Command Sergeant Majors of Health Services Command (HSC)/MEDCOM
CSM Tavernier served as the first Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Health Services Command (Provisional) from April 1973 to July 1973.
CSM Howard Tavernier served during four campaigns in Italy. He subsequently served as Administrative NCO and First Sergeant at the Medical Replacement Training Centers at Fort Meade, MD, and Fort Pickett, VA. He then served in Germany as Battalion Supply Sergeant, First Sergeant and Sergeant Major of Headquarters Company, 7th Army in 1955.
CSM Tavernier then served his first tour of duty at Fort Sam Houston with Brooke Army Medical Center and the Army Medical Service School. In 1959, he transferred overseas to Korea, serving with the Korea Military Advisory Group and as Sergeant Major of the 121st Evacuation Hospital. He returned to Fort Sam Houston and served with Brooke Army Medical Center and the Medical Field Service School until 1966. At that time, he returned to Korea as the Sergeant Major of the 121st Evacuation Hospital.
CSM Tavernier returned to Fort Sam Houston and served as Sergeant major of the newly designated position of Command Sergeant Major, Medical Field Service School from 1966 to 1969. He returned to Korea as Command Sergeant Major of the 7th Medical Battalion and the 7th Infantry Division Support Command from 1969 to 1970. He served next as Command Sergeant Major of Brooke Army Medical Center and the Medical Field Service School and was selected to be the first Command Sergeant Major of the newly organized United States Health Services Command in April 1973.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal, European -African -Middle-East Campaign Medal (Four Campaigns), World War Two Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, Army of Occupational Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, The Combat Infantry Badge, Presidential Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Commendation
