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It’ been 18 days since Bill last wrote. This of course signals something is up, as does the address “The South West Pacific”. We know now that he was on his way to Leyte, an island that is part of the Philippines.

Bill has been transferred to the 1st Cavalry Division, and was shipped out from the Admiralty Islands some two-and-one-half weeks ago. He is now with the medical detachment of the 8th Cavalry Regiment.

This video provides an historical overview the 1st Cavalry.

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Chronology of 1^st Cavalry Engagements

Actions by the 1st Cavalry between October 20, 1944 and July 1, 1945:

October 20, 1944		The Division landed on Leyte Island in the Philippines.
October-Dec. 1944		The Division took Tacloban and its adjacent airstrip. The Division advanced along the north coast of Leyte and secured the Leyte Valley. Elements of the Division took and secured Samar Island.
January 1, 1945		The Division reached the west coast of Leyte.
January 27, 1945		The Division joined the invasion of Luzon Island in the Philippines, landing in the Lingayen Gulf area.
February 3, 1945		The Division reached Manila. Liberated prisoners at Santo Tomas University.
February 20, 1945		After advancing beyond Manila, the Division was assigned the mission of seizing and securing crossings over the Marikina River and securing the Tagaytay-Antipolo Line.
March 12, 1945		The Division was relived in the Antipolo area. Elements were sent into Batangas and Bicol Provinces to mop up remaining pockets of resistance.
July 1, 1945		Enemy resistance on Luzon was officially declared at an end.

8th Cavalry Division

Some relevant context about medical support for cavalry and infantry regiments during that time period:

1. The 8th Cavalry Regiment was part of the 1st Cavalry Division during World War II. The regiment participated in operations in the Pacific theatre, including campaigns in the Philippines[1].
2. Infantry regiments typically had an attached Medical Detachment responsible for providing first echelon medical care. These detachments were tasked with emergency medical treatment in the field, removal of battle casualties, and establishment of aid stations[3].
3. A standard Medical Detachment for an Infantry Regiment in 1943 consisted of:

• 9 commissioned officers (including 1 Major, 4 Captains, and 4 First Lieutenants)
• 103 enlisted personnel
• Various vehicles for transport and evacuation[3]

4. Medical Detachments included personnel such as the Regimental Surgeon, Battalion Surgeons, dental officers, and enlisted men trained as medical, surgical, and dental technicians[3].
5. During combat operations, Company Aidmen would accompany each Rifle Company, with one assigned to each Platoon. The Battalion Medical Section would follow the Infantry Battalion it supported[3].
6. In addition to regimental-level medical support, there were higher echelons of care provided by medical units at the division, corps, and army levels[5].

Citations:
[1] 8th Cavalry Regiment
[2] 1st Cavalry Division History
[3] The WW2 Medical Detachment Infantry Regiment
[4] The 8th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division (Infantry)
[5] VIII Corps: Medical Support in the Battle of the Bulge
[6] U.S. Army Unit Records, Book 3 (Boxes 490-747)
[7] History of the Medical Section, Headquarters VIII Corps, for the period 1 January 1945 to 1 July 1945.

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Company Aidmen

The functions of the medical division were to:

• Provided medical support for Infantry Divisions
• Organized and conducted evacuation and medical care for casualties
• Maintained high mobility to keep up with the Division’s movements
• Evacuated casualties from Infantry Battalion and Regimental Aid Stations
• Consisted of Collecting Companies and a Clearing Company

Company Aidmen, also known as surgical technicians (MOS 861), were assigned to combat units but administratively part of the medical detachment. Their primary duties included:

1. Providing emergency medical treatment on or off the battlefield[5]
2. Grouping casualties in marked, protected areas to await litter bearers[5]
3. Directing walking wounded to Aid Stations[5]
4. Keeping the Battalion Surgeon informed of the medical situation[5]
5. Filling out Emergency Medical Tags for wounded and dead when possible[5]
6. Acting as a liaison between combat troops and medical units[4]
7. Serving as a confidant for soldiers, sometimes filling a chaplain-like role[5]

Company Aidmen were typically assigned one per platoon in infantry units, or two per company in armored units[5]. They were highly respected by the combat troops they served with, often receiving special treatment like having foxholes dug for them[5].

While Company Aidmen faced similar dangers as combat troops, they were not eligible for the Combat Infantry Badge or combat pay. This was partially addressed later in the war with the creation of the Combat Medical Badge[5].

