Army Medical Specialist Corps in Vietnam Colonel Ann M
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Army Medical Specialist Corps in Vietnam Colonel Ann M. Ritchie Hartwick Background Medical Groups which were established and dissolved as medical needs dictated throughout Though American military advisers had been the war. On 1 March 1970, Army medical dual in French Indochina since World War II, staff functions were reduced with the and the American Advisory Group with 128 establishment of the U.S. Army Medical positions was assigned to Saigon in 1950, the Command, Vietnam (Provisional). Army Surgeon General did not establish a hospital in Vietnam until 1962 (the Eighth The 68th Medical Group, operational on 18 Field Hospital at Nha Trang) to support March 1966, was located in Long Binh and American personnel in country. Between 1964 supported the medical mission in the III and IV and 1969 the number of American military combat tactical zones (CTZs). The 55th personnel in Vietnam increased from 23,000 Medical Group, operational in June 1966, to 550,000 as American combat units were supported the medical mission in the northern deployed to replace advisory personnel in II CTZ and was located at Qui Nhon. The 43d support of military operations. Medical Group, operational in November 1965, supported the medical mission for Between 1964 and 1973 the Army Surgeon southern II CTZ and was located at Nha Trang. General deployed 23 additional hospitals And, in October 1967, the 67th Medical established as fixed medical installations with Group, located at Da Nang, assumed area support missions. These included surgical, medical support responsibility for ICTZ. evacuation, and field hospitals and a 3,000 bed convalescent center, supported by a centralized blood bank, medical logistical support Army Physical Therapists installations, six medical laboratories, and The first member of the Army Medical multiple air ambulance ("Dust Off") units. Air Specialist Corps to serve in Vietnam was evacuation of the wounded defied the terrain, a physical therapist who volunteered for mountainous canopied jungle, flooded delta, Vietnam duty from her posting at Fort Belvoir, dusty plain, and provided increased security Virginia, and arrived with the 17th Field for the wounded. The Army medical buildup in Hospital, Saigon, in March 1966. Vietnam was completed in 1968, with 5,283 Army hospital beds available in country. Between 1966 and February 1973, 43 Army physical therapists, 33 of whom were women, To understand the rationale for the served in South Vietnam. They were assigned assignments and missions of dietitians and in the II, III, and IV combat tactical zones at the physical therapists during the Vietnam War, an 8th (Nha Trang) and 3d and 17th (Saigon) overview of the medical chain of command Field Hospitals, the 12th (Cu Chi), 24th (Long structure in Vietnam is helpful. Prior to August Binh), 29th (Can Tho), 36th (Vung Tau), 67th 1967, the Army placed medical assets, (Qui Nhon), 71st (Pleiku), 85th (Qui Nhon), including the 44th Medical Brigade, under 93d (Long Binh), and 95th (Da Nang) command of the 1st Logistics Command with a Evacuation Hospitals, 3d Surgical Hospital separate Office of the Surgeon reporting to the (Dong Tam), the 6th Convalescent Center Commander, United States Army, Vietnam (Cam Ranh Bay), and MACV Headquarters. (USARV). The Office of the Command Surgeon They treated military personnel from the and the 44th Medical Brigade were combined SEATO allied nations—Australia, Korea, New on 10 August 1967, and the 44th Medical Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, South Brigade was then reassigned from 1st Logistics Vietnam—and the United States. Their patients Command to USARV. The 44th included also included civilians and prisoners of war. a Brigade Headquarters and three to four A total of seven Army physical therapists, six 1 women and one man, served as physical patient treatment programs improved the therapy consultants to the Commander, 44th patients’ medical prognosis by reducing the Medical Brigade. extent of injury, shortened healing time (thereby more rapidly returning the In 1967 Army physical therapists began soldier to duty), and improved morale. treating Vietnamese military personnel and civilians in Army hospitals. This interaction Army Dietitian expanded to patient and staff “Since I have arrived, The establishment of fixed physical therapy instruction in I have visited the 3d Field, medical installations, and the ARVN (Army, Republic Saigon; 18th Surgical, Quang rapid increase in the number of of Vietnam) hospitals and select- Tri; 22 Surgical, Phu Bai; combat and support personnel in Vietnam between 1964 and ed Vietnamese medical staff 95th Evacuation, Da Nang; members affiliated with Army 1969, enlarged the Army and 24th and 93d