EARLY HISTORY

        The 110th Medical Battalion is a direct descendant of the 110th Medical Regiment. The regiment was organized as a National Guard unit in the State of Nebraska and assigned to the 35th Infantry Division.
        The Regimental Headquarters and the 110th Veterinary Company were the first units organized and were recognized by the National Guard Bureau of the War Department at Lincoln, Nebraska on the 29th of June 1923.
        The other units followed: The headquarters and Service Company on 1 June 1924, the Band Section on 23 June 1933, the 130th Collecting Company at Columbus on 25 June 1924, the 130th Ambulance Company at Hastings on 5 April 1924, the 166th Hospital Company at Lincoln the 1st of September 1927 and the 128th Ambulance Company at Fairbury on 18 May 1936.
        The regimental insignia was devised and appropriated during the time Colonel Hilton was in command, with the Heraldic description as follows; Shield "Sanguine, on a pasrle argent between in chief issuing out of the ordinary, a rainbow, to dexter, a grizzly bear standing rampant, to sinister a sunflower, all proper, three fleurs-de-lis sable and a giant cactus vert."
        Motto: "Firmo et Tueor" (I strengthen and I protect)

        The outline history is as approved is as follows:
                The 110th Medical Regiment, Nebraska National Guard, was organized as such 29 June 1923. The World War 110th Sanitary Train, 35th Division, organized in October 1917 at Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma and demobilized in May 1919, was reconstituted and consolidated with the 110th Medical Regiment in December 1927.
                In post-World War reorganization of the Nebraska National Guard the 110th Medical regiment was originally allotted to the States of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri but is now allotted in its entirety to Nebraska.
                The Regiment is composed
                        (1): of certain reconstituted units of the World War 110th Sanitary Train, 35th Division, formerly the National Guard of Kansas, and Missouri, which have been consolidated with organizations of the 110th Medical regiment, a unit organized subsequent to the World War, and

                        (2): of a reorganized unit of the Nebraska National Guard, which served in the Word War Sanitary Train 117 of the 42nd Division.
                Under the Provisions of G.O. 16 War Department 1921, as amended the 110th Medical regiment, Nebraska National Guard, is entitled to the streamers, inscribed as indicated.
                        World War [1] : Alsace, Lorraine, and Meuse-Argonne.            This history, through direct channel of descent, is authorized for the 110th Medical Battalion,. The history of the present units in so far as the tracings have been completed are as follows:

HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT
                Organized 20 may 1907 as Field Hospital, Missouri National Guard, redesignated 21 January 1916 as Field hospital No. 1, Mexican Border Service, mustered in 26 June 1916 and mustered out 5 Jan 1917.
                World War service; mustered in 3 June 1917, redesignated Field Hospital No. 137, 110th Sanitary Train, 35th Division 6 October 1917. Left US 19 May 1918. Battle Credits: Gerardmer Sector (Alsace) 30 June 1918 - 2 September 1918; Grange-le-Comte Sector (Lorraine) 21 September 1918 - 25 September 1918; Meuse-Argonne Offensive 26 September 1918- 3 October 1918 and 14 October 1918- 8 November 1918. Returned to US 27 April 1919. Demobilized 7 May 1919. Reconstituted and consolidated December 1927 with Service Company, 110th Medical Regiment. Called into full time duty 23 December 1940. Redesignated Headquarters and headquarters Detachment, 110th Medical Battalion 1 March 1942.

COMPANY A
                Organized 6 April 1917 as Field Hospital No 1, Kansas National Guard.
                World War Service: Drafted 5 August 1917, redesignated Field Hospital No. 139, 110th Sanitary Train, 35th Division 1 October 1917. Left US 19 May 1918. Battle Credits: Gerardmer Sector (Alsace) 30 June 1918 - 2 September 1918; Grange-le-Comte Sector (Lorraine) 21 September 1918 - 25 September 1918; Meuse-Argonne Offensive 26 September 1918- 3 October 1918 and 14 October 1918- 8 November 1918. Returned to US 27 April 1919. Demobilized 7 May 1919. Reconstituted and consolidated December 1927 with 130th Collecting Company, organized 25 June 1924. Redesignated Company A, 110th Medical Regiment and redesignated Company A, 110th Medical Battalion 1 March 1942.

