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is understandable as the opportunities to be at the front lines were limited. Due to the nature of modern warfare, physicians are rarely assigned to frontline units under combat conditions."As a former battalion surgeon with the infantry in World War II throughout the European campaigns, I can assure Dr. Popkin that his information is quite erroneous. My battalion aid station was seldom farther than 1,000 yards and more often around 250 yards behind the combat troops. It must be explained that the concept of a "front-line" or straight-battle line is not real and that various units of a combat division are at times farther ahead than others, leaving what is called a "fluid front."This of course gave medical officers and associated personnel opportunities for unusual performances of duty "over and above the call of duty." A perusal of the list of the winners of decorations in combat will reveal a generous show of doctors who won the Distinguished This letter was referred to the author of the article in question, ichose reply follows: To the Editor:\p=m-\Ihave received several comments regarding my statement that "physicians are rarely assigned to front-line units under combat conditions." I agree with Dr. McDougall and others that physicians were in positions in which the Medal of Honor could have been won. However, in comparison to the other combat units, their numbers were small. Many men in the medical department earned the award; none was an officer. Of 137 awards issued to Naval personnel during World War II seven were won by hospital apprentices or pharmacists's mates. In World War II, 292 awards were issued to the Army. Nine medical soldiers won the award. Several physicians called my attention to Harold Furlong, MD, now practicing in Pontiac, Mich. He won the award in World War I as an infantry lieutenant in France. Dr. Furlong obtained his medical degree after his military service. Dr. J. McC. Finney of Havre de Grace, Md. called my attention to Dr. Louis Wardlaw Miles. As an infantry captain, Dr. Miles won his medal in France in World War I.

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