Equipment of a Private Equipment of and Officer Equipment of a Non-Commissioned Officer Closer Look Inside a Medic's Pouch Geneva Converntion Brassard Application and Use of WWII Medical Items Miscellaneous WWII Medical Kits and Related Equipment Classification of Medical Items US Army General Medical Terms History of Dog Tag Identification Real Reason for the "Notch" in the WWII Dog Tag Equipment of a WWII Naval Corpsman Inspiration ... The inspiration for this website came to me after viewing the movie, "Saving Private Ryan". Anyone who has seen this movie cannot easily forget the death scene of Medic Wade. US Army General Medical Terms I thought compiling a list of above terms would probably assist collectors in reaching a more common understanding of the meaning of specific military terms related to the Medical Department, United States Army during WWII (spelling and definitions are of course the ones in use at the time) – Alain S. Batens ADVANCED AMBULANCE LOADING POST : point forward of the Collecting Station at which casualties are loaded onto Ambulances for Evacuation to the rear ADVANCED AMBULANCE SHUTTLE : Ambulance Shuttle which is operated between a Collecting Station and an Advanced Ambulance Loading Post AID MAN : man from the Medical Department attached to a Company, Battery, Troop, etc. (i.e. a member of the Medical Detachment) to give first aid to the wounded and to carry necessary information to the Battalion or Regimental Surgeon, aka “Medic” AID STATION : first aid post or center established by the Medical Department (M.D.) on the route of Evacuation from a combat area to which the wounded are brought, i.e. a Dressing Station or a First-Aid Station . The wounded are given first aid and grouped according to their injuries, those needing further care are prepared for transportation to the rear, abbreviation: AID STA AIR AMBULANCE : or Airplane Ambulance, aircraft specially equipped for transporting wounded personnel in emergencies, ordinary transport and/or cargo planes with improvised equipment are also used . AMBULANCE: vehicle, but also boat or aircraft, equipped for carrying sick and wounded persons, abbreviation: AMB AMBULANCE BOAT : boat equipped for transporting sick and wounded personnel to a Hospital Ship from the shore or from a warship AMBULANCE CONTROL POST : a point at a crossroad or road junction at which a soldier is stationed to direct Ambulances along the proper route, abbreviation : ACP AMBULANCE INSERT : special frame installed in a motor vehicle and used to support a loaded stretcher AMBULANCE LOADING POST : location in the forward combat area where sick and wounded are loaded into Ambulances for transportation to a Clearing Station or a Hospital, usually located at the Collecting Station, abbreviation: ALP AMBULANCE ORDERLY : person who accompanies and assists the driver of an Ambulance in transporting the sick and wounded AMBULANCE RELAY POST : a point on the Ambulance Shuttle where one or more Ambulances are stationed ready to advance to replace an Ambulance which has left the next Post forward, abbreviation : ARP AMBULANCE SHUTTLE : a method of operating Ambulance Service in combat . It consists of one or more Ambulance Loading Posts, one or more Ambulance Relay Posts, and a Basic Relay Post AMERICAN RED CROSS : American organization that cares for the sick and wounded in war, and that relieves suffering caused by floods, fire, disease and other calamities . It also serves as liaison between members of the Armed Forces and their families and also assists in furnishing relief to Prisoners of War . It is the only civilian organization authorized to function inside a Theater of Operations, abbreviation: ARC AMPUTATE : to cut off a limb, as an arm or a leg, when too seriously wounded or infected to be saved ANESTHESIA : loss of sensation, partial or complete sensory paralysis, commonly induced artificially for the period of a surgical operation ANESTHETIC : drug or other agent producing anesthesia ARMY MEDICAL CENTER : professional service schools of the Medical Department at Washington D.C., it includes the Medical, Dental and Veterinary Schools and provides training while maintaining laboratories and carrying on research, abbreviation: AMC ARMY MEDICAL LABORATORY : medical unit assigned to an Army, it provides medical service with certain medical supplies and performs laboratory examinations and investigations, mainly in the field of preventive medicine, abbreviation: A MED LAB ARMY NURSE : member of the Army Nurse Corps who gives nursing care to sick and wounded, Army Nurses are commissioned in grades corresponding to those of Army Officers ! ARMY NURSE CORPS : part of the Medical Department consisting of nurses whose duties are to organize and provide nursing care of sick and wounded, abbreviation: ANC ARMY DENTAL SCHOOL : special service school that gives instruction and training in professional and technical subjects pertaining to the dental service of the Medical Department, it maintains diagnostic labs