ALTUS, OK, USA U.S. Army COL, HHC, 30TH MEDICAL BRIGADE, V CORPS, HEIDELBERG, GERMANY BAGHDAD, IRAQ 01/20/2007
The top Multi-National Force-Iraq Surgeon was among the 12 people killed when a Black Hawk helicopter was hit by enemy fire and crashed near Baghdad, Iraq on January 20, 2007. He had been in Iraq for about six months.
Colonel Brian Allgood, M.D. graduated from West Point in 1982 and from the University of Oklahoma Medical Center four years later. He was the third generation of Allgoods to graduate from OU Medical Center. His father had served as a medical officer in Korea. COL Allgood oversaw all the hospitals, medical staff and medical facilities in Iraq. He was a well respected medical officer and professional on a fast track to attaining general officer rank. He was mentioned an August 2006 USA Today article about the reduction of heat-related deaths due to training. COL Allgood also improved medic training curriculum and after doing some additional airborne jumps and having noticed some injuries to parachutists, he recommended some procedural changes which were accepted and resulted in reduced jump-related injuries.
COL Allgood was very athletic in school, and this likely steered him into orthopedic surgery. He really liked the outdoors, fishing and was a big OU fan. He was a strong, fast, and avid runner ready for 10 mile race challenges.
He served at Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas, as a general surgery intern and Orthopedic Surgery Resident at Brooke in 1990. He was also assigned as the 82nd Airborne Division Surgeon, Fort Bragg, N.C., and served as Chief of Womack Army Medical Center’s Orthopedic Clinic. He commanded the 274th Surgical Team, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 232nd Medical Battalion, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and the U.S. Army Medical Activity, West Point, N.Y.
In July 2004, Allgood assumed command of the 18th Medical Command in Yong San, South Korea. He was then assigned to Heidelberg Army Community Hospital in 2006 as an orthopedic surgeon. He deployed to Iraq shortly after reporting to Heidelberg. COL Allgood’s wife and 11-year-old son, Wyatt, were living in Germany, where he would be stationed.
He was a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and Command and General Staff College, a graduate of the Army Flight Surgeon Course; the Jumpmaster Course, the Ranger Course; the Combat Casualty Course; and the Airborne Course.
Among his awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit (2 Oak Leaf Clusters); the Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLCs); National Defense Service Medal (2 OLCs); Expert Field Medical Badge; Flight Surgeon; and Master Parachutist Badge.
“Stay focused on and never forget what is important to you…Religious beliefs, Family, and Others, and act accordingly.” Col Allford’s philosophy of life reflects his strong and positive personality and gifts to others.
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