United States Army Medical Department Museum
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Army Medical Department Museum or AMEDD Museum, Fort Sam Houston
, San Antonio, Texas
, originated as part of the Army's Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks
, Pennsylvania. It moved to Fort Sam Houston in 1946. It is currently a component of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School.
The museum
features the history of the Army Medical Department from 1775 to the present, as well as medical contributions of the Army during times of peace
and war
. General areas covered are significant historical events, scientific and technological advances, development of the medical field service and contributions of key officers and enlisted personnel. Audio-visual presentations introduce the history of the Department. Two large galleries house the medical equipment, uniforms
, medal
s, insignia and artwork that make up the museum's exhibits. Museum holdings include material on medical personnel, POWs
in World War II
's Pacific Theater
, unit insignia and archival documents and photographs.
The museum has been chosen to preserve historic artifacts from Navy Hospital Corps School Great Lakes. BRAC 2005 resulted in transferred of Corps School from Chicago to the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC), also located on Fort Sam Houston. http://www.defense.gov/brac/
Specific displays of interest include:
Outside the museum are examples of medical vehicles including ambulances and a fully equipped hospital train ambulance car. A Medical Combat Memorial honors the Army's combat medics.
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
, San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, originated as part of the Army's Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks
Carlisle Barracks
Carlisle Barracks is a United States Army facility located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It is part of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and is the site of the U.S. Army War College...
, Pennsylvania. It moved to Fort Sam Houston in 1946. It is currently a component of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School.
The museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
features the history of the Army Medical Department from 1775 to the present, as well as medical contributions of the Army during times of peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
. General areas covered are significant historical events, scientific and technological advances, development of the medical field service and contributions of key officers and enlisted personnel. Audio-visual presentations introduce the history of the Department. Two large galleries house the medical equipment, uniforms
Military uniform
Military uniforms comprises standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. Military dress and military styles have gone through great changes over the centuries from colourful and elaborate to extremely utilitarian...
, medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
s, insignia and artwork that make up the museum's exhibits. Museum holdings include material on medical personnel, POWs
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
's Pacific Theater
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, unit insignia and archival documents and photographs.
The museum has been chosen to preserve historic artifacts from Navy Hospital Corps School Great Lakes. BRAC 2005 resulted in transferred of Corps School from Chicago to the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC), also located on Fort Sam Houston. http://www.defense.gov/brac/
Specific displays of interest include:
- Dr. William BeaumontWilliam BeaumontWilliam Beaumont was a surgeon in the U.S. Army who became known as the "Father of Gastric Physiology" following his research on human digestion.-Early life:...
, the Army surgeon known as the "Father of Gastric Physiology" - Brigadier General George Sternberg, MD, the Surgeon General known as the "Father of American Bacteriology"
- MASH (Mobile Army Surgical HospitalMobile Army Surgical HospitalThe Mobile Army Surgical Hospital refers to a United States Army medical unit serving as a fully functional hospital in a combat area of operations. The units were first established in August 1945, and were deployed during the Korean War and later conflicts. The U.S...
) units in KoreaKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union... - Medical air evac in VietnamVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
- Combat MedicCombat medicCombat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...
Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipients (43 from 1861 to 1970) - Images of all (but one) of the Army Surgeons GeneralSurgeons General of the United States ArmyThe Surgeon General of the United States Army is the senior-most officer of the U.S. Army Medical Department . By policy, the Surgeon General serves as Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command as well as head of the AMEDD...
- Aftermath of the 1876 Battle of the Little BighornBattle of the Little BighornThe Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand and, by the Indians involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, was an armed engagement between combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army...
in Montana
Outside the museum are examples of medical vehicles including ambulances and a fully equipped hospital train ambulance car. A Medical Combat Memorial honors the Army's combat medics.
See also
- National Museum of the United States Army#Other Army museums
- Army Medical Museum and LibraryArmy Medical Museum and LibraryThe Army Medical Museum and Library of the U.S. Army was a large brick building constructed in 1887 at South B Street and 7th Street, SW, Washington, D.C., USA, which is directly on the National Mall...
- List of ships of the United States Army#Hospital ships
External links
- United States Army Medical Department Museum official website
- AMEDD Museum - old website
- Navy Hospital Corps School Great Lakes http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navmedmpte/nhcs-gl/Pages/default.asp - official website