A Doctor in the Pacific War

By Malcolm Hawk

In August 1942, Malcolm Henry Hawk left a promising post-graduate medical residency in Wisconsin to begin serving his country in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

In the Pacific, he served as an anesthesiologist with the 44th General Army Hospital, first in Australia and then in the Philippines. The work was essential and often hard; the medical staff treated frontline casualties and also kept the support troops healthy.

Malcolm was fortunate to be seldom in danger, although he mentions being uncomfortably close to a few Japanese attacks in the Philippines. But the hazards of his military life included the frustrations of trying to obtain the equipment and operating facilities that his unit needed, the rigors of tent life, searing heat and monsoon rains, the loneliness of missing his family, endless hours of boredom, and worries about what he would do after the war was over and he came home to resume his career.

His letters home paint a vivid picture of what daily life was actually like for one medical doctor during the war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781796090598

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Copyright © 2020 by Malcolm Hawk.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2020904104

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-7960-9061-1

      Softcover      978-1-7960-9060-4

      eBook      978-1-7960-9059-8

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Rev. date: 02/27/2020

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Timeline

World War II Letters From Malcolm H. Hawk To His Family, 1942 - 1945

INTRODUCTION

In August 1942, Malcolm Henry Hawk left a promising post-doctoral residency in anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin Medical School to begin serving his country in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He left behind his young wife Margaret and their first child, a son named David.

In the early part of his service, he was at a series of camps in the United States, and was able to spend some time with Margaret and David. But in October 1943 he was sent overseas, and Margaret and David returned to her parents’ home in Sharon, Pennsylvania for the duration of the war.

This book contains relevant sections from the wartime letters he sent to Margaret, David, and other relatives during his Army service (leaving out the many endearments that appeared in every letter to Margaret, as well as irrelevant matters such as questions and comments about mutual friends and everyday housekeeping matters).

In the Pacific, he was with the 44th General Army Hospital, first in Australia and then in the Philippines. The work was essential and often hard; the medical staff treated frontline casualties and also kept the support troops in each area healthy.

After the war, the World War II U.S. Medical Research Center published a vivid description of some of the challenges faced by U.S. Army medical personnel during the Pacific War:

The war against Japan was fought in an immense area that covered roughly 1/3 of the earth’s surface. Distances were enormous, and everything could only be moved by sea or air. In addition to combat casualties, environmental conditions brought characteristic medical consequences such as trench-foot, malaria, fever, and jungle rot; although these diseases were not normally fatal, they could nevertheless put soldiers out of action as effectively as combat casualties.

Until the very last months of the fighting, the US Medical Department faced immense obstacles – supply lines were tenuous and environmental conditions almost intolerable, logistical difficulties beset medical planners, diseases took their toll, medical support often broke down, amphibious medical evacuation had to be revised, and yet altogether death rates from disease were only slightly over 1 / 1000 troops / per year.

Malcolm was fortunate to be seldom in danger, although he mentions being uncomfortably close to a few Japanese attacks in the Philippines. But what often came through most clearly in the letters were the frequent boredom; the endless hours of movies or poker or cribbage to fill the time; the loneliness of missing his family; the constant yearning for letters from home; the rigors of tent life and searing heat and monsoon rains and constant mud; the tantalizing nature of rumors and the frustrations of not being kept informed by the Army about possible moves or future postings or promotions; and worries about what he would do after the war was over and he came home to resume his career.

But as thousands of other men and women did, he did his duty – and then happily put it behind him. He seldom talked about the war in future years. Our aim in this book is to preserve an important part of his life for the family records.

TIMELINE

• 1908 Malcolm Henry Hawk born in Mansfield, Ohio, to Fred Hawk and Rosemary Hawk

• 1926 Graduated from Mansfield High School

• 1926 Matriculated at Wittenburg Collage, Springfield, Ohio

• 1930 Matriculated at Jefferson Medical School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• 1934 Established general medical practice in Austintown, Ohio

• 1935 Met Margaret Lytle at lakeside dance

• 1936 Married Margaret Lytle in Sharon, Pennsylvania

• 1940 Moved to Madison, Wisconsin to begin a post-doctoral program in advanced anesthesia with Dr. Ralph Waters, head of Anesthesiology Department at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Dr. Waters was legendary in his field, credited with launching the modern era in anesthesiology. Before Ralph Waters arrived at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1927, instruction in anesthesia was nonexistent, and the field was practiced by only a few self-taught men. He created the first academic program of anesthesiology in the United States and established the first resident training program in anesthesia, in which Malcolm was enrolled when he was drafted.

