US Army Medical Branch
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Branch
Insignia
- Description: A
gold color medal caduceus, 1 inch in height. (With the
exception of the Medical Corps, each Corps is identified
by black enamel letters centered on the caduceus
indicative of their Corps.) The insignia for Medical
Service Corps is silver. In 1851 "a caduceus
embroidered in yellow silk on a half chevron of emerald
green silk" was worn by Hospital Stewards of the
Medical Department. The caduceus in its present form was
approved in 1902. Rooted in mythology, the caduceus,
historically an emblem of physicians symbolizes
knowledge, wisdom, promptness, and various aspects of
medical skill.
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Branch
Plaque
- Description:
The plaque design has the branch insignia, letters, and
rim in gold except the Medical Service Corps is silver.
The background is maroon.
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Branch
Regimental Insignia
- Description: A
silver color metal and enamel device 1 inch in height
overall consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: Per
pale: to dexter, paly of thirteen Gules and Argent, on a
chief Azure 20 mullets in four rows of five each of the
Second; to sinister, Argent, a staff entwined with a
serpent Vert; attached below the shield a blue scroll
inscribed "TO CONSERVE FIGHTING STRENGTH" in
silver. The insignia was originally approved on 17 April
1986 but the size was changed from 1 1/4 inch to 1 inch
on 28 August 1986.
- Symbolism: The
design of the shield is based on the shield of a
historical heraldic device probably first used in 1818
by the Army Medical Department. The white stars on a
blue background and the red and white stripes represents
the United States flag of 1818. The green staff entwined
with the serpent, originating in mythology, is symbolic
of medicine and healing. Green was the color associated
with the Corps during the last half of the nineteenth
century. Symbology of the crest of the coat of arms: The
colors Argent and Gules are those associated with the
Army Medical Department. The cross and the wreath are
adapted from devices authorized for hospital stewards
and other enlisted men when the Hospital Corps was
established in 1887. The seven stars emphasize the
elements of the organization: Medical Corps, Army Nurse
Corps, Dental Corps, Veterinary Corps, Medical Service
Corps, Army Specialist Corps, and the Enlisted Medical
Specialist. The motto "TO CONSERVE FIGHTING
STRENGTH" reflects the medical mission.
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Branch
Regimental Coat of Arms
- Description:
The coat of arms is displayed on the breast of a
displayed eagle on the regimental flag. The coat of arms
is: Per pale: to dexter, paly of thirteen Gules and
Argent, on a chief Azure twenty mullets in four rows of
five each of the second; to sinister, Argent, a staff
entwined with a serpent Vert. The crest (On a wreath of
the colors Argent and Gules, a cross below an arc of
seven mullets all within a wreath of laurel, all Argent)
is displayed above the eagle's head. The background
color of the flag is maroon and the fringe is white. The
coat of arms was approved on 17 April 1986.
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