World War II Flight Surgeon's Story, A - Hardcover

May, S.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1455620483 ISBN 13: 9781455620487

Publisher: Pelican Publishing, 2015

Synopsis

Medicine and care in combat.

For the flight surgeons serving the US Army Air Forces in World War II, every day was centered around “keeping them flying.” Physicians such as Dr. Lamb Myhr faced a fundamental conflict: the drive to end the war quickly by force warred with concern for the health of the pilots in their care. Dr. Myhr served across Europe and North Africa, using his skills to treat injuries, provide psychological comfort, administer as camp health inspector, and battle exotic diseases. His letters and photographs document pivotal events such as the planning meeting of Generals Clark, Patton, and Eisenhower before the invasion of Sicily, as well as the daily trials of ministering to soldiers and civilians. Dr. Myhr’s travels from Africa to Auschwitz are here chronicled with fascinating detail.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Dr. Lamb Myhr was one of hundreds of thousands of young men who served his country in World War II. A flight surgeon in the United States Army Air Force, he served from Morocco to Germany and witnessed historic moments, including Generals Clark, Patton, and Eisenhower meeting to plan the invasion of Sicily.

As pilots and crew battled fatigue, extreme conditions, and devastating losses, Dr. Myhr healed, counseled, and taught them, often with limited resources. Informed by documents, research, and interviews with Dr. Myhr, A World War II Flight Surgeon’s Story offers a rare glimpse into the daily life of a doctor on the front lines. It also illuminates the culture and community of an Army Air Force base, exploring the sanitation measures, mental and physical examinations, and medical procedures that Dr. Myhr performed. Complete with photographs and personal letters, this volume widens our understanding of a war that changed our world forever.

S. Carlisle May is a prolific writer and the great-niece of Dr. Lamb Myhr. A graduate of Auburn University, May has written articles for USAA Magazine, Auburn magazine, Transplant Chronicles, the Daily Tribune News (Cartersville, GA), and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Through the National WWII Museum’s travel program, May followed the path of American and Allied forces from England to Normandy and into Germany. She also retraced the campaigns of the Allies in Malta and Sicily, Italy. A lifelong history enthusiast, May lives near Atlanta, Georgia, with her family.

Foreword author Martin K. A. Morgan is a noted military historian and regular contributor to the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and the National Geographic Channel. His work has appeared in publications including WWII Quarterly and WWII History. A former historian-in-residence at the National WWII Museum, Morgan is a field editor at American Rifleman magazine. He lives near New Orleans, Louisiana.

From the Back Cover:

As Axis planes darkened the skies of the European Theater during the Second World War, the Allies rallied to the challenge. Daring pilots fought and died under extreme conditions, racing to end the war that was wreaking such devastation. Keeping them flying were flight surgeons: doctors who treated the bodies and minds of the crews. Stress, injury, infectious disease, and trying living conditions took a high toll, and flight surgeons battled to keep the men hale. Dr. Lamb Myhr was one such flight surgeon. As he served in North Africa and Europe, Dr. Myhr treated horrific injuries, unfamiliar illnesses, and venereal disease, as well as supervising the health and safety of the entire base. He worked long hours in dangerous conditions, making split-second decisions that could save lives. This gripping account draws on Dr. Myhr’s records, correspondence, and memories, exploring firsthand the perils and pressures of one of these unsung heroes.

Author S. Carlisle May has traveled across the United States and Europe in researching the experiences of Dr. Lamb Myhr, her great-uncle. Her work has been published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, USAA Magazine, and Transplant Chronicles, and she is a founding member of the Congenital Heart Public Health Consortium.

Foreword author Martin K. A. Morgan is a noted military historian and regular contributor to the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, and numerous publications. He previously served as historian-in-residence at the National WWII Museum.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pelican Publishing
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1455620483
• ISBN 13: 9781455620487
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256