Military service of Clyde Casto included surgical training at Lawson General Hospital

Clyde Casto is in the center of this photo wearing a black tie. All photos are from Linda Casto Heffern.

Some of the other individuals in the Surgical Section at Lawson General Hospital 1943 wrote down their names and home towns.

Thanks to Linda Casto Heffern, niece of Clyde Casto, this article will share the military history of Clyde, including his time at Lawson General Hospital in Chamblee, Georgia. It will also explore other bases where he was stationed and his life after World War II ended. Linda has contributed several wonderful photos to help document his story.

Clyde Casto was born on October 13, 1919, in Charleston, West Virginia. He was inducted into the army November 7, 1942, in that same city. His younger brother Kendall Keith Casto, born 1921, served in the Navy during WWII on the USS Haas and the USS Decker.

Their father was Kenna K. Casto, originally George Kenna Casto, but he changed his name because he didn’t like the name George. Kenna K. Casto was a schoolteacher in coal mining towns of West Virginia and later became a principal at several schools in Charleston, West Virginia.

Clyde Casto and his father Kenna K. Casto

In 1943, Casto was sent to train as a Surgical Technician in the Medical Department Technicians School at Lawson General Hospital in Chamblee, Georgia. Medical training programs began across the country in 1939, with more added in 1941. When the U.S. entered WWII, it was apparent even more individuals with medical training was needed.

Lawson General Hospital was one of the locations ready in 1942. The hospital was next door to Naval Air Station Atlanta, on land where Camp Gordon was located during WWI. MDTS at Lawson included laboratory technicians, dental training, medical training, surgical training and X-ray training.

Following his training, Casto continued to serve in the U.S. at bases throughout the southeast. He used his skills in the hospitals of Gulfport Army Airfield, MS; Buckingham Army Airfield, Ft. Myers, FL; Drew Army Airfield, Tampa, FL; and Keesler Army Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Casto received his Honorable Discharge papers on February 21, 1946, at Fort Meade, Maryland. When he separated from the Army, he was a Corporal in the 2621st Army Air Forces base unit. He received the Good Conduct Medal, an American Theater ribbon, and a WWII Victory ribbon.

Clyde on far right, at the beginning of his career with Kroger Grocery Stores.

After the war ended, Clyde began working for Kroger Grocery Store in West Virginia. He worked for the company for 46 years, until his retirement. He married two times, first to Delilah Winters Casto. After her death, he married Orvella Manns Casto.

Linda Casto Heffern’s family moved around some, but they continued to visit Clyde at his West Virginia home. He would also visit his brother’s home. The two brothers enjoyed telling stories about each other. As her dad got older, Linda took him to visit Clyde.

Clyde was living in Evans, West Virginia when he died in 2005.

The Casto family has a legacy of military service. In addition to Clyde and brother Kendall serving during WWII, five uncles and one aunt served. Linda Casto Heffern served 32 years in the Air Force.