68th Theater Medical Command

The 68th Theater Medical Command was constituted on 18 October 1927 in the Regular Army as the 18th Medical Regiment. Redesignated as the 68th Medical Regiment and reorganized as the 68th Medical Group, the organization served in combat in Europe in World War II and in the Republic of Vietnam. During the Cold War, it was stationed at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland from 1954 until its deployment to Vietnam and was reactivated again in Germany, where it served from 1978 into the 1990s. On 21 September 2024, it was redesignated as the 68th Theater Medical Command and activated at Sembach, Germany.

Lineage

Constituted on 18 October 1927 in the Regular Army as the 18th Medical Regiment.
Activated on 1 June 1941 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee.
*Company A activated on 3 June 1941
Re-designated on 3 June 1941 as the 68th Medical Regiment.
Regiment broken up 15 September 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as follows:
*Headquarters and Headquarters and Service Company as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 68th Medical Group.
*Company A as the 449th Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineage.
*Company B as the 450th Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineage.
*Company C as the 451st Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineage.
*Company D as the 617th Medical Clearing Company - hereafter separate lineage.
*Company E as the 452d Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineage.
*Company F as the 453d Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineage.
*Company G as the 454th Medical Collecting Company - hereafter separate lineage.
*Company H as the 618th Medical Clearing Company - hereafter separate lineage.
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 68th Medical Group Inactivated 27 June 1946, in Germany.
Headquarters Detachment redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 68th Medical Group, 17 June 1954.
Activated 27 July 1954 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
Inactivated 30 June 1972 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Activated 21 October 1978 in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Inactivated 15 December 1994 in Germany
Redesignated 21 September 2024 as 68th Theater Medical Command and activated in Germany
Honors

Campaign participation credit

World War II
*Normandy
*Northern France
*Rhineland
*Ardennes-Alsace
*Central Europe
Vietnam
*Counteroffensive
*Counteroffensive, Phase II
*Counteroffensive, Phase III
*Tet Counteroffensive
*Counteroffensive, Phase IV
*Counteroffensive, Phase V
*Counteroffensive, Phase VI
*Tet 69/Counteroffensive
*Summer-Fall 1969
*Winter-Spring 1970
*Sanctuary Counteroffensive
*Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VII
*Consolidation I
*Consolidation II
*Vietnam Cease-fire
Decorations
Meritorious Unit Commendation for:

VIETNAM 1966-1967
VIETNAM 1967-1968
VIETNAM 1968-1970
VIETNAM 1970-1971
History

The Organized Reserves

The 18th Medical Regiment was constituted, or added to the roles of the Regular Army, on 18 October 1927. It was allotted to the Second Corps Area and assigned to the II Corps. It was organized as a Regular Army Inactive unit with members of the Organized Reserve Corps on 9 September 1930 with its headquarters in Rochester, New York. Reserve personnel were assigned from New York and New Jersey, and the unit's designated mobilization training station was the Syracuse Mobilization Camp. New York City elements of the regiment typically conducted their Inactive Training Period meetings at 641 Washington Street in New York City, and the regiment conducted summer training at Carlisle Barracks with the 1st Medical Regiment. On 1 June 1941 the regiment would be organized as an Active Army Regiment and redesignated as the 68th Medical Regiment on 3 June 1941. The regiment was assigned to the Second Army on 24 September 1941. The regiment participated in the Second Army/VII Corps maneuvers in Camp Robinson/Arkadelphia, Arkansas from 11–30 August 1941 and the Second Army-Third Army GHQ Maneuvers during the Louisiana Maneuvers from 15–28 September 1941.

World War II

1941

1942

1943

Following the overseas voyage, the 68th Medical Group was completely reunited on 17 December 1943 at Camp Kingwood Common, Oxfordshire, England. The Camp was a 750-bed hospital plant with Nissen-hut construction of stucco and beaverboard, located a few miles from Henley on Thames and Reading, Berks, and formerly occupied for a brief period by troops of a British Armored Division.

1944

From 1 January to 1 March 1944, the following changes in organization of units took place:

Attachments:

Unit	Date
HHD, 57th Medical Battalion	14 January 1944
575th Medical Company	7 February 1944
576th Medical Company	7 February 1944
577th Medical Company	1 March 1944
578th Medical Company	7 February 1944

Relieved from Attachment:

Unit	Date
453d Medical Company	15 February 1944
617th Medical Company	1 March 1944
618th Medical Company	1 March 1944
662d Medical Company	1 March 1944

After several minor inter-Battalion changes of attached units, the group organization as of 11 March 1944, was:

