Photo Gallery Two
 Click
on image to enlarge This is Ruby Milligan one of
our nurses. She had a great smile and loved to dance swing music. |
 Click
on image to enlarge Here you see nurse Bosworth who we
called "Bozie". She had great sense of humor and was a good friend
of mine. |
  Click
on image to enlarge Above you see 2nd/Lt Mary Gallagher
who was our head nurse in surgical services. In the lower picture she and
I are having a conversation; I was a T/4 at this time. The buildings you
see here were in deplorable condition when we took over in December,
1943. They were initially built for Italian troops; next German troops
took over. When the allies won this area, British troops moved in
and when they evacuated this complex was unoccupied for a brief time,
long enough for vandals, etc., to strip all buildings of doors and windows.
When we took over we used Army blankets to cover doors and windows.
We used kerosene lamps for lighting because electricity was not operating.
Fresh water, plumbing, sewers were services not available. Our maintenance
staff was able to find a local Italian man who was familiar with sewer
and water lines in the area and in a short time these services were in
working order. For some time we had to use chlorine in Lister bags
for our drinking water. Weather when we took over was cold and rainy.
Until we had a ward full of about 40 patients, it was very uncomfortable.
I had accumulated some American liquor by buying bottles of it from Officers
and nurses who did not want their monthly ration. I made deals with
a local engineer battalion to trade booze for plywood( which we used to
build desks and night tables) and some wood stoves which we used in some
wards and offices. All enlisted men lived in tents; we were able
to keep warm enough with extra blankets, etc.. |
 Click
on image to enlarge Here you see Frances Rubin who was
joy to be around and was a nurse on E.N.T. ward. I lost contact with
her after the war, but did learn she married a cantor. |
 Click
on image to enlarge Here you see Sgt. Earle Medcalf who
worked in our admissions and disposition office: he was well trained
to handle emergency casualties. |
Click
on image to enlarge Here you see the entire staff which
worked in the registrar's office. Starting from the top left Pat
Sorrento, Charles Ballard, William Wilson, next row down, that me, the
writer on the left, next to me is 2nd Lt. Herman C. Needles and to his
left you see CWO Thomas J. Haggerty. In the bottom row Pat Golden, Sgt.
Murray, Kenneth Robinson, and Stephen Hair on the bottom right.
 Click
on image to enlarge Here you see T/Sgt Raymond Plzak
who was in charge of the men in the personnel department at headquarters.
He had a wonderful personality and had many friends; he was one of my best
buddies. Unfortunately, he was killed in a car crash shortly after
the war |
  Click
on image to enlarge Left you see snow on the roof of
our hospital building and that is Cpl. Lowell Sparks, who worked in Headquarters.
Also, the picture right the roof shot is of Sparks somewhere on the
hospital grounds. |
Index
© 1999 Willard
O. Havemeier. All rights reserved.
Click
on image to enlarge This is Ruby Milligan one of
our nurses. She had a great smile and loved to dance swing music.
Click
on image to enlarge Here you see nurse Bosworth who we
called "Bozie". She had great sense of humor and was a good friend
of mine.
Click
on image to enlarge Above you see 2nd/Lt Mary Gallagher
who was our head nurse in surgical services. In the lower picture she and
I are having a conversation; I was a T/4 at this time. The buildings you
see here were in deplorable condition when we took over in December,
1943. They were initially built for Italian troops; next German troops
took over. When the allies won this area, British troops moved in
and when they evacuated this complex was unoccupied for a brief time,
long enough for vandals, etc., to strip all buildings of doors and windows.
When we took over we used Army blankets to cover doors and windows.
We used kerosene lamps for lighting because electricity was not operating.
Fresh water, plumbing, sewers were services not available. Our maintenance
staff was able to find a local Italian man who was familiar with sewer
and water lines in the area and in a short time these services were in
working order. For some time we had to use chlorine in Lister bags
for our drinking water. Weather when we took over was cold and rainy.
Until we had a ward full of about 40 patients, it was very uncomfortable.
I had accumulated some American liquor by buying bottles of it from Officers
and nurses who did not want their monthly ration. I made deals with
a local engineer battalion to trade booze for plywood( which we used to
build desks and night tables) and some wood stoves which we used in some
wards and offices. All enlisted men lived in tents; we were able
to keep warm enough with extra blankets, etc..
Click
on image to enlarge Here you see Frances Rubin who was
joy to be around and was a nurse on E.N.T. ward. I lost contact with
her after the war, but did learn she married a cantor.
Click
on image to enlarge Here you see Sgt. Earle Medcalf who
worked in our admissions and disposition office: he was well trained
to handle emergency casualties. 
Click
on image to enlarge Here you see the entire staff which
worked in the registrar's office. Starting from the top left Pat
Sorrento, Charles Ballard, William Wilson, next row down, that me, the
writer on the left, next to me is 2nd Lt. Herman C. Needles and to his
left you see CWO Thomas J. Haggerty. In the bottom row Pat Golden, Sgt.
Murray, Kenneth Robinson, and Stephen Hair on the bottom right.
Click
on image to enlarge Here you see T/Sgt Raymond Plzak
who was in charge of the men in the personnel department at headquarters.
He had a wonderful personality and had many friends; he was one of my best
buddies. Unfortunately, he was killed in a car crash shortly after
the war
Click
on image to enlarge Left you see snow on the roof of
our hospital building and that is Cpl. Lowell Sparks, who worked in Headquarters.
Also, the picture right the roof shot is of Sparks somewhere on the
hospital grounds.