Navy Medicine January-February 1943
Jennifer Mitchum

January 1943 dawned on Allied forces much like a morning sunon a new day. The close of 1942 was very different from that of the year before coming on the heels of Pearl Harbor and the fall of Manila.

In the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters, Allied troops were entrenched in French North Africa and plans for upcoming invasions were in progress. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff met in Casablanca from 14-23 Jan to plan the Sicily invasion and cross-channel amphibious assaults on Western Europe. In addition, the North African command was designated as UnitedStates Naval Forces Northwest African Waters with its headquarters at Algiers.

RADM Ross T. McIntire, Navy Surgeon General, accompanied President Roosevelt and informally assessed the Navy medical situation in the area, visiting the dispensary at Casablanca which had been
established there in December.

New medical facilities were also established in other parts of French North Africa. Navy medical
personnel established a permanent dispensary at Safi on 1 Jan. Initially, they had set up a first-aid station there in November shortly after landing. Similarly, Navy medical personnel opened a dispensary at Port Lyautey on 1 Feb. Prior to the dispensary's establishment, medical units of USS Barnegat (AVP-10), anchored in the Sebou River, along with medical beach parties, and the VP-73 patrol squadron, which arrived in November from Iceland to set up a sickbay, met the areas medical needs.

Guadalcanal

In the Pacific, the Guadalcanal campaign had entered itsfinal stages. The last day of 1942, Japanese Emperor Hirohito gave Japanese commanders permission to evacuate the island and accept U.S. victory.

The last days of action were relatively quiet with the enemy falling back to Cape Esperance. As front lines shifted further westward, U.S. forces saw signs of enemy demoralization everywhere. When they
overran Japanese bivouacs they found the enemy badly starved and ill living in dugouts among dead and decomposing bodies.

Coinciding with the enemy's shift to Cape Esperance was sudden increased activity by the "Tokyo Express" with large formations of destroyers and barges operating in the Guadalcanal area. While the Allies speculated that they carried reinforcing troops, the opposite was true. The evacuation of the more than 11,000 Japanese troops from Guadalcanal had begun. This was completed on the night of 7-8 Feb and by the
following day, organized enemy resistance on Guadalcanal ended.

U.S. troops spent the weeks immediately following the First Marine Division's evacuation
consolidating the lines. The First had been sent to Australia to re-outfit and reorganize. The Army had stepped in and assumed most of the responsibility for the island. On 4 Jan, the Sixth Marine Regiment arrived to relieved the Second and Eighth Marine Regiments which were both weakened by disease and casualties.

As with every battle there was a stiff price for victory. Marine units lost in KIA, MIA, and died of wounds, a total of 137 officers, 3 warrant officers, and 1,102 enlisted men.(1) The First Marine Division
suffered the heaviest of these casualties with 636 killed, 52 died of wounds, and 1,537 wounded.(2) Three Medical Corps officers and 11 hospital corpsmen serving with the First were killed in action.

Those ailing from disease coincided with battle casualties. Malaria continued to be a problem even after fighting ceased. Consequently, the Malaria Control Commission, headed by LCDR James J. Sapero, MC, launched an intensive mosquito eradication campaign which resulted in a marked drop in the incidence of
disease on Guadalcanal.(3)

The First and Second Marine Divisions reported high incidence of malaria once in Australia and in New Zealand respectively as those previously infected began to show signs of the disease. Shortly after the patients' arrival in Australia, there was an average of 250 admissions for malaria daily from among the
approximate 13,000 men who had been in the Guadalcanal area.(4) Quinine and Atabrine were used as
suppressive agents either singularly or somehow combined. Despite the anti-malarial treatment, the admission rate for malaria remained high.

