The once U.S. Army Dental Activity-Fort Stewart now has a new name and distinctive unit insignia. As of Oct. 1, 2016, the Fort Stewart DENTAC name was changed to Dental Health Activity, which required the creation of a new insignia. Kevin Goodrow, secretary for the DENHAC command team, heard the call and stepped forward to answer by creating a new, distinctive unit insignia.

So when the Institute of Heraldry contacted the unit in regards to a new crest design, Corporal Michael Massey, DENHAC operations non-commissioned officer --in-charge coordinated with the Institute of Heraldry for their requirements. The command team solicited various designs from the DENHAC, which were all turned down by the IOH.

According to the Institute of Heraldry, the IOH has a long and distinguished record of support to the United States Army. Its purpose was to take responsibility for the coordination and approval of coats of arms and other insignia for Army organizations.

Over the holiday break late last year, DENHAC Commander, Lt. Col. Robert Selders challenged Goodrow to create a design to represent Fort Stewart and to exclude anything directly linking the 3rd Infantry Division or the Dental Corps insignia, as those designs were previously turned down.

Goodrow, who retired last year after serving 20 years as a Military Police officer, is a self-described history buff and took on the challenge.

"The acronym had to change from DENTAC to DENHAC," Goodrow explained. "Our crest, our flag, and our guidons, all these things had to change so that they matched the new name."

So, Goodrow started doing his homework.

"I kind of delved into the history of Fort Stewart," Goodrow said. "I was kind inspired by that history. The V for the victory division, under the 24th Infantry Division is what kind of hit me like a ton of bricks. My original scheme was looking at a shield in black and white scheme, because that was General Oglethorpe's Family colors."

With what Goodrow found, he then designed the crest to pay homage to represent the two different missions of the DENHAC, which are wellness and readiness. He added the red cross to associate with the medical corps. Through his research he decided to keep Gen. Stewart's Family Coat of Arms, the blue and white checkered box, and use the coat of arms in his design.

Once completed, Goodrow presented his design to the command team and he received on-the-spot approval. Massey submitted the final design to IOH and this time the IOH took Goodrow's design and made it into the final crest. On Feb. 21, Goodrow discovered the IOH officially changed the DENHAC crest to the one he created.

Goodrow lamented he and his wife Arianna, who works for U.S. Army Medical Department, are both proud of his accomplishment, and Arianna is his biggest fan and supporter.

"I was proud of the design I submitted," Goodrow said. "I didn't think it would come back. I knew that once it was submitted the institute of heraldry has professional artist and that they would change it, but when I saw the original concept and how little it had changed from my concept, I felt pretty proud. "I guess I must have submitted something worth something that they felt needed very little changing. I like to be a key player in anything that is going on. I'm always happier being a background player."

He said he too is happy for the opportunity to add his "two cents" to Army history.

"The old design has been around for 30 years … I hope that mine will live on quite as long," Goodrow said.