Evening star., 1942-02-27

Medical Corps Group
And Engineers Credited
With Saving Mony Lives
BY the Associated Press.
HEADQUARTERS, ICELAND
BASE COMMAND Delayed A
highly trained United States Army
Medical Corps detachment and q
doughty staff sergeant of aviation
engineers have made the entire Ice
land base command proud Of them.
Their speedy, ef1cient work in
helping care for survivors Of the
q. s. S. Alexander Hamilton, Coast
Guard cutter torpedoed somewhere
OF the southern coast of Iceland, Is
credited by Army and Navy author
ities with saving the lives Of several
badly wounded sailors.
It was the first real test OF actual
war conditions for the medical de-
tachment, trained as specialists in
evacuating the wounded from COM
bat areas.
The Hamilton's SOS, flashed i'm
mediately after the torpedo from
an unseen submarine exploded
anidship, was picked up by an alert
Army radio station ashore. The
word was instantly relayed to head
quarters. When an Icelandic resi-
dent telephoned that the first boat
loads Of survivors were approaching
shore, the Army swung swiftly into
action.
Formed Ambulance Convoy.
It radioed Staff Sergt. Ralph B.
Stewart OF Knoxville, Tenn, and
his men, working near the remote
fishing village from where Icelandic
fishing trawlers and Ifeboats bear
ing the Hamilton's survivors were
sighted, to assist in landing opera
tons.
Then the Medical Corps detach-
ment. commanded by Capts. Arthur
T. Jones Of Battle Greek, Mich, and
L. A. Smith Of Noona, N. OAK,
formed q convoy OF modern combat
ambulances and began q hazardous
journey. That it could function 50
quickly and efficiently was due
largely to its organization and in
struction since arrival here by Mai.
Charles Beasley, base surgeon.
Army big-wigs VOW the ambu-
lance drivers would put to shame
many racers who compete each year
on the Indianapolis Speedway.
For many, many miles these
daring drivers raced skillfully along
. narrow, icy rural road which ira
verses ancient lava beds. Deep
crags border the route at many
points. Making the trip more diff
cult were numerous Icelandic trucks
bearing fish to market from the
other direction. A 40-mile wind
didn't help matters, either.
Arrived In Short Time.
IN almost unbelievably short time
the ambulance convoy negotiated
the treacherous route, arriving at
the fishing village just as the last of
the injured sailors were being car
ried ashore on ntters improvised
from rifles and blankets.
A wintry gale buffeted the fishing
trawlers and nfeboats against the
improvised dock Of other fishing
vessels. Spray from an angry sea
splashed nearly so feet into the air.
1t was under such difficult condi-
tions that Sergt. Stewart and his
men carried A survivors to shore.
Those who were not injured were
wet and shiverfng and suffering
from exposure. The sailors were
hustled to homes Of fishermen. The
women there, Sergt. Stewart said.
reminded him of Red Cross workers
IN his home town in their zeal to
care for the wounded and make the
uninjured comfortable with dry
clothing and hot drinks.
The Medical Corps Detachment
administered first aid and rushed
the wounded to hospital.
Remarkable Performance.
Col. George ]. Forster of Kansas
City. assistant chief of staff In
charge Of the supply and evacuation
sections Of the headquarters staff,
has seen the corps in training
through all the major Army man
euvers In the United States the last
two years, including those in Texas
and Louisiana last summer.
He termed the corps Icelandic
operation a remarkable perform
ance" in reporting it to his chief.
Maj. Gen. Charles H. Bonesteel.
commanding general of the Iceland
base command.
OF the A sailors in the group, most
OF whom were uninjured, not one
has died.