A silver color metal and enamel insignia 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height consisting of a demi-sun, from the seal of the President of the Philippines, blue with silver rays above a concave silver scroll inscribed "WITH PRIDE WE SUPPORT" in maroon letters; in front of and extending onto the scroll a maroon broad-arrow point down, the upper part surmounted by a silver ship with full sail charged with a maroon fleur-de-lis.
The ship and the fleur-de-lis, from the arms of Paris, France, refer to the initial organization of the Hospital in that city in 1918 and to its participation in World War I. A ship in full sail also symbolizes strength and safe conduct. The Philippine sun commemorates the World War II action for which the organization was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. In addition, the sun stands for knowledge and healing. The arrowhead refers to the Hospital's assault landing on Luzon. The "V" shape of the arrowhead also alludes to the original organization's numeric designation. Blue, the color of the Distinguished Unit Citation streamer, commemorates the action for which the Hospital received that decoration. The colors maroon and white or silver, which is synonymous with white in heraldry, are used for Army Medical Department organizations.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 5th Surgical Hospital on 16 July 1969. It was redesignated for the 55th Surgical Hospital effective 15 April 1982.