COMPANY D
                Organized 10 February 1903 as Hospital Corps, Nebraska National Guard, reorganized as the Ambulance Company 10 May 1905, redesignated Field hospital No. 1, 26 December 1907. Mexican
Border Service: mustered in 7 July 1916, mustered out 3 March 1917.
                World War: mustered in 23 July 1917; redesignated 2nd Field hospital 117th Sanitary Train, 42nd Division, 16 August 1917, redesignated 166th Field Hospital, 117th Sanitary Train, 15 September 1917; left US 14 November 1917. Battle Credits: Luneville Sector (Lorraine) 30 March 1918- 19 June 1918, Esperance-Sousin Sector (Champagne) 5 July 1918- 14 July 1918, Champagne-Marne Defensive 15 July 1918- 18 July 1918, Aisne-Marne Offensive 25 July 1918- 6 August 1918, St. Mihiel Offensive 12 September 1918- 16 September 1918, Essey and Pennes Sector (Lorraine) 17 September 1918- 1 October 1918, Meuse Argonne Offensive 5 October 1918- 10 November 1918. Returned to US 25 April 1919. Demobilized May 15, 1919.
                Reorganized as Field Hospital Company No. 1, 23 May 1921; redesignated Hospital Company 130, 25 October 1921; redesignated 166th Hospital (Field) 1 September 1927; redesignated Company G, 110th Medical Regiment, redesignated Company D, 110th Medical Battalion 1 March 1942. Company D is entitled to bear four silver bands on the pike of its guidon for major engagements of World War I.
                The histories of Companies B and C have not been completed at this time.

1923-1940

        During the years 1923 to 1940 the regiment had attended the yearly field training period required of all National Guard units. This was held in the regular camp at Ashland and usually was for a fifteen day period. There were two exceptions, in 1937 the regiment was ordered to train with the rest of the Division in the vicinity of a camp near Fort Riley, Kansas. Again, in 1940, the Division trained in Minnesota. Also during these years the regiment, in part, was called twice for peace time duty. In April of 1935 it was ordered to furnish medical and evacuation service during the floods in the western part of Nebraska, and then again in May of the same year, medical service was furnished the armed troops on duty during the labor trouble in Omaha, Nebraska.
        On 23 December 1940 the regiment was mobilized and ordered to Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas for one year of full time training. Moving by both motor and rail, the regiment arrived in the camp on the 2nd and 3rd of January 1941.

1941

        Camp Joseph T. Robinson was a rebuilt camp, formerly Camp Pike, and was not all completed when the units started arriving. There were gas heated tent houses, movie theaters and PX ready and operating, one large Service Club, day rooms for each organization, and showers and wash rooms with hot and cold water.

