The 25th Evacuation Hospital unit was fully trained, coordinated, self-equipped, and staffed prior to departure which is why they were placed early, first, and forward in the WW2 South Pacific offensive.

Approximately 37 staff doctors and others of the 25th Evacuation Hospital arrived at Espiritu Santo 29Nov42 to construct and operate the hospital. The site was within a coconut grove surrounded by jungle above a smaller ocean bay. There were only sparse local materials available.   The environment was primitive and raw. No roads. Just a coconut grove, jungle, and their tents with some small local villages in the coastal area, and the adjacent early Navy Base.

HEH Journal entries regarding initial construction efforts and hospital function:

“Dec (1942) By late December tents are still being moved about from day to day…”.    

“Dec. ’42  The medical team said to hell with it….. From then on not a thing has been accomplished. We’d still be eating on the ground with no lights if it hadn’t been for the non army men getting work done in a non army way.”      

“‘Dec42 The medical team went to work on laundry building mess halls kitchen bakery – procured all the material from various places”  

“Dec 42 About 1 week after landing…severe diarrhea…dysentery…high fever… some delirium…over 60 cases one day…wanted to open a ward…col said no…2 days later…OPEN WARD”.  Tent wards open to local base occupants. 

“2-1-43 past few days the fighter planes have been practicing overhead with gusto. Last week our outfit and the infantry awakened and told an invasion was eminent & to be ready for casualties.”

“2/6/1943 TODAY MOVED THE WARD FROM A TENT TO A WOODEN BUILDING….on 2/8/43 we are to be able to be ready to take medical patients from without our organization” 

[Feb 7, 1943 Nurses arrive from New Caledonia]

[Feb 8, 1943  Army 25th E.H. Medical Dept. open for Guatalcanal Soldiers]

[Feb 9, 1943  Japanese fully withdrawn from Solomon Islands. The battle of Guatalcanal is done, and large numbers of ragged, battle worn soldiers continue to arrive for medical treatment at the 25th E.H.,  with depletion, malnutrition, and advanced tropical diseases.]  

“2/18/43 The medical department has now gone into operation – now for a week and a half – 2/7/43 were given 36 hours notice. Had insurmountable obstacles in getting ward men trained… had to get dishwashing sanitation etc latrines worked out- This deplorable situation…could have been avoided…Yes things worked out in time….180 patients the first 2 days it was very difficult…” 

See more in “Story”

See “Photos”  of Tents, Tent Wards, Structures, New Zealand Prefab, Ausie Quonsets.

The HEH Photo Album shows a “Spring 43” photo of presumably the same intact initial 3 dozen experienced and very functional staff Doctors of the 25th Evacuation Hospital. 

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Major Glenn Whitmer traveled back to Oak Park Ill. due to family tragedy.  Virginia Hamilton placed a copy of his 24June1943 letter to the Oak Park newspaper with others in the HEH Album. Excerpts of his are as follows:  

“Upon arrival”, “the next morning…we viewed our surroundings….to erect an army hospital…with seemingly great obstacles….practically no building materials and supplies….seemed almost impossible.  However to the American, nothing is impossible. Every man got busy. With saw and axe we went into the jungle and cut our poles and logs for building foundations…..Our first buildings were…built with thatched roofs supported with bamboo rafters.  We secured the help of a large group of natives who gladly worked for 18 cents per day…plus gum, cigarettes, and what old clothes we could give them. They taught and helped us to weave cocoanut fronds out of which our thatched roofs are made.  Later on…construction and engineering battalions came to the island and helped us with further construction work.”    “our hospital actually started to function February 8 for outside patients from front lines. A few weeks later our operating rooms were completed and received war wounded patients.”

“At the time we landed…entire island was very primitive…no roads, only trails and foot-paths, a few small native settlements with church and very small hospital”   

By Raymond M Hamilton 2025