IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 18 
Honoring the life of Dr. Frank Erdman Boston as a World War I veteran, 
military surgeon, community doctor, and founder of the Elm Terrace/ 
Abington Lansdale Hospital and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps 
(VMSC) ambulance corps. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 5, 2021 
Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Ms. WILD, Ms. HOULAHAN, and 
Ms. DEAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring the life of Dr. Frank Erdman Boston as a World 
War I veteran, military surgeon, community doctor, and 
founder of the Elm Terrace/Abington Lansdale Hospital 
and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps (VMSC) ambu-
lance corps. 
Whereas Mr. Boston attended Lincoln University, originally 
established as The Ashmun Institute, the Nation’s first 
degree-granting historically Black college and university; 
Whereas subsequently, Dr. Boston attended the Medico-Chi-
rurgical College, an outgrowth of the Medico-Chirurgical 
Society of Philadelphia which merged with the University 
of Pennsylvania Medical College and Jefferson Medical 
College; 
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•HRES 18 IH 
Whereas when World War I began, Dr. Boston enlisted and 
was immediately given the rank of first lieutenant in the 
Army Medical Reserve Corps; 
Whereas African-American recruits, including Dr. Boston, 
were sent for medical training at the Medical Officers 
Training Camp, Fort Des Moines, Iowa; 
Whereas after completing his training, Dr. Boston was as-
signed as a medical officer with the 317th Engineers 
Regiment of the 92d Division of the American Expedi-
tionary Forces; 
Whereas Dr. Boston’s division fought bravely across France 
and in the bloody Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest 
operation of the American Expeditionary Forces in World 
War I; 
Whereas the Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the deadliest cam-
paign in American history, resulting in more than 26,000 
soldiers killed in action and more than 120,000 total cas-
ualties; 
Whereas during his tour of duty, Dr. Boston treated soldiers 
while under aerial and gas attack; 
Whereas Dr. Boston served in France with the rank of cap-
tain and ended his military service as a major; 
Whereas after the war, Dr. Boston returned to work in Phila-
delphia and later settled in Lansdale where he opened the 
Elm Terrace Hospital, which was later renamed North 
Penn Hospital and subsequently became part of the Ab-
ington Jefferson Health Systems; 
Whereas Dr. Boston also formed a First Aid Emergency 
Squad in Lansdale, eventually known as the Volunteer 
Medical Service Corps of Lansdale; 
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•HRES 18 IH 
Whereas, as a Boy Scout official, Dr. Boston served as chair-
man of Health and Safety for the General Nash District, 
Valley Forge Scout Council; 
Whereas Dr. Boston was a member of the Reserve Officers 
Association of Military Surgeons, the Montgomery Coun-
ty Medical Society, and the American Medical Associa-
tion; 
Whereas Dr. Boston died February 8, 1960, at 69 years of 
age, and was buried in Lansdale; and 
Whereas Jefferson Health and Abington Lansdale Hospital, 
along with the Borough of Lansdale, are honoring Dr. 
Boston, and a mural is being planned for the Lansdale 
Borough Hall: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representative honors 
the life of Dr. Frank Erdman Boston as a World War 
I veteran, military surgeon, community doctor, and found-
er of the Elm Terrace/Abington Lansdale Hospital and the 
Volunteer Medical Service Corps (VMSC) ambulance 
corps. 
Æ 
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