Veteran's Testimony - Martin Lipschultz
204th Medical Hospital Ship Company
USAHS "Acadia"

Private Martin Lipschultz, ASN 32696728, 204th Medical Hospital Ship Company.

| Introduction | North Africa | Sicily | Italy | Southern France |

Introduction:

My name is Private Martin Lipschultz, ASN 32606728. I was born on 24 May 1921 in Essex County, New Jersey and spent 4 years in College graduating as a Pharmacist (Rutgers College of Pharmacy, Newark, New Jersey). My nickname during my service years was “Lippy”. I became a Pharmacist (MOS 149) with the U.S. Army Medical Department, on board the USAHS “Acadia” and served on the ship during WW2.

I joined the Army on 12 January 1943 with hopes of serving FDR’s newly established Pharmacy Corps, developed to improve medical care for servicemen and their families. Had I known that my Pharmacy would be afloat, I might have joined the US Navy instead (as did my brother). I was to spend my entire Army life aboard a Hospital Ship, not one day free from seasickness. My official date of entry into active service was 19 January 1943, my first Station being Ft. Dix, Wrightstown, New Jersey (Training & Pre-Staging Center, with an acreage of 28,344, and a troop capacity of 1,825 Officers and 51,598 EM).

Following Basic training in Charleston, South Carolina, I was assigned to the 204th Medical Ship Company. My main interests then were baseball, basketball, and boxing. Before the war I fought Reddy Russo in the ‘Lightweight - Golden Gloves Championship’ (132 lbs) in New Jersey. I was to meet another boxer, a real Flyweight (112 lbs) champ, better than I was, Jimmy Connelly from New York City. Always looking for a little diversion, Jimmy and I had fun organizing boxing exhibitions aboard our ship. Unfortunately, the war would interfere with most of my activities.

Hospital ship, typical layout of a ward.

During World War 2, the means of transporting sick and wounded personnel from Evacuation Hospitals in the combat zone to a Hospital in the Communications Zone (ComZ) consisted of Hospital Trains – Hospital Ships – and occasionally, Motor Convoys and Airplane Ambulances. Improvisations also took place. One of the methods used was transportation of patients to General Hospitals in the Communications Zone by means of Hospital Trains. However, the evacuation of severe cases for further treatment in the United Kingdom or in the Zone of Interior (continental United States) took place by Air and Sea. And that’s why there was a need for Hospital Ships. Although the US Army had no Hospital Ships in the early stages of the war, a Table of Organization for a Hospital Ship Company (this would become T/O 8-537) was drafted by the Surgeon General’s Office early in 1942. Army Hospital Ships were to be manned and operated by ‘civilians’ (Merchant Marine) and by ‘military’ (Army Medical Department personnel to care for patients).

The draft (April 42) of the Table of Organization for a Hospital provided for a Company with unit strength of:

14 Officers
1 Warrant Officer
35 Nurses
99 Enlisted Men

Above was amended in the definitive T/O 8-537, dated 1 April 1942, to read – 12 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer, 35 Nurses, and 99 EM, to basically care for 500 patients, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. Supplementary units could be called upon if necessary. They consisted of 2 Officers, 4 Nurses, and 11 Enlisted Men for each additional group of 100 patients.

In May of 1942, the WD approved conversion of the ship USAT “Acadia” into, what was called at the time, an “Ambulance Transport”. ETO authorities requested 3 Hospital Ships, and after approval of the necessary T/O, 4 Hospital Ship Companies got activated in October/November 1942. The first complement being reserved for the “Acadia” in December 1942. It was based on experience gained during operations aboard the Acadia, that necessary adjustments and requirements later took place.

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Overseas Movement – North Africa:

The “Acadia” was the first combined troop-transport-hospital ship to sail from the United States in WW2 with a full hospital complement aboard. The 204th Medical Hospital Ship Company consisted of 18 Officers, 37 Nurses, and 94 Enlisted Men (it was activated April 1943). At the time of its first trip the German U-Boat menace was far from gone, and the “Acadia” with her precious cargo of troops, would have been a fine target for any enemy torpedo. Seagoing soldiers and nurses discovered the meaning of “to secure” when the ship tossed and rolled, and many a meal was lost when seasickness began to take its toll. It was the 204th’s introduction to “sea” duty.

