American Base Hospital No. 20

While the United States had not yet formally joined the First World War, many were anticipating its inevitable entry. The University of Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the American Red Cross and the War Department, began organizing Base Hospital No. 20. in September 1916.[2] Recruitment of personnel and raising of money to purchase equipment began in earnest. Lt. Col. John B. Carnett was put in charge of organizing the unit and set to work raising the US$25,000 (US$670,000 in 2023) required to purchase the minimum equipment required for a peacetime hospital.[3] Simultaneously, the following staff were recruited to fill key roles: Col. Edward Martin, Director; Lt. Col. Eldridge L. Eliason, Chief of the Surgical Service; Lt. Col. George M. Piersol, Chief of the Medical Service; Edith B. Irwin, Chief Nurse; Lt. Col Thomas H. Johnson, as the Commanding Officer; and, Maj. Sherman M. Craiger, Quarter-master.[4] In addition, sixty-five nurses and 153 enlisted men volunteered to serve the hospital. The enlisted men were under the charge of Maj. John H. Musser Jr. (son of John Herr Musser) and Maj. Philip F. Williams.[5] Space was required to feed and house all of these people and the Athletic Association and Students’ Training House at the University were given over for their use when they arrived in late 1917.[5]

In preparation for their duties, a variety of training activities were undertaken. All personnel received at least five weeks hospital training as orderlies and anesthetists, as well as full instruction in practical first aid from Col. Eliason and were required to be able to apply splints, bandages, and dressings.[5] Irwin volunteered for active duty with the U.S. Army Walter Reid Hospital in Washington, D.C. to familiarize herself with the operations of an army hospital prior to arrival in France. [5]

After the war was formally declared, more equipment and funds were required. While the initial peacetime amount had been covered by a donation from the Harrison Fund, more would be required.[5] Carnett and others were able to raise just over $110,000 USD, plus $40,000 (together $150,000 would be $4,030,000 in 2023) worth of equipment for the Hospital.[5]

With personnel trained and all the necessary funds and equipment, the whole operation left the University for Camp Merritt, New Jersey on 1 April 1918.[5] During their three weeks in New Jersey, they were joined by the nurses, dietitians and three civilian stenographers, who had been stationed at Ellis Island, and finally on 22 April, they all set sail on the USS Leviathan.[5]

The voyage to France was uneventful, and they reached Brest on 2 May 1918.[5] After a few days at Camp Pontanezen, they reached their final destination of Châtel-Guyon on May 7.[5] The hospital had been assigned a number of hotels and other buildings and the first month was spent cleaning and repairing the buildings for use. They officially opened on 30 May 1918, which coincided with Decoration Day. Within the first two weeks they were able to accept 200 patients, and 500 after 4 weeks. Eventually, they would regularly treat over 2000.[5]

Patients arrived on hospital trains, where they were checked and assigned based on space available. The patients were classified by disease or injury and organized in separate wards organized by medical, surgical, ophthalmological, laryngological and urological services, while a mobile team dealt with walking cases.[6] The hospital treated battle wounds, exposure to mustard, phosgene, and chlorine gas, as well as contagious and infectious diseases.[7] It was noted that their very first patient was suffering from influenza, and that the hospital overall suffered lightly from the fall flu. [8]In addition to regular duties, they were one of three hospitals designated for supervising suspected tuberculosis cases.[8]

The largest single number of patients to arrive in one day came on July 25 from the Battle of Château-Thierry (1918), 587 at the time. While the most patients at one time in the hospital was either 2153 or 2544 on 10 October 1918.[5][9] During their time in operation they received wounded soldiers from the St. Mihiel salient, Verdun, Argonne, and others.[9]

Even after hostilities concluded, No. 20 continued to tend to the wounded. At the end of 1918, there were still over a thousand people receiving treatment or recovering.[9] The Hospital formally closed on 20 January 1918, when the last patient was discharged on 20 January 1919. [5]

In the nine months that the hospital was operational, it received 8,703 patients, only 65 of whom died, plus the death of one staff member. The high rate of successful surgeries was attributed to the organization and efficiency of the operation.[10]

Following the close of the hospital, the operation was dismantled and personnel were transferred or began to return home. The majority of the personnel left on the USS Freedom, 13 April 1919 and formally demobilized at Camp Dix, 5 May 1919. [11]

The need for medical staff closer to the front prompted the forming of a number of smaller units from the staff at Base Hospital No. 20. The two major units were two Surgical Operating Teams, which consisted of a surgeon, their assistant, an anesthetist, a senior nurse, a second nurse, and two orderlies.[10]

Commanding Officers[11]

• Col. Thomas H. Johnson, M. C., November 30, 1917, to July 28, 1918.
• Lieut. Col. George M. Piersol, M. C., July 29, 1918, to November 3, 1918.
• Lieut. Col. John M. Carnett, M. C., November 4, 1918, to demobilization.

Chief of surgical service

• Lieut. Col. Eldridge L. Eliason, M. C.
• Capt. John E. Kelly, M. C.

Chief of medical service

• Lieut. Col. George M. Piersol, M. C.
• Maj. J. H. Musser Jr., M. C.