JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Everyone says the military is a tight-knit community, but for one family, the connection to Brooke Army Medical Center and Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is formidable, spanning three generations.
Claire Murtha was born at BAMC in March 2019 to Air Force Capt. (Dr.) Andy Murtha and his wife, Caroline. Andy Murtha was also born at BAMC in 1989, and is currently a fourth-year orthopaedic surgery resident at BAMC. Caroline Murtha, too, recently worked at BAMC, as an oncology registered nurse.
But the family connection goes much further.
“I was born during the intern year of my dad's residency in anesthesiology,” Andy Murtha said.
“I have great memories of my time at the old BAMC and I visit the post to reminisce every time we are in San Antonio,” added his father, Scott Murtha. “It was a privilege to take care of our dedicated military men and women and their families. I have great respect for them and our country through this experience and have passed these values on to my children.”
Coincidently, Caroline’s father, Steve Mueller, was also born in old BAMC when his father, Army Capt. (Dr.) Arnold Mueller, was stationed there in 1958.
“It’s a blessing to have a healthy granddaughter,” Mueller said. “Sharing the same hospital as our common birthplace 60 years later makes it even more special. What are the odds on that happening?”
“It means a lot that Claire was born at BAMC,” Andy Murtha said. “I was excited to press the button and hear the lullaby announcing her birth.”
Andy’s mother, Jeani Murtha, agrees.
“We thought it was interesting that both of the families had connections to BAMC when Andy and Caroline started dating years ago, but we never imagined that they, too, would be at BAMC at the time of their daughter’s birth. It’s rare to have this unique experience for three generations of a family in the same military medical facility.”