Books and Documents > 67TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL (SEMI-MOBILE)
HEADQUARTERS 67TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL MOTORIZED
Office of the Commanding Officer
Fort Rodman, Mass.
January 1,1943.
SUBJECT: Annual Report of Activities of 67th Evacuation Hospital Motorized.
TO : The Surgeon Genera1, Services of Supply, Washington, D. C.
(Through The Surgeon, XIII Corps, Providence, Rhode Island).
In compliance with the cir ltr No. 168, WD, SOS, SGO, dated December 8, 1942, the following report is submitted:
The 67th Evacuation Hospital, a hospital of seven hundred and fifty (750) beds, forty-seven (47) officers, fifty-two (52) nurses and three hundred and eighteen (318) enlisted men was activated at Fort Rodman, Mass, on March 16th. About March 27th, nineteen (19) men, all regular army, from 3rd Evacuation Hospital, Fort Benning, Ga., reported for duty. These men had completed their basic training so were used in the internal administration of the unit.
On March 30th, the first shipment of basic training equipment was received.(Except for the lack of hospital ward tents, X-ray equipment and certain surgical and medical supplies, the equipment was sufficient for basic training purposes.) Training literature, aids, script and training films were promptly received upon request.
On April 24th, twenty (20) men who had received limited training reported from Camp Lee, Va. By this time training schedules had been prepared and approved. An intensive training course was at once inaugurated. The primary purpose of this course was to familiarize each man with the equipment of an evacuation hospital, the duties he would perform in the installation, erection and the closing of the hospital, receiving, care and evacuation of the sick and wounded in a theater of operations.
The unit was housed in a two-story barracks satisfactorily heated, lighted and ventilated. Toilet, laundry and bath facilities were adequate. Water supply was not a problem as the post received its water Supply from the town of New Bedford, Mass. The thirteen (13) weeks basic training was completed on July 25th by which time men of the origina1 unit had received specialists training as laboratory, X-ray, surgical and medical technicians in adjacent hospitals. Three (3) hospital ward tents were received on July 15th and after a two (2) weeks training period, picked squads could erect a tent in fifteen (15) minutes and strike it in seven (7) minutes.
Because of the small number of enlisted personnel present during the first four (4) months, a unit mess was not operated, the men being attached to the station hospital for rations. In September, with the arrival
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of two hundred and seventy-five (275) men from Fort Sill and Camp Joseph T. Robinson, the hospital opened its own mess. The mess equipment was satisfactory and there has been no difficulty in procuring food and maintaining an adequate and well balanced menu.
In the latter part of August, a field demonstration was put on for the American Red Cross. Approximately two hundred (200) members and guests attended. They were shown the evacuation of wounded men from the front line through the battalion aid station to an evacuation hospital. Three (3) hospital ward tents were erected, one equipped and operated as a receiving tent, one as an operating tent and one as a ward. To make the demonstration more realistic, smoke pots were used and the personnel of the battalion aid station, wearing gas masks, evacuated patients through the smoke.
Tactical training for the men from Fort Sill and Camp Robinson was begun September 3rd. During this period technical training was also given by placing men in groups of fifty (50) for a thirty-day (30) period on detached service in the station hospital at Camp Edwards, Mass.
The second basic training period closed the 5th of December. By the last of December all but fifty (50) men had received, in addition the tactical training, thirty (30) days of intensive technical training in wards and laboratory of the station hospital at Camp Edwards, Mass. The technical phase or training based on MTP 8-10 began December 7th. The hospital personnel was broken down into small sections, each under a competent officer and noncommissioned officer acting as instructors. Each section received instruction in either administrative or tactical subjects peculiar to this type hospital.
On September 21st, the organization was changed from the 67th Evacuation Hospital to the 67th Evacuation Hospital Motorized and reorganized, according to T/O No. 6-581.
The hospital has had no maneuver experience with other organizations but has simulated combat conditions by putting on problems on day encampments and overnight hikes.
The men were adequately entertained throughout their course of training by good entertainers who were furnished by the various U. S. O. clubs and other civic organizations. One of the most interesting days was an organized hike to Nonquit Beach, where luncheon was served to the organization and, where they had the pleasure of meeting Ambassador Louden of The Netherlands, who gave them a talk on his early days as a private in the Dutch Army.
The members of the organization took part in all the recreational activities of the post, and their athletic teams won the softball and volleyball trophies.
The men are now well trained and, as a unit, have many times
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received favorable comments from the post personnel for their loyalty, soldierly conduct and esprit de corps.
[signed]
H. B. GANTT
COLONEL, MEDICAL CORPS
Commanding
