US AIRBORNE

William E Barfield

The 326th Airborne Medical Company, like many airborne units of the U.S. Army, traces its origins back to World War I. Originally created as the 326th Sanitary Train on July 23, 1918, it was part of the 101st Division. Deactivated on December 11, 1918, due to reforms in the structure of the U.S. Army, it was reconstituted on June 24, 1924, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under the name 326th Medical Regiment, still attached to the 101st Division.

On January 30, 1942, the unit was renamed the 326th Medical Battalion of the 101st Division. With the prospect of renewed conflict in Europe, the Army mobilized it by pulling it from the reserves to integrate it into active duty on August 15, 1942. It officially became the 326th Airborne Medical Company under the command of Major William E. Barfield. The company began its recruitment and was activated at Camp Claiborne near Alexandria, Louisiana, on August 15, 1942, becoming a component of the newly formed 101st Airborne Division. In anticipation of the invasion of Europe in 1944, it was deployed in 1943. At the time of its activation, it had 20 officers and 195 soldiers, most of whom were from the 82nd Airborne Division. After its activation, the unit joined Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on September 29, 1942, where its personnel underwent airborne and parachutist training, as well as a stint at the Laurinberg-Maxton support airfield. In June 1943, it participated in the maneuvers of the U.S. Second Army in Tennessee before returning to Fort Bragg on July 20 and departing overseas on September 5, 1943. The company was structured with a headquarters, two service sections, and three platoons performing functions similar to the triage and collection companies of an infantry division's medical battalion. Each platoon, consisting of a headquarters, stretcher bearer teams, ambulances, and treatment units, provided support to the parachute or glider regiments during combat. The unit arrived in England on September 15, 1943, settling near Newbury in West Berkshire, and continued its training in the UK in preparation for Operation "Neptune"—its first combat mission.

Albert J. Crandall

On D-Day, the 326th Airborne Medical Company was mobilized for the Normandy campaign, with personnel landing in three different ways: by parachute, glider, and by sea. Additionally, Team #20 of the 3d Auxiliary Surgical Group, consisting of 4 officers and 4 enlisted men, was attached to the unit under the command of Major Albert J. Crandall. A section of the company, composed of 4 officers and 45 enlisted men, was parachuted into the combat zone, while a group of 7 officers and 21 enlisted men, with 4 Jeeps and 4 trailers, landed by glider. The remainder of the company was part of the maritime echelon. The organization into platoons was maintained according to the authorized T/O 8-37. The company’s surgical equipment was completely reorganized, with each medical box becoming a functional piece of equipment, and pre-combat sterilization methods for medical equipment were established. To ensure that detachments could treat all injuries in the field, the T/E equipment was reviewed, modified, and strengthened. Heavy equipment in boxes was removed wherever possible, especially for units without organic transport. Carrying frames were obtained for medical equipment, and approximately 250 litters and 1,200 additional blankets beyond the T/E stocks were distributed to medical detachments. Furthermore, 12,000 British dressings (similar to the American Carlisle Dressing, large version, with a waterproof canvas envelope) were ordered. Each paratrooper received two dressings, and a copper sulfate sponge for phosphorus burns was distributed to every member of the division. As individual protective equipment against chemical injuries was abundant, the unit's medical facilities minimized the equipment of this type. Although the division was only authorized to receive 600 units of plasma, over 2,000 were taken on the mission. The A-5 air containers for medical supplies were limited to 7 per medical detachment of paratroopers according to T/E guidelines, but this number was increased to an average of 25 containers per regimental medical detachment to ensure that essential medical supplies were available for airborne personnel, especially in case of isolation during the early phases of combat. In addition to these extra medical supplies, the company began preparing for medical resupply, planned via the A-5 air containers. The S-2 had estimated that 120 containers would be necessary for three days of needs. These were ordered, filled, and prepared at various airfields in southern England by the company’s personnel. The medical detachments of the 501st, 502d, and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments, as well as the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, landed in the Cotentin Peninsula between Montebourg and Carentan around H-4. The significant dispersion of medical personnel made it difficult to regroup them into functional sections for several hours after dawn. Less than 10% of the medical equipment dropped could initially be recovered due to their dispersion and small arms fire during collection attempts. The airborne elements of the Medical Company, dropped around H-4, provided first aid for the units to which they were attached. The glider echelon landed in two waves: two CG-4A gliders landed near Hiesville, France, around H-3, while three Horsa gliders landed at H+14. The maritime echelon, including the division surgeon’s section, disembarked at Utah Beach at H+3 and proceeded unescorted to Hiesville. The company established itself at Colombières Castle, about 600 meters north of the division headquarters, where a triage station was set up under the direction of Captain Willis P. McKee. Faced with the initial dispersion of troops, the airborne and glider elements established temporary first aid stations near the landing zones and began treating the wounded.