HHD, 68th Medical Group
57th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 57th Medical Battalion
*575th Medical Company
*576th Medical Company
*577th Medical Company
*578th Medical Company
175th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 175th Medical Battalion
*449th Medical Company
*450th Medical Company
*451st Medical Company
176th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 176th Medical Battalion
*452d Medical Company
*454th Medical Company

In accordance with Training Circular #1, Headquarters First United States Army, 24 November 1943, intensive training with emphasis on physical conditioning and small unit training began on 1 January 1944 in preparation for the forthcoming channel crossing and military operations in France.
Exercises with the 44th and 45th Evacuation Hospitals utilized collecting and ambulance companies and stressed the methods of transportation of patients to and from the evacuation hospitals and the reinforcement of the hospitals with litter bearer and technical personnel.
School for drivers, assistant drivers, and motor officers and non-commissioned officers was conducted in both the
practical and theoretical aspects of waterproofing and during the Normandy landings, no vehicle of the group had engine failures.
With the aid of personnel of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and selected personnel of the 68th Medical Group, all personnel of the 451st and 452nd Medical Companies were trained in the care of the M-1903 rifle, marksmanship, and manual of arms. The purpose of this training was to provide a reserve of trained medical troops for guarding medical installations from marauders. Response to this training was very enthusiastic, and results could be adjudged from the fact that 93% of personnel qualified at 200 yards with 20 inch bullseye after two weeks of training.
Allotments to schools were liberally distributed, with personnel attending the European Theater of Operations' Medical Field Service School, Army School of Hygiene, Transport Quartermaster School, Medical and Surgical Technicians School, Cooks and Bakers School, and schools providing instructions in Neuropsychiatry, mines and booby traps, bomb disposal, camouflage, chemical warfare, advances in medicine, plaster techniques, enemy documents and military intelligence.
In addition to housing the entire personnel of the group, the camp also quartered the personnel of the 177th Medical Battalion, the 962nd Engineer Company, the 989th Engineer Company and 1091st Engineer Detachment. The 68th Medical Group Headquarters was designated the Camp Headquarters with the Commanding Officer of the group, Colonel Francis P. Kintz, MC, functioning as Camp Commander and the group staff sections functioning in similar capacities. Not the least of the problems encountered was that of the conversion of the camp buildings into hospital structures suitable for the use of the hospital units which were to occupy the area subsequent to the departure of the group and the invasion of France. This work was carried out by British civilian companies and required close contact between the group staff and American and British engineers of all echelons and necessitated frequent changes in billeting plans for the Camp.
Units of the group arranged for the reception, billeting and indoctrination of various organizations in and around Kingwood Common, and the group Operations Section, from ll-16 April conducted a course in waterproofing of vehicles for selected officers and enlisted personnel of all army medical units. In addition to academic instruction, the course included practical demonstrations involving the immersion and operation of all types of government vehicles in both fresh and salt water to a depth of feet.
During the stay at this location, many constructive changes in the physical makeup of the Camp were undertaken. Concrete walks were built, landscaping and beautification projects were initiated, and a quadrangle was filled in and constructed, in the middle of which was erected a flagpole, the latter requiring later re-erection following its destruction by a low-flying transport plane.
All units of the 68th Medical Group arrived in England without TO&E equipment. Immediately upon arrival, units received releases for items of Basic Equipment. Approximately five months passed before all units of the group became totally equipped. One problem that presented difficulties was the excessive travel and time consumed in order to pick up released items. Many of the group's units traveled over a hundred miles to general depots to pick up items that could have been shipped to or released from general depots that were only ten or fifteen miles from the group's location. Messing facilities, equipment, and rations were adequate while in England.
During the stay in England, a camp Post Exchange, first opened on 24 December 1943, was operated for all units stationed at Kingwood Common which included as many as 1800 officers and enlisted men. Facilities and supplies, including rationed items, were excellent. The volume of sales was large, and personnel also availed themselves of the opportunity to purchase mail-order gifts thru the Army Exchange Service for delivery in the United States.
Special Service activities included bi-weekly movies, bi-monthly USO shows; distribution of Army publications; competitive athletic programs of baseball and volleyball; distribution of radios, athletic equipment, and supplies; tours to historic places of interest; training of discussion leaders and organization of an orientation program; publicity for the Armed Forces Institute; language courses in French, Spanish, and German; operation of an Enlisted Men's club, and Officers• Club, and a library of all types of literature; and organization of weekly dances for Enlisted Men.
