Herbert Songer MD

Birthplace: Lincoln, Kansas

Branch of Service: Army

Unit: 126th Infantry Army Medical Corps

Theater of Operation: European

Enlisted / Commissioned: Nov 1, 1942

Discharged: Oct 28, 1945

Honored By: Family & Friends Of Dr. Herbert Songer MD

Dr. Songer was stationed first in North Africa, going there to Sicily for the invasion of that island. His division took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy Beach. He saw action in France, Belgium, and finally Germany. He served 2 years plus in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was assigned to the 126th Infantry, First Division, as battalion surgeon in charge of a first aid station just back of the lines. Dr. Songer was unaware that he was involved in a ‘Patton Incident’. He had sent a soldier from the front lines suffering from malaria and battle fatigue. The soldier was sitting on a cot waiting to be admitted to the hospital when General Patton walked by and asked him what he was doing there. The soldier replied that he guessed he couldn’t take it anymore. His reply upset the General and he began to slap the soldier over and over. The soldier rolled over backwards to get away from him. The soldier returned to the front and went berserk and Dr. Songer sent him back with a letter that said he could not return to the front. A New York reporter after the war traced the incident and found out that Dr. Songer had signed the original order to have him evacuated and that’s how Dr. Songer found out he was involved. He was one of the first medical men flown back to the United States following V-E Day and arrived on the first plane at La Guardia Field in New York. A hero’s welcome was given to the men. He was one of the three physicians selected for special photographs as the ‘most decorated’ of medical men. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Oak Leaf cluster to the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.