The recent passing of COL(Ret) Basil Pruitt, Jr and COL (Ret) Beth LaNoue inspired the AMEDD Museum Foundation executive committee to establish memorial funds in honor of them both. The funds donated in honor of Dr. Pruitt will be used for an exhibit of the advances in medicine flowing from his work at the Army’s Institute for Surgical Research, and the committee’s donations in honor of Beth LaNoue fund will be used to support ongoing renovation of the AMEDD Museum.

COL (Ret) Basil A. Pruitt Jr., M.D., FACS, a renowned surgeon known as one of the founding fathers of modern trauma and burn medicine, died March 17, 2019. Dr. Pruitt was commander and director of the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston for 27 years before retiring from the US Army Medical Corps in 1995 and accepting a faculty position as Professor of Surgery at UT Health San Antonio, where he held the Dr. Ferdinand P. Herff Chair in Surgery and remained an active contributor to the US Army Institute for Surgical Research. Innovations he led at the USAISR resulted, over the last half-century, in a dramatic improvement in the survival of patients with severe burns. When he started his career, a patient with burns over 43 percent of the body had a 50 percent chance of surviving. Today, the same patient’s survival chances have improved to more than 75 percent.

Colonel (Retired) Beth LaNoue, the wife of our 38th AMEDD Surgeon General, Lieutenant General (Retired) Alcide LaNoue, died March 10, 2019. Beth was born in Miami, Florida on December 26, 1931. She graduated from Valley Forge Christian College in Pennsylvania and thereafter, she received her designation as a Registered Nurse at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. Beth served 10 years as a nurse before entering the U.S. Army, where, over twenty-one years she attained increasing roles, ultimately earning the rank of Colonel as Chief Nurse at Eisenhower Army Medical Center before retiring in 1987. At retirement, Beth became very involved in many volunteer services and fundraising efforts. She especially enjoyed serving as an Arlington Lady, where she supported those bereaved at the Arlington National Cemetery during burial services.

To make a donation, please note “COL Pruitt Fund” or “COL LaNoue Fund” on your check made out to the AMEDD Museum Foundation.  Call 210-226-0265 for assistance.