UNITED STATES ARMY GENERAL MEDICAL TERMS
Submitted by Alain Batens
Last updated 6-15-03
I thought compiling a list of above terms would probably assist collectors in
reaching a more common understanding of the meaning of specific military terms related to
the Medical Department, United States Army during WWII (spelling and definitions are of
course the ones in use at the time) – Alain S. Batens
ADVANCED AMBULANCE LOADING POST : point forward of
the Collecting Station at which casualties
are loaded onto Ambulances for Evacuation to the rear
ADVANCED
AMBULANCE SHUTTLE : Ambulance Shuttle which is operated between a Collecting Station
and an Advanced Ambulance Loading Post
AID MAN : man from the Medical Department attached
to a Company, Battery, Troop, etc. (i.e. a member of the Medical Detachment) to give first
aid to the wounded and to carry necessary information to the Battalion or Regimental
Surgeon, aka “Medic”
AID
STATION : first aid post or center established by the Medical Department (M.D.) on the
route of Evacuation from a combat area to which the wounded are brought, i.e. a Dressing
Station or a First-Aid Station . The wounded are given first aid and grouped according to
their injuries, those needing further care are prepared for transportation to the rear,
abbreviation: AID STA
AIR
AMBULANCE : or Airplane Ambulance, aircraft specially equipped for transporting
wounded personnel in emergencies, ordinary transport and/or cargo planes with improvised
equipment are also used .
AMBULANCE:
vehicle, but also boat or aircraft, equipped for carrying sick and wounded persons,
abbreviation: AMB
AMBULANCE
BOAT : boat equipped for transporting sick and wounded personnel to a Hospital Ship
from the shore or from a warship
AMBULANCE
CONTROL POST : a point at a crossroad or road junction at which a soldier is stationed
to direct Ambulances along the proper route, abbreviation : ACP
AMBULANCE
INSERT : special frame installed in a motor vehicle and used to support a loaded
stretcher
AMBULANCE
LOADING POST : location in the forward combat area where sick and wounded are loaded
into Ambulances for transportation to a Clearing Station or a Hospital, usually located at
the Collecting Station, abbreviation: ALP
AMBULANCE
ORDERLY : person who accompanies and assists the driver of an Ambulance in
transporting the sick and wounded
AMBULANCE
RELAY POST : a point on the Ambulance Shuttle where one or more Ambulances are
stationed ready to advance to replace an Ambulance which has left the next Post forward,
abbreviation : ARP
AMBULANCE
SHUTTLE : a method of operating Ambulance Service in combat . It consists of one or
more Ambulance Loading Posts, one or more Ambulance Relay Posts, and a Basic Relay Post
AMERICAN
RED CROSS : American organization that cares for the sick and wounded in war, and that
relieves suffering caused by floods, fire, disease and other calamities . It also serves
as liaison between members of the Armed Forces and their families and also assists in
furnishing relief to Prisoners of War . It is the only civilian organization authorized to
function inside a Theater of Operations, abbreviation: ARC
AMPUTATE
: to cut off a limb, as an arm or a leg, when too seriously wounded or infected to be
saved
ANESTHESIA
: loss of sensation, partial or complete sensory paralysis, commonly induced
artificially for the period of a surgical operation
ANESTHETIC
: drug or other agent producing anesthesia
ARMY
MEDICAL CENTER : professional service schools of the Medical Department at Washington
D.C., it includes the Medical, Dental and Veterinary Schools and provides training while
maintaining laboratories and carrying on research, abbreviation: AMC
ARMY
MEDICAL LABORATORY : medical unit assigned to an Army, it provides medical service
with certain medical supplies and performs laboratory examinations and investigations,
mainly in the field of preventive medicine, abbreviation: A MED LAB
ARMY
NURSE : member of the Army Nurse Corps who gives nursing care to sick and wounded,
Army Nurses are commissioned in grades corresponding to those of Army Officers !
