The Medical Department: Medical Service in the European Theater of Operations: 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition (United States Army in World War II: The Technical Services, Medical Department Volume 3)
Washington, D.C. Center of Military History, United States Army, 1992. 1st Printing. Trade Paperback. Very Good. Item #2326894
1992 first paperback printing. Wrappers rubbed with a few light creases to corners, ink Library of Congress duplicate stamp on first page.
xx, 652 pp. Includes 9 tables, 12 charts, 6 diagrams, 27 maps, 102 illustrations (including a color frontispiece), bibliographical note, glossary, and index. "Although readily admitting the importance of combat service support forces, military students and historians alike tend to concentrate on combat and combat support units when studying operations, giving only passing attention to the vital work of the logisticians, signalmen, transport troops, and the rest. This is regrettable, for the operations of combat service support units—especially in a global conflict like World War II with its vast distances and varied terrains—have much to teach us about modern warfare, lessons that remain of surpassing importance to our profession. The Medical Department: Medical Service in the European Theater of Operations supports the proposition that the experience of medical personnel in war directly stimulates advances in medical science. More importantly, it demonstrates that the organization of health care in the combat zones, including evacuation of the wounded, control of disease among troops and civilian populations, and care of prisoners of war, contributed directly to the Allied victory. The exploits of the doctors, corpsmen, and medical support units provide a model for the planning and organization of medical support in today's Army. This volume continues a subseries begun in 1966 with the study of medical support of the Army in the Mediterranean Theater. The Center of Military History will soon complete this project with the publication of a similar study of the very different challenges faced by the Medical Department in the Pacific." "This volume tells the story of the U.S. Army medical service in the largest American land campaign of World War II. Primarily and operational and logistical rather than a clinical history, it follows the development of the theater medical service from the beginning of the U.S. Army buildup in Great Britain early in 1942 through the Normandy invasion, the advance across France and the Low Countries, and the overrunning of the Third Reich." (United States Army in World War II Reader's Guide, pp. 111-2).
Price: $35.00