History of the 47th Combat Support Hospital

Brief History of the 47th Combat Support Hospital

Constituted 21 December 1928 in the Regular Army as the 47th Surgical Hospital.
Redesignated 31 May 1943 as the 47th Portable Surgical Hospital.
Activated 7 June 1943 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Inactivated 3 November 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.
Redesignated 24 November 1952 as the 47th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.
Activated 2 February 1953 in Korea.
Reorganized and redesignated 25 March 1953 as the 47th Surgical Hospital.
Inactivated 15 November 1957 at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Activated 10 January 1968 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Reorganized and redesignated 21 May 1973 as the 47th Combat Support Hospital.

Campaign Participation Credit
World War II: China Defensive
Korean War: Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953
Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease-Fire

Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Decorations
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA

Unit Insignia

The colors of the Medical Department are maroon and white. The evergreens are reminiscent of Fort Lewis, Washington, where the post is located within sight of Mt. Rainier, represented by the white peak at center. The gold sun is symbolic of life and the sword is for surgery in defense of life, suggesting the Hospital’s motto “Dedicated To Life.”