817th Medical Evacuation Hospital Patch

817th Medical Evacuation Hospital Patch – 3.12" x 3.50" Embroidered Patch with Sew-On Backing

Superior Materials: Crafted with high-durability polyester thread and strong twill fabric to ensure long-lasting resilience and color retention.
Advanced Embroidery Technology: Produced using precision embroidery machines for crisp lines, clean detail, and a professional finish.
Sew-On Application: Built for permanent use on jackets, medical gear, uniforms, or display—ideal for field medics, collectors, and historians.
Durable and Washable: Designed to endure wear, weather, and washing without losing its shape or clarity.
Versatile Use: A meaningful patch for military medical collectors, veteran medics, and anyone honoring frontline medical support units.

Formations & Origins
The 817th Medical Evacuation Hospital was a mobile U.S. Army field hospital formed during World War II, tasked with providing urgent surgical care and evacuation services near active combat zones. Activated as part of the Army’s effort to build rapid-response medical support for frontline troops, the 817th was designed to deploy quickly, set up operations under harsh conditions, and stabilize wounded soldiers before evacuation to general hospitals.

Notable Commanders
Commanded by Army medical officers with backgrounds in surgery, triage coordination, and logistics, the 817th relied on skilled leadership to maintain operations close to the front. These commanders were responsible for coordinating medical teams, surgical tents, ambulance operations, and casualty flow—all while managing the unpredictable pace of war.

Major Campaigns/Operations
The 817th Medical Evacuation Hospital supported combat operations in both the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II. Often following advancing infantry and armored divisions, the unit established temporary hospitals near front lines to provide life-saving treatment. Their presence reduced battlefield mortality rates and enabled thousands of wounded soldiers to survive and return home.

Specialized Role/Equipment
Equipped with mobile surgical units, triage tents, field X-ray equipment, and ambulance transport, the 817th functioned as a fully operational emergency hospital in the field. Medics and doctors operated under high-stress conditions, working in muddy clearings, bombed-out buildings, and makeshift shelters to deliver trauma care within the “golden hour” of injury.

Acts of Heroism
The doctors, nurses, medics, and ambulance drivers of the 817th repeatedly placed themselves in harm’s way to reach and treat the wounded. Often working under fire, during air raids, or in disease-ridden environments, their selfless commitment to saving lives embodied the Army Medical Department’s ethos: “To Conserve the Fighting Strength.”Many performed acts of quiet heroism that went unrecognized, yet were vital to the morale and survival of U.S. troops.

Legacy & Notable Achievements
The 817th Medical Evacuation Hospital represents the bravery and sacrifice of military medical personnel who fought not with weapons, but with scalpels, bandages, and compassion. Their legacy endures in today’s combat support hospitals and medevac protocols, where their pioneering mobility and trauma care principles are still in use. This patch commemorates their invaluable role in battlefield recovery and honors the life-saving mission they carried into every campaign.

Keywords: 817th Medical Evacuation Hospital patch, Army field hospital patch, WWII Army medic insignia, combat hospital patch, U.S. Army medical unit, sew-on military medical patch, battlefield surgery WWII.