The Beginnings

By early summer of 1942, Atterbury was an efficient army training camp with growing medical needs. Because of its immense growing size, the army soon realized that Atterbury needed its own hospital. The original hospital plans included completion of the buildings by the end of June, 1942. However due to weather-oriented delays, only a temporary dispensary was set up by this deadline. This primitive makeshift medical center was set up in a large building near Schoolhouse Road and Division Street. It was established by Major Carlos Fish in June, 1942. During June and July the 43 concrete buildings were nearing completion. Thirty-one of these buildings were connected by heated corridors, the longest of which was 1/3 of a mile. The hospital was put into use on August 1, although the buildings were not entirely completed until mid-October.

In July of 1942, news came of an expansion program to start in effect at Atterbury. These plans included the erection of buildings for the training of field hospital units. Little did anyone know that Atterbury would come to house one of America's largest and best-equipped Army Hospitals. This was only the beginning.

During the first two years of its service, it was called "Atterbury Station Hospital", but in 1944 the Army decided that the it could become a better hospital with the addition of a few buildings, some special equipment, and some new doctors who specialized in different fields of medicine. In addition, three new buildings were constructed, some former barracks were converted into hospital buildings for use as clinics and wards. Air conditioning was installed in X-ray labs, and a ventilation system installed in all wards. This air cleaning system could change the air in a room in one minute. The Atterbury Station Hospital was reopened as "Atterbury General Hospital" on April 4th, 1944.

The name of Atterbury General was soon changed upon the death of a dedicated medical officer. On May 8th, 1944, Lt. Colonel Ray M. Conner dedicated the hospital in honor of the late Colonel Frank B. Wakeman.

A native of New York, Wakeman enrolled in Valparaiso University in 1913. In 1917 he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U. S. Medical Corps. Wakeman received his Master's Degree in 1926 from Indiana University. Colonel Frank B. Wakeman died in the summer of 1944. At the time of his death, Colonel Wakeman was serving as the Chief of the Training Division in the Office of the Surgeon General, Washington, D. C. Colonel Wakeman never married, although he was truly 'Married to his work".

NOTE: See marital status correction below

Wakeman Hospital was located in Block 10 and was bordered by the following roads:
1. Hospital Road ran along the south side of the hospital and provided easy access to the hospital from the Atterbury medical field units stationed nearby.
2. Riley Street bordered the hospital on the west.
3. Edinburgh Street followed the north side of the hospital formation.
4. Quinney Street bordered the hospital on the east.

Wakeman Hospital was even more impressive on the inside. May specialists practiced at Wakeman n fields that saved many soldiers' lives.

Thousands of disabled and disfigured men regained their limbs, faces, looks and pride in the five plastic surgery wards. At one time 350 patients occupied the well-staffed plastic surgery wards. Some soldiers were brought to Wakeman with badly injured or destroyed eyes. The optical technicians at Wakeman could repair or replace damaged eyes to the best of surgical knowledge. Neuro-surgery and orthopedic surgery were also practiced at Wakeman.

Soldiers experiencing convalescence for an extended period of time lived in barracks on Clark Street, just 2 miles from the hospital. The swimming pool was located in building 1082. The hospital had its own radio station, WAKE that made regular broadcasts. A publication of the hospital was the "Splint and Litter".

After land acquisitions were made, the awarding of contracts began. The various jobs were divided into different sections. The main section, Section A, involved most of the buildings. Because this was such a large section, it was divided into the following parts:

Section (A-1)
619 temporary buildings to house a division; including 242 barracks, 97 mess halls, 14 recreation buildings, 3 theaters, a sports arena, headquarters buildings, 205 storehouses, infirmaries, chapels and 35 officers' quarters.

Section (A-2)
550 temporary buildings for troops or auxiliary units attached to the division; including 8 barracks, 78 mess halls, 22 administration buildings, infirmaries and post offices.

Section (A-3)
Utility buildings, warehouses, workshops, quartermaster offices, bakery, laundry, fire stations, incinerators, cold storage buildings, steel igloos for ammunition, salvage yards, prisoner barracks and 14 guardhouses.

Section (A-4)
Temporary buildings for the hospital complex constructed of cement blocks.

CORRECTION TO ABOVE:

Colonel Wakeman was indeed married. He was married to Margaret Kuehl of Valparaiso, Indiana. Colonel Wakeman is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Valparaiso, adjacent to his wife’s grave. Margaret Kuehl Wakeman died in 1966. Below are two death notices regarding Colonel Wakeman. 

Best regards,  Steve Shook

Col. Wakeman Death Victim

March 18, 1944
 
 Col. Frank B. Wakeman, 46, well-known in Valparaiso and husband of the former Margaret Kuehl, of Valparaiso, died Friday a Fort Mommoth, New Jersey, following a short illness.
 
 Associated with the U. S. Surgeon-General's office, Washington, D. C., Col. Wakeman worked in the field Thursday. When he retired that night he complained of not feeling well. The next morning he was found dead.
 
 The body will be brought to Valparaiso this afternoon and taken to the LePell funeral home on Monroe street. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a. m. Monday at the LePell funeral home, with burial in Graceland cemetery.
 
 Surviving besides the widow are one daughter, Betty Ann, and two brothers, Gaylord and Blaine Wakeman, of New York City.
 
 Col. Wakeman, who had been in army service for the last twenty years, was director of training of medical corps in army training camps throughout the country.
 
 Coming to Valparaiso in 1916, Col. Wakeman attended the local university during 1916 and 1917. He was a member of --- -------- ----- [unreadable] of this city, later mustered into federal service. HE participated in the Mexican border campaign and also served overseas during World War I.
 
 Later he attended Indiana university where he received his degree of doctor of medicine. Further training added a Ph. D. degree at Catholic university at Washington, D. C. and lector of Public Health Service office at John Hopkins university, Baltimore.
 
 He was also a graduate of the Army Medical School, Washington, D. C., Field Service School, Carlisle, Pa, Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
 _______________________________________________________________________________________________
 Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 18, 1944; Volume 17, Page 1, Column 3