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
In March of 1943 the 38th moved to Telergma where they took care of almost three thousand patients. After a month and
a half in Telergma, the 38th made preparations to move toward the Tunisian front. In Tunisia, Ernie Pyle visited the 38th
again and this time wrote highly of the Charlotte nurses.
a half in Telergma, the 38th made preparations to move toward the Tunisian front. In Tunisia, Ernie Pyle visited the 38th
again and this time wrote highly of the Charlotte nurses.
1943
"This gang is kept pretty much on the move," wrote Ernie Pyle. "They don't dare to be too close
to the lines, and yet they can't be very far away. So as the war swings back and forth they swing
with it. The nurses of this outfit are the most veteran of any in Africa."
'There are nearly 60 of them, and they are living just like the soldiers at the front. They have run
out of nearly everything feminine. They wear heavy issue shoes, and even men's G.I. underwear.
Most of the time they wear Army coveralls instead of dresses."
to the lines, and yet they can't be very far away. So as the war swings back and forth they swing
with it. The nurses of this outfit are the most veteran of any in Africa."
'There are nearly 60 of them, and they are living just like the soldiers at the front. They have run
out of nearly everything feminine. They wear heavy issue shoes, and even men's G.I. underwear.
Most of the time they wear Army coveralls instead of dresses."
On May 13th the war ended in North Africa.
"The fighting has ceased and so far as I know the enemy has
not sent a single plane over since the end of the combat," said
Captain Stan Pickens. "The enormous number of prisoners
have been passing for days going back to the prisoner of war camps. During three days
I would guess that some 40,000 passed our camp."
"The fighting has ceased and so far as I know the enemy has
not sent a single plane over since the end of the combat," said
Captain Stan Pickens. "The enormous number of prisoners
have been passing for days going back to the prisoner of war camps. During three days
I would guess that some 40,000 passed our camp."
"I thought well we’ve got this finished but I knew that we would have to go through all
that again, " said Polly Bell White. "But I didn’t know that when we got to Italy it was
going to take us two years to do it."
Dr. William C. Matthews remembers, "We weren’t as scared when we went into North
Africa as we were when we went into Italy."
that again, " said Polly Bell White. "But I didn’t know that when we got to Italy it was
going to take us two years to do it."
Dr. William C. Matthews remembers, "We weren’t as scared when we went into North
Africa as we were when we went into Italy."
'These girls can really take it. They eat out of mess kits when they're on the move. They do their
own washing. They stand regular duty hours all the time, and in emergencies they work without
thought of the hours. They're terrifically proud of having been the first nurses to land in Africa,
and of being continually the closest ones to the fighting lines. And they intend to stay. "
own washing. They stand regular duty hours all the time, and in emergencies they work without
thought of the hours. They're terrifically proud of having been the first nurses to land in Africa,
and of being continually the closest ones to the fighting lines. And they intend to stay. "