Asheville, N.C. — During National Hospital Week and Military Appreciation Month, HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division’s Information Technology Group (ITG), which supports Mission Hospital and regional facilities across western North Carolina, held a ceremony for a remarkable act of support for one of its own serving overseas.
On Friday, May 15, Mission Hospital Associate IT Director Caleb Stoudt presented the team with an American flag that was flown during more than 40 combat missions in the Middle East while he was deployed with the U.S. Army Reserves as part of Operation Inherent Resolve – a flag the team had originally sent to him and his platoon.
The flag carries special meaning for both Stoudt and the HCA Healthcare North Carolina colleagues, as it was included as part of a massive care package sent to Syria that included about 15 boxes weighing nearly 500 pounds filled with food, hydration supplies and other necessities. Team members also sent approximately 75 handwritten cards for each member of Stoudt’s platoon.
“The HCA Healthcare NC team sent this flag to me along with substantial care packages — that gesture meant more than words can fully capture,” said Stoudt. “It reminded us that we were supported, valued and not forgotten. It’s my honor to present this flag back to you as a small token of appreciation for your support, leadership and commitment to those who serve.”
Stoudt serves as a First Lieutenant Engineer Officer with the U.S. Army Reserves’ 323rd Engineer Company. He completed a four-country deployment from August 2024 through February 2025, serving in Syria, Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan. During deployment, he demonstrated “exceptional leadership and professional mastery throughout a complex operational environment” and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
“These past months have been filled with long nights, hot days and unrelenting stress for me and my platoon. When HCA Healthcare says, ‘We Show Up!,’ they truly mean it.”
According to Stoudt, the flag became a meaningful symbol for his platoon during deployment and accompanied soldiers on numerous combat missions throughout Syria.
“This flag is a symbol of service, sacrifice and the incredible teamwork of the soldiers I had the honor to serve alongside,” Stoudt said. “It represents not only those missions, but the people and the relationships behind them.”
Stoudt has worked with HCA Healthcare’s Mission Health system for six years and was recently promoted to Associate IT Director. In addition to his military service, he is active in HCA Healthcare’s Veterans Colleague Network and volunteers regularly with organizations including Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM).
The flag presentation took place during Mission Hospital’s Hospital Week cookout on Friday in Asheville.
National Hospital Week recognizes the many healthcare professionals and support teams who contribute to patient care, while Military Appreciation Month honors the service and sacrifice of military personnel and veterans nationwide. This event highlights the unique intersection of both missions through the support of a healthcare team for one of its deployed colleagues.