Commemorating care

Fort Belvoir's hospital celebrates 50 years

Photo by Marny Malin
Soldiers from DeWitt Army Community Hospital model various types of uniforms worn at the hospital in its 50-year history.

Fifty years of dedicated service to Soldiers and their families was lauded Thursday as DeWitt Army Community Hospital celebrated its golden anniversary, even as preparations are under way to build a new medical facility on Fort Belvoir as a result of Base Realignment and Closure 2005.

Former hospital commander Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Jones, who currently serves as the assistant surgeon general for force protection in the Office of the Surgeon General, recalled that, 10 years ago. discussion centered on downsizing DeWitt and turning the facility into a clinic.

"Times have changed, and now the talk is of the new facility that will soon be built behind us," he said as he gestured at the current facility. "Those who called 10 years ago from up north claiming to be your new boss will soon be calling asking for a job in the new hospital. That's a reflection of your outstanding service to your patients and the Fort Belvoir community."

Jones, the ceremony's guest speaker, noted the first hospital built on the installation was in 1918. During that year's flu pandemic, more than 6,000 Soldiers were hospitalized in the facility.

"There were 420 who died, among those who died first was the hospital commander," he continued.

From 1941 to 1957, the hospital was on North Post, where the Post Exchange and commissary are today.

"It was complex of 39 wooden, World War II buildings that contained 750 beds and was expandable to 1,000," he said.

On May 25, 1957, patients were moved into DeWitt.

"It was a state-of-the-art facility with innovations such as a black-and-white TV on every ward," he said. About a third of the hospital had air conditioning. It also had some familiar, modern-day problems.

"The budget was inadequate," Jones continued. "It was only $1.2 million that year. And there was parking for only 138 vehicles."

The hospital was officially dedicated in honor of Brig. Gen. Wallace DeWitt on June 26, 1957.

Born in 1878 at Fort Steele, Wyo., DeWitt was the son of an Army officer whose father served the Army for 49 years, first as an infantry officer, and later as a medical officer.
DeWitt received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1900 and entered the Army the same year as a contract surgeon.

In World War I, he was the surgeon for the 83rd Division before joining the VII Corps as chief surgeon. He served the Saint Die section of the First Army Sector and participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

After returning from France in 1919, he had assignments at Fort Thomas, Ky.; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco. In 1931, he became professor of military hygiene and post surgeon at the United States Military Academy, West Point, where he remained until being chosen to command Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 1935.

In December of that year, DeWitt was appointed Brigadier General, assistant to the surgeon general, a post he held until 1939. He assumed command of Letterman General Hospital in 1940. DeWitt retired in 1941, but was immediately recalled to active duty when the United States entered World War II. He was named post surgeon, San Francisco Port of Embarkation, and served until failing health forced him to retire in 1945. DeWitt died in December of 1949 at Letterman Army Hospital and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

During the dedication ceremony in 1957, then-Army Surgeon Gen. Silas B. Hayes said the quality of medical care depends primarily on the professional competence and enthusiasm of those providing the service, and not their physical surroundings.

"Those words are just as true today," continued Jones. "The quality of DeWitt's care is due to your competence, your enthusiasm and your selfless service,"

Noting that the nation has been at war for six years, Jones said, "Soldiers, families in AMEDD (Army Medical Department) are stretched and stressed by the demands of repeated deployments that are too long and recovery times that are too short. But, we remain a resilient and a committed professional force, and we are increasing the size of the Army as fast as we can."

The Army's "senior leaders now recognize that we need to expand and transform into an AMEDD capable of sustaining an Army at war," he said. "The new DeWitt hospital will play a major role in that transformation."

Patricia Ewers, a resident of Fairfax Station, was one of the first to be born in the hospital. "I had my health care here until I was 22," Ewers, who is a nurse with INOVA Fairfax, said with a smile.

An exhibit that featured pictures from the current hospital and plans for the new community hospital was also set up in the main conference room of the hospital, and Soldiers dressed in period uniforms dedicated time capsules during the event. Three women - Martha Coffey, Maxine Heyer and Alice Wright - were also honored as Friends of the [AMEDD] Regiment at the ceremony.

Additionally, four AMEDD Soldiers chose the anniversary celebration to re-enlist in the Army.