13 Replies Latest reply on Jul 19, 2019 10:12 AM by Francis Pommett, Jr

Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)

Francis Pommett, Jr Jun 25, 2019 2:20 PM

Looking for unit history of the 498th Medical Company (AA). What is the best website to find that information?

Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)

J. Andrew Jul 8, 2019 7:04 PM (in response to Francis Pommett, Jr)

Global Security is usually reasonably reliable.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/498med-co.htm

I also found this, but it looks a little dated and I can't vouch for the source.

http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/longbeach/498history.html
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- Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
  
  Francis Pommett, Jr Jul 9, 2019 11:57 AM (in response to J. Andrew)
  
  Thank you, Jason. The link to Global Security was good for a general history. I am disappointed that the Vietnam section is so sparse. Will keep looking and if I finally find some more Vietnam history for the 498th Med Co, I'll let you know.
  
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Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)

Rebecca Collier Jul 19, 2019 8:46 AM (in response to Francis Pommett, Jr)

Dear Mr. Pommett,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located a series titled Medical Unit Records, 1965-1973 in the Records of the U.S. Forces in Southeast Asia (Record Group 472) that include an organizational history for 1970 (Box 167) and daily journals for 1968-1969 (Box 168) of the 498th Medical Company. For access to these records, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.

We hope this information is helpful. Best of luck with your research!
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- Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
  
  Francis Pommett, Jr Jul 11, 2019 1:24 PM (in response to Rebecca Collier)
  
  Thank you very much Ms. Collier. I had sent an inquiry to archives2reference a few days ago and received a reply, It looked like a boilerplate response saying that it would be 3 weeks before I got a reply from them.
  
  Do you have suggestions as to how I can find electronic copies of the 498th Med Company unit histories dating back to 1965 and lasting through 1971, which are the years it was deployed to Vietnam?
  
  Also, is it likely that these records are not in electronic form at all, and are just stored on site in College Park in their original paper form?
  
  Your assistance has been very helpful.
  
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  - Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
    
    Elliot Schneider Jul 12, 2019 2:16 PM (in response to Francis Pommett, Jr)
    
    Francis,
    
    It is possible that the Army still owns the records, they maybe stored at different locations within the Archives until the Army and the retention periods are met. My understanding is that you would need to file a FOIA request also known as Freedom of information act. There is a person whom the Archives uses as the Army records manager believe his name is Anthony Gibson-Crawley. If someone could post his Information for Francis.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Elliot Schneider
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    - Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
      
      Francis Pommett, Jr Jul 17, 2019 12:11 PM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
      
      Thank you, Mr. Schneider. You've given me some information that I would not have considered. I suppose it is possible that the Army hasn't declassified these document, even after 50 years. I'm waiting for a response from archives2reference and will see what they have to say. In the meantime, I will look for contact information on Mr. Gibson-Crawley.
      
      Again, thanks for your feedback.
      
      Frank Pommett
      
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    - Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
      
      Francis Pommett, Jr Jul 17, 2019 1:32 PM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
      
      Hi again, Mr. Schneider.
      
      I was able to find the contact information for Mr. Crawley-Gibson. Will try to contact him for more guidance on my research. Here is the information I found:
      
      Anthony Crawley-Gibson
      Department of Defense
      Department of the Army
      Army Records Management Division
      9301 Chapek Road, Building 1458
      Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5527
      anthony.d.crawley-gibson.civ@mail.mil
      571-515-0218
      Updated: 10/16/2018
      
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  - Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
    
    Rebecca Collier Jul 18, 2019 7:53 AM (in response to Francis Pommett, Jr)
    
    Dear Mr. Pommett,
    
    Thank you for posting your follow-up request on History Hub!
    
    As indicated in our earlier response, we located an organizational history for 1970 (Box 167) and daily journals for 1968-1969 (Box 168) of the 498th Medical Company in Records Group 742. These records are in the custody of the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) and that is why you were asked to contact RDT2 for access to and/or copies of the records. The records are in paper format only. No digital images are available via the catalog.
    
    They are NOT in the custody of the Army as suggested by Mr. Schneider.
    
    We hope this information is helpful.
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    - Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
      
      Elliot Schneider Jul 18, 2019 9:35 AM (in response to Rebecca Collier)
      
      Mrs. Collier,
      
      Sorry Mrs. Collier for the confusion. In the earlier portion of Francis post he said he was looking through 1971. Noticing the records only went up to 1969 on daily journals and 1970 on histories. Just wanted to let him know that if 1971 is what he was also seeking the records might still be in the custody of the Army.
      
      Thanks,
      
      Elliot Schneider
      
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      - Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
        
        Rebecca Collier Jul 18, 2019 11:46 AM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
        
        These are the only records for the 498th Medical Company that the Army had while the unit was in Vietnam. They are now in NARA custody.
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        Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
        
        Francis Pommett, Jr Jul 19, 2019 10:12 AM (in response to Rebecca Collier)
        
        Ms. Collier,
        
        Again, thank you for your valuable insight.
        
        Do you think it's unusual that there seem to be so few historical records available for this large and active medical evacuation unit that was in Vietnam for 7 years? I have little knowledge of archival regulations or operations, so forgive my question if it's naive.
        
        Regards,
        
        Frank Pommett
        
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    - Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
      
      Francis Pommett, Jr Jul 19, 2019 10:26 AM (in response to Rebecca Collier)
      
      Ms. Collier,
      
      Thank you for your first message sent on July 18th. You answered a big question for me regarding the non-digitized status of the only available Vietnam era records for the 498th Medical Company. Sadly, that will likely bring my research to a close, as I reside in Gainesville, FL and will be unable to travel to College Park, MD to view the paper records.
      In this digital age we have come to expect that "everything" is available online! Which is why I mistakenly thought that I could do this research from my home in Florida. I appreciate your information. I will share this with my Vietnam veteran colleagues who served with the 498th Med Company and who had expressed a great deal of interest in seeing what my research uncovered.
      
      Regards,
      
      Frank Pommett
      
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      - Re: Unit History: 498th Medical Company (AA)
        
        Elliot Schneider Jul 19, 2019 2:46 PM (in response to Francis Pommett, Jr)
        
        Francis,
        
        Mrs. Collier was letting you that the information they have is in original paper copies only. The Textual records department will turn those records you seek into scanned digitized copies which can be uploaded to your email or you can choose to have them put onto a CD.
        
        Sorry for the confusion earlier your earlier statement said you wanted through 1971. Mrs. Collier corrected me and the records NARA has is for the 498th Medical Company while it was in Vietnam.
        
        Elliot Schneider
        
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