ARMY
NURSE CORPS : part of the Medical Department consisting of nurses whose duties are to
organize and provide nursing care of sick and wounded, abbreviation: ANC
ARMY
DENTAL SCHOOL : special service school that gives instruction and training in
professional and technical subjects pertaining to the dental service of the Medical
Department, it maintains diagnostic labs and engages in research, development and testing
of dental supplies and equipment (under
supervision of Army Service Forces).
ARMY
VETERINARY SCHOOL : special service school that gives instruction and training in
professional and technical subjects pertaining to the veterinary service of the Medical
Department . (under supervision of Army
Service Forces)
ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR : Officer in the Army Nurse Corps, who has a rank equivalent to that of a
Captain
ATTACHED
MEDICAL PERSONNEL : those Officers and Enlisted Men of the Medical Department added to
Regiments and separate Battalions composed of troops of arms or services other than
Medical
BASE
HOSPITAL : General Hospital located in the rear of a Communications Zone
BASIC
RELAY POST : the Relay Post farthest to the rear in an Ambulance Shuttle where the
bulk of the unemployed Ambulances are dispersed awaiting use, abbreviation : BRP
BATTLE INJURY : wound received as a direct result
of enemy action, accidental wounds, though received in battle, are NOT regarded as battle
injuries
CADUCEUS
: insignia of the Medical Corps, and also background of insignia for allied services
e.g. ANC, description: a staff with two snakes twined around it and a pair of wings on top
CASUALTY
: an Officer or Enlisted Man who becomes unfit for duty in battle or a campaign
because of enemy action, illness, accident, or other cause resulting in death, desertion,
capture, wounding, or illness
CHAIN
OF EVACUATION : series of Stations and routes by which the sick and wounded are
collected and carried to Hospitals . The Chain of Evacuation usually begins at an Aid
Station and ends at a General Hospital
CHIEF
NURSE : Officer in the Army Nurse Corps who has a rank equivalent of a First
Lieutenant, in charge of nurses in a ward, laboratory, or other department of a Hospital
CHIEF
OF THE VETERINARY SERVICE : Officer in administrative & technical command of the
Veterinary Service . He is immediately under The Surgeon General, Medical Department, Army
Service Forces
CHIEF
SURGEON : senior Medical Officer assigned to a General Headquarters, or to an
Expeditionary Force, as a Staff Officer in charge of all medical units in the command
CHLORINATION
: disinfecting with chlorine compound, sterilizing drinking water by treatment with
calcium hypochlorite
CLASSES
OF SUPPLY : all supplies delivered to troops in the field are divided into 5 classes
i.e.
Class I : items used at a uniform daily rate such
as rations, water, forage, etc
Class II : items listed in the T/O & T/E such
as vehicles, weapons, litters, etc
Class III : motor fuels and lubricants
Class IV : miscellaneous items (not listed in T/E)
such as lumber, barbed wire, etc
Class V : ammunition
CLEARING
: the process of disposing of casualties of a Division or comparable unit . Treatment
is incidental . Clearing is NOT to be confused with Hospitalization
CLEARING
COMPANY : medical organization of one or more Clearing Stations . Main tasks;
reception of casualties, sorting of casualties, appropriate treatment, temporary care and
shelter, and return of the slightly injured to duty .