Relations between military personnel and civilians in the neighborhood of Kingwood Common were most cordial, and officers and enlisted men frequently accepted English hospitality and the opportunity to further Anglo-American relations and enhance the understanding between themselves and their English allies.
In April, the 68th Medical Group Headquarters, in conjunction with the 31st and 134th Medical Groups, held a tea and reception at Camp Kingwood Common in honor of Brigadier General John A. Rogers, Surgeon, First United States Army, which presented the Officers of the three medical groups the opportunity
to meet the Army Surgeon and his staff. A second reception was held at the Camp to which approximately a hundred residents of the community were invited, members of the British Home Guard, and mayors of near-by towns in gratitude for their kindness and hospitality during our stay in the vicinity.
On 17 May 1944, the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment 68th Medical Group, along with the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachments of the 175th and 176th Medical Battalions, and the 576th and 578th Medical Companies,
departed from home station, Kingwood Common, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, for the concentration area, at Hengar, St Tudy, Cornwall.
On 31 May 1944 the group commander, Colonel Kintz, departed the group for the purpose of accompanying the 450th Medical Company on the cross-channel attack, and upon his departure Lt. Col. Joseph H. Bornstein, MC, assumed temporary command of the group.
The headquarters then proceeded to marshalling area F-3, one mile south of Chacewater, Cornwall on 12 June 1944, arriving at its assigned embarkation area at Falmouth, Cornwall on 13 June 1944, boarding Liberty Ship S.S. James B. Weaver the same day. The ship weighed anchor on 15 June, and the voyage was uneventful. The ship arrived off Omaha Beach at 2000 hours on 16 June, but unloading was delayed until the next morning due to enemy air activity. The transfer of equipment and personnel from ship to landing barge and then to the beach was completed on 17 June, with all equipment landed in excellent condition. The headquarters was directed to Transit Area# 2, but moved within the hour to the group command post, which had been established south of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.
On 24 May, the Group S-2 and Liaison Officer, Major Bernard Aabel and three medical officers and 54 enlisted men each from the litter and station platoons of the 451st and 454th Medical Companies, joined Detachment "A" of the group headquarters at Cookham, Berkshire, accompanying this detachment on a hospital transport to Omaha Beach. Upon their arrival on 7 June, Major Aabel, Lt Hickey and Lt Crichton served with the Army Medical Evacuation Officer, in connection with the location, reception and orientation of incoming Army medical units. The medical officers were attached to the 60th and 61st Medical Battalions and the 1st and 2d Infantry Divisions, and the enlisted men to the 60th and 61st Medical Battalions and the 2d Infantry Division. Group personnel attached to Detachment A were returned to duty with the group on or about 19 June.
On 31 May, Colonel Kintz, group commander, and Major Kaunitz, group operations officer, departed the concentration area in Hengar, Cornwall, to join the 450th Medical Company near Maidenhead, Berkshire. They accompanied the company to marshalling area C-14, in Southampton on 7 June, embarking on the SS Edward D. White from Southampton on 10 June. Following an uneventful voyage, they debarked on Omaha Beach, Normandy, on 12 June. The group command post was established at 2000 hours on 12 June, above Easy "White" beach and moved, with all debarked units— the 449th Medical Company , the 450th Medical Company, and the 452nd Medical Company , and the 577th Medical Company, to bivouac north of Formigny on 13 June. The group became operational at 2100 hours on 14 June, when a provisional battalion, with Lieutenant Colonel Ralph H. Shilling, MC, commanding, and composed of the 449th, 450th and 452nd Medical Companies and one platoon of the 383rd Medical Company, which had been attached to the group headquarters from the 6th Engineer Special Brigade, was organized to furnish division medical service to the 30th Infantry Division. This provisional battalion was in operation for two days, being relieved by the 30th Division's 105th Medical Battalion when it became operational. Beginning on 14 June, and as more subordinate units debarked, the group gradually assumed the evacuation of division clearing stations, field hospital platoons and evacuation hospitals. Ambulances of Ambulance Companies were used for the first two functions, with ambulances of the collecting companies for the latter; the collecting companies were stationed in the vicinity of evacuation hospitals, with medical officers, technicians and litter bearers working at the hospital. By D+10 a complete Army Evacuation Service was established and the complete complement of group headquarters personnel arrived 17 June.
On 21 June, the group, with its command post located in the vicinity of Formigny, was reorganized along functional lines, with one ambulance company in group reserve, as follows:

