As the United States prepared to enter World War I early in 1917, people asked what they could do to help the allied forces overseas.  One idea was the formation of Red Cross Base Hospitals. These would be assembled in large American cities with all necessary medical personnel from doctors and administrators to technicians and orderlies.  Many formed around medical schools and university faculties; others, like the one from Youngstown, drew from hospital staffs.  These fully equipped hospitals would be sent as units to treat the sick and wounded miles behind the front lines.

By the end of March, Mahoning Valley philanthropists had raised $50,000 and members of the local committee began buying equipment.  Doctors, nurses, and future hospital staff enrolled in anticipation of regular military enlistment.  The unit of 50 officers, 50 nurses, and 250 enlisted men, was trained, equipped, and ready to sail in December of 1917.  This unit became a regular Army hospital, Base Hospital No. 31.

Most of the base hospitals set up in resort towns because the empty hotels could be turned into operating rooms and wards for patients.  No. 31 was assigned to Contrexeville, France, world famous for its mineral springs, where there were a dozen small hotels. For 13 months, personnel from the Youngstown area treated casualties of the war, including victims of gassing, psychiatric problems, wounds that were 3 to 5 days old, and illnesses like tuberculosis, pneumonia, and influenza.  Besides American troops, the hospital cared for French, Italian, Russian, British, and Colonial troops.

What could you do to help during wartime?  How much money would you have to donate to be a philanthropist?  Can you imagine a resort turned into a military hospital base?  How would it be different?  To learn more about how WWI affected our Valley, visit the Arms Family Museum of Local History.  For a better look at these pictures, go to www.mahoninghistory.org.  Click on ‘Education,’ then click on ‘What Do You Know’ for a list of articles.  Each article has small images you can click on to enlarge or download a pdf file.