The company receives and classifies battle casualties, gives them temporary
aid, and prepares them to be sent back to their unit or farther to the rear . This
organization consists of 1 Company Headquarters and 2 Clearing Platoons , abbreviation:
CLR CO
CLEARING
STATION : medical Station in the field, where sick and wounded are assembled from
Collecting Stations, given temporary aid, classified and then sent to the rear for further
care (formerly called Hospital Station) . This organization is the last element in a
Division, and is responsible for “second echelon” medical service, abbreviation: CLR STA
CLEARING
STATION TAG : identifying card attached to a casualty being treated at a Clearing
Station, Section A – Admission tags were completed as well as Section B –
Disposition tags (aka WD AGO Form 8-29)
CLINICAL
RECORD : official form or chart on which a medical and surgical history for each
patient in a Hospital is kept
COLLECTING
: the removal of casualties from Aid
Stations, their preparation for further Evacuation, and their delivery to a Clearing
Station
COLLECTING
COMPANY : medical organization which
collects casualties from the field (i.e. combat zone) and Aid Stations, gives them
temporary aid, and transports them to the Clearing Stations where more intensive care can
be given . The organization consists of 1 Company Headquarters, 1 Station Platoon, 1
Litter Bearer Platoon, 1 Ambulance Platoon, and 1 Liaison Section (not foressen in T/O,
usually improvised due to necessity), abbreviation: COLL CO
COLLECTING
POINT : place at which sick or wounded personnel, but also stragglers, prisoners of
war, and damaged material are gathered for later disposition, abbreviation: COLL PT
COLLECTING
POST : medical Station in the forward combat zone where battle casualties are prepared
to be sent to Clearing Stations in the rear . They are MORE elaborate installations as
compared to Collecting Stations
COLLECTING
STATION : medical Station in the forward combat zone where battle casualties are
prepared to be sent to Clearing Stations in the rear, abbreviation: COLL STA
COMPANY
AID MAN : man in the Medical Department assigned to a combat Company (i.e. member of
the Medical Detachment) to give first aid to the wounded, and to carry necessary
information to the Battalion or Regimental Surgeon
CONTACT
AGENT : member of a Medical or Veterinary unit who acts as liaison between an Aid
Station and the unit Commander, and as a guide between Aid Stations and the Collecting
Station
CONTRACT
SURGEON : civilian who performs the professional and administrative functions of a
Medical Officer, but without military rank or commission
CONVALESCENT
HOSPITAL : fixed or mobile Hospital for patients who no longer need active treatment,
it is included in the organization of a std. Army and operates under direct control of the
Army Surgeon . Specially designed to care for medical cases who will probably fully
recover and be ready for duty within a limit of usually 120 to 180 days, but who require
little or no medical treatment other than observation and rehabilitation . The
Convalescent Hospital receives patients from Evacuation Hospitals, Army Clearing Stations,
and any other units in the vicinity . It usually disposes of patients by transfer to a
Replacement Center or return to an Evacuation Hospital (in case of unsatisfactory medical
progress) . The Hospital has a normal capacity of 3,000 patients and can be expanded to
accomodate 5,000 patients for a short period, abbreviation: CONV HOSP
DEFINITIVE
HOSPITALIZATION : that Hospitalization capable of caring for patients until they
recover . “Final” Hospitalization as in a General Hospital
DEFINITIVE
TREATMENT : that Treatment which includes generally accepted procedures necessary to
ultimately produce recovery of the patient, as the repair of a perforated intestine at an
Evacuation Hospital
DENTAL
CORPS : subdivision of the Medical Department that cares for the teeth of military
personnel, it is made up of commissioned Dentists, abbreviation: DC
DENTAL
IDENTIFICATION RECORD : official form recording in detail every characteristic of the
condition of a soldier’s teeth . It is used as a means of identification if injuries
causing death result in the destruction of other features of the soldier
DENTAL
OFFICER : Army dentist, or Officer in the Dental Corps
DENTAL
SURGEON : senior Officer in charge of the dental service of a unit . He performs his
professional duties under the Surgeon of the unit to which he is assigned, and also