• 1942 Birth of first son, Malcolm David Lytle Hawk

• 1942 Drafted into the US Army Medical Corps

• 1942-1945 Served in the US Army. In the early years, at U.S. army bases; sent overseas to the Pacific Theater in October 1943.

• 1945 Received honorable discharge from US Army

• 1946 Continued anesthesia training at Madison

• 1946 Moved to California and joined The Associated Anesthesiologists in Palo Alto. According to the group’s website in 2019 (https://associatedanesthesiologistspaloalto.com), The Associated Anesthesiologists is the oldest existing anesthesiology group in the Palo Alto area. In 1949, the group was operating as a clinical team serving the Palo Alto Hospital and in 1959 it became part of the original staff of the Palo Alto-Stanford Hospital when the Stanford Medical School moved from San Francisco to Palo Alto.

• 1948 Birth of second son, Charles Frederick Hawk

• 1950 Moved to 428 Maple Street, Palo Alto

• 1959 Affiliated with Stanford University Medical School as an associate professor when The Associated Anesthesiologists became part of the Palo Alto-Stanford Hospital.

• 1968 retired from medical practice. Continued to live at 428 Maple Street in Palo Alto with his wife Margaret until his death.

• 1976 Died suddenly of a massive heart attack while visiting his brother-in-law Charles Lytle in Sharon, Pennsylvania, just after attending his 50th high school reunion in Mansfield, Ohio

24AtypicalfieldhospitalinthePacificTheaterinWorldWarII.jpg

A typical field hospital in the Pacific Theater in World War II

WORLD WAR II

LETTERS FROM MALCOLM

H. HAWK TO HIS FAMILY,

1942 - 1945

8/8/42 – Rockford, Illinois – Telegram: Passed physical, 24-hour delay Camp Grant. To Omaha tonight.

8/9/42 – Omaha, Nebraska - Got in here at 7:30 this a.m. and was so dirty that I checked into a hotel to get clean. About nine, I reported to headquarters but the officer I should report to was not in today, so I am to join tomorrow a.m. So I will have the day to myself and do not mind a bit.

As I said in the telegram, I was held at Camp Grant 24 hours until all the laboratory work was completed. There is a new officer in charge and he is a stickler for form so would not clear me. The officer previous to this one would have let me go. However, it worked out all right. I slept in a tent at camp and had a good time. Saw all the boys from Madison: Westover, Shapiro, Kohler, Schott, Larson, Sims and Townsend.

From what I could observe at Grant, the boys are having an interesting time. They are not over-worked but kept busy and are learning a lot about the army. They like it. Westover thinks his unit will be activated in September, but he has no way of knowing for sure. Peabody’s orders were cancelled, and he applied for active duty. Has not been called as yet.

Do not have any idea what they will do with me when I report tomorrow so cannot give you our address. Telegrams or letters addressed to 7th Service Command Headquarters, Federal Building, Omaha, Nebraska would be forwarded to me wherever I go from here, if I go.

8/12/42 – Kansas City, Missouri - So far this is one surprise after another. Yesterday afternoon at 4:30 I got my orders to report to Camp Crowder, Missouri. Two other captains were assigned to the same camp, and one of them had a car, so we decided to travel together. The car owner lives here so we came down last night getting here at 12:30 a.m. and will leave tomorrow morning about 9:00, which will get us to camp early afternoon. We are allowed one day’s travel for every 250 miles, so all that is necessary is to get there by midnight tomorrow night.

From Sunday morning when I got into Omaha to Tuesday afternoon when I got the orders, it was just a case of waiting around. I have not the least idea on what basis they assign us to the various camps. There are about 32,000 men at Crowder and there is one 1800-bed hospital. I suppose I will do anesthesia but will have to report on that later.

Camp Crowder is in the extreme southwestern part of Missouri about 20 miles south of Joplin and very near (2 – 3 miles) Neosho. I expect it will be hotter than hell but the quarters may be quite comfortable. It is a new camp.

8/13/42 – Camp Crowder, Missouri – Well, I’m in the army, and so far, I don’t like it. It is hot and dirty, and the quarters are terrible. I have a room with a cot, chair, open clothes closet, one window and a door. It is a one-story wood building. I suppose it isn’t so bad and I will like it.

