Brooke Medical Center Unit Crest (Dedication Duty Service)

Located on Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, the Brooke Army Medical Center is 425-bed facility that also serves as an Academic Medical Center. It is the Department of Defense’s largest medical facility and is also home to the Army Medial Command’s only Level 1 Trauma Center.

The origins of the Brooke Army Medical Center go back 1879 and the first Post Hospital was opened as medical dispensary in a single-story building. It was transformed into a permanent hospital in 1886, and in 1908 an 84-bed Station Hospital was erected on the west side of the post. Brigadier General Roger Brooke assumed command of the Station Hospital in 1929, and his contributions to Army medicine were honored when the Station Hospital was renamed Brooke General Hospital in 1942.

Today, it is the Army’s in-patient hospital, accredited by the Joint Commission and expandable to more than 650 beds in the event of a disaster or emergency. It is home to ten organizations offering a wide variety of services, including general medicine, surgical care, pediatric care, specialty clinics, wellness and prevention programs, environmental health, and even veterinary care.

Maroon and white predominate the palette of the U.S. Army Brooke Army Medical Center Distinctive Unit Insignia, highlighted by a white star in the center superimposed on a red cross, traditional symbol of military medical aid and assistance. Four golden rats emanating from behind the star form a saltire, or “x,” a reference to the first standardized military use of X-ray by Dr. Brooke. The star is of course a symbol of leadership, and it also denotes the State of Texas (“Lone Star State”), Texas founding father Sam Houston, and Brigadier General Brooke. “Dedication Duty Service” is the organization’s motto.

This Distinctive Unit Insignia, more commonly called a “unit crest,” was first approved for the Brooke General Hospital on 5 December 1969. It was redesignated for the Brooke Army Medical Center on 15 August 1973.

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