The 62nd Medical Brigade, formerly the 62nd Medical Group of the United States Army is a unit of the Army Medical Department and I Corps and Fort Lewis. It is based entirely at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Currently, the brigade is commanded by Colonel Yolonda “Y. R.” Summons and Command Sergeant Major Meaux. The commanders' mission statement for the success of the brigade is the following: Organize, train, equip, deploy, and command and control medical forces in support of global contingencies. Provide full and direct force health protection operations in support of forces engaged in full spectrum operations. Most recently, the brigade has served as the Task Force Medical-Afghanistan headquarters. History World War 2 The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 62nd Medical Brigade was constituted on 19 December 1942 as the 62nd Medical Battalion Corps. It was activated on 25 January 1943 as the 62nd Medical Battalion, Motorized, at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. On 15 September 1943 the battalion was recognized and re-designated as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 62nd Medical Battalion, the 578th Ambulance Company, the 501st Collecting Company, the 502nd Collecting Company and the 635th Clearing Company. During its service in WWII, the 62nd Medical Brigade participated in four campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe and then was inactivated on 13 November 1945. Post World War 2 It was then reorganized and re-designated 8 October 1957 as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 62nd Medical Group in Bad Kreuznach, Rheinland Pfalz, Federal Republic of Germany, The 7th Medical Brigade was the next higher headquarters. HHD 62nd Medical Group had a Unit (PCS) Personnel Change of Station to Ft Lewis, Washington where it has been stationed to the present. Since this reactivation, it has participated in numerous exercises and operations including relief operations following Hurricane Andrew. The unit was awarded the Joint Award for meritorious achievement while serving with the Task Force Somalia from 5 December 1992 to 4 May 1993. On 16 October 2001, the 62nd Medical Group was re-designated as 62nd Medical Brigade. Additionally, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment was re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company. Second Gulf War The Headquarters, 62nd Medical Brigade began initial planning for deployment as the medical brigade for Task Force Ironhorse, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood, Texas. The brigade was one element of the task force planned to enter Iraq through Turkey. When the northern option dissolved, the brigade deployed to