Books and Documents

REPORT OF OPERATIONS
279th STATION HOSPITAL


Berlin District, United States Army
APO 755, US Army
                        
Period beginning 1 October 1945
to 31 December 1945


SOURCE:  National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 112, Records of the US Army Surgeon General, Records of the Historical Unit, Medical Service (HUMEDS), 279th Station Hospital, Box 133

HEADQUARTERS
279th STATION HOSPITAL
Office of the Commanding Officer
Berlin District, United States Army
APO 755, US Army


INDEX

 REPORT OF OPERATIONS

[1]

Report of Operations
279th Station Hospital
14 August 1946

SECTION I

COMMANDER’S NARRATIVE REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 45.

1.    Geographical and Physical Location — The Hospital Plant No 4464 now occupied by the 279th Station hospital is located at 44/46 Unter den Eichen, Lichterfelde-West, in the city of Berlin. Construction of the hospital was begun in 1898 for the District of Teltow by direction of the Landrat von Stubenrauch, and was opened as a 150 bed hospital on 26 June 1901. The hospital was first called the Kreiskrankenhaus Teltow but more recently was known as the Stubenrauch Kreiskrankenhaus. New buildings were added from time to time, the latest in 19l3. The cost of construction of the entire plant is said to have been between 12 and l3 million marks. The hospital was used as a Municipal (noncharity) General Hospital until 1 May, 1941. It was purchased at that date by the German Reich for 5 million marks. It was then designated as a hospital for the Waffen SS. Official German records indicate the following valuation at the time of acquisition by the Nazi Government:

Buildings and Grounds (approx 17 acres) Reichsmark    4,351,858
Equipment and Furniture                   “    ”    620,372

During the war the hospital cared for battle casualties as well as the non-fighting members of the Nazi party. Shortly before the fall of Berlin the hospital census was more than 700 patients. After the fall of Berlin the majority of the patients were evacuated, and for a short time the hospital was taken over by the Red Army.

Buildings and grounds had been damaged to a considerable extent by allied bombing and by small arms and artillery fire during the Battle of Berlin. Further damage to buildings and equipment was the result of vandalism during the chaotic period immediately after the fall of Berlin.

2.   Real Properties

a. Buildings: Wards in Stations I, II, III, IV and VII are now in use and were ready for occupancy since 18 September 1945. There is still much in the way of minor repair to be done, such as plastering, painting, etc: however, this work is being done, by permanently employed German civilians maintenance personnel and all such repairs should be completed in a period of about six months. Station IX is not occupied at present. At the time of the opening of this hospital for the reception of patients this building was without a roof. The roof has been completely repaired and the rehabilitation of the building nearly complete. Plastering, painting, repair to plumbing, electric wiring, and woodwork is proceeding satisfactorily and the building should be ready for occupancy by 8 January 1946. The second floor of the east wing of the building is being prepared as a locked neuropsychiatric ward.

Station VIII has been 50% destroyed by bombing and shell fire. The work of restoration has not yet begun. During the coming months it is proposed to proceed with necessary demolitions and to clear away all rubble in order that reconstruction can begin without delay in the spring of l946.  When completed this building will house 200 patients.

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b.    Roads: All roads in the hospital area are hard surfaced (concrete or black top) and are in a good state of repair. Work on an ambulance [?] from the street west of the hospital area and between Station I and IV has not begun and will probably not be completed before the spring of 1946.

c.    Electrical Service: T/E Generators. Work on the construction of a building to house two (2) 50 KW Generators to the east of Station V has been completed. Most current now used in the hospital is from the city of Berlin. Power failures since the opening of the hospital have not interfered with normal operation and have occurred at rare intervals. Transformers are presently in use to provide 110V AC to buildings where such current is needed. The total capacity of these transformers is 100 KW. Steam powered generators capable of supplying 110V DC up to 30 KW are present but not in use. The conversion of all power lines from 220 V AC to the 110V AC source in order to make the hospital entirely independent of the municipal power supply is a major undertaking that will probably not be begun for many months or at least until the necessary materials for conversion are available.

d.    Water Supply: The present method of supplying potable drinking water is not entirely satisfactory. An engineer water point has been established in the hospital grounds. Plans for the construction of a water purification and softening plant have been approved by the Berlin District Engineer and work on the project is to begin during January.

e.    Sewage Disposal: Sewage disposal is entirely satisfactory through the municipal system.

f.    Heating: An efficient and adequate heating plant for the entire area is now in operation. Five large boilers are capable of furnishing adequate heat and hot mater to all buildings. Minor repairs to steam pipes is being done by a German contractor.

g.    Overall completion of project to date: Based upon ultimate and present bed capacity the project is 58% complete.

