The United States Army Health Services Command (USAHSC) was established as a major Army Command headquartered at Fort Sam Houston on 1 April 1973 as part of a major reorganization of the Army Medical Department. With the establishment of Health Services Command, the Office of The Surgeon General was relieved of the vast majority of its command and operational responsibilities so the Surgeon General could focus on the task of serving as the principal advisor on health and medical matters to the Chief of Staff of the Army. Major General Spurgeon H. Neel was the first commander of the USAHSC. In 1994, the USAHSC was merged again with the Office of The Surgeon General.
The Army Health Services Command unit patch, or Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, was actually approved for the command several months before (January 1973) the Command was stood up. Maroon and white are the official colors of the Army Medical Department, while the intertwined serpents and wings are taken from the caduceus; their placement on a sword positioned point to base symbolizes mercy and sacrifice and denotes the noncombatant nature of the Command’s mission.