I was welcomed with open arms. I am the head of the department of anesthesia. The department was founded when I arrived. The surgeon in charge has had medical anesthesia experience, so he was pleased, and I think I will have my own way pretty much. The other two boys with me are quartered in the two adjoining rooms. They have not fared so well in assignments.

The drive down today from Kansas City was uneventful. Got here about 1:15 p.m. and have been busy ever since. There should be a pay check arrive at the bank around September 1st. I will get my travel pay in about a week and the uniform allowance in a few weeks.

I will need the electric fan, a bed lamp (one that will fasten to a 2x4) and some wrapping paper. The paper is to close the top shelf of the closet, so I can keep my clothes clean. Send this by express to the Station Hospital, Camp Crowder, Missouri. My mail is the same address.

Will write again Sunday when I am a little more composed. Think I will like it OK after a few days. Sure anxious for a letter.

8/16/42 – This is Sunday a.m. and just back from breakfast. Week days breakfast is 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. but Sundays one can get food until 8:30 a.m. I just made it. The food here is very good in general. It costs officers 35 cents per meal or $1.00 per day. Since I will take all my meals here the latter will apply.

My first letter from here was quite depressing, but since then I have changed my mind considerably. I like it now and think I shall continue to do so. Everyone has been very nice and my immediate supervisor, Major Jensen (Swede from Minnesota), the chief surgeon, has had experience with medical anesthesia. He has been very cooperative so far and I am sure he will do anything I want as long as it is within reason. Reason is something in the army that usually has to be included in the regulations or it does not apply. This is a new camp and going to get larger so perhaps advances will be made.

I have two nurses and three corps men (enlisted non-medical) on the service. Only one nurse has had any training. I have asked for one more nurse and one medical officer and then I shall start a school. I am sure I will be able to get the nurse, but to get the officer a lot of writing accompanied with many reasons will be necessary. I have not as yet given any anesthesia myself but have spent most of my time going over equipment on hand and touring the warehouses seeing what is to be had.

The equipment is very meager and not what I should like, however I may be able to get what I want. The uncertainty as to how long I may be here is one thing that might stand in the way of progress as I would like it.

It is now 2 p.m. Was interrupted to attend a surgical conference, see some patients for tomorrow, dinner and make out tomorrow’s schedule. Have a case to do at 4 p.m. so will try to get this letter finished by then.

The hospital is 1800 beds, but at present the capacity is only about 1200 and we have about 550 patients. It is much larger than is needed for this camp, so probably they plan to use it for convalescence and reconstructive work when casualties become heavier. Its location would be ideal for that, being so far inland.

There is a lot of paperwork in the army, and one officer said that the most important things in the army are Yes sir, No sir and ten copies please. Everywhere one goes to report they ask for at least two copies of your orders. By now I have two sets of orders because I got another group in Omaha.

The three of us that came down from Omaha together are staying together pretty well. The other two are both on the surgical service so we are all interested in the same field. We have to travel together because one has a car and this place is so big that a car is necessary to get around the camp. Zellenmayer, a Jew, and Carney, a Catholic, and me, a (?) make quite a trio.

The station hospital is about two miles from the main part of camp, but fortunately the officers club is just across the road. The hospital covers an area of about one square mile, so you see it is pretty big. By the end of the day I have about enough walking just going from quarters to operating room and mess hall.

Incidentally there will not be any marching, drilling, etc. as long as I am here. The medical officers are not here primarily for training but for their professional work.

8/19/1942 – Camp Crowder, Missouri – The work is going fine and as far as I am concerned, this is no different than the last year at Madison. I now have three nurses and as soon as I can pick them, I will have three enlisted men. I may also get a medical officer. That will make a staff of eight, and then we will start school. The enlisted men will have had no medical training at all, but I will make anesthetists of them anyway. I am getting all the cooperation I could desire, and the surgical chief (the Swede Jensen) is a swell guy.

Zellenmayer and Carney and I still pal around. We are separated most of the day but meet at meal times and usually for a beer or two in the evening. I will be looking for the package anxiously for I need the fan and bed lamp. I am in the surgical office now for there is a fan in there. The clock will be most welcome if you can find one, for sometimes I need to be up early as for example tomorrow we start operating at 7 a.m.

The food is quite good and for me there is too much at breakfast and lunch and not enough in the evening. Don’t laugh anyone.

