USAREUR Units - 9th Hospital Center

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9th Hospital Center
US Army, Europe
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please email me (webmaster).

549th Hosp Cen History (19.. - 1962)

9th Hosp Cen History (1962 - 19..)

USAREUR Med Regulating Office

Central Medical Records Ag

57th Med Bn

Hospital Trains

Newspaper articles

549th Hospital Center History

19.. - 1962

(Source: Special Orders #130, Headquarters 549th Hosp Cen, APO 403, dtd 14 Dec 1962)

SO #130 directed the reassignment of personnel from the inactivated 549th Hosp Cen to the newly formed 9th Hosp Center.

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9th Hospital Center History

1962 - 19..

(Source: Email from William R. Pupke)

I just retired from the Army Reserve in 2003 from AD after being called up in Nov 2001. I had many EM in my unit that served in Germany and I'll pass the site to them. Most are intel types.

We would spend most weekends in the EM club from Friday night thru Sunday evening playing cards (whist or hearts or pinochle) and eating all our meals. For a break we would play the slots which lined every wall.

1. SO #200, 1962 (KB)	2. SO #138, 1963 (KB)	3. EM Billets (KB)
4. Bldg 3610, (KB)	5. (KB)	6. (KB)
7. Cover of the 'Nine High' EM Open Mess Menu

(Source: Organization & Functions, Headquarters 9th Hospital Center, 1964)

Organization, 1964

Würzburg MSA
(as an example of an MSA
under the 9th Med Cen)

Subordinate units:

Würzburg MSA

3332nd Labor Service Med Ln Det
45th Labor Service District

57th Med Bn

If you have more information on the history or organization of the 9th Hosp Cen, please contact me.

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, May 1, 1964)

Brig Gen Douglas B. Kendrick, Jr. is the current commanding general of the 9th Hospital Center.

The Center, with headquarters at Heidelberg, provides hospitalization, medical and dental clinic services, preventive medicine facilities and veterinary services for an area of 50,000 square miles.

The command also directs the operations of

four general hospitals

eight station-type hospitals

more than 80 separate and attached dispensaries, and

90 dental clinics

The Hospital Center also provides (through the 57th Med Bn) intra-command medical evacuation service by rail, air and motor ambulance by means of its ambulance unit operations, railway ambulance cars and helicopters.

The 9th operates the USAREUR Medical Regulating Office (which handles medical evacuations to the US) and the Central Medical Records Agency.

In addition to all of the above, the Center watches over USAREUR's 300 water sources and their chlorination, and the sanitary safety for 600 USAREUR messes and dining establishments.

(Source: Medical Bulletin of the US Army, Europe, March 1965)

Area of Responsibility, 1964 (click on map for hi res)

(Source: Medical Bulletin of the US Army, Europe, March 1965)

DENTAL SERVICES IN 9th HOSPITAL CENTER & 819th HOSPITAL CENTER

Medical Bulletin, March 1965

Pages:

Page 97 (9th Hosp Cen)

Page 98 (9th Hosp Cen)

Page 99 (819th Hosp Cen)

Page 100 (819th Hosp Cen & Berlin Brigade)

Page 101 (Berlin & SETAF)

Page 102 (SETAF & Heidelberg MSA)

(Source: Email from James R Keel)

NOTE: James would like former members of the 9th Hospital Center, Heidelberg, Germany, to contact him at srkeel9@juno.com

1. Brig Gen Douglas B. Kendrick, Commander of 9th Hospital Center when it was activated.

2. S/Sgt (E-6) Harry C. Berner & wife; center is wife of Sergeant Major Frank G. Giraud. Sergeant Berner and wife were killed in an automobile accident near Heidelberg during this tour of duty. They were interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

3. SFC (E-7) James R Keel & family - 1964.

4. Sgt Keel, Colonel William M. Wegner, Chief of Personnel and Manpower Control, and Assistant Edith Schuman - 1964.

(Source: Email from Peter C. Johnson, 9th Hospital Center, Aug 1968 - Jan 1970 )

I served with the 9th Hospital Center from Aug 1968 Jan 1970. It had just relocated to Landstuhl Germany.

As custodian of the classified documents I took part in a little bit of history. I was called in on the weekend of the first moon launch. A Top Secret message instructed us to refer to an other Top Secret document, with further instructions to alert all medical facilities in the path of the orbiting spacecraft to activate their Secret contingency plans in case something went wrong and an emergency landing occurred in Europe.

Obviously nothing happened and our first moon flight was a great success.

1. Group photo, 1969 (KB)	2. General's office (KB)	3. Promotion (KB)
4. Billets party (KB)	5. Billets party (KB)	6. Taking a spin on a new BSA (KB)

57th Medical Bn

19.. - 19..