The first voyage ended at Casablanca, French Morocco, and personnel got their first glimpse of a war-torn country. The ship was to carry the unit many times again to North Africa and its blazing sun, queer foul smells, and strangely dressed natives.
For the next 4 months the “Acadia” would be crossing between North Africa and New York, carrying troops on the outbound trip and wounded patients on the return voyage. Then followed a short break with layover in New York harbor, while the ship exchanged her gray war paint coat for a white and green one. The antiaircraft and other guns, the Navy crew, and the troopship bunks all went off, and after being duly registered under the Treaties of The Hague Convention, the new United States Army Hospital Ship “Acadia” was ready to sail once more.

Copy of a news bulletin "Fore and Aft" published and distributed on board the USAHS Acadia while at sea (Sep 1943).

Provision of Hospital Ships could not wait, the North African Theater (NATOUSA) requested 2 Hospital Ships, and the General Staff, after consulting with the other branches concerned, authorized  further conversion of the “Acadia” into a Hospital Ship (a second ship was to follow, i.e. the “Seminole”). Both ships were to be stripped of all armament, their hulls were to be painted white, with a horizontal green band on each side, and Geneva Red Crosses on their sides, decks, and funnels, another important feature was that the ship should be illuminated at night, to display her ‘neutral’ status (non-belligerent vessel). Structural modifications delayed the departure of the “Seminole” (until Sep 43), but since the “Acadia” had already been fitted as an Ambulance Transport, it was able to sail out of New York to North Africa on her maiden trip as a “US Army Hospital Ship”, the date was 5 June 1943, and I was on board! As a matter of fact, I was called up for transfer overseas on 3 June 1943.

The USAHS “Acadia” was run by Captain John W. Kirchner (Ship’s Master) and James L. Kane (Ship’s Chief Engineer). Lt. Colonel Thomas B. Protzman, MC (204th Med Hosp Ship Co C.O.), Major William V. Barney, CHC (Chaplain), Major William G. Ford, MC (Chief Medical Staff), Captain Louis Angioletti, MC (Chief Surgical Staff), Captain Alexander S. Forster, DC (Chief Dental Staff), and 1st Lieutenant Muriel M. Westover, ANC (Chief Nurse) were some of the Officers in charge. The ship was run by the Merchant Marine, but operated by the United States Army.

At the beginning, British Hospital Ships and Carriers evacuated most of the US Army patients to the United Kingdom (191 in Jan 43 – 111 in Feb 43 – 179 in Mar 43). After having initially used unescorted US Troop Transports to evacuate certain classes of patients to the United States, evacuation was reorganized allowing all classes of patients to be shipped by Transports out of Casablanca (French Morocco) and also later by convoyed Troopships out of Oran (Algeria). Between Jan 43 and Dec 43, they managed to evacuate a total of 16,284 patients. From June onwards, the two Hospitals ships in the area, the “Acadia” with a capacity of 806 patients and the “Seminole” with a capacity of 468, became available for evacuation from other ports in the Mediterranean thus adding extra capacity. The “Acadia” was however too large to dock at Bizerte (Tunisia). Both vessels transported a number of patients back to the ZI (729 in Jun 43 – 467 in Aug 43 – 779 in Oct 43 – 450 in Nov 43 – 1,168 in Dec 43). An average Atlantic crossing took around twelve to fifteen days, and 500 or more patients could be transported on each trip.

General specifications for Hospital Ships provided for surgical rooms, pharmacy and laboratory facilities, adequate toilets, isolation wards, X-Ray unit, berths of maximum two tiers, and the necessary beds, with as ideal hospital location, slightly aft of midship, and not more than one deck below the weather deck, and relatively close to lifeboats for possible emergency evacuation. Lighting, ventilation, and wide passageways for litter carry were also required. The Acadia had only one small OR, but it did have three other rooms that could be pressed into service in case of emergencies. The available wards were fitted with beds arranged double-decker style. Apart from the std. medical specialties, 1 Dietitian and 2 Physical Therapists were assigned to our ship on her maiden voyage. It later appeared that because of certain limitations and the acute shortage of PTs, their services would no longer be utilized. Nurses’ quarters on board were 4 to a room. If not on duty, Nurses had a midnight curfew, whether at sea or in port. They worked a 12-hour shift at night and a 9-hour shift during day, depending on the type of patients to be treated. To make working easier, Nurses were issued brown-and-white seersucker slacks in lieu of dresses. Of all the original Nurses assigned to our ship, 29 would still be on board at the completion of the ship’s 12th Atlantic crossing.