and engages in research, development and testing of dental supplies and equipment (under supervision of Army Service Forces). ARMY VETERINARY SCHOOL : special service school that gives instruction and training in professional and technical subjects pertaining to the veterinary service of the Medical Department . (under supervision of Army Service Forces) ASSISTANT DIRECTOR : Officer in the Army Nurse Corps, who has a rank equivalent to that of a Captain ATTACHED MEDICAL PERSONNEL : those Officers and Enlisted Men of the Medical Department added to Regiments and separate Battalions composed of troops of arms or services other than Medical BASE HOSPITAL : General Hospital located in the rear of a Communications Zone BASIC RELAY POST : the Relay Post farthest to the rear in an Ambulance Shuttle where the bulk of the unemployed Ambulances are dispersed awaiting use, abbreviation : BRP BATTLE INJURY : wound received as a direct result of enemy action, accidental wounds, though received in battle, are NOT regarded as battle injuries CADUCEUS : insignia of the Medical Corps, and also background of insignia for allied services e.g. ANC, description: a staff with two snakes twined around it and a pair of wings on top CASUALTY : an Officer or Enlisted Man who becomes unfit for duty in battle or a campaign because of enemy action, illness, accident, or other cause resulting in death, desertion, capture, wounding, or illness CHAIN OF EVACUATION : series of Stations and routes by which the sick and wounded are collected and carried to Hospitals . The Chain of Evacuation usually begins at an Aid Station and ends at a General Hospital CHIEF NURSE : Officer in the Army Nurse Corps who has a rank equivalent of a First Lieutenant, in charge of nurses in a ward, laboratory, or other department of a Hospital CHIEF OF THE VETERINARY SERVICE : Officer in administrative & technical command of the Veterinary Service . He is immediately under The Surgeon General, Medical Department, Army Service Forces CHIEF SURGEON : senior Medical Officer assigned to a General Headquarters, or to an Expeditionary Force, as a Staff Officer in charge of all medical units in the command CHLORINATION : disinfecting with chlorine compound, sterilizing drinking water by treatment with calcium hypochlorite CLASSES OF SUPPLY : all supplies delivered to troops in the field are divided into 5 classes i.e. Class I : items used at a uniform daily rate such as rations, water, forage, etc Class II : items listed in the T/O & T/E such as vehicles, weapons, litters, etc Class III : motor fuels and lubricants Class IV : miscellaneous items (not listed in T/E) such as lumber, barbed wire, etc Class V : ammunition CLEARING : the process of disposing of casualties of a Division or comparable unit . Treatment is incidental . Clearing is NOT to be confused with Hospitalization CLEARING COMPANY : medical organization of one or more Clearing Stations . Main tasks; reception of casualties, sorting of casualties, appropriate treatment, temporary care and shelter, and return of the slightly injured to duty . The company receives and classifies battle casualties, gives them temporary aid, and prepares them to be sent back to their unit or farther to the rear . This organization consists of 1 Company Headquarters and 2 Clearing Platoons , abbreviation: CLR CO CLEARING STATION : medical Station in the field, where sick and wounded are assembled from Collecting Stations, given temporary aid, classified and then sent to the rear for further care (formerly called Hospital Station) . This organization is the last element in a Division, and is responsible for “second echelon” medical service, abbreviation: CLR STA CLEARING STATION TAG : identifying card attached to a casualty being treated at a Clearing Station, Section A – Admission tags were completed as well as Section B – Disposition tags (aka WD AGO Form 8-29) CLINICAL RECORD : official form or chart on which a medical and surgical history for each patient in a Hospital is kept COLLECTING : the removal of casualties from Aid Stations, their preparation for further Evacuation, and their delivery to a Clearing Station COLLECTING COMPANY : medical organization which collects casualties from the field (i.e. combat zone) and Aid Stations, gives them temporary aid, and transports them to the Clearing Stations where more intensive care can be given . The organization consists of 1 Company Headquarters, 1 Station Platoon, 1 Litter Bearer Platoon, 1 Ambulance Platoon, and 1 Liaison Section (not foressen in T/O, usually improvised due to necessity), abbreviation: COLL CO COLLECTING POINT : place at which sick or wounded personnel, but also stragglers, prisoners of war, and damaged material are gathered for later disposition, abbreviation: COLL PT COLLECTING POST : medical Station in the forward combat zone where battle casualties are prepared to be sent to Clearing Stations in the rear . They are MORE elaborate installations as compared to Collecting Stations COLLECTING