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UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II

The Technical Services

THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT:

MEDICAL SERVICE IN THE

MEDITERRANEAN AND

MINOR THEATERS

Charles M. Wiltse

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORY

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

WASHINGTON, D.C., 1965

This volume, one of the series UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II, is the second to be published in the group of Medical Department volumes in the subseries THE TECHNICAL SERVICES. The volumes in the over-all series will be closely related and will present a comprehensive account of the activities of the Military Establishment during World War II. A list of subseries is appended at the end of this volume.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 64-60004

. . . The Unsung Heroes of the War . . .

UNITED STATES ARMYIN WORLD WAR II

Stetson Conn, General Editor

Advisory Committee
(As of 15 September 1968)

Fred C. Cole
Washington and Lee University

William R. Emerson
Yale University

Earl Pomeroy
University of Oregon

Theodore Ropp
Duke University

Bell I. Wiley
Emory University

Maj. Gen. Hugh M. Exton
U.S. Continental Army Command

Maj. Gen. Tom R. Stoughton
Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Brig. Gen. Ward S. Ryan
U.S. Army War College

Col. Elias C. Townsend
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

Col. Vincent J. Esposito
United States Military Academy

Office of the Chief of Military History
Brig. Gen. Hal C. Pattison, Chief of Military History

Stetson Conn
Chief Historian

Col. Albert W. Jones
Chief, Histories Division

Col. Walter B. MacKenzie
Chief, Editorial and Graphics Division

Joseph R. Friedman
Editor in Chief

History of

THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

prepared under the direction of Lt. Gen. Leonard D. Heaton, The Surgeon General, U.S. Army

Hospitalization and Evacuation, Zone of Interior

Medical Service in the Mediterranean and Minor Theaters

Medical Service in the European Theater

Medical Service in the Asiatic--Pacific Theater

The Historical Unit, United States Army Medical Service

Col. John Boyd Coates, Jr., MC, USA
Director

Charles J. Simpson
Executive Officer

Charles M. Wiltse, Ph. D., Litt.D.
Chief Historian

Lt. Col. Frederick Bell, Jr., MSC,USA
Chief, Special Projects Branch

Ernest Elliott, Jr.
Chief, Editorial Branch

Lt. Col. Jerome Rudberg, MSC, USA
Chief, Information Activities Branch

Roderick M. Engert
Chief, General Reference and Research Branch

Hazel G. Hine
Chief, Administrative Branch

. . . to Those Who Served

Table of Contents

FOREWORD, PREFACE, INTRODUCTORY NOTE

PROLOGUE: THE GIFT OF LIFE

I. 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

II. 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

III. 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

IV. 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

V. 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

VI. 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

VII. ANZIO BEACHHEAD

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

VIII. 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

IX. 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

X. 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

XI. 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

XII. 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

XIII. 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

XIV. 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

XV. 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-December1945
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

B. PRINCIPAL MEDICAL UNITS ACTIVE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, THE ATLANTIC DEFENSE AREAS, AFRICA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST

C. OBSERVATIONS ON HOSPITALIZATION AND EVACUATION SYSTEM, FRENCH EXPEDITIONARY CORPS, ASSIGNED FIFTH ARMY

D. THE GERMAN MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

GLOSSARY

BASIC MILITARY MAP SYMBOLS

Tables

1. Hospital Admissions and Dispositions, II Corps, 1 January-15 May 1943
2. Air Evacuation From Tunisia, 16 January-23May 1943
3. Intratheater 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, September1943-April 1944
10. Disposition of Problem Cases in the3d Division, 4 March-30 April 1944
11. Admissions to Hospital and Quarters From Fifth Army, May-August1944
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-August1944
17. Admissions to PBS Hospitals, 14 October1943-31 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-August1944
23. Admissions and Dispositions, Seventh Army Medical Installations, 15-l8August 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, September1944-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. Noneffective Rates per Thousand of Troop Strength per Annum, September 1944-April 1945
38. Intratheater Evacuation: U.S. and Allied Personnel, May-September 1945
39. Evacuation From MTOUSA to the Zone of Interior, May-December 1945