On the morning of June 6, 1944, Major Albert J. Crandall, who had arrived by glider with the attached auxiliary surgical team, set up with his team at Colombières Castle near Hiesville, Normandy. Captain Edwin C. Yeary joined him around 1:00 PM. The bulk of the 326th arrived at the castle around 5:00 PM. The medical officers of the unit arrived separately, joining the 326th after helping other units establish first aid stations near the various drop and landing zones. Captain Willis P. McKee, who had jumped with his section, did not join the unit until 11:00 PM on June 7, 1944. Captain Alfred M. Slotta, who also jumped into combat and continued to work despite a fractured right ankle with the regiment he was accompanying, joined the 326th at 2:00 PM on June 8, 1944. Captain Walter W. Meyers, also parachuted into Normandy and cut off from the rest of the troops for three days, rejoined his unit at 3:00 PM on June 9, 1944. First Sergeant Otis C. Banker, who was poorly dropped, crossed 23 miles of enemy lines to join the company at 3:00 PM on June 9, 1944.

By 4:00 PM on June 9, 1944, the 326th was able to contact members of the 564th Medical Collecting Company, and the first casualties were directed to Utah Beach for evacuation. The large number of wounded arriving at the first aid station necessitated the setting up of tents outside the castle. A 2.5-ton truck assigned to the division’s medical supply complemented the company’s vehicles for the evacuation of casualties to the 261st Amphibious Medical Battalion (1st Engineer Special Brigade) at Utah Beach. By June 8, the company had treated and evacuated over 400 casualties. Around 11:35 PM on June 9, 1944, the first aid station was bombed by German aircraft, suffering two direct hits. The evacuation of casualties temporarily ceased due to the damage to most vehicles. Five officers and nine enlisted men were wounded, and eight enlisted men were killed. A large amount of equipment was also lost. The next day, Colonel Paul Hayes (surgeon of VII Corps) was contacted, and reinforcements of 6 officers and 61 enlisted men, as well as 3 hospital tents from the 42d Field Hospital (located near Grand Chemin), were provided to the division. The treatment of sick and wounded personnel and their evacuation continued until June 25, 1944, when the company followed the division to Cherbourg.

On July 10, 1944, the company moved to the vicinity of Ste-Marie-du-Mont, preparing for its return to England. The unit boarded an LST at 10:00 PM the following evening, spending the night near the Normandy coast. Around 11:00 AM on July 12, 1944, it headed for England and docked in Southampton at 11:00 PM. Disembarked, it continued its journey by train to its quarters at Templeton House and Standen Manor (Berkshire), reaching its destination around 2:00 AM on July 13, 1944.

The 326th Airborne Medical Company was engaged in Operation Market in two waves. The first wave, consisting of six CG-4A glider loads carrying two 2 ¼-ton trucks, two trailers, and 52 personnel, took off from Ramsbury airfield at 10:30 and landed at Son, the Netherlands, at 13:45 on September 17, 1944. The second wave, composed of 54 CG-4A glider loads, carrying 31 1 ¼-ton trucks, 23 trailers, and 219 personnel, left Welford airfield at 11:25 and landed at Son, the Netherlands, at 14:40 on September 18, 1944. The flights went smoothly for both waves, except for some light to moderate fire encountered en route to the drop zone. No personnel were injured in flight, and no cargo was lost. All equipment arrived in good condition in the gliders. The personnel composition of the 326th A/B Med Co included 21 officers and 176 enlisted men, under the command of Major William E. Barfield, MC. To enhance the medical capacity of the unit, the First Airborne Surgical Team was attached to the operation. Its commander was Major Albert J. Crandall, assisted by three officers and four medical technicians. On August 29, 1944, Platoon B of the 50th Field Hospital was also temporarily attached to the organization. Commanded by Major John L. Sharpe, it consisted of five additional officers, five nurses, and 52 enlisted men.

