployed forces.

141st Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) To provide ground evacuation within the theater of operations.

142nd Medical Company (Area Support) To provide Role I and II Health Systems Support (HSS) and Force Health Protection (FHP) to units located in the area of operations of the Area Support Medical Company (ASMC).
 

Locations:

Middletown (Headquarters and 141st Medical Company)
Danbury (142nd Medical Company)
 

History:

The 118^th Medical Battalion has a long tradition of service to the State of Connecticut and the United States of America.  The organization traces its lineage to the First Hospital Company.  The unit participated in the campaign against Pancho Villa on the Mexican Border in 1916 and almost immediately deployed to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I.  Theses two campaigns are symbolized by the Prickly Pear Cactus and Fleur de Lis on the battalion’s distinctive unit insignia.  In 1922 the organization was redesignated the 118^th Medical Regiment and assigned to the 43^rd Division with subordinate medical companies in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 
 
The 118^th Medical Regiment was mobilized with the 43^rd “Winged Victory” Infantry Division on February 24^th, 1941 and served gallantly with the division as it island hopped through the Pacific.  For its service in this campaign, the 118^th was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.  Among its many battle streamers is one inscribed “LUZON”, which includes the arrowhead device for participating in the amphibious assault landing.
 
During the Korean War the 118^th Medical Battalion was once again federalized in September 1950 as part of the 43^rd Infantry Division. It served for a year in Germany.
 
In 1993 the 118^th Medical Battalion was reorganized under the Medical Force 2000 (MF2K) modular concept into an Area Support Medical Battalion, headquarted in Connecticut with “lettered” companies in Massachusetts, Ohio and Wisconsin.
 
In 2003 the battalion was mobilized for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 118^th Area Support Medical Battalion with all of its subordinate units was responsible for Level I and II Combat Health Support in the III Corps Area of Operations from the Kuwait border in the south to the Turkish border in the north, making it the most geographically dispersed battalion in the theater.  As it arrived in theater, the battalion also picked up two Active Component Area Support Medical Companies and two small Preventive Medicine Detachments – one Army and one Navy.  The battalion was also responsible for detainee healthcare at the three largest detention facilities in Iraq.  Once again, the battalion earned the Meritorious Unit Citation for its comprehensive and compassionate care to US, Coalition and Iraqi forces from February 2004 to February 2005.
 
In October 2007 118^th Medical Battalion became a Multifunctional Medical Battalion under the 143^rd Area Support Group.  In this configuration, the battalion has the capability to command and control the entire spectrum of Level I and II Health Service Support.  The battalion has two subordinate companies in Connecticut; the 142 Medical Company (Area Support) located in Naugatuck and the 141 Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) in New Britain.
 
In 2009 the battalion was mobilized for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 118^th Multifunction Medical Battalion was responsible for all Force Health Protection, Combat Health Support in the III Corps Area of Operations from the Kuwait border in the south to the Turkish border in the north.  The battalion managed Active Component, Army Reserve, and Air Force units, which comprised of , four Preventive Medicine Detachments, three Combat Stress Companies – one Air Force, two Army Reserve, two Medical Logistic Companies,  one Vet Service Company, one Vet Medicine Detachment, and one Blood Support Detachment.  The battalion headquarters oversaw and executed the largest Plan for the Responsible Drawdown of Forces in all functional areas across the Iraqi Joint Operational Area.  Once again, the battalion earned the Meritorious Unit Citation for its comprehensive and aggressive force health protection to US, Coalition and Iraqi forces  from August 2009 to July 2010.
 
 
The 118^th participated in the following campaigns

WORLD WAR II

• Guadalcanal
• New Guinea
• Northern Solomons
• Luzon (with arrowhead)

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003-2005 and 2009-2010

 
Unit decorations include:
 

• The Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered PACIFIC THEATER
• Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 – 4 July 1945
• The Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Operation Iraqi Freedom

 
Today the 118th MMB is headquartered in Middletown, Connecticut and it commands and controls the 141st Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) and the 142nd Medical Company (Area Support).