Smyrna times., 1945-08-02
COAST GUARD
ANNIVERSARY
Saturday, August 5th Will
Mark 155th Anniversary of
Founding of Work
DOCTORS OF SERVICE

from Nova Scotia's foggy banks
eastward and westward, Coast
Guard-manned ships carry doctors
of the service. With the advent of
war, Public Health Service doctors
found their duties expanded; and
as more and more combat ships of
the Navy were manned by Coast
Guardsmen, the service doctors
learned to practice under fire. (The
Army has its own doctors, and
Navy-manned ships have Navy
doctors, but the Coast Guard uses
the Public Health Service).
155th Anniversary
On the 155th anniversary of the
founding of the Coast Guard, Sat-
urday, August 4th, tribute has
been earned BY those men who SAL
aboard death-dealing vessels of
war-not to kill, but to heal the
sick and wounded. Combat ships,
manned by Coast Guardsmen, car
ry whenever possible one or more
PHS doctors charged with the care
of merchant seamen aboard con-
veyed vessels, as well as Coast
Guardsmen. Several times during
convoy trip unmarked by other
activity, doctor might be shut
tied back and forth on errands of
mercy between his ship and var
ious merchant vessels. Using
breeches buoy for calls, the visit
ing physicians are sometimes call
ed the flying docs"
Flying Docs" Under Fire
Convoy work isn't the only time
the flying docs" have a. chance to
work. Together with Navy doc
tors, they have learned the art of
healing under fire. Every major
amphibious operation of the war
has meant additional work for
PHS doctors aboard Coast Guard
manned troop transports. Thruout
the South Pacific combat areas,
soldiers and marines have felt the
care of the doc" who's right there
in the midst of thte fighting, with
his Coast Guard Pharmacists
Mates.
In Initial Attacks
Landing in the initial attack
waves with marines and soldiers,
the medics have been responsible
for saving the lives of countless
wounded men. It's the Pharma-
cist's Mate who administers prim-
ary treatment and oversees trans
fer of wounded to ships lying off
shore. Aboard ship he assists the
doctors in operations and second
ary medical treatment. In marine
hospitals throughout the country
Pharmacists Mates are working in
operating rooms, wards and ad-
ministrative positions, helping to
alleviate the acute shortage of
nurses. The Coast Guard has 40
male Pharmacists Mates and IL
SPAR Pharmacists Mates assist
ing the Public Health doctors in
the Philadelphia District, in addi-
tion to apprentices in training for
Pharmacists Mate ratings. For hos
pitalization, the Coast Guard has
contract with st. Agnes Hospital
in Philadelphia. Also, the facil-
tiles of the huge, modern Marine
Hospitals in New York City and
Philadelphia are available to Coast
! Guardsmen of this district. AS
signed by the PHS to act as the
head doctor for the Coast Guard in
the Philadelphia District is Medical
Director H. A. Spencer of Monk
road, Gladwyne. His rank is equiv
alent to that of Captain, the high
est rank held by any Coast. Guard
officer in the district. DR.. Spencer
has charge of the three Coast
| Guard infirmaries in Philadelphia,
where many thousands of mer-
chant seamen and government en-
ployes of various categories re-
ceive attention. Mr.. Spencer also
heads the Quarantine Station at
Marcus Hook.
After the War Duties
With the war in its final stage
and the Coast Guard already pre-
pairing to resume its peace time
status, accent is being placed more
and more on the normal activities
of the PHS with the Oldest fight
ing service of thte nation. Once
more Coast Guard cutters carrying
physicians will make regular trips
Continued on Pare foury =