In the first wave, the two trailers were loaded with two hospital tents and the equipment necessary to set up two operating tables. Power was provided by two portable generators, also included in these loads. The gliders were unloaded immediately, and no issues were encountered in retrieving the equipment on the ground. Treatment of the injured began immediately, led by the officers, while the military personnel set up a temporary aid station in the southern part of the glider landing field. The first casualties arrived at the station at 15:00 on September 17, 1944. By 17:00, the hospital tents were fully operational, and the first surgical procedures were already underway.

At 18:00, the TBC sanatorium in Son, the Netherlands, was taken over by the company, and the equipment and personnel were moved at 19:00 to establish a triage station (the objective was to sort, provide first aid, and, if possible, evacuate patients to the 24th Evacuation Hospital located in Leopoldsburg, Belgium – editor's note). Treatment of the injured continued under more ideal conditions. By midnight on September 17, 1944, 107 wounded had been admitted to the station. After identification, the bodies of the deceased were gathered and evacuated to the temporary military cemetery at Wolfswinkel, north of Son. The second wave was received upon its arrival at the designated drop zone on September 18, 1944, and treatment of the wounded upon landing began immediately; the group was then gathered and arrived at the hospital at 16:00. The sections of stretcher bearers and ambulances were sent to their respective regiments during the night of September 18, 1944.

The next morning, contact was established with combat troops in Veghel, and Platoon B of the 50th Field Hospital was sent to establish an aid station at that location to support the 501st PIR. In the afternoon of September 19, 1944, the 493d Medical Collecting Company (commanded by 1st Lieutenant James L. Fearon – editor's note) made contact with the company at 15:00, and at 16:10, sixty walking wounded were evacuated to the 24th Evacuation Hospital (commanded by Colonel Carl M. Rylander – editor's note). Due to traffic movement to the north, no further evacuation south could be conducted until 06:15 on September 20, 1944, at which point evacuation from Son was uninterrupted. On September 20, the unit had 30 ambulances and 14 2½-ton trucks available for rear evacuation.

At 15:00 on September 21, 1944, a surgical team was sent to Veghel to assist the platoon of the 50th Field Hospital located there. On September 25, 1944, at around 16:00, the road between St. Oedenrode and Veghel was cut off by the enemy. Evacuation from Veghel to the south became impossible until around 22:00 the following day.

On October 3, a reconnaissance of the Nijmegen area was conducted before the company moved to this new location. On October 4, Platoon B of the 50th Field Hospital was transferred from Veghel to Nijmegen, and the next day, the unit was sent across the Waal River to establish a station and support the troops located on "The Island." Meanwhile, elements of the 101st Airborne Division also arrived, bringing 5 trucks, 6 ambulances, and 24 additional men. Two days later, the company also moved to Nijmegen by motor convoy to establish and operate an aid station on site. The work was quickly completed, and the first wounded were received around 06:00 on October 6, 1944. Between September 17 and October 17, 1944, the 326th Abn Med Co treated 2,020 patients.

On October 22, 1944, the 326th Airborne Medical Company received the first in a series of new types of injuries. This patient had suffered a traumatic amputation of the left foot due to the explosion of a German Schuh mine. Between October 22, 1944, and October 29, 1944, 18 such cases were treated at the station. These casualties were in a deeper state of shock than any other type of injury received during the entire operation. Two of these patients died from shock before definitive surgery could be performed. Almost all amputations occurred at the leg level. An unusual feature noted was that almost all of these injuries involved the left lower extremity. The company continued to operate a station at its initial location in Nijmegen until 13:30 on October 29, 1944, when it was bombed. Since the station had been hit by explosive bombs at 10:00 and by rockets at 11:30, it was deemed prudent to move the unit to a new location after the bombing had rendered the building uninhabitable; all windows had been blown out. The company reported 3 killed and 6 wounded as a result of the bombing. Additionally, 2 attached personnel were injured. The 493d Medical Collecting Company, which was evacuating personnel from the 326th, lost 2 men and had 4 wounded. At the time of the bombing, two trucks from the 397th Quartermaster Truck Company were at the station delivering rations. The company was moved to the area occupied by the 24th Evacuation Hospital, where it spent the night of October 29, 1944. The following morning, it was transferred to the division’s rear CP, where it continued its activities.

At 18:00 on November 14, 1944, the platoon from the 50th Field Hospital was relieved of its duties on "The Island" and brought to the division's rear CP. The next day, this unit was sent to Mourmelon, France. The company personnel, consisting of 2 officers and 20 enlisted men, established an aid station at the location previously occupied by the 50th Field Hospital. This personnel was rotated every 48 hours.

