wounded. There was no available shelter, and the casualties were very heavy. On November 2 the
advance was so rapid that we were compelled to move our aid station twice during the day. Our last aid
station established this day was just north of Andevanne, and on account of the terrible condition of
roads the wounded had to be littered from my station about four kilometers to the ambulances. A direct
hit was made on our station, wounding three of the medical detachment and killing five Signal Corps
men. To date the medical detachment of my regiment has had 60 per cent casualties.”
The hardships endured by these men and the difficulties under which they labored in their efforts
to assist their wounded comrades were thoroughly appreciated, and many were cited for their bravery
and devotion to duty. One of these was Lieutenant (now Captain) James C. Hall, who was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross. His citation is as follows: “In spite of severe wounds, including two
broken ribs, Lieutenant Hall continued at his post for three days, administering aid to the wounded
throughout the combat. Numbers of lives were saved by his heroic devotion to duty.”
A medical supply dump was maintained at the Triage by the medical supply officer, and
battalion surgeons received from ambulances evacuating their patients such supplies of litter, blankets,
anti-tetanic serum, and other supplies as had been expended on patients evacuated. In this manner there
was never a shortage of medical supplies at the front.
The Triage continued to operate at Béthincourt until November 3. While at Béthincourt it was
subjected to several air raids at night, and high explosive shells fell in the immediate vicinity practically
every day. On November 3 the Triage was advanced to Septsarges, occupying a site previously
prepared by Field Hospital No. 360, which had been moved from Nantillois on account of its being
shelled on October 25, the shells falling directly on the hospital, instantly killing four men, fatally
wounding a fifth, and severely wounding fourteen others, including the dental officer attached to this
hospital. Happily, none of the patients in the hospital at the time were injured
The Triage continued to operate at Septsarges from November 3 to November 8, Field Hospital
No. 360 taking over the gas department, while Field Hospital No. 358 was pushed forward to prepare a
Triage site at Bantheville. In the late afternoon of November 5 the Triage was subjected to severe
shelling, shells falling within a few yards of the hospital. However, there were only two casualties
among the enlisted personnel. On November 8 the Triage joined Field Hospital No. 358 at Bantheville
and operated there until the morning of November 11, Field Hospital No. 360 having moved to Dun-sur-
Meuse to prepare a new Triage site. At Bantheville the Triage was again subjected to nightly air raids.
On the morning of November 11 the Triage was established at Dun-sur-Meuse. At eleven o’clock of
that date the steady stream of wounded and gassed that had been flowing back from the front during the
campaign in the Meuse-Argonne sector ceased, 5622 cases, of which 3530 were 90th Division battle
casualties, having passed through the Triage during the twenty-one days of continuous fighting. The gas
admissions were 785, of which number 59 were known to be mustard. Of the total number of gassed
cases, 39.27 per cent, were returned to duty from the division gas hospital. The medical department of
the Division hung up the A. E. F. record for low mortality rate from gas. Of the 2175 men actually
gassed and treated at the division gas hospital, only 17 died, making the remarkably low mortality rate
of .78 per cent.
Following the signing of the armistice, the entire sanitary train was reunited at Blanc Fontaine
barracks, near Stenay. Here Field Hospital No. 359 established a hospital for the treatment of normal
sick.
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