View of the Acadia during one of its World War 2 trips to North Africa.

On 5 June 1943, our ship, gleaming in her brand new white and green coat of paint, and large red crosses, stood out to sea for the first time under a new status –  touching at Gibraltar (The Rock) and Mers-el-Kebir (Algeria), she eventually arrived at Oran (Algeria), where she embarked patients for the United States.
Our ship returned from Oran, Algeria, with 749 patients on board, and sailed for Charleston, South Carolina, where it arrived on 25 June 1943. Charleston became some sort of a main station to me, when in the States. The “Acadia” often went out on a mission overseas, to return stateside with a number of casualties, the pattern would have been something like (as far as I remember) a number of months traveling (approximately 4/5 months), and a kind of R & R period in Charleston (some 10 days), and then back out again.

August 1943 found our ship at Oran, Algeria, where it suffered some damage to one of its propellers after striking some submerged object in the harbor. After a thorough check and some minor repairs, the “Acadia” returned to New York on 25 September 1943 with a complement of American wounded.

The “Acadia” was converted from the USAT “Acadia” launched 13 February 1932. It was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in Virginia in 1931. The ship’s transport duties came to an end when, on 29 May 1942, the Transportation Corps decided to convert it into a Hospital transport vessel. Place of conversion was Boston P/E. After conversion which lasted from June to October 1942, the ship emerged as an Ambulance Transport with a capacity of 1,100 troops outbound and 530 patients inbound. It sailed from December 1942 onward in this capacity, until placed under the protection of the “Hague Convention” as a Hospital Ship. After another conversion (by the Bethlehem Steel Company) and additional modifications in New York, it was re-designated a Hospital Ship, the USAHS “Acadia” on 3 May 1943, as announced by War Department General Order No. 27, dated 3 June 1943. The ship had a maximum speed of 18 knots. Patient capacity was 787. After its commissioning as a full-fledged US Army Hospital Ship, the “Acadia” sailed for Charleston, South Carolina. The ship’s first voyage took place on 5 June 1943, sailing from New York for North Africa. The USAHS Acadia was finally decommissioned on 11 February 1946, by War Department General Order No. 17.

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First Operations – Sicily:

Our next operation took us to Sicily, after the landing (10 July 1943, “Operation Husky), where we operated together with the USAHS “Seminole” on behalf of the Island Base Section (IBS) and Seventh US Army. Our task consisted in evacuating patients. As large ships, we operated out of Palermo although the docks did not allow direct loading/unloading, so litter cases had to be winched aboard from smaller craft. American patients were routed to Bizerte (Tunisia) and Oran (Algeria). Patients were loaded aboard by means of a block and tackle, and during the battle for Palermo, patients were brought to our ship by LCI barges. Surging seawaters often made loading difficult and litters had to be lifted in rhythm with the waves. Once on board, patients were immediately operated, and then transported to Hospitals in North Africa.

While off the coast in Sicily and on call for the invasion forces, we helped treat casualties from the USS Barnett (APA-5). This particular troopship, part of the amphibious force supporting the landing, was hit by a near miss during a German bombing attack. On 11 July 1943, a bomb burst aboard the USS Barnett’s port bow putting a hole in the hull and causing subsequent flooding. The ship was made to list to starboard and was able to steam away under her own power to the port of Algiers for repairs, where it docked on 15 July. 7 men got killed and 35 wounded, with the latter being taken on board the USAHS Acadia for treatment, before being evacuated to shore.

As a Pharmacy Graduate I was responsible for administrative matters and pharmaceuticals, but very shortly I was to find out this was not the case. Pharmacists on board Hospital Ships were to be flexible, serving where and when needed! Some people called us “medics”.

