REGIMENTAL MEDICAL
DETACHMENT
503d Parachute Infantry
APO 73
7 March 1945
SUBJECT : Medical Section,
Historical Report.
TO : Commanding
General, Sixth Army, APO
442.
1. 0700 hour 16
February 1945 members of the
503d Regimental Combat Team
loaded into transport planes
at San Jose Mindoro,
Philippine Island, in
preparation for the jump on
Corregidor, Philippine
Islands. Members of the
Medical Detachment jumped
with the headquarters
Sections and Platoons to
which they were assigned.
The first paratroopers
jumped at 0833 hour. As the
jump fields were small and
rough, and a high wind
blowing, only seven or eight
men were jumped at a time.
Because of this precaution,
jump casualties, though
high, were not as great as
had been anticipated. Some
few were shot by Japanese
Marines while descending,
but the jump caught the
Japanese by complete
surprise and unprepared to
resist a parachute landing.
2. The Regimental Aid
Station was in operation by
0930 hour when the first
jump casualties were brought
in. The Regimental Aid
Station furnished all
medical care for the first
thirty-six hours. The 18th
Portable Surgical Hospital,
which had made an amphibious
landing with the 3d
Battalion, 34th Inf., at
0930 hour, 16 February 1945,
moved in and worked with us
the rest of the mission.
They administered excellent
surgical and medical care to
the members of the Rock
Force. Through their
untiring efforts, much
suffering of the injured was
alleviated and many lives
were saved. The 503d
Regimental Combat Team owes
a sincere debt of gratitude
to the Officers and Enlisted
men composing this hospital.
List of jump casualties are
as follows:
Jump Casualties,
16 Feb 45 |
|
161 |
Jump
Casualties, 17
Feb 45 |
|
41 |
Later Reported |
|
7 |
Total |
|
209 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
KIA
and DOW by Day
16 Feb 45 |
-
21 |
|
22 Feb 45 |
-
8 |
|
28 Feb 45 |
-
2 |
17 Feb 45 |
-
9 |
|
23 Feb 45 |
-
12 |
|
3
Mar 45 |
-
0 |
18 Feb 45 |
-
19 |
|
24 Feb 45 |
-
8 |
|
2
Mar 45 |
-
0 |
19 Feb 45 |
-
15 |
|
25 Feb 45 |
-
16 |
|
3
Mar 45 |
-
3 |
20 Feb 45 |
-
7 |
|
26 Feb 45 |
-
24 |
|
4
Mar 45 |
-
0 |
21 Feb 45 |
-
9 |
|
27 Feb 45 |
-
12 |
|
5
Mar 45
|
-
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Medical Section, Historical
Report. (Cont'd)
These figures represent 17
Officers and 148 Enlisted Men, a total of 165. Of these, those who died
of wounds after receiving medical care, 3 were Officers and 20, Enlisted
Men.
3. The total of wounded
in action includes 17 Officers and 267 Enlisted men by enemy action.
Total injured in action includes 15 Officers and 316 Enlisted Men. Total
casualties for the entire mission includes 18 cases of Hepatitis, 46
cases of Dysentery, and 14 cases F.U.0. The majority of the F.U.O. cases
were probably Malaria, as they responded to treatment with Atabrine. Of
the total number of casualties, 613 were evacuated from the island, the
rest being returned to duty. The total of 750 casualties occurred in the
503d Regimental Combat Team.
4. The Medical
Detachment suffered heavy casualties dur�ing the mission. On 16 February
1945, T/3 Thomas E. McCann Jr., was reported missing is action, and
found dead and mutilated forty-eight hours later.
|
KIA |
T/3 McCann,
Thomas E. Jr. |
11048812 |
16 Feb 45 |
|
T/5 Pinter,
Lester R. |
36376168 |
26 Feb 45 |
|
|
|
|
DOW |
T/5
Miller,. Clarence A. |
20425354 |
23 Fab 45 |
|
T/4
Costanzo, Maurice V. |
20547668 |
26 Feb 45 |
|
Pfc
Folinazzo, Frank F. |
38831285 |
26 Feb 45 |
|
|
|
|
JUMP INJURIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capt
McKnight, Robert R. |
0-470434 |
16 Feb 45 |
|
lst/Sgt
Lingel, John |
35020546 |
16 Feb 45 |
|
T/5 Riekenbak,
Richard A. |
20224461 |
16 Feb 45. |
|
Pfc Pace,
Joseph D. |
33535472 |
16 Feb 45 |
|
Pvt Prince,
Donald O. |
14158392_ |
16 Feb 45 |
|
Pvt Mohring,
Henry K. |
32846313 |
16 Feb 45 |
|
Pvt Norris,
James E. |
35728328 |
16 Feb 45 |
|
Pvt
Giberson, Donald G. |
31091847 |
16 Feb 45 |
WIA |
Pfc Heiler,
Robert E. |
16035224 |
18 Feb 45 |
|
Pfc
Steckewskil Edward J. |
32225972 |
19 Feb 45 |
|
Pfc
Harrington, Edward P. |
20281895 |
24 Feb 45 |
|
T/4 Bowers,
John |
11018374 |
21 Feb 45 |
|
T/5 Ashton,
William E. |
38417453 |
21 Feb 45 |
|
Pvt
Cassidy, Francis B. Jr. |
31261821 |
24 Feb 45 |
|
T/Sgt
Fairbanks, Weston E. |
31013362 |
25 Feb 45 |
|
Pvt
Anderson, Harry C. |
35789062 |
25 Feb 45 |
|
T/5 Scott,
Ryan L. |
34093745 |
26 Feb 45 |
|
Pfc Perra,
Nicholas R. |
32563928 |
26 Feb 45 |
|
Pvt
Comeriske_ Joseph |
32732584 |
26 Feb 45 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Medical Section, Historical
Report, (Cont�d) |
Three members of the Medical
Detachment were
evacuated
because of disease.
|
Capt |
Fleming, Peter B. |
0-464189 |
25 Feb
45 |
|
Pfc |
Hicks,
Arnold H. |
39274680 |
25 Feb
45 |
|
Pvt |
Wallace, Gerald A. |
39525126 |
25 Feb
45 |
5. Casualties were
relatively light throughout the mission as a result of enemy action. On
19 February an ammunition dump exploded causing numerous casualties. On
26 February another explosion occurred causing 196 casualties. These two
explosions at least doubled .all deaths and seriously
wounded.
6. The members of the
Medical Detachment worked tirelessly and efficiently, and the morale of
all was excellent throughout the mission.
THOMAS H. STEVENS,
Major MC,
Reg-01, Surgeon.
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