| Original caption: “Marines, injured in Iwo Jima fighting, await evacuation to Guam by plane.” With 3 divisions, plus corps troops and other supporting units committed in a heavily fortified area of less than 8 square miles, high casualties were expected. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th Medical Battalions were integral parts of the divisions. V Amphibious Corps (VAC) had its organic medical battalion, Evacuation Hospital Number 1, and the 38th Field Hospital. The latter, an Army unit, originally was slated to participate only as a part of the Garrison Force. Mounting concern regarding casualties, however, caused assignment of this hospital to the Landing Force. After the Marianas operation, the Marine medical battalions were each authorized a 100 percent increase in patient facilities and equipment, from 72 to 144 beds. The 3 divisions of VAC thus could accommodate 432 casualties. Corps, with the attached Army hospital, could care for 3,160. The 8th Field Depot carried cots, tents, blankets, and mess gear for an additional 1,500. 2 hospital ships, USS Samaritan (AH-10) and USS Solace (AH-5), and USS Pinkney (APH-2) a Tryon-class evacuation transport, were originally assigned for the operation, as was the vehicle landing ship USS Ozark (LSV-2) which would serve as an auxiliary hospital ship. 1 other hospital ship, USS Bountiful (AH-9) was later scheduled for Iwo. In addition, 4 hospital Landing Ship, Tank (Hospital) LST(H)s were to be stationed 2,000 yards (1,800 meters) off the beaches to serve as evacuation control centers. This was planned as the 1st step in the process of evacuation from the beach. There casualties would be logged, given additional emergency treatment, then transferred to other ships for further care. landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP)s would be available as ambulance boats to carry patients to the transports (which provided limited hospital facilities) and hospital ships. Casualties were to be taken to Saipan and Guam, where a total of 5,000 beds were available. Air transportation was scheduled as soon as air strips were ready to accommodate transport planes. In early Pacific operations whole blood for transfusions in a combat area had been obtained from on-the-spot personnel. However, with the establishment of a whole-blood distribution center on Guam it was now possible to provide for a vitally important mobile blood bank at the target area. Early in January a mobile blood bank facility, consisting of 1 medical officer and 2 corpsmen, was attached to the corps medical battalion. Operating on an evacuation control LST, this bank was to act as a local blood distribution center for ships receiving casualties and for medical units ashore. When the situation ashore permitted, this bank, complete with refrigerating equipment, would move in and function until regular air delivery of whole blood from Guam could be established. Paralleling the problem of care and evacuation was the accurate reporting of casualties. In some past operations many wounded were long carried as missing in action because their whereabouts remained unknown for several months. VAC took steps to prevent this situation at Iwo. The 4 LST(H)s, as the 1st link in the chain of shore-to-ship evacuation, were to maintain complete records of receipt and disposition of casualties. Troop commanders on each transport were to assign a clerical Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) to record and report all casualties brought on board. All ships were requested to submit reports of casualties to VAC Headquarters; air evacuees were to be reported by the air evacuation officer. A casualty section of 1 officer and 2 NCOs was provided at corps to process these reports. Detailed plans were issued concerning the collection and interment of friendly dead, burial of enemy dead, establishment of cemetery sites, and graves registration. This photo was taken by Lieutenant Paul G. Dorsey (June 18, 1902 – January 16, 1968), attached to Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Edward Steichen (March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973).” | |
| Image Filename | wwii1774.jpg |
| Image Size | 581.01 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2624 x 1961 |
| Photographer | Paul Dorsey |
| Photographer Title | United States Marine Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | March 1, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Iwo Jima |
| Country | Bonins |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-80-G-476381 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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