Origins of the 203rd General Hospital
At Fort Lewis, Washington

I. THE TRAINING UNIT, February 10, 1941 to May 6, 1942
   Commanding Officer: Major James E. Graham

Long before the United States entered World War II, the War Department prepared for anticipated military action. Among its many acts of pre-war readiness, the department created hospital units at various military establishments around the country, to meet the projected medical needs of an expanded fighting force.

The 203rd General Hospital  was among the US Army units activated in those pre-war times. It was established on February 10, 1941, at Ft Lewis, Washington, where it was first attached to the IX Army Corps for administration, and to the base Station Hospital for rations, quarters and duties. Its primary responsibility at that time, was to train army enlisted men to serve as medical technical specialists.

After Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, the United States formally declared war, and began to send men into foreign service. The need for medical technicians to attend the expanding armed forces increased daily, and the 203rd's role as a training center grew rapidly to meet that need, under the leadership of Commanding Officer Major James E. Graham. By early winter of 1942, over 250 enlisted men were on the 203rd's roster of trainees.

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To commemorate its first anniversary in February, 1942, the men of the 203rd published a brief history of their unit, describing its many accomplishments, and listing its officers and members at that time. (LINK TO DOWNLOAD unit history, with names of 2/42 trainee members) Shortly afterwards, most of the trainees named in this unit history had been transferred out of the 203rd, to serve as medical technicians elsewhere. As they rotated out, more men joined the 203rd to take their places and receive medical training. Eventually, over 800 men were trained by the 203rd, which provided qualified medical staff for the 27th General Hospital, the 105th, and the 187th, as well as many other medical establishments.

II. THE GENERAL HOSPITAL, May 6, 1942 to December 15, 1943
     Commanding Officer: Colonel James H. Turner

On May 6, 1942, the 203rd was officially disbanded as a training unit, and its mission greatly expanded. From that date on, the 203rd became an independent hospital group, ordered to prepare for combat duty and overseas operation. On May 20, 1942, the 203rd was relieved from attachment to the IX Corps, and attached to the 9th Service Command for administration and training.  The group was assigned headquarters of its own on base, and a new cadre of officers and enlisted men, to prepare and staff the new organization. In addition to instruction in medical matters, the unit began an intense period of combat readiness training, which included preparation for construction and management of independent hospital facilities. The 203rd was being trained to serve not only as a General Hospital, but in all medical capacities which might be required by the service in a theater of war, including operation as a field, station or evacuation hospital.

By Fall of 1943, this second incarnation of the 203rd General Hospital was ready for service as an independent, versatile and cohesive hospital unit. On December 15, 1943, they departed Fort Lewis by train, headed for a port of embarkation on the east coast of the United States, and eventual transport to the European Theater of War.

III. THE 203RD GENERAL HOSPITAL, December 15, 1943
       ON THE RAILS, DESTINATION UNKNOWN

Although unaware of their precise destination at the time, the 203rd General Hospital group would later learn that its mission was to provide medical support for troops staged in England, preparing for the invasion of France on June 6, 1944, D-Day. In July, 1944, the 203rd would cross the English Channel, to join those troops in Normandy. After the liberation of Paris in late August, 1944, the 203rd would establish there the largest general hospital in the European Theater of Operations. By September, 1944, they would be accepting their first patients. The unit would serve together until the end of World War II, after which the 203rd General Hospital was officially deactivated, on November 28, 1945.

For the detailed story of the 203rd General Hospital after the unit left Fort Lewis continue here…

Photographs:
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These photos were all taken at Fort Lewis while the 203rd was stationed there. If you can provide any information about the persons or places shown, that would be greatly appreciated. To do so, please contact us.

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These photos were all taken in the vicinity of Fort Lewis, while the 203rd was stationed there. Most of the soldiers who lived in Washington State  took advantage of every opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Pacific Northwest, and visit the local attractions: Mt. Ranier, Paradise Valley, the Columbia River,  and many other surrounding forests, parks, and waterfalls.

Postcards:

Postcards of Ft Lewis collected by Clare E. Blough, member of the 203rd General Hospital from 1942-1945, contributed by his family:

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