advises in matters of dental supply, operation and training
DENTAL
TECHNICIAN : Enlisted Man who does dental laboratory work, takes X-rays and prepares
patients for dental work
DEPARTMENT
HOSPITAL : General Hospital located in a territorial Department, e.g. the Hawaiian
Department
DETENTION
CAMP : place for holding incoming recruits for a sufficient length of time to detect
any acute communicable disease they may have contracted before arrival
DETENTION
WARD : Ward in a military Hospital for prisoner patients
DIETITIAN
: or Hospital Dietitian, female member of the Medical Department who plans and advises
meals in Army Hospitals, or a Hospital Dietitian, she is equivalent in rank to an Officer,
usually a Second Lieutenant, insignia: caduceus + fraction with block letter H over D
DISPENSARY
: medical Station where first aid and other routine medical treatment are given, it is
similar to an Aid Station, but not set up in a combat zone
EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TAG : identifying card attached to a casualty in the field, giving a record of
the nature of his injury and of the treatment given, abbreviation: EMT (aka WD AGO Form 8-26)
EMERGENCY
TREATMENT : that medical Treatment Administered by any Officer or Enlisted Man of the
Medical Department prior to definitive Treatment
EMERGENCY
VETERINARY TAG : card attached in the field to an injured (Army) animal, giving a
record of the nature of the injury and of any treatment given, abbreviation: EVT
EVACUATE
: remove sick and wounded from a combat zone
EVACUATING
OFFICER : Medical Officer in charge of the evacuation section of an Evacuation
Hospital, he is especially responsible for patients sent farther to the rear
EVACUATION
: moving all patients from a battlefield, and subsequently moving them through every
medical installation, from Aid Station to General Hospital . The average sequence of
evacuation in the combat zone is the following: casualties receive emergency first aid
right on the battleground by Company aid men and are carried by litter bearers to the
Battalion Aid Station where the degree of wound is ascertained and treated . From this
Station, the wounded are transported by Litter or Ambulance through the Collecting Station
to the Clearing Station, where emergency cases are routed to a Field Hospital for
immediate surgery . The remaining casualties are sent to the Evacuation Hospital to await
transportation by either ship or plane to the Communications Zone, where they will be
taken to a General Hospital by Ambulance or Train . Cases requiring over 180 days of
convalescence are then transported, as soon as possible, by plane or ship to the ZI
EVACUATION
HOSPITAL : mobile Field Hospital in the combat zone . It gives necessary treatment to
casualties, but sends serious cases on to fixed Hospitals for further care . Evacuation
Hospitals are organic elements of a field Army and function under Army Headquarters . They
are of two types: the 400-bed semimobile and the 750-bed capacity unit, which function in
direct support of a frontline Division and carry out the “third echelon” medical
service, they receive patients from Divisional, Corps, or Army Clearing Stations –(750-bed
Evacuation Hospitals are allotted at the rate of one per 3 Army Divisions, while 400-bed
Hospitals are allotted at the rate of one per single Army Division, abbreviation: EVAC
HOSP
EYE,
EAR, NOSE, THROAT DISEASES : diseases affecting those specific parts of the body (aka
EENT)
FIELD
HOSPITAL : mobile Hospital which may be divided into units (ability to operate up to 3
separate Hospital units, even located at widely separated places, if necessary) and
employed in the field under tentage or other locally improvised shelter . It was
developed, organized and equipped for use in locations where the Station Hospital type of
coverage is desired, but where no buildings are available, and where changes in location
are frequent . Although it is classified as “fixed” Hospital it can easily be
moved and even transported by air, the Field Hospital may receive patients from the
Station served, from Clearing Stations or Portable Surgical Hospitals, or direct from site
of injury . Each independent hospitalization unit can handle 100 patients, and up to 150
in emergency conditions . Disposition is by return to duty or evacuation to a General
Hospital, abbreviation: FLD HOSP
FIELD
MEDICAL RECORD : brief Hospital Record of every patient treated in a Theater of