To keep busy on long and slow days, the crew gave each other bad haircuts and contributed to the ship’s newspaper, “Fore and Aft”. On other days, we restocked the Pharmacy, cleaned the counters, the floors, and gave ordinary injections. When the Nurses or Doctors looked for ‘extra’ hands, we marched to their orders – especially the pretty Nurses.
Some patients just called us “Doc”. During World War 2, we were what would today be considered the “go-to-guys” – we did what was ordered to control the patient’s never-ending pain. The injured who knew they would never make it home, made jokes with us, even calling us “Mom” because Mom always made them feel better – her home remedies were always the best!

Photograph illustrating USAHS Acadia as it appeared during WW2.

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Further Operations – Italy:

Being aid men during the Salerno Landings (9 September 1943, Italy, “Operation Avalanche”) we often served as Litter Bearers evacuating patients off the beach while under fire from enemy big guns… During this operation, HMHS “Newfoundland” (Royal Navy), carrying 103 American Nurses on board (the ANC complement of the 95th Evacuation Hospital) took a direct hit from a German bomb on 13 September. The ship caught fire and despite every possible effort had to be abandoned. It was subsequently scuttled and sunk by the USS Plunkett. All the Nurses made it safely to shore and later returned via Bizerte to Mateur (Tunisia) where they were treated at the 74th Station Hospital.

During the early phases of the operation, 2 British Hospital Ships were to handle evacuation from the US beaches at dawn on D+3, while a third ship was to follow on D+4. Casualties were to go to Bizerte (Tunisia). It was only later that US Hospital Ships were requested to help. After D+5, the ships were sent to Italy on request of Fifth United States Army, and then routed back to North African ports as designated by Allied Force Headquarters.

Without a doubt, one particular incident will haunt me forever. I will never forget the morning of September 24, 1943, during an action in the Mediterranean. We were standing apart from the convoy, when my ship received an all out distress call. One of our minesweepers, located about five miles from our ship, had been torpedoed leaving many wounded adrift. Our CO > Lt. Colonel Thomas B. Protzman, MC, directed our ship toward the convoy to render assistance. He sent a small launch with 2 merchant seamen and some volunteer medical staff into the midst of the action. I had no concept at all of what I was about to experience, when I volunteered. The sight and heat of smoke and flames, cries from the wounded, seemed like coming from another world. Up to this moment, many of us were still ‘boys’, and had neither witnessed nor experienced such serious blast and burn injuries. The shelling and bombing forced us to concentrate using hand signals since the noise was so loud it was almost impossible to communicate.

Some of the “shock team” who boarded the crippled minesweeper included; 2d Lt. Dorothy J. Christison, 2d Lt. Maryanna S. Schaller, Tec 4 Oliver W. Hassett, Tec 5 David B. Durbin Jr., and Tec 5 Walter F. Wintsch. 33 of the survivors, all suffering from extensive burns, were rushed to the ship for treatment. Half of the Hospital Ship’s supply of blood plasma was used up that same day, saving 31 of the 33 casualties.

The long hours of study, training, practice and teamwork paid off. Our shock treatment teams and plasma administered from a small rescue boat made the difference between life and death. We continued to pull survivors, bodies and mangled parts from the water until ordered back to the Arcadia. There, we gave support to the medical teams trying to save these brave men. It was a horrible nightmare, visions I have never been able to erase from my mind! Patients always got absolute priority! A number of instructions and subsequent actions were discussed and implemented. Screen doors were kept closed to keep flies and mosquitoes out (don’t forget malaria was a constant threat). Everyone was instructed to go easy on the water, it was indeed the first disinfectant, and patients required a lot to reduce the possibility of wound infection. Everyone was constantly reminded not to slam doors and avoid excessive noise, especially around the surgical wards on decks “B” and “C”.

Typical view of a ward kitchen.

A few days after the battle, we received a “Commendation for Meritorious Service” from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, praising our Commanding Officer and the members of our unit for their outstanding accomplishments in the care and evacuation of sick and wounded casualties in the North African Theater, and for the action taken on 24 September 1943, saving many lives and giving further evidence of a high degree of efficient training and devotion to duty.

