If They Could See Us Now
The Story of Charlotte's 38th Evacuation Hospital
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©2008 Chris Hudson Productions. All Rights Reserved
A Brief History of 38th Evacuation Hospital
"The convoy had divided into three different groups," said Polly Bell White. "And the group our ship was in, was in the
center and we went in at what is called Oran, but Arzew was the little village that was there almost on the beach."
"From the ship we came down the ropes like you’ve seen the Navy do," said Beatrice Johnson Hogan. "And then we had
landing barges that came up to the ship, and we jumped down onto the landing barges and then we went ashore on those."
Three days later the 38th set up their hospital in a large oat field a couple of miles outside of St. Cloud.
"We went out there in a great big field and set up about 200 tents," said Polly Bell White. "The men set them up, but the nurses
were soon putting in the cots, making the beds, and getting ready, and just a short time we started receiving patients."
"During the first week of operations 300 patients were admitted," reported Captain Munroe. "All types of patients including American, French, and British personnel, as well as Native Arab and French casualties."
"When they came in large numbers, we quickly separated the seriously injured from the ones that needed attention,"
said Beatrice Johnson Hogan. "{Those} who were more severely injured than the others were placed in the shock ward and
we took care of them as quickly as possible."
"These people," said Martha Pegram Mitchell, "Had multiple wounds in their abdomen, or in their hips, or legs, broken bones,
and arms, and to try to piece back together these muscles and tendons, and take out a piece of gut that had multiple wounds
in it, rifle holes in it, was a challenge to them and then therefore to us to take care of them once they were in our ward."
Captain Stan Pickens wrote in a letter home, "At present we have more patients in our hospital than all of the hospitals in
Charlotte. However, they don't pay as well. They are a cheerful lot on the whole and appreciate the fresh air and sunshine and
good food we dish out to them."
"An evacuation hospital does not keep the patients very long," said Martha Pegram Mitchell. "Severely wounded would have
to go to a hospital in the rear for further treatment and on back to the states, whichever, or back to duty."
Captain Stan Pickens also wrote highly of the nurses in the 38th. "The nurses add a bit of color. A skirt going by the cot just
makes the hospital seem different. They can write home for the patients better than the men can and they know what to say."
center and we went in at what is called Oran, but Arzew was the little village that was there almost on the beach."
"From the ship we came down the ropes like you’ve seen the Navy do," said Beatrice Johnson Hogan. "And then we had
landing barges that came up to the ship, and we jumped down onto the landing barges and then we went ashore on those."
Three days later the 38th set up their hospital in a large oat field a couple of miles outside of St. Cloud.
"We went out there in a great big field and set up about 200 tents," said Polly Bell White. "The men set them up, but the nurses
were soon putting in the cots, making the beds, and getting ready, and just a short time we started receiving patients."
"During the first week of operations 300 patients were admitted," reported Captain Munroe. "All types of patients including American, French, and British personnel, as well as Native Arab and French casualties."
"When they came in large numbers, we quickly separated the seriously injured from the ones that needed attention,"
said Beatrice Johnson Hogan. "{Those} who were more severely injured than the others were placed in the shock ward and
we took care of them as quickly as possible."
"These people," said Martha Pegram Mitchell, "Had multiple wounds in their abdomen, or in their hips, or legs, broken bones,
and arms, and to try to piece back together these muscles and tendons, and take out a piece of gut that had multiple wounds
in it, rifle holes in it, was a challenge to them and then therefore to us to take care of them once they were in our ward."
Captain Stan Pickens wrote in a letter home, "At present we have more patients in our hospital than all of the hospitals in
Charlotte. However, they don't pay as well. They are a cheerful lot on the whole and appreciate the fresh air and sunshine and
good food we dish out to them."
"An evacuation hospital does not keep the patients very long," said Martha Pegram Mitchell. "Severely wounded would have
to go to a hospital in the rear for further treatment and on back to the states, whichever, or back to duty."
Captain Stan Pickens also wrote highly of the nurses in the 38th. "The nurses add a bit of color. A skirt going by the cot just
makes the hospital seem different. They can write home for the patients better than the men can and they know what to say."