Operations, abbreviation: FMR (aka WD AGO Form 8-27 & 8-28)
FIRST
AID : emergency treatment given to an injured, wounded or sick person before the
services of a Medical Officer can be secured
FIRST-AID
KIT : small or large case containing bandages, cleansing agents, and other medical
equipment for use in First Aid treatment
FIRST-AID
PACKET : small individual airtight package containing sterilized bandage and/or
dressing for use in First Aid treatment
FIXED
: designed to operate in the same spot over a considerable period of time . Tactically
NOT designed to move from place to place, as Fixed Hospital or Fixed Laboratory
FIXED
HOSPITAL : Hospital, such as a Station Hospital or a General Hospital, having a
stationary location (as opposed to a Mobile Hospital)
GENERAL
HOSPITAL : Hospital designed to serve general and special needs, it is equipped and
staffed for special treatment of a professional nature, and therefore affords better
facilities for study, observation, and treatment of serious, complicated or obscure cases
. It performs “fourth echelon” medical service, receiving patients from
Evacuation Hospitals of the combat zone, by Ambulance train, motor Ambulance, or even by
airplane, patients are sent to a (numbered) General Hospital for additional treatment and
care up to a period of usually 120 to 180 days, if they are to be hospitalized for a
longer period, they are evacuated to a (named) General Hospital in the Zone of Interior . (numbered) General Hospitals are of three sizes:
1,000-bed, 1,500-bed and 2,000-bed capacity, abbreviation: GEN HOSP
GRAVES
REGISTRATION SERVICE : wartime organization within the Quartermaster Corps,
responsible for identification and burial of the dead and maintenance of graves,
abbreviation: Gr Reg Serv
HEAD
NURSE : Officer in the Army Nurse Corps who has a rank equivalent to that of a Second
Lieutenant, she acts as the responsible Nurse Head of a ward
HOSPITAL
CENTER : administrative and clinical organization consisting of 2 or more General
Hospitals and a convalescent camp grouped together
HOSPITALIZATION
UNIT : complete and self-contained Hospital unit able to function idependently . Also,
on of the two identical units that, with a mobile surgical unit, make up a Surgical
Hospital
HOSPITAL
SHIP : large vessel specially equipped for treatment of the sick and wounded
HOSPITAL
TRAIN : specially equipped and staffed
railroad Train for evacuation of the sick and wounded
IMMUNIZATION
REGISTER : form on which are recorded all vaccinations, immunizations or inoculations
given to a soldier under direction of Medical Officers to Military and Civilian Personnel
resident with Military Commands (aka MD Form 81, superseded by WD AGO Form 8-117)
LITTER
: stretcher for carrying sick, wounded or dead persons
LITTER
BEARER : person who helps carry a stretcher, usually aid men who carry wounded back to
Battalion Aid Stations for emergency treatment
LITTER
CARRIER : light two-wheeled cart operated by 2 men and used for carrying a stretcher
with a sick, wounded or dead person
LITTER
RELAY POINT : point where a new Squad takes over further movement of the casualty, or
point where Litter Bearers Squads change their means of carrying, from a hand stretcher to
a wheeled stretcher
LOG
: a chronological list of events pertaining to a unit or installation, specifically a
list of patients admitted to a medical installation with data as to organization,
diagnosis, disposition, etc.
LYSTER BAG : or Lister Bag, heavy canvas
rubberized bag for distributing disinfected water for use of the troops, sometimes called
water-sterilizing bag
MEDICAL
ADMINISTRATIVE CORPS : Reserve Officers on active duty and Officers of the US Army
commissioned to perform administrative duties (NOT Medical) with medical units,
abbreviation: MAC or Med Adm C (no medical education required)
MEDICAL CHANNEL : successive higher Surgeons e.g.
Battalion Surgeon to Regimental Surgeon to
Division Surgeon, etc.
MEDICAL
CORPS : branch of the Army consisting of Officers of the Medical Department who are
graduate Doctors of Medicine commissioned in the Medical Corps, and who give medical and
surgical treatment, but NOT dental treatment, abbreviation: MC
MEDICAL
DEPARTMENT : branch of the Army Service Forces responsible for the health of men and
animals in the Army . It consists of the Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Veterinary Corps,
Army Nurse Corps, Pharmacy Corps, Medical Administrative Corps, and the Sanitary Corps .
