Base Hospital No. 50 was created at the University of Washington in October 1917 as part of a mobilization of base hospitals at universities and civilian hospitals because the United States Army did not have an established medical corps when the country entered World War I in 1917. The Base Hospital unit consisted of medical staff, nursing staff, and civilian enlistees without previous medical experience. The University of Washington unit became the last base hospital authorized by the Red Cross and the War Department. The unit was mobilized on March 27, 1918, at Fort Lawton, Washington, then transferred to Camp Fremont, California, on April 6, 1918, for further training. The unit served 7,399 sick and wounded patients in Mesves sur Loire, France from August 6, 1918, to January 20, 1919. The photo shows the men assigned to Base Hospital No 50 after their return from France at the end of the war en route back to Washington.

Handwritten on image: Base Hospital No 50. American Exp. Forces - Camp Merritt N. J., Apr. 20, 1919. Copyright 1919 Cole - Co, Asbury Park, N. J., 479-

Duplicate of 1992.68.1, in much better condition

Caption information source: http://basehospital50.blogspot.com/
[A complete roster and a 200 page government document detailing the history of the men and women serving the hospital can be found at the link

• Subjects (LCTGM): Group portraits; Uniforms; United States. Army. Base Hospital No. 50; World War, 1914-1918