assumed responsibility for medical treatment of prisoners of war in III and IV CTZs. The 311th Field Hospital was divided into two hospital units: the unit in Qui Nhon provided primary medical and surgical care while the unit located in the Phu Thanh Valley served as a convalescent center. These units would be consolidated upon completion of the new hospital facilities in the Phu Thanh Valley. Prior to the arrival of the field hospitals, the POW hospital mission was accomplished by two clearing companies (TOE 8-128G) The utilization of field hospitals, rather than clear-ng companies, to operate POW hospitalization facilities resulted in certain distinct and inherent advantages. The most obvious advantage was the increased number of beds operated by the field hospitals (250 beds) versus that of the clearing company (160 beds). Additionally, the organic professional capability of the field hospitals permitted these units to expand the POW mission in the areas of surgery, x-ray, pharmacy, and laboratory services. It was further recognized that the Army Nurse Corps officers assigned to the hospitals contributed greatly to the over­all reduction in POW patient recovery time. This achievement was primarily due to their supervisory abilities as well as their individual nursing talents. S-3 Plans In addition to publishing operations plans and orders implementing plans and orders of higher headquarters the 44th Medical Brigade published a plan to support contingencies which would require the brigade to rapidly deploy medical units in support of tactical operations. This plan provided for deployment of various types of units subordinate to the brigade. Implementing plans were published by each subordinate medical group and by the veterinary and dental command and control detachments. Specific units were designated to react within a short time frame to orders of the brigade headquarters. The result of this planning action was the establishment of a cross section of medical units capable of deploying within a minimum time. S-3 Area Medical Surveys In October 1968, Headquarters, United States Army, Vietnam (USARV) directed the brigade to conduct a survey of medical resources on all major bases and tactical operating bases. Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) authorized the brigade to survey U.S. Army medical facilities throughout Vietnam and those U.S Air Force and U.S. Navy medical facilities 1ocated on installations designated to be surveyed. The main purpose of the survey was to ensure that each geographic area in which USARV troops were stationed was