US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Bragg, NC)

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All these locally trained medical units are now on active duty in the various overseas theaters of operations. ln addition, more than 650 medical officers of the Station Com- plement have heen trained at this Post and are now serving all over the world. Included in the responsibilities of the Medical Depart- ment are the examination of applicants for Ofhcer Candi- date and other special schools. and physical examinations for discharge from the Army. for marriage licenses, life insurance, and for other similar purposes. Nlaintenance of proper animal hygiene is another activity of the Medical Department. Through the Veter- inary Branch, supervised by Col. Jean R. Underwood, all animals of the Post are constantly and scrupulously in- spected for disease. This hranch advises as to proper methods of caring for animals, inspects the forage, and in the Station Yeterinary Hospital, ministers to sick or in- jured public animals, animals helonging to the Post Ex- change, and pets of organizations and families residing on the reservation. About 1,200 animals are treated at the Hos- pital annually. The control of contagious diseases on the Post has heen effectively maintained hy the competent work of the Sanita- tion Branch. headed hy Captain George ll. Jones. Through the periodic inspection of messes, civilian and Post Ex- change eating establishments, and food storage and issue facilities, high sanitary standards are enforced and germ- hreeding centers eliminated. Another agency for the pre- vention of disease on the Post is the Insect, Rodent. and Vermin Control Section. This unit is part of the Post lfngineeris organizations its activities are supervised hy the Sanitation Branch. The sewage disposal plant. the Postis three ineinerator plants, and the water treatment plant are other vital installations under the guidance of the Sanitation Branch. The Sanitation Demonstration Area. largest of its kind in the country. has provided training for thousands of troops prior to overseas duty and afforded many prac- tical ideas relating to sanitation under field conditions. Medical supplies are procured, stored, and issued hy the Medical Supply Branch. lt operates under the direction of the Medical Department. ln addition to inspecting and surveying medical property this Branch furnishes medical equipment to tactical units training at Fort Bragg. 'LJ ts' . t K Top lett: A veterinarian officer inspects meat .... Top right: Evacuation hospital personnel prepare tor overseas service .... Bottom left: Sanitation demonstration area, . . . Bottom right: Medical technicians at work in regional hospital.

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Q -I V, 3 ff? MEDICAL OFFICERS OF FORT BRAGG The Medical Departmentls record of achievement since the outbreak of the war is impressively reflected by a few salient statistics. At the hospital more than 145,000 in- dividual patients have been treated for all types of ail- ments, and 5.514 major surgical operations have been performed. The registrar of the Regional Hospital has prepared and has on Hle a clinical record of every patient admitted. These records are of the greatest importance in the proper evaluation of applications for pensions on the part of discharged military personnel, as well as a source of protection to the Government against improper claims. The X-ray Department has made over 247,000 films, while the Laboratory has completed more than 1,140,000 tests of various kinds. Six and a half million separate patient meals have been served by the messes. Since December, l941, the Dental Staff has inserted considerably more than 830,000 Fillings, extracted over 199.000 teeth, made 23,2241 dentures, and replaced more than 187,000 teeth, for a total of' approximately 604,000 patients. Seven dental clinics are now i11 full time operation in various parts of the Post. Soldiers at Fort Bragg receive the best of dental care Food consumed by military personnel has been subject to rigid inspection by the Veterinary Department. More than 12,000,000 pounds of meat have been inspected. ln- struction demonstrations in Held sanitation have been given to over 56,000 officers and men by the Sanitation Branch. The guiding aim of the Medical Department has always been that of service to the Army as a whole. A striking example of the furthering of this aim is the material con- tribution made towards the success of the vast training program that has been in progress at Fort Bragg since the outbreak of the war. Training units were relieved of the responsibility of caring for the hospitalization and major medical needs of the scores of thousands of trainees who have been prepared for military duties at this Post. The Medical Department has also furnished these units with the necessary medical supplies, and with dental, veterinary, and inspection services. Ever since the local Field Artillery Replacement Train- ing Center, was established at Fort Bragg, in 1941, the Post Surgeon has had general supervision of the medical activities of the Center through the medical officers assigned to it from his staff. Every training regiment has its own dispensary and its own complement of Medical Department officers and enlisted men furnished from the Post medical personnel. With the passage of the National Selective Service Act, Fort Bragg became one of the major Induction Cent-ers of the nation. It was here that most of the draftees of North Carolina and many from South Carolina were inducted into the Army. The doctors and dentists needed to examine this large number of prospective soldiers were furnished from the staff of the Medical Department at this station. The Post Surgeon, as a staff officer of the Commanding General, supervises the work of the Armed Forces Induc- tion Station medical examiners. ln addition to its usual medical activities, the Medical Department has conducted an extensive training program of its own, giving instruction to military personnel for duty overseas. Operating through a Provisional Hospital Train- ing Center, there have been trained at Fort Bragg, seven numbered general hospitals, twelve numbered station hos- pitals, six field hospitals, one portable surgical hospital, one medical supply company, and one sanitary company. This work represents the training of over 800 officers, 1,100 nurses, and 3,000 enlisted men.

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annum. . , ...an,-- , , ...n...... STATION COMPLEMENT NURSES At times it has furnished large amounts of supplies and equipment to Ground Force units preparing for overseas movement, thus assuming the functions of a Field Medical Supply Depot. A little known, but highly important, organization as- sociated with the Medical Department is the laboratory of the Respiratory Disease Commission for the Control of Influenza and Other Epidemic Diseases. Established here in 1942, under the direction of the Preventive Medicine Division of the Surgeon Ceneral's Office, the Commission has conducted intensive studies and r-esearch into respira- tory diseases from a clinical, epidemic, and laboratory point of view. The laboratory of the commission is fully equipped to make investigations of epidemics of influenza and other respiratory diseases wherever they may occur, and -to recommend necessary measures to prevent their spread. lt has done pioneer work covering the cause and control of pneumonia and similar diseases. ln 1944 the function of the Station Hospital was changed to that of a Regional Hospital to include patients trans- ferred from satellite station hospitals in the eastern half of North Carolina. A Reconditioning Program for all patients, other than those who are critically ill, was inaugu- rated at the hospital early in March, 1944, under the super- vision of Colonel Williams. The program is carried through on a graduated scale, and the patients are grouped in classes according to their particular state of debility. Patients are transferred from one class to another, depend- ing on their speed of recovery. ' At Hospital No. 2 calisthentics and supervised athletics occupy an important part on the program. Daily orienta- tion periods, including a summary of the latest war news, group discussions, and talks, serve to keep the soldiers mentally alert. The Reconditioning Program at Hospital No. 3 accom- plishes the all important task of restoring the soldier to top physical and mental alertness. As he becomes stronger, the soldier takes more vigorous exercises, longer drill periods, and longer marches-. A well-planned sports pro- gram includes every type of contest. Classes are held each day, during which news summaries, orientation talks, train- ing films, and courses in military training are given. The soldiers are encouraged to use the library and to take courses from the United States Armed Forces Institute. At the large craft shop, under the expert guidance of skilled craftsmen, the soldier has the opportunity to learn a new skill and trade which may be of benefit to him on his return to civilian life. The primary aim of the program is to return soldiers to duty ready to take up where 'they were when hospitalized. The Ar1ny's need for soldiers today is paramount, and when victory comes our nationwill need keen, intelligent and healthy citizens. It is the goal of the Pteconditioning Pro- gram to supply both needs.