3.    a. Military Personnel — During the period of 1 October 1945 and 31 December 1945 the personnel of this hospital were being returned to the States in ever increasing numbers, See Personnel deport Section II.  Every effort was made to induce the former personnel to volunteer for an additional period of duty. Replacements were difficult to secure. Officers and Enlisted men were transferred to this unit from units that were being deactivated and the personnel in this combined unit with the highest point score would be returned to the ZI.

b.    American Civilian Personnel: In the latter part of October this organization was notified that in accordance with the Theater policy, United States civilians were being hired to replace a certain number of Technicians. On 12 November the first employee reported for duty and was assigned to the Unit Supply. Since that date six other employees have thrived making a total of seven (7) employees as of 3l December, 1945.

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c.    On 1 October l945, this hospital had 410 German civilian employees working directly for the hospital. This figure had jumped to 506 by the 3l December, 1945. The use of civilians in innumerable jobs of extreme importance was a most vital factor in the operation of this hospital during this period. Without the civilians, working as engineers, mechanics, electricians, telephone repairmen and medical technicians of various types it would have been difficult if not impossible to operate this hospital due to the inadequate number of military personnel capable of ins tailing, repairing, reconstructing and operating various pieces of specialized equipment on the post. Civilians who knew the Utilities and the buildings in general were essential in the reconstruction of this hospital.

3.    Transportation — On 1 October 1945 this hospital found itself with 18 vehicles assigned. This amount of transportation was found to he entirely inadequate. Arrangements were made with the Quartermaster for the loan of some trucks. Then the Engineers were approached and agreed to furnish transportation for the hauling of material and supplies for the construction and repair of the hospital. Maintenance of the vehicles was still extremely difficult in so far as obtaining additional parts concerned. Due to inadequate  ordnance facilities in the Berlin area the unit was required to perform some 3rd echelon maintenance. During this period the accident rate was nil even though the drivers, both enlisted and German were inexperienced.

4.    Receiving & Evacuation — During the period of 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945, this hospital admitted a total of 4033 patients. (See Receiving and Evacuation Report Section VI). Of this number over half were for Venereal Diseases. The Out-Patients clinic saw a total of 3137 patients. The hospitalization policy at this time was 10 days and any patient whose stay was expected to exceed 10 days was referred to the 101st General Hospital for hospitalization.

b.    Medical Service: The number of patients on Surgical Service was very light during this period and consisted chiefly of emergency work. All surgical cases that were not in need of immediate surgery were referred to the 101st General Hospital, Berlin, Germany, The Medical Service had the bulk of the patient load. The bed capacity of this hospital was 368 on 1 Oct, 45. It was increased to 432 on 9 Oct 45. Of the 432 beds in the hospital 236 were set aside for Venereal Disease. A program for the rapid treatment of cases of gonorrhea, non-specific Urethritis, syphilis, chancroid and other Venereal infections was set up.

c.    Evacuation: This hospital was not acting as a General Hospital and all patients needing evacuation or hospitalization for a period of over 10 days were evacuated to the 101st General Hospital by ambulance. No prior arrangements were necessary and therefore this hospital had no problems as to the disposition of patients.

[4]

SECTION II

MILITARY PERSONNEL REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945.


