Page 78 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2014

battalion operations order the medical detachment was for those prisoners who were unable to walk. In this
given the same attention as the assaulting rifle compa- manner, the battalion command element coordinated
nies. This suggests that the battalion’s leadership con- for the complete evacuation of over 500 malnourished
sidered medical support to be an essential element in prisoners over a distance of more than 30 miles.
operational planning. The medical detachment was
given very specific instructions for when and where it
was to land, as well as how much equipment it could Equipment and Supplies
take and how evacuation procedures were to work. The An examination of the Rangers’ tables of organization
evacuation plan was detailed enough to ensure the suc- and equipment (TO&E) will show that in comparison
cessful routing of a wounded soldier from the point of to the standard battalion aid station of the period, the
injury all the way back to the landing craft that would Rangers were “medical heavy.” Medical field manuals
take the solider off the island or to the Portable Surgi- for the Second World War list only two medical chests
cal Hospital (PSH) once it was operational. Instructions as the medical equipment for a battalion aid station, in
8
were given to riflemen as to where to take casualties for addition to tentage for shelter. The Ranger medical de-
13
collection by aid men. Instructions were also given as to tachment carried two chests in addition to a variety of
the location of the battalion aid station and when it was other kits and separate equipment. A detailed listing of
14
expected to be operational after the landing. Plans were the Rangers’ available supplies can be found in Tables
emplaced to have the more dire cases evacuated using 1 and 2. Another medical field manual of the era states
the harbor control craft that patrolled the beachhead that the equipment of a battalion aid station should be
after the landing craft had pulled away from the shore. 8 able to be broken down so that it could be carried by
hand, if necessary, or “be transported on one vehicle of
In contrast to the Homonhan Island operation, medical the light cargo type used by the unit.” When compared
15
planning for the Cabanatuan operation was not initially with other units, it is highly unlikely that all the medi-
as concrete, but became an integral part of the opera- cal equipment assigned to the 6th Rangers’ aid station
tion, particularly the medical evacuation procedures for would have been able to fit inside one vehicle. As to be
getting the rescued prisoners back to medical attention.
No reference was made in battalion operational records Table 1 Medical Kits and Equipment Listing 14
as to the planning of medical operations. However, af- Authorized
9
ter the operation, Lieutenant Colonel Mucci wrote sev-
eral journal articles in which he made reference to how Steel litters 18
the medical treatment and evacuation plans were devel- Small operating case #9308500 1
oped and instituted en route to the prison camp. 10,11 Af- Stethoscope 1
ter initial movements had begun, but prior to the actual Sphygmomanometer, aneroid 1
raid, the battalion’s radio transmission records show
that contact was made with the 92nd Evacuation Hos- Otoscope/ophthalmoscope, combined 1
pital (EH) to coordinate for food and transportation of Large breathing tube 1
the prisoners after their rescue. The day before the raid Forceps, towel, 5¼", Backhaus 12
12
was conducted, the Rangers were bivouacked around Forceps, mastoid, rongeur, 7",
the village of Balingcari awaiting intelligence from the curved, Bane 1
6th Army’s Alamo Scouts regarding the situation at the Forceps, hemostatic, mosquito, 5",
Cabanatuan camp. During this time, Dr. Fisher made straight, Halstead 12
contact with Dr. Carlos Layug and his wife and made
plans to establish a forward aid station in an abandoned Metal tongue depressors 2
schoolhouse in the nearby village of Plateros so that the Chest, M.D., No. 60, complete 1
most seriously injured prisoners could receive forward #9502500
trauma management. Dr. Fisher also volunteered to go Kit, medical officers, complete 1
11
forward to the prison camp with the assaulting element #9711500
in order to treat serious medical cases “on the spot” so Chest, M.D., No. 2, complete #9757000 1
that they could at least get back to Dr. Layug’s aid sta- Set, gas casualty case, M2 #9775600 1
tion. Lieutenant Colonel Mucci made arrangements Kit, treatment, gas casualty, complete
6
with local Filipino guerillas to help with the evacuation #9776700 1
of wounded and injured prisoners by gathering pack an-
imals and carts for use as improvised transportation for Kit, first aid, gas casualty #9776400 4
the return trip. He also allowed those guerillas without First aid, motor vehicle, 12 unit 8
firearms to participate in the operation as litter bearers #9777300

68 Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 14, Edition 2/Summer 2014