BR25193 U.S. Infantry Medic with Stretcher, 1943-45

The concept of evacuating soldiers soon after being wounded was introduced during World War I when stretcher-bearers became the ancestors of today’s medics and hospital corpsman. In previous conflicts, comrades picked up casualties and transported them the best they could, on blankets or greatcoats. But improvising a stretcher would likely reopen the patient’s wounds because their bodies were limp and pliable. An actual stretcher kept the body rigid and could be worked by two men – under ideal conditions. However, conditions were rarely ideal and teams of four to six was preferred and not uncommon.