The 349th Combat Support Hospital is a subordinate unit of the 139th Medical Brigade, 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support) in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR). Headquartered at Bell, California, it comprises three Medical Detachments: the 272nd and 1872nd at the USAR Center in Garden Grove and the 144th at the USAR Center in San Diego.
Originally approved for the 349th General Hospital on 4 January 1972, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 349th Combat Support Hospital features a mission bell with a cross, symbolizing the Hospital at Bell, California. The belfry containing the bell is an emblem of service, endurance, and strength, while the gold palm branches at the bottom connote good health and the sun's healing rays. The unit motto, “Serve The Defender,” is a concise statement of the unit’s primary mission focus.
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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 (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.