BY: NIHADA BRACIC

The Pacific1941-1947

December 8, 1941Yesterday, Dec. 7, was the most tragic day for the United States.

The Japanese has attacked my home and our Naval Base; Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

At 6 am, 6 Japanese carriers launched a first wave of 181 planes composed of torpedo bombers, dive bombers, and fighters.

I was at the Navy Medical Department, women had just been working there

Bombing of Pearl Harbor

Getting used to the dying and injuries took time but came quick when most needed to save lives

A group of us came together at one point and more arrived after

Most of the wounded and burned men from the ships and those rescued from the water were evacuated to the hospital ship Solace.

A total of 132 patients were admitted aboard the Solace.

This was the ship that gathered the people

December 9, 1941

The hospital tents where very tight. Patients waiting for treatment where side by side but we worked hard for what we had.

Hospital tents

Supplies were broken out and preparations of sterile morphine solution, tannic acid solution, and saline solution were made. Special serums, plasma, and other supplies were issued to dressing stations and wards.

How the placement was for the patients

As it was happening…

The sulfa drugs, which were given orally and locally, was definitely a major factor in preventing infection of many wounds and burns. About sixty percent of the casualties were burn cases.

Sulfa drugs

I couldn’t believe my eyes, most of the burned patients arrived overboard were covered from head to foot with fuel oil. It would be an image that I would never want to go back to. During the process…

December 11, 1941

We made sure by this day casualties were properly, expeditiously, and thoroughly treated and housed without the least confusion and with a good spirit.

The abundant testimonials of the success of the Navy medical Department on 7 December 1941, can be still found in the files of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

The experience was unbelievable but I could honestly say I couldn’t be more proud of myself and others doing the best we can to save lives with the treatment given