It als includes Contract Surgeons, Dietitians and Physical Therapy Aides, abbreviation: MD
MEDICAL
DEPARTMENT RESERVE : Reserve Officers of the Medical Department
MEDICAL
DEPOT : Supply establishment maintained primarily for the purpose of receiving,
storing, and distributing supplies . Station where medicines, bandages and other medical
supplies are received, stored and issued . Depots may be charged with other procedures
such as repair and procurement of equipment
MEDICAL
DETACHMENT : members of the Medical Department attached to military organizations or
stations, also called medical troops . Tables of Organization (T/O) for each Regiment and
separate Battalion of every arm and service (except MEDICAL), include a Detachment of
Medical Troops . By definition, both a Battalion and a Regiment are units composed
organically of troops of a single arm or service – for this reason, any component of
a Battalion or Regiment made up of troopsof ANOTHER arm or service must be ATTACHED rather
than assigned
MEDICAL
FIELD SERVICE SCHOOL: special Service School of the Medical Department for training
Officers and Enlisted Men of the Medical Corps for duty with troops in the field
MEDICAL
INSPECTOR : Officer of the Medical Department attached to a military command . He
supervises sanitary arrangements and measures taken to prevent the spread of disease,
usually an assistant to the Surgeon of the command
MEDICAL
LABORATORY : generally a mobile unit of the Medical Department, which makes the
necessary medical tests and carries on field research . Its main function is to prevent
disease, especially epidemics
MEDICAL
OFFICER : or Army doctor, Officer who holds a commission in the Medical Corps of the
Medical Department
MIXED
MEDICAL COMMISSION : group of 3 doctors who examine sick and wounded prisoners, one
doctor is appointed by the country that holds the Prisoners of War, while the two others
are appointed from a neutral country
MOBILE
: capable of moving or being moved from place to place and designed to operate
tactically in that manner
MOBILE
HOSPITAL : Hospital unit for service in
the field, it can be moved from one place to another to meet the demands of the combat
situation (as contrasted to a Fixed Hospital)
MOBILE
SURGICAL UNIT : surgical unit of a Field
Hospital that can be moved to where it is most needed, it has its own means of transport
as well as the necessary personnel and equipment to carry out surgery under field
conditions
NURSE
: unmarried woman, between the ages of 21 and 40, with rank of Second Lieutenant, and
either belonging to the Regular Army Nurses under the War Department, or the reserve
nurses under the American Red Cross
NURSE’S
AIDE : civilian defense volunteer who, after taking a special American Red Cross
course + examination, can assist registered nurses in their simpler duties – she must
be a woman between 18 and 50, a U.S. citizen, physically fit, and proving her graduation
from High School (or equivalent), and willing to serve without pay !
ORDERLY
: general worker in a Hospital (also other military duty applications)
PHARMACY
CORPS : branch of the Medical Department that is made up of Regular Army Officers who
are graduate Pharmacists and of those who were formerly in the Medical Administrative
Corps . This Corps is responsible for matters of administration and pharmaceutics that
concern the Medical Department
PHYSICAL
THERAPY AIDE : (or Physiotherapist) female member of the Medical Department trained in
the use of physical exercises as a treatment for diseases and physical defects, she may
hold either a commissioned or an enlisted grade, insignia: caduceus + fraction with block
letter P over T
PORTABLE
SURGICAL HOSPITAL : it is an independent, self-contained unit under direct command of
a Division, Task Force, or Army, depending upon the unit to which it is attached, its task
is to supplement the organic medical service of a Division or Task Force by providing
definitive surgical treatment of a greater scope than the one given in a Clearing Station,
for seriously wounded casualties for whom any delay or further transportation would be
fatal . These Hospitals are usually located in the vicinity of theClearing Station , or
forward near a Collecting Station, sometimes even within Litter carry distance of the
frontline . Very practical for temporary
hospitalization at isolated grounds and particularly useful in mountain or jungle country
. Portable Surgical Hospitals are normally allotted at the ratio of 3 or more per
Division, and 1 per Regiment .
