Approved 16 October 2008, the 65th Medical Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia features a maroon cross with white border, longtime colors of the Army Medical Corps. A downward-pointing sword with intertwined snakes recalls the caduceus, with the sword replacing the staff to indicate a military unit in a non-combatant role. The serpents cross each other seven times in recognition of the unit’s six World War II campaign streamers and Meritorious Unit Streamer (embroidered “European Theater”). The fleur-de-lis is also a reference to service in France during WWII. DA DEXTRAM MISERO,” the unit motto, roughly translates into English as, “Give Your Right Hand To The Wretched.”
The strong alliance between the Republic of Korea—home of the Brigade from 1958 to 1971 and from 2008 to present—and the United States is denoted by the taeguk. It is also a reference to the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded to 18th Medical Command for service in Korea in 1989 ; the 65th Medical Brigade was formed through the inactivation of the 18th Medical Command on 15 October 2008 and given its current designation the very next day.
As of Winter 2024, the 65th Medical Brigade an active U.S. Army unit assigned to Eighth Army. It is headquarterd in the Republic of Korea at Camp Humphreys, officall designated as United States Army Garrison Humphreys and also home of Headquarters, Eighth Army.
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Also known as unit crests, Distinctive Unit Insignias (DUIs) are worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been
authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
For Enlisted personnel, the insignia is centered on a shoulder loop by placing it an equal distance from the outside shoulder seam to the outside edge of the shoulder-loop button. Officers (except Generals) wearing grade insignia on the shoulder loops center the DUI by placing it an equal distance between the inside edge of the grade insignia and the outside edge of the button.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e),
"Beret" and
"Garrison Cap," respectively.
Related Items
65th Medical Brigade Patch (SSI)