Doctor Theodore R. Failmezger
U.S. Army Doctor in New Guinea and the Philippines

Background
Theodore Richard Failmezger was born 1904 in Brooklyn, New York to parents of German-American heritage. Nicknamed "Ted". In 1926, he attended Columbia University College of Pharmacy graduating with Ph.Ch. In 1930 he earned his B.S from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. In 1934 became a Medical Doctor (M.D.) from Jefferson Medical School in 1934. During summers, he worked as a pharmacist in Ocean Grove, New Jersey and met his wife Hilda Brown Rhinesmith of Metuchen, NY. The couple married and settled in Madison, New Jersey where he opened his private practice.

Dr. Failmezger became president of the Board of Health he promoted the pasteurization of milk. Dr. Failmezger joined the faculty of Drew University and became a Mason and Elk. Upon completion of a one year, medical residency at Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital, (today  Bellevue Hospital). During 1941, he was certified as a specialist by the newly formed American Board of Internal Medicine with number 1085. During 1942, selected as a fellow in the American College of Physicians.

Wartime History
During the 1930s, Dr. Failmezger enlisted in the U.S. Army in and was given the rank of Major. During World War II, he was sent to to Fort Leonard Wood in Lebanon. MO, then overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). During August 1943 he arrived at  Port Moresby as Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the 135th Medical Regiment and became one of the commanders of the 116th Station Hospital (Port Moresby) and at that time was the largest medical facility in the Southern Hemisphere with 750 beds. In New Guinea, tropical diseases like malaria, dengue fever and typhus caused far more casualties than battle. From his experience, Failmezger was a co-author on a research article entitled: "The Diarrhea Problem in a New Guinea Base", a study of 1,500 patients.

On November 20, 1944 the U.S. Army landed at Tacloban on Leyte. A month later, Failmezger arrived at Tarragona and began building a new hospital in a coconut grove near the coast. On December 31, 1944 opening the 116th Station Hospital (Tacloban). Failmezger became Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the hospital, nineteen days after construction began, the hospital started to admit casualties and patients. As chief of the medical service with many other duties, he became known as the "prime minister" and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

In May 1945, the hospital was inspected by Surgeon General of the United States Army Norman T. Kirk. The 116th Station Hospital (Tacloban) earned the Award of Meritorious Service Unit Plaque "for superior performance of duty, achievement and maintenance of a high standard of discipline and outstanding devotion to duty, from  November 19, 1944 to  February 24, 1945". The 116th Station Hospital was scheduled to become the first fixed hospital facility in Tokyo after the planned U.S. invasion of Japan until the atomic bombings and surrender of Japan made this unnecessary.

Postwar
Afterwards, he returned to private practice. In 1957, he became part of the staff of Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Florida and lived in nearby Bellaire. On February 7, 1959 he was called to come to the home of a mentally ill patient, Mr. James A. Lewis who according to his wife Mrs. Ava A. Lewis "had gone into a rampage" and was threating to shoot people. Dr. Failmezger called the police and arrived at their home with two deputies. When his wife led them to the home's door, Lewis who was naked let her inside the house then fired six shots at the group. Two bullets hit and mortally wounded Dr. Failmezger who died at age 54. Also injured was deputy Armond T. Tetrault, who returned fire and shot him.

Relatives
George Failmezger (son)
Charles Failmezger (son)

References
Jacoby, Loudon, Wyne, Failmezger. "The Diarrhea Problem in a New Guinea Base" U.S. Army Medical Dept, 1945
Theodore Richard Failmezger obituary
"Dr. Failmezger To Serve with Army"
"Former Madison Physician Now Heads Hospital Unit in New Guinea"
"A Small World – Even in New Guinea, Madison Men Meet In South Pacific; Lt. Stair Wries of Novel Experience" February 10, 1944
"Dr. Failmezger Is Out of Army; Resumes Practice"
"Madison Doctor Is Home After Serving on Pacific Islands"
The Tampa Tribune "Pinellas Deputy Shot By Berserk Patient 'Improving'" February 9, 1959 page 5
The Central New Jersey Home News "Patient Kills Ex-Metuchenite" February 16, 1959 page 15
FindAGrave - Hilda B Failmezger (grave photo)
Thanks to Charles Failmezger (son) for additional information