Thanks for visiting the blog site for my book, The Battle of Buffalo Wallow. This is a very personal story for me. Many years after my Dad’s passing I began researching his World War II service. I knew a few things about his time in the Army. I knew the places he was sent to. Particularly, Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippine Island of Leyte. Also, I heard stories of his experiences. Some were humorous, some frightening, and some downright disturbing. Consequently, he helped me better understand the reality of war.
Eventually through my years of research was I able to “connect the dots” between my Dad’s stories and their historical context. Armed with his Service Record and a web browser, I began doing Google searches. Gradually the “dots” came together. Through the process I connected with the stories of other veterans that served with my Dad. I met a number of other children of the veterans who shared their father’s recollections. As a result I came away with a great appreciation for this group of veterans. I believe that their story needs to be told. Accordingly, the members of the 44th General Hospital should rightly take their place among the many heroes of World War II.
The Unique Story of the 44th General Hospital
The story of the 44th General Hospital is not without controversy. First of all, medical units in World War II had protection from direct attack. The Geneva Convention states that “hospital units should be inviolable” in war zones. Equally important, hospital personnel were not to take up arms. Otherwise, they could be misconstrued as combatants. Japan had signed the 1929 Convention, but did not ratify it. The actions taken by both the Japanese and the 44th General Hospital in December of 1944 on the island of Leyte walked a fine line. In the heat of battle, life or death decisions had to be made. But when researching the story of the 44th many questions came up:
- Why was an Army General Hospital left vulnerable to Japanese attack? Particularly when U.S. intelligence intercepted enemy communications planning such an attack.
- Were the 44th and other supporting service units left to fend for themselves in light of larger military objectives?
- And a key question, why aren’t they mentioned in official military records or in present-day historical accounts? Furthermore, some veterans of the 44th believed that their story was conveniently covered up. Obvious gaps in documentation seem to support that belief.
Purpose of the Blog
This blog will share information and links related to the great veterans of the War in the Pacific, and specifically the unit known as the 44th General Hospital. It will include information about the 44th’s involvement in The Battle of Buffalo Wallow. I’ll provide links to some interesting references that I came across in my research. Also I’ll provide tips for researching your own family member’s World War II service. I look forward to your comments, questions, or any information that you’d like to share about those who served in World War II.
