Here goes........

This is the exact words from Staff Sergeant William Vahaly US Army (Retd).

1) How did you enter the Medical Corps?

I was drafted and sent by the Army for Medical training partly because I had a high technical score and 3 1/2 years of college. That might have helped me into it. (This answer also answers this mulipart question)

2)Could you please describe your training?

After 8 weeks of basic training, I was sent to Fort Sam Houston in Texas, for 10 weeks of Medic A.I.T. (Advanced Individual Training).

The training consisted of: 8-10 hours of classroom per day, and field type training. We covered a wide range of every aspect of medical training. The training we covered was from, In hospital procedures, field splinting, bandaging, lifesaving, and even had a class in natural child birth!

3) Once overseas, what were you assigned to (hospital, aid station, stretcher bearer, company medic?)

I was assigned to Battalion Aid Station and camp field medic. At that time, I was in a Battalion sized unit of 525 men, as Medical Records Clerk. As field medic, I was assigned to a Combat Company of 90 or so tankers or fire support teams.

We learned as we went and had some classes and practical experiance with the "older medics". Our additional training consisted of things like: Sutchering, splinting and bandaging. An old medic named Conners, took me under his wing. This man had been a medis on "Hamburger Hill" in Vietnam.

4) Can you please describe your typical and most common types of casualties that you faced, and how did you treat them?

Types of casualties I saw were mostly trauma--either due to training accidents to S.I.W. (Self-inflicted Wounds) Whats a typical type of injury? I was in for 14 years. We had injuries ranging from some that happened because of a Helocoptor Crash, A soldiers foot got cought in a tank turret, delivering a baby, self-inflicted Num-chuck wound (as happened all the time when I was stationed in Korea)

Onetime, I was driving a Deuce-and-a-half (2-1/2 ton truck) and a man named Hatfield was sitting in the passenger seat opposite from me and was asleep. While he was asleep, his truck door openen and he fell out and hit his head on a tree killing him instantly.

Another time, I was NCOC (Non-comissioned Officer in Charge) in Parsburg, Germany. A drunk Sergeant shot a tank directly in front of him on the railhead with a service SABOT round. At that time, there were three tyoes of rounds on a tank: A SABOT round is one that is like an arrow shaped round, HEP: High Explosive Penetrating and HEAT: High Explosive Anti-tank round. This happened on, 4 November 1980. I was the Medic Platoon Sergeant at that time. The tank was on fire and the German Fire department had everyone evacuated about 300 meters in case the ammo started to explode. I got the tank Commander and the Gunner out. The Driver burned to death (you could hear the screaming all the time I was there) and the Loader also died of wounds (I was asked not to describe this bit about the Loaders wounds, as it was a very terrible scene)

During actual alerts, I was in charge of Battalion Aid at the T.O.C. (Tactical Operations Center) which is also where the Colonal hangs out. I had to be with battalion Aid because I was in charge. During manovers and training, I like to run a P.C. (Personnel Carrier) with the tank line units because there was more movement there and was more fun.

5) It's my understanding that medics in the Pacific rarely if ever wors anykind of red cross identification. Were medics commonly singled out by the enemy? (Word japs is dropped as it did not apply to where Sgt Vahaly served)

While in Korea-1974-1976. I painted black crosses on green background on all my tracks and ambulances, which could easily be camoflaged. Only on the inside of P.C, or a T.Cs hatch--would there be a red cross with white background and could only be seen from the air if the hatch was open.

Did you carry a weapon?

We all carried weapons ranging from Colt .45s to M-14 rifles to M-16s. On each Medical track was mounted an M-2 H.B. Browning Machinegun .50 cal.

6) Please describe your uniform equipment. Did you have special bags or harnesses? How was it worn? Do you remember what kind of medical equipment you had, or what you used mose often?

We had regular O.D (Olive Drab)fatigues, Steel pot and webgear. Company Medics had individual Infantry Medical bags(large bag filled with medical supplies like: Medicines, syringes, bandages, pills etc) This bag was carried over the shoulder. We also had all kinds of surgical equipment. We had huge wooden crates inside of each carrier that had all kinds of instruments (too numerous to try to say here) but included things like: I.V.'s Bandages, Ointments, Medicines( line unite only).

An A.T. Aid Station went to field with a 5-7-7 Command Track, a Deuce-and-a-half truck fully loaded with more medical supplies and instruments than I could even name here. What we used most often (at least in my unit)were first aid dressings.

7) As a medic, did you have any unconventional uses for items like: a Bayonet Scabbard as a splint?

I never allowed the use of items like that as splints. It also really depended on what was broke and how bad it was. Splints for fingers used to be wooden tongue depressors (for splinting a broken finger) to even large wooden stakes for broken legs.

Also, you will NEVER see the use of a rifle with bayonet stuck into the ground, to use as an I.V. post--never. You would simply never tie up a weapon for such usage, and would have somone to hold up the IV, or you would use a tree branch--stump etc.

End:

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Many, MANY thanks!!!!! This is some great stuff, and I found the black (as opposed to red) crosses especially interesting!

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Living History at http://oldreliable9_47.tripod.com

Thanks, and I forgot to mention about the crosses. Black as opposed to the nice "red target". It was because since red stood out so well that he painted black crosses--red attracts anyone and everyone, on the battlefield.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

VERY, VERy nice and interesting post, Karl!

It is always awesome to listen waht a veteran has to tell, his experiences, feelings and the details of the combat.

If you all would like I could interview my grandfather with your questions. Just tell me. [img]smile.gif[/img]

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Thank you and Friedrich--I would love to hear what your opa would have to say.

Ill try to work up some questions and will give them to you. [img]smile.gif[/img]

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

I'll wait for them!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Thank you Friedrich--ill try to have them ready for you tomorrow. [img]smile.gif[/img]

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Bump

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Carl: Daniel and others have already wrote some questions for my grandfather. He gladly answered them and I'll bet he will answer yours as well.

Actually, I'm seeking for Daniel to post the whole interview here.

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Thats cool--id like to ask something but havent had time to do so.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Good stuff guys.

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

Danke, and an American Sub vet is next on my list to have here.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.