Thomas Ralph Barthell
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Photo: This photo was taken the last time Mr. Barthell and his friends went into Washington, D.C., in uniform, 1948. L to R: Jim Stingly, Tom Doll, Tom Barthell.
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Thomas Ralph Barthell served in World War II.
He joined the U.S. Navy on July 20, 1946. He was trained as a Hospital Corpsman at the U.S. Navy Training Center, Bainbridge, located at Port Deposit, Maryland. Mr. Barthell was subsequently assigned to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he served until he was discharged in July 1948.
His rank was Pharmacist’s Mate; this designation was changed to Hospitalman 3rd Class in 1948.
Mr. Barthell was decorated with the World War II Victory Medal.
He was born in 1928 in Waukon, Iowa, the son of Leonard and Martha Barthell. He graduated from high school in 1946.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“Boot camp, July 21 to September 30, 1946, at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. About three weeks out-going unit (OGU), Great Lakes. Hospital Corps School, Bainbridge, Maryland (sixteen weeks). Assigned to ward duty at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, from February 1947 until discharge, July 1948.”
About the photograph (above):
"This was the last time we went into D.C. in uniform. The SPs [Shore Patrol] were really tough, and you wanted to stay away from them! After early 1948, we were allowed to go on liberty in civvies.
"There were no guards at the hospital, since it was not classified as a Naval base. We were on the staff at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland."