physical therapy clinics in Japan medical mission. In May 1966, and Okinawa. As American Evacuation, Long Binh. at the request of the MACV combat troops were deployed I go by U21’s helicopter, Surgeon, the first two Army home from Vietnam in 1970 and jeeps, trucks, ambulances, Medical Specialist Corps the South Vietnamese govern- sedans, or any other dietitian arrived at Tan Son ment became more responsible transportation that Nhut and were assigned to the 8th Field Hospital, Qui Non, for the outcome of the war, the is available... and, Army physical therapist advisers and the 3d Field Hospital, I do hope that Charlie assigned to MACV (Military Saigon. The senior dietitian was Assistance Command, Vietnam) continues to operate appointed field service adviser headquarters developed eight outside the perimeter.” to the 44th Brigade and later week courses of instruction in LTC Mary Preston, Staff dietetic consultant to the physical and occupational Dietitian, 44th Medical Brigade, USARV Surgeon. therapy techniques for bedside 1868. Traditionally, the responsibility rehabilitation of Vietnamese for food service in medical field patients at the 2700-bed hospital units had been the function of at Cong Hoa, and compiled an illustrated the command S-4 (Logistics). The decision to basic course text which was translated assign Army dietitian to field hospitals in into Vietnamese. Vietnam in 1966 was based on the following The importance of physical therapy to the factors. The 30-day command convalescent individual soldiers whom Army physical leave policy required patients who physicians therapists treated and rehabilitated remains a determined could be returned to duty within priceless gift. It restored the use of arms and 30 days to remain under medical care in legs damaged by war, rehabilitated surgical country. The command decision to utilize A wounds, increased range of motion, and rations (which require refrigeration) in field restored flexibility and strength following hospitals in place of the traditional B rations serious burns. The proven success of this (canned, dehydrated foodstuffs which do not combat medical experience also richly require refrigeration) established a patient contributed to the collective body of know- feeding program in which modified diets ledge related to combat medicine. Army needed to be formulated and prepared locally. physical therapists established daily proof that Subsistence procurement for modified diets early intervention of physical therapy in required professional analysis and coordination with command logistical support units. The 2 location on of fixed medical installations in necessary nutrition ration supplementation for country, and the sophisticated level of medical attached SEATO units. care these hospitals were able to provide patients, required diet therapy applications While Army physical therapists were beyond the scope of training assigned to specific hospitals, dietitian were received by quartermaster assigned to the Medical Group personnel traditionally respons- headquarters in each combat ible for feeding patients in field “Physical Therapy has finally tactical zone. These dietitian hospitals. been recognized as a necessity were responsible for operation of all hospital food services, the for early treatment of combat A total of 26 Army dietitian training of personnel there served in Vietnam, twenty wounds and has received full assigned, and the nutritional women and six men. They status as a medical team adequacy of meals in all Army, served in all four combat tactical member with the 44th Medical and some Allied, hospitals zones, from the mountains of the Brigade....Physical Therapy within their assigned combat Central Highlands to the rice treatment administered to the zone. Since road transportation paddies of the Mekong delta. patients after surgery by trained was unreliable and dangerous, Seven, all women, served as they usually traveled by Physical Therapy dietetic consultants to the MACV helicopter. In exception to this Surgeon. These dietitian not only personnel would restore patients policy, resident dietitian were formulated meals for hospital to duty more quickly.” assigned to the 3d Field patients on modified diets, but Major Barbara D. Gray, Staff Hospital, Saigon, from late 1969 planned the basic troop issue Adviser on Physical Therapy to the to February 1973. menu for all Army personnel in Commanding Officer, 44th Medical country and implemented this Dietitian’ duties extended Brigade, U. S. Army, Vietnam menu for all personnel subsisting beyond the patient’s bedside. in medical treatment facilities. One dietitian accompanied food service equipment by LST Subsistence support in Vietnam became more (landing ship tank) from the delivery port to complicated as American troop levels rose from her hospitals to guarantee