HHD, 68th Medical Group
578th Medical Company
57th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 57th Medical Battalion
*576th Medical Company
*451st Medical Company
175th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 175th Medical Battalion
*575th Medical Company
*449th Medical Company
*450th Medical Company
176th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 176th Medical Battalion
*577th Medical Company
*452nd Medical Company
*454th Medical Company

The 175th Medical Battalion was assigned the XIX Corps sector, and the 176th Medical Battalion the V Corps sector, with responsibilities for all evacuation to the rear of division clearing stations and evacuation from Evacuation Hospitals to the Beach Evacuation Center. The 57th Medical Battalion was given the responsibility for evacuating the 2d and 3d Armored Divisions.
Lt Hickey, S-2, 175th Medical Battalion, remained on duty with the Army Medical Evacuation Officer and continued to aid in processing medical units arriving on Omaha Beach. During the period 17-21 June, personnel of the 617th Medical Company, the 618th Medical Company, and the 3d Auxiliary Surgical Group were received and quartered at the 68th Medical Group Headquarters bivouac area pending final disposition.
There were 6,324 patients evacuated from division clearing stations, field hospitals and evacuation hospitals by units attached to the group from D-day to D+15 inclusive.
During this period and until the end of July, one Medical Administrative Corps officer of the group headquarters remained on duty with the Army Medical Evacuation Officer and continued to aid in processing medical units arriving on Omaha Beach.
The group had been assigned the mission of evacuating divisions on the left half of the First Army front to evacuation hospitals, and evacuating evacuation hospitals to the beach holding units. In addition, collecting companies of the group reinforced evacuation hospitals with their officers, technicians and litter bearers. Prophylactic stations were maintained in Isigny-sur-Mer, Grandcamp-Maisy and Trévières.
During the stay at Formigny, units of the group on many occasions furnished transportation for newly-arrived units from transit areas to the group bivouac area, bivouac and mess facilities, and transportation of the units to their first station on French soil. Units serviced, in addition to those previously listed, included:

35th Evacuation Hospital
4th Convalescent Hospital
2d Evacuation Hospital
12th Field Hospital
Officer replacements

On 26 June, the 438th Medical Company was attached to the group and was immediately attached to the 57th Medical Battalion.
From 28 June to 1 July, the group undertook the evacuation of German casualties and medical personnel from the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin area. Activities in connection with this mission formed the basis of a special report submitted to the Surgeon, First United States Army, entitled: "Report of Evacuation of Enemy casualties from Vicinity of' Cherbourg."
On 3 July, the 594th Ambulance Company was attached to the group and remained as group reserve until 17 July.
On 10 July, the group Command Post moved to the vicinity of Colombières, a distance of approximately 9 miles. At this time, units of the group were evacuating patients from the 35th, 1st, 2d, and 30th Infantry and the 2d and 3d Armored Divisions, and servicing and evacuation or the 2d, 5th, 24th, 44th, and 45th Evacuation and 4th Convalescent Hospitals. The same day the 384th Medical Company and the 546th Medical Company were attached to the group.
On 15 July, one officer and 2 enlisted men of the 452d Medical Company established a dispensary servicing POW Enclosure #3. Two ambulances of the 577th Medical Company were also assigned to evacuate the installation.
On 20 July, a penetration operation was planned by VII Corps. In anticipation of this, the 57th Medical Battalion was assigned responsibility for evacuation of the east half of the VII Corps front, including the 4th and 30th Infantry Divisions and 2d Armored Division. The 176th Medical Battalion was assigned the 2d, 5th and 35th Infantry Divisions, and the 175th Medical Battalion, the 28th and 29th Infantry Divisions. Two officers from the group headquarters were placed on temporary duty with the 57th Medical Battalion to aid in maintaining liaison between that Headquarters and the divisions being evacuated, and the officers remained on that status for the duration of the operation.
On 28 July, units of the group were evacuating the 2d, 4th, 29th, 30th,
and 35th Infantry Divisions and the 2d Armored Division, as well as the 2d, 24th, 44th, 106th and 109th Evacuation Hospitals.
On 31 July, and for a period of three days thereafter, 20 ambulances from ADSEC, COMMZ and 40 from the 31st Medical Group were put on temporary duty with the group for the purpose of augmenting evacuation capabilities.
On 2 August, Group CP moved to vicinity of Saint-Ébremond-de-Bonfossé approximately 30 miles from their previous location.
Beginning 2 August, the mission of the group was the evacuation of all division and corps clearing stations in First Army. These included V Corps, XIX Corps, and VII Corps and 1st, 2d, 4th, 5th, 28th, 29th, 30th, and 35th Infantry Divisions and the 2d and 3d Armored Divisions. The 57th, 175th and 176th Medical Battalions were assigned the VII, XIX and V Corps sectors respectively.
The group organization effective 2 August was:

HHD, 68th Medical Group
546th Medical Company
57th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 57th Medical Battalion
*450th Medical Company
*451st Medical Company
*576th Medical Company
*578th Medical Company
175th Medical Battalion:
*HHD, 175th Medical Battalion
*449th Medical Company
*452d Medical Company
*384th Collecting Company
*575th Medical Company
176th Medical Battalion:
*HHD, 176th Medical Battalion
*454th Medical Company
*577th Medical Company

