Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston –
A bronze sculpture representing the diverse 100-year history
of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps was unveiled at the U.S. Army Medical
Department Museum at Fort Sam Houston June 3.
Brig. Gen. Erik H. Torring, chief of the U.S. Army
Veterinary Corps, along with Dr. Joseph Kinnarney, American Veterinary Medical
Association president, and San Antonio artist Donna Dobberfuhl unveiled the
life-sized sculpture.
With the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and
Uniformed Veterinary Medicine Association providing funding for the monument,
Dobberfuhl was commissioned to design a unique sculpture representing the
Corps’ past and current missions. The artist’s career spans more than 40 years
and one of her pieces is on display at the National Prisoner of War Museum in
Andersonville, Ga.
“All through my career, it’s been about the passion for the
art,” Dobberfuhl said. “I put all of my heart and my soul into every one of my
commissions. This one has it all, plus a little bit more,”
The monument has four distinct scenes depicting the Army
Veterinary Corps history and it’s primary missions.
A World War I Veterinary Corps officer with a horse
symbolizes the Corps origins as medical professionals charged with providing
animal care. To the right is a Vietnam-era officer utilizing a light microscope
portraying the Corps’ significant contributions to medical research and
development. Next is a Cold War-era
Veterinary Corps officer inspecting rations demonstrates the Corps’ critical
role in food protection. Finally, a contemporary-era Veterinary Corps officer
treats a military working dog, representing the continuing evolutionary mission
through animal health care.
In his remarks, Kinnarney said recognizing the Veterinary
Corps centennial anniversary with a statute was suggested last year. In a span
of eight months, the monument was designed and created with more than 2,500
hours of labor invested in the project.
After the ceremony, Corps members demonstrated a mobile
veterinary and surgery tent used on deployments.
While downrange, Army Veterinary Corps members can diagnose
and treat animals, utilizing advanced medical equipment.
Army food inspectors are responsible for ensuring the
quality of food and fluids while deployed. Also on hand were members of the
509th Security Forces Squadron from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph,
demonstrating the abilities of their military working dogs.