        The troops coming from the north to the south had expected warm sunny weather but found to their surprise it was very cold; and gloves, overcoats , and overshoes were needed, and then it was plenty cold walking guard and other outside duties.
        There was much to be done such as sidewalks and drainage ditches to be built, stop the cracks in the buildings, and level company streets, In fact some of the new men coming in were in some doubt as to whether they were in the Engineers or Medics.
        On the first of February, orders were received to form the three inactive companies. In forming the cadres for Companies C, F and I,  key men were drawn from the other units of the regiment, making many promotions of enlisted men possible. The entire Regiment then drew selective service personnel to fill all units to full T/O strength and basic training was started, going into the advance and technical training. This training included both class room and field work.
        With Saturday afternoons and Sundays as free time, the men were able to get about and there were many places to go and lots of things to see, but the bulk was in Little Rock.
        At the camp the regular Army life was followed with some additions, such as the Regimental Commander's often repeated "Stand Tall" and his iron-clad ruling that regardless of anything, there would be a retreat parade and inspection of troops every night. His before reveille inspections of kitchens and reveille inspections of troops. His unchanging ideas that training was never advanced enough to allow any extra free time for special events, even when the balance of the camp had been excused. He did have a good unit, but a lot of it was due to the men themselves.
        There was also the Regimental Guard with the hair-trigger shot-guns, the hole accidentally blown through the side of the Guard house, and the Colonel's promise that a reoccurrence would get the guilty one a courts-martial.
        The Inspector's General "bitch" sessions, all complaints were heard and aired. Everything was wrong from movies starting too early, men not allowed to wear low shoes off duty, and First Sergeants handing out all company punishment and making and reducing noncommissioned officers. Some good and some bad was always accomplished.
        There were the light Arkansas showers with the water standing only shoe top deep in the Company streets, but if it rained real hard it could easily get knee deep, counting six inches of mud.
        Then who could forget General Lear's field inspection; the wait, then rain, then hot sun, the men in worn out shoes or no shoes wearing overshoes, the shortage of equipment, and then the bawling out the General gave the Colonel in parting. It was estimated the General could be heard in North Little Rock.
        In soft and hard ball, basketball, or football the regiment was tops or very near it. The camp basketball championship was won for the year in Camp Robinson.
        On leaving the camp for a night of fun, the first stop was the Pike Club just out of the gate, next into Levi, and then on to Little Rock. In Little Rock it was the Gar Hole, Rainbow gardens, Hilltop. Skyline, PO and OK Cafes, Walgreen Drug Store, and many others were always full of G.I.'s. All in all, Little Rock was a good Army time, and the people seemed to like the 35th and the 35th seemed to like the people.
        By June the training was advanced far enough so that the Third battalion with some attached personnel from the First and Second battalions were ordered to the Tennessee maneuver area to operate a field hospital to care for the maneuver sick and injured. This detachment returned to camp in July and was highly commended by the Army Surgeon for their work.
        In August the entire Regiment was ordered to take part and sup-port the Division during the Louisiana Maneuver. After a two month field problem, the regiment was ordered back to camp with a rating of excellent.
        There were mistakes made and noted for correction by the
checkers. Also, the Colonel had his own list which included unauthorized use of firecrackers, air rifles, and lack of discipline and military courtesy.
        After the return to camp, equipment and property was repaired or replaced as needed while the furloughs and leaves were granted up to fifteen days for each man. Training was started, stressing the subjects found weakest during the two maneuver periods.

        On December 7th, the attack was made on Pearl Harbor which extended the year's training to duration plus six months. Shortly after this the Division was ordered to the west coast; the Regiment leaving on the 23rd of December. Due to an expected coast attack over the holidays it was thought best to move in a dispersion area just outside the Fort where a shelter tent camp was pitched. This was wet, muddy, and cold. On the 27th small fires were authorized, making it possible to get warm on one side and also warm the toes. Some of the boys had made a connection and were able to take a short nip now and then just to ward off the chill.

1942

        On the 2nd of January the Regiment moved into the wooden barracks within Fort Ord and after the men had taken several hot showers they warmed up enough to start training. Most of the time was spent on loading, unloading vehicles, convoy procedure, and checking of equipment.
        Fort Ord was a modern camp with good PX's, Service Clubs and movies. There were many fine drives along the coast in all directions and several good towns were very near the Fort. But for the first im pressions were all bad and spoiled most of the good points of the post. Very few people were sorry to leave when orders were received to proceed to Camp San Luis Obispo, California. This was a one day motor movement arriving in camp the evening of January 17th.
        This was a rather new but up to date camp; tent houses for all the personnel, hot and cold water showers, and again fine drives and good towns near the camp. Training was continued here, and in addition to the training started at Fort Ord, several field problems were worked out in the sand hills back off the coast line.
        On the 1st of march the Division became a triangular instead of a square division and the regiment was redesignated a battalion.
        The reorganization was completed using as many key enlisted personnel as possible, although many good officers and enlisted men were lost due to being over in rank and grade.
        The excess were held in a replacement company, used to re-place vacancies within the Battalion and as a cadre for other units as ordered out. Many enlisted men applied for and attended Officer Candidate Schools.
        While this reorganization was a big job, very little time was lost from training due to the fact that it was all worked out on paper and then put into effect in a very short time.
        While at camp San Luis Obispo, General W.H. Simpson gave his first talk as the Division Commander to the troops and promised that they would be overseas very shortly, and would be used as shock troops. This didn't get the expected cheers at the time.
        The city of San Luis Obispo was the main gathering place of the troops and the main places were the Anderson Hotel, Motel, Wayside Inn. There were many others and each man had his own choice.
        On the 21st of April the Battalion moved into the Los Angeles area, the Division taking over a sector of the Western Defense Command with the armed troops taking over the coast defense. In order to furnish complete medical and evacuation service fro the troops, it was necessary to split up the Battalion. One Collecting Company was located at Santa Barbara, establishing a Clearing Station as well as the duties of a Collecting Company. One platoon from Company D, with Supply and Motor Sections of Headquarters and a Collecting Company, set up at Compton; and one Collecting Company, the other platoon of Company D and Battalion Headquarters set up at Sawtell, California.
        There was quite a bit of work while on this assignment, medical supplies being handled for the entire sector, 3000 patients per month were handled through the clearing stations, and 40,000 ambulance miles were handled each month. Schools were maintained for newly commissioned officers of the medical Corps as well as special schools for medical and surgical technicians. During November it was necessary to furnish additional service to the Ajai maneuver area and the troops training there.
        On the 25th of December, Company C was relieved from assignment to the battalion and assigned to the Southern California Sector of the Western Defense Command and redesignated the 675th Medical Collecting Company.  