This station was closed on November 27, 1944, as the last combat troops of the division were cleared, completing 71 consecutive days of combat medical service in Holland. At that time, the entire unit was en route or regrouped at Camp Mourmelon, France, except for 1 officer and 3 enlisted men who remained in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, to provide medical coverage for the division's rear detachment. This group was regrouped at Camp Mourmelon on December 1, 1944.

On December 17, 1944, the 326th Airborne Medical Company received orders to move by motor convoy from Camp Mourmelon, France, to the Bastogne area in Belgium to provide second-echelon medical care and evacuate casualties from the 101st Airborne Division. The personnel and equipment of the company were loaded and left the camp, reaching the ingress point (IP) around 8 PM on December 18, 1944, and arriving at their destination after a nighttime march at 10 AM the following day. The division's triage station was established near Herbaimont, beginning to receive patients at 11 AM on December 19, 1944. Major William E. Barfield, the company commander, and Lieutenant Colonel David Gold, the division surgeon, conducted a reconnaissance and contacted the commander of the 64th Medical Group to organize the evacuation of casualties from the triage station to Evacuation Hospital 107 in Libin, also requesting ambulance support from that unit.

At 10:30 AM on December 19, 1944, the company’s ambulances, led by the evacuation officers, were dispatched to the regiment and battalion surgeons in and around Bastogne. The 327th Glider Infantry Regiment received 4 ambulances under the command of 2nd Lieutenant William Dennis; the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment received 5 ambulances led by 1st Lieutenant George V. Evans; the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment had 4 ambulances under the command of 1st Lieutenant Henry Barnes; and the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment had 4 ambulances under the direction of 1st Lieutenant Charles S. Phalen Jr. These ambulances were used to transport casualties from the battalion aid stations to the division’s triage station.

At 4:30 PM on December 19, 1944, the commander formed a convoy of 5 ambulances loaded with patients, the first evacuation from the division’s triage station, and directed the convoy toward Evacuation Hospital 107. En route, they discovered that the bridge near Sprimont had been destroyed. Because of this, along with thick fog and the fluid movements of enemy forces, the commander decided to return with the ambulance convoy to Evacuation Hospital 107 for the night. The evacuation of casualties from the regiments to the division's triage station continued until 9:30 PM on December 19, 1944.

At 9:30 PM on December 19, 1944, two vehicles loaded with casualties were sent from the aid station of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment in Bastogne to the division’s triage station, under the command of Captain Carlos D. Lancaster. These vehicles and their personnel had not returned by 11:30 PM. At midnight, Lieutenant Phalen, the evacuation officer of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, attempted to transport casualties to the triage station but was stopped by the guards of the observation post of the 327th GIR, who informed him that the Germans had apparently captured or overrun the division's triage company. He then returned to the aid station of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment to report the incident to the surgeon. At this time, the following personnel had been captured by the enemy: 11 officers and 119 enlisted men from the 326th Airborne Medical Company, 3 officers and 2 enlisted men from the division surgeon’s office, as well as 4 officers and 3 enlisted men from Team No. 15, 3rd Surgical Auxiliary Group. One enlisted man from the medical company (Pfc Henry G. Sullivan) was killed. In total, 18 officers and 125 enlisted men were lost. Only 2 MC officers, 2 DC officers, 4 MAC officers, and about 113 EM remained in the organization. At midnight on December 19, 1944, the evacuation lieutenant of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment learned that the medical company had been captured, and this information was relayed to the regimental surgeons at 4 AM on December 20, 1944.

