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

Page 69 text:

.-ya, .auf GENERAL XNCXNERATOR want souiiasf W Top left: Whirlpool tub for ailing limbs in Physio-tlwerapy Section of Regional Hospital .... Top right: Eminent American psychiatrists in- spect work done at Regional Hospital .... Center left: Bed patients talce calisthenics at Regional Hospital .... Center right: General lncin- erator and Soalrage Pit at Sanitation Demonstration Area .... Bottom left: Laboratory Staff in Mosquito Control Wort.

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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.

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O CZ Offlnan . Q P04 tntuio' View O Gicl- Left 'co right: Lt. Col. Koch, Major Rehm, Lt. Knapp, C. W. O Milewski, Capt. Veltre, Capt. Lewis. UHIINANIIE The Post Ordnance Office, since 1942 an important part of the Supply Division, was designated as one of the seven Technical Services in January, 1944. Through this change the Post Ordnance Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Walter D. Koch, who succeeded Colonel G. T. Rowland in that posi- tion on 6 November 1942, became responsible for the su- pervision of all ordnance activities under the jurisdiction of the Post Commander. He supervises the functions per- taining to requisition, storage, distribution, issue, inspec- tion and classification of Ordnance supplies and equipment. lncluded in this category are armament, vehicles, and am- munition. Lt. Colonel Koch is presently assisted by five oliicers and a staff of approximately 350 persons, almost all of whom are civilians. The duties of the Branch as pertains to vehicles and ve- hicle spare parts are carried out by the automotive section under Captain Julian F. Lewis. The automotive needs of all activities at Fort Bragg are supplied by this section. ln so doing approximately 300 tons of vehicle spare parts are used monthly. In the Redistribution Pool, alone, an aver- age of 6,000 vehicles are stored daily, with a monthly turn- over of nearly 2,500 vehicles. This section makes numer- ous shipments of vehicles direct to Ports of Embarkation from which places they will be sent overseas. Properly servicing the vehicles for shipment and properly performing the in-storage preservative maintenance of thousands of vehicles is the tremendous job which is performed by the Redistribution Pool. The armament section, which supplies all types of weap- ons from bayonets to the largest field pieces, has a difficult job to perform. The job is difficult because it has to be done by a small amount of personnel and always in a much too short period of time, and, at Fort Bragg, almost every conceivable type of armament equipment must be handled. Included in the duties of this section is the painstaking job of inspecting and classifying armament materiel-with the thousands of slnall but highly important items which are included under the term armament spare parts. ln a nor- mal month approximately 3,000 tons of armament materiel are handled in this section. Last but not least of the major elements under the Post Ordnance Officer is the Magazine Section where all types of ammunition are supplied to units on the Post. ln a recent month the Magazine issued more than 2,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and handled more than 1,600 tons of heavy artillery ammunition. The Post Ordnance Organization by its present and past performances has indicated that it is living up to the tra- dition of the Ordnance Department, which is to uKeep the Troops Rolling and Firingf'