240^th Medical Bn, 64^th Medical Group

240^th Medical Battalion Records  General Order 1943, 6 September 1943

This unit was attached to the 6^th Medical Group 31 July 1944

INFORMATION FROM 64^th MEDICAL GROUP RECORDS:

                Page 7. History of the 64^th Medical Group 1944

                “… In order to be in closer contact with units supported a move was completed 25 December to Gerouville, Belgium where unit remained for balance of period.  Effective 26 December Hq & Hq Det, 64^th Medical Group was assigned to Third US Army.

                26^th December        Evacuation of 11the Armored Division

                27^th December        101^st Airborne Division

                29 December          Evacuation of 17^th Airborne Division

                30 December          Ambulance support to 87^th Infantry Div.

                At end of year 1944, the 64^th Medical Group was furnishing the following medical support to troops of VIII Corps;

                Evacuation of the 9^th, 10^th & 11^th Armored Divisions

                Evacuation of the 87^th & 28^th infantry Divisions

                One Clearing Company operating in the Meuse River Defense Sector

                One Clearing Company Platoon in support of 110^th Evacuation Hospital

                107^th Evacuation Hospital operating in Sedan

Attached at the close of 1944 were as follows:

                Hq, 1^st & 2^nd HU 42^nd Field Hospital

                Hq & Hq Detachment 170^th Medical Battalion

                Hq & Hq Detachment 240^th Medical Battalion

                580^th Medical Ambulance Company

                581^st Medical Ambulance Company

                590^th Medical Ambulance Company

                595^th Medical Ambulance Company

                419^th Medical Collecting Company

                606^th Medical Clearing Company

                623^rd Medical Clearing Company (less 1 Platoon)

Map lists Gerouville

                Group Headquarters Site 25 December 44 – 14 January 45

Note:  Extreme cold during period caused heavy number trench foot and frost bite cases.  Evacuation slow because of icy  conditions.

Group Headquarters Site 14 January – 31 January 1945                    Spa

Group Headquarters Site      01 February – 7 February 1945              Aywaille”

In a report for activities 1 January to 30 June 1945 dated 30 June 1945 for the Medical Group:

                “At the beginning of the period this headquarters was located in a schoolhouse in Gerouville, Belgium (P335160).  The unit was assigned Third US Army and attachments were as follows:

                Hq & Hq Detachment 170^th Medical Battalion

                Hq & Hq Detachment 240^th Medical Battalion

                580^th Ambulance Company

                581^st Ambulance Company

                590^th Ambulance Company

                2^nd Platoon 623^rd Medical Clearing Company

                606^th Medical Clearing Company

                419^th Medical Collecting Company

                42^nd Field Hospital

                107^th Evacuation Hospital

“The primary mission at this time was the providing of Medical services in rear of troops of VIII Corps and providing Medical support to the Meuse River Sector.  VII Corps troops supported the 9^th, 10^th & 11^th Armored Divisions, the 28^th and 87^th Infantry Division and the 17^th and 101^st Airborne Divisions.  The 606^th Medical Clearing Company was operating in support of the Meuse River Sector, the 42^nd Field Hospital was in the process of re-organizing and re-equipping, and the 107^th Evacuation Hospital was established in Sedan, France in support of all troops in the VIII Corps.

                During the early part of Jabuary, the weather presented many handicaps to evacuation.  The roads were icy, visibility was poor and continuous snowfalls hampered evacuation.  Casualty hauls were extremely long because of the inadvisability of moving Evacuation Hospitals in the forward zones.  The German counter-offensive in the Ardennes had stopped but it was not certain that another attempt to expand the bulge would not be made.  To relieve the evacuation strain Evacuation Hospitals closest to the Division Clearing Stations were used during the hours of darkness and those further to the rear were used during daylight.  Casualties during the early part of January were very heavy with a result that all ambulances of the Group were committed.  At various times additional ambulances were needed, however renewed efforts on the part of the ambulance drivers compensated for this need.

                As of 10 1200 January 1945 (1200 hours of the 10^th of January) 1945, the 64^th Medical Group was relieved of its mission with Third US Army and assigned to First US Army.  At that time this unit was evacuating CCA & CCC 9^th Armored Division, 28^th Infantry Division, 11^th Armored Division, 635^th Medical Clearing Company, CCB 10^th Armored Division, 3 HU, 60^th Field Hospital, 606^th Medical Clearing Company, 87^th Infantry Division, 17^th & 101^st Airborne Division and 4^th Armored Division.

                Until 151800 January 1945 (1800 hours 15 January), the 64^th Medical Group was not operational.”

                “… the unit departed by motor convoy 13 January and opened Command Post (CP) at AYWAILLE, Belgium (K540102).”

25 Dec 1944            CP 64^th Medical Group Sedan

26 Dec 1944            CP Gerouville

                                Administrative and tactical supervision of attached units.  Evacuation of 28^th Infantry Division Clearing Station, 101^st Airborne Division, 429^th Medical Collecting Company, 42^nd Field Hospital, 635^th Clearing Station,  CCA 7^th Armored Division, CCA 11^th Armored Division, CCA and CCC 9^th Armored Division.

27 Dec 1944            CP 64^th at Gerouville

                                590^th Ambulance Company has 6 Ambulances 240 Medical Battalion – Gerouville

                                595^th Ambulance Company has 7 Ambulances 240 Medical Battalion – Gerouville

                                580^th Ambulance Company – Gerouville

                                581^st Ambulance Company - Gerouville

The above information is contained in Boxes 21670, 21671 64^th Medical Group and Boz 21375 240^th Medical Battalion at the National Archives, College Park Maryland, Record Group 407, Entry 427.

Box 21673 contains Liaison Reports of the 240^th Medical Battalion and 64^th Medical Group.  These reports give the weather and other information per day.

                                                                                                All the best, John D. Bowen, Researcher