September 1967

Summary - September 1967

To be written

September 6

The following story was published in St. Louis, MO. (Source: Dan Fisher)

SEPTEMBER 6, 1967

ARMY DOCTORS BRING SOUND TO LIVES OF VN DEAF-MUTES

LONG BINH

When two Army doctors stationed here and a St. Louis businessman teamed up to provide hearing aids for Vietnamese civilians, they did more than just bring sound into the lives of deaf-mutes. The physicians, Major Donald J. Lawrence and Captain Allen P. Wolff of the 44th Medical Brigade's 24th Evacuation Hospital, knew that deaf-mutes tend to be shunned by the Vietnamese. They were equally sure that hearing aids would make them normal, productive members of their society. "Although in the planning stage for months, our program didn't blossom into reality until Mr. W. Petty of Petty-Klien Company, St. Louis, donated more than $1,000 worth of hearing aids," said Major Lawrence. " After using all of our private funds to buy ear mold plastic and tools to form it with, and because hearing aids are relatively scarce here, we were at a loss as to where to get enough of them. I then contacted Mr. Petty and we soon received enough aids to get the program rolling," added Captain Wolff. Since then, 12 Vietnamese have been fitted with hearing aids. "These were the first to be fitted to the Vietnamese by any U.S. government agency," said Major Lawrence. A patient may make as many as eight visits to the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Clinic at 24th Evacuation Hospital to be fitted for a hearing aid. During this time Major Lawrence, who heads the ENT clinic, determines the extent and the type of hearing loss the patient has. "Because only organic hearing impediments can be corrected, we conduct tests designed to weed out those patients having psychological hearing losses," said Major Lawrence.

After the testing has been completed, the patient is fitted with a plastic ear mold that conducts the sound into the inner ear. "Because the position of the mold inside the ear must be precise for proper sound transmission and wearing comfort, it is sometimes necessary for a patient to return for an ear mold adjustment," said Major Lawrence. "Although Major Lawrence and I are rotating to the U.S. shortly, we hope to continue the program through Major Lawrence's successor. We will be acting as liaison to insure the procurement of hearing aids and component parts," said Captain Wolff. "There is need for a bigger program along these lines, because deafness seems to be more prevalent here than in the U.S." When the two physicians can obtain more hearing aids, they plan to assist the Deaf and Dumb School in Lai Thieu.

6 September

According to the Daily Staff Journal or Duty Officer's Log - DD1594 (see original below), this date:

1 0930 Talked with SGT Dennis - 199^th Awards concerning distribution of purplehearts to members of his command. Meeting set today his HQ - finalize plans and to who gives and cuts orders by special request.
Plan: 199^th furnishes certificates and metals and cuts orders, Gen signs - 24^th distributes. DBL

2 1255 Contact SGT Sellers - PBP - Provo Mar @ Tent 6 missing items and suspected Vietnamese female worker - MP starting through search program - MAJ Morse said 24^th nurse could strip search all suspected Vietnamese women. DBL

3 1300 Visited by new Group CO Col Maldonado to be. DBL

4 Discussed a new type revetment to be placed around wards and sleeping area.
This would be corrigated steel to a heighth of 4-6' filled with laterite cement mix. GDA

5 SUMMARY: All hospital duties were carried out in the normal perscribed manner with no unusual events other than as indicated. DBL

signed Douglas B. Lewis, 1LT, MSC, Adjutant

Copy of the actual Daily Staff Journal or Duty Officer's Log - DD1594 for this date.

Click for larger version.

September 26

Nguyen Thi Mien, a baby girl, and her twin sister, were born 2 months premature at the 24^th Evacuation Hospital. She was the smallest of the tiny twins and was relegated to a cardboard box. Soon the nurses (Ginny, then Devine, now Leavor and others) named the baby girls Cindy and Sandy. Sandy died shortly after birth. Days later when the babies' mother was well enough to travel, she left the other tiny infant in the care of Americans, believing it would be bad luck for the baby if she didn't.

Cindy was ultimately adopted by SFC Leon Rodriguez and his wife Else, and was named Barbara Lynn Rodriguez.

The captions on the following pictures read:

This sweet baby brought joy and hope to members and patients of the 24^th Evacuation Hospital.

Click on picture to see large version.

This is Barbara's natural mom and twin sister. Barbara is in the cardboard box. Not much luxury, but an immeasurable amount of love.

Look at the hands of love and concern in the picture.

And she grew, at the 24th, into a well-tended toddler. Here she is with Ginny Devine (now Leavor, and is Barbara's godmother).

And here is Barbara with her own family. Don't you know how proud parents, Leon and Else Rodriguez, are of her!! Proud enough to share these pictures with you!

September - Exact Dates Unknown

PFC Mel Libby joined the 24^th Evac and is assigned as a corpsman to Wards 5 & 6 (Neurosurgery)

CPT Kenneth Bopp, Nurse Anesthetist, joined the 24^th Evac, reassigned from 3^rd Surg (MASH) in Dong Tam.

24th Home Main History Guest Book Reunion Recollections

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

January 1967 February 1967 March 1967 April 1967 May 1967
June 1967 July 1967 August 1967 October 1967 November 1967 December 1967

Updated March 03, 2002

1	0930	Talked with SGT Dennis - 199^th Awards concerning distribution of purplehearts to members of his command. Meeting set today his HQ - finalize plans and to who gives and cuts orders by special request. Plan: 199^th furnishes certificates and metals and cuts orders, Gen signs - 24^th distributes.	DBL
2	1255	Contact SGT Sellers - PBP - Provo Mar @ Tent 6 missing items and suspected Vietnamese female worker - MP starting through search program - MAJ Morse said 24^th nurse could strip search all suspected Vietnamese women.	DBL
3	1300	Visited by new Group CO Col Maldonado to be.	DBL
4		Discussed a new type revetment to be placed around wards and sleeping area. This would be corrigated steel to a heighth of 4-6' filled with laterite cement mix.	GDA
5		SUMMARY: All hospital duties were carried out in the normal perscribed manner with no unusual events other than as indicated.	DBL

The captions on the following pictures read: This sweet baby brought joy and hope to members and patients of the 24^th Evacuation Hospital.	Click on picture to see large version.
This is Barbara's natural mom and twin sister. Barbara is in the cardboard box. Not much luxury, but an immeasurable amount of love. Look at the hands of love and concern in the picture.
And she grew, at the 24th, into a well-tended toddler. Here she is with Ginny Devine (now Leavor, and is Barbara's godmother).
And here is Barbara with her own family. Don't you know how proud parents, Leon and Else Rodriguez, are of her!! Proud enough to share these pictures with you!