1943

        On the 8th of January Company B was relieved from assignment to the Battalion and assigned to the Northern California Sector of the Western Defense Command, later designated 673rd Medical Collecting Company.
        The tour of duty need not be described in detail, anyone who served there has plenty of memories.
        In Santa Barbara the troops were located in the Cabrillo Pavilion, a city owned beach resort. In Compton; the N.Y.A. building, the Compton Junior college and a large service station were used. At Sawtell the units were located in the national Military Home. All locations were playgrounds in themselves and all were within easy driving distance of Los Angeles.
        It was hard to leave, but on the 18th of January the entire Division again assembled at Camp San Luis Obispo. Having been relieved of the coastal duty. On the 22nd of January orders were received to form Companies B and C. The key positions of these companies were filled with qualified men from the battalion and replacements were drawn to fill all companies to full strength. With many new men, the training was mostly on basic subjects.
        The 24th of March the battalion was again on the move, this time by rail, traveling approximately 2,500 miles to Camp Rucker, Alabama, arriving there on the 29th of March.

Company A, 110th Medical Battalion at Fort Rucker

        Camp Rucker was located in the deep south and seemed a thousand miles from nowhere. The camp was not very old, modern in all ways, with excellent P.X.s, service clubs and movies, but the towns located within pass range were very small and only able to handle a very few of the GIs on pass.
        Just outside the camp was the village of Daleville with two old cafes, but serving the best fried chicken and steaks in the old south style. This luxury was limited to the first fifty customers to arrive nightly. Ozark, a bit larger, did an excellent job trying to take care of the boys; and Dothan, although a but too far for a six hour pass, did very well.
        At Camp Rucker, training was continued with more attention being given to advanced field work. Field problems were held from overnight to several weeks at a time. The Clearing Company established and operated a complete set-up in the field, handling all "quarters" patients for one month.
        On the 21st of October, Lt. Col. James B. Anderson, the Battalion C.O., was retired from field duty due to due to the age limit, and on the 29th of October Major Millard W. Hall was assigned due to assumed command.
        The 15th of November the battalion left Camp Rucker and moved into the Tennessee Maneuver area. Arriving at Manchester, Tennessee on the 17th.
        An active part was taken in maneuvers, first as an offensive, then defensive and ending up with a free-for-all. Many problems were faced and much was learned both in tactical and technical knowledge. This was wet and cold and many new ways were found due to keep warm and still stay within the blackout regulations. A truce was called over the holidays and a good percentage was granted passes due to nearby cities, Nashville getting the biggest play.

