Stepping foot into Europe

Aboard the USS Pendleton, the 128th Evacuation Hospital crossed the English Channel to France. Landing prematurely on June 10, 1944 due to an air attack from the Luftwaffe, the first members of the 128th step foot onto Utah beach falling in with the 42nd Field Hospital.

Bouteville, approximately six miles from the coast, the 128th set up June 11 to take its first patients. POWs, civilians, and GIs were all part of the pool of patients that the 128th cared for.

With cold weather, new challenges arose for the unit as the headed to Belgium. Mud, rain, and fog caused terrain difficulty. Wood, sacks, and branches were used to make the ground passable for ambulances to move from ward to ward.

The 128th saw the fall of the German city of Aachen and in December experienced raging Battle of the Bulge. German paratroopers dropped only a few miles away from the 128th location, anti-aircraft fire throughout the night eventually moving to Verviers with threatening enemy forces.

At the end of the ETO, some members were concerned about redeployment to the the Pacific but was told they would be going home. The 128th embarked back to the States December 28, 1945.