The 68th Medical Group remained responsible for evacuation of Field Hospitals.
On 6 August the group command post moved approximately 25 miles to Villebaudon, and again on 13 August to Boisyvon, another 25 miles.
on 16 August, the group's organization was:

HHD, 68th Medical Group
546th Medical Company
57th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 57th Medical Battalion
*450th Medical Company
*454th Medical Company
*578th Medical Company
175th Medical Battalion:
*HHD, 175th Medical Battalion
*449th Medical Company
*452d Medical Company
*384th Collecting Company
176th Medical Battalion:
*HHD, 176th Medical Battalion
*454th Medical Company
*575th Medical Company
*576th Medical Company
*577th Medical Company
177th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 177th Medical Battalion
*13th Field Hospital
*42nd Field Hospital
*45th Field Hospital
*47th Field Hospital
*51st Field Hospital

Field Hospitals were employed adjacent to division clearing stations according to instructions from the First United States Army Surgeon's Office.
The 57th, 175th and 176th Medical Battalions retained their responsibility for evacuation within the VII, XIX and V Corps sectors respectively.
On 22 August the group command post moved to the vicinity of Senonches, a distance of approximately 130 miles.
On 25 August, the group was assigned a new mission, employing field hospitals in the role of evacuation hospitals, continuing the evacuation of all division and corps clearing stations in Army area, and the evacuation of all field hospitals.
On 31 August the group command post moved to the vicinity of Guyancourt, a distance of approximately 70 miles.
Statistics for the period 13 June to 31 August inclusive, were:

Ambulance Mileage -	930,968 miles
Average per ambulance -	2,821 miles
Ambulance patient trips -		85,679
Evacuated from	Evacuation Hospitals	23,432
	Convalescent Hospitals	1,589
	Combat Exhaustion Center	1,650
	Field Hospitals	3,339
	Clearing Stations	55,669

Statistics in this report include Battle, Non-Battle, and PW casualties.