1944

        With the closing of maneuvers, on the 18th of January the battalion moved into Camp Butner, North Carolina. due to a shortage of transportation it was necessary due to shuttle the Infantry Regiments, making it necessary due to leave one Collecting Company (Co. B) behind due to furnish medical and evacuation service due to the Regiment waiting for the return of the trucks. It was a two day trip each way. Company B joined the battalion at Camp Butner on the 28th.
        Camp Butner, although a small camp was well laid out with plenty of everything, good PXs, service clubs and movies. All quarters were wooden barracks and one of the cleanest camps we had found.
        Here the training was mostly classroom work due to the small available area for outside training. There was no place for field work. Two Collecting Companies went into the Virginia mountains for a short special training course in mountain warfare. This was new, hard, and rather dangerous training. Physical fitness was stressed.
        Here also there was a continuous checking of equipment, clothing, supplies and records. All requirements of all P.O.M. were met and filled. Leaves and furloughs were granted to all personnel and a complete physical screening of the entire Division was completed. There was by this time a growing idea that we might be getting ready for overseas duty, when the advance detachment left for England and confirmed it.
        While at Camp Butner the city of Durham was the main city. It was a wide-awake city with many old southern sight to see, friendly people and many places and take care of and help the service men pass the time.
        The Tap-Room of the Washington Duke Hotel was the meeting place; soft easy chairs, soft music and not much noise. There were also many hot spots for the ones who wanted action.
        Again by rail, on the 5th of May the Battalion made the short trip to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, a part of the New York Port of Embarkation and the final staging area for overseas. Here the final check was given to all equipment, clothing, supplies, records and personnel. Instructions were held on boat procedure, life boat drill and everything that goes with a sea journey.
        Camp Kilmer was the last word in camps with many well stocked PXs, service clubs, movies and shoes.  A modern NCO Club with lunches and dancing every night. Passes were authorized to New York City and excellent bus connections made it an easy trip. Many of the east coast boys were able to get home for a few hours. While here the first of Army Censorship was encountered, explained, and enforced.
        On the 11th of May movement was made through the Brooklyn yards and the actual loading on the boat was done as fast as names could be read from a loading roster.
        The Red Cross was on hand with donuts, coffee and smokes.
        The entire Battalion, the Division Headquarters Company, the Signal Company and a Battalion of Infantry, as well as all the Division Staff were on the same boat. It was the largest ship in the convoy and also the flag ship. This convoy was estimated at 200 ships of all kinds. The ship was the Edmund B. Alexander, and had been used in the last war; since that time was a navy personnel ship and now a troop transport. It had been built by Germany and captured during the First World War when it was named the S.S. Amerika. The men were quartered in large rooms in bunks three tiers high and not uncomfortable, although all available space was used. Meals we reserved in a large dining room with an orchestra playing for each meal, two meals served daily. The entire system was both well planned and workable. Actual departure was on the 12th of May, with a very good crossing and very little seasickness and very little trouble from enemy action. There were some new rules and regulations, but none hard to observe. The men spent much time on deck listening to the stories of sailors.
        Liverpool, England was sighted on the 25th, but due to the large convoy and lack of dock space our boat was not unloaded until the 27th. The Battalion going directly from the ship to the train, and load-ed both personnel and baggage. Again, the Red Cross was on hand with donuts and coffee and nothing could have tasted better. The Red Cross had been active all the way over handing out smokes, books, writing materials and sewing kits.
        After everything was loaded, the train departed for Bodmin (Cornwall), England, arriving the same day. This trip was one of jumping from one window to another; the clean hand worked fields, the bombed towns, an old fort or castle all different, new but old. It was a trip worth remembering. At each stop the Red Cross or the English equivalent was on hand with a hot drink and something to eat.
        Upon arrival at Bodmin it was found the Advance Detachment had done a fine job and quarters were ready. The headquarters, Head-quarters Detachment and Company A with Company D were located in an old castle looking bunch of buildings called the Poor Law Institute or as we would call it, the poor house. Companies B and C were located in Hotels in the business section; the Town Arms and Kendall House. The motor park was in the yard of an old prison and the Repair Section was in an uptown garage. Equipment was uncrated, repaired or replaced if needed and training was on physical fitness and special courses on mines and booby traps with concealment and cover. Long hikes were the order of the day.  
        Bodmin was a Cornish town with all the old world ideas and customs and seemed rather on the unfriendly side. The only place that people seemed to thaw out was at the Y.M.C.A. and in the Fish and Chips cafes. The Red Cross donut bar was always filled.
        A lot of the English customs and ideas got a laugh; driving on the left side of the road was a headache until the boys got used to it.
        The English cop was quite a character and a lot of laughs were gathered here.
        There were many old ruins to visit, built hundreds of years ago and now mostly a mass of rocks. Old prisons with cells three and four floors underground, where prisoners were placed and then forgotten. Many fine old churches to visit and historic villages to see, but all in all, no one was exactly sold on Bodmin. While here, Generals Eisenhower and Patton made an inspection visit and talked to and with the men. In June the division was alerted and the waterproofing if the vehicles was done. Each vehicle had to have the motor sealed with waterproofing as well as the load on the vehicle; no part or load could be so that water could damage any part of it. On the 5th of July, movement was made to the marshaling area where space was assigned to it in Camp D five miles north of Weymouth, England. Here the final waterproofing was done, loads inspected, extra rations, supplies, and equipment including sea-sickness pills and on the 6th of July the motors with driver and assistant were on the LCT while the balance of the troops were loaded on the LCI. The channel crossing was normal with very smooth water and no enemy action. Landings were made on Normandy's Omaha beachhead on the 7th of July, the foot troops landing first and marching inland approximately 12 miles, where a bivouac area had been designated by higher headquarters. After the vehicles landed, they also went in about the same distance but missed the foot troops about a mile and did not form up till the morning of the 8th.
 
