Hellcat News, Vol. 2, No. 20, Ed. 1, June 22, 1944 Page: 2 of 8
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Page 2
HELLCAT NEWS
22 June, 1944
Division Adopts Splint Appliance
Introduced by Major MacLeod
This appliance for the iraction splint, consisting of the metal
strip and waistband, almost completely immobilizes the "victim's"
hip and leg. Demonstrating the splint are these men of 82nd Med
Bn (left to right). Tec 4 Kenneth Duval, A Co; T-Sgt Joseph Nichol-
son, B Co; Tec 5 Richard Schwier. A Co; and Tec 5 William Allen,
B Co. The "patient" is Pfc Robert Warndahl, B Co.
A hip appliance to the army
traction splint which almost com-
pletely immobilizes a fractured
leg has been adopted for use in
the 12th Armored Division.
The appliance was introduced
by Major Sidney J. MacLeod,
commanding officer of the 82nd
Armored Medical Battalion, and
subsequently adopted for general
use throughout the Hellcat outfit
by Lt Col Alf T. Haerem, division
surgeon.
The device itself is simple, in-
expensive and easily applied. It
consists of a flat, slightly curved
metal strip and a wide cloth
waistband. One end of the metal
strip is held by screws to the reg-
ular army traction splint and the
other end fits into the waistband.
It requires only three minutes to
attach the appliance to the splint
itself.
Designed For Femur
Designed primarily for frac-
tures of the femur, or thigh bone,
the improved splint could be used
advantageously in all leg frac-
ture cases, according to Major
MacLeod. It comes closer to pro-
viding complete immobilization
of the entire limb than any other
splint now in use, he added.
"A soldier with a fractured fe-
mur frequently suffers consider-
able pain and needlessly torn
tissues when he is being removed
from the battlefront with his
thigh only partially immobilized.
This appliance prevents move-
ment of the joint, even against the
victim's own efforts.
"There is nothing really new
about the appliance," Major Mac-
Leod said. "My father, Dr. S. B.
MacLeod, used it for 15 years
and I have used it myself but it
has never been marketed."
Demonstrates Efficiency
Major MacLeod gave a practi-
cal demonstration of the device
for men of his battalion recently,
comparing it with the "Tobruk"
splint which has been used exten-
sively overseas by American and
British troops. The traction
splint and appliance can be ap-
plied much faster than the "To-
bruk" and immobilizes the limb
to a far greater extent, the dem-
onstration proved.
Experienced medics can apply
the traction splint, with appli-
ance, in from 10 to 15 minutes;
the "Tobruk" requires nearer 45
minutes.
Major MacLeod practiced in-
dustrial medicine and surgery in
Chicago, his home town, for 13
years before joining the Army
November 1, 1942. He came di-
rectly to the 12th Armored Divi-
sion, serving as surgeon of the
old 56th Armored Regiment and
later as surgeon for Combat Com-
mand A. He was executive offi-
cer of the 82nd before assuming
command of the battalion.
UNIT
MEWS
23rd Tk Bn
Two men of B Company who
were recently commended for be-
ing "on the ball" were Cpl Erwin
Enteen, for the perfect condition
of his guns and Pvt Henry San-
chez for the excellent condition
of his vehicle.
The battalion baseball team
suffered a severe loss when Pvt
Ken Mitchell transferred to the
Infantry. One of the most en-
joyable ways to spend the eve
ning in camp is to hear Tec 4
Alex Tantos, B Co, sing those
plaintive Mexican songs in his
native language accompanied by
his guitar.
Div Hq Co
Few soldiers realize the respon-
sibility and exactness connected
with a motor sergeant's job. T-
Sgt Edgar Parkins has assumed
these duties and has carried them
out with precision. He is respon-
sible for the maintenance of the
CG's and many staff vehicles of
the division.
Best wishes to S-Sgt Bob John-
son on his birthday and to our
CO, Capt Jack F. Wallace, on his
recent marriage to a nurse at Sta-
tion Hospital.
493rd AFA Bn
S-Sgt Otto K. Schmalfeld, A
Btry, claims he has the cleanest
and neatest supply room in the
division. Seems he always man-
ages to have these inspections
come everytime we are in the
field.
C Btry has lost Pvts Keller and
Press wood; the former going to
Camp Shelby, Miss., and the lat-
ter to Camp Gruber, Okla. We
wish them a lot of luck with
their new outfits. Tec 4 Burns
has been doing one grand job as
acting mess sergeant in the ab-
sence of S-Sgt Werner who is in
charge of officer's mess.
One night last week while in
the field, T-4 Drumheller was
having a nightmare. All of a
sudden he picked up his steel
helmet and started pounding Pfc
Welch who \fras sleeping nearby.
"Drum's" explanation is that he
thought snakes and scorpions
were attacking him, but Welch
is having a more difficult time
explaining what those lumps on
his head mean.
494th AFA Bn
Chief chigger bearer honors in
A Btry go to Pvts A1 Trousel and
Frank Serra. The battery only
wishes it could attract members
of the opposite sex as fast as they
attracted the chiggers.
Up! Dick Rew, B Btry, returned
from chemical warfare school at
oamp Beale, Calif., last week,
having completed the four weeks'
course with an Excellent rating.
Sgts Reinken and Wheeler and
Pvts Sunday and Harding left us
last week for replacement centers.
Cpl Wasik is now a gunner in the
sixth section, his small arms as-
signment now being handled by
Pfc Pitts. Pvt Joe Degliomini
was transferred to the 493rd bat-
talion.
T-5 Weber and Sgt Harron have
collaborated on an original idea
for a placque and already have
taken numerous orders for copies.
It is an attractive piece of wood
carving with a 12th Armored in-
signia and crossed cannons in-
scribed. The finish is complete
to a glossy waxed coating and
presents a very pleasing appear-
ance.
The men agree xhey would
rather face the enemy than those
devilish things called chiggers.
Pvt Frankel, Sgt Rogers' able
supply assistant of C Btry, sug-
gests "Skat" for the prevention
of chigger bites. It can be had
for the asking in the supply room.
The war on rattlesnakes is on
and it looks as if the reptiles
aren't faring so well, C Btry
added three more to their list of
victims during the list problem.
495th AFA Bn
T-Sgt Lillard, acting top-kick
of Hq Btry in the absence of Sgt
Burnett, ran into a real baptism.
His first morning report had four-
teen men on furlough in addition
to several officers on leave. As
if this wasn't enough, he also had
to get one man off on an Emer-
gency furlough. Cpl Curry is
back after a GI blitzing at Ft.
Sill's Wire School.
A Btry welcomes Pvt William
E. Davis, Ft Sill, Okla, who has
completed a course in radio main-
tenance.
Two men, Cpls Bush and Mc
Cone, C Btry, with the battery
since its inception transferred
last week to an infantry division
at Camp Shelby, Miss. With Lt
Robert M. Cameron, our BC on
temporary leave, Lt Alvin B.
Dean becomes acting BC. Wel-
come to the battery are three new
officers: Lts Thurston W. Har-
well, Irving Soffin, and Wm. H.
Steele.
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United States. Army. Armored Division, 12th. Hellcat News, Vol. 2, No. 20, Ed. 1, June 22, 1944, newspaper, June 22, 1944; Tennessee. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410657/m1/2/: accessed June 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.