Hey Cav med guy...where ya been? If you haven't been visiting this site often you may have missed some of the articles. Not to worry - gotcha covered. Visit our
 Old Front Page News and you'll be able to catch up with past articles.

july-august saber article posted

The latest article about the 15th Medical Battalion in Vietnam is now available on this Web site under Informational/Historical Documents/Saber Articles. Mike Bodnar faithfully pens this article each month for the 1st Cavalry Division's Saber newspaper. We have back articles all the way to 1999. So if you're stuck indoors for a while, why not browse through the old articles - it's interesting reading.

Purple Heart Day

Purple Heart Day is observed annually on August 7. This day honors those of us wounded or killed in combat and awarded the Purple Heart medal. Almost by definition, if we came out to pick you up, there's a good change you were awarded the purple heart or awarded the purple heart medal post humously.

The award traces its origins back to General George Washington, who established the original Badge of Military Merit on August 7, 1782.

Fort Bragg DUSTOFF performs first in-flight
 pre-hospital blood transfusion

Charlie Company of the 3-82 General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) is the first active Army unit to perform an in-flight pre-hospital blood transfusion outside a combat zone. Also known as the Fort Bragg “All American”, DUSTOFF Charlie Company conducts medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations year-round to support the installation and the surrounding area. Since the activation of the installation's whole blood program, flight medics have been authorized to transport blood and administer transfusions during aeromedical evacuations, which significantly improves patient survivability during pre-hospital transport.

While whole blood transfusions are commonly performed in combat zones, this is the first of its kind. On the afternoon of April 30, 2025, the company's operation cell received an urgent 9-line MEDEVAC request containing limited information: a critical condition patient in the vicinity of Mott Lake, N.C. Upon arrival, the duty crew quickly made judgments and coordinated with on-scene agencies, resulting in a safe aircraft landing. After receiving the Fort Bragg Emergency Medical Services (EMS) patient care report along with the patient, Beighley assessed that the patient required blood authorized from the whole blood program. During the transport, she had only minutes to provide critical medical interventions to improve the patient's outcome. Among them, Beighley executed the blood transfusion.

The patient was successfully transferred to the Womack Army Medical Center for higher-level medical treatment. King stated this MEDEVAC mission stood out among others because of intricate coordination with emergency services, supporting agencies, and crew synchronization, particularly between the flight medic and crew chief, which is essential to executing a successful operation. “In situations such as that call, we don’t have to ask questions. Everyone is prepared and knows what their role is,” said Sullivan. Collaboration among the Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg Range Operations Center, Fort Bragg Fire and Emergency Services, military police and Charlie Company are critical to medical evacuation success. The All American DUSTOFF is committed to enhancing patient care standards during aeromedical evacuations by consistently achieving new performance milestones.

DRONES USED TO TRANSPORT MEDICAL SUPPLIES

visited the multinational HOSPEX medical exercise in Lithuania, a component of the larger Swift Response 25 drill. The visit featured key observations of medical training activities and drone resupply demonstrations, reflecting the U.S. Army’s ongoing effort to evaluate new unmanned systems, such as the TRV-150 and Flying Basket drones, in field care logistics within NATO exercises. These systems were tested to assess their ability to deliver medical supplies in high-risk areas where conventional resupply methods are limited by terrain, exposure, or enemy threat.

The utility of a drone lies in overcoming terrain and threat constraints that hinder conventional methods, ensuring that medical materials are delivered faster and with less risk to human personnel. The drone’s ability to reach remote or contested zones without requiring a convoy or helicopter enables a more responsive casualty care system, especially in areas under threat of enemy observation or fire. This capability is especially critical during the “golden hour,” when delays in resupply can drastically reduce survival chances

Aviator Sunglasses

Many of us probably believe the worlds of the military and fashion are mutually exclusive. Fashion is a popular style or trend that often includes rare, high-priced wearable art... while the military prides itself on utilitarianism, a calling born of necessity while wearing clothing designed for heavy wear-and-tear. It may come as a surprise, therefore, that the U.S. Army’s fondness for design extends to more than just the most updated lethal weaponry, vehicles and warfare tactics. Its impact on fashion can be seen daily worldwide, without the consumer realizing its history.

From the runway to faces around the globe, “aviator” sunglasses were initially developed for Army Air Corps pilots prior to World War II. If you have ever wondered why these sunglasses have their distinctive shape, it is for much more than fashionable reasons. The design protected the eyes of pilots from 360-degree sunlight, as well as covering the entirety of the eye socket for even more shielding from the sun’s rays. Next time you throw on your favorite pair of aviators, remember you have the Army Air Corps to thank.

lost and missing members

It's been a few years since the Historian, and I asked for help finding lost members of the 15th Med Bn. We'd appreciate it if you'd go to our Missing Members page and see if you know the contact information for any listed. If you know the whereabouts of a missing member, please complete the update form by clicking the link above the table.