A Day in the Life of a Regimental Surgeon Episode 3, 12 March 1992 From Olden Times by Thomas M. Deas, M.D. Last week my story stopped with my Medics and I driving down the Sayre Hwy. in Mindanao, P.I. carrying 15 casualties, 4 of them litter cases, back to an Evac Hospital for rather needed surgery. It was just about midnight and as dark as the inside of a cave. We had just passed the first of three bridges protected by bridge guards. We had been told of "shooting and loud hollering" down at the "next bridge." We were in full blackout due to "bypassed Japanese" and more than occasional "sniping" at us by them. I had mentioned that we were "scared to death" but committed to seeing that these wounded riflemen reached an Evacuation Hospital which was about 15 more miles down the road. We were creeping slowly toward that second bridge-as cautiously as possible-lest we run into some enemy soldiers. Before we could realize it, "HALT"--and we had reached the second bridge. We gave the countersign and drove up to the bridge. They recommended that we be "Danged careful." They had seen some lights and heard shooting and hollering down at the next bridge. Seems as if I had heard that before. Since we had passed two of the three bridges, then all this problem was bound to be down at the third bridge, about a mile down the road. They certainly didn't have to warn us about "being careful." I believe we were so careful that we could have stepped on egg shells and not broken them! The road was better in this area, with less woods, so we could travel easier. There weren't any "tracks" and we made less noise. We traveled very cautiously-very, as we drove on. Then, as we rounded a curve, we saw some lights and heard loud talking. No shooting. We stopped. After a little, we discerned that the speech was all English, so we drove on down to the bridge, were challenged-giving the countersign. We drove down into a whole "Passel" of GI's milling around. It seems this was a unit of another Infantry Regt that was coming up to relieve us. They had failed to give the right countersign and the bridge guards thought them to be a group of Japanese. They shot into them. One officer was killed and another, a friend of mine, was wounded in the chest. He had a "sucking wound" so that he was very short of breath. Each breath caused some displacement of his heart and great vessels. It is a condition that needs immediate care. My Medics had that would stopped up, morphine given and plasma going before their Medics knew what to do. I knew that he had to be evacuated, for he might have severe internal bleeding and die shortly. I requisitioned one of their Jeeps, sat him on the front seat while I sat and held that Plasma bottle high. The road was easier and we moved more rapidly until we came to the Melita River where we had built that "two tracked sometime bridge." There we had to slow down, for each vehicle must be individually led over by flashlight. There had been no sniping of late and this Infantry Unit had come this way about 3 hours before. We felt fairly sure there would be no sniping here, but we surely gave a good target. Knowing such made for chill bumps and a lot os sweat before we traversed the river on that lazy S "bridge" of about 100 feet in length. It took about 20 minutes to cross the five vehicles over. From there on to the gorge was pretty easy driving. We arrived at about 2-2:30 AM and they were "lit up like a candle" as they worked 24 hrs a day building a roadway all vehicles could use to cross over. They were nearly through but we had to park our vehicles and be transported to the other side in a Trailer hooked to a pulley on a steel cable. They had radioed for ambulance and trucks to meet us. So by the time we were all across we were able to load up and ride to the Evac. Hospital. I have never been as glad to be in a hospital in my life! They "triaged" our casualties and began work. My boys and I were able to get something to eat and cots for the night. I don't believe we awoke till mid morn. Then we had real food for breakfast! As soon as breakfast was over I went to see the Division Surgeon and was assigned the Portable Surgical Hospital and the needed elements of the Medical Battalion. They started packing immediately. As soon as our business was completed, we hitched a ride back to that gorge and found they were able to let light vehicles cross, which meant that these Medical Units would be able to follow immediately. Meanwhile, we turned our Jeeps and truck around heading "home." It was right at 35 miles. We stopped and bathed in a beautiful creek, stopped and talked to two Generals on the way up (but I don't remember them getting up there for at least a week). Then I was able to read my 4-5 letters I had picked up-all from my wonderful wife. I still have the pictures she sent for my birthday (May 7-the next day). We were with our Regiment by mid afternoon and found them in a heck of a fight in some woods 4-5 miles north of Kibawe. My 1st Sgt. and I drove down to the edge of these woods, leaving the others about a mile behind with Regimental Hq. We had casualties running out of our ears. I set up a collecting point at Regt. Hq and we were working away taking care of these wounded-when, just about that time, all those needed Medical Units came in. The P.S.H. was set up and doing Surgery, with blood transfusions started, within 30 minutes. That last twenty four hours was certainly not wasted-but I know I shook off 5 pounds in that blackout ride! The Lord as so Gracious and Merciful! We didn't move for a week. We had some very hard fighting before we dislodged those Japanese. I lost seven or eight Medics who gave their lives here along with about 15 or more who were wounded, including one of Medical Officer, Captain Gifford. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas M. Deas, M.D. This was written by Dr. Thomas M. Deas in 1992, and was published in the Homer, Louisiana, Guardian Journal in three episodes on 29 February, 5 March, and 12 March 1992. Transcribed by Paul M. Webber on 11 January 2002 Home Page: http://home.pcisys.net/~pwebber/31_id/rtw.htm