About this Unit
The 395th Evacuation Hospital was a U.S. Army medical unit activated during World War II to provide critical care and treatment to wounded soldiers near the front lines. The unit deployed to the European Theater, where it supported Allied operations following the D-Day landings, moving forward with advancing troops to establish temporary hospitals. Its personnel treated thousands of casualties, performing life-saving surgeries under challenging battlefield conditions. The 395th earned commendations for its vital role in sustaining combat effectiveness and saving lives throughout the war.
Historical Facts
• World War II Origins: The 395th Evacuation Hospital was activated on 1 June 1943 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, as part of the U.S. Army’s expanded medical support for overseas operations.
• European Theater Service: The unit deployed to the European Theater of Operations, providing medical support to U.S. and Allied forces following the D-Day invasion.
• Normandy Campaign: The 395th landed in France shortly after D-Day and set up hospital operations close to the front lines, treating casualties from the battle of Normandy.
• Mobile Medicine: As an evacuation hospital, the 395th was semi-mobile, able to move and establish new locations as the front lines advanced, often operating under difficult and dangerous conditions.
• Battle of the Bulge: During the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944, the 395th played a crucial role in treating large numbers of wounded soldiers during the surprise German offensive.
• Staff Diversity: The hospital staff included doctors, nurses, orderlies, and support personnel, many of whom were decorated for their bravery and dedication under fire.
• Prisoner of War Care: The 395th also treated wounded German prisoners of war, upholding the Geneva Conventions and providing humane medical care to all casualties.
• Postwar Return: After the end of hostilities in Europe, the 395th helped care for liberated Allied prisoners and civilians affected by the war before returning to the United States and being inactivated in late 1945.
• Reactivation and Reserve Service: The 395th was later reactivated as a unit in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving as a training and support hospital for decades during the Cold War era.
• Legacy and Honors: The 395th Evacuation Hospital received campaign participation credits and commendations for its service, and its legacy is preserved in unit histories, reunions, and military medical museums.