At 6:30 AM on December 20, 1944, 1st Lieutenant Evans of the 326th Airborne Medical Company, in coordination with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, contacted the division's G-4 to confirm the capture of the company. At this point, issues regarding medical care and evacuation were discussed. The G-4 informed that medical assistance had been organized through the VIIIth Corps surgeon, and that the 429th Medical Collecting Company would establish their collection station in tents at Jordenville to evacuate casualties from the division. The evacuation of casualties to the 429th Medical Collecting Company began at 11 AM on December 20, 1944, and continued until 5 PM the same day when, due to extremely cold weather and insufficient lighting, the station was moved to Molinfaing and set up in a school building. The rapid ambulance evacuation to this new location was significantly complicated by fog and motor convoys on Route N15 between Bastogne and Molinfaing. By 11:30 PM on December 20, 1944, the enemy had succeeded in cutting the Bastogne-Neufchâteau road, the last evacuation route to the rear. At 6:30 AM on December 21, 1944, the number of casualties held at the aid station of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, the ambulance collection point, waiting for evacuation was 129 stretcher cases and 28 walking wounded. The issue of space and medical personnel was raised and discussed by Lieutenant Evans with the division’s G-4. It was agreed that Major Martin L. Wisely, surgeon of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, would request the supervision of medical officers and personnel from the AA 81st Airborne Battalion, the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion, division artillery, and the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion. These units were to form a temporary second-echelon medical triage unit for the treatment and care of casualties in the besieged town. This triage station opened and began receiving casualties at 10:30 AM on December 21, 1944, where normal medical care and procedures were conducted. Medical supplies, except for whole blood and penicillin, were plentiful due to an abandoned army medical supply depot discovered in Bastogne. Despite the inability to resupply, essential stocks were sufficient to meet the situation. Airdrops of some vital medical items, in addition to planned resupplies, were made on December 23, 24, 26, and 27. A much-needed supply of penicillin was airlifted by L-1 (Piper Cub) at 6:30 PM on December 25, 1944.

On December 25, 1944, Major Howard F. Serrel, MC (Third Army), a qualified surgeon, was flown to Bastogne in an L-1. This surgeon, assisted by medical personnel, performed 15 surgical procedures in 36 hours. Again, on December 26, 1944, at 4 PM, an emergency surgical team composed of Major Lamar Soutter, MC; Captain Stanly P. Wesolowski, MC; Captain Roy H. Moody, MC (O-511937); Captain Edward N. Zinschlag, MC; Captain Henry M. Mills, MC; and 4 enlisted surgical assistants (all from the Third Army personnel) was transported by CG-4A glider. Although the buildings used as a hospital were under constant enemy artillery fire, as well as periodic bombardment and machine-gun fire, the medical personnel worked tirelessly and dedicatedly until the siege was lifted. In total, 943 Americans and 125 German casualties were treated at the temporary second-echelon medical triage unit and the aid station of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.

On December 27, 1944, at 7 AM, a route to Bastogne was opened. At 6 PM, a convoy of 22 ambulances transporting the most severely wounded and 10 2.5-ton trucks loaded with lightly injured patients was evacuated to the 635th Medical Collecting Company in Orval. By 7 PM, all casualties had been evacuated. Routine ambulance evacuation was established and maintained by the 495th Motor Ambulance Company starting December 28, 1944.

On December 28, 1944, Major William E. Barfield, commander of the 326th Airborne Medical Company, transferred command to Captain Roy H. Moore, Jr. Major W. E. Barfield was then appointed division surgeon. Captain Moore returned to Camp Mourmelon, France, to reorganize and train reinforcements to replace the personnel lost at Bastogne. On the same day, the 60th Evacuation Hospital was attached to the 101st Airborne Division and assumed this function. The 60th Evacuation Hospital was replaced by the Third Army and succeeded by Company A of the 92nd Medical Gas Treatment Battalion. Due to the intensifying enemy artillery fire, the division commander ordered the 92nd Medical Gas Treatment Battalion to move to Cobbreville. This unit operated as the division triage station until January 20, 1945.

On January 31, 1945, the morning report (daily) of the 326th Airborne Medical Company, duly signed by Captain Roy H. Moore, Jr., commander, was established from its station at Camp Mourmelon, France, APO #472, reporting that 60 enlisted men had been assigned and had joined the headquarters of the 2nd Replacement Depot as of January 28, 1945.

At 2:40 PM on January 20, 1945, elements of the 326th Airborne Medical Company were ordered to advance and move to the division’s rear command post, awaiting the order to relocate to the next field hospital. In short, the 326th Airborne Medical Company experienced significant participation in the heroic and epic defensive efforts in Bastogne during the Battle of Bulge.

The Company continued its support to the Division throughout the remainder of the conflict in Europe. After the victory in Europe, the unit was officially deactivated with the 101st Airborne Division on November 30, 1945, in Auxerre, France. In recognition of its actions during World War II, the 101st Airborne Division received four campaign decorations and two presidential unit citations. During the conflict, the Division mourned 1,766 soldiers killed in action, 6,388 wounded, and 324 of them died from their wounds.

UnitedStates:

2 Presidential Distinguished Unit Citations for operations in Normandie and Bastogne

France:

War Cross with palms for the Normandy operation

Belgium:

2 War Cross and Lanyard for the Bastogne operations

Holland:

Lanyard Oranje from the Netherlands for the operation Market Garden