STATION : medical Station in the forward combat zone where battle casualties are prepared to be sent to Clearing Stations in the rear, abbreviation: COLL STA COMPANY AID MAN : man in the Medical Department assigned to a combat Company (i.e. member of the Medical Detachment) to give first aid to the wounded, and to carry necessary information to the Battalion or Regimental Surgeon CONTACT AGENT : member of a Medical or Veterinary unit who acts as liaison between an Aid Station and the unit Commander, and as a guide between Aid Stations and the Collecting Station CONTRACT SURGEON : civilian who performs the professional and administrative functions of a Medical Officer, but without military rank or commission CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL : fixed or mobile Hospital for patients who no longer need active treatment, it is included in the organization of a std. Army and operates under direct control of the Army Surgeon . Specially designed to care for medical cases who will probably fully recover and be ready for duty within a limit of usually 120 to 180 days, but who require little or no medical treatment other than observation and rehabilitation . The Convalescent Hospital receives patients from Evacuation Hospitals, Army Clearing Stations, and any other units in the vicinity . It usually disposes of patients by transfer to a Replacement Center or return to an Evacuation Hospital (in case of unsatisfactory medical progress) . The Hospital has a normal capacity of 3,000 patients and can be expanded to accomodate 5,000 patients for a short period, abbreviation: CONV HOSP DEFINITIVE HOSPITALIZATION : that Hospitalization capable of caring for patients until they recover . “Final” Hospitalization as in a General Hospital DEFINITIVE TREATMENT : that Treatment which includes generally accepted procedures necessary to ultimately produce recovery of the patient, as the repair of a perforated intestine at an Evacuation Hospital DENTAL CORPS : subdivision of the Medical Department that cares for the teeth of military personnel, it is made up of commissioned Dentists, abbreviation: DC DENTAL IDENTIFICATION RECORD : official form recording in detail every characteristic of the condition of a soldier’s teeth . It is used as a means of identification if injuries causing death result in the destruction of other features of the soldier DENTAL OFFICER : Army dentist, or Officer in the Dental Corps DENTAL SURGEON : senior Officer in charge of the dental service of a unit . He performs his professional duties under the Surgeon of the unit to which he is assigned, and also advises in matters of dental supply, operation and training DENTAL TECHNICIAN : Enlisted Man who does dental laboratory work, takes X-rays and prepares patients for dental work DEPARTMENT HOSPITAL : General Hospital located in a territorial Department, e.g. the Hawaiian Department DETENTION CAMP : place for holding incoming recruits for a sufficient length of time to detect any acute communicable disease they may have contracted before arrival DETENTION WARD : Ward in a military Hospital for prisoner patients DIETITIAN : or Hospital Dietitian, female member of the Medical Department who plans and advises meals in Army Hospitals, or a Hospital Dietitian, she is equivalent in rank to an Officer, usually a Second Lieutenant, insignia: caduceus + fraction with block letter H over D DISPENSARY : medical Station where first aid and other routine medical treatment are given, it is similar to an Aid Station, but not set up in a combat zone EMERGENCY MEDICAL TAG : identifying card attached to a casualty in the field, giving a record of the nature of his injury and of the treatment given, abbreviation: EMT (aka WD AGO Form 8-26) EMERGENCY TREATMENT : that medical Treatment Administered by any Officer or Enlisted Man of the Medical Department prior to definitive Treatment EMERGENCY VETERINARY TAG : card attached in the field to an injured (Army) animal, giving a record of the nature of the injury and of any treatment given, abbreviation: EVT EVACUATE : remove sick and wounded from a combat zone EVACUATING OFFICER : Medical Officer in charge of the evacuation section of an Evacuation Hospital, he is especially responsible for patients sent farther to the rear EVACUATION : moving all patients from a battlefield, and subsequently moving them through every medical installation, from Aid Station to General Hospital . The average sequence of evacuation in the combat zone is the following: casualties receive emergency first aid right on the battleground by Company aid men and are carried by litter bearers to the Battalion Aid Station where the degree of wound is ascertained and treated . From this Station, the wounded are transported by Litter or Ambulance through the Collecting Station to the Clearing Station, where emergency cases are routed to a Field Hospital for immediate surgery . The remaining casualties are sent to the Evacuation Hospital to await transportation by either ship or plane