During the Battle of Saint-Lô, a problem of no little importance was the equitable distribution of cases among the several Evacuation Hospitals then in operation. Appropriate ambulance control points were set up and active liaison was established with these and with division clearing stations. Despite the constant contact maintained with the hospitals, most of them were overwhelmed when the casualty rate increased markedly. This situation forced the hospitals further to the rear to receive the overflow of patients and to remain open longer than was planned. It also decidedly increased the length of the average ambulance trip from clearing station to hospital. Another difficulty was the filling of quotas of patients for various open hospitals. With the relatively great distance between clearing stations and hospitals, and between hospitals and army headquarters, and the great dispersion of hospitals and clearing stations, not only was there a necessary time lag between announcement of quotas and the time these quotas could be made effective, but ambulances were often led well away from the shortest direct route between clearing station and hospital in order to fill these quotas.
After the break-through at Saint-Lô, the casualty rate was lower, but although Evacuation Hospitals were distributed over the Army area, the rapid movement of troops and, consequently, clearing stations, kept the hospitals well to the rear and again required long ambulance hauls.
During the period when the mission of the 68th Medical Group was the evacuation of all division and Corps clearing stations in First Army, additional vehicles were sometimes required to maintain proper coordinated liaison laterally, as well as in depth.
When the Field Hospitals assumed the function of Evacuation Hospitals, the problem of evacuation was considerably eased because of the low casualty rate, the short ambulance trip required, and the organization of hospitalization by corps sectors.
The punctual transmission of daily reports from the Infantry Division Clearing Stations, and more especially the Armored Treatment Platoons, to Base Echelon was also a problem, since the latter was at times 200 to 300 miles behind the Division areas. Constant shelling and the danger of being cut-off were factors confronting the group's company messengers which impeded delivery and accounted for the loss of at least one officer and enlisted man; and the hazards of blackout driving took their toll of vehicles in the group headquarters.
In general, though none of the problems were insurmountable, those encountered were in the main due to the fluidity of the tactical situation and the resultant extreme distances which separated the various medical, tactical and administrative installations.
On 4 September the group command post moved to La Capelle, a distance of 150 miles, where a concentration area for army medical units was set up. The group made the reconnaissance of this new area, arranged for engineering operations, and apportioned suitable sub-areas in the vicinity to various units.
On 12 September the group CP moved to Ouffet, Belgium, a distance of 85 miles, where another concentration area was being established, and on 15 September to Eupen, a distance of approximately 40 miles. On this latter move several members of the organization detoured en route for the short-lived privilege of touching German soil.
On 15 September, the first anniversary of the formation of the 68th Medical Group from the 68th Medical Regiment, Colonel Kintz commemorated the occasion in a letter to all units which contained a brief history of the organization, a commendation of all officers and enlisted men for their splendid cooperation and the efficiency of their work, and expressed the hope that the 68th would continue to render to front line troops the best medical service possible.
On 18 September 384th Medical Collecting Company was detailed on Temporary Duty with the British Second Army as a part of a medical task force in connection with airborne operations involving the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions, Operation Market Garden.
On 27 September, the group headquarters moved indoors for the first time since arriving on the continent, into a former school building at 18 Heidberg Strasse, Eupen, where the protection and advantages afforded by a fairly modern structure more than outweighed the disadvantages caused by the slight increase in the incidence of minor respiratory complaints. This site would be the location of the group headquarters until 24 December.
Until 20 September the principal missions of the group had been:
1. The evacuation of casualties from all field hospitals, infantry and armored division clearing stations, and corps clearing stations in the First United states Army, the responsibility for the VII, XIX and V Corps areas being charged respectively to the 57th, 175th and 176th Medical Battalions.
2. The employment of Field Hospitals in the role of evacuation hospitals:
a. one field hospital was placed in each corps sector while the remaining two hospitals were held in reserve. The hospitalization units of the hospitals in operation were located as close as possible to the infantry division
clearing stations. When the forward movement of any clearing station required ambulances to transport patients over 20 miles from clearing station to its respective hospitalization unit, another unit was leap-frogged into position
in close proximity to the clearing station, at which time the unit in the rear closed and usually remained at their site until all patients were evacuated. However, if the speed of the tactical advance made imperative the early need for the closed units, a clearing platoon, requested from the 134th Medical Group, would take over the non-transportable cases in the closed unit and hold them until they could be moved, permitting the hospital unit's personnel and equipment to move forward into operation. Transportation difficulties of this type of movement were solved by supplementing the organic transportation of the field hospitals with 10 trucks placed under the control of each of the three Medical Battalions charged with the evacuation.
b. Casualties during this period were low, averaging 533 patients transported daily from all division clearing and treatment stations in the entire Army area during the period September 1–19 inclusive.
3. The utilization of provisional truck companies, composed of 210 trucks and personnel on temporary duty from evacuation hospitals and a gas treatment battalion for the transportation of Army medical units.
a. From 25 August to 20 September, at time date the 57th Medical Battalion assumed control, the group was responsible for operation and maintenance of 210 trucks and trailers attached on temporary duty from various Army medical units. At the time of attachment, trucks were in the act of transporting hospitals and medical supplies to the Senonches area.
b. The 454th and 449th Medical Companies were assigned to provide administration and maintenance for these vehicles, and second echelon work was performed by the motor maintenance section of the 177th Medical Battalion. One cook, three mechanics and 4 non-commissioned officers were attached to each of these companies to provide additional personnel, and maintenance sections were set up in the vicinity of group headquarters. The trucks were divided into two equal groups, each group reporting to 449th or 454th Medical Company motor pool. Drivers were fed at these companies, and trucks were inspected and serviced. No truck was allowed to depart before it was determined that proper preventive maintenance had been performed.
c. certain problems were met with in the operation of these trucks:
During the period immediately preceding the assumption of control by the group, trucks had had little organized preventive maintenance. Some trucks were being driven without spare tires. A daily average of 12 trucks were deadlined during the period that this organization was providing maintenance, and many trucks required third echelon work. Care of these vehicles required the combined and continuous services of the two company and one battalion motor maintenance sections.
Due to the nature of the assigned missions, trucks had to be dispatched in groups of two and three. Control was therefore difficult and although dispatch forms and trip tickets were made out, it was theoretically possible for drivers to make unauthorized stops en route. Routinely, a non-commissioned officer was placed in charge of each group of 5-10 vehicles, and an officer for each group of over 25 vehicles.
Supply problems were encountered because the group headquarters advanced well ahead of the army service area and Corps Class III truckheads would issue no gasoline to the group's units. However, excellent cooperation was obtained from the army ordnance units, gasoline was initially hauled from Senonches, and later, following issuance of a blanket authorization, sufficient gasoline was obtained at local truckheads.
Before leaving Guyancourt on 4 September, a liaison officer was dispatched to Senonches in order to coordinate reception and dispatch of vehicles from that point. When the group command post moved from the La Capelle area on 12
September, the 449th Medical Company remained in La Capelle and the 454th Medical Company accompanied the group headquarters to Ouffet and later to Eupen. This arrangement furnished facilities for maintenance at both Eupen and La Capelle. Thus, the group had rear echelons extending over 300 miles; there was no communication except by truck or messenger; and the control of movement of trucks was therefore rendered difficult, particularly when trucks had to be dispatched from both locations.
On 20 September, First United States Army relieved the following units from attachment to the 68th Medical Group:

