35313 US COMBAT MEDIC

During the Second World War, the American armed forces put a relatively large emphasis on the development of broadly understood medical services. In general, they were subordinate to the US Sanitary Corps, which was established in the summer of 1917, so it had its roots in the previous World War. At relatively low organizational levels (e.g. company), paramedics (called "medic" for short) were responsible for helping the wounded, who underwent specialist training and had considerable knowledge in the field of first aid and treating all types of wounds. In extreme cases, they were even able to - in the field! - perform a tracheotomy on a wounded soldier. Their hallmark was, of course, the red cross on a white background worn on helmets and sleeves. It is worth adding that there were about 30 paramedics in the infantry battalion of about 400-500 men. After initial treatment, the wounded soldier was most often taken to a field hospital or the so-called Evacuation Hospital, where he underwent more complicated surgeries and medical procedures. It is generally assumed that the American medical services during World War II were very efficient, and the time it took to get the wounded from the battlefield to the hospital was relatively short. All this made it possible to restore many wounded American soldiers to physical fitness.