Pacific Hospitals

The high incidence of disease in troops coming from battle areas severely taxed Pacific mobile and base hospitals. In December, MOB-6 Wellington's hospital census increased to about 800. Later on, a large number of psychiatric patients, mainly marines and Army troops, arrived at the hospital in January 1943. For the most part, Navy medical personnel evaluated this group and evacuated them. The largest influx of patients to MOB-6 were patients with recurring malaria. In Feb 1943, the hospital census reached its highest point to date with over 1,000 patients admitted as recorded on 23 Feb.(5) Malaria was the dominating medical
problem; 61 percent of those admitted had malaria.(6) Despite escalating admissions, the death rate at MOB-6 remained low with a total of six deaths occurring between the period of 20 Sept 42 and 24 Feb 43, two of which occurred in February as a result of benign and malignant tertian malaria.(7)

There was also a rapid rise in malaria cases at MOB-4 Auckland as well. It was reported that in one group brought to the hospital, 80 percent had or subsequently developed malaria.(8) On 1 Jan, MOB-4 had a
combined bed capacity with the hospital and the receiving barracks at what was called the Auckland Domain of about 2,124. From the arrival of the first patients in August 1942 until 1 Jan 43, 3,977 patients had been
treated at MOB-4.(9) The majority were war casualties evacuated from other South Pacific hospitals. Most of the patients returned to duty but a sizable number were evacuated to the U.S. for further treatment and
disposition. Periodically, some patients were transferred to MOB-6 Wellington to relieved overcrowding. On 23 Feb, a hospital staff recreation camp opened at Maraetai. The camp provided peace and rest for staffers.

On the island of Efate, malaria was also a serious problem and would remain so throughout 1943. From the time Base Hospital No. 2 arrived there on 4 May 1942 to 1 Jan 1943, 2,949 patients were admitted to the hospital and the small scattered fielddispensaries on the island.(10) Of these 2,038 were original admissions, while 627 were first readmissions and 284 had been readmitted more than one time.(11) Since occupying the island, approximately 1 out of every 4 persons attached to the U.S. forces had acquired
malaria.(12)

Even with such striking numbers, the death rate from malaria was held to one death. Through
continuous suppressive treatment of those in infested areas and periodic atabrine therapy to those who had been discharged from the hospital, the number of relapses or reinfections were kept at a "moderate figure." Moreover, there were only 2 cases of cerebral malaria and 1 blackwater fever case, all of which responded "to vigorous therapy."(13)

At MOB-5, New Caledonia there was an increasing number of gunshot and mine wounds as well as
neuropsychiatric cases. "We had a significant number. We had two or three buildings with NP
[neuropsychiatric] or psychiatric difficulties," recalled former Pharmacist's Mate Daniel A. Brandon.(14)

At most overseas Navy hospitals Navy medical personnel assumed several responsibilities. For
example, corpsmen at MOB-5 served as anesthesiologists administering spinals, pentothal, and ether. "We trained using surgical packs. Using the spinal needles, you could go through the packs and feel yourself going through the various tissues until you were in the spinal cord injury said Brandon.(15) In addition, corpsmen scrubbed for surgery, held retractors, and sutured.

To help alleviate overcrowding in the New Hebrides medical facilities, CUB One was commissioned Base Hospital No.3 Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides on 26 Jan. CUB One had landed on Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides on 11 Aug 42.

Hospital Ships On the Move

Like island hospitals and other medical facilities, USS Solace (AH-5) was busy shuttling between New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Espirutu Santo, the New Hebrides, and the Fiji Islands, caring for fleet casualties and servicemen wounded in island campaigns. Personnel aboard Solace attempted to treat patients and return them to duty within a short time. If not possible, patients were evacuated to hospitals for prolonged
care.

USS Relief(AH-1) was on its way to help with the Pacific island situation. Departing Casco Bay, ME, 8 Feb, Relief put into a Boston yard to prepare for Pacific duty. By 23 Feb, she was on her way to the South Pacific Advanced Fleet Base at Noumea, New Caledonia, via the Panama Canal. Up until then, she had been
providing healthcare for men training to man new Navy fighting ships since April 1942.

The Prison Camps

"Hunger, such as Americans in the homeland have never experienced, was always present in Bilibid, and every camp and working detail throughout the Philippines. No person ever had enough to eat,"(16) wrote CAPT L.B. Sartin, MC, commanding officer of the Bilibid Prison Naval Hospital about the worsening
conditions.

The lack of food and diseases associated with malnutrition became an increasing problem in POW camps both in the Pacific as well as in Japan. In the Karenko camp in Japan rice and soup were the main fare. Occasionally there was fruit and on work days the captors allotted the prisoners one extra ounce of rice.
Those at Karenko had to pay for their food like at other camps, but weren't allowed to buy any extra except for one pound of sugar per month and vitamin B tablets.

