426th Medical Brigade

426th Medical Brigade
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1943-1946 1948-1949 1950-1958 1986-2008
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States Army
Type	Medical brigade
Size	Brigade
Part of	United States Army Reserve 96th Army Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Salt Lake City, Utah
Motto(s)	Readiness with Mercy
Colors	Maroon and White
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 426th Medical Brigade was a medical brigade of the United States Army Reserve subordinate to the 96th Army Reserve Command and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Lineage and Honors

Lineage

• Constituted 5 January 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 426th Medical Battalion, Motorized ^[1]
• Activated 25 February 1943 at Camp Maxey, Texas ^[1]
• Battalion broken up 25 September 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows: ^[1]
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 426th Medical Battalion ^[1]
  • (Companies A, B, and C as the 564th, 565th, and 566th Ambulance Companies, Motor – hereafter separate lineages) ^[1]
• Inactivated 31 January 1946 in Germany ^[1]
• Allotted 29 March 1948 to the Organized Reserve Corps ^[1]
• Activated 20 April 1948 at Yakima, Washington ^[1]
• Inactivated 28 November 1949 at Yakima, Washington ^[1]
• Redesignated 18 August 1950 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 426th Medical Group ^[1]
• Activated 1 September 1950 at San Francisco, California ^[1]
• Location changed 1 March 1952 to Los Angeles, California ^[1]
• (Organized Reserve Corps redesignated 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve) ^[1]
• Inactivated 1 January 1958 at Los Angeles, California ^[1]
• Activated 16 April 1986 at Salt Lake City, Utah ^[1]
• Reorganized and redesignated 16 September 1993 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 426th Medical Brigade ^[1]
• Inactivated 15 October 2008 at Salt Lake City, Utah

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

• World War II
  • Normandy ^[1]
  • Northern France ^[1]
  • Rhineland ^[1]
  • Ardennes-Alsace ^[1]
  • Central Europe ^[1]

Decorations

• None ^[1]

Insignia

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, 426th Medical Brigade

Description

On a rectangle arced at the top and bottom with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) gold border 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height overall, divided horizontally blue above green, a gold disc bearing a maroon triangle surmounted by a white cross. ^[2]

Symbolism

Maroon and white are the colors traditionally associated with the Medical Corps; gold denotes excellence. The disc symbolizes mobility and quick response, and the triangle suggests the mountain state of Utah. The cross highlights medical care and compassion. The blue and green represent sky and grass and suggest life and the "Great Lifegiver." ^[2]

Background

The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 3 August 1994. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-813) ^[2]

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Distinctive Unit Insignia, 426th Medical Brigade

Description

A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a stylized gold caltrop upon a green equilateral triangle with, in base, a gold fleur-de-lis upon a red cross, and traversing the triangle a white wavy bar, all within a circular maroon scroll debruised by the top of the triangle and bearing the motto "READINESS WITH MERCY" in gold. ^[2]

Symbolism

World War II action in Central Europe is represented by the green triangle which refers to the mountains of the Ardennes as well as the tents used by the predecessor organization for medical services and support during hostilities. The wavy white band represents the Rhineland, the Rhine River, and the winter snows of the region. France is represented by the fleur-de-lis. The gold caltrop, in the triangular form of the beechnut, symbolizes land war in Europe and recalls the beech forests of Ardennes-Alsace. ^[2]

Background

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 426th Medical Group on 8 November 1985. It was redesignated for the 426th Medical Brigade with the description and symbolism revised effective 16 September 1993. ^[2]

Commanders

Image	Rank	Name	Branch	Begin Date	End Date	Notes
	Lieutenant Colonel
	Lieutenant Colonel	Murray Polsky [3]	MC
		Inactive		1 February 1946 [4]	19 April 1948
	Lieutenant Colonel
		Inactive		29 November 1949	31 August 1950
	Colonel
	Colonel
	Colonel
	Colonel
	Colonel
		Inactive		2 January 1958	15 April 1986
	Colonel
	Colonel	Carvel H. Evans [5]	MC		19 September 1987 [5]
	Colonel	Alfred W. Mickle [6]	MC	20 September 1987 [5]	9 November 1991 [6]
	Colonel	Richard F. Abbott [6]	MS	10 November 1991 [6]
	Colonel
	Colonel	A. Wayne Mickle [7]	MC			In command of 426th Medical Brigade in 1995. [7]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army .

1. "426th Medical Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, Lineage, and Honors". United States Army Medical Department center of History and Heritage. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
2. "426th Medical Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Distinctive Unit Insignia". The Institute of Heraldry, United States Army. Archived from the original on November 4, 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
3. "[426th Medical Battalion Soldier] Commended". The Star Press (Muncie, Indiana). 26 May 1945. p. 9. Retrieved 29 March 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 4. The Services: Quartermaster, Medical, Military Police, Signal Corps, Chemical Warfare, and Miscellaneous Organizations, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 2,217. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
5. "Group Changes Command". The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah). 21 September 1987. p. 16. Retrieved 29 March 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Commanders Take Army Reserve Posts". The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah). 11 November 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 29 March 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Miller relinquishes 311th command". The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, North Dakota). 15 February 1995. p. 44. Retrieved 29 March 2025– via Newspapers.com.