“War medicine” The Battle for whole blood: 1943–1945 and beyond

This article aims to convey two particular statements of historical value for its readers. Firstly, it seeks to remind everyone with an interest in the history of the United States (US) Blood Program that the use of whole blood in the combat casualty care in this great military campaign was by no means certain. Secondly, it hopes to draw the attention of the readers of Transfusion to the very considerable efforts of their professional predecessors to record the process whereby whole blood did, eventually, become the standard of care. Compiled by the Army Historical Unit, the Official History of the US Army Medical Department in World War contains a number of volumes detailing what it summarizes as "War Medicine." This official history devotes an entire volume to the subject of the Blood Program and its development of front line transfusion, as well as including supplementary material in other volumes where transfusion proved to be a crucial component in successful medical provision (such as the volume on Surgery). The editors and contributors had a clear understanding of the fundamental importance of the achievement of the blood program and were determined to reflect this in what would become their definitive work.