The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1946-09-18
Captain Brunson
Placed In Charge
OfTexas Hospital

ta0o O~CAA RAdICO HI NOt2HtldAA0 VI
the new, huge $11,0O0,00O Naval
hospital in Houston, Texas.
Captain Brunson served in the
establishment of the local Naval
hospital, Roosevelt Boulevard,
from 1912 to June of 1913. The
Brunsons are well-known in
Key West circles.
The following is an account
from the Houston Post of Sep
TENDER 4:
Captain Clyde w. Brunson,
medical officer in command of
Houston's new $11,000,000 Naval
hospital which is to be commits
stoned Wednesday, Sept. 4,
came to Houston last May %
from duty at Paris Island, SC,
to assume his present command
He relieved Capt. Leslie B.
Marshall, who reported to Hous-
ton in January, 1945, when plans
for the hospital were in only the
blueprint stage.
Native of Mississippi
Captain Brunson is a native of
Pascagoula, Miss, and he re-
ceived his bachelor of science de-
gree from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1915 and his
doctor of lmedicine degree from
the University of Pennsylvania
in 1918. He was commissioned
in the medical corps of the Unit
cd States naval reserve force in
June of 1918 and was transferred
TO the medical corps of the regu-
lar navy in 1920. He attained his
present rank in June, 1912.
His first assignment to duty
was in the United States Naval
hospital at Philadelphia, Pa.
During the period between World
War I and World War II he serv-
ed ashore and afloat, had duty
in Haiti in 1923-25, completed the
general postgraduate course at
the naval medical school in
Washington, and one at the Har-
ward medical school and at the
University of Pennsylvania med
ical school.
When World War II started,
Captain Brunson was serving as
chief Of medicine at the naval
hospital in Pearl Harbor. For his
services during the Japanese at
tack on Pearl Harbor, he was
awarded the following letter of
commentator from the Com
mander-in-Chief, Pacific fleet:
For meritorious achieve
ment and distinguished service
subsequent to the japanese
air attack on the United States
Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor,
T. H., on Dec. z, 1941. At the
time of the attack and after
wards his unit displayed con-
spicuous devotion in the line !.
Of duty. It's ability to cope with .
this disaster was responsible I,
for the successful care of all
casualties and the saving of
many lives. The professional
skill displayed and distinguish
ed service rendered by this
hospital unit were in keeping
with the highest traditions of
the naval service"
Captain Brunson then sreved as
chief of medicine in the hospital
ship Solace from Feb. "a to June
Of. 1912. During that time the
Solace was the only hospital ship
operating in the Pacific theater
and she bore the heavy burden
with distinction. In early March
OF 1912 she was ordered to the
South Pacific and proceeded to
Samoa. She serviced the fleet at
Pago-Pago, Tongatabu, Efato
and Noumea, including numer-
Gus casualties from the Battle of
the Coral Sea.
Back to u. S. in 1912
Returning to the United States
In 1912, Captain Brunson had
duty in connection with the es-
Enlistment of the Naval hospi-
tal at Key West, Fla, and served
there until June of 1943, when he
was transferred to the hospital at
Coco Solo, Canal Zone. He be-
came medical officer in command
II that hospital in January of
1914 and served in that capacity
until April of l945. After short
period Of temporary duty in the
bureau of medicine and surgery,
he reported on June 8, 1945, as
medical officer in command of
the Naval hospital at Paris
Island, s. c., from where he
came 10 Houston.
In addition to the commenda-
ton ribbon. Captain Brunson
has the World War l Victory
Medal, the Marine Corps EXpe-
dictionary Medal with base clasp,
the American area and the Asia
tic Pacific area campaign medals
and the World War II Victory
Medal.
Captain BrunSon was joined in
Houston in August by Mrs. Brun-
son and their daughter, Barbara,
the latter now being enrolled as |
a fuTaior nj the University of |