The United States Army Ambulance Service (USAAS) was a unit of the United States Army established by the United States Department of War during World War I. It was established by General Order No. 75 of the War Department in May 1917 and was headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
| United States Army Ambulance Service | |
|---|---|
 An early insignia of the service. | |
| Active | 1917 to 1919 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
It incorporated the volunteer sections of the American Field Service, which was formed prior to the American entry into World War I, and provided medical services to injured French, British, and Italian soldiers during World War I.[1]
In World War II, the unit aided the British and the Italians.
Structure edit
Each section was composed of approximately "45 men, 20 Ford ambulances, 1 Ford touring car, 1 truck, and a kitchen trailer."[1]
The number of officers peaked at 209 officers in November 1918. In the course of demobilization, the number was reduced to three by July 1920.[2] It was organized into 160 sections, each called Sanitary Squad Units. The Sanitary Squad Unit typically supported a division, or about 10,000 soldiers.
References edit
- ^ a b "Report of the Surgeon-General U.S. Army to the Secretary of War", Report of the Surgeon-General of the Army, 2, United States Government Printing Office: 1484, 1919, hdl:2027/mdp.39015073470232
- ^ Ginn, Richard Van Ness (1997). The History of the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps. Office of the Surgeon General and Center of Military History, United States Army. hdl:2027/uc1.b4267703. ISBN 0160453534. OCLC 609748028. CMH 30-19-1. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
External links edit
- Bodfish, Robert Ware (1919), A History of Section 647, United States Army Ambulance Service With the French Army, Worcester, Massachusetts: The Stobbs Press
- Ireland, Merritte Weber (1925), "Chapter VI: The United States Army Ambulance Service", The Medical Department of the United States Army in the World War, vol. VIII, Washington: Government Printing Office
- Smucker Jr., John R. (1967), The history of the United States Army Ambulance Service with the French and Italian armies, 1917-1918-1919, Allentown, Pa.: United States Army Ambulance Service Association