to the Communications Zone, where they will be taken to a General Hospital by Ambulance or Train . Cases requiring over 180 days of convalescence are then transported, as soon as possible, by plane or ship to the ZI EVACUATION HOSPITAL : mobile Field Hospital in the combat zone . It gives necessary treatment to casualties, but sends serious cases on to fixed Hospitals for further care . Evacuation Hospitals are organic elements of a field Army and function under Army Headquarters . They are of two types: the 400-bed semimobile and the 750-bed capacity unit, which function in direct support of a frontline Division and carry out the “third echelon” medical service, they receive patients from Divisional, Corps, or Army Clearing Stations –(750-bed Evacuation Hospitals are allotted at the rate of one per 3 Army Divisions, while 400-bed Hospitals are allotted at the rate of one per single Army Division, abbreviation: EVAC HOSP EYE, EAR, NOSE, THROAT DISEASES : diseases affecting those specific parts of the body (aka EENT) FIELD HOSPITAL : mobile Hospital which may be divided into units (ability to operate up to 3 separate Hospital units, even located at widely separated places, if necessary) and employed in the field under tentage or other locally improvised shelter . It was developed, organized and equipped for use in locations where the Station Hospital type of coverage is desired, but where no buildings are available, and where changes in location are frequent . Although it is classified as “fixed” Hospital it can easily be moved and even transported by air, the Field Hospital may receive patients from the Station served, from Clearing Stations or Portable Surgical Hospitals, or direct from site of injury . Each independent hospitalization unit can handle 100 patients, and up to 150 in emergency conditions . Disposition is by return to duty or evacuation to a General Hospital, abbreviation: FLD HOSP FIELD MEDICAL RECORD : brief Hospital Record of every patient treated in a Theater of Operations, abbreviation: FMR (aka WD AGO Form 8-27 & 8-28) FIRST AID : emergency treatment given to an injured, wounded or sick person before the services of a Medical Officer can be secured FIRST-AID KIT : small or large case containing bandages, cleansing agents, and other medical equipment for use in First Aid treatment FIRST-AID PACKET : small individual airtight package containing sterilized bandage and/or dressing for use in First Aid treatment FIXED : designed to operate in the same spot over a considerable period of time . Tactically NOT designed to move from place to place, as Fixed Hospital or Fixed Laboratory FIXED HOSPITAL : Hospital, such as a Station Hospital or a General Hospital, having a stationary location (as opposed to a Mobile Hospital) GENERAL HOSPITAL : Hospital designed to serve general and special needs, it is equipped and staffed for special treatment of a professional nature, and therefore affords better facilities for study, observation, and treatment of serious, complicated or obscure cases . It performs “fourth echelon” medical service, receiving patients from Evacuation Hospitals of the combat zone, by Ambulance train, motor Ambulance, or even by airplane, patients are sent to a (numbered) General Hospital for additional treatment and care up to a period of usually 120 to 180 days, if they are to be hospitalized for a longer period, they are evacuated to a (named) General Hospital in the Zone of Interior . (numbered) General Hospitals are of three sizes: 1,000-bed, 1,500-bed and 2,000-bed capacity, abbreviation: GEN HOSP GRAVES REGISTRATION SERVICE : wartime organization within the Quartermaster Corps, responsible for identification and burial of the dead and maintenance of graves, abbreviation: Gr Reg Serv HEAD NURSE : Officer in the Army Nurse Corps who has a rank equivalent to that of a Second Lieutenant, she acts as the responsible Nurse Head of a ward HOSPITAL CENTER : administrative and clinical organization consisting of 2 or more General Hospitals and a convalescent camp grouped together HOSPITALIZATION UNIT : complete and self-contained Hospital unit able to function idependently . Also, on of the two identical units that, with a mobile surgical unit, make up a Surgical Hospital HOSPITAL SHIP : large vessel specially equipped for treatment of the sick and wounded HOSPITAL TRAIN : specially equipped and staffed railroad Train for evacuation of the sick and wounded IMMUNIZATION REGISTER : form on which are recorded all vaccinations, immunizations or inoculations given to a soldier under direction of Medical Officers to Military and Civilian Personnel resident with Military Commands (aka MD Form 81, superseded by WD AGO Form 8-117) LITTER : stretcher for carrying sick, wounded or dead persons LITTER BEARER : person who helps carry a stretcher, usually aid men who carry wounded back to Battalion Aid Stations for emergency treatment LITTER CARRIER : light two-wheeled cart operated by 2 men and used for carrying a stretcher with a