Have my laundry done at the quartermaster laundry and get four-day service. Shirts 10 cents, pants 15 cents, sox 2 cents, hankies 1 cent, undershirts and shorts 5 cents each. Cigarettes are $1.15 at quartermaster or $1.30 at PX.

The dogs sure do get tired by night time. On feet all morning and then up and down the corridors part of the afternoon. Fortunately, in these wooden buildings it cools off shortly after the sun goes down and usually I need a blanket by 4 or 5 a.m. I have two gray all-wool blankets which are really warm. The tag shows that they were made for the quartermaster in October 1918.

Have been off the post only once since I arrived. There is no place to go and even to go anywhere on the post a car is necessary because we are so separated from the rest of the camp.

In a few days I will sound out the situation about leaves and then we can see about having you come down. The biggest trouble is that there is no decent place within miles that you could stay, and of course that means that I would probably have such a short time with you unless I actually got a leave. It is possible to be off occasionally from Saturday noon to Monday a.m., but that wouldn’t be any good unless you were very near.

Went to a U.S.O. show last night. Vaudeville. Very good and didn’t cost much (nothing). The officers have a reserved section, center first 12 rows. Not bad. Remember that funny jointed gal that danced in The Fleet’s In – she was here, and did the boys like it.

8/23/42 – Yes, the two packages and three letters have arrived. The last letter came today. We have one mail delivery on Sunday which is very nice. The Station Hospital Post Office is in the hospital administration building and we go there to get our mail. The mail comes in at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Mail goes out ½ hour earlier.

The fan was a godsend. The sun warms these buildings up so that it is midnight before one stops sweating.

Things are going along very well. Yesterday I went over to O’Reilly General Hospital at Springfield, Missouri to see the anesthetist and how they were doing things and what they had in the way if equipment that I did not have. Found that I had everything I could get from the present regulations. Have not started school yet as we have not finally decided on the enlisted men.

8/26/42 – There is not much news from here. Things are going well. I got my three new enlisted men today, and of course it is too soon to know, but I think they will work out all right. I have gotten permission to have a medical officer as an assistant, but now the problem is to find someone sufficiently interested.

You know we have an anniversary coming up. How about thinking over the proposition of coming here the following weekend (September 12). I will try to get some time off and maybe with luck we could have about four days together. Find out about the trains and plan to come to Neosho Saturday a.m. and leave from Kansas City Wednesday evening. You could come via either St. Louis or Kansas City. Please don’t be too disappointed if I can’t get off because I have not tried yet but have sufficiently inquired and such things are possible. The chief trouble will be that they may think I am indispensable now that I am here.

9/4/42 – Telegram: Sorry no letter busy and bad cold. Better now. Unless further word, have four-day leave beginning twelfth. Meet you Hotel Phillips Kansas City. Make return reservation for Chicago 9:50 p.m. sixteenth.

9/5/42 – Extensive discussion of Margaret’s travel arrangements … Did you receive the salary check and the check for $150 for uniforms? The salary check should have been for about $260 and you should have gotten it around the first. The uniform advance should arrive any day now.

9/17/42 – I surely did hate to leave you yesterday. I tried not to show it for I knew it would be just that much harder for you. We did have a good time, didn’t we? I hope we can do it again and with luck on a troop train I might be able to see you in Sharon.

9/26/42 – This is Saturday night and I am in my room in comfortable clothes and my new slippers. They sure are grand. The floors are cold, but my feet are nice and warm.

I spent the afternoon doing a little housecleaning and listened to the Wisconsin-Notre Dame football game. It sure was a honey. Hope you heard it. The score 7 to 7.

I have had a very busy week. The work in the operating room is increasing. Also, the civilian population in the surrounding towns has increased so much that we are having to help care for them. I worked at the hospital in Neosho three evenings this last week. I may get paid for some of it. We are to have at least 1,000 civilians here on the post due to the poor housing situation and gasoline rationing. They are civilians that work on the post.

In a few months we will have 4,000 WAACs here. They start coming about December 15th. Guess there are 30,000 men here by now.

The weather has been very cold and rainy. This morning I was just chilled to the bone. The official order for woolens has not come out yet so most of us are still wearing cottons. I have all my winter clothes out and ready, and if the order does not come out soon I shall put them on anyway. There usually is quite an Indian summer in these parts and maybe that is what they are waiting for.

