Date of Award

Spring 3-19-2025

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of arts (BA)

Department

Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Mary Hanneman

Abstract

The 50th General Hospital, an Army Reserve unit from Fort Lawton, Seattle, played a crucial role in providing medical care to US and Allied forces during World War II in the European Theatre. This paper examines not only the hospital’s operations — focusing on its medical treatments, training, and logistics — but also the experiences of its medical personnel and patients. Using archival sources, including military reports, personal accounts, and medical records, this study reconstructs the unit’s daily functions and the challenges faced by nurses, officers, and enlisted personnel working under wartime conditions. Their ability to maintain morale and deliver high-quality care across four operational locations proved essential to the hospital’s success. The professionalism and superior performance of its staff contributed to improvements in Army medical organization and treatment protocols. By highlighting the hospital’s medical advancements, operational achievements, and the personal experiences of those involved, this research provides a deeper understanding of the 50th General Hospital’s impact on wartime medicine and the lives of the soldiers they treated, the medical personnel who cared for them, and the communities they influenced.

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