Operation Saving Lives
Northwestern as the 12th General Hospital During World War II
The 12th General Hospital Unit, comprised of Northwestern University physicians and dentists, Chicago-area nurses and other health professionals as well as enlisted men from across the country, was officially activated on Jan. 28, 1942.
Following nearly a year of military and medical training at Fort Custer (Michigan), Fort Benjamin Harrison (Indiana) and Camp Kilmer (New Jersey), the unit was deployed first to the Algerian seaside resort, Ain-el-Turck, and then went on to treat patients in the Italian cities of Naples, Rome and Leghorn until the unit was deactivated on Sept. 15, 1945.
Location: Second Floor Study Area
Dates: Aug. 13, 2019 to present
Contact: ghsl-special
View the Image Gallery View the digital exhibit
The 12th General Hospital personnel treated nearly 30,000 patients over the course of World War II. Staff performed emergency surgeries, contended with outbreaks of infectious diseases like typhus and malaria, dealt with chronic medical issues aggravated by war, and addressed the high number of venereal disease cases among American troops. For their exemplary work, several members of the group were individually recognized for their service, and the unit as a whole was awarded the Meritorious Plaque.
This display is predominantly drawn from the collections of Michael L. Mason and James A. Conner, held at Northwestern’s Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center. It highlights the recruitment, training and professional and personal experiences of those in the 12th General Hospital.
Events
Galter celebrated the exhibit at a lunchtime event on Aug. 14, 2019, in Hughes Auditorium in the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center. Several surviving relatives of the 12th General Hospital Unit were in attendance, some coming from across the country to take part in the exhibit opening and celebration. During lunch, W. Sanders Marble, PhD, senior historian for the U.S. Army Office of the History of Medicine, presented on surgery and recovery during World War II.
Explore the Exhibits
- Recruitment - Learn how Northwestern physicians and nurses came together to form the 12th General Hospital Unit.
- Operating Room - Discover how surgeons adapted to the challenges of wartime medicine, treating patients under extraordinary conditions.
- On the Wards - Explore how nurses and medical staff provided compassionate care for wounded service members.
- Off Duty - See how members of the unit found moments of normalcy away from the demands of the hospital.
Credits
Curated by Gabrielle Barr, MIS, former National Library of Medicine Associate Fellow; Abebi Espinoza, MFA, former Special Collections Library Assistant; Karen Gutzman, MSLS, MA, Head, Research Assessment and Communications; Ramune Kubilius, MALS, AHIP, Collection Development / Special Projects Librarian; Corinne Miller, MLIS, Clinical Informationist; Annie Wescott, MLIS, Research Librarian; and Mary Anne Zmaczynski, MLIS, Head, Access Services.
Designed by Corinne Miller.
View sources and related materials on the digital exhibit website.