World War II Honoree

Charles T. Gettys

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Decatur, Texas

Honored By

Sandra Fern Skaggs

Relationship

Cousin-in-law

SERVED: CAMP LIVINGSTON'S PRISONER OF WAR INTERNMENT CAMP WWII, 1942-1945, 797TH MILITARY POLICE BATTALION, COMPANY C. HE WAS A SQUAD LEADER, BATTALION CLERK, HE WAS MOVED TO THE HEAD MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AS A PRIVATE. HE WAS SENT TO ALEXANDRIA, ALONG WITH AN ARMED ESCORT, TO GET ONLY ONE BOTTLE OF PENICILLIN. HE HAD DISCOVERED A GERMAN PRISONER HAD DEVELOPED 'FURUNCULOUS', OR MULTIPLE BOILS AND HE KNEW PENICILLIN WAS NEEDED TO TREAT THIS. HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SO VALUABLE AND THAT IT WOULD PASS THROUGH THE SYSTEM IN A PURE FORM, TO 'RECYCLE' IT. HE DEVISED A METHOD TO RECYCLE PENICILLIN. NOT ONLY DID HE 'RECYCLE' IT, HE DEVISED A METHOD TO PRODUCE IT FOR THE ENTIRE CAMP USING THE USED SPORES. HE PRODUCED ENOUGH PENICILLIN FOR THE CAMP FOR SIX TO SEVEN MONTHS UNTIL REAL PENICILLIN COULD ARRIVE. HE HAD BEEN A PRE-MED COLLEGE STUDENT WHO HAD BEEN TRAINED IN CLINICAL AND SANITARY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY WITH A SPECIALTY IN MICROBIOLOGY. ASSIGNED AS THE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THESE DEPARTMENTS OF THE HOSPITAL LABORATORY. IN THIS POSITION, HE WORKED WITH BOTH AMERICAN PATIENTS IN THE BIG HOSPITAL AND WITH GERMAN PRISONER PATIENTS IN THE SMALLER INTERNMENT CAMP HOSPITAL. CAMP LIVINGSTON, LOCATED 15 MILES NORTH OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA THE U.S. ARMY HAD BUILT A 3000 BED HOSPITAL FOR AMERICAN SOLDERS AND A 200 BED HOSPITAL IN THE INTERNMENT CAMP FOR USE BY PRISONERS OF WAR. HE ALSO SERVED AT THE DALLAS TEXAS, U.S. ARMY INDUCTION STATION AT END OF WAR. TECHNICIAN 3RD CLASS. SERVICE NUMBER 38118521.