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Two weeks ago I mentioned a photograph I had recently purchased on ebay. The front of the photograph reads Company G M D T S Lawson General Hospital Atlanta January, 1943. The photograph was in a frame, but I had to see if anything was on the back and was glad to discover a list of names. There are 30 names listed, but I estimate about 200 people in the photograph.
I’m guessing the rank, names, and home towns were written by each individual as the handwriting and ink color varies. Most of the men are from New York and most of those from New York are from Buffalo or Rochester. Perhaps this was a group that became friends with the owner of the photograph.
There is still a great deal to learn about the photo, but today I will share what I have discovered so far. Keep in mind that I am not a military expert, so it is always possible I will use incorrect terminology and you can contact me to let me know that. It is with respect and a wish to recognize these men for their service that I research their stories. Figuring out what GMDTS or Company G MDTS was a major obstacle in my research.
A couple of things helped. First, the December 16, 1943 issue of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper reports on a basketball game between Lawson and MDTS with a headline of “Meds whip Lawson.” This was during a time that there were baseball, basketball, and football teams for military bases such as Naval Air Station Atlanta (next door to Lawson), Lawson General Hospital, corporations and communities. Another basketball game reported on was between Georgia Power and the Sports Arena team. The article reports, “The MDTS Cagers won an easy victory over the Lawson General five, 51 to 27.”
The website of AMEDD presents history of the Army Medical Department and includes data of the various Medical Department Technician Schools across the US during WWII. In addition to treating patients at Lawson General Hospital, which was in Chamblee on the outskirts of Atlanta Georgia, men (and women with the Red Cross) were being trained to provide medical care to injured soldiers. This training began in July of 1942 for Lawson General Hospital.
In 1942, there were 50 people being trained as laboratory technicians, 50 in dental training, 125 in medical training, 125 in surgical training, 50 in x-ray training. The full name of the training program was Medical Department Enlisted Technicians School.
Lawson reports that their students are training through “lectures, demonstration, and by actually performing over and over again the various procedures. Performance of the procedures, under close supervision, is the most important part of their training.”
The training at Lawson continued until July of 1945.
As to the individuals in this photograph, I found some details about a few of them.
Richard B. Kilianski was from Buffalo, NY where he worked as a stock clerk. He enlisted Nov. 13, 1942, as did several of the men. According to FindaGrave, he served as a medic in the U. S. Army in England.
Carl W. Dreier of Rochester NY also enlisted Nov 13, 1942. He was born in 1910. Before enlisting, he worked as a optician and lens grinder. Records on Fold3 indicate he was in the Medical Department and also was admitted to a military hospital for treatment in September of 1945. He died in 1994. The inscription on his grave stone includes PVT U S Army.
Records on Thomas Eldon Patterson of Harrisburg, PA, born 1917, indicate he was in the U S Army 111th Airborne and served in the Pacific. Floyd McGovern of Newark, NY was a Corporal in the U. S. Army Air Force from 1942 until 1945. He enlisted November 6, 1942.
There is much more to discover as I work my way through the list of names on the back of the photograph.
Also, I need to thank a reader of this blog for bringing the photograph to my attention. Much appreciated!