57th Medical Bn DUI

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Dec 6, 1960)

57th Medical Battalion

The mission of the 57th Med Bn is to evacuate patients to or between hospitals. The means used to transport patients are helicopters, ambulances and hospital trains. CO of the battalion is COL Jack T. Waldren.

The units under the 57th that perform the medical evacuation mission are the following:

Ambulance Units:

581st Medical Company (Ambulance) (Separate), Landstuhl

583rd Medical Company (Ambulance) (Separate), Landstuhl

Helicopter Ambulance Unit:

63rd Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance), Landstuhl

Hospital Train Units:

31st Medical Train Ambulance (Rail), Pirmasens

34th Medical Train Ambulance (Rail), Neubruecke

37th Medical Train Ambulance (Rail), Muenchweiler

80th Medical Train Ambulance (Rail), Toul, France

There are four of the "two-car diesel" trains and eight "10-car steam-powered" trains. The diesel trains are used for peacetime efficiency. The steam trains (providing wartime capabilities) are kept "in storage" for emergencies but taken out for periodic runs and servicing. These hospital trains are the only ones operated by the US Army anywhere in the world.

The hospital trains run once a week in peacetime. A typical run (80th Amb Train) sees the train stop at Toul and Nancy in France; and Neubrücke, Bad Kreuznach and Frankfurt in Germany. Another one (34th Amb Train) connects Neubrücke, Landstuhl, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Würzburg and Nürnberg. The connections permit trains to pick up and deliver patients who cannot be treated locally and need to be transported to the Army's "specialty" hospitals in Europe -- the 2nd General Hospital at Landstuhl, the 98th General Hospital at Neubrücke and the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt.

As a train arrives at a German railway station, ambulances are already in position to deliver patients. Inside the train is a registered nurse assisted by medical and surgical technicians, wardmen, a train NCO, cooks, and a Medical Service Corps officer who serves as the train commander. There is a fully equipped gallery in the coach car. (The 10-car trains used in wartime would carry two doctors and five nurses; these trains have a capacity of 242 litter patients, or six ambulatory patients for every two litter cases.)

The two-car diesel provides space for a maximum of 42 patients -- one (litter) ward car with room for 21 persons; the other is a comfortable coach with space for additional 21 patients.

The USAREUR Medical Regulating Office, located at the 9th Hospital Center in Landstuhl, is responsible for directing medical evacuation so that there is no delay in getting to proper treatment facilities.

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, March 14, 1967)

The 57th Medical Battalion (TO/E 8-126E64) is located at Wilson Barracks in Landstuhl. The battalion transports by rail, road or air sick and injured personnel to and between 51 separate medical facilities (operated by the 9th Hosp Cen) within an area of responsibility that covers over 49,150 square miles of West Germany and northern France. In 1966, the battalion transported 44,854 patients -- covering 1,698,849 vehicle (ambulance and jeep) miles, 35,910 rail (diesel and steam train) miles, and 1,555 flight (helicopter) hours.

Currently, there are eleven units subordinate to the 57th Med Bn.

Ambulance Service -- Ambulance (the field ambulance is also nicknamed "crackerbox") drivers receive eight weeks of basic training at the Medical Field Service School at Ft. Sam Houston, Tex. Then they get on-the-job training in handling patients and giving first aid. Approved speed for the ambulance is 50 m.p.h. on the autobahn, 30 m.p.h. in built-up areas.

Helicopter Ambulance -- the 63rd Med Det (Hel Amb) is stationed at Landsberg (Kirchberg Hill). Equipped with UH-1B Huey helicopters, each can carry up to six litters. The Hueys not only haul patients but also carry doctors, drugs, blood or specimens.

Ambulance Trains -- two-car diesel trains and steam trains.
The two-car diesels (built in Germany in 1956) run regular routes originating from their home stations at Neubruecke and Muenchweiler. Originally they went through Landstuhl, Heidelberg, Frankfurt and Wuerzburg to Nuernberg. Now they have added Bad Cannstatt, Augsburg and Munich to their runs. The cars are air-conditioned and carry 43 patients: 16 normal litters, 4 litters for women, 2 for isolation, and space for 21 ambulatory patients. Books, magazines and full length movies are available. Meals are served en route from the train's diet kitchen.

There are four big steam trains that are maintained by the Ambulance Train (Rail) units at Muenchweiler and Neubruecke. They are used during large field exercises.

US Army Hospital Trains

1946

(Source: Mike Keefe)

Hosp Train, 1946

Click here for a very nice article on WW2 Hospital Trains in the ETO (WW2 US Medical Research Centre).

Several of the US Army hospital trains that served during WW2 in the European Theater remained in Germany as part of the Army of Occupation.

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Jan 21, 1954)

The 80th Hosp Train (recently activated) completed its first run -- a 110-mile trip from the US Army Hospital at La Rochelle to La Chapelle-St. Mesmin. Train CO of the 6-car train was Lt Col Gerard A. Bertrandt. Maximum capacity of the six-car train is 252 litter patients or 336 ambulatory patients or a combination of the two.