PROPHYLACTIC
STATION : medical office maintained by the Army on or near military posts, where
preventive treatment for venereal diseases is always available, abbreviation: PRO STA
PROPHYLAXIS
: measures taken to prevent venereal diseases (also other diseases)
QUARANTINE
: isolation of anyone who is suffering from a disease that can be spread, or isolation
of carriers and people thought to be responsible for the spread of diseases such as
typhoid . There are two kinds: Absolute Quarantine is
complete isolation from contact with other persons or units, in this case normal duties
are suspended and all contacts avoided; Working
Quarantine is isolation where unnecessary contacts with other persons or units are
contained, regular duties are still carried out, but infected persons are kept isolated
and preventive measures to avoid spreading of the disease are taken
RED
CROSS : national society found in most civilized countries taking its name from its
insignia, the Geneva Cross (badge of neutrality), i.e. a Red GREEK Cross on a White
background . Its purpose is to help the sick and wounded in war, and to give aid and
relief during great catastrophes
REGISTRAR
: an Officer of the administrative division of a Hospital charged with the preparation
of sick and wounded records and reports
REGULATING
STATION : a place on the line of Supply and Evacuation, specifically on a railroad, at
or near the rear boundary of the combat zone, where the movement of troops and matériel
to or from the combat zone is controlled
REPORT
SHEET : official document which lists patients either returned to duty or those who
died in the Hospital, this Report Sheet is
submitted, together with EMTs and FMRs of patients, on a monthly basis to the Army or
Corps Surgeon (aka WD AGO Form 8-23)
ROLLING
RESERVE : a stock of supplies, usually an estimated 3-DAY supply, carried by service
elements of Divisions to sustain activities of Division troops till suppliescan be
obtained from depot or railhead, as the supplies carried by the Division medical supply
section of the Medical Battalion, Infantry Division
SANITARY
CORPS : branch of the Medical Department, established in time of war to supervise and
regulate sanitation of places occupied by military forces, also includes working in
certain aspects of preventive medicine, those Officers qualified in a professional field
are NOT Doctors of Medicine
SEMIMOBILE
: specifically, having enough vehicles to move approximately half the unit at a time,
abbreviation: SM
SICK
BAY : ship’s Hospital or Infirmary
SICK
CALL : daily assembly when all sick and injured, other than those in Hospital, report
to a Medical Officer for examination (specifically a bugle call)
SICK
LEAVE : Leave from duty granted an Officer to recover from sickness or injury, or to
receive authorized medical treatment except hospitalization
SQUAD
TENT : Tent used by ALL branches, it holds 12 folding cots . The tent measures 30 x 16
feet and is supported by 2 center poles, having walls 4 feet high and a capacity of
approximately 20 Litters
STATION
DISPENSARY : Medical Department establishment providing medical and dental care for
military personnel receiving treatment but not needing hospitalization, it serves the men
of the Post or Station on which it is located (an establishment providing care for
military personnel not stationed there is a General Dispensary)
STATION
HOSPITAL : fixed Hospital in or near a Military Post to give medical and dental care
to those attached to the post . Station Hospital and General Hospital are the two types of
fixed Hospitals, when located in the Communications Zone, it is housed in tentage or
improvised housing of the Theater of Operations, and even located in the combat zone .
(numbered) Station Hospitals have bed
capacities ranging from 25 to 900 beds, in exceptional circumstances it may serve as an
Evacuation or General Hospital, abbreviation : STA HOSP
STATION
SURGEON : senior Medical Officer in command of medical personnel at a military post
STATION
VETERINARIAN : senior Veterinary Officer in command of veterinary personnel at a
military post
STATISTICAL
REPORT : official report showing
administrative medical statistics to be forwarded to Army or Corps Surgeon (aka WD AGO
Form 8-122)
STRETCHER
: frame or Litter for carrying the wounded, sick or dead
STRETCHER
BEARER : soldier whose task it is to carry the wounded off the battlefield
SUPPLY
POINT : depot, railhead, truckhead or other installation at which supplies and
matériel used by the Army are received, stored and distributed, abbreviation : SP
SURGEON
: senior Medical Officer in charge of the Medical Detachment or unit of a military
organization or station, he is a Staff Officer and advises the CO on medical matters,
(usually with rank of Major General)
SURGEON
GENERAL : The Surgeon General is Chief of the Medical Department of the Army
SURGICAL
HOSPITAL : mobile medical unit, attached to an Army, that provides special facilities
for surgical aid to men wounded in combat, abbreviation: SURG HOSP
TECHNICIAN
: Enlisted Man doing work requiring specialized training, e.g. a Dental Technician .
