| Original caption: “In an underground surgery room, behind the front lines on Bougainville, an American Army doctor operates on a United States soldier wounded by a Japanese sniper.” A surgical team operates on United States Army Private Homer C. Connell (September 14, 1921 – May 21, 1998) of Columbus, Georgia, who was shot in the leg by a Japanese sniper during a patrol. Medic Technician 5th Class William A. Acklay (August 15, 1919 – April 7, 1983) of Cleveland, Ohio, tore his trouser leg to bandage his wound and administered morphine. He pinned the syrette to his jacket. Connell and another wounded GI were driven to the surgery by a Willys MB jeep. United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Ashley W. Oughterson (September 28, 1895 – November 17, 1956), Surgical Consultant of the United States Army Forces in the South Pacific Area (SWPA), landed on Bougainville on November 1, 1943. The clearing stations of both the 23rd (Americal) and 37th Infantry Divisions had been augmented with additional surgical equipment before the hospitals were established on the beachhead. The 37th Portable Surgical Hospital had been assigned to the Americal Division, and the 33rd Portable Surgical Hospital to the 37th Division. Oughterson reviewed the performance of United States Army surgeons in Bougainville and found them to be lacking. In his diary, he noted low morale, difficulties in securing supplies, the heavy weight of the surgical kit that made movement and setup strenuous, and a lack of safety as surgeons operated close to the front. Japanese infiltrators would get close to the hospital at night and climb trees, and then rake the tents with machine gun fire. Medical personnel, including Oughterson, would carry M1 30 caliber (7.62 millimeter) carbines in case of snipers. Doctors and medics suffered from the heat and humidity; everyone had problems with boils and other skin conditions. The hospitals were understaffed, with about 2/3 of the expected doctors available. Oughterson stepped in himself to perform surgery. He was appalled by the quality of the surgeons; he wanted the best surgeons at the front. The United States Army disagreed. Appending their comments to his diary after the war, they clearly preferred to keep the top surgeons at the base hospitals far away from the fighting, to prevent these trained personnel with years or even decades of experience from being killed or falling into enemy hands. The Army believed the quality of care was not impacted by novice or moderately qualified surgeons in the front lines. The surgery depicted in the photo opened on November 15, 1943. Before that, surgery was performed in tents. The proximity of Japanese artillery and aerial bombardment from Rabaul left patients and staff exposed to attack, so a bombproof surgery was dug in 2 days. The surgery was screened for mosquitoes on November 26. On December 13, 1943, a surgical team was photographed arriving with their gear. The team consisted of Captain William G. Watson (September 7, 1909 – August 22, 1996), of Baltimore, Maryland, Medical Corps surgeon; Captain Charles E. Troland (December 28, 1911 – February 28, 1969), of Baltimore, Maryland, Medical Corps assistant surgeon; Captain Harold C. Schulman (May 30, 1910 – September 24, 2001), of Binghamton, New York, Medical Corps anesthetist; Sergeant William F. Marsden (May 4, 1916 – December 18, 1981), of New York City, New York, scrub nurse; and Sergeant Murray M. Lemish (August 14, 1917 – June 21, 2012), of Queens, New York, technician. In January 1944, this surgical team was photographed in a forward area, using crates as an operating table, in a dugout similar to the 1 shown in this view. The photo was nationally syndicated. Contrary to Oughterson’s review, this team was exceptionally qualified, and all 4 doctors went on to distinguished careers in medicine. The 21st Evacuation Hospital, an affiliated unit of the University of Oklahoma, had an exceptionally well-qualified staff, including various specialists. The construction of this hospital was formally completed on March 8, 1944; however, the hospital had functioned for a limited number of patients since February 15. The normal capacity of the 21st Evacuation Hospital was 750 beds, with facilities available for an additional 250 beds. Casualties from all combat troops were cared for at this hospital. Since the 21st Evacuation Hospital was situated only 4,000 yards (3,650 meters) from the front lines at the nearest point of attack, forward of some artillery batteries, the majority of seriously wounded patients were sent directly to the hospital to avoid delay at the clearing stations. Other highly trained physicians who landed on Bougainville for medical deployment included Colonel Benjamin M. Baker (November 20, 1901 – July 14, 2003), of Norfolk, Virginia, who joined the surgery staff of the 21st Evacuation Hospital for a time, and Lieutenant Colonel Moses R. Kaufman (October 5, 1900 – May 20, 1977), Medical Corps, Consultant in Neuropsychiatry, United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific Area (USAFISPA), who treated battlefield psychosis. All patients from the island were evacuated through the 21st Evacuation Hospital once it was established. Nearly all patients evacuated to the rear were transported by air to Guadalcanal and cared for in 1 of 800-bed station hospitals. Patients requiring a long period of convalescence were evacuated from Bougainville by ship or air transport to Espiritu Santo and to New Caledonia. Photographer United States Army Sergeant Robert L. Miller (June 10, 1915 – February 3, 2004) enlisted in January 1942. He was a photographer for Frigidaire, then a subsidiary of General Motors, before the war. Sent overseas with the 161st Signal Photo Company, Miller bought 25 dollars of war bonds a month with his military pay. He served in the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and the Philippines. He was discharged on December 7, 1945. He returned to Frigidaire after the war and worked there as a photographer for 30 years. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1552.jpg |
| Image Size | 829.76 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2904 x 2395 |
| Photographer | Robert L. Miller |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 13, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Bougainville |
| Country | Solomons |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-187247 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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