Oral history interview with James F. McIntosh [sound recording], 1997.

ArchivalResource

McIntosh, James F.,. Oral history interview with James F. McIntosh [sound recording], 1997.

Oral history interview with James F. McIntosh [sound recording], 1997.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84901467

McIntosh, an Edgerton (Wisconsin) native, details his medical schooling during World War II and subsequent Naval service during the Korean War. McIntosh discusses joining the V-12 program, the effects the program had on the University of Wisconsin, and receiving deferments. McIntosh addresses of deferments in essential industry and the year-round schooling. He talks about his duties as corpsman while assigned to Great Lakes Naval Hospital, his preceptorship in Sheboygan (Wisconsin), and his plastic surgery residence at Tulane (Louisiana) Charity Hospital (segregated at the time) before receiving orders to report to the USS Haven. McIntosh describes issues he had leaving residency at the Charity Hospital and reporting for duty. At one point he had received cancellation of orders; however, wanting to serve his two years, McIntosh ignored them and told his mother to say the orders arrived after his departure. McIntosh talks about the route to Korea and his impressions of the hospital ship and Korea. Describing the relationships between medical personnel and Navy ship command personnel, he tells several stories of how the medical staff would "rattle the ship captain's cage." McIntosh describes his ward, cooperation between the other wards, and how his medical decisions weren't questioned by the "pompous ass" commanders. Because of his previous plastic surgical experience, McIntosh discusses his specialization in soft tissue and maxil-facial wounds on the ship, why any bowel surgery was just stabilized and sent to Japan, and recalls his excitement doing z-plasty and skin grafts. McIntosh mentions "tapping" soldiers with chest wounds, patients from different countries and the nurses stopping a Turkish patient trying to kill a South Korean soldier he thought was North Korean. He details one incident with a South Korean patient who wouldn't eat American food because it had fattened the parasites in his bowels. McIntosh discusses visiting a Korean leper colony, viewing a MASH unit, female nurses, and making it a point to visit interesting ships that came into harbor. He talks about his visits to Japan, describes returning to the States with the USS Haven, why he didn't want to continue with plastic surgery and going back into urology. Fulfilling the second year of obligation, McIntosh talks about duty at Great Lakes Naval Hospital, elaborates on building a lip, and discusses other medical procedures. He concludes mentioning alcoholism in the Navy, not joining veterans organizations, using the veterans home loan and adjusting to civilian life before starting in urology.

Sound recording : 2 sound cassettes (ca. 120 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 39 p.Military Papers : 0.1 linear ft. (1 folder)Master sound recording : 1 sound cassette (ca. 120 min.) ; analog, 1 7/8 ips.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center