A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of two maroon annulets tangent on a vertical axis surmounted by a scarlet Greek cross, the upper and lower arms each lying within and the ends touching the inner circumference of the annulets, charged in the center with a gold fleur-de-lis encompassed by a circle of eight gold five-pointed stars, one with point up, near the extremity of each of the four arms of the cross and two obliquely on each of the annulets between the arms of the cross. The upper annulet inscribed at top with "THE BEST" and the lower annulet inscribed in base with "OF MANY," all in gold letters, the ends of the cross and the outer circumference of the annulets joined by narrow gold diagonals of equal length, the enclosed areas and those within the annulets all in white.
The two annulets as delineated in conjunction with the cross symbolize the basic mission of the Hospital, the annulets implying mobility and speed by air and land conveyance in the collection, treatment and further evacuation or return to duty of wounded and other casualties from combat and advanced areas. The cross refers to the Hospital and two annulets simulate the numeral "8," the Hospital's numerical designation, also alluded to by the eight-sided silhouette or outline of the design. The four stars on the annulets refer to the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns, World War I, in which the unit participated, while participation in the Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines and Po Valley campaigns, World War II, is indicated by the four stars on the cross, the fleur-de-lis being symbolic of both France and Italy (emblem of Florence), the scarlet color of the cross also referring to the Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded the unit for its Italian service, World War II. The circle of stars with some on the annulets and some on the cross further alludes to the evacuation mission of the Hospital.
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 8th Evacuation Hospital on 26 May 1969. It was redesignated for the 8th Combat Support Hospital on 11 March 1974. The insignia was redesignated for the 8th Evacuation Hospital with the description revised effective 16 March 1984.