I.    PERSONNEL AND ASSIGNMENT CHANGES

1.    On the 2d of October 1945 let Lt Edith L. Chase of the Army Nurse Corps was relieved from assignment and attached unassigned to 490th Company 10th Reinforcement Depot per par 3, Special Orders 102, Headquarters, First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. On the next day Tec 5 Wallace J. Welneyer was relieved from assignment and attached unassigned to 19th Reinforcement Depot per par 1, Special Orders 104, Headquarters, First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. On 10 October 1945 1st Lt Thomas h. Maruca was relieved from assignment and attached unassigned to the 19th Reinforcement Depot per par 3, Specia1 Order 110, Headquarters, First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. S/Sgt Roy P. Taylor, Sgt Warren L. Souders, Pfc Isaac V. Coursey, and Pfc Melvin E. Walker were relieved from assignment and attached unassigned to the 3rd Reinforcement Depot on the 13 October 1945 per Letter Order AG 300.4/1529 US Headquarters Berlin District, 1st Airborne Army. Captain Sidney H. Joffe was promoted to a Major on 14 October 1945 per par 31, Special Orders 62, Hqs, Theater Service Forces European Theater, date of rank 1 Oct 1945. Also on this day 1st Lt Rena M. Thompson was assigned not joined from 101st General Hospital per par 7, Special Orders 116, Hqs, First Airborne Army, Berlin Germany. Pfc J. Hodges was reld from asgnt and attached unasgd to the 3d Reinforcement Depot, Marburg, Germany, per par 2, SO # 103, Hqs, First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. Also reld fr asgmt were S/Sgt Edgar J. Gilroy, T/3 David B. Ballard, T/4 John B. Columbus, Pfc John M. Bennett, Pfc Louis P. Berke, Pfc John H. Cole, Pfc Edward W. Swierczanke, and Pfc Andrew L. Adkins, who were transferred to the 501st Medical Collecting Company per par 1, SO # 214, Hqs, 279th Sta Hosp, Berlin, Germany. On the 19th of October Lt Col Norman C. Spencer was reld fr asgmt and asgd to the 191st General Hospital, per par 28, SO # 288, Hqs, US Forces European Theater (Main). On the same day Lt Col Henry S. Carroll was assigned not joined from the 168th General Hospital per par 28, SO # 288, Hqs, US Forces European Theater (Main). On the 28th of October 1945 twelve enlisted men enlisted in the Regular Army. They were T/5 Elmer C. Bartz, T/5 Joseph P. Summers, Pfc Walter L. Brewer Jr., Pfc Wales E. May, Pfcwen B. Money, Pfc Raymond L. Pofahl, Pfc Leo M. Thomas, T/5 William H. Bradbury, T/5 Jarry B. Brage, T/5 John W. Halpain, Pfc Edward A. Duggar, Pfc Robert L. Harringer.

2.    On 4 November 1945 Majors Paul C. Keller and Benjamin M. Stein, and Capt Thomas A. Yalocucci were relieved fr asgmt and asgd to the 112th [sic] Airborne Army per par 2, SO # 137, Hqs, First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. Also Maj Edward M Lipinan was reld fr asgmt and asgd to the 26th Signal Light Construction battalion, par par 2, SO # 137, Hqs, First Airborne Army, Berlin Germany, and Maj James A. Page was reld fr asgmt and asgd to the 151st Quartermaster Battalion, per par 2, SO # 137, Hqs, First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. On the 6th of November 1945 2d Lt Doris S. McGraw was asgd not joined fr the 50th Field Hospital per par 15, Special Orders 302, Hqs, US Forces European Theater(rear); also 1st Lt Lorraine A. Sloas was asgd not joined fr the 74th Gen Hospital per par 4, SO # 304, Hqs, US Forces European Theater (rear). Both were from the ANC.

[5]

