December 25, 1944
Recovery FROM WOUNDS
Carl was wounded by friendly fire on Hill 313 near the Echternach Bridgehead on Christmas Eve, 1944. He received schrapnel in his lower back from a 105mm round. As a medic, he was probably shielding a wounded soldier with his body during the barrage. He was transported to the 106th Evacuation Hospital at Thionville, France, December 24-25, 1944.
106th Evacuation Hospital
Thionville, France
The map below shows the movement of the 106th Evacuation Hospital from their arrival in England through the Battle of the Buldge and beyond. Note how close they were to the battle front. Thionville, France is a mere 70 km south of Echternach, Luxembourg where Carl was wounded. 70km may seem a bit distant from the front, but at times, the evac hospital was even closer to battle. As the front moved so did the hospital. Click on the map to see the unit history of the 106th Evacuation Hospital. There you will find stories and pictures of and by the nurses, doctors and support personnel.
The Best Camp Followers
You Could Ever Want
Jeanne Paul (nee Kahn) joined the Army Nursing Corps 106th Evacuation Hospital that followed General George Smith Patton’s Third United States Army on a battle path through World War II’s European Theater.
Other interviews are available on the 106th Evac Hospital site.
Carl was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds received on
December 24, 1944
Rum and Coca Cola - Andrews Sisters - Feb 17, 1945
During World War II, around 20,000 American GIs were stationed in Trinidad, ostensibly to deter any invasion. Unhappy with the situation, a local calypso musician named Rupert Grant, who went by the stage name of Lord Invader, wrote some lyrics commenting on how the American servicemen drank rum and coke, and then used their Yankee dollars to attract (or purchase the services of) the local women. The melody had been previously published as the work of Trinidadian calypso composer Lionel Belasco on a song titled "L'Année Passée," which was in turn based on a folk song from
nearby Martinique. The track was a huge hit in Trinidad in 1943. In 1945 the Andrews Sisters recorded a very similar song sung in hammy Trinidadian accents. It had the same title, general subject, and even some of the same lyrics but was stripped of its social commentary. According to Patty Andrews, "We had a recording date... we had some extra time and we just threw it in, and that was the miracle of it. It was actually a faked arrangement."
Source: Songfacts.com
95th General Hospital
Bar Le Duc, France
After triage treatment at the 106th Evac, Carl was transferred to the 95th General Hospital, Bar Le Duc, France on or around December 26 or 27, 1944. Recovery there was for 9 1/2 weeks. https://www.med-dept.com/unit-histories/100th-general-hospital/