        With the small area then under our control and the increasing pressure of the enemy, the Division was committed at once; the 134th first on the 9th with the 137th on the 10th. The 320th was held in reserve. The Collecting Companies moved in with the combat teams and the Clearing Company set up the first Clearing Station in the vicinity of St. Clair. Here the bloody battles of Hill 122 and St. Lo were fought and in one twenty-four hour day the Clearing Station handled over 500 casualties. Here also, due to the lack of area, it was necessary to have the Clearing Station in the same area as the Artillery. The large guns drew some enemy fire but no actual shelling of the Station area was done. Bed Check Charlie, a lone German plane made a nightly appearance, but it seemed the only thing he flew over the station for was to get his bearings. The large Red Crosses seemed to be plenty of protection and on only one time was a bomb dropped, and then only a small anti-personnel bomb that blew up a blanket case. This was thought to have been a delayed drop from another area near us that was well bombed.
        July 13th the battalion had its first battle casualties when Privates Casey and Spivey were both wounded, but both, after receiving first aid, remained on duty. On the 17th, Pvt. Creekmore of Company B was killed in action trying to evacuate a field of wounded. On the 14th he had been wounded but wouldn't be sent back himself.
        After St. Lo the battle of Torigni-sur-Vire was almost as costly, only of a shorter duration; Company A having two men killed and all companies had quite a few wounded. After this the sweep across France was started, with the Division following the armor and doing the mopping up. This was hard dangerous work and many men were lost and injured in the Infantries due to the many minefields. It was necessary to keep one platoon of the clearing Station moving up every day to keep within range of the advancing troops. This was done leap-frog manner and sometimes they were very close to the front lines.
        On this move, in the word of the Chief-of-Staff, "The division was literally thumbed of the road," to stop the German thrust toward Avranches. A large German force was located in the vicinity of Mortain and had to be cleared. They had already cut up the 30th Division and one Battalion of that unit was facing capture when the 35th went in and pulled it out. It was here that the Clearing Station located at St. Hilaire Du Harcouert that the first of the German Air force was seen and felt. A large force of German bombers gave the road and bridges a two hour bombing and it seemed like each bomb was heading for the Station area. A lot of things happened but at the time no one gave it much thought. A few days later it was considered funny.
 