Capt Milton Bernstein was asgd not joined from the 163rd General Hospital on the 9 November 45 per par 1, SO # 94, Hqs, Theater Service Forces European Theater (Main), and also 1st Lt Nadine B. Geitz of the ANC was asgd not joined from the 15th General Hospital per par 5, SO # 92, Hqs, TSFET(Main) on the same day. Capt Charles H. McElwee and Capt Abe Vinograd came to this unit on the 10th of November 1945 from the 68th Gen Hosp per par 2, SO # 95, Hqs, TSFET (Main). Also on the same day 2d Lt Loila M. Vanderscoff from the ANC joined this unit from the 116th General Hospital per par 2, SO # 96, Hqs TSFET (Main). On 12 Nov 1945 Capt George V. Murphy was asgd to this orgn from Hqs Ground Forces Reinforcement Conmmand per par 1, SO # 99, Hqs TSFET (Main). On the 15th Nov three enlisted men were asgd to the 2d Reinforcement Depot, as they had enlisted in the Regular Army to serve 15 months. They were T/5 Robert H. LeMarre, T/5 Frank A. Spadafora Jr, Pfc Alfred P. Ducoing, but were still attached to this unit pending departure. They departed on the 16 of November. On the same date three more EM enlisted in the RA for a period of three years. They were Pfc Raymond B. Hulstien, Pfc Robert L. Miller, and Pfc Clarence F. Moore. They were all honorably discharged and asgd back to the 279th Sta Hosp. Also on the 16th Capt Thaddeus Pernak was asgd to this orgn from the 241st Gen Hosp per par 2, SO # 100, Hqs TSFET (Main). On the 23d Nov 1945 eight EM were sent to the 29th Inf Div to be redeployed, per Letter Order AG 300.4/3098 US Hqs, Berlin District and Hqs First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. They were T/4 Earl D. Palmer, Cpl John Dembec, T/5 Walter Malek, T/5 Donald B. Windmueller, Pfc Jimmie Ingram, Pfc Raymond W. Marmon, Pfc Robin N. Shadwick, and Pfc Jonnie L. Walker. On the 26 Nov 3 more EM left this orgn to go to the 29th Inf Div to be redeployed, per Letter Order AG 300.4/3180 US Hqs Berlin District and Hqs First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. They were Pfc George N. Way, Pfc Carl Buccambuzo, and Pfc Robert L. Penton. On the 27 Nov two EM were reduced to the grade of Pvt per par 1, SO # 236, Hqs, 279th Sta Hosp. They were T/5 James B. Mitchell and T/5 Vernon English. On the 29 Nov 1945 two more nurses got their silver bars per par 44, SO # 325, Hqs, USFET (Main). They were 2d Lt Geraldine M. Brown and 2d Lt Elizabeth McCaw. On the last day of Nov 2d Lt Betty J. Christensen and 2d Lt Lois A. Hansen, both from the ANC, were promoted to 1st Lieutenants per par 36, SO # 109, Hqs TSFET. Another nurse, 2d Lt Jeanne C. Whitader, was asgd from the 365 Sta Hosp per par 5, SO # 108. Hqs TSFET (Main).

3.    On 1st Dec 1945 let Lt Harriet L. Gilman left for LeHavre, France, for return to the ZI for a rest and recuperation furlough per par 3, SO # 158, Hqs, First Airborne army, Berlin District. On the 5th of Dee 45 Capt Victor P. Satinsky was asgd to this unit from the 306th Sta Hosp per par 2, SO # 108, Hqs TSFST (Main), also Capt Howard G. Woody was asgd from the 347th Sta Hosp, per par 2, SO # 108, Hqs, TSFST (Main). The next day this unit got three more officers. They were 1st Lt Alfred R. Ernst, who was asgd from the 235th Gen Hosp per par 3, SO # 108, Hqs, TSFET (Main), Capt Jerome A. Gans, asgd from the 197th Gen Hosp per par 3, SO # 108, Hqs TSFET (Main), and 1st Lt Majorie G. Chalkley of the ANC, who came from the 101st Gen Hosp per par 21, SO # 122, Hqs TSFET. On the 7 Dec two more officers joined this unit. They were Capt Jose A. Rivera from the 198th Gen Hosp per par 8, SO # 109, Hqs TSFET (Main), and 1st Lt Samuel Friedman from the 202d Gen Hosp per par 8, SO # 109, Hqs TSFET.

[6]