From  “Medic!”a WWII combat medic remembers. Robert L. Smith (page 85-86) we have the following description of an Aidman’s role:

“Dave and I were busy bandaging wounds from rifle fire and trying to hold together extremities blown apart by cannon and mortar fire. Had it not been for the shock of the severity of the injuries we saw, we probably would not have been able to function. The shear horror of bodies ripped open and others blown apart made us numb, and we practiced our limited medicine as if we were only butchers looking at cut meat in our shop. 
Neat, clean wounds do not happen to men in war. Wounds are gross, smashing, tearing, and ripping. What does one do with that part of a limb that is still attached to the body, but only by a thin string of flesh? Cut it loose or splint it to the body and hope for an evacuation miracle? How does one bandage a face that is missing a jaw? We did what we had to do and hoped that it was the right thing when, and if, we had time to think about it later. In the mean-time, we bandaged, injected morphine, and wondered at the miracle of the human body in its struggle to survive the ravages of hell. The smell of burned flesh is something I never forgot; the sight of more blood than I knew the human body could hold spread out over and around an amputee’s body is startling, frightening, and sickening at the same time. There is the smell of death; the smell of steaming body fluids as they escape from the body into the cold air and are replaced by death. Raw brutality taught me to ignore what I did not want to see, smell or hear—the worst of which are the gurgling sounds that flow from a dying man. And, as I left each casualty, I hoped that litter bearers would arrive in time to evacuate them before capture or death. You move on, there are more wounded to treat. Combat commands your undivided attention, and we did not have the luxury or time to think about what we were experiencing. That came later, generally at night, and most often during whatever quiet time we were blessed with”.

Medical Evacuation and Treatment Series. Part 2: Company Aid Man

Citations:
[1] Overview of the US Army Medical Department during World War II
[2] Brief Overview of the Medical Department
[3] History of the Medical Section, Headquarters VIII Corps, for the period 1 January 1945 to 1 July 1945.
[4] The WW2 Medical Battalion, Infantry Division
[5] Medical Evacuation and Treatment Series. Part 2: Company Aid Man
[6] The WW2 Aid Station
[7] The WW2 Medical Detachment Infantry Regiment

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The Admiralty Islands

The Admiralty Islands played a significant role in World War II during 1944, particularly as part of the Allied campaign in the Pacific.

The Admiralty Islands became the focus of a major Allied offensive in early 1944, known as Operation Brewer or the Admiralty Islands Campaign. This operation was part of the larger New Guinea campaign and aimed to secure the islands from Japanese control[3][5].

• The campaign began on February 29, 1944, with a landing on Los Negros Island[3][5].
• It was led by General Douglas MacArthur, who personally oversaw the initial landing[1][4].
• The operation involved elements of the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division[5].

The Admiralty Islands held significant strategic value for the Allies:

• Their capture would help isolate the major Japanese base at Rabaul[5].
• The islands offered excellent potential for air and naval bases[4][5].
• Seeadler Harbor on Manus Island was particularly valuable, being one of the largest natural harbors in the region[4].

The campaign was characterized by intense fighting:

• Despite initial reports suggesting the islands might be unoccupied, they were defended by approximately 4,000 Japanese troops[5].
• The Allies achieved tactical surprise by landing on a small, isolated beach on Los Negros[5].
• Heavy fighting continued for several weeks as the Allies expanded their control over the islands[5].
• By May 18, 1944, the islands were declared secure[7].

The successful capture of the Admiralty Islands had several important outcomes:

• It provided the Allies with a major air and naval base for further operations[5].
• The new base facilities supported the isolation of Rabaul and enabled advances across New Guinea[7].
• It saved Allied lives by negating the need to capture other heavily defended locations like Truk and Kavieng[5].
• The campaign shortened the war in the Pacific by at least a month[5].

For the Japanese, the loss of the Admiralty Islands was significant:

• It meant the loss of their outpost line in the South Eastern Area[5].
• It forced them to prepare a new defensive line in Western New Guinea[5].
• The entire Japanese garrison of about 4,400 troops was effectively destroyed[7].

The Admiralty Islands Campaign of 1944 was a pivotal moment in the Pacific War, demonstrating the increasing momentum of Allied operations and setting the stage for further advances towards the Philippines and Japan itself.

Citations:
[1] General MacArthur Leads Attack on Admiralty Islands – 1944
[2] Admiralty Islands (CVE-99)
[3] The Admiralty Islands campaign (Operation Brewer)
[4] Gamble at Los Negros: The Admiralty Islands Campaign 29 February 1944
[5] Admiralty Islands campaign
[6] Admiralty Islands
[7] Putting the Cork in the Bottle at Los Negros