sick, wounded or dead person LITTER RELAY POINT : point where a new Squad takes over further movement of the casualty, or point where Litter Bearers Squads change their means of carrying, from a hand stretcher to a wheeled stretcher LOG : a chronological list of events pertaining to a unit or installation, specifically a list of patients admitted to a medical installation with data as to organization, diagnosis, disposition, etc. LYSTER BAG : or Lister Bag, heavy canvas rubberized bag for distributing disinfected water for use of the troops, sometimes called water-sterilizing bag MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE CORPS : Reserve Officers on active duty and Officers of the US Army commissioned to perform administrative duties (NOT Medical) with medical units, abbreviation: MAC or Med Adm C (no medical education required) MEDICAL CHANNEL : successive higher Surgeons e.g. Battalion Surgeon to Regimental Surgeon to Division Surgeon, etc. MEDICAL CORPS : branch of the Army consisting of Officers of the Medical Department who are graduate Doctors of Medicine commissioned in the Medical Corps, and who give medical and surgical treatment, but NOT dental treatment, abbreviation: MC MEDICAL DEPARTMENT : branch of the Army Service Forces responsible for the health of men and animals in the Army . It consists of the Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Veterinary Corps, Army Nurse Corps, Pharmacy Corps, Medical Administrative Corps, and the Sanitary Corps . It als includes Contract Surgeons, Dietitians and Physical Therapy Aides, abbreviation: MD MEDICAL DEPARTMENT RESERVE : Reserve Officers of the Medical Department MEDICAL DEPOT : Supply establishment maintained primarily for the purpose of receiving, storing, and distributing supplies . Station where medicines, bandages and other medical supplies are received, stored and issued . Depots may be charged with other procedures such as repair and procurement of equipment MEDICAL DETACHMENT : members of the Medical Department attached to military organizations or stations, also called medical troops . Tables of Organization (T/O) for each Regiment and separate Battalion of every arm and service (except MEDICAL), include a Detachment of Medical Troops . By definition, both a Battalion and a Regiment are units composed organically of troops of a single arm or service – for this reason, any component of a Battalion or Regiment made up of troopsof ANOTHER arm or service must be ATTACHED rather than assigned MEDICAL FIELD SERVICE SCHOOL: special Service School of the Medical Department for training Officers and Enlisted Men of the Medical Corps for duty with troops in the field MEDICAL INSPECTOR : Officer of the Medical Department attached to a military command . He supervises sanitary arrangements and measures taken to prevent the spread of disease, usually an assistant to the Surgeon of the command MEDICAL LABORATORY : generally a mobile unit of the Medical Department, which makes the necessary medical tests and carries on field research . Its main function is to prevent disease, especially epidemics MEDICAL OFFICER : or Army doctor, Officer who holds a commission in the Medical Corps of the Medical Department MIXED MEDICAL COMMISSION : group of 3 doctors who examine sick and wounded prisoners, one doctor is appointed by the country that holds the Prisoners of War, while the two others are appointed from a neutral country MOBILE : capable of moving or being moved from place to place and designed to operate tactically in that manner MOBILE HOSPITAL : Hospital unit for service in the field, it can be moved from one place to another to meet the demands of the combat situation (as contrasted to a Fixed Hospital) MOBILE SURGICAL UNIT : surgical unit of a Field Hospital that can be moved to where it is most needed, it has its own means of transport as well as the necessary personnel and equipment to carry out surgery under field conditions NURSE : unmarried woman, between the ages of 21 and 40, with rank of Second Lieutenant, and either belonging to the Regular Army Nurses under the War Department, or the reserve nurses under the American Red Cross NURSE’S AIDE : civilian defense volunteer who, after taking a special American Red Cross course + examination, can assist registered nurses in their simpler duties – she must be a woman between 18 and 50, a U.S. citizen, physically fit, and proving her graduation from High School (or equivalent), and willing to serve without pay ! ORDERLY : general worker in a Hospital (also other military duty applications) PHARMACY CORPS : branch of the Medical Department that is made up of Regular Army Officers who are graduate Pharmacists and of those who were formerly in the Medical Administrative Corps . This Corps is responsible for matters of administration and pharmaceutics that concern the Medical Department PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE : (or Physiotherapist) female member of the Medical Department trained in the use of