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 38th would remain at Riardo until March of 1944. From Riardo they made their way toward Carinola and
then on to the Anzio beachhead. "Well we went in on a Easter Sunday," said Polly Bell White. "We heard that
it was dangerous up there, but we had no idea what it was going to be like until you walked into it."
Captain Stan Pickens wrote this in a letter home describing living at Anzio. "I write now from a hole dug six feet
underground and almost daily we are subjected to air raids and artillery fire and the nights are a continuous
nightmare. We never know where the next shell or bomb will land. The hospitals appear to be no exception
in this war."
From March until June the 38th would take care of countless patients and casualties. On June 4th hopeful news
arrived. In a very short journal entry Captain Montgomery wrote, "Rome has fallen." On June 8th the 38th made
their way to Rome. After less than a month in Rome the unit moved on to Massa Marittima where members took
part in a very special occasion.
"That was our first wedding," said Dr. Hunter Jones. "Jean Webber made her own wedding gown out of a
parachute that some fellow had brought to the hospital. Our camp was out in an old field and the ceremony was
on a late afternoon....We had a wonderful time."
then on to the Anzio beachhead. "Well we went in on a Easter Sunday," said Polly Bell White. "We heard that
it was dangerous up there, but we had no idea what it was going to be like until you walked into it."
Captain Stan Pickens wrote this in a letter home describing living at Anzio. "I write now from a hole dug six feet
underground and almost daily we are subjected to air raids and artillery fire and the nights are a continuous
nightmare. We never know where the next shell or bomb will land. The hospitals appear to be no exception
in this war."
From March until June the 38th would take care of countless patients and casualties. On June 4th hopeful news
arrived. In a very short journal entry Captain Montgomery wrote, "Rome has fallen." On June 8th the 38th made
their way to Rome. After less than a month in Rome the unit moved on to Massa Marittima where members took
part in a very special occasion.
"That was our first wedding," said Dr. Hunter Jones. "Jean Webber made her own wedding gown out of a
parachute that some fellow had brought to the hospital. Our camp was out in an old field and the ceremony was
on a late afternoon....We had a wonderful time."
1944