Randolph Macon College - George Victor Litchfield World War I Veteran and Randolph Macon Alumnus

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Despite being passed over for the World War I draft, George Victor Litchfield enlisted, eager to put his medical training to the test. A native of Abingdon, Virginia, Litchfield attended Randolph Macon Academy and Randolph Macon College before earning his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University. He left his practice to serve overseas, returning to it after he was discharged. A printed note found in a family bible describing Litchfield for his funeral described him as "an uncompromising foe to the force of dishonesty and immorality and trickery of every kind, but outside of his active opposition to these forces, his energies were all bent toward helpfulness of his fellowman."

Images

Gravestone of George Litchfield

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

George Victor Litchfield was born February 15, 1877 in Abingdon, Washington Co., Virginia. He attended Randolph Macon Academy and then Randolph Macon College. After graduating in 1897, Litchfield then attended Johns Hopkins University where he received his M.D. He had medical offices in Coopers, West Virginia and in Abingdon, Virginia.

Litchfield was inducted into service on September 21, 1917 in Abingdon, VA as reserve officer. He was originally assigned to Camp Greenleaf, Ft. Oglethorpe, in Georgia (November 1917-December 31st, 1917) and assigned to the 58th Art. C.A.C. (Coast Artillery Corps). The 58th was then transferred to Fort Totten NY (January 3rd, 1918 to May 10th, 1918).

Litchfield embarked from Hoboken, NJ on the Covington on May 10th, 1918 and arrived at Brest, France on May 23rd, 1918. From there, he proceeded to Camp Pontaneza, where he stayed for a week before going to St. Leonard from May 30th to July 20th. From St. Leonard, Litchfield went to the Toul Sector and remained there until November 11th, 1918. He was involved continuously in battle engagement until the Armistice was declared.

Departing France from Bordeaux, Litchfield arrived back at Long Island City on the Santa Barbara on April 23rd, 1919. He was discharged from service at Camp Meade, Maryland on May 13, 1919 as Captain MC.*

Both before and after service, as a physician, Litchfield saw his service as a privilege. He said service benefitted him physically and noted that he “gained much useful knowledge both generally and professionally…broadened his view of life, educational and fine study of human nature.” Despite his willingness to serve, he was cynical about the war observing, “the average man is a pretty brave fellow…American youths will grumble about little things, and meet the big troubles with courage and fortitude…men who did the hard work and faced danger and death, found it practically all thrown away to benefit partisan politicians and profiteers.”

George Litchfield did not long survive the war, as he was found dead at age 45 on August 29th, 1922 of acute cardiac dilation due to chronic myocardial insufficiency. He is buried at Sinking Springs Cemetery in Abingdon, Virginia. During his funeral, taps was played and there was a gun salute. According to a found printed note in a family bible from Wytheville, Virginia, George Litchfield "used his splendid talent as a physician to relieve suffering and alleviate pain wherever and whenever called."

* According to the questionnaire, Litchfield stated that he was promoted from 1st Lt. M.R.C. to Captain M.C. (Medical Corps) on Feb 24, 1921. However, Litchfield also stated he was discharged in May of 1919 as Captain M.C., indicating this original date is incorrect. It is more than likely that he was promoted in February of 1918 prior to deployment to Europe.

Sources

Litchfield, George Victor. War History Commission State of Virginia Military Service Record. Library of Virginia, Virginia War History

Commission.

Virginia, Deaths, 1912–2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia. George Victor Litchfield.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Find-A-Grave.com