World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
11 Feb 2011 08:12:05 PM

MEDIC!...

Very interesting photograph of a German medic
Lets see what he's carrying.
Wearing his Helmet and Red Cross armband, carring his medical bag w/bandage packs, medical gauze, medical instruments and materials for battlefield first-aid, looks like he's armed with a pistol for self-defense and to protect wounded comrades.

The German army had different levels of medical personnel.
You had the Krankentrager-better trained in first-aid.

Hilfskrankentrager-auxiliary stretcher bears
who had medical training, if necessary they would drop their weapons, and put on Red Cross armbands, and recover wounded or injuried comrades.

Sanitatsumteroffizier-NCO with more medical training, with six months in a medical school

Sanitatsoffizier-Doctor and medical officer.

Amazing how similar the US Army medical section is. Medics are assigned to Field hospitals, units in the field and at major military hospitals.
Medics are assigned to all combat arms and support units.
In the field the medic will live, eat and sleep w/ the troops.
Some are armed for self-protection and the protection of wounded and injuried comrades.
Sometimes they have it much easer, but have to maintain health facilities in the field,
with help from the troops.

"DOC"...

Always known as "Doc" and always protected
he's the man to come to for all your ills
with his word, you can be sent back to a field hospital and let me tell you thats easy duty.
I've seen my share of field hospitals seen the injured and wounded I've never forgot that antiseptic smell in those Vietnam field hospitals, and was trasnfered to major military hospitals in Japan and the USA.
"Doc" is honored with extra candy, sodas, cigarettes, and C-rations he would even get a share of goodies, from packages sent from home, he would even get goodies my Mother & Father would send me.
Dad would always put in a box of those big "Churchill cigars" Thanks Dad.
"Doc" would check the troops each day with
"Sick Call" most of the men in my unit in Vietnam, were sent to hospitals due to injuries and disease, and the replacements
looked younger and younger.

2.  Bill says:
10 Dec 2014 01:12:55 PM

Tiger 142 Commanded by Hauptmann Deichmann 3rd Company Jan.1943