During the invasion of Sicily and Salerno, our ship shuttled between Palermo, Algiers, Bizerte, Ferryville, the Salerno Beachhead, Oran and Mers-el-Kebir. The shuttle operation terminated on 25 October when the “Acadia” set sail for Charleston, SC, its newly founded terminus for debarking patients.

When returning from its 12th crossing to Charleston 9 January 1944, the “Acadia” had its ‘big’ day. The ship was returning to its main port bringing home 776 patients and stories of her arrival had been printed in all major newspapers around the country. For the first time in World War 2, reporters and newspaper men were allowed to attend the arrival of a Hospital Ship.

While serving on the Acadia, I also did participate in the Anzio Landing (22 January 1944, Italy, “Operation Shingle”). The big guns shelled for a few days and bombs dropped by Allied planes on enemy troops fell everywhere. Needless to say our hearing was impaired with each major invasion. The only ear protection we had was toilet paper that we stuffed in our ears! When supply boats appeared, toilet paper was high on our want list. Medicine such as quinine for Malaria was also at the top. Most of us could not avoid bites of hungry mosquitoes. For over 50 years recurring bouts of malaria continue to remind me of the war. The assault received the necessary medical support, with hospitals and medical units trying to move inland as quickly as possible. Hospital ships remained available off the beaches until D-Day + 3, after which they remained on call until requested by the situation on the beachhead.

Partial map illustrating some of the landing beaches, prepared by the United States Eighth Fleet, for "Operation Dragoon", 15 August 1944.

For a duration of 17 weeks Anzio Beachhead was to remain a “flat and barren little strip of Hell”, where Hospitals were only six miles behind the fighting lines and with their backs to the sea! During the early days of the assault, casualties were kept at Battalion Aid Stations or evacuated directly by small landing craft to medical-equipped LSTs. The only medical installation on shore at the time of the landing was the Second Platoon, 33d Field Hospital, which started treating its first patients around 1800 hours. Additional Hospitals were landed on D+1, but were only operational some days later. German air raids on the harbor area, against offshore ships, and enemy long-range shelling made the Hospital sites and evacuation operations almost untenable! Three British Hospital ships were in the area as well to provide additional treatment and hospitalization, but we were all afraid of the frequent air raids and intermittent shelling with apparently had little concern or respect for Geneva Convention symbols. As a matter of fact, a British Hospital Ship, the St. Andrew, was attacked and sunk by German bombs on 24 January.

Pharmacists bounced from job to job. The injured yelled out for a “Girl Friday”, meaning they needed help to write home. After all, we had College degrees, so the general consensus was, we could write. Patients were scared, as we were, and needed someone to talk to. During these moments our job was to listen due to the fact that Chaplains were not always available. In civilian life they might have been considered patients and ourselves healthcare providers – ask any WW Vet, during the war, you are just shipmates too, a very unique situation…

Trypical view of Nurses' living quarters on board.

After the landing and subsequent inland battles, the Acadia returned stateside carrying a number of casualties from the Anzio Beach assault and the battles that raged around Monte Cassino.

On base we could play baseball, basketball, and football. At sea, since I didn’t particularly enjoy cards, ping pong was my game. I defeated ‘Roby’ Jarvis of the Merchant Marine to win Acadia’s Second Ping Pong Tournament. I was so damn excited over winning a box of candy (as the new Ping Pong champ) that I dropped a bottle of formaldehyde (colorless pungent irritating gas, used chiefly as a disinfectant and preservative) on the Pharmacy floor in the morning. I spent two hours wearing a gas mask while trying to clean it up. Everyone found it amusing; since along with the candy, I had been given the morning off for winning the tournament!

More Operations - Southern France:

The landing in Southern France (15 August 1944, “Operation Dragoon”) was another of my WW2 campaigns. During the initial days of the invasion, casualties were evacuated from the Beach Clearing Stations by small landing craft to the transports, and further carried by LST to Ajaccio, Corsica, for treatment by the 40th Station Hospital. Three Hospital Ships arrived off the landing area on D+1, and more were to arrive later (a total of 12 were to be made available, operating out of Corsica).

