Ed Fortmiller

U.S. Army

Ed holding an orphan who was visiting
the 24th Evac Hospital in December of 1968

Ed served his country willingly during the Vietnam War as a member of the Medical Corps in the U.S. Army.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army on 1 May 1968 and received an early out in December of 1969 after having served in Vietnam for 14 months.

His basic training was at Fort Sam Houston in Texas as well as 12 weeks of advanced training to become a combat medic and a medical corpsman.

On arrival in Vietnam in September of 1968 he was assigned to the 24th Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh which was about 15 miles northeast of Saigon. Initially he was assigned to the orthopedic wards (9 & 10) where he basically performed the duties of a nurse. After some number of months he was reassigned to medical supply for a couple of months, and then reassigned again to the operating room as a scrub tech assisting the surgeons during surgery.

He achieved the rank of Spec 5 (E-5) and received the Army Commendation Medal. He was also selected as a soldier of the month for both the 24th Evacuation Hospital and the 68th Medical Group (his copy and parents copy).

U.S. Army Commendation Medal Citation and Certificate.

Cold War Certificate of Recognition.

He is now the volunteer Webmaster for the 24th Evacuation Hospital web site.

View some photographs that he took while in Vietnam.

List of the names in the 1993, 24th Evacuation Hospital Reunion booklet.

Last updated: August 26, 2007