(Source: STATION LIST, 15 June 1954)

US Army Hospital Trains in Germany (1954):

UNIT DESIGNATION	LOCATION	COMMENTS
31st Med Train (Amb Rail)
34th Med Train (Amb Rail)
37th Med Train (Amb Rail)
80th Med Train (Amb Rail)	La Chapelle, France
325th Med Train (Amb Rail)	Rhine Medical Depot	This was probably a National Guard or Army Reserve unit; possibly redes 22nd Med Train (Amb Rail)
329th Med Train (Amb Rail)		This was probably a National Guard or Army Reserve unit; possibly redes 66th Med Train (Amb Rail)

(Source: STATION LIST, 31 Dec 1955)

US Army Hospital Trains in Germany (1955):

UNIT DESIGNATION	LOCATION	COMMENTS
22nd Med Train (Amb Rail)	Einsiedlerhof	att 57th Med Bn
31st Med Train (Amb Rail)	Münchweiler	att 57th Med Bn
34th Med Train (Amb Rail)	Neubrücke	att 57th Med Bn
37th Med Train (Amb Rail)	Einsiedlerhof	att 57th Med Bn
66th Med Train (Amb Rail)	Nürnberg	att 57th Med Bn
80th Med Train (Amb Rail)	La Chapelle, France

(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Sept 15, 1956)

The Army's Hospital Trains

By Jack Walters, Staff Writer

Ever since the war, there have been U.S. Army ambulance trains in West Germany and part of France. The 57th Med Bn, commanded by Maj. B.A. Petrini, operates five such trains under the administration of the USAREUR Chief Surgeon, Maj Gen Alvin L. Gorby.

On a roundtrip basis, these rolling dispensaries transport about 400 patients a month. The trains (one steam and four diesel) run between Nürnberg, Munich, Neubrücke, Münchweiler and Verdun. Main junction is Landstuhl, where the Army's 2d Gen Hosp is located, the largest outside the U.S.

The steam train includes six ward cars, a diner and a coach for staff personnel.

The diesels are two-car jobs containing galleys and pharmacies and are equipped to handle any kind of patient, from those requiring an incubator to an iron lung.

The 57th is soon hoping to get new diesels which will cost $250,000 apiece and will be capable of traveling 100 mph, although except for extreme emergencies, the amublance trains travel slower than ordinary passenger or freight rail service. The longest run, from Munich to Neubrücke, takes 11 hours.

The present diesels carry medical crews consisting of 15 EM, one nurse and an officer acting as train commander.

The trains are operated by German personnel and are rented from the German Federal railroads. Maintenance is provided under contract.

These ambulance units, designed primarily for servicemen, also on occasion handle dependents and American tourists requiring immediate attention. The organization's safety record is excellent, officials said.

The 57th Med Bn is the only one of its kind in Europe operating not only ambulance trains, but the more common four-wheel variety, plus helicopters.

(Source: Email from Chet Zarubnicky, 34th Hosp Train, 1954-55)

I just came upon your website and was really surprised. I was assigned to the 34th Hospital Train from January 1954 to February 1955.

The 34th Hospital Train was part of the 57th Medical Battalion and we were stationed at the McNair Barracks in Hoechst, Germany. Our mission was to transport patients from Munich back to Frankfurt. We started out on a Monday morning and stopped at all the stations where we would pick up patients on our way back from Munich. We would stay in Munich on Monday night and then start by loading up patients at Munich on Tuesday morning and make our way back to Frankfurt.

We operated a two car diesel -- one car was for stretchers and the other car was for ambulatory patients and our crew. We also had a kitchen where our cook prepared meals for our patients while they were onboard.

I have been in touch with a few of the men when I wrote an ad that was placed in the American Legion magazine. At first they responded then they gradually dropped off. I still talk to one man from Tennessee every so often, but after 50 years what can we actually talk about?

(Source: Email from Jim Gibson, 34th Hospital Train, Frankfurt-Hoechst, later Neubrücke)

I was with the 34th Hospital Train from March 1955 to April 1956. The 2-Car Diesel hospital train used by the 34th was made in Germany. And by the way, a General in Heidelberg had a 2-Car Diesel just like ours without the Red Cross on top.

While stationed in Hoechst, the 34th operated a weekly hospital train that left Hoechst Monday morning for a trip to Munich, Germany (I believe we went through Stuttgart on the way down and back). We would stay there over night and start our return trip back to Hoechst Tuesday morning picking up patients along the way for tranfer to other hospitals.

After the unit tranferred to the 98th General Hospital in Neubrücke, late May or June 1955, our route was from Neubrücke to Nürnberg and back.

34th HospTrain
Fr.-Hoechst