The 44th General Hospital will be honored at the OCS Memorial Walk at Ft. Benning, GA. A large granite dedication block will recognize their character and courage in The Battle of Buffalo Wallow. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Frank Harmon, President and CEO of The U.S. Army OCS Alumni Association, designed and is placing the memorial. Frank is the great-nephew of Captain Edward A. Odrowski of the 44th General Hospital. Besides serving as “healers”, the medical unit is recognized for their service as soldiers on the Philippine island of Leyte in December of 1944.
Vital Lessons for Future Officers
At the start of World War II, volunteer doctors and nurses answered the call and staffed the 44th General Hospital. As an experienced medical unit, they did not expect to be on the front lines of battle. Therefore, they didn’t receive training in weaponry or combat tactics prior to their deployment to the Pacific. But, unforeseen circumstances led to the medical unit being at ground-zero of the Japanese counterattack on the Philippine Island of Leyte. Subsequently, the unit had to improvise to save their own lives and the lives of their patients. Admirably, Frank is passing on valuable lessons from the 44th’s experiences to our future Army officers.
As Honorary Colonel of the 11th Infantry Regiment I talk to every OCS Class and I now use the Battle of Buffalo Wallow as my example that support troops need to be able to fight. And, that as OCS officers they need to be technically proficient with weapons and proficient in basic tactics in order to train and lead them.
– Colonel (Retired) Frank L. Harmon III
Army Officer Candidate School (OCS)
In 1938, the concept of a modern Officer Candidate School (OCS) began to take shape. Subsequently, Brigadier General L. Singleton, Commandant of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, submitted a plan for an officer-training program to the Army’s Chief of Infantry. Admirably, this program prepared many new officers for duty in World War II.
My father, Captain Edward A. Odrowski, was an early OCS graduate. In December of 1942, he completed his OCS training at Camp Barkeley, TX. Camp Barkeley trained officers of the Army’s Medical Administrative Corps (MAC). Unlike the medical staff, MAC officers received training in weaponry and combat tactics. As it turned out, these skills proved essential during World War II.
The 44th General Hospital on the OCS Memorial Walk
Thanks to Frank for honoring these great World War II veterans on the OCS Memorial Walk! As a result, the service of this dedicated medical unit will be recognized. And, that they rose to the challenge and served, not only as healers, but as good soldiers as well.
The OCS Memorial Walk is dedicated to past, present and future leaders of OCS that bring honor and fidelity to this organization.
https://ocsalumni.org/memorial-walk/
2 Comments
I have just ordered 4 copies of your book and can’t wait to read it. My father Jackman Pyre MD was in the 44th and I inherited a photo album he kept with pictures of his WW2 experiences. He really didn’t talk a whole lot about the battle but kept a lot of communications with Ed and his amazing news letters about the 44th and I was lucky enough to inherit them.
I had no clue about what my father and all the men went thru during the battle until I read the news letters. They certainly were the Greatest Generation. Thanks for telling their story.
Hi Josephine, It is great to hear from you!! It was also an honor to learn about your father, Jackman. He was evidently an amazing individual, soldier, and doctor. Only after “connecting the dots” between my Dad’s stories and other’s, did I understand what they really went through. Thank you for posting your comment, it’s been great hearing from other “children” and grandchildren of these great veterans. I believed that their story needed to be told. Also glad that they’re being recognized at Ft. Benning.
-Jim