Hospital Ships involved in “Operation Dragoon” – 15 August 1944

USAHS Acadia
USAHS Algonquin
USAHS Château Thierry
USAHS Emily H. M. Weder
USAHS Ernest Hinds
USAHS John E. Clem
USAHS John J. Meany
USAHS Marigold
USAHS Seminole
USAHS Shamrock
USAHS St. Mihiel
USAHS Thistle

We had sufficient capacity to accommodate 788 patients and carried 3 Surgical Teams on board. After D+6, Hospital ships were sent into the area on a one-day-basis until 28 August, and thereafter only at the request of the Seventh United States Surgeon. When at first, the Hospital ships called at all three landing beaches, all evacuees were later transported by ambulances to the Clearing Station of the 58th Medical Battalion at Ste. Maxime, where the ships were loaded. Through 21 August 1944 the Hospital ships discharged at Naples, Italy. Between 22 and 29 August vessels loaded to 60% or more with French casualties or enemy PWs were sent to Oran, Algeria.
After the fall of Marseille and Toulon, enough hospital beds became available, and at the end of the month no more Hospital ships were requested by Seventh Army.

Between 18 August and 3 November 1944, a total of 6,277 patients were evacuated by Hospital ships.

On 26 June 1945, the ship arrived in the Zone of Interior carrying 778 wounded soldiers on board all having been evacuated from the European Theater. The human cargo included 420 litter cases, 311 ambulatory patients, and 47 mental cases, all brought in from Cherbourg, France.

Illustration of a post card dated 18 Sep 45, addressed to the Mail Clerk aboard the USAHS Acadia (private collection).

The USAHS Acadia for the past 2 years (1943-1945) followed close behind the fighting in the MTO and the ETO. While the battle for North Africa was going on in Tunisia, she evacuated casualties from North African ports. She took on board the first wounded from the invasion of Sicily, receiving them from the troop transports which had just returned from the beachhead. A few days after the fall of Palermo, the Acadia was there receiving casualties from the battle raging around Messina. As the Allies threw back the Germans from the hills surrounding Salerno, the hospital ship steamed into the Gulf of Salerno to carry off the wounded. She stood by in a British port while the greatest invasion of all times, the Normandy beachhead was being secured. The invasion of Southern France found her moving on D+1 off shore to embark casualties while the guns thundered nearby. The USAHS Acadia returned to Charleston, 13 times in a period of 2 years (not including her 32 trans-Mediterranean crossings performed while providing “shuttle” service). The USAHS Acadia was considered to be the ‘flagship’ of the Army Hospital Ship Fleet. It had not only participated in almost every Invasion in the European Theater of Operations, but was present in North Africa as a troopship at Italy-Normandy-Sicily-Southern France as a hospital ship, carrying more patients across the Atlantic than any other Army Hospital Ship!
Of the original 204th Med Hosp Ship Co, only 7 Officers, 10 Nurses, and 21 EM remained of the ‘first trippers’, and of the Merchant Marine crew, the only person still on board was Chief Engineer James L. Kane…

The USAHS Acadia leaves Cherbourg, France, with a number of casualties bound for the Zone of Interior. On 26 June 1945, the Acadia brought back 420 litter cases, 311 ambulatory patients, and 47 mental cases, all casualties of the European Theater.

By May of 1945 the Acadia had made a total of 13 Atlantic crossings and brought home 9,919 patients!

In summer of 1945, it was decided to send the Acadia to the Pacific Theater. After having been fitted with ventilation systems and some tropical modifications, it sailed out of Los Angeles, California, with destination Manila. It returned to Los Angeles on 20 December 1945. In January 1946, the USAHS Acadia was on its second trip to the Pacific, when at sea, news was received that the ship was ordered decommissioned as a Hospital Ship! After its arrival in the Philippines, all Geneva Convention identification was painted out, and after receiving a new coat of gray, it began carrying troops once more, and continued servicing the Armed Forces stations in the Pacific.

The Medical Hospital Ship Platoon justified its existence, and as the number of Hospital Ships increased, 176 Platoons were being used by V-E Day in the ETO, with another 116 serving in the Pacific…

Above Testimony and pictures were kindly provided to us by Mrs. Harriet Lennard, daughter of Pharmacist Martin Lipschultz, ASN: 32606728, who served aboard the USAHS “Acadia” as a member of the 204th Medical Hospital Ship Company  in WW2.