1942 Correspondence from an Army Doctor in OCS Training to His Wife

Item Details

1944

A collection of 24 ALS and 2 telegrams from Captain Alfred Solomon, M.D. to his wife ('Fanny dearest') in New York regarding conditions and practices at the Medical Administrative Corps (MAC) Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Camp Barkeley near Abilene, Texas. Established in 1941 as a training camp for infantry and supply troops, by 1942 an officer candidate school (OCS) to train medical administrators was established there. 

The correspondence follows Solomon from his travel to Abilene to his departure for Springfield six weeks later as he describes the camp ('This country is very flat and you can see for miles in every direction'), the training ('It really is surprising to see how rapidly a group like this is molded when in the hands of experts'); and complains about the weather, the food, the classes ('suited to minds of high school age'), and his separation from his wife in New York. He shares an interesting conversation with MRTC officers who had been overseas ('One thing they are all consistent about and that is that the Japs do not respect the Medical Cross; in fact they pick it as a target on the theory that loss of medical personnel is a great demoralizing factor, as is the loss of officers. For that reason, nothing is marked and no one wears arm bands or any officer's insignia; they all carry carbines. The Germans, when they are on the defensive, are very careful about respecting medical installations and personnel.')  

At the completion of his training in early February Solomon was transferred to O'Reilly General Hospital in Springfield, Missouri to be joined by his wife. Meanwhile, Camp Barkeley was converted into a POW Camp which eventually held 840 German prisoners of war.