Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing George Illarion Mishtowt Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 50th Field Hospital; 82nd Airborne Division
- Location of Service: European Theater
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/76162
The son of Russian immigrants, Captain George Mishtowt joined the Army ROTC in the late 1930s, as an undergraduate at Georgetown University. Following his medical training at Georgetown, he shipped out to England in 1944, where he served with the 82nd Airborne Division, a distinguished unit of paratroopers whose members had already seen intense action in North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy. The young doctor and newly-minted soldier caught up quickly: he flew into Holland aboard a glider under intense fire. After landing in a potato patch, he constructed a makeshift operating table using two trunks and a litter, and set forth operating on the wounded. After treating casualties during the Battle of the Bulge, he returned home to embark on a career in medicine with the State Department, becoming the first physician hired by the Foreign Service to serve at an embassy abroad.
Interview / Recording
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PlayIntention to join Navy; rejection from Navy due to red-green colorblindness; joining ROTC in college; entrance into the service. 00:15:12.0 - 00:16:16.8
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PlayReceiving orders to go to East Anglia to be attached to the 82nd Airborne Division; esprit de corps of the 82nd Airborne; packing gliders for flight to Holland. 00:26:25.2 - 00:30:20.4
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PlayBeing made copilot of his glider; dodging flak during flight to Holland. 00:33:33.8 - 00:35:31.9
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PlayLanding in Holland; finding wounded; digging fox holes to sleep in, since only patients were given tents; strafed on their first night there. 00:37:00.6 - 00:39:04.0
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PlayBeginning of the Battle of the Bulge; dispatched to Belgium; horrible conditions; ordering the evacuation of 500 men due to frostbite; problems with wet socks and trench foot. 00:40:43.6 - 00:44:09.0
About this Item
Title
- George Illarion Mishtowt Collection
Names
- Witness to History, Georgetown University
- Alprin, Anneliesa Clump
- Mishtowt, George Illarion
Home State
- Washington (D.C.)
Headings
- - Mishtowt, George Illarion
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Form
- DVD
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 50th Field Hospital; 82nd Airborne Division
- Location of Service: European Theater
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as the commanding officer of the 50th Field Hospital.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2009-07-30)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/76162
Cite as
- George Illarion Mishtowt Collection (AFC/2001/001/76162), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video