Articles

July 17, 2025

Keeping Stress in Check

Editor’s note: The Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center has begun a Behavioral Health Initiative to inform the community with information and resources that will help with everyday struggles like stress management, nutrition and physical health, emotional intelligence, and healthy habits. This article focuses on maintaining healthy stress levels and aims to help readers recognize when stress may be affecting their well-being. FORT HOOD, Texas – Have you had days, maybe even weeks, when it seems like one thing after another happens to create a sense that everything is going wrong? You aren’t alone. We all have stress in our lives, and we must deal with it. The key is to manage it appropriately.

July 1, 2025

Army Nurse Cadets Find Their Path Through Hands-On Summer Training

Fort Hood, Texas — Four Army ROTC nurse cadets spent the past month training alongside military nurses at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, gaining real-world experience and a clearer view of life as an Army Nurse Corps officer.The Nurse Summer Training Program, or NSTP, is a 28-day clinical immersion designed to prepare future Army nurses through hands-on

June 30, 2025

Understanding Cognitive Distortions: How to Stop Being Your Brain’s Press Secretary

FORT HOOD, Texas – We all experience unhelpful thought patterns, but often assume our thoughts are logical and true. The reality is our brains use shortcuts, and while efficient, these can lead to cognitive distortions – inaccurate conclusions that impact our well-being, relationships, and performance. Recognizing these distortions and learning to challenge them is crucial for good mental health.

June 23, 2025

Graduation Ceremony Honors Future Leaders in Army Medicine

FORT HOOD, Texas –Applause echoed through the auditorium of the Lone Star Convention Center at Fort Hood on June 20 as proud families, mentors, and military leaders gathered to celebrate the 2025 graduating class of the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s Graduate Medical Education programs. This year’s ceremony honored the accomplishments of medical professionals completing rigorous training in five specialized programs: Emergency Medicine Residency, Family Medicine Residency, Nurse Anesthesia, Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship, and Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Fellowship.

June 20, 2025

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Welcomes New Commander in Change of Command Ceremony

FORT HOOD, Texas — Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC) marked a significant leadership transition on June 18, as Col. Mark L. Jacques assumed command from Col. Garrick L. Cramer during a formal change of command ceremony held in the hospital atrium. Brig. Gen. Yolonda “YR” Summons, commander of Medical Readiness Command, West and Defense Health Network West served as the reviewing officer and led the ceremony. She extended gratitude to the distinguished guests, family members, CRDAMC staff, and visitors for attending, and commended the team for hosting another exceptional event.

June 16, 2025

CRDAMC wraps up Joint Emergency Medicine Exercise, testing austere environment skills

FORT HOOD, Texas – The Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center concluded its annual Joint Emergency Medicine Exercise June 13 at Fort Hood, following a grueling week of high-intensity field training that brought together U.S. military and allied medical forces from the Netherlands Royal Army and the United Arab Emirates Army. The multinational medical training event pushed participants into challenging, resource-limited environments meant to mirror the real-life chaos of combat zones, disaster response efforts, and mass casualty events.

June 13, 2025

CRDAMC welcomes its newest teammate: 2nd Lt. Solomon, the facility dog

FORT Hood, Texas — A new teammate joined the ranks at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center—and this one has four legs, a wagging tail, and a heart trained to heal.CRDAMC officially commissioned 2nd Lt. Solomon, a 2½-year-old black Labrador retriever, during a ceremony held Friday afternoon in the hospital atrium. With his calm demeanor, sharp intelligence, and

June 13, 2025

Chief Warrant Officers Keith Yoakum and Jason Defrenn, Army aviators who stayed in the fight to protect their wingmen

FORT HOOD, Texas — Born on Nov. 24, 1965, in Hemet, California, Keith Yoakum enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from Hemet High School in 1984. A passionate aviator, he earned his pilot's license in the 1980s and became a flight instructor. Yoakum's military career spanned over two decades, during which he served as an Apache helicopter pilot.In 2005, he

June 12, 2025

Sgt. Russell L. Collier, a combat medic who risked his life to save fellow soldiers under fire

FORT HOOD, Texas — Born in Harrison, Arkansas, Collier dedicated 18 years to military service across the Navy, Army, and National Guard, and planned to retire after two more years of military service.On October 3, 2004, Collier was killed in Taji, Iraq, while serving as a Medical Aidman with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Brigade. At the time, his

June 11, 2025

Pfc. Charles Thomas Moore, a combat medic who served on the front lines in Vietnam

FORT HOOD, Texas — Private First Class Charles Thomas Moore was born July 15, 1948, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Drafted into the Army in 1969, just two months after marrying his wife, Judy, Moore trained as a medical corpsman and deployed to Vietnam with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.On Jan. 5, 1970, during intense combat in Phuoc Long