Technicians may be of Third, Fourth, or Fifth Grade, abbreviation: Tec or Tech
TOURNIQUET
: device used in first aid to the injured and wounded, to compress an artery and stop
severe bleeding
VETERINARIAN
: senior Veterinary Officer in charge of all veterinary personnel and activities
within it
VETERINARY
AID STATION : in combat, a place for temporary care of animal casualties
VETERINARY
CLEARING STATION : establishment in the combat zone to which animal casualties are
brought from a Veterinary Aid Station, for
treatment, and when necessary, for evacuation to the rear
VETERINARY
CORPS : major branch of the Medical Department supervising the care of Army animals,
it treats sick and wounded animals, supervises dairies, inspects refrigeration and storage
plants, meat and dairy products, and performs other similar duties, composed only of
Officers who are qualified Veterinaries, abbreviation: VC . (there are also Vet
Dispensaries, Vet Evacuation Hospitals, Vet General Hospitals, Vet Station Hospitals, Vet
Hospitals, and of course Veterinary Officers)
WARD
TENT : a large Tent 16 x 50 feet supported by 4 center poles, with side walls 4 feet
high used by Hospitals in the Theater of Operations primarily as Wards
WALKING
WOUNDED : sick or Wounded personnel who can walk from the place where they became a
casualty to the place where they can receive medical treatment, also called ambulant cases
WARD
MASTER : male nurse or orderly in a hospital ward, in charge under the Ward Surgeon,
of the other Enlisted Men on duty in the Ward
WARD
OFFICER : Officer in the Medical Department, administrative and professional head of a
Hospital Ward or Wards
Official Abbreviations used for EMT
: C W Contused Wound, E W Extensive Wound, F C Fracture Compound, F C C Fracture
Compound Comminuted, F S Fracture Simple, F U O Fever of Undetermined Origin, G S W Gun-Shot Wound, I W Incised Wound, K I A Killed In Action, L W Lacerated Wound, M W Multiple Wounds, N Y D Not Yet Diagnosed, Pen W Penetrating Wound, Perf W
Perforating Wound, Pun W Punctured Wound, S Slight,
S V Severe, W I A Wounded In Action
Echelons of Field Medical Service
: First Echelon (organic or attached) medical
service provided by attached medical personnel, collectively known as the Medical
Detachment, furnished to every unit of the size of a Battalion or larger, of every arm and
service (except Medical) – Second Echelon
(Division) medical service consisting of collecting casualties from the dispensaries
or Aid Stations operated by the first echelon, rendering emergency treatment in Collecting
Stations and evacuating the patients to one or more Clearing Stations for further
emergency treatment – Third Echelon (Army) consists
of evacuating casualties from Clearing Stations
to Army Hospitals and there providing definitive treatment, this is a function of an Army
– Fourth Echelon (Communications Zone) comprises
the transfer of evacuees from Army Hospitals to and their hospitalization at the numbered
General Hospitals of the Communications Zone, it is a function of the Medical Service of
the Communication Zone (COMZ) – Fifth
Echelon (Zone of Interior) comprises further evacuation of casualties to the Zone of
the Interior and their care and further treatment in named General Hospitals, this service
is a function of the Zone of Interior (ZI)
Sources: The War Dictionary, Words
& Phrases – Military, Naval, Aeronautic, Industrial, Political and Geographic,
1942, Consolidated Book Publishers Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA, TM 20-205 Dictionary of
United States Army Terms, 18 January 1944, EMT Form 52b, Medical Department, U.S. Army,
November 5, 1942, FM 8-5 War Department Field Manual, Medical Department Units of a
Theater of Operations, 31 May 1945, WW2 period Magazines (all documents are from the
author’s collection)