Medic By Robert J. Franklin Sparknotes

Unfortunately, many soldiers who fought in World War II died in combat. Those who were lucky enough to make it with just injuries have the medics to thank for the excellent care they were given in order to survive. Robert J. Franklin’s memoir, Medic! How I Fought World War II with Morphine, Sulfa, and Iodine Swabs, specifically details the work of these combat medics. The book was published by the University of Nebraska Press in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2006.

Robert J. Franklin was turned down by the United States Navy, but then was drafted into the United States army in 1942 at twenty-five years of age. Franklin, later to be called Doc Joe on the battlefield, was excited to finally be drafted in the army. Although Franklin had no experience or

One of the troops in his 45th division was shot in the leg by a machine gun. The soldier was brought to a more experienced medic than him to be treated. Franklin paid close attention to every detail as the more experienced medic doctored the hurt soldier’s gunshot wound. Franklin explained, “The medic merely poured sulfanilamide powder onto the wound and tied on a small Carlisle bandage” (3-4). So, just as Franklin had seen done, he began doing just so- pouring sulfanilamide powder onto his soldiers’ wounds and tying them with a small Carlisle bandage. Finally, a year after being drafted, Franklin could successfully treat a bullet wound with sulfa and enjoyed serving aiding to the injured as a medic in World War

He was in so much back pain that he struggled to walk. His division had made it to Germany, and he was of no use any longer because the end was so close. He allowed the army to evacuate him, and shortly thereafter Germany surrendered. While he was in a hospital in France, his division liberated the Dachau concentration camp and news of the Holocaust made its way back to the United States, much to their disbelief. After over two years of service, Robert Franklin, among other American soldiers, were brought back to the United States. Once he returned, he reunited with his fiancée and the two were married on August 4,