| Holcomb, Manuel, T/4 | 38012858 | Age 27 | A Co 120th Engs. |
| Injured | 1600 hrs | 24 Dec 44 | Mine |
| Coll. Sta. 120th Med Bn | 1630 hrs. | Sulf. dressing | M.S. gr 1/4 |
| Clr. Sta. 120th Med Bn | 1730 hrs. | T.T. 1 cc | |
| 57th Field Hosp. | 1745 hrs. | 24 Dec 44 |
Gen’l condition on admission extremely poor. B.P. 64/48 P. 110. Multiple wds. of right thigh and leg. Right foot was almost off. Right femur was obviously fractured. Color was poor.
Diagnosis: 1) Mine wds., multiple pen and perf thigh and leg, right, sv; 2) Traumatic amp. incomplete foot right; 3) F.C.C. femur, middle third, right, sv; 4) Lac wds scrotum; 5) wd pen hand right.
| 1745 hrs. | B.P. 64/48 | P. 110 | 500 cc blood. 500 cc plasma |
| 1800 hrs. | P. 106 | 25,000 units Penicillin | |
| 1815 hrs. | B.P. 80/50 | P. 104 | |
| 1830 hrs. | B.P. 90/50 | P. 98 | |
| 1930 hrs. | 500 cc blood. Xray revealed comminuted fracture of middle third right femur and severely comminuted fracture fibula right. Numerous large F.B.'s scattered throughout soft tissues of both thigh and leg. | ||
| 2000 hrs. | B.P. 70/30 | P. 160 | Plasma ui. N.S.G. 1000 cc |
| 2030 hrs. | B.P. 80/40 | P. 160 | Plasma ui |
| 2045 hrs. | B.P. 90/40 | P. 160 | Anesthesia Endotracheal E & O2. Blood 500 |
| 2130 hrs. | B.P. 70/30 | P. 154 | Amputation leg |
| 2200 hrs. | P. 128 | turned on face. Blood 500 cc | |
| 2300 hrs. | B.P. 70/30 | P. 124 | Blood 500 cc + 500 cc blood |
| 2330 hrs. | B.P. 54/20 | P. 136 | Turned on back--to Hawley table |
| 2345 hrs. | B.P. 60/20 | P. 136 | O2 internasal catheter |
| 2355 hrs. | B.P. 70/40 | returned to ward. | |
| Dec 25 | 500 cc blood | ||
| Dec 26 | 500 cc blood. Hematocrit 33.5 |
Pt. on back. Leg prepped and guillotine amputation thru proximal 1/3 done. Pt. turned on back and debridement of thigh wds. started. After the multiple wds were exposed and the extensive muscle damage was seen, it was obvious that amputation thru the middle 1/3 of the thigh was indicated. A debridement guillotine amp. was carried out therefore. Buttock wd and wd on anterior surface of thigh debrided. A large collection of F.B.’s was removed from the thigh. Skin traction with a single hip spica. 10 gms sulf to stump.
| Dec 27 | Evacuated in good condition. |
MCCLOSKEY GENERAL HOSPITAL
Temple, Texas
To Capt. PA Kennedy
“ CR Brott
Dear Sir:
Here I am in Texas. Maybe you have forget me for its been so long since I was there. Sir I hope you can read my writing, I am not much of a guy to write a letter, but I’ll try my best to let you know how I am getting along. I am come along very good. I can jump around with crutches now. Befor I go on any farther I let you know who I am. I am one of your patients who you work on Dec 24th night Chief Holcomb the Indian boy.
I want to thank both of you, I really dont know how to really thank you for saveing my life. I wish to thank the nurses who help me while I was there. I can think of any more to say. So I guess I’ll now closed this note. With the best of my Luck to both of the capt’s and all your staff of hosp.
I’ll sign off as one of your patients
W.Manuel Holcomb
Battlefield Surgeon