Harold Thomas Little

Their Story

Harold Thomas Little was born on July 14, 1910, in Claflin, Kansas.^[1] In May of 1932, Little received his bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas.^[2] In 1937, he was an intern at Margaret Hague Hospital in Jersey City, and at the end of the year, he received his doctorate degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. In 1938, he worked as a resident surgeon at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, and later that year, he was commissioned to the Illinois National Guard.^[3]

In 1939, Little was appointed 1^st Lieutenant in the Medical Corps 0f the Army, and in March of the same year, he married Norah Jane Sullivan. On June 25, 1941, Little was assigned to Gorgas General Hospital in the Canal Zone. Two years later, he returned to the United States, after being assigned to Camp Livingston in Alexandria, Louisiana. At this base, Little worked on the creation of a base hospital.^[4] In late 1943, Little arrived at the new base hospital in Auburn, California: DeWitt General Hospital. He had been named “executive officer” of the hospital.^[5] In January 1944, while stationed in Auburn, Little spoke to the Auburn Lions Club about the history of medical services in the army. He explained how the army instituted its procedures for treating wounded soldiers and the role of the “mobile” and “fixed” medical units. He also illustrated the process of treating wounded soldiers, in terms of how these soldiers were moved through the various medical stations, and either discharged to return to duty or moved to a base hospital for further treatment.^[6]

In June of 1944, Little was transferred to Alaska, where he worked as surgeon general for the Department of Alaska. For his work in Alaska, Little received the Legion of Merit in 1946. Soon after, he was discharged at the rank of Colonel.^[7]

After his discharge, Little moved to Aledo, Illinois, where he opened his own medical practice. He also belonged to several professional organizations, including the Aledo Board of Health and the Board of Mercer County Housing Authority.^[8] Little also had many hobbies; he gained national recognition as a breeder of Shetland ponies, and he served as Vice President of the American Shetland Pony Club as well.^[9]

On December 21, 1961, Dr. Harold T. Little passed away unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack. He was survived by his wife, Norah, his four children, and his mother.^[10]