The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-11
Nine Physical Therapy Aid
Commissioned In National AZ

FORT HUAcHUcA, Arix>4jt
first army-trained Negro phyo1e1A
therapy aides were eomminn1ouo1
as second lieutenants. Medical D.
partment. al Fort Huachuca, Ark.
upon their graduation October -.
from the Ninth Service Commands
School for Physical Therapy and
Medical Technicisns. the War De-
oartment announced today.
Prior. 10 the graduation OF the
lass made up Of six enlisted men,
oers OF the Women's Army Corps.
nd three civilian cadets, only three
Negro women held commissions in
ne Army as physical therapy aides.
On October |. l943. the first three
william cadets reported 10 Fort
iuachuca 10 begin training. After
months Of theory. they served
u he station hospital as appren-
ices FOR another six months.
Last January 10, six WACS were
added 10 the first class. They spent
six months in classroom study,
and served three months appren.
ticeship at the Forts station hos
pital. during which time their work
was closely supervised by Major
Phillip T. Johnson Of Washington,
D. c., who was recognized in civ
ilisn life as one OF the nations
foremost physio-t herapists and 9TH
err officers Of the Medical Depart
ment
Nine students who were enrolled
N the second class AT the school
were transferred to Bushnell Gen.
eral hospital Brigham City. Utah.
when il was announced that Fort
uuachuca would be inactivated
They will complete their training
at that station.
Rapidly Gaining
Col. INDIAN o Bousfield. Medical
Corps. commandment Of the school
~ Fort Huachuca. points out that
NhySio-therapy is rapidly gaining
. forward place in the medica,
Forld During the recent spread
polio in the south. il was used
18th great success. The Army has
found the methods used by physio-
therapists of great value in restor-
ing 10 health muscles weakened by
lack of exercise Most battle cas-
ualties. before being released from
Army hospitals, undergo physio-
therapy or occupational therap,
treatments.
The former civilian cadets who
were sworn into the army on Oc-
iober 20 are Second Lieutenants
Muriel Joy Davis. daughter of Mr..
and Mrs c. B Davis, 1901 Oak
street. Evanston. III; Lilyanne
PlGmmer, daughter OF Mrs. Rosa
G. Plummer. $40 ~ street NV.
Washington. D. c. ana Valjeanne
Taylor. daughter OF Mr. and Mrs
George S Taylor. 383 Forrest ave-
nue.. NE, Atlanta. Georgia. They
are now az Camp Mccoy. Wis.
where they Will receive four weeks
81 basic Army training before re-
onrting for duty at Fort Bragg,
y. c.
WACO Commissioned
These WACs were commissioned.
Second Lieutenants Anna Lee
Rogers. daughter of Mrs. Ida Belle
Rogers, SOS Polk street. Memphis
! Tenn; Edythe Bingham. daughte
81 Mrs. Amanda r. Bingham, 20'
Jackson street, Talladega, Alabama
Ruth r. Jones. daughter of MI
and Mrs John p. Jones, Cofelc
Narth Carolina: Bernice Lockhar
daughter OF Mrs. Birdie Lockhar
42e Church street. Hot Spring
Ark: Mary Lou Shannon, daugi
: Ter of Ollie Shannon. of Madiso
Arkansas. and Mildred Robinso
daughter OF Mrs. Ida @ Robinso
SO North Central avenue. Bal
core. Maryland
Each OF the newly,commission
physical therspy aides is a gradu
re OF an accredited college, hold
ng a degree in physical education
1r science All have been assigned
20 Army hospitals in the Unitec
States