U.S. Army Hospital Renamed in Honor of Col. Brian D. Allgood

By 18th Medical CommandJuly 23, 2008

Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The United States Army Garrison, YongSan, Korea, renamed the Army hospital there in honor of Col. Brian D. Allgood in a memorial ceremony June 30. In recognition of his outstanding service and significant contributions to the Army Medical Department and the U.S. Army, this medical treatment facility was officially memorialized and became the Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital.

Allgood served as the commander at this hospital from June 2004 through June 2006. In addition to family members in attendance, guest speakers included the U.S. Army Medical Command Commander and U.S. Army Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker and Command Sgt. Maj. Ricardo Alcantara, Command Sergeant Major, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C.

Allgood, a highly respected orthopedic physician and commander, served selflessly and set the example for others to follow. Those who worked for him admired his calmness under pressure and the ability to always put them at ease. It was common for Allgood to visit his staff members to have a leisurely conversation and check on how they were doing.

Schoomaker said it best, "Knowing Brian, he is looking down and saying that he did not deserve such an honor, and the hospital should be named after a more deserving fallen medic or Soldier."

In honor of Allgood, the following has been engraved and secured to the wall of the main entrance of Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital: COLONEL BRIAN D. ALLGOOD, U.S. ARMY.

Allgood graduated from the United States Military Academy and received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Oklahoma. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Brooke Army Medical center and subsequently became board certified in orthopedic surgery.

During his command in Korea, Allgood masterfully guided the transformation of medical units containing more than 2,500 personnel, orchestrated the closure of two medical and two dental treatment facilities, redeployed one air ambulance company to CONUS, transferred a second air ambulance company to the 2nd Infantry Division's 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, and guided the renovation of the U.S. Army military treatment facility located at Camp YongSan. He was responsible for improving the quality of care for DoD beneficiaries in Korea, strengthening the ROK-U. S. alliance through the addition of six Korean Affiliated Hospitals to Korea's TRICARE healthcare network. He made a marked and lasting impact on the provision of healthcare in the Korean Theater of Operations.

Allgood's final assignment was July 2006 when he was posted as the Command Surgeon Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I). On Jan. 20, 2007, he, along with eleven other U.S. service members, made the ultimate sacrifice when their UH-60 helicopter was shot down by enemy rocket fire. All 12 occupants of the helicopter were killed in the crash. During his assignment as the MNF-I Surgeon, Allgood dedicated himself to improving the medical capability of Iraqi Security Forces.

At the time of his death, he was working toward resourcing key enhancements to the Baghdad city morgue, the prosthetics clinic, the burn unit, and the Iraqi medical logistics system. He was the officer directly responsible for coordinating the policy that resulted in the procurement and issue of burn-resistant uniforms to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines serving in the Iraqi theater.