Page 33 - JSOM Winter 2018

and (3) the convalescent section, which cares for patients who Special Forces Operations Base (SFOB), or Theater Special
require rest and a minimum of active medical attention before Operations Command (TSOC), may have to provide addi-
their eventual return to duty. The convalescent section is not tional medical personnel (American or other) over and above
located near the hospital area, because this increases the size the detachment’s organic medical personnel and guerrilla
of the installation too much and thus increases security risk. augmentees.
Instead, patients are placed in homes of local sympathizers or
in isolated separate convalescent camps in small groups. Services
In guerrilla warfare operational areas services are primarily re-
During the early stages of development, the medical organi- stricted to basic maintenance and repair of equipment. The dif-
zation is small and probably combines the aid station and the ficulties in procuring supplies dictate the need for rigid supply
hospital into one installation. The use of supporting auxiliary discipline. All personnel must perform first-echelon mainte-
convalescent facilities is found at all stages of guerrilla medical nance. Plans provide for the maximum use of available sup-
development. plies and the establishment of local repair facilities to prolong
the life of equipment. Necessary maintenance and repair items
Evacuation such as armorer’s tools, small arms repair kits, sewing kits, oil,
Every effort is made to evacuate wounded personnel from the and cleaning materials are included in sponsor- provided sup-
scene of action. The condition of wounded guerrillas may pre- ply packages. Repaired or manufactured clothing, bandages,
clude movement with their unit back to the base. In this event, and footgear are sourced locally. As the guerrilla movement
the wounded are hidden in covered locations and local auxil- enlarges in size and capability, it may conduct operations and
iary units are notified, who then retrieve, care for, and hide the mount raids solely to capture enemy medical supplies and
wounded until they can be returned to their own organizations. equipment.
The evacuation of dead from the scene of action is most im- Lessons Learned in World War II
portant for security reasons. The identification of the dead by
the enemy may jeopardize the safety of their families and of The following medical security measures and lessons learned
their units. The bodies of those killed in action are evacuated, were developed during World War II by allied guerrilla war-
cached until they can be recovered for proper burial, or dis- fare medical services.
posed of by whatever means is consistent with the customs
of the local population. This also deprives the enemy of any General
“body count” on guerrilla forces. • Guerrillas fight better if they have medics supporting them.
• Guerrilla fight better when they have dedicated evacuation.
As the operational area develops and the overall situation be- • Casualties are tactical problems, not just logistical problems.
gins to favor the guerrillas and their sponsors, evacuation of • Casualty care requirements may drive the tactical plan.
the sick and wounded to friendly areas, in or out of country, • Guerrilla aid stations must be closer to the fighting than
may be feasible. Guerrilla forces with a nearby sanctuary of conventional ones.
some kind do much better tactically. This lightens the burden • Guerrillas frequently ignore minor wounds and illnesses,
on the meager facilities available to the area command and which ultimately can lead to disability that is more serious
provides a higher standard of medical care for more patients. and decreased unit effectiveness.
• Use defense to gain time to evacuate.
Expansion of Medical Support • Sick and wounded decrease unit mobility and maneuverability.
As the area command expands, it becomes more efficient from • Partisans prefer death to serious injury.
a medical standpoint to establish a centralized system to pro- • Conventional forces concentrate casualties; guerillas dis-
vide advanced medical care. Guerrilla field hospitals permit perse them.
more flexibility because of the wider selection of trained per- • Treat casualties in route.
sonnel and equipment to provide specialized treatment, and
they relieve the aid stations of the responsibility of prolonged Tactical/Operational
treatment of patients. Because this type of installation may be • Small groups of wounded are easier to move and/or hide.
large and may have sizeable amounts of equipment, its mobil- • Never retreat from suitable positions in daylight.
ity will suffer. For that reason, guerilla field hospitals usually • The dead should be evacuated. Families want their loved
are located in a relatively isolated area away from troop units, one’s body and evacuating bodies keeps the enemy from
headquarters, and other sensitive areas, but are able to receive doing a body count.
the maximum protection from nearby guerrilla units. • The auxiliary is the medics’ transport and manufacturing
sections.
To prevent a guerrilla hospital from becoming so large that • Use of civilian hospitals may mean capture by the police.
it attracts undue attention, certain actions need to be taken. • Raids against the enemy should be solely to obtain medical
First, as trained personnel, supplies, and equipment become supplies.
available, additional hospitals are established. Second, as soon • Restrict knowledge of overall medical plan to only a few
as possible, patients are transferred to a convalescent home to individuals.
complete recovery. Individuals placed in civilian homes must • Divide patients into can be evacuated versus must be hidden.
have proper documentation with appropriate cover to thwart • Develop various types of evacuation transportation
police checks. In some cases, the local population may not platforms.
be able to support the area command with qualified medical • Women of the auxiliary make the best couriers and drug
personnel. As the requirement for doctors and other special- transporters.
ized personnel increases, the higher American headquarters, • Enemy checkpoint guards tend not to hassle little old ladies.

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