Lt. Jesse F. Arnold, age 23, landed with his US Army regiment on the island of Leyte in the Philippines in October 1944. The landing by the 6th Army was basically unopposed with the Japanese waiting to pounce on the Americans further inland instead. During the developing fight, Lt. Arnold was pressing his platoon's attack when an enemy mortar shell landed nearby. The explosion blew his left leg completely off and fractured his right leg. The medics evacuated him away from the front line as quickly as possible then transported him to a field hospital.
However, this type of wound was far too serious for the facilities at the battle front. The doctors made the decision to transfer him stateside to the Army's new Bushnell Military Hospital in Brigham City, Utah. Here, they specialized in treating amputations, maxillofacial surgery, neuropsychiatric conditions, and tropical diseases. In fact, Lt. Arnold was the first of the wounded soldiers from the Philippines to be sent to this facility. But in addition to his grievous wounds, Arnold had another more pressing matter! His wife Louise was about to give birth to their first child and he was stuck in an isolated hospital.
But with the support of his sisters Kitty (609 North Spring Street) and Myra Arnold (125 West Chase Street) in Pensacola, a solution was developed with the help of the hospital's commanding officer. Colonel Robert M. Hardaway obtained permission from the commanding officer of the US Army Air Corp, General Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold, to fly Arnold's wife to Bushnell for the delivery. Soon, a huge Army transport brought Louise from Westminster, California just ahead of the delivery. Only a few doors down the hall from one another, Lt. Arnold was able to be on hand for the blessed event despite his terrible wounds received in the defense of his country. Sometimes, where there's a will there's a way (with a little help from your Army friends).
Battle of Leyte Landing by the 6th US Army, October 1944
Colonel Robert M. Hardaway,
US Army Medical Corps
Pensacola News Journal 12-29-1944