physical exercises as a treatment for diseases and physical defects, she may hold either a commissioned or an enlisted grade, insignia: caduceus + fraction with block letter P over T PORTABLE SURGICAL HOSPITAL : it is an independent, self-contained unit under direct command of a Division, Task Force, or Army, depending upon the unit to which it is attached, its task is to supplement the organic medical service of a Division or Task Force by providing definitive surgical tre atment of a greater scope than the one given in a Clearing Station, for seriously wounded casualties for whom any delay or further transportation would be fatal . These Hospitals are usually located in the vicinity of theClearing Station , or forward near a Collecting Station, sometimes even within Litter carry distance of the frontline . Very practical for temporary hospitalization at isolated grounds and particularly useful in mountain or jungle country . Portable Surgical Hospitals are normally allotted at the ratio of 3 or more per Division, and 1 per Regiment . PROPHYLACTIC STATION : medical office maintained by the Army on or near military posts, where preventive treatment for venereal diseases is always available, abbreviation: PRO STA PROPHYLAXIS : measures taken to prevent venereal diseases (also other diseases) QUARANTINE : isolation of anyone who is suffering from a disease that can be spread, or isolation of carriers and people thought to be responsible for the spread of diseases such as typhoid . There are two kinds: Absolute Quarantine is complete isolation from contact with other persons or units, in this case normal duties are suspended and all contacts avoided; Working Quarantine is isolation where unnecessary contacts with other persons or units are contained, regular duties are still carried out, but infected persons are kept isolated and preventive measures to avoid spreading of the disease are taken RED CROSS : national society found in most civilized countries taking its name from its insignia, the Geneva Cross (badge of neutrality), i.e. a Red GREEK Cross on a White background . Its purpose is to help the sick and wounded in war, and to give aid and relief during great catastrophes REGISTRAR : an Officer of the administrative division of a Hospital charged with the preparation of sick and wounded records and reports REGULATING STATION : a place on the line of Supply and Evacuation, specifically on a railroad, at or near the rear boundary of the combat zone, where the movement of troops and matériel to or from the combat zone is controlled REPORT SHEET : official document which lists patients either returned to duty or those who died in the Hospital, this Report Sheet is submitted, together with EMTs and FMRs of patients, on a monthly basis to the Army or Corps Surgeon (aka WD AGO Form 8-23) ROLLING RESERVE : a stock of supplies, usually an estimated 3-DAY supply, carried by service elements of Divisions to sustain activities of Division troops till suppliescan be obtained from depot or railhead, as the supplies carried by the Division medical supply section of the Medical Battalion, Infantry Division SANITARY CORPS : branch of the Medical Department, established in time of war to supervise and regulate sanitation of places occupied by military forces, also includes working in certain aspects of preventive medicine, those Officers qualified in a professional field are NOT Doctors of Medicine SEMIMOBILE : specifically, having enough vehicles to move approximately half the unit at a time, abbreviation: SM SICK BAY : ship’s Hospital or Infirmary SICK CALL : daily assembly when all sick and injured, other than those in Hospital, report to a Medical Officer for examination (specifically a bugle call) SICK LEAVE : Leave from duty granted an Officer to recover from sickness or injury, or to receive authorized medical treatment except hospitalization SQUAD TENT : Tent used by ALL branches, it holds 12 folding cots . The tent measures 30 x 16 feet and is supported by 2 center poles, having walls 4 feet high and a capacity of approximately 20 Litters STATION DISPENSARY : Medical Department establishment providing medical and dental care for military personnel receiving treatment but not needing hospitalization, it serves the men of the Post or Station on which it is located (an establishment providing care for military personnel not stationed there is a General Dispensary) STATION HOSPITAL : fixed Hospital in or near a Military Post to give medical and dental care to those attached to the post . Station Hospital and General Hospital are the two types of fixed Hospitals, when located in the Communications Zone, it is housed in tentage or improvised housing of the Theater of Operations, and even located in the combat zone . (numbered) Station Hospitals have bed capacities ranging from 25 to 900 beds, in exceptional circumstances it may serve as an Evacuation or General Hospital, abbreviation : STA HOSP STATION SURGEON : senior Medical Officer in command of medical personnel