My work is going along quite well. I have lost two of my corps men. One I fired and the other was transferred, so now I have only one left. The nurses are doing quite well, and I shall start them using the gas machine this coming week. Everything is very satisfactory from that angle and all the men think I am a marvelous anesthetist.

9/30/42 – Played poker while waiting for your call the other evening and won $3.50. Am about even.

The commanding officer of the hospital is being transferred and is leaving tomorrow. There is a party for him tonight and I expect it will be a little damp. Most parties here are of that nature.

10/5/42 – This is Monday a.m. and I have a little time so will get this going. Intended writing yesterday but had to work part of the day fixing up some of the boys who were trying to spend all their pay in one night. The first Saturday night after pay day is a busy one. Most of these were the result of automobile accidents but even at that we have surprisingly few. Must be that there are relatively few cars in camp. Otherwise there is nothing to report from that angle.

The American College of Surgeons meeting in Cleveland is November 17th to 20th. That is Tuesday through Friday. It is by no means definite that I can come. It depends on several factors: 1) if I am still here, 2) if my chief nurse is still here, 3) if any of the surgeons go to the meeting. In other words, I will not know until almost the last minute. … The length of stay in Cleveland will depend somewhat on you. If you come to Cleveland, I will plan on being in Sharon and Youngstown only long enough to say hello. Otherwise I would try to extend the time somewhat. Have not heard if Virginia [Virginia Apgar, the renowned neonatologist and a personal friend] is planning to go to the meeting. Sure hope she is well, and if so you two could have a good time.

10/9/42 – Work has definitely slowed up some. There are a lot of patients with colds so that we have to wait until they get cured and then there are fewer admissions. Have not had to go in town for some time now.

Got a Bible today from the church. No letter. Bible inscribed to Malcolm D. Hawk.

10/25/42 – I have just spent three hours sitting beside the telephone trying to get a call through. Gave it up finally as a bad job. Didn’t have anything particular to say but I just wanted to talk to you.

Sorry to hear that the Cleveland meeting is off for I was looking forward to it. Just missed by a hair getting a trip to New York. Was going to ask for a three day leave in addition to the 24 hours they allow. If nothing comes up by the early part of November, then I believe you better come down here and plan to stay at least a week.

Things are just the same here. Am getting a little fed up with the whole thing. If I thought I could find a house and some help, I think I would ask you to move down. I know it is not a practical idea at all, but I sure wish it were so.

10/28/42 – I hope my letter Sunday was not too depressing but that was just that kind of a day for me. I am out of the dumps now and things look better.

The paper I read in Chicago last February was published in Surgery. Valbarq is sending me some reprints. The last paper has not yet been published.

No further news about a trip but we will keep our fingers crossed. There has been some favoritism in granting those trips and I am not in that favored group.

We now have 1100 patients in the hospital. There has been a sudden increase lately due to colds. Also, we must now keep the boys in until they are ready for duty. Formerly they could be sent back to their barracks to completely recover. There are about 32,000 to 33,000 in camp now. I do not think it will get much larger.

There is a party both this Friday and Saturday. An officers’ stag Friday and the nurses are having a Halloween party Saturday. I will probably take them both in.

11/1/42 – This is Sunday evening and I have the radio on to get Charlie and One Man’s Family. The radio went dead this last week. The A battery was out, but I was lucky enough to find new ones so besides replacing that one I bought an extra complete set. That may not prove to be a wise investment because they run down, but I thought it wise to take the chance.

Have my dog tags now. You remember the ones Clayton had when he visited us. Have not worn them but suppose one gets used to them.

Went to the two parties I wrote about. Nothing exciting about either except plenty of food and drink. Slept late this morning and had a walk this afternoon.

I was very sorry for the letter I wrote a week ago today. It was very depressing and later I wished I had not sent it. I realize it is just as hard for you. I am out of the dumps now and everything is all right.

I still have hopes of getting a trip home with a troop train. However, I realize time is flying, and I want to see you muchly. I will inquire what the policy will be about leave at Christmas and then we will make definite plans.

Will be anxious to learn what the USO work means. I have no idea for they are only for enlisted men and not officers. However, here at Neosho, the club will help an officer find living quarters for his family.

11/21/42 – [copy of bill from Hotel Statler in Cleveland for Captain and Mrs. M.H. Hawk] Two charges for room ($5.00 and $3.50)) and three charges for restaurant (62 cents each).

11/24/42 – This is Tuesday noon and here I am all back to work and everything. Got here OK and almost on time. One of the boys met me at the train. Had