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Volume 31 | September 27, 2022 |
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In August, the Foundation received approval to extend our Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant through December 2023. As we refocus the impact of this grant on other areas of immediate preservation needs, we are looking forward to seeing the impact this grant will have on the AMEDD Museum. Currently, the Foundation is working to focus on preservation care in the galleries, which will involve removing the current gallery carpeting and sealing the concrete subflooring before installing new flooring. This will be a major undertaking as all items and display cases will have to be removed from the galleries during this project. In the long term, we will see better control over mildew, mold, and pest maintenance that directly impacts the preservation and conservation of the artifacts on display. The new flooring to be installed will also have acoustical dampening characteristics to ensure the galleries do not become cavernous echo chambers. Another additional benefit will be that when re-installing the galleries, the museum and staff will be able to update and modernize the storylines in both galleries with a new floorplan. |
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Mildew bloom in the galleries on September 1, 2022. These blooms pose a threat to the artifacts in the museum as anything made of sensitive materials like paper, textile, canvas on artworks, wooden objects, etc., are all exposed to possible contamination by the mildew, the pests that thrive on mold and mildew, and the moisture causing the mildew to grow. |
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Hispanic Heritage Month: Sept 15-Oct 15 |
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Here are the stories of three individuals from the AMEDD who have made significant impacts on Army Medicine. These biographies were originally published by the U.S. Army Medical Department Center of History and Heritage. |
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Photos courtesy of AMEDD Center of History and Heritage, Archive Branch, Joe Diaz Collection, MA 067. |
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First In Vietnam: A Mexican-American Soldier Medic’s Perspective |
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SSG Jose “Joe” Diaz, a native of San Antonio, became a paratrooper in 1957. He was one of the first combat medics to arrive in South Vietnam in May 1965 with the 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate) during the “Americanization” of the war in Vietnam. Diaz was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment and participated in many early American “search and destroy” missions against the Viet Cong. During his time in country, he carried a camera with him to document his experiences. Eventually taking the scores of photographs, Diaz created a photo-journal, a sampling of which is currently on display in the Modern Medicine Gallery at the AMEDD Museum.
Over 80,000 Hispanic soldiers served in the Army during the Vietnam War. This was part of a tradition stretching back to the Civil War and continuing today. Diaz was one of the many bilingual MexicanAmerican soldiers who served in the AMEDD. He wrote captions for his photographs in English and Spanish, sometimes mixing the two into a bit of “Spanglish.” Diaz’s photo-journal is a unique record of the early days of the war in Vietnam that illustrates the historic diversity of the AMEDD team.
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Alfred Perez served as an enlisted medic in the Texas National Guard until 10 August 1944 where he was a 1st SGT of a medical detachment. He was given a battlefield promotion on 11 August 1944 to LT. He served 28 months in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) and was awarded 5 campaign stars on his ETO ribbon. He was also awarded a Combat Medic Badge. There are 3 certificates for the Bronze Stars. Two are definitely with “V” motif; one citation includes ”heroism in ground combat,” for actions on 9 November 1944 in France and the 2nd for actions on 19 March 1945 in Germany. The 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster states is for “Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations against the Enemy in the Mediterranean Theater on or about 9 SEP 1943.”
According to his records, he went on to serve as “Medical Unit Commander: Assigned to the 1st BN, 142d Infantry 36th Infantry Division, as the Assistant BN Surgeon responsible for administration [. . . ]. Supervised personnel and sanitation of displaced persons camps in Germany.” Perez received a Unit Citation Certificate for actions on 12 Germany 1944 in France. He was also “Assistant Executive Officer at Brooke General Hospital from October 1945 through February 1946.” In 1955, Perez was promoted to Major.
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Major General Lester Martinez-Lopez, Commanding General U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick. Major General Lester Martinez-Lopez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He graduated from medical school in 1978 at the School of Medicine in the University of Puerto Rico and completed his Master's Degree in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in 1983.
Major General Martinez joined the active Army in 1978 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he received his specialty training in family practice. In 1994, he became the commander of the 86th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY. From May 1995 to October 1995, he served as Commander, Task Force 86 (Medical) and Chief Medical Officer, United States Mission in Haiti. From June 1996 to May 1998, Major General Martinez served as Director of Health Services/Commander, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity and Commander, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. On 20 May 1998, he assumed command of the Martin Army Hospital and was PROFIS Commander of the 14th Field Hospital, Fort Benning, GA. During November and December 1998, he also served as the JTF Aguila Surgeon (Hurricane Mitch Relief) in Central America. From June 1999 to January 2000, he served as the FORSCOM Command Surgeon. He was in command of the United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, from 24 January 2000 to March 2002. On 22 March 2002, he assumed command of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, Maryland.
His personal awards, decorations and badges include the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Senior Flight Surgeon Badge. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Major General Martinez is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.
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Victory over Japan (VJ) Day 77th Anniversary |
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September 2 marked the 77th anniversary of Victory Over Japan. Did you know that there are three days this is celebrated? The first two are August 14/15 when President Harry Truman announced the unconditional surrender of Japan. In the Pacific, due to time zone differences, this date is August 15. Additionally, September 2 is recognized as Victory Over Japan Day due to the official surrender ceremonies taking place aboard the USS Missouri on this day in 1945. Supreme Commander of Allied Forces Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur signed the Instrument of Surrender for the United Nations, and Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz signed for the United States.
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MED2386: This artifact is a Japanese Army Sword and Scabbard that belonged to the Japanese Commanding Officer of Fukuoka Prisoner of War Camp #17. Captain Thomas H. Hewlett, a prisoner of war captured at Corregidor in May 1941, acquired the sword upon liberation of the camp on 2 September 1945. During his time in the camp, Hewlett provided improvised medical care to prisoners as critically needed medical supplies were withheld from prisoners. He used bicycle spokes to set fractures, maggots to fight gangrene, and light bulbs to keep pneumatic patients warm. |
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