On the same day Capt Herschel H. Pavaroff was reld from asgmt and atchd to Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France, for return to the US per par 7, SO # 164, Hqs, First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. On the 9 Dec five nurses were reid from asgmt and atchd to Nurses Staging Area #1 Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France, for return to the ZI per Ltr Order AG 300.4/3738 US Hqs Berlin District and Hqs First Airborne Army, Berlin, Germany. They were 1st Lt Geraldine M. Brown, 1st Lt Adelia J. Patino, 2d Lt Alice Gull, 2d Lt Marion A. Voerman, and 2d Lt Paula S Vose. 2d Lt Janice S. Wallaker was asgd from the 365th Sta Hosp per par 12, SO # 119, Hqs, TSFEF. 1st Lt Kathryn Parriott, ANC, joined this unit on the 12th Dec 1945. She came from the 200th Gen Hosp per par 28, SO # 124 Hqs TSFST. Also on 12 Dec T/4 Raymond O. Fanning, who had been on TDY, was reld from asgmt and trfd to Fort Devens, Mass. #1 Reception Station, per par 17, Special Orders 325, Army Service Forces First Service Command. Pfc Billie O. Samson who had been atchd unasgd from the 505th Parachute Inf joined this unit on the 14 Dec 1945 per par 1, SO # 177, Hqs, 505th Parachute Inf. On the 18 Dec 1st Lt Frances Kahn, ANC, joined this unit from the 317th Sta Hosp per par 3, SO # 260, Has, 317th Sta Hosp. On the next day two nurses, 2d Lt Dorothea M. McCarty and 2d Lt Audrey G. Ball were promoted to 1st Lieutenants per par 43, SO # 346, Hqs USFET (Main APO 757). Capt Robert Ruder was reld from asgmt and atchd unasgd to Camp Philip Morris, Le Havre, France, on the 21 Dec and was enroute to the ZI per Ltr Order AG 300.4/4148, Hq US Berlin District. On the 22 Dec Maj Edwin F. Lathbury was asgd and joined from the Theater Service Faces per par 4, SO # 108, Hqs, TSFST. 1st Lt Charles R. Bates received orders on the 25th of Dec, relieving him from asgmt and was atchd pending departure per par 16, SO # 126, Hqs TSFET.

II.    PERSONNEL IN CHARGE

1.   1st Lt Howard Colon of Hamburg, Iowa, was the Personnel Officer and T/Sgt James V. Godfrey of Auburn, Alabama was the Personnel Sergeant-Major.

III.    ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1.    The main accomplishment during this period, in excess of routine personnel duties, was the redeployment of personnel as they became eligible and the requisitioning and receiving of replacements to insure sufficient qua1ified personnel being present to efficiently operate a Sta Hosp.

IV.    PROBLEMS

1.    As the redeployment criteria was lowered during this period more experienced personnel departed from the theater and qualified replacements were seemingly slow in arriving from the US.

[7]


SECTION III

PLANS & TRAINING REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945.

1.    During the period 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945 all the training was carried on in the Departments of this hospital. It was impracticable to have a formal training program due to the rapid redeployment of both Officer and Enlisted Personnel.

[8]

SECTION IV


TRANSPORTATION REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945

1.    During this period big changes became necessary in the motor transportation section. There were still 18 vehicles assigned, but these 18 vehicles were entirely inadequate for the proper function of the hospital necessitating that transportation be obtained from some other source. Arrangements were made with a QM Trk Co stationed in Berlin area for the use of two 2½  ton 6x6 cargo trucks daily, for the transportation of building supplies, and coal and coke to the hospital area. These two additional trucks proved inadequate and two more trucks were obtained from the same QM Trk Co. The Engineers were expanding the construction and reconditioning of the hospital. Transportation proved inadequate. The engineers were requested to furnish transportation for the hauling of construction materials, thereby releasing the transportation assigned to the hospital for greatly expanded housekeeping duties. The engineers obtained approximately five 10 t semi—trailers to haul these materials, releasing our transportation for our own hospital use. The transportation during this period with the 18 assigned vehicles and the 4 borrowed vehicles was adequate. During this period another difficulty was experienced, in as much as large scale redeployment of the personnel assigned to this unit was taking place. The majority of the soldier drivers were redeployed to the US leaving the motor transportation section in a critical state in so far as trained drivers were concerned. This problem was solved by the hiring of German civilian drivers, and German civilian mechanics.

2.    Maintenance of the vehicles was still extremely difficult in so far as obtaining additional parts was concerned. During this period tools had been obtained making it easier to perform 2nd echelon maintenance required of this unit. Due to inadequate ordnance facilities in the Berlin area the tools on hand were inadequate to perform 3rd echelon maintenance which this organization had, of a necessity, to perform. During this period the accident rate was nil which is a compliment to the entire motor transportation section of this hospital.

[9]


SECTION V

PROVOST MARSHAL REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945.

