The 51st Evacuation Hospital was started by
World War I veteran Dr. Orrin S. Cook. Dr. Orrin Cook worked at
Mercy General Hospital,
Sacramento, California. He asked the US Army Medical Department to start Army field hospital in Sacramento. With Colonel William E. Shamborra activation start and was headquartered at
Fort Ord in
Monterey, California. 51st Evacuation Hospital became official in September 1942 stationed now at
Fort Lewis in
Tacoma, Washington. The 51st Evacuation Hospital operated a 750-bed Evacuation Hospital Colonel Wendell A. Weller was the first Commanding Officer. In March 1943 the 51st Evacuation Hospital was moved to
Fort Lewis and to camp Goffs arriving in April 1943, to support the Desert Training Center. Goffs, California in April 1943. In May 1943 some of the 51st were moved to support the
Banning General Hospital. In December 1943 much of the 51st move to Camp San Luis Obispo, California. The 51st moved to Camp Cooke, Oceano, California for training. In March 1944 the 51st moved to the staging area at Camp Patrick Henry, Oriana, Virginia. From staging area 51st traveled 23 day by a
Liberty Ship to
Oran, Algeria. After 2 months the 51st moved to
Naples, Italy and ran a hospital at the Naples Fair Grounds till 11 August 1944. Next the 51st moved to
Draguignan and set up an Evacuation Hospital. On 29 September 1944 the 51st moved to
Vincey,
France. In November 1944 they moved to
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. On 14 March 1945 they moved to
Sarre-Union, France. On 24 March 1945 they moved to Neustadt,
Germany. On 4 April 1945 they moved to
Walldürn, and to
Welzheim on 20 April 1945. On 20 July 1945 they moved to
Stuttgart. On 12 October 1945 they ended working Germany and shipped home. On were sent to the 216th General Hospital in
Bad Cannstatt in Germany. ==Goffs Army Landing Strip==