Approximately 110 Soldiers with the 405th Field Hospital and 399th Field Hospital visited the Fort McCoy Commemorative Area on Aug. 8 while at Fort McCoy after supporting the 86th Training Division’s Warrior Exercise 2026 and Regional Medic 2026.
The Soldiers took time away from their medical training to explore Fort McCoy’s history and learn more about the generations of service members who have trained and served at the installation since its establishment in 1909.
The 405th Field Hospital, based in West Hartford, Conn., and the 399th Field Hospital, based in Taunton, Mass., are U.S. Army Reserve medical units assigned to the 803rd Hospital Center, 804th Medical Brigade, 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support). Both units provide deployable medical capabilities and are organized to support military medical operations in a variety of environments.
Warrior Exercise 2026 and Regional Medic 2026 brought Army Reserve units to Fort McCoy for large-scale collective training designed to integrate combat support, combat service support and medical capabilities in scenarios that replicate large-scale combat operations and multidomain operations.
The training ran July 21 through Aug. 10, with participating medical units providing treatment, preventive care and medical support while also training in their respective missions.
During their Aug. 8 visit, the Soldiers toured the Fort McCoy History Center, the World War II-era Commemorative Area buildings, Equipment Park and Veterans Memorial Plaza, experiencing the major attractions within the historical area.
The History Center features artifacts, photographs, documents, uniforms, equipment and other memorabilia that tell the story of Fort McCoy’s role in military history, including its involvement in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Cuban Refugee Resettlement operations, Operation Desert Storm and more-recent military operations.
The Soldiers also explored the five World War II-era buildings preserved within the Commemorative Area. The buildings represent facilities that were part of Fort McCoy’s cantonment when it was constructed in 1942. Among the displays are a World War II-era administrative facility, dining facility and barracks set up to depict Soldier life during the 1940s, including period furnishings such as bunk beds, footlockers and potbelly stoves. Other buildings contain displays highlighting World War II and later periods of Fort McCoy history.
At Equipment Park, the group viewed more than 70 pieces of historical and present-day military equipment representative of equipment used at Fort McCoy. The collection includes helicopters, howitzers, tanks, trucks, trailers and other equipment, providing visitors with a physical look at the evolution of military technology and training at the installation.
The Soldiers also visited Veterans Memorial Plaza, which pays tribute to the men and women who have served during the various eras of Fort McCoy’s history. The plaza features Soldier statues representing service during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the conflicts associated with Operations Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
The visit provided the Soldiers with an opportunity to see how Fort McCoy’s history connects generations of military service with the installation’s current role as a major training center.
For the medical Soldiers participating in Warrior Exercise and Regional Medic 2026, that connection was especially relevant as they trained alongside other Army Reserve formations in a complex operational environment.
The 86th Training Division, headquartered at Fort McCoy, led the exercise, with participating units working through realistic training scenarios intended to develop collective readiness and prepare Soldiers and units for potential missions. The integrated exercise included medical support and training as part of a broader effort to synchronize combat, combat support, combat service support and medical capabilities.
The Commemorative Area serves a complementary purpose by preserving the history of those who trained before today's Soldiers. Its History Center, historic buildings, Equipment Park and Veterans Memorial Plaza provide visitors with multiple ways to see, hear and experience Fort McCoy’s military heritage. The Army describes the area as a major location for preserving the installation’s history and honoring generations of service members.
For the approximately 110 Soldiers from the 405th and 399th Field Hospitals, the Aug. 8 visit offered a chance to step away from their training scenarios and experience another important part of their time at Fort McCoy — learning about the Soldiers, equipment and missions that helped shape the installation they were using to prepare for today’s Army.
Warrior Exercise 2026 and Regional Medic 2026 provided the training mission; the Commemorative Area provided the history. Together, the two experiences connected today’s Army Reserve Soldiers with more than a century of military service at Fort McCoy.
Fort McCoy has supported America’s armed forces since 1909. Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin.
The post’s varied terrain, state-of-the-art ranges, new as well as renovated facilities, and extensive support infrastructure combine to provide military personnel with an environment in which to develop and sustain the skills necessary for mission success.
The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984. Learn more about Fort McCoy online athttps://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortmccoywi, and on DVIDS by visiting https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/FMPAO.
Also try downloading the My Army Post app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base. Fort McCoy is also part of Army’s Installation Management Command where “We Are The Army’s Home.”
| Date Taken: |
08.13.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
08.13.2026 12:40 |
| Story ID: |
572330 |
| Location: |
FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
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17 |
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This work, Soldiers with 405th, 399th Field Hospitals visit Fort McCoy Commemorative Area during Warrior Exercise, Regional Medic 2026, by Scott Sturkol, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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