1.    During this period covering October 1, 1945 thru December 31, 1945 the Provost Marshal duties were alloted to the Detachment Commander. It was the purpose of guard to secure the safety of the hospital and its surrounding installations. Due to the large amount of civilian labor employed by the hospital guard details were important. All civilian personnel were checked for proper identification and their belongings were thoroughly searched upon entering or leaving the hospital area. Twenty-four hour guard was placed upon the Nurses quarters and when the EM’s quarters were moved outside the hospital area a guard was maintained there also. One of the main duties of the guard detail was to prevent loitering by civilians around the are [area] directly across the street (east) from the EM’s barracks. Black market operators were numerous in this area.

2.   The following is the tour of duty for the 279th Station Hospital guards:

a.    Post #1 —  Nurses Area. Tour will cover buildings 107, 106, 105, 104; 104a is occupied by civilians. Guards will walk the front of the buildings and cut in between them so that the rear may be also checked. At no time will guards be engaged in conversation with civilians or other persons except in line of duty. Civilians on duty in Nurses quarters will be checked by the guard at building 107 when reporting to and leaving work. Upon leaving, their bags will be inspected for food, articles or clothing, or any items that may be removed from the quarters. Old clothing may be taken out if the individual concerned has a slip signed by the nurse who has given the apparel to them. No loitering of GI's in front of quarters will be permitted at any time.
        
b.    Post #2 —  Main Gate #1. One guard will be on duty at Main Gate between 0700 hours and 1700 hours; from 1700 to 0700 hours there will be two guards. Guard at this gate will check all civilians entering the post to ascertain if they have proper identification. All civilians and civilian vehicles leaving the post will be checked for food, clothing or any other government property, there will be no exception t o this rule. Passenger vehicles only will be permitted through this gate; trucks will be directed through east gate, which will be open between 0700 and 1700 hours. From 1700 to 0700 hours, it will be opened by guard at main gate where keys will be kept in guard house at that post. Between 2000 and 0800 hours one guard from each tour will be designated Sgt of the Guard. In addition to his duties as guard at the main gate, he will ascertain that all guards are properly posted and relieved at the proper time. He will spot check guards during his tour; during this period there will be two guards at the main gate. Visiting hours in the hospital are fran 1400 to 1600 hours, civilians will not be permitted to visit. No one will be allowed to enter the post after 1600 hours for other than official business. If any question arises during normal duty hours, the Sgt Major’s Office should be contacted; in the same instance, the A & D Office will be called after 1700 hrs.

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c.   Post #3 —  Gate #2. (Between Main Gate and Kamillenstrasse)

Between hours of 0700 and 1700, this gate will remain open for the purpose of allowing trucks to enter and leave the post. All civilian trucks upon leaving the post will be searched for food, clothing, or other government property. On entering, trucks will be directed to rear of post and will not be permitted to park in parking area in front of headquarters building. This gate will be locked between 1700 and 0700 hours; keys will be kept in Main Gate guard house, and it may be opened if necessary by the Main Gate guard after 1700 hours.

d.   Post #4 —  Rear Guard. One guard will be posted in the Hospital’s Medical Supply area. The post will include the Medical Supply building, coal pile, and motor pool, and will be covered during off-duty hours by one guard per shift, who will circle above area during his tour of duty.

2.   Control of Traffic. Since Unter den Eichen (main road in front of hospital) is a very busy and dangerous thoroughfare, gate guards will take the following steps to prevent any accidents:

a.   Prevent, cars parking within twenty feet of each side of driveways at gate I & II, in order to give driver leaving post a clear field of vision.

b.   Stop all vehicles at gate when leaving post and check highway traffic, do not give these vehicles the gosign until the highway is clear. At times it may be necessary to get out on the highway to stop traffic especially such calls for ambulance. During the hours of darkness use flashlight to halt traffic when necessary.

3.   SOP on Vehicles Entering Post Through Gate Number 1

a.   Only passenger vehicles will be permitted thru this gate and instructed to park in the small parking lot just inside the gate.
b.   Ambulances carrying patients will be stopped at the Main Gate, instructed to unload patients and return to the parking lot.
c.   When this parking lot is filled with vehicles then vehicles will be instructed to park on the street.
d.   No vehicles will be permitted to park anywhere in the circle directly in front of headquarters at any time.
e.   Drivers of vehicles carrying visiting officers will be instructed to unload at entrance to headquarters and park in the parking lot or on the street if lot is filled.
f.   One 279th Sta Hosp ambulance will be permitted to park at entrance to R & E Office, and one 279th jeep may park on side road, off the circle heading to the Red Cross Building.