HHD, 57th Medical Battalion
HHD, 177th Medical Battalion
384th Medical Company
575th Medical Company
591st Medical Company
546th Medical Company
450th Medical Company
452d Medical Company
42d Field Hospital
45th Field Hospital
47th Field Hospital

The same order attached the 662d Medical Company to the 68th Medical Group, which had been attached to the British Second Army in connection with Operation Market-Garden.
At the same time the mission of the group was changed to include, within the VII Corps sector:

l. Employment of field hospitals adjacent to infantry- division clearing stations

2. Evacuation of clearing stations and field hospitals

3. Reinforcement of evacuation hospitals and division medical service

4. Providing transportation for movement of evacuation hospitals

5. Recommendation and clearance of new sites for evacuation hospitals

6. Transmission of periodic and combat statistical reports to the First Army Surgeon's Office
The mission of servicing the VII Corps, which at that time was composed of the 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions and the 3rd Armored Division, was to remain the responsibility of the group throughout the remainder of the year, during which time many different divisions were attached to and detached from the Corps and many different evacuation hospitals received the Corps' casualties.
The group organization on 20 September was:

HHD, 68th Medical Group
454th Medical Company
175th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 175th Medical Battalion
*576th Medical Company
*577th Medical Company
*578th Medical Company
*13th Field Hospital
*51st Field Hospital
176th Medical Battalion
*HHD, 176th Medical Battalion
*449th Medical Company
*451st Medical Company
*662d Medical Company
*584th Medical Company

Responsibility within the group was subdivided as follows:
175th Medical Battalion

l. Evacuation of division clearing and treatment stations

2. Evacuation of Field Hospitals

3. Employment of Field Hospitals

4. Transmission of reports from clearing station and field hospitals
176th Medical Battalion

1. Reinforcement of evacuation hospitals

2. Transfers from evacuation hospitals

3. Operation of ambulance control points for distribution of patients to evacuation hospitals

4. Transmission of reports from evacuation hospitals
Statistics for the month of September and thru the campaign until 30 September were as follows:

	1-30 September	Total for Campaign
Ambulance Mileage	311,853 miles	1,242,821 miles
Average Mileage per ambulance	1,291 miles	4,112 miles
Ambulance Patient trips	20,205	105,884
From
Evacuation Hospitals	799	24,231
Field Hospitals	5,823	9,162
Clearing stations	13,583	69,252