In the POW camps in the Pacific many suffered from beri beri and xerophthalmia. In addition, many
developed amblyopia or lazy eye. In January, about 20 patients with xerophthalmia were transferred from Cabanatuan, located about 60 miles north of Manila, to Bilibid for treatment.

"The painful feet and legs of dry beri beri (Somaliland Foot) torments many of our patients now,
denying them sleep or rest or any moment of real comfort. Even morphine fails to serve adequately for relief," wrote CDR T.H. Hayes, MC, USN, in his journal while interned at Bilibid.(17) "We have tried
everything. Sedatives, vasodilation, heat, cold, etc. In a series in which we have given spinal anesthesia,
temporary relief is obtained in some and made worse in others," he continued.(18)

Dr. Hayes added that for some of the patients temporary relief came and then their conditions
worsened. Giving them vitamins without a full balanced meal or ration did not subdue the condition. Similarly, the majority of those admitted to the hospital from work details suffered from malnutrition and
vitamin deficiency diseases. Deficiency cases accounted for 60 percent of admissions at the Bilibid hospital for January, a 6 percent increase over December. In February, deficiency cases declined about 5 percent,
however, due to some improvement in conditions.

One such improvement allowed by the Japanese was permitting internees to establish a fund with which to purchase additional food or other supplies. Officers could keep 25 pesos per month for pocket money and enlisted men 8 to 10 pesos per month.(19) Internees used the fund, which totaled about 2,300 - 2,500 pesos per month, to buy beans, meat, eggs, and fruit to supplement general mess which serviced between 1,500 to 2,000 prisoners.

The Japanese military police came to inspect Bilibid in January. When word came about the
inspection, the Japanese distributed goods long overdue. On one given day a truck delivered a 48 cubic foot packing case which had been opened previously. It remained about three quarters full of assorted broken boxes of American Red Cross goods. The Japanese instructed personnel to distribute them to the inmates. In
addition, British Red Cross boxes filled with tea, jam, and cheese arrived later.

There were also physical improvements to the Bilibid facilities. A wooden operating room was built in one end of the hospital's surgical ward, and a new ward was established to study and research food deficiency cases. In February, a tailor and cobbler shop were set up with Pharmacist Jeremiah Crews, designated as
officer in charge. There were also several activities underway to stem prison boredom. On 1 Feb, the Japanese started a class in Japanese in the main building of the outer compound with a Japanese interpreter in charge. Two weeks later, classes in English, math, chemistry, astronomy, and engineering began under the supervision of one of the chaplains. Periodically, the captors showed movies some of which were Japanese propaganda;
others were U.S. motion pictures such as "Go West" and "Room Service." It should be noted that the improvements in the Bilibid camp were thin attempts by the Japanese to show the world they were "humane."

The Training Imperative

As the war raged on, training became increasingly important to the Navy. In January it established an Amphibious Training Center at Milne Bay, New Guinea. The primary purpose of the center was to teach amphibious assault methods. Medical officers were instructed in the care and evacuation of casualties and were briefed regarding reports and returns, sanitation of ships, and prevention of disease prevalent in the area.

Navy medicine also provided healthcare in training site areas commissioning hospitals in close
proximity. U.S. Naval hospitals Farragut, ID, Bainbridge, MD, and Sampson, NY, commissioned 15 Jan, 4 Feb, 27 Feb respectively, all supported Naval training centers. In addition to providing medical care, USNH Bainbridge and USNH Farragut were medical training sites as well, having Hospital Corps schools attached to them.

In addition, a hospital was commissioned at St. Albans, NY, and another established at Memphis, TN. Moreover, some hospitals like USNH Asheville, NC, were receiving patients prior to their commissioning.

National Quinine Pool

When Java fell to the Japanese, they captured a major portion of the world's supply of cinchona which the U.S. needed to maintain its stock of quinine, a natural anti-malarial agent. Thus, on 11 Jan, on the
recommendation of the chairman of the War Production Board, the Secretary of Commerce appointed the

American Pharmaceutical Association (APA) to receive, store and distribute all stocks of quinine for the Armed forces. To meet this objective, the APA organized a National Quinine Pool which was based at the organization's headquarters in Washington, DC.

