service. Medical officers from all parts of the world send pathological specimens there for diagnostic study and confirmation.
In addition to the regular officers of the Medical Corps we have the Reserve officers — physicians in civilian practice who may be called into the Navy's service during an emergency. These Reserve officers serve in naval hospitals ashore and aboard the fighting ships under exactly the same conditions and regulations as regular Medical Corps officers. They include many of the outstanding men in the various fields of surgery, medicine, epidemiology, psychiatry, and research. Because of their age a number of these doctors did not have to join the armed forces, but they have unhesitatingly and voluntarily given up lucrative practices and the comforts of home to render what service they can for the alleviation of the sick and wounded soldiers, sailors, and Marines.
While this book was in process of writing, the lady who has assisted me with the material and its arrangement saw a young sailor sitting patiently on a bench in Grand Central Station. When she spotted the red Geneva cross on his left sleeve, which marked him as a member of the Navy's Hospital Corps, she went over and sat beside him in quest of copy.
It was hard digging. The boy had been well drilled in the necessity for withholding all information that might be of use to the enemy. Finally, in desperation, the interviewer gave as her excuse for asking questions the preparation of this book.
The boy took a long, sharp look at her. Then he blurted out:
"Even if it gets to Hitler, I'll tell you this — the Navy's got the best damn doctors in the world."
Then, swinging his duffel bag over his shoulder, he took refuge in flight.
