Begun at Leghorn in 1952, this small hospital is authorized an operating bed capacity of 25 beds.

Since 1957, the hospital has been housed in a leased permanent-type building which was originally designed as a boy's school. The medical facilities of the hospital are modern and well-equipped and include two operating rooms and one delivery room, one large ward, nursery, hospital clinics, pharmacy, laboratory, radio graphic section and dental clinic. The enlisted barracks as well as all administrative services are located within the one hospital building.

The hospital provides area medical support to US Army, Navy and Air Force personnel, Department of the Army civilians, State Department personnel and authorized dependents in an area from La Spezia to Florence to Rome. This includes the Mediterranean Division Corps of Engineers in Leghorn and port calls by the Sixth Fleet, US Navy. The facility also provides medical care to authorized foreign personnel and emergency medical care as required.

Learning of a European assignment, both pleased and distressed me. I looked forward with great expectations to a two-year European tour, but I felt anxious about how I would be able to communicate with foreign people, and how I would contact my new unit. Then the welcoming letter arrived from the command ing officer informing me that the unit I was assigned to was a small 25-bed hospital located near Leghorn, Italy. So I relaxed and started to wonder what it would be like to work in Sunny Italy.

Upon arrival, I was confronted with what appeared to be total devastation of what was to be my future duty station. The kitchen part of the dining hall was located adjacent to the dining hall; however, it was now operating in a tent. The former two operating rooms were undergoing reconstruction, and what had been the delivery room was currently the operating room. A patient’s room was the new location for the delivery room, while the Central Materiel Section had been relocated in a large 12-bed ward.

I looked at the dust, dirt and dislocation of these prime hospital units and shook my head in utter disbelief! Then, with an expression of bewilderment, I asked “Is this the US Army Hospital, Leghorn?” and noted the amused expression on the faces of my future fellow workers when they answered, “Of course.” Then, slowly, a gleam appeared as they realized my initial shock at the appearance of the building. They quickly explained “This is only temporary because of needed repairs on the roof. The repairs and remodeling will be completed in a few weeks, then all should return to normal.”

The “reporting day” seems long ago. During the construction period we were able to practice “field mass casualty and dislocation nursing.” We had problems, but we managed to live through them. The operating room was a challenge, but we were given a free hand in making necessary changes.

In a small hospital, nurses soon learn the importance of cross-training and getting along with each other. No one can afford to consider himself strictly a specialist. We soon realized that regardless of our in dividual specialties, we had to provide relief where needed. During the chief nurse’s absence, I found myself sitting behind her desk, making decisions which affected the entire nursing service. One of the ward nurses is being trained to take calls in the operating room. When the chief nurse is not in her office, she can be found in the Outpatient Department assisting the doctors. Since we have no Army health nurse, a staff nurse has volunteered to give classes to expectant parents. Regardless of her military occupational specialty (MOS), every nurse performs medical, pediatric and obstetrical nursing.

We have our busy and our lax periods. We learn to adapt, cooperate and to fill in wherever we are needed. We get away from our own area of special interest, and gain insight into the problems of other specialties. We profit professionally and personally as we learn additional skills and acquire a deeper understanding. The important point is that we are essential members of the medical service team providing medical care to the military, their dependents and other American citizens in an isolated area.