About this Unit
The 31st Field Hospital is a distinguished U.S. Army medical unit with a proud history of service in support of American military operations. Activated during World War II, the unit provided critical medical care to wounded soldiers across the European Theater, earning commendations for its dedication and effectiveness. Throughout the Cold War and into the modern era, the 31st Field Hospital has deployed in various conflicts and humanitarian missions, adapting to advances in battlefield medicine. Today, the unit continues its legacy, standing ready to deliver life-saving care wherever and whenever needed.
Historical Facts
•
World War II Activation: The 31st Field Hospital was activated during World War II, on 15 June 1943 at Camp Ellis, Illinois, to provide medical support for U.S. Army operations overseas.
•
European Theater Service: The unit served in the European Theater, landing in France shortly after D-Day and providing critical medical care during the Normandy Campaign and subsequent advances across Europe.
•
Mobile Medical Support: As a field hospital, the 31st was designed to be semi-mobile, capable of quickly setting up medical facilities close to the front lines to treat wounded soldiers.
•
Battle Participation: The hospital supported major campaigns, including the Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe campaigns.
•
Humanitarian Efforts: In addition to treating American soldiers, the 31st Field Hospital also provided medical aid to Allied troops and local civilians affected by the war.
•
Post-War Service: After World War II, the unit was inactivated but was later reactivated during periods of conflict and need, including during the Cold War era.
•
Vietnam War Era: The 31st Field Hospital was reactivated and deployed to Vietnam, where it provided critical medical support to U.S. and Allied forces, demonstrating adaptability and resilience in a challenging environment.
•
Modernization: Over the decades, the unit underwent several reorganizations and redesignations as military medical doctrine and technology evolved, at times being redesignated as a Combat Support Hospital or other medical unit types.
•
Distinctive Unit Insignia: The 31st Field Hospital’s insignia features symbols representing its medical mission and history, including the caduceus and a cross.
•
Legacy of Service: Though the unit has been inactivated and reactivated multiple times, its legacy lives on in the thousands of soldiers whose lives were saved due to the care provided by its medical teams in multiple conflicts.
