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The History of the 45th Surgical Hospital
By Robert Muzzio
For Organization Day, 7 June 1969
Organized:
The 45th was first organized on the 7th of June in 1943 at Camp White, Oregon as the 45th Portable Hospital. It was designed to be carried by men, pack animals or vehicles.
WWII:
During WWII, the 45th served in the China Burma India Theater in support of Chinese troops. Hospital personnel endured significant hardship carrying the hospital as far as 200 kilometers through dense tropical jungles.
The 45th experienced nine Japanese bombing raids in China, not to mention the ravages of malaria, dysentery and other tropical diseases.
Typical of its staying power, the 45th was the last surgical hospital to be relieved of duty with the Chinese Combat Command after the Japanese surrender.
....... Deactivated 1945
Korean War:
....... Reactivated 1953.
The 45th served in the Third Winter Campaign and the Summer-Fall Campaign of 1953.
....... Deactivated 1954.
Post Korean War:
The 45th was reactivated 1956 and trained at Fort Sam Houston, Texas for four years and was designated a STRAC unit.
In April 1966 the 45th was the first hospital in the world to be designated a MUST unit. Shortly thereafter, it was alerted for overseas deployment.
Vietnam War:
The main body arrived Vung Tau, South Vietnam by ship, 4 October 1966. The operational site for the 45th was to be the Base Camp of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade near Tay Ninh, South Vietnam.
The advanced party set up at the Tay Ninh Base Camp and proceeded to convert part of a tapioca plantation into a site for the hospital. On 2 November 1966, after several weeks of hard work, the set-up was complete. The personnel pushed to complete set-up in time to support Operation Attleboro, in War Zone C.
On 4 November, 1966, tragedy struck. The 45th’s Commanding Officer, Major Gary Wratten, Medical Corps, was killed during a mortar attack.
On 13 November 1966 the hospital treated the first patient of the Vietnam War in its MUST set-up at Tay Ninh Base Camp.
During the next six months, the 45th supported some to the largest ground operations of the war: Atteleboro, Cedar Falls, Gadsden, and Junction City, all historic engagements. The 45th treated over 2400 patients during this period, the vast majority of whom were severely wounded combat casualties.
Throughout the first year in country, when not treating patients, the personnel worked hard to construct hooches, bunkers, the covered walkway, medical supply warehouse, and many other projects, including relaying the laterite pads for the bubbles.
On numerous occasions during the TET Offensive in early1968, personnel worked around the clock to care for the large number of casualties.
On the evening of 16 February 1968 during a MASS CAL, four 107 MM rockets hit the hospital area. Tragedy struck again, a round that landed behind Pre-Op killed Captain James Susnowski, Medical Corps, while he was attending patients in the Pre-Op bubble. Seven other hospital personnel were wounded during that attack, and Pre-Op, X-ray, A&D, HQ and an OR sustained damage. Personnel continued to treat patients. Later that night, another 107 rocket hit the hospital area, near Pre-Op and injured two more hospital personnel.
On 14 May 1968, during a two hour period, 30 seriously wounded and 24 KIA were brought to the 45th from an operation on Nui Ba Den. After six hours of performing one operation after another in the three ORs, the backlog was reduced to zero.
August and September 1968 were again busy times for the personnel of the 45th. Frequent MASS CALS and rocket and mortar attacks (day and night) were the rule rather than the exception. Surgical teams often worked around the clock to keep up with the heavy patient load, ignoring the incoming rounds.
During the evening of 23 February 1969, the Base Camp came under heavy rocket attack. Forty casualties were sustained throughout the camp, and 28 of them arrived at the 45th in a half hour period. Surgical teams again worked around the clock to care for the casualties.
From March through May 1969, Tay Ninh Base Camp continued to be pounded with rocket and mortar fire by the enemy. During this period, 700 rocket and mortar rounds hit the Base Camp. Seventeen of these rounds landed in the hospital area wounding 12 hospital personnel, killing one civilian employee, and causing significant damage to hooches and other hospital facilities. The 45th’s First Sergeant’s hooch took a direct hit as he slept one evening. Other direct hits included the PA&E Office, the MUST Maintenance Tent and a MUST Ward Box. Miraculously the First Sergeant was not badly wounded. However, a civilian employee in the PA&E Office was killed, and several MUST Maintenance Techs were severely wounded. Throughout this period, MASS CALS were frequent in number and heavy in intensity. In spite of the heavy workload and enemy fire, the morale has remained high and the patients received superior care in the tradition of the 45th Surgical Hospital.
The 45th’s history is full of pride, distinctiveness and is characterized by a spirit of “Can Do”. We can all be justly proud of serving with the 45th Surgical Hospital on this 26th anniversary of the establishment of this very fine unit.
Our mission is SERVICE
Our sustenance is PRIDE
And our results are THE VERY BEST
Thanks Bob
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