United States Army in World War II: The Technical Services: The Medical Department
Medical Service in the Mediterranean and Minor Theaters
by Charles M. Wiltse
1965
. . . to Those Who Served
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Medical Service in the Atlantic Defense Areas
The Atlantic Approaches to War—The North Atlantic Bases—Bermuda Base Command—U.S. Army Forces in the Azores—U.S. Army Forces in Eastern and Central Canada—The Caribbean Defense Command—The South Atlantic Theater
Chapter 2: Army Medical Service in Africa and the Middle East
The Beginnings of Medical Service in the Middle East—The Middle East as an Active Theater of Operations, 1942–43—The Middle East as a Supply and Service Theater, 1944–45—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services—Decline of Medical Activities in the Demobilization Period
Chapter 3: Conquest of North Africa
Prelude to Invasion—Medical Support in the Landing Phase—Medical Support of II Corps in the Tunisia Campaign—Evacuation From II Corps—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services
Chapter 4: Sicily and the Mediterranean Islands
Medical Preparations for Operation HUSKY—Medical Support of Seventh Army in the Field—Hospitalization and Evacuation—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services—Medical Support in the Seizure of Sardinia and Corsica
Chapter 5: The North African Communications Zone
Theater Organization—Hospitalization in the Communications Zone—Evacuation in the Communications Zone—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services—Army Public Health Activities
Chapter 6: Salerno to the Gustav Line
Medical Plans for AVALANCHE—Medical Support in the Conquest of Southern—Hospitalization in the Army Area—Evacuation From Fifth Army—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services in the Army Area
Medical Planning for Operation SHINGLE—Combat Medical Service—Hospitalization on Anzio Beachhead—Evacuation From the Beachhead—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services on the Beachhead
Chapter 8: From the Garigliano to the Arno
Preparations for the Offensive—Combat Medical Service—Hospitalization in the Army Area—Evacuation From Fifth Army—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services in the Army Area—Medical Support for the Eastern Command
Chapter 9: The Italian Communications Zone: Southern Phase
Changes in Theater Organization—Hospitalization in the Communications Zone—Evacuation—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services—Army Public Health Activities
Chapter 10: Invasion of Southern France
Preparations for the Invasion—Medical Support of Seventh Army in the Field—Hospitalization in the Army Area—Evacuation From Seventh Army—Extension of the Communications Zone—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services in Southern France
Chapter 11: The Northern Apennines
Preparations for the Offensive—Combat Operations—Medical Support in the Field—Hospitalization in the Army Area—Evacuation From Fifth Army—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services in the Army Area
Chapter 12: Advance to the Alps
Preparations for the Final Drive—The Po Valley Campaign—Hospitalization in the Army Area—Evacuation From Fifth Army—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services in the Army Area
Chapter 13: The Italian Communications Zone: Northern Phase
Organizational Changes Affecting the Medical Service—Hospitalization in the Communications Zone—Evacuation—Medical Supplies and Equipment—Professional Services—Army Civil Public Health Activities
Chapter 14: Contraction and Redeployment
Redeployment Policies and Plans—Medical Support of Fifth Army—Hospitalization and Evacuation—Hospitalization and Repatriation of Prisoners of War—Redeployment and Inactivation of Medical Units—Close–out in the MTO
Chapter 15: The Mediterranean in Retrospect
Appendix A: Hospital Statistics
1. Fixed Beds and Bed Ratios, Atlantic Defense Areas, July 1941–December 1945
2. Fixed Beds and Bed Ratios, Africa and the Middle East (Includes Persian Gulf Command), June 1942–December 1945
3. Bed Strength and Bed Occupancy, North African Communications Zone, November 1942–February 1945
4. Bed Strength and Bed Occupancy, Mediterranean Islands August 1943–April 1945
5. Bed Strength and Bed Occupancy, Italian Communications Zone, October 1943–September 1945
6. Fixed Bed Strength and Bed Occupancy, Mediterranean Theater, November 1942–September 1945
Appendix D: The German Medical Establishment
Tables
1. Hospital Admissions and Dispositions, II Corps, 1 January–15 May 1943
2. Air Evacuation From Tunisia, 16 January–23 May 1943
3. Intra-theater Evacuation by Air, North Africa, 16 January–23 May 1943
4. U.S. Army Patients Evacuated by Sea From North Africa to the Zone of Interior, 1943
5. Hospital Admissions From Fifth Army, 9 September 1943–30 April 1944
6. Disposition of Neuropsychiatric Cases in Fifth Army, September 1943–April 1944