The nationwide drive for quinine began in mid-January prior to the pool's official opening which was set for 1 Feb 1943. Among those making appeals were Surgeon General of the Navy, RADM Ross T. McIntire, and BG Larry B. McAfee, Acting Surgeon General of the Army. They both called for pharmacists throughout the country to donate their available stocks of quinine for the war effort.

Donations came from everywhere--Peru, Ecuador, pharmaceutical houses in France, Switzerland, and some bearing labels from Germany and even Japan. A few months later President Roosevelt donated
containers of quinine sulfate in which the President of Peru sent to him as a personal gift for his own private use.

About 20 personnel--Navy, Army, and civilian--worked at the pool for months at a time. Six
pharmacist's mates, four of whom were registered pharmacists from the Navy Dispensary Washington and BUMED, were the first of the service personnel to report to the pool. They were assigned early in February. At one point, the Army also assigned six pharmacists from Walter Reed Hospital. They remained on duty about 2 months, "until the receipts peak was reached and the tremendous piles of stored packages began to melt."(20)

Other Developments

RADM Ross T. McIntire continued to make changes at BUMED. In February, the Surgeon General called for a reorganization of BUMED's dental division. He charged the dental division with being
knowledgeable of professional dental practice standards for the Medical Department, conducting surveys and inspections to maintain standards, and advising BUMED on expansion of dental facilities, personnel, on dental equipment and supplies, and on special authorizations for dental treatment. To carry out these functions, the dental division was divided into two sections--standards and inspection.

On 3 Feb, personnel management at BUMED was reorganized to combine all divisions--Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Nurse Corps, Hospital Corps, WAVES, and Civilian, Bureau and Field--under one
division. In addition, a weekly newsletter was inaugurated, the forerunner of Navy Medicine.

Worth Mentioning A Second Time

In battle there are many stories of bravery and heroism and the new year brought no exception. One
memorable story was thatof PHM1c Howard Augustus Schrum, a pharmacist's mate aboard submarine chaser U.S.S. PC 577 employed to pick up survivors from torpedoed vessels in the South Atlantic.

PHM1c Schrum examined and administered first aid to approximately 152 survivors brought aboard. While doing so, he removed two bone splinters from a fractured skull, administered 11 sutures, set three
broken legs and two broken arches, and treated three third-degree burns as well as numerous first- and second-degree burns. Only one death occurred as a result of third-degree burns. Later, Army medical authorities reviewed his work and pronounced the treatments excellent.

"...Considering the facilities he had to work with and the manner in which the ship rolled, he did an
outstanding job...The Army medical authorities at Paramaribo were amazed at the thoroughness of PHM1c Schrum's work. X-ray pictures showed that even the fractured skull had been perfectly treated...," noted
D.M. Kerr, commanding officer.(21)

PHM1c Schrum went above and beyond what is normally expected of a first class pharmacist's mate. His exceptional skill mirrors that of the Navy Medical Department. He received a citation and Legion of Merit for his exceptional performance.

Further Back in the War

Return to WWII History index page

Foward in to the War

References

1. U.S. Navy Medical Department Administrative History, 1941-1945, Vol. I: Narrative History, chap 2, p 31.

2. Ibid., p 32.

3.3. Ibid., p 37.

4. The History of the Medical Department of the U.S. Navy inWorld War II, Vol. I: A Narrative and Pictorial Volume, p 164.

5. History of U.S.N. Mobile Hospital No. Six. (June 25,1942 ---March 17, 1943), p 11.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid., p 12.

8. Bevan D. United States Forces In New Zealand 1942-1945, p173.

9. Ibid.

10. "Chronology." Undated paper on Base Hospital No. 2, p 12.

11. Ibid., p 32.

12. Ibid.

13. Ibid.

14. Brandon D, PhM, HC, USN. Interview by Jan K. Herman, 1 July 1992. BUMED Archives, p 8.

15. Ibid.

16. Sartin LB. Journal, p 27.

17. Hayes TH. Journal, part II, p 58.

18. Ibid.

19. The Japanese printed money to pay the internees.

20. "The National Quinine Pool," The Hospital Corps Quarterly; 1943 16(4), p 16.

21. "Hospital Corpsmen Commended," The Hospital Corps Quarterly; 1943 16(3), p 236.