A look back.

During World War II and in the years after V-J Day, the status of physical therapists in the US Army improved--they officially became part of the Army Nurse Corps in December 1942; they achieved full commissioned status in June 1944; and finally they received full military recognition in the armed forces as part of the Women's Medical Specialist Corps in March 1947. Male physical therapists, however, were never granted commissioned status; instead, they remained in the enlisted ranks. Despite the drastic shortage of physical therapists during Korean War (1950-1953), the status of male physical therapists in the Army was not corrected until late 1956.

The Women's Medical Specialist Corps (WMSC) Established

The Bill, establishing in the Regular Army an Army Nurse Corps and a Women's Medical Specialist Corps, composed of a Dietitian Section, a Physical Therapist Section, and an Occupational Therapist Section, was signed by President Harry S. Truman on April 16, 1947. It is known as Public Law No. 36.

"Public Law No. 36" The Physiotherapy Review 1947;27(3):190.

Application Rules for the WMSC

Requirements for Integration Appointments: An applicant must have passed the age of 21, be a female citizen of the United States, have served honorably on active duty at any time since December 7, 1941, as a commissioned officer in the Army of the United States as a physical therapist. She must be unmarried and have no dependents under 14 years of age.

Grade:

Initial integration appointments of eligible applicants will be made in the grades of second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain. Applicants appointed who have had less than three years constructive or active Federal military service, whichever is the greater, will be appointed as second lieutenants. Applicants appointed who have had over three years of service, but less than ten years of constructive service will be appointed as first lieutenants. Applicants appointed who have over ten years of constructive service will be appointed in the grade of captain....

Pay and Allowances:

The pay and allowances will be the same as for all other commissioned officers....

Promotion:

Promotion will be the same as for other commissioned officers....

"Women's Medical Specialist Corps" The Physiotherapy Review 1947;27(3):190-191.

What About Men?

The American Physical Therapy Association is ... acutely aware of the position of the man in physical therapy who is ineligible for a commission because the physical therapy corps, by law, is for women physical therapists only. The Association is working on this actively and will report on it in the REVIEW as soon as there is something definite to report.

Mildred Elson "The Director Reports" The Physical Therapy Review 1950;30(9);385.

Stuck in Committee

There is nothing further to report on the Bolton Bill [introduced as H.R. 911 by Rep Frances Bolton (R-Ohio) and as S. 661 by Sen Irving Ives (R-New York)] to commission male nurses and physical therapists.

Mildred Elson "The Director Reports" The Physical Therapy Review 1951;31(6):238.

Korean Conflict Highlights Shortage of PTs

The number of physical therapists needed for the Women's Medical Specialist Corps is still great. Just about one fourth of the estimated needs has been met by the involuntary recalls and volunteers!

New graduates and those who have graduated since World War II are urged to seriously consider volunteering. In Korea boys are being wounded, just as they were in World War II. Peripheral nerve injuries need p.t.; amputees and paraplegics need p.t.; those with chest injuries need p.t.

"Physical Therapists Needed" The Physical Therapy Review 1951;31(7):287.

Legislation Stymied

The following statements regarding the bills introduced in Congress to commission male physical therapists were received on May 7, 1951, in reply to letters asking for the status of the bills [H.R. 911 and S. 661].

   "... At the present moment there is
   nothing scheduled by the House
   Committee on Armed Services, but I
   am hopeful that some action will be
   taken in the near future so that the
   many hundreds of professional men
   now on active duty with the armed
   forces may take their rightful places
   with the privileges and status now
   enjoyed by women nurses."

   [Rep] Frances P Bolton

   "I would advise that at present no
   hearings have been scheduled with
   respect to this bill.

   "No doubt you are aware that both the
   Senate Foreign Relations Committee
   and the Senate Armed Services
   Committee are presently conducting
   executive sessions on the Korean situation,
   and until such time as those
   hearings are out of the way, I do not
   believe any hearings are possible."

   [Sen] Irving M. Ives
   "Federal Legislation"
   The Physical Therapy Review
   1951;31(7):288.

There is to date no action on this bill [H.R. 911 and S. 661]. It is not in committee and we have had no indication that it will be in the immediate future.... This bill has the full support of the American Physical Therapy Association and many others including leaders in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. As soon as this bill is in committee and up for action, notice about it will appear in the Review in order that individual members may write their congressmen [sic] in support of it.

"H.R. 911 and S. 661" The Physical Therapy Review 1952;32(4):200-201.

Another Try

H.R. 4447 was introduced by Mrs. Frances P. Bolton, April 3, 1953 in the House of Representatives to provide lot the appointment of qualified male persons as nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians in the United States Army Reserve.

The bill provides for striking out the term, "Women's Medical Specialist Corps," where ever it appears and inserting in lieu thereof "Army Medical Specialist Corps."

"H.R. 4447 Introduced To Provide Commissions for Male Physical Therapists" The Physical Therapy Review 1953;33(6):309.

The Bill [H.R. 4447] was referred to the Committee on Armed Services and no action has been taken to date.

Alice Chesrown, Carolyn Bowen, Ruth Guerin Annual Report of Committee on Public Laws, 1951-1953 The Physical Therapy Review September 1953;33(9):494-495.

Yet Another Try

On January 20, 1955, Mrs. Frances Bolton of Ohio introduced H.R. 2559 to the first session, 84th Congress, House of Representatives. This is a bill to authorize male nurses and medical specialists to be appointed as Reserve officers. The Association has corresponded with Mrs. Bolton in regard to this bill and has been informed that contrary to previous years the Department of Defense gave an affirmative report on the Bill. The Bill was referred to the Armed Services Committee and the Association has expressed its support in favor of passage of the Bill to the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Honorable Carl Vinson.

Mary E Haskell Report of the Associate Executive Director The Physical Therapy Review 1955;35(9):506-508.

Success at Last!

The "Bolton" bill was enacted into law in the final days of the 84th Congress.

This law changes the name of the Women's Medical Specialist Corps to Army Medical Specialist Corps and makes Reserve commissions possible for men as well as women within the authorized strength of the Corps.

"Public Law 294" The Physical Therapy Review 1955;35(10):581.

First Male PT Commissioned

Sheldon Saffren, a member of the Association, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Medical Specialist Corps on December 30, 1955. Lieutenant Saffren is the first male physical therapist to receive a commission since the reorganization of the Corps. Prior to his assignment to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Lieutenant Saffren was a member of the physical therapy staff of University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

"First Male Physical Therapist Commissioned" The Physical Therapy Review 1956;36(2):127.