7. Venereal Disease Rate per Thousand per Annum, by Divisions, September 1943–April 1944
8. Disposition of Patients, Fifth Army Venereal Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Center, January–April 1944
9. Dental Service in Fifth Army, September 1943–April 1944
10. Disposition of Problem Cases in the 3rd Division, 4 March–30 April 1944
11. Admissions to Hospital and Quarters From Fifth Army, May–August 1944
12. Air Evacuation From Fifth Army Hospitals, 26 May–31 August 1944
13. Evacuation From Fifth Army to PBS Hospitals, 1 January–31 August 1944
14. Disposition of Neuropsychiatric Cases in Fifth Army, May–August 1944
15. Venereal Disease Rates by Divisions, Fifth Army, May–August 1944
16. Dental Service in Fifth Army, May–August 1944
17. Admissions to PBS Hospitals, 14 October 1943–31 August 1944
18. Disposition of Patients in PBS Hospitals, 14 October 1943–31 August 1944
19. Evacuation From Italy to North Africa, 9 September 1943–21 January 1944
20. Evacuation From Italy to North Africa, January–August 1944
21. Evacuation From the Mediterranean to the Zone of Interior, January–August 1944
22. Venereal Disease Rates, NATOUSA, January–August 1944
23. Admissions and Dispositions, Seventh Army Medical Installations, 15–18 August 1944
24. Admissions and Dispositions, Seventh Army Medical Installations, 15 August–29 September 1944
25. Air Evacuation From Seventh Army and Delta Base Section, 22 August–7 November 1944
26. Summary of Evacuation to the Communications Zone, 15 August–3 November 1944
27. Establishment in Southern France of Fixed Hospitals From North Africa, Italy, and Corsica
28. Requisitions and Tonnage, 7th Medical Depot Company, August–November 1944
29. Receipts and Issues, 231st Medical Composite Battalion, September–November 1944
30. Venereal Disease Rates, Seventh Army, July–September 1944
31. Disposition of Neuropsychiatric Cases, Fifth Army, September 1944–March 1945
32. Dental Service in Fifth Army, September 1944–March 1945
33. Wounded in Action in the Po Valley Campaign, Fifth Army, April–15 May 1945
34. Evacuation From MTOUSA to the Zone of Interior, September 1944–April 1945
35. Evacuation of Brazilian Patients to Brazil, September 1944–April 1945
36. Medical Supplies on Hand in PBS Depots, September 1944–April 1945
37. Non-effective Rates per Thousand of Troop Strength per Annum, September 1944–April 1945
38. Intra-theater Evacuation: U.S. and Allied Personnel, May–September 1945
39. Evacuation From MTOUSA to the Zone of Interior, May–December 1945
Maps
1. U.S. Army Hospitals Supporting North Atlantic Bases, 1 June 1943
2. U.S. Army Hospitals in the Caribbean
3. U.S. Army Hospitals Supporting South Atlantic Bases, 1943–45
4. U.S. Army Hospitals in USAFIME, 1 July 1943
5. U.S. Army Hospitals in the Persian Gulf Service Command, 1 July 1943
6. Medical Support of Eastern Task Force
7. Medical Support of Center Task Force
8. Medical Support of Western Task Force
9. II Corps Medical Installations, 14 February 1943
10. II Corps Medical Installations, 24 February 1943
11. II Corps Medical Installations, 11 April 1943
12. II Corps Medical Installations, 23 April 1943
13. II Corps Medical Installations, 12 May 1943
14. Seventh Army Hospitals, 16 July 1943
15. Seventh Army Hospitals, 26 July 1943
16. Seventh Army Hospitals, 5 August 1943
17. Seventh Army Hospitals, 15 August 1943
18a. Fixed Hospitals and Base Medical Supply Depots in North Africa, November 1942–February 1945
18b. Fixed Hospitals and Base Medical Supply Depots in North Africa, November 1942–February 1945
19. Fixed Hospitals and Base Medical Supply Depots on Sicily, August 1943–July 1944
20. Fixed Hospitals and Base Medical Supply Depots on Sardinia and Corsica, November 1943–May 1945
21. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 9 October 1943
22. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 15 November 1943
23. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 15 February 1944
24. Anzio Beachhead and Surrounding Areas
25. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps on the Cassino Front, 11 May 1944
26. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 10 June 1944
27. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 15 July 1944
28. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 15 August 1944
29. Fixed Hospitals in Southern Italy, October 1943–October 1947
30. Seventh Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 20 August 1944
31. Seventh Army Hospitals anti Medical Supply Dumps, 1 September 1944
32. Seventh Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 15 September 1944
33. Seventh Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 30 September 1944
34. Fixed Hospitals Transferred From MTO to ETO, 20 November 1944
35. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 18 September 1944
36. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps Supporting II Corps, 25 October 1944
37. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps on the IV Corps and 92nd Division Fronts, 15 January 1945
38. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps on the II Corps Front, 15 January 1945
39. Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps Supporting the Fifth Army Offensive, 18 April 1945
40. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 26 April 1945
41. Fifth Army Hospitals and Medical Supply Dumps, 2 May 1945
42. Fixed Hospitals in Northern Italy, July 1944–October 1947
43. Medical Installations Supporting Fifth Army, 1 June 1945
Illustrations
Lt. Col. Charles H. Beasley—167th Station Hospital, Iceland—BLUIE WEST 1, Greenland—308th Station Hospital, Fort Pepperrell, Newfoundland—Convalescent Patients, Bermuda—Col. Gordon G. Bulla—Brig. Gen. Morrison C. Stayer—Air Evacuation, Panama—Col. George E. Leone—Malaria Control Unit, Brazil—Col. Crawford F. Sams—Col. Hall G. Van Vlack—DC-3 Over Pyramids—King George of Greece at 38th General Hospital, Heliopolis—Hospital Train, Benghazi Area—Partially Dug-In Hospital Tents Near Tripoli—113th General Hospital at Ahwaz, Iran—167th Station Hospital at Accra, Gold Coast—Loading a Patient by Fork Lift, Casablanca—Brig. Gen. Leon A. Fox—Dental Clinic at Khorramshahr, Iran—Brig. Gen. Albert W. Kenner and General George C. Marshall—Col. Richard T. Arnest—Nurses Arriving in Arzew, Algeria—Soldier Being Evacuated at Fedala, French Morocco—Camouflaged Aid Station, Algeria—Mobile Surgical Truck, Tunisia—Wrecked Ambulance, Tunisia—2nd Lt. Aleda E. Lutz in Converted C-47—Medical Supplies on Beach, Algeria—Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., and Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt—Col. Daniel Franklin—Col. L. Holmes Ginn, Jr.—Evacuating Wounded to Landing Craft, Sicily—Administering Plasma, Sicily—Evacuation by Muleback—Holding Hospital, Termini Airfield, Sicily—Forward Surgical Unit, Sicily—Pack Train in Sicily—Maj. Gen. Ernest M. Cowell—Brig. Gen. Frederick A. Blesse—6th General Hospital, Casablanca—26th General Hospital Near Constantine, Algeria—Aerial View of Hospital Groupment, Algeria—Prison Stockade of the 180th Station Hospital Near Oran—Interior View of Hospital Train—Col. William S. Stone—Malaria Control Measures Near Algiers—Brig. Gen. Joseph I. Martin—Litter Bearers Wading to Landing Craft, Salerno—Planners of the Invasion of Italy—Medics Treating Italian Girl, Volturno Area—Rough Going—Digging Out Wounded Man, Cassino—Casualties From Rapido Crossing—Aid Station in Sant’Elia Area—Wounded German Soldier at 94th Evacuation Hospital—Treating Moroccan Mountain Troops, Venafro Area—Col. Rollin L. Bauchspies—Evacuation of Wounded, Anzio—Pfc. Lloyd C. Hawks—Hospital Area, Anzio—Brig. Gen. Frederick A. Blesse Congratulating Col Henry S. Blesse—Anzio Hospitals Digging In—Protecting Operating Tents, Anzio—56th Evacuation Hospital After Bombing—Treating Casualty at Forward Aid Station—Italian Civilians Help Carry Casualty Down Mountain—Half-Track Ambulance—German POW Giving First Aid—Wheeled Litter—Administering Plasma in Jeep Ambulance—Institute of the Good Shepherd, Rome—Ambulance Plane, Nettuno Airstrip—Field Unit of Dental Clinic—Col. Charles F. Shook—Medical Section of NATOUSA at Caserta, 26 July 1944—Medical Center at Mostra Fairgrounds—Repatriating Wounded German POWs—41st Hospital Train—Storing Medical Supplies—Blood Donors, Naples—Dusting for Mosquitoes, Cassino—Brig. Gen. Edgar Erskine Hume—Delousing Station, Naples—Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch and Col. Frank B. Berry—Lt. Col. Robert Goldson, Col. Myron R. Rudolph, and Col. Joseph Rich—Medics on Beach, Southern France—Ambulance in Wrecked Village—Jeep Ambulance Crossing the Moselle—Evacuating Wounded, Southern France Beaches—Evacuating Southern France Casualties by Sea—Last Stages of Whole Blood Pipeline—General Martin receiving OBE from Gen. Sir Harold R. L. G. Alexander—Collecting Point, Mt. Altuzzo—317th Medical Battalion Collecting Station—Aid Station on Mt. Belvedere—Tramway, Mt. Mancinello–Pizzo di Campiano Ridge—38th Evacuation Hospital Flooded—Brazilian Nurses—8th Evacuation Hospital, Pietramala—Ambulance on Icy Road—Treating a Wounded Mule—Lt. Gens. Mark W. Clark and Lucian K. Truscott, Jr—“Ohio Ridge”—Medics Evacuating Wounded by jeep—Medics at Pianoro—German Receiving Plasma—German Clearing Station—Lake Garda—Ambulances Fording Reno River—Maj. Gen. Morrison C. Stayer—12th General Hospital, Leghorn—70th General Hospital, Pistoia—Italian Partisans at Bari—37th General Hospital on the Move—Loading Patients, Leghorn—Storage Area, Leghorn—Captured Horse at Veterinary Hospital—Col. Charles O. Bruce—7029th Station Hospital (Italian) at Pisa—German Medical Center in the Alps—Hotel-Hospital at Merano—German POW Ward Tents, Ghedi—POW Ward, Aversa—Readying Medical Supplies for the Southwest Pacific—Col. Earle Standlee
All photographs are from the Department of Defense files.