Valley Forge Army Hospital
Encyclopedia
Valley Forge General Hospital was a former military hospital
in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
. The hospital was near both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and Valley Forge
. It was the only United States Army
General Hospital named for a place.
in 1943 to care for the wounded of World War II
. It became the largest military hospital in the United States. Eventually, the hospital had well over 3,000 patients and over 100 separate buildings. One feature of the hospital was its design of primarily two story buildings, interconnected by corridors. There were very long ramps leading from one floor to the other, to facilitate movement of wheelchairs and gurneys. The architecture was designed by Matthew Bookler.
The exterior was all red brick. The interior was all wood. It was a maze of corridors, and newly assigned personnel regularly became lost.
The Army planned to shut down V.F.G.H. in 1950, but the Korean War
began, and it stayed open. The final closing came in 1975, although it had stopped functioning as a hospital the previous year.
The site is now occupied by the Valley Forge Christian College
.
.
Many of the techniques used in rehabilitating blinded persons were first developed and used at Valley Forge. It was one of the foremost medical units in rehabilitation of blinded personnel in the world. The Acrylic Eye (for people who had lost an eyeball) was invented by one of the doctors at Valley Forge; it is still in use today.
The Department of Psychiatry
and Neurology
was among the world leaders in Psychiatric treatments. Many new medications were first utilized there, and many treatment techniques were developed there. The physicians, nurses and the neuropsychiatric technicians sent tens of thousands of cured personnel back to duty. The return to duty rate following treatment was much higher than in the vast majority of civilian hospitals.
Actor
Gene Wilder
was a neuropsychiatric technician at Valley Forge General Hospital in the late 1950s.
In the late 1960s, Valley Forge General Hospital, along with seven other major Army hospitals, became the home of a "Clinical Specialist" training program (military MOS 91C). At that time, a person had to have been a medic for at least two years, and have a minimum of two years remaining on their enlistment after completing the school, in order to be accepted. This was advanced training for ten months, on top of all previous training and experience. This program was considered equivalent to a civilian LPN or LVN course but also included many military medicine oriented training objectives.
The personnel stationed at Valley Forge General Hospital had no married housing available to them. As a result, they rented housing in Phoenixville, Norristown, Pottstown and virtually all of the other local communities. Many of the personnel joined local groups.
After the film Bright Victory was released, all personnel assigned to the hospital were required to view the film.
Valley Forge General Hospital was extensively upgraded in the late 1960s, at a cost of millions of dollars. Then, the new Surgeon General of the United States Army decided that it was no longer needed, and it was closed down.
Military hospital
Military hospital is a hospital, which is generally located on a military base and is reserved for the use of military personnel, their dependents or other authorized users....
in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census.- History :...
. The hospital was near both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
. It was the only United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
General Hospital named for a place.
History
The hospital was built in 1942, and opened on Washington's BirthdayWashington's Birthday
Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day...
in 1943 to care for the wounded of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It became the largest military hospital in the United States. Eventually, the hospital had well over 3,000 patients and over 100 separate buildings. One feature of the hospital was its design of primarily two story buildings, interconnected by corridors. There were very long ramps leading from one floor to the other, to facilitate movement of wheelchairs and gurneys. The architecture was designed by Matthew Bookler.
The exterior was all red brick. The interior was all wood. It was a maze of corridors, and newly assigned personnel regularly became lost.
The Army planned to shut down V.F.G.H. in 1950, but the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
began, and it stayed open. The final closing came in 1975, although it had stopped functioning as a hospital the previous year.
The site is now occupied by the Valley Forge Christian College
Valley Forge Christian College
Valley Forge Christian College is a four-year, residential college centrally located in southeastern Pennsylvania, minutes from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Nestled in the small town of Phoenixville, major metropolitan areas are within easy driving distance...
.
Popular culture
The hospital is the setting for the 1951 film Bright VictoryBright Victory
Bright Victory is a 1951 film, adapted by Robert Buckner from Baynard Kendrick's novel Lights Out. It was directed by Mark Robson, and it stars Arthur Kennedy, Peggy Dow, Julia Adams, James Edwards, Will Geer, Nana Bryant, Jim Backus, and Rock Hudson....
.
Many of the techniques used in rehabilitating blinded persons were first developed and used at Valley Forge. It was one of the foremost medical units in rehabilitation of blinded personnel in the world. The Acrylic Eye (for people who had lost an eyeball) was invented by one of the doctors at Valley Forge; it is still in use today.
The Department of Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
and Neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
was among the world leaders in Psychiatric treatments. Many new medications were first utilized there, and many treatment techniques were developed there. The physicians, nurses and the neuropsychiatric technicians sent tens of thousands of cured personnel back to duty. The return to duty rate following treatment was much higher than in the vast majority of civilian hospitals.
Actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder is an American stage and screen actor, director, screenwriter, and author.Wilder began his career on stage, making his screen debut in the film Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. His first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1968 film The Producers...
was a neuropsychiatric technician at Valley Forge General Hospital in the late 1950s.
In the late 1960s, Valley Forge General Hospital, along with seven other major Army hospitals, became the home of a "Clinical Specialist" training program (military MOS 91C). At that time, a person had to have been a medic for at least two years, and have a minimum of two years remaining on their enlistment after completing the school, in order to be accepted. This was advanced training for ten months, on top of all previous training and experience. This program was considered equivalent to a civilian LPN or LVN course but also included many military medicine oriented training objectives.
The personnel stationed at Valley Forge General Hospital had no married housing available to them. As a result, they rented housing in Phoenixville, Norristown, Pottstown and virtually all of the other local communities. Many of the personnel joined local groups.
After the film Bright Victory was released, all personnel assigned to the hospital were required to view the film.
Valley Forge General Hospital was extensively upgraded in the late 1960s, at a cost of millions of dollars. Then, the new Surgeon General of the United States Army decided that it was no longer needed, and it was closed down.