OBITUARIES

Commander Crews was a native of Ten­ Our Oldest Member nessee. He entered the naval medical service in 1923 as an enlisted man and later was Dr. Rudolph Matas appointed to officer grade. Prior to the Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/121/5/353/4933354 by guest on 01 October 2021 1860-1957 ' entry in World War II, Com­ mander Crews was on duty with the Regi­ mental Hospital, Fourth Marines, in Shang­ Dr. Rudolph Matas, internationally known hai, China. In November 1941 he was evac­ surgeon, died in , La., on Sep­ uated with the Fourth Marines to the Phil­ tember 23 at the age of 97. ippine Islands where he was taken prisoner Dr. Matas was born in Bonnet Carre near by the Japanese Forces. In December 1944, New Orleans on September 12, 1860. Prior Commander Crews was one of the 1619 to his entering for his persons who sailed from Manila for Japan medical education, he studied in France, on the ill fated prison ship SS Oryoku , and Mexico. In 1880, he received his Maru. This vessel was bombed by allied air­ medical degree from the Tulane University men and sunk in Subic Bay. Survivors were School of Medicine, New Orleans and then transferred to a Japanese animal freighter entered on an internship at Charity Hospital, at Linguayen which was later sunk in the New Orleans. He later specialized in surgery harbor at Takao, Formosa. Survivors and was a pioneer in the field of vascular boarded a third ship for the remainder of surgery. He was professor of surgery at the trip to Japan. Of the 1619 prisoners of Tulane University School of Medicine from war who sailed from Manila on the Oryoku 1895 to 1927, and emeritus professor since Maru only 497 reached Japan alive. Com­ that date. manderCrews was repatriated on Septem­ The honors and degrees bestowed upon ber 15, 1945. He served in the Medical Serv­ this great physician are too numerous to list ice Corps of the Navy until March 1, 1953 in this section of our journal. He was recog­ when he was retired for physical disability. nized by governments and medical societies Commander Crews is survived by his wife around the world. and two children. Dr. Matas was the oldest member of the Association of Military Surgeons of the Col. Sanford W. French, United States; his membership dates back to 1897, six years after the organization was U. S. Army, Ret. founded by Dr. Nicholas Senn, its first presi­ Sanford W. French, Colonel, Medical dent. Corps, U. S. Army, Retired, died at Brooke Dr. Matas leaves behind him a record of Army Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, immeasurable service to mankind. on August 21 at the age of 75. He was a native of Rochester, New York. Cdr. Jeremiah V. Crews, After a period of service in the Medical De­ partment of the Navy he went to medical U. S. Navy, Ret. school and graduated from George Wash­ Jeremiah Valentine Crews, Commander ington University Medical School in 1909. Medical Service Corps, U. S. Navy, Retired, He entered on active duty in the Army died at the Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, Medical Corps in 1910 and was retired De­ Calif., on August 2, at the age of 51. cember 31, 1944. 353 354 Military Medicine-Nouember, 1957 Colonel French opened the first Allergy Col. David A. Myers, Clinic in the Army in 1926. A report of this work was made in The Military Sur­ U. S. Army, Ret. geon (Vol. 71, pg. 67-1932). He had con­ David Ap Myers, Colonel, Medical Corps, tributed a number of other articles to that U. S. Army, Retired, died at Letterman journal. Army Hospital, September 26 at the age of Colonel French is survived by his wife, 82. Mrs. Agnes E. French who resides at 218 Colonel Myers was a native of Wisconsin, Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/121/5/353/4933354 by guest on 01 October 2021 Encino Ave., San Antonio, Texas; and a was a graduate of McGill University Medical son, Colonel Sanford W. French, 3d, MC, School (1898) and practiced in Oklahoma U. S. Army, on duty at Letterman Army for nineteen years. He served as president Hospital. of the Oklahoma State Medical Association during this time. He entered the military service in 1918 Col. Merrill Moore, MC, and was assigned to the Aviation Section of USAR the U. S. Army Signal Corps as a medical officers. In 1919 he graduated from the first Merrill Moore, Colonel, Medical Corps, school for flight surgeons and became the u. S. Army, Reserve, died at Squantum, chief surgeon for the Aviation Section un­ Boston, Mass., on September 20 at the age of der General Henry H. Arnold. 54. Death was due to cancer. At Crissy Field, in 1926, Col. Myers and Dr. Moore was a native of Columbia, Lt. Col. William C. Ecker made the first Tenn. He received his medical degree from systematic discoveries in the science of blind Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in flight. The two officers invented the bank­ 1928. He practiced in the field of neurology and-turn indicator. He published many sci­ and psychiatry and taught in these subjects entific papers on the physiology of flying. He at Harvard University School of Medicine. was awarded the Legion of Merit for his During World War II, he served in the research and achievements. Army Medical Corps in the Southwest Pa­ In 1940, Colonel Myers retired from the cific. After the War he was stationed in military service, but was recalled almost im­ China at the Nanking Headquarters Com­ mediately and continued until 1946 when mand. Later Dr. Moore resumed his practice he was retired permanently. He served as in Boston where he was practicing until a surgeon of the First Military Area and later few days before his death. as chief surgeon at the Presidio during this Dr. Moore published several books of son­ six year period. nets. He contributed numerous articles on He is survived by his wife who lives at alcoholism to medical literature. 125 Cambon Drive, San Francisco 25, Calif., He is survived by his wife and children and by a daughter, Mrs. Robert L. Sparks who live at Squantum, Boston, Mass. of Chesterfield, Mo.