317TH FIELD HOSPITAL

• World War II Origins: The 317th Field Hospital was constituted on 25 July 1942 and activated on 25 August 1942 at Camp Barkeley, Texas, to provide vital medical support during World War II. • European Theater Service: The unit deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it provided critical medical care to wounded troops following the D-Day invasion and throughout the push into Germany. • Normandy Campaign: The 317th Field Hospital was part of the medical teams deployed to Normandy, helping to treat casualties from some of the war's fiercest fighting. • Mobile Medical Support: As a field hospital, the 317th was designed to be mobile, frequently relocating to stay close to the front lines and rapidly setting up to handle incoming casualties. • Liberation of Concentration Camps: Members of the 317th Field Hospital helped provide life-saving medical care to survivors of concentration camps liberated by Allied forces. • Awards and Recognition: The unit received campaign participation credit for several key campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. • Deactivation and Reactivation: The 317th Field Hospital has experienced several periods of inactivation and reactivation, reflecting the changing needs of the U.S. Army Medical Department. • Cold War Service: After World War II, the 317th was reactivated as part of the U.S. Army Reserve, prepared to provide medical care in the event of another major conflict. • Modern Medical Training: Today, the 317th Field Hospital continues to serve as a U.S. Army Reserve unit, training to provide advanced medical care in combat and humanitarian operations. • Legacy of Service: The 317th Field Hospital’s history is marked by a tradition of rapid response, adaptability, and life-saving care under fire, embodying the motto of Army medicine: “To Conserve Fighting Strength.”