        After Mortain, the Division again took the road clearing the cities of Cloyes, Orleans, and Chateaudun in one day; then on to follow the tanks until they arrived in the vicinity of Nancy, where due to a short-age of gasoline and shells it was necessary to go into a holding action. The Headquarters and Co. D located at St. Max and for the first time setting up in buildings, taking over two large school buildings for the Clearing Stations and Field Hospitals. This was just like camp life. Passes were authorized daily to Nancy and by quota to Paris. There were some German large railroad guns that would give you a thrill every once in awhile trying to shell the headquarters of General Patton located in Nancy, and the whine of them going over the Station would lift your hair.
        On the 9th of November the Battalion again moved following the Division. First moving to Bioncourt and then to Chateau-Salines; these were both well forward and were shelled several times. No one was hurt although several trucks were hit and damaged.
        On 23rd of November, Thanksgiving dinner was served at Morhange. This was a fine meal with turkey and all the trimmings, with plenty for seconds.
        In December the Battalion was at Puttelange with companies at Sarreguemines, then only partly cleared of the enemy. This was a hot spot but only one man was wounded.
        On the 23rd of December the Battalion assembled in Metz and stayed there for Xmas dinner, which if possible surpassed the Thanksgiving meal. On the 26th, movement was started for the Bastogne breakthrough. This was another hot spot and several Collecting Company men were wounded. After the German push had been stopped, the Division, less the 134th, and the Battalion less Company A, headed south for the 7th Army sector to offset a possible push in that area.

1945

       On the 29th of January the threat in the 7th Army sector was over, and again movement was made to the 9th Army Sector. The battalion assembled in Cadier, Holland. Here an old Priest's school was used. It was hundreds of years old with all the tunnels and so forth; regular movie setup. There was one flight of stairs leading to the basement that had 126 steps straight down. Several of the Fathers were still living in and taking care of the building and they had some stories to tell about the German occupation and treatment of their creed.
        On the 6th of February the battalion moved over the German border and located in Gangelt, Germany. Here again some shelling was received and one of the collecting companies had the end of their building blown out with no one injured. Also there were many buzz-bombs going over.
        From the 13th to the 26th of march, the Division had its first official rest going back to Bracht, Germany
        On the 26th, orders were received to follow the Division back into combat and cross the Rhine. This was a much easier crossing than had been expected and the drive ended up on the Elbe River. From the Rhine to the Elbe, the biggest fear of the civilians was that the Russians were coming in. After arriving on the Elbe, many Germans swam the river in order to escape the Russians and surrender to the Americans. The war as far as enemy opposition was concerned, was over. There were several small groups still roaming within our area but were doing no real damage. In the heart of Germany there were many scenes of the cruel treatment of both POWs and the German political prisoners. Many had been murdered and left on the sides of roads; many had been placed in buildings and burned like cord wood. On the 26th of April the Division was pulled back and assigned an area to police and patrol, with the medical battalion located in Spunge, having a mission of furnishing medical and evacuation service to all D.P.s as well as German military hospitals in the division area. This was continued in each area from then on, and many dusting details were used to delouse the D.P.s.

STATISTICS 

CLEARING STATION STATISTICS    

         25,978 casualties cleared through the Clearing Station between 8 July 1944 to 31 May 1945. This included U.S., Allied, Civilian, and 1,053 Prisoners Of War.
        Many thousand Displaced Persons and German civilians and prisoners of war were treated in camps and hospitals not included in the above total.

COMMANDING OFFICERS
Colonel H. Winnett Orr
Colonel David C. Hilton
Colonel Philip H. Bartholomew
Lt. Colonel Hans Schaerrer
Lt. Colonel Lee R. Pierce
Lt. Colonel James B. Anderson
Lt. Colonel Millard W. Hall
Major Roy M. Matson

FIELD HOSPITALS

1st Platoon - 51st Field Hospital, 29 July 1944
3rd Platoon - 16th Field Hospital, 21 August 1944
3rd Platoon - 60th Field Hospital, 31 August 1944
2nd Platoon - 16th Field Hospital, 7 December 1944

SURGICAL AND SHOCK TEAMS

Team 9 and 93 Surgical - 9 September 1944
Team 104 and 106 Shock Team - 9 September 1944
Team 4th Auxiliary Group Surgical - 2 Dec 1944
  
CASUALTIES

DECORATIONS

Bronze Star       92
Silver Star           8

Total                 100

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Millard W. Hall was awarded the French Croix de Guerre

Editors Note-
         According to MSG Brodfuehrer's journal, 538 men served overseas with the 110th Medical Battalion. The 112 casualties yields a percentage of 20.8%. The 100 US Decorations yield a percentage of 18.6%, but if one assumes that all wounded, missing and killed were awarded the Purple Heart, the percentage increases to 33.5%.