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JUNE 2017 | The Surgical Technologist | 257 The Surgical Legacy of WorldWar II Part 2: The Age of Antibiotics L E A R N I N G O B J E C T I V E S s Learn about the scientists who discovered penicillin s Recall when the drug first reached troops serving on the frontlines s Evaluate how companies with fermentation expertise became critical to the process of creating the “miracle cure” s Review what fruit became the saving grace in the road to producing penicillin to the masses s Discuss how penicillin would come to alter decades of healthcare worldwide Author’s Note: As our nation remembered the 75th anniversary of the battles of World War II back in Decem- ber, we also should acknowledge the contributions of outstanding medical personnel – whose incredible vision, intensive planning and heroic efforts gave the wounded an extraordinary chance of survival. Among them are distinguished military surgeons, whose experiences inspired them to invent and implement methods and instruments we know the names of, because they are used every day in modern ORs. Yet there are countless names not mentioned here – men and women of all races, ranks and occupations, whose contributions are no less important to the effort to mitigate human suffering and who are profoundly worthy of being remembered. Why should we, as working CSTs, care about this increasingly distant history? Because the surgical technology profession can trace its inception to this period in American history – as the military planned for, and then entered – the first truly global conflict. This series of articles provides an overview of the key surgical developments of World War II. The story began with “Part 1: Pearl Harbor, Preparation and Portability,” which was published in the December 2016 issue of The Surgical Technologist. Part 1 discussed the tactical and medical planning and build-up prior to America’s formal entry into the war following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. That article Dolores Goyette , cst, dc Soldiers of the 16th Infantry Regiment, wounded while storming Omaha Beach, wait by the chalk cliffs for evacuation to a field hospital for treatment, D-Day, June 6, 1944 Photo credit: US Army