The United States Army 32nd Field Hospital in the Italian Campaign of World War II

History of the 32nd Field Hospital in the Italian Campaign

September 1943 - November 1945

This site is dedicated to the men and women who served in the United States Army 32nd Field Hospital during the Italian Campaign of World War II. This site hopes to re-create and preserve the history and legacy of the 32nd Field Hospital that served in the Italian Campaign of World War II and in the Pacific Theater toward the end of the war with Japan. Information for this site comes from those who served, their family members, available documents, diaries, letters, and war histories. Many records concerning the 32nd Field Hospital personnel were destroyed in the Great National Archives fire in St. Louis in 1973. This tragic catastrophic fire destroyed most of the records of service men and women who served in the war. Their service record can be restored here with the help of friends and family. See the menu below for more information concerning the fire.

The mission of the 32nd Field Hospital was to provide medical support during combat operations against the Germans in Italy during the war. They served with distinction in the Fifth Army in the Medical Section of IV Corps. 

The 32nd Field Hospital was a "Mobile Hospital" that was close enough to the front to quickly treat patients and had up to had 400 beds. They followed the army but stayed about 25 to miles behind the front lines. When ambulances arrived at the Field Hospital, triage officers sent patients to pre-op, medical, shock, or evacuation wards as needed. If the wounds were minor, the soldier was healed and sent back to the front.  These hospitals usually used canvas tents, but also used schools, barracks, hospital buildings, hotels, Mediterranean villas, and an Italian stadium. Surgical teams worked twelve hours on, then twelve hours off. When patients were reasonably stabilized,  they were "evacuated" to the rear to the "Evacuation Hospitals." These Evacuation Hospitals then sent patients to "Fixed" Hospitals far from the from front or back to hospitals in the U.S.

When it was required to move to a new location closer to the front, the hospital stopped admitting patients and evacuated their current patients to other hospitals located in the rear, called Evacuation Hospitals. In Italy, Field Hospitals could become Evacuation Hospitals and visa versa.  For example, an Evacuation Hospital could become a Field Hospital by "leapfrogging" to the front., thereby reducing the frequency of moves. When it was time for a move, they became Mobile Field Hospitals and packed their equipment and personnel into trucks, advanced to near the front lines, set up their tents and equipment, and were ready to admit patients within hours.

• General Hospitals: Large facilities (usually 1,000 beds, expandable to 2,000) providing specialized, long-term treatment. Examples in Italy included the 300th General Hospital in Naples and the 17th, 37th, and 45th General Hospitals.
• Station Hospitals: Smaller facilities (ranging from 25 to 900 beds) that served local garrisons or rear-echelon troops but often treated battle casualties in practice. The 32nd Station Hospital (not to be confused with the 32nd Field Hospital) operated out of the Royal Palace of Caserta. In Italy during World War II, a Station Hospital was a also "fixed" medical facility designed to provide general medical and surgical treatment for military personnel in a specific area. Unlike Mobile Field or Evacuation hospitals that followed the front lines, station hospitals were established in the Communications Zone (rear areas) and typically occupied semi-permanent structures like requisitioned schools, villas, or barracks. The 32nd Field Hospital never became a Station Hospital during the war.
• Convalescent Hospitals: Large rehabilitation centers (up to 3,000 beds) designed to return soldiers to duty or prepare them for discharge.
• Hospital Centers: Administrative groupings where three or more General Hospitals were combined into a single large complex with centralized labs and services. 

Almost a month after the allies secured Sicily; they began their invasion of Italy, with the first landing at Salerno on  9 September 1943. The landing, commanded by General Mark Clark, met little resistance in most areas, but the Germans put up a fierce fight in a few pockets and prevented the allies from moving off the beaches. The allied invasion eventually stalled and heavy fighting ensued. However, the Germans were unable to bear the allied air attacks and began to withdraw on 16 September 1943.

Members of the 32nd the Field Hospital Unit at Camp Rucker in Alabama prior to  joining the 5th Army in Italy. The photo was taken in early spring 1943. It measured approximately 24 inches by 8 inches. See the menu below for larger detail photos taken from this photo.

Sergeant Steve Kacsor (left) from Michigan and Sergeant Irvin McLaughlin (right) from Illinois. Sergeant's Kacsor and McLaughlin served together in the 5th Army 32nd field Hospital during the Italian Campaign from 1943 - 1945. Steve was from Owasso, Michigan, and Irvin was from Moline, Illinois. Both survived the war and became life long friends after the war. Both married and had children. Steve had 3 children and Irvin had 5.

Many of the photographs in this site were taken by Staff Sergeant Irvin W. McLaughlin using his Kodak Folding Camera during his tour of duty in Italy from September 1943 through September 1945. Sergeant McLaughlin kept a photo journal during his service in the entire campaign.  To see it, go to the menu below. 

32nd Field Hospital embarkation at Agropoli, near Salerno, Italy, 20 July 1944.

32nd Field Hospital embarkation at Agropoli, near Salerno, Italy, 20 July 1944.

Special thanks to T/5 Hyman E. Matza for providing detailed information on the key movements of the 32nd Field Hospital during World War II. He work with Darrel Hagberg for many years on this website before his passing in the Bronx, New York in 2022.

Thanks to Gary Marchessault for providing a complete list of members of the 32nd Field Hospital as of December 25, 1943. His father, PFC George Marchessault, served in the 32nd. Gary submitted a Christmas Menu Booklet showing these members.

 Corrections, comments and suggestions are always welcomed. Your remembrances and stories are also welcomed. Please contact Darrel Hagberg at darrelrhagberg@gmail.com. We are also compiling of list of names of those who served in this unit. Please submit names to Darrel. Use of photos granted free upon approval of Web Master with attribution to the owner, Darrel R. Hagberg and this website.

© Copyrighted 2007 by Darrel R Hagberg. All rights reserved. Moline, Illinois U.S.A.

March 17, 2007 - Updated April 7, 2026

Contact darrelrhagberg@gmail.com for more information