[11]


SECTION VI

RECEIVING & EVACUATION REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945.


1.     [Admissions and Dispositions]                     
                           

2.   An outstanding feature of the R & E activity during this period was a high number of admission of cases of Venereal Diseases, some 2,650 cases in 3 months.

3.   The following is a report of the Out-patients service rendered during this period:

                   
4.   Vaccination against influenza was on a large scale during the month of November: 499

5.   The hospitalization policy at that time was maximum 10 days. Patients examined at the Dispensary and whose diagnosis indicated that they required over 10 days hospitalization were referred to the 101st General Hospital for medical care, as directed in letter, Office of the Surgeon, Berlin District, dtd 3rd October 1945.

6.   A problem of historical interest during this period was rapid redeployment of personnel. There were frequent changes of R & E personnel on short notice. Qualified men were replaced by less experienced personnel who then were broken in by the older men for the new type of work. To alleviate this situation an increasing number of German civilians were employed in the department.

[12]


1.   The following is the report of the Out-Patient Clinic on services rendered from 29 September 1945 to 26 October 1945, inclusive.

2.   Out-Patients                                 

3.    Physical Examinations
a.    Monthly Inspection of EM                  315
b.    Complete Physical Examinations          35
                                                                350

4.    Immunizations, Vaccinations:
a.    Tetanus                    5
b.    Typhoid                  15
c.    Typhus                    50                        
d.    Smallpox                   0

5.    Dispensary (Command sick call)
a.    Number of patients                   46
b.    Number of Treatments            121

[13]

1.    The following is the report of the Out-Patient Clinic on services rendered from 27 October 1945 to 30 November 1945 inclusive.

2.    Out-Patients   

3.    Physical Examinations
a.    Monthly Inspection of EM               298
b.    Complete Physical Examinations        52
                                                              350

4.   Immunizations, Vaccinations
a.    Tetanus                    5    
b.    Typhoid                 32
c.    Typhus                    4
d.    Diphtheria             13
e.    Influenza              499
                                  555

5.    Dispensary: (Command sick call)
a.    Number of Patients                    79
b.    Number of Treatments            175

[14]



1.   The following is the report of the Out-Patient Clinic on services rendered from 30 November 1945 to 28 December 1945 inclusive

2.   Out-Patients   

3.    Physical Examinations

a.    Monthly Inspection of EM        328

4.    Immunizations, Vaccinations
a.    Tetanus                    12
b.    Typhoid                     5
c.    Typhus                       6
d.    Diphtheria                  0
e.    Influenza                     0

5.    Dispensary: (Command sick call)
a.    Number of Patients                   35
b.    Number of Treatments            136

[15]

SECTION VII

UTILITIES REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945

1.    During this period the reconstruction of the hospital continued under the engineers coordinating with this department.

2.    Building V was completed in December for occupation as a clinic building (VD Clinic, EENT Clinic, X-ray, Dental Clinic and Laboratory).

3.    The cleaning of Station VIII was continued. The work on Station IX was continued, the greenhouses were reglazed in part, Building X was redecorated, the work on Ward I and Ward I-B was completed and the reconstruction of the Surgery in Building I was started.

4.    Shortages of certain materials continued to slow up all work. In many cases work on some projects was virtually halted due to shortages of small amounts of vital materials such as junction boxes, hardware, switches, etc. Paint in the requisite quantities was virtually impossib1e to obtain and reconstruction and repair was slowed up to almost a standstill because of this shortage.

5.    Due to the age of the plumbing system innumerable breakdowns resulted. Repair was often impossible for long periods of time due to shortages in vital materials: Plumber’s putty, white lead, small fittings of various sorts and gaskets of all kinds.

6.    Minor repairs were accomplished throughout all the buildings. Many minor damages were fixed before they became major problems. A total of 50,000 man hours per month were involved in repair and maintenance and in the construction os [of] signs and small items of various sorts; ie, toilet seats, toilet paper holders, file boxes, desk boxes, chart racks, bulletin boards, etc.

