The Physician to Soldier Pipeline · Episode 5 of 14 · 26 min
Available
The wartime Procurement and Assignment Service could forbid an American doctor from taking a commission but could not make one serve. With recruitment collapsing in 1943, the government bought the medical schools instead. The common story that the Army gutted its medical pipeline in February 1944 is reversed: professional enrollment actually peaked in March 1944.
Who's who
- Frank H. LaheyBoston surgeon who chaired the service's directing board
- Harvey B. StoneVice chairman whose confession showed he could not move surplus doctors
- Paul V. McNuttChairman of the War Manpower Commission
- James C. Magee+1 more episodeArmy Surgeon General in 1942
- Ross T. McIntireNavy Surgeon General and the President's physician
- George C. Marshall+1 more episodeArmy Chief of Staff who recommended the 1944 cut
Where it happens
- War Manpower Commission, Washington, D.C.Political home of the Procurement and Assignment Service
- New York City+13 more episodesHeld surplus doctors the service could not move
- France+1 more episodeDestination of the 134,000 trained men Marshall wanted
Timeline
- November 1941Procurement and Assignment Service established
- November 7, 1942Service fixes one physician per 1,500 civilians as the state minimum
- 1943Medical Corps strength rises by only 4,734, after 24,252 in 1942
- February 10, 1944Marshall recommends withdrawing all but 30,000 trainees
- March 1944Professional enrollment peaks at 21,581, 14,042 in medicine
- July 1945Medical Corps strength peaks at about 48,000
Still debated
The number of men withdrawn in early 1944 is disputed, and so are the V-12 participation totals and the exact date of the public announcement. No official sentence exempted medical students; the case rests on converging evidence.
