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Book details
  • Genre:HISTORY
  • SubGenre:Military / World War II
  • Language:English
  • Pages:296
  • eBook ISBN:9798350945447
  • Paperback ISBN:9798350945430

Jungle Doctor

With The Mayo Clinic In The Pacific War

by Paul Laughlin and Leo Sheedy

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Overview
"Jungle Doctor" is a poignant journey through the personal chronicles of Dr. Leo P. Sheedy, a radiologist from Pittsburgh, and his experiences during World War II. As part of the Mayo Clinic's 233rd Station Hospital, Dr. Sheedy's letters vividly depict the hospital's journey from training in Pennsylvania to constructing a medical facility in the jungles of New Guinea. This intimate history captures the day-to-day challenges, successes, and frustrations faced by those delivering critical medical care under primitive conditions.
Description
The generation of Americans that answered the call of duty during World War II is rapidly passing into history. Before long there will be no new, firsthand accounts of the war and the daily experiences of those who helped secure victory. Dr. Sheedy was kind and capable, garnering the respect and friendship of countless people he met during the war. As a result, his letters include stories of his many encounters ranging from New Guinea native tribesmen to famous airmen such as Charles Lindbergh and Medal of Honor recipient, Maj. Richard Bong, as well as entertainers including Jack Benny and Carole Landis. This is a personal history, reflecting the day-to-day challenges, successes and frustrations experienced by those attempting to deliver highly professional services under primitive conditions. Jungle Doctor is in essence a sort of "time machine", going back to a time when the outcome of the war was still at issue, and providing insight into the emotions experienced by those involved including an ever-present heartfelt longing for home and loved ones contrasted with a keen sense of duty and desire to help many other brave young men make it back home.
About the author
Paul F. Laughlin is the grandson of Leo P. Sheedy, MD whose wartime experiences are chronicled in Jungle Doctor. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Georgetown University Law Center, Paul's legal career has included service as a homicide prosecutor with the Philadelphia District Attorney's office and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Paul and his wife Michelle live on a horse farm in Pennsylvania and are the proud parents of Patrick, United States Naval Academy class of 2026.