at a military post STATION VETERINARIAN : senior Veterinary Officer in command of veterinary personnel at a military post STATISTICAL REPORT : official report showing administrative medical statistics to be forwarded to Army or Corps Surgeon (aka WD AGO Form 8-122) STRETCHER : frame or Litter for carrying the wounded, sick or dead STRETCHER BEARER : soldier whose task it is to carry the wounded off the battlefield SUPPLY POINT : depot, railhead, truckhead or other installation at which supplies and matériel used by the Army are received, stored and distributed, abbreviation : SP SURGEON : senior Medical Officer in charge of the Medical Detachment or unit of a military organization or station, he is a Staff Officer and advises the CO on medical matters, (usually with rank of Major General) SURGEON GENERAL : The Surgeon General is Chief of the Medical Department of the Army SURGICAL HOSPITAL : mobile medical unit, attached to an Army, that provides special facilities for surgical aid to men wounded in combat, abbreviation: SURG HOSP TECHNICIAN : Enlisted Man doing work requiring specialized training, e.g. a Dental Technician . Technicians may be of Third, Fourth, or Fifth Grade, abbreviation: Tec or Tech TOURNIQUET : device used in first aid to the injured and wounded, to compress an artery and stop severe bleeding VETERINARIAN : senior Veterinary Officer in charge of all veterinary personnel and activities within it VETERINARY AID STATION : in combat, a place for temporary care of animal casualties VETERINARY CLEARING STATION : establishment in the combat zone to which animal casualties are brought from a Veterinary Aid Station, for treatment, and when necessary, for evacuation to the rear VETERINARY CORPS : major branch of the Medical Department supervising the care of Army animals, it treats sick and wounded animals, supervises dairies, inspects refrigeration and storage plants, meat and dairy products, and performs other similar duties, composed only of Officers who are qualified Veterinaries, abbreviation: VC . (there are also Vet Dispensaries, Vet Evacuation Hospitals, Vet General Hospitals, Vet Station Hospitals, Vet Hospitals, and of course Veterinary Officers) WARD TENT : a large Tent 16 x 50 feet supported by 4 center poles, with side walls 4 feet high used by Hospitals in the Theater of Operations primarily as Wards WALKING WOUNDED : sick or Wounded personnel who can walk from the place where they became a casualty to the place where they can receive medical treatment, also called ambulant cases WARD MASTER : male nurse or orderly in a hospital ward, in charge under the Ward Surgeon, of the other Enlisted Men on duty in the Ward WARD OFFICER : Officer in the Medical Department, administrative and professional head of a Hospital Ward or Wards Official Abbreviations used for EMT : C W Contused Wound, E W Extensive Wound, F C Fracture Compound, F C C Fracture Compound Comminuted, F S Fracture Simple, F U O Fever of Undetermined Origin, G S W Gun-Shot Wound, I W Incised Wound, K I A Killed In Action, L W Lacerated Wound, M W Multiple Wounds, N Y D Not Yet Diagnosed, Pen W Penetrating Wound, Perf W Perforating Wound, Pun W Punctured Wound, S Slight, S V Severe, W I A Wounded In Action Echelons of Field Medical Service : First Echelon (organic or attached) medical service provided by attached medical personnel, collectively known as the Medical Detachment, furnished to every unit of the size of a Battalion or larger, of every arm and service (except Medical) – Second Echelon (Division) medical service consisting of collecting casualties from the dispensaries or Aid Stations operated by the first echelon, rendering emergency treatment in Collecting Stations and evacuating the patients to one or more Clearing Stations for further emergency treatment – Third Echelon (Army) consists of evacuating casualties from Clearing Stations to Army Hospitals and there providing definitive treatment, this is a function of an Army – Fourth Echelon (Communications Zone) comprises the transfer of evacuees from Army Hospitals to and their hospitalization at the numbered General Hospitals of the Communications Zone, it is a function of the Medical Service of the Communication Zone (COMZ) – Fifth Echelon (Zone of Interior) comprises further evacuation of casualties to the Zone of the Interior and their care and further treatment in named General Hospitals, this service is a function of the Zone of Interior (ZI) Sources: The War Dictionary, Words & Phrases – Military, Naval, Aeronautic, Industrial, Political and Geographic, 1942, Consolidated Book Publishers Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA, TM 20-205 Dictionary of United States Army Terms, 18 January 1944, EMT Form 52b, Medical Department, U.S. Army, November 5, 1942, FM 8-5 War Department Field Manual, Medical Department Units of a Theater of Operations, 31 May 1945, WW2 period Magazines (all documents are from the author’s collection)

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