249th General Hospital, Camp Drake, Japan

[pointman]

After I left the 6/31st, I went to the 1st Air Cav and was subsequently wounded on point. After a couple weeks in the 3rd Field Hospital in Tan Son Nhut, I was evacuated to the 249th General Hospital, Camp Drake, Japan. I spent about a month there before being shipped stateside. I was one of the last through the 249th, I believe. Soon after patients were shipped directly back to the US, and the 249th closed. I came in and left Japan through Zama, another hospital in Japan.

I mentioned the latter, because there was a surgeon, Ronald Glasser, who served at Zama in 1968, and would later write a book, "365 Days" about Nam patients at Zama. I considered it the best book I ever read about Vietnam, though interestingly, Glasser was never in Vietnam. It is about a lot of things, but it is about suffering and death too, if you think you might have a problem with that.

Anyway, I have recently been in communication with Harold Dixon who served at Camp Drake in 1968 in communications. He was kind enought to send some photos of the place, now weeds and a broken fence. Not much of a trace of what went on there. Thought perhaps some of the other wounded might have been through there and remembered it. Harold was kind enough to allow me to post his pictures.

John

[jodon]

[pointman]

[jodon]

[pointman]

[Niner Alpha]

[philt]

[pointman]

Postcard I got at the 249th, late November - early December, 1970.

[pointman]

I had trouble eating at the time, but can't say they didn't try to give us a descent Thanksgiving dinner on the ward.

[Niner Alpha]

I never was wounded...but I was never in a hospital where the food lived up to the discription on the menu in the civilian world. I can only imagine what the Army hospital food must have been like.

But...for a military hospital..."smoked ham sauteed in beer" with Dejon mustard seems pretty much a culinary work of imagination. Of course, under the circumstances, guys probably wouldn't have noticed all that much what it tasted like anyway.

John's menu from his time in the hospital:

[Niner Alpha]

This string crossed my mind a few minutes ago. Got this email from Albert Moore. He included the menu on the Benewah at Thanksgiving 1967. We weren't there...but shows the menu that look pretty traditional.


Thanksgiving Day Dinner USS Benewah APB-35

1967.






Turkey Noodle Soup w/Crackers

Roast Turkey w/ Dressing & Baked Smoked Ham

Cranberry Sauce

Cornbread Dressing w/ Giblet Gravy

Mashed Snowflake Potatoes

Candies Sweet Potatoes

Buttered Green Peas

Tossed Salad W/ Dressing

Assorted Breads & Butter

Pumpkin Pie & Apple Pie

Ice Cream

Iced Tea, Coffee, Milk, Kool Aid

Chilled Fruit Cocktail

Mixed Nuts Hard Candy



Anchored at Dong Tam RVN

[JaroldF]

[Mailman249]

Thanks for the memories. I was stationed at the 249th (1970-1972). If any of you received MAIL during this time I may have handed it to you. Hope all is well with you.