7.    The buildings listed below were requisitioned as billets for EM and WD Civilians and rehabilitation of these buildings was started;

Unter den Eichen 102
Unter den Eichen 103
Unter den Eichen l03a
Tietzenweg    2
Tietzenweg    4
Tietzenweg    6
Margaretenstrasse 21
Margaretenstrasse 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d
Margaretenstrasse 23a, 23b, 23c
Margaretenstrasse 24a, 24b, 24c
Margaretenstrasse 25a, 25b, 25c
Marparetenstrasse 26a, 26b, 26c
Margaretenstrasse 27a, 27b, 27c,
Margaretenstrasse 28a, 28b, 28c
Margaretenstrasse 30, 30a, 31
Margaretenstraese 3la, 32, 32a

[16]


8.    These buildings were necessary as billets due to the necessity of converting Building X from billets to wards.

9.    Building X, upon completion of repair and rehabilitation was converted into three wards. Furniture was requisitioned for three wards, stoves, refrigerators and sinks were installed in kitchens, signs were made and the many small items required were constructed.

10.    During this period the telephone system was becoming overloaded due to the increased activity resulting from the gradual closing of the 101st General Hospital. A request was put into the Signal Corps for a survey of the communications systems and corrective action. No results were obtained during this period in this respect.

[17]


SECTION VIII

MEDICAL REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945

1.   By the beginning of this period the Medical Service was organized and functioning under the following sections:

General Medicine
Communicable Diseases
Officers and Women’s Section
Venereal Disease Section

2.    By 8 October 1945 the total bed capacity of the Medical Service was 357. Of these 236 beds were alotted to the Venereal Disease Section. A program for the rapid treatment of cases of Gonorrhea, non-specific Urethritis, Syphilis, Chancroid and other venereal infections was set up according to the existing Army Regulations concerning the treatment of Venereal Diseases. Total patients seen on the Venereal Disease Section will be included in the accompanying table. The Venereal Disease Section has maintained an active out-patient clinic seeing an average of 50 patients per day. In addition a women’s clinic for the Venereal Disease examination of food-handlers has been conducted 3 days each week and an average of 30 patients per day were seen in this clinic.

3.    The section on General Medicine has of necessity included all types of cases. These have been predominately upper respiratory infections and acute tonsillar infections. The respiratory infections seen have been distinctly acute in nature, accompanied by high fever and prostration. Most of them have responded quickly to symptomatic treatment. Over 100 cases pneumonia have been treated on the Medical Service. These have almost all been of the primary atypical variety and only moderately severe in character. The service head one death from pneumonia. Penicillin was used in a large percentage of the many cases of tonsillitis which have been seen. The throats of these patients were all cultured and some type of streptococcus found in the majority. The response of those patients to penicillin was dramatic and most of them had an average of a 4.5 days stay in the hospital.

4.    The Communicable Disease Section has received a rather large number of cases of Diphtheria as the accompanying table will show. These have all been treated with antitoxin and have responded well to that therapy. This section also received cases of Scarlet Fever, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Measles, and Mumps.

5.    The out-patient clinics for each service have been very active and as the table will show, has a large number of visits.

[18]

REPORT ON THE MEDICAL SERVICE (cont’d)

1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945
                  

DISTRIBUTION OF ADMISSIONS
          

[19]


SECTION IX

SURGICAL REPORT

Period beginning 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945

1.   During the period from 1 October 1945 to 31 December 1945, inclusive, the Surgical Department serviced troops in the Berlin area. The work was light and consisted chiefly of emergency work.

2.    The admission of surgical cases in October was 260, in November 149, and 192 in December.

3.    The Operating Room Section was still maintained in the former German Obstetrical Department, while repair work was being continued upon the original damaged rooms. On the same floor of this building, 16 general surgery beds were maintained for acute cases; convalescing patients were transferred to another building. Fourty [sic] beds were reserved for septic surgery, 21 for orthopedics, 10 for urology and the general officers’ wards were utilized for surgical cases among officers.

4.    Regu1ar weekly ward rounds and monthly staff meetings were held.

5.    Statistical deports of the work done by the Surgical Department are attached.

[20]


Monthly Report, Anesthesia Section

Quarterly Surgical Report