47th in the Alumni Journal

From The Alumni Journal

From volume 15, issue 6, February 1945

Word from the 47th General Hospital

(The following excerpts are taken from a letter sent to Dr. Walter Macpherson by Chaplain W.H. Bergherm of the 4th General Hospital)

"We passed a very fine Christmas holiday. Last night the men put on a program at the Club, which was surely a credit to the type of men they are. First was the Christmas Eve program, which was very solemn. I am sure there was not another club on the Base that night which rang in truer form to the principles of Christmas. Our officers' and enlisted men's chorus sang, the audience joining in from time to time. Lt. Ewald Bower is doing a good job in leading this chorus. On Christmas night various skits were put on, which depicted in humorous ways the progress of the 47th General Hospital. The gifts sent us by various organizations in Los Angeles and Glendale were appreciated. there was something for all, and with the help of the Red Cross and the Chaplains' Service Corps in Los Angeles, there was a gift for all of the enlisted men.

"We have just had a very excellent Week of Prayer. Our offerings continue good. Our offering for last Sabbath was something like one hundred and fifty dollars, which we feel is excellent in view of the fact that many give through their regular home churches."

From volume 17, issue 1, August 1946

47th General Hospital

The arrival in the United States of Capt. Paul Deeb, '42, marks the return of all the original members of the 47th General Hospital Group which activated a Modesto, California. As most Alumni will recall, the 47th was an affiliated hospital unit in the United States Army sponsored by the College of Medical Evangelists. The Unit left the States under the command of colonel Ben E. Grant, '20 January, 1944, and upon arrival at New Gunea was stationed at Milne Bay until July 1945. At that time the 47th General Hospital, commanded by Colonel Earl B. Ray, '29, was transferred to the Philippine Islands, and established at Villasis on Luzon Island for two months. The 47th was redesignated as the 224th General Hospital in October, 1945, and very shortly after that received orders to close active medical work. Lt. Col. Theodore Kimball, '29, was in command during this period of disposal of patients and personnel. Many members of the Unit returned to the States during October and November of 1945, and the remainder were transferred to other units and saw service in other parts of the West Pacific. The inactivation of the hospital was completed by the last remaining officer, Major Harold F. Ziprick, '37.

It will be of interest to recall a few of the names of our Alumni who spent many months in the service of our school's affiliated unit: Lt. Col. Harrison S. Evans, '36, and Major Chong A. Chock, '36, in Psychiatry; Major Philip J. Vogel, '34, and Capt. Kenneth H. Abbott, '36, in Neurosurgery; Lt. Colonels Alonzo J. Neufeld, '35, C. Cornell McReynolds, '36, Majors Wallace G. Gilbert, '40, Thomas T. Lewis, '38, and Cat. Marshall A. Rockwell, '40, on Orthopedics; Majors F. Harriman Jones, '37, George E. Paullus, '40, and Major Harry C. Prout, '39, in General Surgery; Major Lloyd K. Rosenvold, '36, in Plastic Surgery, Major Leslie Riechel, '38, in E.N.T., Major Paul V. Yingling, '38, in Eye, Capt. Finnis E. Wiggins, '43, in Urology; Lt. Col. Delos Comstock, '32, and Capt. Paul Deeb, '42, in X-ray, Lt. Col. Forrest E. Leffingwell, '33, and Capt. Ewald Bower, '40, in Anesthesia, Major Harold N. Mozar, '36 in Tropical Medicine, Major William D. Evans, '39, in Cardiology, Lt. Colonels Elmer W. Gilbert, '31, and Wesley S. Smith, '33, in General Medicine, and Major Marvin D. Knoll, '36, in Dermatology.

Special mention should be made of the excellent work done by the Dental Corps. These men, while not members of the Alumni Association, are well known to many of the Alumni group. Among them were Lt. Co. Herbert G. Childs, Majors Ronald Buell and George Michaelson, Capts. Willard Riechel and William French.

The Unit was commended on several occasions by leading military authorities of the Pacific theater as having maintained a hospital of superior standards.

From accounts related by returning members of the 47th is seems that among the pleasant memories that will long be remembered are the infectious chuckle and good nature of Howard Detwiler, the "spiking" ability at volley ball of "Red" Briggs and the versatility in athletics and drilling of Bill French.