The 124th Medical Detachment (Optometry) Deactivates

HONOLULU-- The 124th Medical Detachment (Optometry) unit's guidon was cased during a deactivation ceremony at Fort DeRussy Oct. 7.

The 124th Med. Det. deactivated due to ongoing force realignment occurring throughout the U.S. Army.

With less than ten Soldiers authorized in this optometry unit, the 124th Medical Detachment covered missions not just within the local Hawaii garrison Area of Responsibility, but all over the Pacific Rim. The unit provided optometry and medical support for Nepal, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.

"Instead of focusing on why we couldn't do it [a mission or assignment], we instead turned our efforts to how it could be done, and because of that, we were able to accomplish any mission assigned to us successfully," said Capt. John Stehulak, 124th Med. Det. Commander.

"We were able to export our professionalism to more than seven different countries within the Pacific area of operation," Stehulak said. "We have been on orders for three different continents simultaneously, and we successfully accomplished all of those missions."

Over the unit's tenure, Stehulak said it provided routine and emergency care to thousands of patients of every age, race and gender, with proficiency no matter the level of difficulty of the mission assigned.

"Let me reassure everyone that although the unit is deactivating, it is not forgotten," said Bret T. Ackermann, the 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) Commander. " The 124th's guidon is safely stowed until the United States Army Medical Department needs her services again. Then, the 124th will once again activate, uncase her guidon and deploy to wherever needed to execute her mission to standard. Thank you for your service and your leadership on this island, throughout the Pacific Rim, and in combat. Very well done, Pacific Knights."

Related Links: