Iowa Physicians in WWII

December 7, 1941 is indelibly etched on our memories as the date of the beginning of World War II.  Though war was officially declared on that date preparation had been in progress for over a year preceding the Pearl Harbor incident.  The National Guard had been inducted into Federal Service on February 10, 1941 and with it went a complement of 46 practicing Iowa Physicians with Colonel Earl Bushof Ames as Senior Officer.  Shortly thereafter Reserve Officers received orders for duty as their units became activated.  The Selective Service System had been inaugurated and following is an abstract of its operation in Iowa.

"The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 was signed by the President and became effective on September 16, 1940.  Lieutenant Colonel Robert S. Shane, Medical Corps, was called to active duty and assigned as Medical Officer of Iowa State Headquarters, Selective Service System.  His first duty was the selection of physicians in each of the counties to function as examining physicians, members of medical advisory boards, and members of boards of appeal.  This was promptly accomplished through the whole-hearted cooperation of the Iowa State Medical Society.  The physicians selected were nominated by the Governor and appointed by the President of the United States.

Seven hundred forthy-three physicians served as examining physicians, 130 as members of medical advisory boards and 6 as members of boards of appeal.  Forty six died during the operation of the law.  It is quite probably that additional physicians rendered valuable service, although not formally appointed.  All were relieved as of March 31, 1947.  All service connection with the examination of registrants was performed without compensation.

The patriotic and unselfish service of the overworked members of the medical profession, and the genuine cooperation of officials of the Iowa State Medical Society, contributed materially to the success of the Selective Service System in Iowa.  It is estimated that in excess of 300,000 physical examinations to determine qualification for service in the armed forces were given by the uncompensated examining physicians and medical advisory board members during the operation of the law."

With the tremendous numbers of men being taken into service it was apparent that a great number of doctors would be needed in the camps, on the ships and later on the battlefields.  The existing Tables of Organization rapidly became obsolete.  The numerical need for Medical Officers was revised again and again.  Newspapers were splashing headlines that the doctors would be drafted.  The people at home, the civilians, began to cry that their medical care would be disrupted.  However, the American Medical Association with all its component State Societies made available to the Government all data which had been secured from every practicing physician in the country and soon a plan was evolved whereby, through voluntary enlistment, the quota of needed Medical Officers was attained.

Catagorically the age of 45 was set as the upper limit at which a physician should be physically fit for active duty.  Many Iowa physicians over this age volunteereed and served with distinction and it may be truthfully stated that many hundreds of doctors, whose zeal surpassed their physique, attempted in devious ways to enter service only to find that the inelastic qualifications of physical standards barred their path to active military duty.

 

 

SOURCE: "One Hundred Years of Iowa Medicine: Commemorating The Centenary of the Iowa State Medical Society 1850-1950"