The enthusiasm and friendliness of the Belgians, especially at Ouffet, prompted the group to engage the voluntary services of 10 soldiers, recruited from the ranks of the Belgian White Army, to control the civilians by day and to stand guard by night. These men performed their functions efficiently and courteously, and on three occasions were forced to resort to the use of fire-arms to protect United states Government property. In one instance their fire was returned by an intruder whose obvious objective was the gasoline dump. In none of these instances was there any definite evidence of enemy activity.
During critical shortages of blankets and litters occasioned by the temporary break-down of the property exchange system at certain Communication Zone installations, the group supply section transported German blankets and litters from the captured dump at Ciney to the Army Medical Supply Dump. This section also obtained 150 German litters and 8,000 German blankets from a captured warehouse in Verviers and delivered them to the First Army dump for distribution to Army medical units.
The problem of the punctual transmission of daily reports from the Division Clearing Stations to Base Echelon was eased somewhat during September by the movement of the latter Headquarters to the vicinity of Verviers, and also by the previously mentioned change of mission, effective 20 September, which limited the responsibility of the group, for the performance of this function, to the medical and tactical units in VII Corps only.
The daily staff meetings of the group headquarters, presided over by the commanding officer and designed to disseminate all information to, and coordinate the efforts of, all members of the staff, gradually developed during September into general conferences attended by the commanding officers, or representatives, of a majority of the medical units and installations located in the vicinity. After the reports of the three group liaison officers on the tactical and medical situations in the Anny, and the presentation by the Plans and Operations Officer of the evacuation plan to and from, and the conditions existing in, the various installations serviced by the group, the conferences were opened to general discussion of supply, transportation, and related topics. Visiting officers often contributed pertinent information to these conferences which were attended by an average of 30 officers daily, and which, due to the enthusiasm of all concerned, proved to be a highly effective method of securing cooperation and an invaluable source of information.
Considering the magnitude of the task assigned to the group headquarters—evacuation of entire Army forward areas, hospitalization and surgery in five field hospitals acting as mobile evacuation hospitals, movement of evacuation hospitals to various medical concentration areas, the advantages of the medical group organization were well demonstrated, especially in view of the rapid forward movement when the front lines advanced approximately 200 miles in 15 days, and when the shortage of gasoline constituted a definite problem. At no time was contact lost with any unit being evacuated and evacuation was continuous throughout the advance. In addition hospitals were kept well forward, and evacuation distances held to a minimum consistent with the movement of hospitalization units of the Field Hospitals. The lower casualty rate due to the rapid advance naturally assisted in the accomplishment of these points. This period was one in which the group headquarters and all attached units learned a great deal and gained very valuable experience. Mistakes were made but it was felt that the same mistakes would not occur again should similar circumstances develop. The accomplishment of its various missions during this rather trying period by the 68th Medical Group was due in large measure to the excellent cooperation of all subordinate units, including battalion, hospital, and company commanders, the outstanding spirit of service of hospital personnel and ambulance drivers, the untiring staff work of the group staff, the spirit of helpfulness and cooperation of the various members of the Staffs of the three supported Corps, and most of all by the support, assistance and helpful advice from the Army Surgeon and his Staff.
On 6 October, two Enlisted Men of the 577th Medical Company were awarded the Bronze Star Medal for saving the lives of three other enlisted men who had been trapped in a burning ammunition truck. Presentation of the award
to one of the men was made by Colonel Kintz, the group commander, on 14 October at a ceremony at the 175th Medical Battalion. The other recipient was missing in action.
On 13 October the Belgian Guards the group had acquired were ordered to return to duty at Dolhain. New guards were then obtained from the Belgian Secret Army Headquarters at Eupen. After their demobilization from the Belgian Army a few days later, six of these men continued on duty as guards during the hours of darkness.
On 19 October, Major General Paul R. Hawley, ETOUSA surgeon, toured Battalion Aid stations and Field Hospitals in VII Corps with Colonel Kintz. At the regular evening conference, General Hawley commended the work of the Field Hospitals and remarked upon the value and scope of the information discussed at the conference.
On 21 October, following the surrender of Aachen, a reconnaissance was conducted in order to determine the number and location of German casualties remaining in the city, and to search for buildings suitable for army medical installations. A total of 17 casualties were found in two hospital bunkers, and the Stadtisches Elisabeth Krankenhaus, Johann Marien Hospital and Displaced Persons Barracks were inspected as to their suitability for housing medical installations.
The 662d Medical Company continued to support the 7th Armored Division and the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. On 22 October, First Army placed this company under control of 21st Army Group for supply and operations.
The same orders also attached the 633d Medical Company to this Headquarters, and on 26 October the company set up its clearing station at Welkenraedt, Belgium, where it assumed the following functions:

1. Medical and Dental dispensary for Army Troops stationed in the VII Corps sector

2. Treatment in station of Army Troops referred by dispensary

3. Treatment in station of mild upper respiratory diseases transferred from division and corps clearing stations in VII Corps sector.
A check of all units attached to this Headquarters as of 27 October showed that 2 enlisted had been killed in action while 10 enlisted and one officer were listed as missing in action.
On 27 October two officers from the American School Center visited and remained at group headquarters studying the functions and organization of a medical group for inclusion in the curriculum of the proposed school at Soissons.
On 29 October the Group S-2, Major Aabel, was awarded the Purple Heart for facial lacerations received from shell fragments in the vicinity of Kornelimünster, Germany.
During October and subsequent months many V-1 flying bombs were audible and a few were observed passing overhead. These missiles appeared with intermittent regularity and caused more curiosity than concern, although the latter had increased toward the end of the year due to the increased accuracy of this weapon.
Several instances involving gun-fire on the part of the Belgian Guards also occurred during the night hours. In one, an unknown marauder opened fire from ambush without being seen or challenged. Some 50 shots were exchanged but no known casualties resulted.
Soldier Voting activity continued throughout October. In accordance with directives, all personnel were given the opportunity to vote and an election day was set aside. Many enlisted and officers utilized State Absentee Ballots, but comparatively few used the Federal Balloting units. A Soldier Voting Inspector from the Adjutant General's Office visited group headquarters and explained the procedure to be followed in connection with keeping certificates and forwarding records.
During October, and lasting until the German counter-offensive in December made its retention perilous, the group operated a "Rest Camp" in Malmedy, Belgium, a few miles from the German border where the 1st Infantry Division was to make its gallant stand. The "Rest Camp", operated by a small detachment of enlisted, was established in a 16-room Chalet, provided relaxation and amusement on a 3-day rotation plan for all group personnel who cared to attend, and was enthusiastically received by all concerned.
Due to the relative inactivity of the front-line troops deployed along the Siegfried Line, the casualty rate for October was comparatively low, especially during the last ten days of the month. No problems of supply or evacuation were encountered. Following are the statistics for October and the compilation to date:

	1-31 October	Total for Campaign
Ambulance Mileage	103,922 Miles	1,346,743 Miles