196th Station Hospital, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium

The 196th Station Hospital was a United States Army medical unit stationed at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, during the Cold War. Established in the early 1950s, the hospital provided comprehensive medical support to American and NATO personnel, as well as their families, serving as a key healthcare facility in the region. The 196th played a vital role in maintaining the health and readiness of allied forces stationed at SHAPE, offering a range of services from routine care to emergency treatment. The unit was eventually inactivated as part of post-Cold War drawdowns and the reorganization of U.S. military medical services in Europe.