(DRAFT)

SUBJECT: Final Organization 1 History (69th Medical Depot Co.) (AMEN)

    1. GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 162 HQ, SOS USAF CBI, APO 885, DATED 10 October 1944, the 69th Medical Depot Company (Less Maintenance Platoon and 1st Storage & Issue Platoon) was activated with strength of six (6) officers, one (1) Warrant Officer and seventy six (76) enlisted men and assigned to Intermediate Section Number 2, with Station at APO 629. Major Paul E. Clemens (0248098) was designated as Commanding Officer. (TO & E 8-667 d/31 December 1943). Joseph F. Bolan, Captain (now Major) (0499329), assumed command on 26 January 1945, vice Major Clemens relieved.

    2. The primary mission of the organization was the supply of the China Theater. In addition it supplied the requirements of Intermediate Section as well as the 25th Medical Depot Company at APO 689, which in turn supplied the Burma Campaign. With the 69th therefore rested the responsibility for movement of all Medical Supplies to and to a great extent within China, as well as to Burma.

    3. On 13 October 1944 two (2) officers and three (3) enlisted men known as Section I, Advance Section Platoon, 7th Medical Supply Depot arrived in Kunming, China from India, was reactivated and redesignated as the 1st Storage & Issue Platoon, 69th Medical Depot Company, with an authorized strength of two (2) officers and twenty five (25) enlisted men, 2nd Lt. George J. DeBroeck, Storage & Issue platoon Commander.

        a. On the 1st of June 1944, this section was redesignated as Section 1, Advance Depot Platoon, 69th Medical Depot Company with a strength of two (2) officers and thirty two (32) enlisted men.

    4. One (1) officer and twelve (12) enlisted men on D/S in China from the 14th Medical Depot Comapny, APO 465 since 17 February 1944 were transferred into the 69th Medical Depot Company as the 2nd Storage & Issue Platoon, with Captain Charles L. Gornall, Storage & Issue Platoon Commander.

        a. During the period from January until May, 1945, enlisted men of the 172nd General Hospital and several portable surgical hospitals were relieved from their respective organizations and placed on D/S to units short of men in China. This organization had twenty seven (27) enlisted men on D/S and since they were inexperienced in supply work, instructions had to be given daily on supply procedures.

    5. On June 15th the Hq and 3rd Storage & Issue Platoon at APO 629 was assigned to China Theater and the Burma Campaign having drawn to a close, the 25th Medical Depot Company was assigned to Intermediate Section. The 69th Medical Depot Company was the first and the only Medical Depot Company to operate in the China Theater.

    6. With the arrival of Hq and 3rd Storage & Issue Platoon in China, the 69th Medical Depot Company was united for the first time since its activation in October 1944, with the exception of one (1) officer and fourteen (14) enlisted men on D/S at APO 488. Another section consisting of one (1) officer and twelve (12) enlisted men was dispatched to Chanyi, China to take over the medical supply installation at this section, and three (3) enlisted to Kaiyuan to alleviate the shortage of American personnel.

        a. With the arrival of additional personnel to China, billeting became an acute problem. Not until August of 1945 were winterized tents set up in the area this organization accupied.

    7. With the termination of hostilities, plans for a turn over of all stocks to Chinese was initiated. Chinese Nationals were instructed on all key jobs at the depot and at Headquarters office. The final turnover was completed on the 27th of October 1945.

    8. Two (2) officers and fourteen (14) enlisted men were transferred to the Shnaghai Base Command at APO 290 on 20 September 1945. Three (3) officers and eight (8) enlisted men were left in Kunming China and outlying stations as residual teams.

    9. Approximately fifty (50) enlisted men and one (1) officer were returned to the zone of the interior on the different plans outlined by readjustment regulations in the past few months.

    10. On 1st September the organization was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque for performance of duty in the completion of exceptionally difficult tasks under adverse conditions and the maintenance of a high standard of military discipline and efficiency. This covered the period from October 1944 to 31 July 1945. In addition to the Plaque, ten (10) members of this organization, four (4) officers and six (6) enlisted men were awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service, period covered 10 October 1944 to 6 September 1945.