Majority! (67)

     Capt. Pfile continues to catalog and analyze his cases: gas gangrene in a man's leg (he says he and Capt. Nigg didn't debride (remove all of the dead or infected tissue) enough of the wounds (4 perforating (bullet passes through) and 3 penetrating (bullet remains inside)) so they had to amputate); a combined scrotal and pelvic wound; and a lacerated (torn) kidney.  Then almost out of the blue came the long awaited promotion to major.

Newly promoted: Maj. Raymond Nethery, Maj. John Mihalick, 2nd Lt. Herrill (possibly with the Medical Administrative Corp) and Maj. Eugene Pfile

April 22, 1945  Up until 3 A.M. [he was officer of the day the night before, so had to treat any casualties that came in during the night].  Today (4 P.M.) the Col. handed Mihalick, Nethery and me our promotions.  Amazing.

April 23, 1945  Troops getting closer to Baguio.

April 24, 1945  Up until 1 A.M.  Large wound of abd. [abdominal] wall, not into peritoneum though it was bared for 6 inches! [In other words, it was long but shallow.]

April 25, 1945  Up until 3:30 A.M.  Did brain case - defect in temporal area [this part of the brain is involved with hearing, and I would assume it was an injury rather than a birth defect].  160 patients admitted.  Troops reached Baguio.  None win the European war pool this month [most of the 92nd bet on the date the war in Europe would be over]!

25 April '45
Dear Jack [son of Beth's sister],
     If the war in Europe doesn't end today, I won't win the 150 guilder [about $60] "pot"!  And it doesn't look as though I will.

Zeke the monkey who for a short while was an honorary member of the 92nd Evac

     Jack, you'd certainly enjoy the antics of Zeke, the pet monkey of one of our officers.  He certainly does the most amazing things.  There are 2 pups in the area also, and of all the rough and tumble scrambles they have.  The term "monkey business" takes on a new meaning after seeing Zeke perform. [More about Zeke later!]
     Every now and then some P-51's will buzz the hospital on their way to and from "work".  I can imagine what it would be like if they were strafing us.  The bullets would be the first indication of the planes, they fly so low and so fast.
     We continue to be busy, especially at night.  But the Japs are gradually being driven back.  Jap prisoners say they really fear our artillery and planes.  They are becoming discouraged, too, because none of their own planes show up in spite of promises.  I see quite a few Illinois men [Jack and his family live in Freeport, Illinois].
     Love, Eugene

From a newspaper:
AMERICANS GET READY FOR FINAL PUSH INTO BAGUIO
     Manila, April 25 - (A.P.) - Americans consolidated their Baguio positions Wednesday for a final push into the ruined summer capital of the Philippines while far to the south, on Mindanao island, other Yanks pressed on towards the Japanese stronghold of Davao.  Maj. Gen. Percy W. Clarkson's Thirty-third division held commanding positions in the pine-covered hills to the northwest, west and southwest of mile-high Baguio.  One column, moving down highway 9 from the northwest, was little more than a mile from the city center.
     A section of the road blown up by the defending Japanese was being repaired by engineers for the movement of heavy equipment.  ...
     Gen. Douglas MacArthur reported in Wednesday's communiqué that "the enemy has as yet been unable to concentrate his forces in effective resistance."  ...
    
April 26, 1945  Up to [until] 2:30 A.M.  We did 60 odd [i.e. 60 - 70] cases