The 8th Field Hospital was activated at Camp Butner, North Carolina on 25 January 1943 and deployed to England before arriving in France in July 1944. It earned credit for participation in three campaigns (Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe), and its team of “Dedicated Professionals” saved the lives of countless numbers of Soldiers while simultaneously advancing the capabilities of medical treatment at forward-deployed sites.
During the Vietnam conflict, the 8th Field Hospital was the first U.S. medical facility in the country, beginning operations in 1962; by 1965, it had already been awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations (for service between February and September 1963 and January to July 1965). From September 1967 through July 1968, at the peak of the war, the 8th Field Hospital had a daily patient census of 200 patients, performed some 3500 surgical procedures, and had 57,000 outpatient visits.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a Distinctive Unit Insignia is 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 (ASU, 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.
The 8th Field Hospital Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 25 February 1969. Its gold bamboo stalks and green laurel denote the unit’s service in Vietnam for which it was awarded Meritorious Unit Commendations. In the center of the insignia, a fleur-de-lis alludes to the unit’s service in France during World War II. The cross is a symbol of support and aid to those in distress and suggests the unit’s basic mission of providing medical care and treatment. The eight sides of the octagon containing the fleur-de-lis refer to the unit’s numerical designation.
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.