James R. Odrowski - The battle of Buffalo Wallow : the Japanese attack on the 44th general hospital in World War 11 - Leyte, Philippines December, 1944

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Copyright 2020 James R. Odrowski

Seven Cedars Press
Lenexa, Kansas

All rights reserved.

Kindle Edition

Cover: 44th General Hospital photo with doctors, nurses, officers and enlisted men. Lt. Edward Odrowski (authors Dad) is in the middle, third row from bottom, fourth man from the left. Lt. Walter Teague is on the same row, second man from the left. Colonels Weston and Waddell, first row from the left.

All photos and illustrations, except where noted, are the property of the author.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Thanks to those who made this book possible, particularly the veterans who took the time to tell their stories, and the many historians whove painstakingly documented the context of the vast and complex conflict known as World War II.

Special thanks to my wonderful wife Colleen who put up with the long hours spent by me on this project. She is truly inspiring; nothing can match the time I spend with her. I look forward to returning to the trout streams of Wyoming with her, very soon.

My admiration goes out to Lt. Col. Walter A. Teague, U.S. Army Medical Administrative Corps (MAC) and Captain Eda A. Teague, U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) who served with the 44th General Hospital. After their retirement, they worked diligently to document the story of their unit. They also spoke at schools, sharing their stories of serving in a military medical unit with many young students. Walter, an avid photographer, returned with over 300 photos that captured the people and places described in this book. The Teagues archive is currently housed at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison, WI. It includes memories from other 44th General Hospital veterans, including Drs. Chet Gjertson, Ray LaFauci, Jackman Pyre, Edward Birge, James Bingham, and Herb Pohle. The 44ths nurses who told their stories included Eda Teague, Ida Bechtold and Emily LaDuke.

Chet Gjertson and Walter and Eda Teague also left recorded interviews at the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. They can be found online at http://www.loc .gov/vets/ . Also, thanks to Colleen Janes, writing about her Dad, Richard C. Janes, who was a supply sergeant with the 44th. She shared her Dads stories on a blog site, https://potrackrose.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/guest-post- battle-of-buffalo-wallow-wwii/ .

I heard my Dad mention the names of fellow veterans in his stories. Although I didnt get to meet them in person, I feel like I got to know them all. Their humility and sense of humor came through in their memoirs. My Dad, also an avid photographer, brought back over 200 photos from the War. Some of these are provided in this book. They provide a unique glimpse of the people, places and events he experienced during the War. Thanks to my sister Rita who preserved many of Dads photos.

I appreciate the veterans who wrote about their experiences in the Pacific Theatre, particularly those who served in the same campaigns as my Dad. They provided valuable insights into the events they shared. These include Donald O. Dencker, who served in the U.S. Armys 96th Infantry Division. Private Dencker described the events he experienced on Leyte in his book Love Company: Infantry Combat Against the Japanese, World War II . Also Dr. George Sharpe, who provided a combat physicians view of the war in the Philippines, in his excellent book Brothers Beyond Blood . Sally Hitchcock Pullman provided a nurses viewpoint in her book called Letters Home: Memoirs of One Army Nurse in the Southwest Pacific in World War II . Sally followed the same path as the 44th, and was assigned to the unit at the end of the War.

Another very sobering account of the War was provided by two courageous women of the Philippines. They recounted their painful memories of sexual abuse by the Japanese military as comfort women. Maria Rosa Henson told her story in Comfort Woman: Slave of Destiny. Remedios Felias, with the help of Chieko Takemi, wrote and illustrated her similar memories in The Hidden Battle of Leyte: The Picture Diary of a Girl taken by the Japanese Military . Their work brought to light the atrocities committed against them and over 200,000 other young female victims during the War.

I greatly appreciate the historians and authors who helped me connect the historical context to my Dads stories. Their painstaking research was of great value. The key authors and their works included Nathan N. Prefers very comprehensive Leyte 1944: The Soldiers Battle , Clayton Chuns Leyte 1944: Return to the Philippines , G. Rottmans and A. Takizawas Japanese Paratroop Forces of World War II , and Gene Eric Saleckers Blossoming Silk Against the Rising Sun: U.S. and Japanese Paratroopers at War in the Pacific in WWII.

Special thanks to The National Museum of the Pacific War, located in Fredericksburg, Texas, and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum located in Madison, Wisconsin, for their excellent exhibits and collections.

A warning to the reader. Ive included graphic depictions of the realities of the War. Also, when recounting the stories of the veterans, I wanted to reflect their language and feelings of the times. They had been engaged for over four years in a brutal battle with a very determined enemy. I mean no disrespect towards the present-day Japanese people when quoting the veterans. The Japanese people have been great allies and economic partners since the War. My son, currently serving in the U.S. Navy, spent a number of years stationed in Japan. The citizens have been very warm and welcoming to him.

Last, but not least, I appreciate the time my Dad took to tell me his stories of the War. Although he enjoyed his children, grandchildren, hobbies, and business career, it was evident from his stories that the War was the greatest adventure of his life. I appreciate that my Mom also provided her perspective of the times, describing her life as a newly-wed Army wife. Her stories helped me understand what it was like on the home front, caring for a young son while helping her parents run their corner grocery store. She experienced three tense and anxious years, waiting while Dad and both of her brothers served in the Pacific Theatre. Also, thanks to my friends, Larry, Terry, and K.C., who enjoyed listening to Dads stories as much as he liked telling them. Dad appreciated the opportunity to share the experience of the War with our generation.

Walter Teague, reminiscing about his and his wife Edas service with the 44th General Hospital stated,

It is with the 44th that we share common memories about a group of very uncommon people. It was an honor to be with such splendid men and women during the most memorable part of our service. We are sure it was a never-to-be-forgotten time to all who served with us. Fearing the truth of Caesars law that, the evil that men do lives after them, the good is often interred with their bones, we hope that an accurate and official record of the 44ths service in the Pacific will be preserved. In this, we are all challenged by these lines from the Iliad , Now, though numberless fates of death beset us which no mortal can escape or avoid, let us go forward together, and either we shall give honor to one another, or another to us.

For my Dad, Walter, Eda, and the rest of those who served in the 44th General Hospital, what follows is my effort to tell your story, to be the other that gives honor to you for your service and courage.

Cheers!

James R. Odrowski
September 2, 2020, V-J Day
The 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II

Preface

Ive read that for the most part the veterans of World War II didnt want to talk about it. Many felt that if you werent there, you wouldnt understand. Some were tormented by the memories of what they saw and what they had to do. Some were racked with guilt, asking why they lived and their buddies didnt. Some just wanted to get on with their lives, feeling fortunate to have made it back alive.

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