Morale Modifiers: Japan Surrenders! (73)

     The scenario: Maj. Gene Pfile was expecting to further his surgical skills at a refresher course at the 120th General Hospital which was located at the St. Thomas (Santo Tomas) University in Manila.  The U.S. Army Medical Department, Office of Medical History, in the book, Surgery in World War II: Activities of Surgical Consultants, Vol. II (p. 633) stated: "Suitable assignment was perhaps the most important single factor in maintaining good morale. A medical officer would tolerate hardships if occupied by work in which he was interested and for which he had aptitude and training. Medical conferences, journal clubs, and attendance at medical meetings all bolstered morale, as did the establishment of library facilities and the circulation of medical journals. ...The programs usually were well thought out and excellent."  But they later noted: "In personal notes taken by the surgical consultant, he recorded that long periods overseas without any definite knowledge as to their prospects of being replaced was influencing the morale of medical officers."
     Gene then expected to return to the 92nd Evacuation Hospital, and prepare for following the front lines in an invasion of Japan some time in the fall.

Cartellas on the road to Manila

August 5, 1945  To the 120th Gen. Hosp. at Santo Thomas [sic] in Manila.  A long hot dusty rough ride in a 2 1/2 ton - 150 miles.  Capt. Bottsford of the 3rd Field [Hospital] is here for a course [and assigned as Gene's tent mate].

University of Santo Tomas in Manila

August 6, 1945  Made rounds and saw the hosp. with Lt. Col. Hartwell, Chief of Surg.  In the P.M. with Maj. Monroe.  Apparently I'll be doing some ward work. [Historical note: the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.]

August 7, 1945  There will be no formal instruction to this so-called course!  Hard downpour of rain this P.M.

August 8, 1945  The atomic bomb has us all amazed.  Will it end soon? [Historical note: Russia declared war on Japan.]

August 9, 1945  Rumors that Russia declared war on Japan!  Later: Is so!  Lovely!  I'm on the O.D. [officer of the day] list, and on Surg. Group A.

August 10, 1945  To the regular meeting at the 60th Gen.  They have a fine place.  Heard rumor that we were to start glider training and support the 11th Amphibious Div.!

But something even better for morale happened!

August 11, 1945  ...  Last night at 10:45 I was awakened by shouting and shooting and the unofficial report that the Japs give in [official surrender was September 2, 1945].  I heard that 9 people were shot to death!

August 12, 1945  Awakened at 0130 by my "happy" tent mate Bottsford to hear more whistles (ship), church bells and shooting.  A fiendishly hot day.  Still no wind.

August 13, 1945  A bitter pill to swallow - the August quota for leave is going - Adams [not called the usual "Sparky"], Chaplain [not noted as "Padre"], Burroughs; Mihalick goes by some trick of [the commanding officer of the 92nd Evac] Huey.  Why do I always have such luck?

August 14, 1945  S.O.D. [surgical officer of the day] today.  A rather busy evening - opened 2 hand abscesses, sewed up 2 cases, calls, etc.

August 15, 1945  It is officially released that hostilities have ceased.  Oh happy day!  I was up until about 2, slept till 6:30.

August 18, 1945  Ward and clinic.  Jap doesn't seem to be for giving up!

August 19, 1945  Now I have 3 wards - about 75 patients.  ...

August 20, 1945  Called the outfit [92nd Evac.] last night.  Asked for a vehicle.  Rainy weather part of the time.  Haven't been down town.

August 21, 1945  Still expecting transportation. ...

August 22, 1945  Still waiting.  Something is very screwy, somewhere.  [Col.] Huey must have it in for us.

August 23, 1945  About 12:45 the men came for me so I packed and left in a hurry.  The truck had been picked up by the MP's [military police].  It took us 7 hours in a weapon carrier [to go about 150 miles].  Had some mail.

August 24, 1945  Glad to be back at the outfit.  Termites were in the bamboo bed frame.  Everyone is sore at Huey, and with reason.  I still think he snafued my leave.

But Gene was able to put aside those bad feelings at the reunions.  Former Col. Huey sat next to Gene in 1974.

The uncropped photo from the 1974 reunion:
former Col. Huey next to Gene and Ed Gray