HEADQUARTERS
THIRD PORTABLE SURGICAL HOSPI TAL
A. P. O. 705
11 December 1945
SUBJECT: Final Historical Report, 1 July 1945 to December 1945.
TO: Surgeon
AFWESPAC
APO 707
1. On 1 July 1945 this unit was operating a 25 bed station-type hospital at Oas, Albay, P.I. in support of the 158th Regimental Combat Team. After completion of its combat mission in the Legaspi area, the 158th RCT had been given the assignment of garrisoning the Bicol Peninsula from Legaspi to Naga. We had moved into our area at Oas on 3 June and, at the opening of this period, were operating smoothly, keeping a hospital census of from 10 to 20 patients and evacuating the surplus to the 71st Evacuation Hospital, near Naga. In addition to the duties of running the hospital we were engaged in a training and reconditioning program under the direction of the 158th RCT. Approximately half of this program consisted of organized athletics.
2. On 25 Ju1y 1945 the unit underwent its first inspection by a team of the Inspector General's Department from XI Corps, under the direction of Sixth Army.
3. On 20 August 1945 orders were received alerting the unit on XIV Corps blacklist for movement to Japan. All preparation were carried our for the movement and, on the morning of 12 September 1945, we were ready to load on an LST at Legaspi Port. Just as we were about to embark, a radiogram from XIV Corps countermanded our movement orders. Several days later we received another radiogram saying that we would not be sent to Japan but would await disposition at Legaspi. Consequently, we reopened the hospital and continued as before to receive patients from the l58th RCT. At this time our census ran from 35 to 50 patients and we were forced to do considerable unnecessary evacuation by air because of lack of facilities; the 71st Evacuation Hospital had moved to Japan, leaving us and one other Portable Surgical Hospital the only medical installations in the area.
4. On 1 and 2 October 1945, the 158th RCT departed from Legaspi for Japan. We then moved into the area which had been occupied by the RCT Headquarters, approximately 2½ miles from Ligao, Albay on the road from Ligao to Tobaco, Albay. Loss of attachment to the 158 RCT left us in the position of not knowing what our next higher headquarters was, and it was several weeks before we learned that we had been assigned to AFWESPAC [Army Forces Western Pacific].
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5. On 28 October 1945, under direction of the 341st Infantry Regiment of the 86th Division, which was then responsible for the area, we moved to an area on the airstrip at Legaspi which had just been vacated by the 1st Portable Surgical Hospital. Here we continued to operate a small station-type hospital for the few miscellaneous troops remaining in the area.
6. On 10 November 1945 we received orders directing us to proceed to Base “X” for inactivation of the unit on 15 November 1945. However, it was not until 30 November 1945 that we were able to get the necessary transportation. By VOCG of the 86th Infantry Division we were directed to turn over all our property and organization equipment to the 341st Infantry Regiment. The 86th Division supplied two C-47 transport airplanes by which the personnel of the unit was transported to Manila on 30 November 1945. Upon arrival at Manila we were quartered at the 312th General Hospital pending completion of our inactivation.
7. The 3rd Portable Surgical Hospital was inactivated by Order # 270, AFWESPAC , 2 November 1945 at Manila, P. I.; inactivation completed 11 December 1945.
Signed
PAUL A FERNBACH
Captain MC
Commanding
SOURCE: National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 407, The Adjutant General's Office, World War II Unit Histories: 3d Portable Surgical Hospital, Box 21733.
