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The U.S. Army 203rd General Hospital Unit in World War 2

The U.S. Army 203rd General Hospital unit was activated on February 10, 1941, to meet the anticipated needs of an expanded armed force, in a country preparing for war. Initially, the group was housed at Fort Lewis, Washington, as a subsidiary of the base Station Hospital there, and its primary function was to train medical technicians to perform as support staff, for army hospitals and clinics.

In 1942, the mission of the 203rd changed: it was completely reorganized as an independent General Hospital unit, and ordered to prepare its personnel for combat operations overseas. In December of 1943, ~500 strong, the unit left Fort Lewis for an east coast Port of Embarkation, knowing that it was destined to sail to an unknown theater of war, in the ongoing conflict. In early January, 1944, the unit landed in Scotland, and was transported to Southern England, where they learned that they were part of the army's medical support system for the coming invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. In England, they continued their combat and medical training, and established a hospital plant where they would eventually care for troops wounded in the D-Day invasion of Northern France.

In July, 1944, the 203rd followed the troops to Normandy, landed on Utah Beach, and provided medical support and care in the field during the Campaign of Northern France. After the liberation of Paris in August of 1944, the 203rd was transported to a hospital plant in the Parisian region, where they administered and staffed the largest medical establishment of the European Theater of Operations. During their tenure there, from September, 1944, through July, 1945, over 65,000 patients were admitted and cared for.

In November, 1945, the 203rd was deactivated by the U.S. Army.

For a detailed discussion of the history and accomplishments of the 203rd General Hospital unit during World War 2, see the following website: http://hospitals.med-dept.com/203rd.General.Hospital/

NB The 203rd was sometimes referred to as the 203d